92v] 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 93r] 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 93v] 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 94r] 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 94v] 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 95r] 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 95v] 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 96r] 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 96v] 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 97r] 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 97v] 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440 441 442 443 444 445 446 447 448 449 98r] 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468 469 470 471 472 473 474 475 476 477 478 479 480 481 482 483 98v] 485 486 487 488 489 490 491 492 493 493 495 496 497 498 499 500 501 502 503 504 505 506 507 508 509 510 511 512 513 514 515 516 517 518 519 520 521 522 99r] 524 525 526 527 528 529 530 531 532 533 534 535 536 537 538 539 540 541 542 543 544 545 546 547 548 549 550 551 552 553 554 555 556 557 558 559 560 561 562 563 99v] 565 566 567 568 569 570 571 572 573 574 575 576 577 578 579 580 581 582 583 584 585 586 587 588 589 590 591 592 593 594 595 596 597 598 Nota    600 601 602 603 100r] 605 606 607 608 609 610 611 612 613 614 615 616 617 618 619 620 621 622 623 624 Nota 626 627 Levy 629 630 631 632 633 634 635 636 637 638 639 640 641 642 643 644 645 100v] 647 648 649 650 651 652 653 654 655 656 657 658 659 660 661 662 663 664 665 666 667 668 669 670 671 672 673 674 675 676 677 678 101r] 680 681 682 683 684 685 686 687 688 689 690 691 692 693 694 695 696 697 698 699 700 701 702 703 704 705 706 707 708 709 710 711 712 713 714 715 716 717 718 719 720 101v] 722 723 724 725 726 727 728 729 730 731 732 733 734 735 736 737 738 739 740 741 742 743 744 745 746 747 748 749 750 751 752 753 754 755 756 757 758 759 102r] 761 762 763 764 765 766 767 768 769 770 771 772 773 774 775 776 777 778 779 780 781 782 783 784 785 786 787 788 789 790 791 792 793 794 102v] 796 797 798 799 800 801 802 803 804 805 806 807 808 809 810 811 812 813 814 815 816 817 818 819 820 821 822 823 824 825 826 827 828 829 103r] 831 832 833 834 835 836 837 838 839 840 841 842 843 844 845 846 847 848 849 850 851 852 853 854 855 856 857 858 859 860 861 862 863 864 103v] 866 867 868 869 870 871 872 873 874 875 876 877 878 879 880 881 882 883 884 885 886 887 888 889 890 891 892 893 894 895 896 897 898 899 104r] 901 902 903 904 905 906 907 908 909 910 911 912 913 914 915 916 917 918 919 920 921 922 923 924 925 926 927 928 929 930 931 932 104v] 934 935 936 937 938 939 940 941 942 943 944 945 946 947 948 949 950 951 952 953 954 955 956 957 958 959 960 961 962 963 964 965 966 967 105r] 969 970 971 972 973 974 975 976 977 978 979 980 981 982 983 984 985 986 987

N; T    N N N; T N N T T N N N T N; T N N T T N T N; T N N N N T T N N N N N N T T N T N T N T N N T N T N N; T N N T T T N N T T T N N N N N N N N N N T N N N N N T N T N N; T N N; T

¶ Seigneurs, vous oy avetz molt sovent diverses estoyres de la Bible, que plusors sunt de Adam, Seth, Noe, Habraham, Ysaac, e Jacob, e autres plusours de queux ore leysyr me est de parler. Jacob e Esau furent deus freres gemels de une porture engendrez. Esau par resoun de nature dust primes aver issu de la ventre la mere que Jacob, e par resoun ensement deveriot aver en la beneçoun que Jacob avoit. E pur ce que Dieu ne le voleit mie, Jacob supplanta Esau de le un e de le autre. E pur ce est Jacob apelé “supplaunteour.” [Compare Genesis 25:23–24, 27:36.] Ce fa Jacob avoit dosse fitz e une file de quatre femmes, dount la premere e la dreyne furent fraunches, e les deus meenes femmes furent aunceles. De Lya furent engendrez Ruben, Symeon, Levy, Judas, Yzacar, Zabulon, e une fyle nomé Dyna. De Bala auncele, il engendra Dan e Neptalym. De Zelpha auncele, Gaad e Asser. De [Rachel] fraunche, Josep e Benjamyn. [Compare Genesis 34:1, 35:22–26.] Lya e Rachel furent sueres e les files Laban soun uncle, que Jacob esposa en Aaram. [Compare Genesis 29:16–30.] Jacob amoit Josep plus qe nul dos autres enfauntz. E Josep avoit, aprés la mort Rachel sa mere, accosé ces freres que, quant lur plust, il avoeient dormy en lur marastre. E pur ce les freres le hayent a la mort. Josep sounga que ces freres e ly lyerent garbes en les champs, e lur garbes se aclynerent e aorerent le suen, e qe le solail e la lune e unze estoilles s’enclynerent e ly aorerent. Josep counta son pere cet avisioun. E le pere ly dit, “Bel fitz, uncore avendra que moi e mes unze fitz obeyermus a toi. E vous serrez seigneur de nous tous, e nous vos serfs.” E pur ce ces freres molt le plus le hayoyent. E diseyent qu’il le ociereint. Jacob comaunda Josep aler en les chaunps a ces freres e qu’il portast arere noveles de eux e de lur bestes. Quar a icel temps la gent vesquirent a poi tot de lur bestes e de lur arment, e les pastours furent hardis e vigerous a garder lur bestes de lyouns e autres salvagines. Josep vint en un champ e ne trova mie ces freres. Atant un vadlet ly demaunda quei quereit, e il ly dit ces freres. Fet il, “Je oy vos freres ore eynz dire, ‘Aloms en Dotaym,’ e la | les troverez vous.” Quant ces freres le virent venyr de loynz, diseyent, “La vient le songeour. Ore yparra quei ces sounges ly profiterount. Nous le ocieroms.” Ruben, le eynsne de tous, lur dit, “Ne espaundes mie son sang, mes soit mys en cele viele cisterne la, e la morra.” E ce disoit pur ce qu’il le voleit delyvrer de lur maynz e le rendre vif al piere. E quant vint, le mistrent meyntenaunt en la parfounde cisterne. E pus se assistrent a manger. Aprés Ruben ala visiter les bestes. Ataunt vindrent marchauntz de Galaaht vers Egipte. Donque lur dist Judas, “Aloms vendre Josep nostre frere a ces marchauntz, que le amerront en estraunge terre ou plus jamés ne orroms de ly.” Il le vendirens as marchaunz pur xx deners. Ne mie gueres aprés vint Ruben a le cisterne e vodera estrere Josep. E ne le trova mie, e ne savoit rien de la vente. E se dementa fierement, entrenchaunt ces vestures. E ne savoit que fere. Les freres pristrent la gonele que son piere li avoit novele fet, e la teyndrent en sang de une beste qu’il avoient ocis. E le aporterent a le piere. E demaunderent si ce fust la gonele Josep son fitz. E quant Jacob le vit, si dit, “Mavoise beste salvagyne ad devoré Josep mon fitz.” E fist tiel duel que um ne poeit fere greynour. E dit qu’il descendreit en enfern deploraunt son fitz. Nully ly poeit solacer, taunt avoit dolour de son fitz qu’il tant ama. [Compare Genesis 37.] Les marchauntz qe averent achaté Josep le vendirent a Putifar, le seneschal le roy Pharaon de Egipte. E il dona, pur sa belté, a le roy pur ly servyr. E pur sa belté e bounté, fust amez tous. Avint que la reygne privément ly pria dormyr ov ly. E il la dit, “Dame,” fet il, “nostre seigneur le roy me ayme taunt que quanqu’il ad est en ma garde, par soun comandement. Estre vous, ma dame, la reyne, e te serroit grant tresoun si je mespreise en cele manere a monseignur le roy.” E s’enparti de la reyne, que a force detint son mauntel e comenca braier e crire. E dit a tous que cely cerf Hebreu a force la vodra aver prise si ele ne out crié. Quant le rei le savoit, le comaunda enprisoner. E si fust longement en la prisone. [Compare Genesis 39.] Josep ne manga rien des viandes des Egipcienz, que payenz furent, for soulement de lur payn. Les geolers taunt amerent Josep que tote avoit sa volenté de fere quanque ly plust entre eux. ¶ Quynt que le mestre botiller e le mestre pestour de la court furent comandez a meisme cele prisone pur trespas qu’il avoient fet al roy Pharaon. Le botyler sounga que un cep vist ester devant ly, de qui treis braunches issyrent, floryrent, e taunt se enmeurerent que grapes evissirent: “De queux grapes je fesoi vyn issyr, e enploy un hanap pur servyr le roy.” Donque ly dit Josep, “Ce treis braunches sunt treis jours, aprés queux vous serrez engitté de prisone e serverez le roy en vostre office come avant feytes. E donque, pur Dieu, pensez de eyder moy, qe si su a tort, Dieu le siet.” ¶ “Je songay,” fet le pestour, “que je portoye sur mon chief treis corboillons pleynes de payns e autres viaundes de mon office. E les oysels de le firmament vindrent e mangerent de celes viaundes.” Donqe li dit Josep, “Dedenz le tierz jour serras estret de prisone, e pus pendu e decolé. E les oysels de le firmament mangerount vostre char.” En tot issi avynt come Josep avoit dit. [Compare Genesis 40.] | Deus aunz aprés cel delyverement, sounga le roy Pharaon un songe qe nul savoit interpreter. Donqe, primes, sovynt le botiler de Josep que longement avoit geu en prisoun. E counta a le roy coment il e le pestour soungerent, e come Josep le interpreta e dit a certes que lur avendreit. Ly roi fist amener Josep devaunt ly, e dit, “Je songay l’autrer que, come je estois pres de une eawe, je vi en une pasture molt plentyvouse. E seet vaches y pessoient les plus grasses que je unque vi. E seet mesgres a demesure vindrent aprés, e mangerent des herbes e devorerent les seet grasses vaches. E uncore remistrent auxi mesgres ou plus que avant ne furent. ¶ “E je songay aprés que me fust avis qe je vy seet espies molt bien engranees crestre, e set autres crestre de pres sauntz nul greyn aver. E si destruierent les seet espies engranés. Ces deus avisiouns esponez, si vous savez.” “Sire,” dit Josep, “ce deus avisiouns sunt une. Les seet grasse vaches e les espies bien engraneez signefient seet aunz que vendrount si plentivouses de herbes, greynz, e de tote manere viande cressaunt que unque tieles vewes ne furent si habundauntz. Les seet mesgre vaches e les seet espies nient granez signefient seet aunz que vendrount meyntenaunt aprés e devorrount tote la plenté qe avaunt vint. E tiele famine serra que tot vostre pueple murra de faym si vous ne ovrez le plus sagement.” ¶ Le roy Pharaon vist que Josep fust sages e averti. E parmi soun consail qu’il adonque avoit, fist Josep mestre de tot le realme de Egipte. E comaunda que tous ces gentz fuissent entendamit a ly. E la garde de curres e de tous ces avers baylla a ly. E Pharaon prist de son dey soun anel e le mist a le dey Josep, e mist a son col un cercle oryn. E comaunda que tous se agenoillassent a ly, e ly fist estre apelé partot “Salveour du mounde.” E tot le regne fust demené e governé par ly, e tot fust en son bandon, salve que le roy soulement retint le noun de roy. Le roy ly maria a Assenethe, une pucele molt gente, la file Putyfares, un grant mestre e prestre de la ley Egipciene engendré a Helyopoleos, une riche cyté. Josep avoit passé xxx aunz quant il fust delyvrez de prisoun. Josep comaunda garder la quinte partie de chescun maner de greyn. E prist tot le tresour le roi e achata blee partot le reigne. E fist gerners e le mist en bone garde. Quant les bons aunz furent passez, les cheres aunz vindrent. E dedenz les deus aunz premers fust tot le pays en famine. Josep vendi son blee e amassa tant de tresour que a merveille. Il achata a le cops le roy terres, rentes, e grant seignuries partot. Josep avoit de Deuz, les deus premers bons aunz, engendré de sa femme deus fitz: Manassen fust le eynsnee e Effrahym le puisné. [Compare Genesis 41, 47:13-21.] En la terre de Canaan, que molt fust loynz, de le flum Jordan, la ou Jacob maneit, grant famyne y aveit. Jacob comanda ces dys fitz prendre or e argent, e aler en Egipte pur akatre forment. Benjamyn remist a meson ov son piere. Les dis freres vyndrent a Josep e s’engenulerent devant ly. E prierent qu’il lur vel fist | vendre de soun blee. Quant Josep les vist, meyntenaunt les conust, e saveit assez bien lur langage. Mes rien ne voleit parler ov eux si par interpretour noun. Il lur demaunda dount erent. Ruben le eysné ly dit que de terre Canaan, e la fust lur pere e Benjamyn lur menour frere, molt destreint pur defaute de blee, e si furent totis dis freres de un piere, e le unzyme a mesoun ov le pere, “e nostre dossyme frere fust perduz. Nous ne savoms ou il devynt.” “Je say bien,” dit Josep, “qe vous estes fortz e vigerous, e que vous estes venuz pur espier nostre terre. E pur ce je vous retendrey en ma prisone. Mes si ce est voir que vous me avetz dit de vostre piere e de vostre menour frere, je voil qe un de vous aylle ov le forment qe je vous vendroy a vostre piere.” Il ly crierent merci, e diseient que lele gent furent. Il out pieté de ces freres, e lur dit, “Je voil que un de vous demeorge en ma prisone, e que ix allent a lur terre ov le blee. E quant vous revendrez arere, vous me amerrez vostre menour frere. E quant je voy que vous estes lele gent, dountz bien serra.” Ruben dit en son langage a ces freres, “E par resoun avom nous cest tribulacioun quar nous pecchames grantment en nostre frere. E je le vous disoy assez, e vous ne me vodriez oyr. E ensement en nostre piere, que ne cesse uncore soun dolour demener pur le pierte de ly.” Symeon remist en la prisone Josep. Lur sacz par le comaundement Josep furent emplis de forment. E Josep comaunda a un son serjaunt que quanqu’il avoient doné pur le furment fust privément remis chescun en son sac. Il pristrent congié e s’en alerent. Symeon remist en garde. Quant vindrent a mesoun, conterent a Jacob tot lur affere. E il se tint tot engynez pur ce que Symeon remist en prison e pur Benjamyn que irreit en Egipte. Il overyrent lur sacz e troverent tot le aver que il avoient doné, dount molt s’en merveillerent. E Jacob ne savoit que fere. Mes queique avensist, ce dit, tendrount lur lealté. Donque dit Ruben, “Sire, j’ay deus fitz lesqueux je vous delyveroy, si vous plest, tanque a la revenue Benjamyn.” [Compare Genesis 42.] “Ore vous appariletz e aletz o Dieu, bels fitz. Vous remeyne a joie arere.” ¶ Quant vindrent devant Josep, se mistrent a genoils devant ly. E ly rendyrent Benjamyn lur menour frere. Lors comaunda Josep que Symeon lur fust delyveré, e que lur sacz fuissent emplis de forment. E tot le aver qu’il il avoient aporté fust privément mis chescun en son sac. E en le sac Benjamyn fust mis un coupe que Josep avoit molt chere. Il demorerent la trois jours. E mangerent par eus meysmes pur ce que Hebreus furent. E quanqu’il parleyent entre eux Josep le conust assez bien, e ce ne saveient il poynt. E Josep meismes lur servi al manger. E de checun service Benjamyn avoit plus qe autre deus, dont il s’en merveilerent e molt dotierent estre engynnez. Ruben dit privément a le despencer. “Sire,” fet il, “le forment qe nous achatamus autre foiz ici, quant nous venimes a meson, nous trovamus en nos sacz tot le aver qe nous vous paymes. E de ce avioms merveille. E pur ce, sire, ore le avoms reporté a vous.” “N’eiez garde de ce,” fet il, “quar ce qe vous trovastes en vos sacz, vos dieus le vous aveyent doné.” [Compare Genesis 43, 44:1-2.] ¶ Tous les freres, engonoylant, pristrent congié de Josep e s’en alerent. Ne avoient gueres erré que deus serjantz e autres lur vindrent aprés. E les comaunderent trestouz | arester e overyrent lur sacz. E troverent la coupe. Quant les freres ce virent, molt s’enmayerent, e se tindrent enginez e al peryl de moryr. Quant furent remenez devant Josep, il lur encheson a molt durement de la coupe, e diseit que malement ly avoint rendu son bienfet que il lur fesoit. Il ne savoient qe fere. Ovés se rendirent trestous come ces serfs a sa volenté. Fet il, “Je vueil que vous tous an pez quitez, e vostre menour frere en qui sac ma coupe fust trové, qu’il demeorge a ma volenté.” Dont dit Judas, “Sire, grantz mercis. Vueillez, sire, entendre que nostre piere est molt auncien. E si cesti fitz ly fust toleit, il morreit pur duel quar pus qu’il perdi un fitz qu’il avoit unque pus en sa confort, ne solas ne ly purreit valer. Pur Dieu, sire, eiez merci de nostre piere e nous, que nous ne seioms enchesoun de sa mort.” [Compare Genesis 44.] ¶ Josep en prist grant pieté, e les lermes ly cheyerent des oils. E comaunda tote la meyne issir la sale. E il si fyrent. [Not in the Bible.] Dount dit Josep a haute vois, tendrement ploraunt, e parla Hebreu, “Je su Josep vostre frere, que vous vendistes a les marchauntz que me amenerent en Egipte. E pur vostre salu, Dieu me ordyna si. E si ay tote la seignurie e la mestrie de tote Egipte, e tous sunt a mon comaundement. E si je avoy fet le consail la reyne, Dieu ne me ust soffert avoir enjoyee cest honour. Ceste chierté ad duree deus aunz e uncore durra synke. E pur ce vueil je qe nostre piere, vos femmes, vos enfantz, e nostre perschem lignage vienge a moi. E je lur dorray terre Gessem, ou il puissent habiter.” Le freres molt se merveillerent. Fet il, “Ne vous en merveillez mie. Je su vostre frere. E vous poez savoir qe je vous conois quar quant je vous assis al manger, je vous assis chescun en son degré, primes le eysné, pus le secunde, pus le tierce, e chescun de vous en son degré.” E les acola e les beysa e les resçust a grant honour. Quant la meysné savoit qe ceux furent les freres Josep, molt les honorerent. E le roi meismes comaunda qe a grant fussent resçuz, e qu’il envoyast honorablement pur tot son lygnage. ¶ Josep charga curres, someis, e dis asnes de viaundes, robes, e tresour pur fere lur apparayl, de amener son piere e ces proscheyziz a ly. E dona Benjamyn iijc deners d’argent pur ly, e iijc deners d’argent pur porter al piere, e synke vestures molt riches e cheos. Quant vindrent a Jacob, lur ly counterent enterement coment vendirent Josep, e entierement la verité sauntz rien celer de nulle chose. Quant Jacob y ce oy, donque revesqui soun espyrit, e se releva come ce fust de dormyr. [Compare Genesis 45.] E tiele joie fesoit que ne poeit greynour fere, e dit, “Ore me sovynt de le songe Josep moun fitz que je vous dysey, qu’il serroit mestre e seignour de nous tous. Ore say je bien que ce que Dieu velt aver fet, nul ne le purra defere.” | Jacob fist sacrifice a Dieu avaunt son aler en Egipte. E ly mostra Dieu qui il irreit en Egipte e il serreit ov ly. ¶ Jacob e ces fitz e ces aliés furent resçu en Egipte a grant honour. E molt fu Josep lee qu’il avoit veu son piere. A molt grant joie demeuerent les Hebreus quant primes virent Josep. [Not in the Bible.] Le roi meismes les honora. E parla ov cynk de les freres Josep molt amiablement, e lur demaunda de quel mestier fuissent. E il dysent que pastours de lur arment furent e ces serfs, si ly plust a sa volenté. Le roy comaunda que la terre de Gessem lur fust delyveré, e qu’il fuissent bien herbergé. ¶ Le roy demanda Jacob de quele age estoit. “Sire,” fet il, “je su ore de la age de cent e trent aunz.” Jacob e les suens a grant honour remistrent en la terre Gessem. Les gentz du pais e de les reignes entour a Josep e ly donerent or, argent, tot lur arment, terres, rentes, e quanqu’il avoient, en eschaunche pur blee. E quant plus ne avoyent pur blee aquatre, il devyndrent serfs a le roy Pharaon pur lur stivaunce avoyr. ¶ Josep lur comaunda semer lur terres, e il lur trovereit semayl e quanque mestier lur fust si la qu’il avoient le premer croup engrangee. E cel croup avereynt il quinte. E depus por tous jours, en reconoissance de homage, il rendrent al roy la quinte partie de lur forment cressant chescun an. E il le graunterent. E uncore dure cele rente en Egipte. E pur ce que les proveyres de la terre ne devereynt vendre lur terres aportynauntes a lur temples (que furent ordynez a le service de lur temple), ne serfs devenyr pur lur sustinance avoir. E Josep lur ordina certeyn lyvereysoun des gerners le roy. Jacob e son lygnage en la terre de Egipte furent des Egipciens apelé Israel. E Israel est taunt a entendre come “cely qe vist Dieu,” quar is id est “vir,” ra id est “videns,” el id est “Deum.” Et sic Israel id est “vir videns Deum.” ¶ Jacob fust en Egipte dis e seet aunz. E quant approcha la mort, si fist apeler Josep. E ly comaunda e se fist affermer par serement que, quant il fust de vye, qu’il le amerreit e freit ensevilyr son corps en la terre Canaan ov ces auncestres. [Compare Genesis 47.] ¶ Quant Josep vist qe son piere ne schapereit la mort, prist ces deus enfauntz, Effraym e Manasses, e les amena devant son piere, que donque fust de le age de cent synkaunte sept anz. E pria le piere doner benesoun a ly e a ces enfauntz. Jacob benefia Josep son fitz quar tendrement le amad. Josep prist Effrem son eysné fis e mist a la destre Jacob son pere, e Manassen le puysné a la senestre, e pria soun piere les benestre. Jacob transposa en manere de crois ces meyns, e mist la meyn destre sur le chief Manassen le puisné e la senestre sur le chief Effraym le eysné. “Sire,” fet Josep, “metez vostre destre a le eysné, come resoun velt, e la senestre al puisne.” E vodra remuer les meyns son piere, e les meynz furent si peysauntz que Josep ne les poeit mover. “Donque,” dit Jacob, “ambedeus serrount grantz, mes le puisné serra le greindre.” [Compare Genesis 48.] Quant Jacob fust mort, ces fitz, solum les costumes Egipcienes, demenerent lur duel quaraunte jours. Mes avant son moriant benedist tous ces fitz, chescun par son noun. Ces fitz a grant honour le menerent vers Canaan, e quant avoient passé le flum Jordan, | la aresturent. E se reposerent tote une simaigne, e demenerent lur duel e lur pleynté. E pur cel duel que la fyrent, la gent du pays apelent cel lu le Egipciene Complegnement. Quant Jacob fust enterree en terre Canan delés Habraham e Ysaac, Josep e les autres tous retornerent en Egipte. Ces freres le doterent grantment, e li prierent merci, qu’il ne les grevast pur le resoun qu’il ly aveynt trespassé e hay en sa juvente. Fet il, “Ne eyez ja gardé de ce je vous aym e ameroi tote ma vie comes mes freres doi?” Puis vesqui Josep longement en la pais ov ces freres e amys tant qu’il avoit acomply cent e dis aunz. E quant il en malady fist assembler ces amis, e lur pria que, quant il serroit mort, qu’il ly feissent estre ensevely en Egipte, e, quant il departyrent de la terre de Egipte, qu’il amenasent ces os hors de la terre ovesque eux. Quant aveynt tote oy sa requeste, yl la graunterent. Josep morust en grant honour. Fust ensevely en Egipte. [Compare Genesis 49-50.] E al temps que Jacob morust, remistrent en Egipte, de ces fitz e son lignage que issist de ly, setaunce synke. ¶ Puis que Josep fust fyné, e le roy Pharaon son seignur fust mort, le pueple crust e multeplia si grantment qe a merveille. E tauntz furent des Hebreus que le roi de Egipte qe donque fust dota que eux ly e les Egipciens enchacerent de la terre. E dit qu’il les destrent dreit taunt par grevaunce e duresse de overeygnes que eux ne avereint volenté de fere generacioun. E come plus furent destreint, plus multiplierent, le roi lur fesoit fere deus cités grantz. E quant rien ne poeit esploiter par cele voie, ordyna deus dames, Suphia e Phua. E les comanda que eles fuissent a chescun enfauntement de les femmes Hebreus de Israel, e qu’il feissent ocire tous le madles e gardassent les femeles. Les dames le graunterent, mes eles furent bones femes ne voleynt offendre Dieu. E ne velereit mie, ne oseyent pur pieté, nul ocyre. Quant le roy savoit que nul fust ocis, demanda les dames pur quoy ne aveyent fet som comaundement. E eles ly diseyent, “Sire, les dames Hebreus de les fitz Israel sunt plus sages qe nous ne fumes, e sovent lur temps mieux qe nous ne savoms, e aveyent enfaunté avant qe vous venimes a eux.” Donqe ordyna le roy certeynes justices de aler partote la terre, e les madles qe erent nés serreient neiez, e les femmeles serreyent gardés. [Compare Exodus 1.] ¶ En icel temps une dame des Hebrus enfanta si avoit un fitz tres bel. E sa grant belté le mussa e garda a myeux que ele poeit. Issi qe ele le garda treis mois e grant voit que plus ne le poeit garder qu’il ne serroit aparçu, si fist un vessel auqe bel e le fist bien peyer de dentz e dehors qe ewe ne poeit entre. E le mist suevement en une eawe. Marie le suere l’enfaunt aloit de loynz pur vere ce qe avendreit de cele chose. E grant duel fesoit. | Atant vint la fille Pharaon le roy, se deduiaunt pres de cele ewe. E vist cele vessele flotant, e demanda quei ce fust. Le vessel fut tret hors de le ewe. E la damoisele vist qe ce fust un emfes. E dit que ele savoit bien qu’il fust Hebreu, e grant duel serreit ocyre si bel enfes. E dit que ele le freit noryr. Atant vint Marie la suere l’enfant, e dit, “Ma damoysele, volez vous que je vous querge une feme Hebrewe pur norysser l’enfaunt?” “Oil,” fet ele, “je vous pri.” Marie vint corant a sa mere, e dit, “Mere, venez avant. La file le roi vous maund par moy qe vous viegnez a ly. E vous averez vostre enfaunt a noryr, e en nulle manere reconoissez qu’il est vostre.” La mere vint a la file le roy, e resçust l’enfaunt a noryr. E si avoit bels donus e moltz pur la noreture. E la damoisele vint sovent a la noresse, e la noresse a ly, pur vere l’enfaunt. E pur ce qu’il fust trovez pres de l’ewe, fust apelé Moyses. ¶ E quant Moyses fust gueres de age, si fust molt bels. E la file le roy molt le ama, e le roi le ama molt tendrement pur la resoun sa fyle. Un jour le roy prist sa coroune entaillé de un ydre e la mist sur le chief Moyses. E il la prist e la gitta jus a terre. E le roy se corosa. Un proveyre de lur ley ce vist e corust sur l’enfaunt, e le vodra meyntenaunt aver ocis si sa dame ne ust esté. E dit que par cesti serra la coroune de Egipte abatue. E aprés issi fust. ¶ Quant Moyses fust bien parcru, vint la ou les Hebreus furent, par travals e opressiouns des overaignes, trop chargés e malmis. E vist un Egipcien feryr ledement un Hebreu. Moyses out pieté de sa nacion. En eyde de le Hebreu, feri le Egipcien qu’il morust meyntenant. Moyses regarda entour ly e nully ne voit, e pur ce fust molt lié. Un autre jour vynt Moises a les overours e vist un Egipcien ledement tenceron un Hebreu. Donqe dit Moyses en bone manere a le Egipcien que le tort aveit, “Vous ne fetez mie issi de tencer cely qe coupe ne ad.” “Ha, ha,” fet le Egipcien. “Vous ne me devez mie ocyre come feytes nyagueres mon compaignoun.” Quant Moyses saveit qe sum pecchié fust desconeit, molt fu dolent e ne savoit qe fere. Quant le fet fust mostré al roy, yl comaunda que, si il purreit estre pris, que meyntenaunt fust ocis. ¶ Moyses ne savoit que fere mes s’en ala privément hors du pays. Vynt en la terre Madyan, bien loynz de Egipte, e se assist delees un puytz ou les pastours soleynt abeveryr lur bestes. Lors vindrent les seet filles Raguel, que fust de le lignage as Hebreus, e abevererent lur arment. Les pastours de la contresurvindrent pur abeveryr lur bestes devaunt eux. ¶ Moyses hardiement defendy les puceles, e fist, “Lur bestes come primes vindrent, primes | estre enbeveris.” Les puceles vindrent a mesone e counterent lur piere coment un home estraunge les delyvera des pastours. E il lur demaunda purquoi ne ly aveyent amené a mesone ov eux. E il ly di, “Seynt sire, nous ne savyoms mie vostre volenté.” “Alez tost,” fet il, “pur ly.” Une ala a cele fontaigne e le trova. E le mena ov ly a Raguel son piere, qe ly reçust, e retynt ov ly par serement. E pus ly dona Sephoran sa fille, de quele il engendra deus fitz, Eleazar e Gersan. E molt mercia Dieu que issi ly avoit delyvrés de la mayn le roi Pharaon. Moises molt ama ces fitz, e les endocrina de amer Dieu e doter sa poesté sur totes choses. [Compare Exodus 2.] ¶ Pharaon le roi de Egipte morust. E un autre roy Pharaon vint aprés e regna en Egipte. E destreyneit le pueple Hebreu plus que son predecessour ne feseit a son poer. Mes Dieu par sa poesté les delyvera bien. [Compare Exodus 1:8-10.] Un jour garda Moyses les onewayles Raguel son sogre en la pastoure vers le mount de Oreb. Si vist en le mount un busshon elluminé de cui merveillouse flaume evissist, e apparust fierement ardant e ne ardeit mie. Moyses voleit approchier le busshon. E une vois ly dist, “Moyses, esteez la, e ostez vos sondlers, quar le lu ou vous esterez est seint. Je su Dieu, que su venuz parler ov tey. Je ay oy en ciel le clamour de mon pueple Hebreu, que le roi destreint si fierement en Egipte. E vous irrez a ly de par moy, e dirrez que je ly maund qu’il seofre mon pueple issir de son realme e aler la ou vous les amerrez. E je serroi en vostre bouche e vous aprendroi quanque vous dirrez.” “Sire,” fet il, “je ne su mie de bone eloquence. Maundez un autre, quel que vous vodrez.” E Dieu fist senblant de sei corocer, e dit, “Ore irrez, e vous encounterez Aaron vostre frere, qe quant joie averad de vous. E vous irrez ambedeus ensemble. E il est de bone eloquence e si sage qu’il siet bien fere mon message al roy. E je serroi en vos bouches a quanqe vous parlerez. E ceste verge porterez en vous, e en ceste ferrez vous mes signes.” Moyses prist la verge, e Dieu ly dit, “Quei tenez vous?” “Sire,” fet il, “une verge.” “Oste la de vous.” Il la gitta a la terre, e meyntenant devynt une colnure. E Moyses comença fuyr. E Dieu ly dist, “Pernez la par la cowe.” E il la prist, e meyntenaunt devint verge. Dist Dieu, “Metez vostre mayn en vostre seyn.” E il si fist. “Ore, retrahez la meyn.” E il si fist. E donque fust la meyn feru de lepre si hidousement qe a merveille. “Metez la meyn en ton seyn.” E il si fist. “Ore, la retrahez.” E il si fist. E donque fust tote seyne. “Par cestes signez,” dist Dieu, “conoistra le pueple de Israel que vous avez parlé ov moy. E je lur dorray terre riche e plentyvouse decoraunte de let e mel, la terre Caney, Ethey, Amorey, Ferezey, Evey, Jebusey, Gergesey.” | ¶ Moyses ala prendre congié a Raguel soun sogre, e li counta le comaundement Dieu. Prist Sephora sa femme e ces deus fis, e se mistrent en le chemyn vers Egipte. Atant vint un angel. E lur fust avis qu’il volent ocyre le eynsné fitz. E Sephora le aparçust, e prist tost un cayllon e circumsist son fitz. E le aungel donque s’en parti de eux. L’enfaunt seigna fierement, e Sephora dist a Moyses, “Pur vous ai je espandu le sang mon fitz, e vous estes espous de sang a mei. Si je usse pris espous de le lignage dount je su nee, dont ne usse je meyn ensenglanté.” E pur ce qe issi dit Moyses ne la vodra mener ov ly. E l’enfaunt fust molt fiebele. E pur ce les remaunda Moyses arere a sojorner ov Raguel soun piere. ¶ Lors s’en ala Moyses vers Egipte e encountra Aaron son frere, que molt fust leé de ly. Moyses ad counté coment Dieu ly avoit comaundé, e de la verge e de la meyn e totes ces autres afferes. Vindrent al roy Pharaon e li counterent le maundement lur Dieu, e qu’il lessast le pueple Hebreu aler a trois jornés en le desert e fere sacrifice a ly. Quant le roi le oy, molt despitousement lur dist, “Qui est cel Dieu? Je n’ay cure de vostre Dieu. Mes ore sai je bien par vous que le pueple Hebreu est trop eesé en ma terre. E pur ce sunt il le plus orgoillous.” E comaunda que partot fuissent plus grevousement destreint qe avaunt ne furent. [Compare Exodus 3-4, 5:1-9.] Moyses pria Dieu ayde. E Dieu repleny la terre Pharaon de mousches, quane grauntz anuys lur feseit partot. Mes en la terre de Gessem, la ou les Hebreus demorerent, nulle moussche vynt. Pharaon pria Moyses delyverer sa terre de mousches, e il lur grauntereit sacrefier en sa terre demeyne. E ce ne velt Moyses mes a trois jornés de sa terre. Le roy ly graunta. E quant fust delyvres de mouches, donque le roy desdit quaunque avoit eynz graunté. Puis maundra Dieu partot le reigne Pharaon mortalité de bestes, e uncore ne vodra le roy granter Moyses sa requeste. Dieu comaunda Moyses e Aaron prendre le poudre de la terre e gittre sus. E il si fyrent. E tiel torment et malade de cors vint en Egipte que les enchateours le roi e tot le pueple furent si grevez que ne le poeint suffryr. E uncore ne vodra le roy granter. Dieu maunda en la terre de Egipte grisil, vent, tonayres, sondres medlés de feu, que abati arbres, mesouns, foilles, herbes, arsist. Quant le roi vist qu’il ne le poeit endurer, donqe granta quaunqe Moyses velsist. E quant fust delyvres, donque tot le desdit. Ces mesaventures e autres plusours manda Dieu sur la terre de Egipte, e la repleny de reynes e des verms. E al dreyn fist tiele mortalité de honmes qe de chescune mesone le eynsné fitz morust. E le fitz le roi meismes morust. E en tote Gessem unqe anuy ne damage vint de totes cestes mesaventures. E les mortz gyseyent desevelys. Quant le roi ce vist, donque granta le pueple Hebreu aler. Mes, principalment, dis plages maunda Dieu en Egipte avant que le pueple poeit | aver congié de passer hors de la terre de Egipte a trois jornés pur lur sacrifice fere, les queux plages sunt notés par ces deus vers:               ¶ Sanguis, rana, culex, musce, pecus, ulcera, grando,               Brucus, caligo, mors optinuere necando. ¶ Donque fust le nounbre de Hebreus sis cent millers, estre les muliers, enfantz, e la menue gent. Dieu lur comaunda appariller lur eyre, e apprompter de lur veysyns de Egipte les riche vestimentz, vessels, or e argent, e totes les richesses qu’il poeynt. E il lur a presteyent volenters quar il entendeyent que eux se retornassent hastivement. Quatre cent aunz e trent furent passé que les gentz de Israel primes vindrent a Josep en Egipte. [Compare Exodus 7-12.] Moyses prist les os Josep come eynz avoit pries a ces fitz, e s’en ala ov tot le pueple vers la Rouge Mer. E une mie en senblaunce de un pyler passa devant eux pur lur aprendre lur chemyn. E quant fust anuyeté, un clarté de su lur passa devant pur ce que eux ne devereint forneyer. E se herbergerent en Etham. [Compare Exodus 13:19-22.] E Dieu comaunda Moysen que le pueple alast avant e se herbergast entre Magdalom e la Rouge Mer. E le pueple si fist. E dit qe, si Pharaon donque venist, tous furent malballis quar il sunt enclos de mer e Magdalom, que fuir ne schaper porreint, “e par aventure nous sumes amenez ici de estre ici ocis, pur aver suffissaunce sepulcre que en Egipte aver ne purrons.” Donque dit Moyses, “Ne vous amaez de rien ne dotez le roi de rien quar Dieu combatera pur vous.” Le roy assembla synt cent curres e grant host sauntz nounbre e tous les meillours de son reygne, e sywy les Hebreus. Moyses par le comaundement Dieu leva sa verge e ferist en la Rouge Mer. E la devynt une veie trobele, e la mer s’estut de une part e d’autre come ce fust un mur. E le pueple Hebreu passa salvement cele mer par cel chemyn. Le roy e son host e ces curres entrerent meisme le chemyn. Mes quant Moyses ov son pueple fust aryvé, si fery de sa verge en la mer. E la mer encloist le roy e tous les suens qe unque un ne eschapa, que ne furent neiez trestous. [Compare Exodus 14.] ¶ Moyses, Aaron, e Marie lur suere esturent e virent les curres le roy e ces gentz reversez en la mer. Molt furent leé. Marie prist son tympaigne e les autres dames, e chauntoient devant, e les autres aprés:       ¶ “Cantemus Domino gloriose” etc. ¶ Treis jours alerent par le desert e ne troverent eawe. Pus vindrent en Marach e troverent ewe a plenté, mes ele fust si amere qe nul la poeit goter, quar mara ert apelé, id est, “amara.” Dieu mostra un fust a Moyses. E il le prist e mist en le ewe, e fust assez douce. E les Hebreus burent a plenté e enbeveryrent lur bestes. De ileque tornerent en Elym, e la troverent xii fountaignes e lxx palmers. [Compare Exodus 15.] E demorerent en Syn, entre Synay e Elym, | en un molt delitable lu. Le pueple fist grant grundilement a Moyses qu’il aveyent viaunde a plenté en Egipte, mes ore sunt estre lur gree mené en le desert e apoi viverent de faym Moises de ce parla a Dieu. E il ly dist qu’il pluereit payn de cel a eux. E comanda qu’il le quilassent chescun jour ce que lur suffiereit, sauntz plus ou sauntz rien estuer. E al syme jour, lur pluereit le double quar, al seme, rien ne pluereit. E a cel sime jour quilassent pur deus jours. Quant les Hebreus virent le payn de ciel chey entre eux, diseynt, “Manhu, manhu,” en lur langage, en amerveillant, “quei est ce?” C’est a dire, “Manna, manna, quid est hoc?” Manna est interjectio admirantis, e le payn est apelé manna. Puis dit fust qe le pueple avent plus pris de cel payn que ne lur suffirreit, e qu’il l’aveit escué. Donque Moyses se coroça grantement, e fist une mesure que fust apelé gomor. E ov cele mesure departirent lur payn entre eux, e al sime jour le doublerent. E de tiel payn vesquirent quaraunte aunz, tant come furent en le desert. [Compare Exodus 16.] ¶ E de Syn passa le pueple en Raphadyn. E quant ileque ewe ne troverent, tencerent Dieu e Moyses. E Moyses se dota que il le velsist aver lapidé. E donque comaunda Dieu a Moyses feryr sur la piere de Oreph ov sa verge. E il si fist. E grant plenté de ewe issist de la dure piere, dount tous burent. E Dieu prist de Hebreus vengaunce pur lur tensoun, quar Amalech le roy vint contre eux en grant ost. E Moyses comaunda Josue ov les meillours des Hebreus issir a la batayle contre Amalech. E les Hebreus furent bien armés. Moyses, Aaron, e Ur monterent un terere pur vere les combataunz. Moyses ora a Dieu pur les Hebreus, leva ces mayns vers le ciel. E tant come ces mayns furent levez, son pueple aveit la victorie. E quant furent abcesez, le pueple Amalech aveit la mestrie. E pur ce que Moyses meismes ne poeynt sustenir ces mayns en levant, Aron e Ur les sustindrent sus tanque a seyr, e son puple de Ebreus avoit la mestrie. [Compare Exodus 17.] ¶ De Raphadyn se tornerent e se herbergerent en un val desouz le mount de Synay. Donque dit Dieu a Moysen, “Va seyntefiez ma gent, e comandez qu’il tienent mon comandement. E dites que nul ces trois jours ne aproche al pié del Mont Synay ne a sa mulier, mes que il facent laver lur dras. E je descendrey en une mie parler ov eux e demostrer ma glorie. E si nul de eux autrement fra, de hydouse mort morra. ¶ Aprés le tierz jour passé, tonayre e sondre furent oys en le mound Synay, en semblance de s’en descendi Jesu en le Mound e aprist oyauntz tous ces preceptz tenir e la parole Dieu. La gent trembloit pur peur de la parole Dieu (taunt fust espauntable!), e veient la fumé de le mount sus mon|ter, e la busyne oyent soner. Moyses le dit que Dieu le fet pur eux esprover, e que eux li dussent le plus amer. [Compare Exodus 19.] Moyses mounta le mount de Synay e parla ov Dieu. E Dieu ly comaunda parler ov son pueple qu’il preissent or e argent, pieres preciouses, vestimentz, e autres grauntz richesses qu’il aveyent, e feissent fere une tabernacle solum le devys e l’ordeynement Dieu. [Compare Exodus 25-26.] Le fesure de le covre fust comaundé a Besselehel le fitz Ury e a Uolyab, que furent sotils de chescun maner de overaigne. Le tabernacle fust fet solum l’ordeynement Dieu meismes, e vous poez bien saver que richement, sotilement, e noblement fust le tabernacle fet, que Dieu meismes ordyna. E as overours science dona de le parfere a soun devis. Plus riche chose terriene ne poeit estre vewe de oyl quant tot fut fet. Comaunda Dieu qe les riche vestimentz, le arche de le seintuayre, urcels, chaundelabres, basyns, lavours, tables, auter, encensers, riches, dias de or corcynes y furent myses. Dedenz le tabernacle la rychesse que la fust je ne vous say deviser. [Compare Exodus 31, 36-39.] ¶ En le secound an le premer meis, fust le tabernacle dressié. E Dies le covery de une mie e de un feu de ciel. E tant come cele clarté y fust nul ni osa aprimer le tabernacle. Dieu comaunda Moyses fere deus busynes d’argent pur assembler la gent, e ordina les fitz Aaron pur soner les busynes. E pur princes assembler, il les sonereynt un petit a basse vois. “E pur ceus devers orient, les sonerez plus longement. E fetez soner e resoner, si tous vels assembler. E pur ceus de mydy, aver fetez deus foyz le soun partyr. Si vous volez trestous assembler, donque longement covent soner. Si vous volez feste tener, doucement e peisiblement devez soner. E si pur guere soner volez, bostoysement e durement les sonez.” [Compare Numbers 10:1-10.] Quant tous avoit Moises ensemblé, donque comanda tot le pueple en la garde Aaron son frere e Ur. E disoit al pueple que si nul estrangerie lur survenist, qu’il alast a Aron e Ur, e il lur dirreint quanque fere devereynt. E il meismes mountereit le mount Synay pur parler ov Dieu. E en cel mount demora xl jours sauntz rien manger ou beyvre. [Compare Exodus 31:12-18.] Donque aprist Dieu a Moyses de bouche a bouche la ley qu’il aprendreit as Hebreus. E prist deus tables, e escrit cele ley, e la bayla a Moyses. E les tables furent de piere. Dementiers que Moyses fust en le mount, le pueple vint a Aaron, e diseyent que Moyses lur dustre fust passé de eux. E dyseyent que certeignement il vueillent aver un dieu pur aorer. Aron dota lur malice, e ne lur osa contredyre. E fust en doute qu’il le velsissent lapider. E lur graunta quanque voleyent aver. E lur comaunda porter or, anels, firmayls, e autres gyeuls plusours. E il les prist trestous, e les ? gitta en un fornays. E quant de le fornais e de le fu issist un veel de or, tot le pueple le honora, e dit que ce fust lur dieu en qui il creyent e que lur amena hors de Egipte. Aaron fust drescier un auter, e fist crier que lendemeyn serreit le solempnité de lur dieu, qu’il avoit fet d’or, celebré. Lendemeyn le pueple prist cores, tympaignes, e autres instrumentz. Chaunterent, carolerent, e melodie a demesure fyrent. E pur cel veel de or, oblierent Dieu, le Creatour de ciel e de terre. Dieu dit a Moyses, “Le pueple de Israel m’ad tot gerpy, e tote vostre apryse ad lessé. E ad fet un veel d’or, e cel honourent, e lur dieu apelent. Soffrez que je me venge de eux e je les destrueray trestous, e je vous froy mestre de autre gentz.” “Sire,” fet il, “eyez merci de vostre pueple, e serez amentive de la promesse que vous, Sire, avez promis a cel pueple. E si vous preissez ciel vengement, donque dirreynt les Egipciens que coyntement lur dieu lur avoit amené pur ocyre en le desert.” Dieu dit, “S’il ne fust pur vous, ne serreit cel pueple esparnié.” ¶ Moyses, descendi de le mount Synay, vint a Josue e as eynsnés que le atendoiens en un rescouns. E oyerent le cry e les busynes e la melodie que les gentz fyrent. Josue dit, “Je crey que le pueple combat ov lur enymis.” “Nanil,” fet Moyses, “il n y a nul que lur asayle.” Quant Moyses vint al pueple e vist ce qu’il avoient fet, e qu’il honorerent le veel d’or, gitta a un roche les tables de piere en qui Dieu de son dey avoit escrit la ley que le Hebreus devereynt tenyr. E les debrusa par corouse. E prist un bastoun e tot de frussa le veel d’or e l’auter e quanque le pueple honoreit. E se coroça fierement, e dit que vengement enprendra. E demanda Aaron coment ce fut. E il ly pria merci, e ly counta de mot en autre coment il avoit fet a la requeste du pueple, e coment le veel d’or issist de le fornais e de le fu. E Moyses cria, e dit, “Tous ceux que sunt de Dieu, venent de cest part tot ycy.” Se treyent ly fitz Levy. “E armes vous tost, e ociez tot cel pueple la que aorerent le veel d’or. E nul n’esparnie — parent, frere, ami, conpaignoun, ne autre.” A cele occisioun, grant cri e noyse fust. E la furent ocis vynt treis milers del pueple que honora le veel d’or. E tiele vengaunce donqe fust prise pur cel pecchié. Moyses seintefia le pueple que aveit cel occisioun fet, e molt reprist les autres de le assent que avoient assentuz le honorer le veel e lessir Dieu lur Creatour. “Ore irroi a Dieu e prieroi merci pur vous.” Moyses molt pitousement pria Dieu merci pur son pueple. [Compare Exodus 32.] “Moyses,” dit Dieu, “le pueple est de sy dur cuer que il ne me creit, ne les myracles qu je faz ne veit. E tous que pecchent contre moi je les osteray de moun lyvre. E envoieray un angel que destruerat Cananeum, Etheum, Amoreum, Ferezeum, Eveum, Jebuseum, e Gergeseum. E je dorray a ton lignage le terre que je promis a vos auncestres.” Moyses fist descendre le tabernacle e le fist tendre en un autre lu. | Dieu descendy en un pyler de mie devant le us de le tabernacle. E tous, de lur herberges, s’enclynoient a ly molt parfoundement. Moises dit a Dieu, “Sire, que ferroi je de cest pueple? Je ne os remuer de yci le tabernacle, ne je ne pus cet pueple conduire ne amener de ycy si vous ne volez ov nous aler. Bel Sire Dieu, eyez merci pur vostre pieté de vostre pueple, e me grauntez, si vous plest, qe je pus vere vostre beneuré face.” Dieu ly dit, “Je vueil pur vostre amour aver merci de le pueple. Mes grace averez vous, e ma face ne poez vous vere. Venez demayn matyn a le mount, e je vous dirroi ce qe vous frez. E voiez que nully beste ne autre approchie al pié de le mount.” ¶ Quant les autres furent endormy, Moyses mounta le mount ataunt vist le piler de la mie. E Moyses l’enclyna molt parfondement, e dit, “Bel Sire Reis e Dieu onnipotent, eiez merci de vostre pueple e moi, e donez grace a nous qe nous vous puissoms amer, honorer, e servyr. E vyen ov nous, e nous gerpissez mie, quar bien savez qe de dur cuer est vostre pueple.” Dieu ly dit, “Je vous mosteray par signe que je su Dieu onnipotent e qe je vous aym. Tenez bien moun comaundement, e je destruerai tote gent que contre vous sount. Je destrueray Amoreum, Cananeum, Ferezeum, Etheum, Gebuseum. E gardez qe ne eiez amisté ne compagnie a nul de lor vie. Destruez auters, temples, simulacres. E ne honorez nul dieu si mei noun, que parole a vous. E ce apernez al pueple. E portez ces deus tables ov vous, que je vous ay escrit. E lur apernez la ley.” Moyses prent ces tables e descent de le mount. E aprent le pueple la parole Dieu. E le pueple que ly veit si ad grant merveille que il ad deus cornes en sa teste, e targa aler a ly. E Moyses dit, “Purquoi ne venez vous a moy?” E le pueple ly dit, “Vous avez cornes que avant ne soliez aver.” Quant Moyses le aparçust, covery sa face, e bien savoit qe ce fust de Dieu. E tous jours la covery quant il fust hors de le tabernacle. E quant il fust leynz, donque la descovery. [Compare Exodus 33-34.] ¶ Moises conforta le pueple e le aprist ce que Dieu ly out comaundé. [Not in the Bible.] ¶ En le secound an pusqu’il enterent en le desert, vynt Dieu e comaunda Moyses qu’il enbrevast son pueple issi, qe ceux que furent de vynt aunz ou plus serreynt enbrevez a bataille (les menours e autres serreint escrit a altre diverse offis e overaignes), e qe de chescun lygnage fust fet un prince pur a mestrer le pueple, estre de le lygnage Levy que ne serra escrit a bataille ne as overaignes. [Compare Numbers 1:1-4.] ¶ De le lygnage Ruben le eysné, furent quaraunte sys millers, estre les femmes e les enfauntz, desqueux Elyzur la fitz Sedeur fust prince pur eux mener e lur bataille ordyner. [Compare Numbers 1:5, 1:20-21, 2:10-11.] ¶ De lignage Symeon, synkaunte nuef myl e treis centz, estre les femmes e les enfauntz, de queux Salamyel fust prince. [Compare Numbers 1:6, 1:22-23, 2:12-13.] |       [quire 11] ¶ De le lignage Gaad, quaraunte synk mylers sis centz e synkaunte, de cui Elysab fust prince. [Compare Numbers 1:14, 1:24-25, 2:14-15.] ¶ De le lignage Juda le bon guerreour, seissante quatosse mylers e sys centz, de cui Naason fitz Amynada fust prince. [Compare Numbers 1:7, 1:26-27, 2:3-4.] ¶ De le lygnage Ysacar, sinquaunte quatre myl quatre cent, de cui Nathanael le fitz Suhar fust prynce. [Compare Numbers 1:8, 1:28-29, 2:5-6.] ¶ De le lygnage Zabulon, synquante sept myl quatre centz, de cui Elyab le fitz Elon fust prince. [Compare Numbers 1:9, 1:30-31, 2:7-8.] ¶ De Effraym e Manasse que furent les fitz Josepe, setaunte deus myl e sept centz, de le un lignage, Elysama, e de l’autre, Gamaliel. [Compare Numbers 1:10, 1:32-35, 2:18-21.] ¶ De le lignage Benjamyn, trent cynk myl e quatre cent, de cui Abidon fust prince. [Compare Numbers 1:11, 1:36-37, 2:22-23.] ¶ De le lignage Daan, quaraunte deus myl e sept centz, de cui Ahiezel fust prince. [Compare Numbers 1:12, 1:38-39, 2:25-26.] ¶ De le lignage Asser, quaraunte un myl synk cent, de cui Phezyel fust prince. [Compare Numbers 1:13, 1:40-41, 2:27-28.] ¶ De le lignage Neptalym, synkaunte treis myl quatre cent, de cui Ahyrac fust prince. [Compare Numbers 1:15, 1:42-43, 2:29-30.] ¶ Quant furent trestous nounbré, e ordiné, e escrit — soulement de ceux qe aveyent vynt aunz ou plus, que serreint entendaunt a bataille — donque fust la nounbre vjc mil iij mil v c L de bone gent, estre les fenmes e les enfauntz e les autres menu serjauntz, e estre le lyn Levy, de cui ne avetz uncore rien oy. [Compare Numbers 1:44-47, 2:32-33.] ¶ Dieu parla a Moysen e comaunda que le lignage Levy fust anounbree, de cui furent vynt deus myls, estre les femmes e les enfauntz. E de yceux, vynt myl synk centz e vintaunte furent de le age de xxx aunz ou plus. E a cel lignage, par le comaundement Dieu, fust le tabernacle e le arche, e les riche vestimentz e aournementz que leynz furent baylés, a servyr e garder. E pur porter le tabernacle meismes, furent ordyné de les plus fortz de cel lyn, xliij myl. E a le arche e as autres choses — encensers, alters, lavours, basyns — furent ordynés, come mestrer fust. Les buefs, chamails, chyvals, e autres bestes que porterent les seintes choses ou carierent rien apendant al tabernacle serount covertz molt estroytement de riche dras. E les seintes choses serrount envolupes molt richement en draps e instrumentz molt preciouses. [Compare Numbers 1:48-54, 4:1-14.] Le premer mois de le secound an, must le pueple de le pie de le mount. E une mie en le desert covery le tabernacle, e une mie aloit, conduaunt le pueple devaunt. [Compare Numbers 9:1, 9:17.] ¶ Lors dit Moyses a Abab le fitz Raguel de le lyn de Israel (frere le mulier Moyses), que vint a Moyses ov la femme e les deus fitz Moyses, Eliezel e Gersan, qu’il avoit engendré en la terre Madyan. E Raguel meismes y vynt quant Amalech fust vencu. E pria Moyses molt tendrement a Abab qu’il velsist aler ov eux. E il dit qu’il retornereit a la terre Madian dont yl vynt. | Moyses ly dit que si il velsist aler ov eux, il averoit grant mestrie sur tous quar bien savoit estre seygneur e dustre. Donque granta Abab aler ov eux. Donque se must tot le pueple, e la mie lur passa devant. Quant avoient erré treis jornees, donque groundila le pueple veis Dieu e diseieit que trop furent traveiles, e parlerent entre eux que malement avoient erree puis qu’il vyndrent de Egipte. Dount Dieu se corasa grantment, e maunda un feu de ciel sur cel pueple, e destrueit plusours de eux. Lors pria Moyses pur le pueple, e Dieu fist le feu cesser. E pur cel fu, fust le lu ou le fu fust primes espris apelé Espernement. ¶ Quant vindrent as Sepulcres de Coveytyse, ileque tendirent lur paveilons. E le tabernacle fust tendu. Donque tensyrent le Hebreu Dieu pur ce qu’il n’avoient a manger autre viande qe manna, e desirent aver char pur manger. Moyses oy le groundilement de le pueple. E pria Dieu qu’il li grantast eyde de governer tant de gent, e qu’il lur maundast de char quar forement le desirent. Dieu descendy par la mie en le tabernacle, e comaunda Moyses qu’il amenast a le tabernacle setaunte de les eysnes e plus sages Hebreus. E Moyses le fist. Dieu prist de le espyrit Moyses e emply les setaunce Hebreus de cel espirit. E donque devyndrent sages de prophecie e molt devoutz a le eyde Moyses. Dieu dist que le pueple que desiroit aver char le avereit assez plenerement tot un mois entier. Donqe dit Moyses, “Sire, ou averez vous taunt de bestes — buefs ou berbis — ou char que suffysereit a taunt de pueple un meis enter?” Dieu savoit ce qu’il veleit fere. Un vent comença venter dont tant de quailles vindrent par les herberges e cheyrent partot si espessement que le pueple les quyleyt e grant mounceles fesoit. E tant avoit que le pueple ne savoit quey freit de eux. Dieu prist vengement pur lur coveytise de le pueple: manda mortalité entre eux dount grant pueple morust. [Compare Numbers 10-11.] ¶ De ileque s’en alerent en Asserot. Donque dit Marie a Aaron, “Pur quey ne parle Dieu a nous come fet a Moyses nostre frere? E fet Dieu ce soulement pur ly, e ne mie pur nous e nostre desert?” E Dieu, qe bien savoit que ele le disoit pur envye, descendi par la mie en le tabernacle, e parla a Marie devant Moyses e Aaron, e dit, “Coment fustes vu si osee de detrere mon serjaunt derere ly, a qui je meismes parle de bouche a bouche? E je ly aym | e il moy, e je parle a ly e ne mie a vous ne a autre si noun par signe ou par sounge.” E pur cele detraccioun Dieu fery Marye de hydouse lepre. Aaron se esmaia grantment pur Marie sa suere, e pria Moises orer a Dieu pur ly. E Moyses si fist. Donqe ly dit Dieu, “Aprés seet jours serra tote seyne.” Ele fust ostee e degitté de le pueple seet jours, aprés queux ele fust tote seyne e reprise a le pueple. [Compare Numbers 12.] ¶ Donque tot le pueple se remua de Assarot en Pharan. Donque par le comaundement Dieu prist Moyses xij honmes de les xij lignages, c’est a savour Samuad, Saphat, Calef le fitz Zephone, Josue, Egal, Faltye, Gediel le fitz Zoty, Gaddy, Amyel, Stur le fitz Michael, Naaby, Guhel le fitz Machy. Ces xij furent maundez de Pharan pur espier la terre Canan que Dieu avoit promis as Hebreus. Ceux xij alerent de Pharan par medy vers Canaan, e envyronerent la terre Canaan. E puis revyndrent, e diserent que la terre Canan fust molt riche e replenie de tous biens — bele tere e delitable de bois, ewes, prees, fontaignes assez beles, e plentivouse de totes frutz: “Les cites sunt bien garnyes de murs. E les gentz sunt bien apris de guere. E la, sunt geauntz de lyn Enach, fortz e vaillauntz e grauntz. Vers medy meynt Amalech. ¶ “En le mountaignes sunt Ethey, Jebuzey, Amorey. Ly Cananen sunt joste la mer sur la ryvage de le flum Jordan. Trestous nous purront devorer, si il nous purreynt encountrer.” [Compare Numbers 13.] Lors Caleph e Josue vrent le Hebreus estre desconforté, diseynt, “Seignours, ne le creez pas! Aloms. Ov le eyde de Dieu, tous sunt les nos. Nous les prendroms tous a nostre volenté.” Les Hebreus furent molt esbahis, e diseynt que malement lur est avenu que issi sunt amenez de lur terre, ou il aveyent quanque mestier lur fut. E ore sunt en le desert, e apoy meorent de feym, e serrount ocis e destruit de lur enymis. E murmurerent a Dieu e a Moyses. E Dieu se coroça fierement e descendy par la mie en le tabernacle, e dit qu’il destruerent tot le pueple pur lur dur cuer e maveise conscience e creaunce. Moyses ly pria molt tendrement e molt pitousement merci. E Dieu ly dit, “Ceux que me ount tencé e detret e ne ount fet mon comandement ne verrount jamés cele terre que je promis a lur auncestres. Mes a Josue e Caleph, qe me cryment, e a lur lignage, la dorroy. E tous ceux que furent enbrevee qe aveyent passé xx aunz taunt me ount mesfet qu’il morrount ici. E a lur enfauntz que ne furent enbrevez de xx aunz, dorroi cele terre. E ces enfauntz demorrount ici (taun qe les peres seient purris!), e quaraunte aunz les condueray par les desertz. E aprés lur dorray cele terre.” Moyses dist as Hebreus que Dieu prendroit greve vengaunce de lur mesfet. Il plorerent e feseynt grant duel pur lur mesprise countre Dieu, e diseyent qu’il irreyent a la terre Canaan e destruereynt tous lur enymis que purront trover. Moyses dit, “Vous ne irrez mie sur vos enymis, quar Dieu n’est mie en vous. E pur | ce vous ne poez espleyter de rien, mes serrez vileynement ledis par vos enymis.” Yl diseynt qe aler voleynt. Lendemeyn monterent un grant mont e virent lur enymis. Si descenderent e les corerent sur. Atant vynt Amalech de une part, e ly Cananen d’autre part, e feutre feryrent. E as Hebreus vint le pis, come Moyses lur avoit dit, quar Dieu ov eux ne fust. E plusours Hebreus furent ocis e plusours malmis. E issi prist Dieu vengance de lur mesfet. [Compare Numbers 14.] ¶ En la Byble troverez vous ore en cet pas grant escripture de sacrifices que payens, judeux, e lur parenté soleyent fere de vels, aignels, e autre bestes. E ore le ount tot lessé pur ce qu’il sunt cheytyves entre nous. E en remenbraunce de lur Creatour, a ce qu’il dient, fount sculptures en pieres e peyntures chescun jour pur ce que il ne ly vueillent oblier, quar peynture c’est lyvre a ceux qe ne ount conoissaunce de lettre. Mes ore de synagoge, que fust temple as gyus, ore est ordyné eglise a chretienz pur fere sacrifice chretiene. Al temps que cest escrit fut fet, mil aunz cent aunz e trente furent que Jesu Crist primes fust sacrifiez pur nostre pecchié, le quel sacrifice chescun jour entre chretienz est fet en remenbraunce de lur Creatour, e serra tanque al fyn del mound. [Not in the Bible.] ¶ Lors deus centz e synkaunte compaignouns des Hebreus s’assemblerent. Vindrent a Moyses e Aaron. Desqueux compaignouns, mestre Chore, Datan, e Abyron furent principals. Donque dit Chore, “Moyses, rien n’avoms gayné parmi le seignorie e la mestrie qe vous avetz de nous. Vous ne serrez plus cheveynteyn ne mestre sur cet pueple. Nous ne avoms cure de vostre prelacioun. Nous sumes tot seynt. Dieu est ov nous.” Quant Moyses ce oy, molt fust dolent que le Deable les avoit issi desu par orgoyl e envye e par autre lede pecchié. E dit, “Chore, vous dites que vous estes seint. Demayn verroms nous votre seyntete. Portez demayn vostre encenser e vous — ensement Datan e Abyron e tous vos compaignons — devant le tabernacle, e metez le encens as charbons. E donque serra veu qui de nous Dieu clyrra.” Datan e Abyron, que malveis e orgoillous furent, diseyent que pur ly ne porterount encenser, e qe n’aveient afere de ly. Molt fust Moyses dolent que issi furent suppris de le Diable. ¶ Lendemayn vindrent ov lur encensers les deus centz e sykaunte devant le tabernacle, mes Datan e Abyron ne vindrent mie. Donque dist Dieu a Moysen e Aaron, “Ostes vous de cele compaignie la que je me pus venger de eux fortisme.” “Deus,” fount il, “merci! Ne lessez taunt de gent peryr pur le mesfet de un honme ou de deus.” Moyses par le comaundement Dieu prist gent assez des Hebreus. Vint as herberges Datan e Abyron, e les fist hors trayre. E dit al pueple, “Seigneurs, Dieu prendra vengement de Datan e Abyron. E si il ne prenge autre vengaunce de eux que unque ne fist des autres, ne ly creez jamés qu’il soit verroi Dieu. E ce verrez vous | apertement, quar a trop demesure par lor orgoil, haltesse, elacion, e inobedience qu’il ount pecchié contre Dieu lur Creatour, qe grant honour entre vous lur fist.” Quant Moyses avoit ce dit devaunt tot le pueple que fust assemblé pur vere ce que Moyses freit, la terre se departy e overy, e devora e tranglota Datan e Abyron tot vifs. E issi cheyrent cri, “Le profound put de enfern!” E rien remist de quanque lur fust que la terre ignel pas ne devora. Tot le pueple que ce veiet coreit sus e jus partot, e ne saveient qe fere. E tous se tindrent peris. E crierent merci a Dieu, e prierent Moyses orer pur els. E molt se tindrent desconforté. Atant vint un feu molt horyble de ciel. E, veaunt tot le pueple, la ou les deus cent e synkante compaignouns offryrent lur encenz, e les esprist e les mist tous en flaume. E tiele vengance prist Dieu de ces deus cent e synkaunte compaignouns des Hebreus pur lur trespas. ¶ Donqe comaunda Moyses par le precept Dieu qe Eleazar le fitz Aaron presist les encencers de ceus que furent peris, e esparpilast le fu, e fesist des encensers pieces, e les fichist as auters, quar il sunt seintefiez en les mortz des peccheours. Issi que ce pust estre signe a les fitz de Israel que nul de eux approchie a le auter de offryr encens si il ne soit de lygnage Aaron, si il ne veillent peryr come Chore, Datan, Abyron, e les autres fyrent. ¶ Le secounde jour le pueple de Hebreus grundila e fyrent grant noyse a Moyses e Aaron. E diseit le pueple que Moyses e Aaron aveient occis le pueple Dieu. E pur doute de le pueple, Moyses e Aaron fuyrent al tabernacle. E entrent eynz, e la glorie Dieu lur apparust. E Dieu mist arsoun desus cel pueple. E Moyses comaunda Aaron prendre un encenser, e ester enmy le pueple, e orer pur le pueple. E il si fist. E le arsoun cessa, mes avant la cessacioun, furent xiiijm e vijc des Hebreus peris. [Compare Numbers 16.] ¶ Dieu comanda Moysen prendre de chescun lygnage une verge, e en celes xij verges escrivre le noun de le prince en chascune verge, e une verge contendra les nounz de touz lur meisgnes, e les mettre en le tabernacle “en signe qe je ay ov vous parlé. E la verge de qy je choyseray floryra.” E Moyses fist le comaundement Dieu, e mist les verges en le tabernacle. Lendemeyn trova Moyses en la mesone Levy la verge Aaron burgoynant e portaunt flours, e les foilles de cele verge ostes devyndrent alemauntz. Donque porta Moyses a les fitz de Israel e dona a chescun sa verge, mes la verge Aaron demora en le tabernacle en signe des rebels fitz de Israel, e que eux cessassent lur grondylementz e pleyntes, | que eux ne muergent. [Compare Numbers 17.] Lors dit Dieu a Aaron, “Vous e vos fitz e la mesone toun piere sustendrez les pecchiés de les sacerdocies e porterez la iniquité de seyntuarie. E pernez vos freres de le lyn Levy e le septre toun piere ovesque vous. E vous e vos freres garderez le sacerdocie e quanqe a le auter apent. E si nul autre le approche, serra ocis. E je vous doynz la garde des primices e offrendres e sacrefices, e quei que est doné ou offert a moy pur pecchié ou trespas le vostre ert. Primices de bles, terres, vynz, oylles seient les vos, e de ce vyverez. “Ce que primes vient hors de la ventre de chescune — femme ou autre beste — ert le vostre. Issi, qe pur issue de femme, receverez pris. E de chescune beste nyent net, receverez raunçoun, le quel raunçon serra fet aprés un meys. E le raunçon serra un cycle d’argent, c’est, xx maylles. “Des buefs, oeilles, chevres, e tieles — bestes netz — nul raunçoun serra, mes lur sang serra espandu desuz le auter, e vous mangerez les chars. E la greese serra ardenz, e dorra odour a Seignour. De la terre des Hebreus rien ne averez, quar je meismes serroi vostre terre e vostre heritage. E a les fitz Levy ay je doné tous les dismes des fitz Israel en possession pur lur service qe eux me fount en le tabernacle.” [Compare Numbers 18.] ¶ Moyses par le precept Dieu comaunda les fitz Israel amener une vache rouge de entiere age qe unqe ne porta jug e que nulle tecche ne ad, e soit baylé a Eleazar le prestre, e il fia le sacrifice de cele vache hors des chastels, veauntz tous, e mettra son dey en le sang, e le esparpillera set foiz devant les portes de le tabernacle, e si fra tote la char mettre en fume e flaume. E les cendres de la vache serrount mys en un lyw bel e net en la garde de la pueple de Israel, pur ce que ele fust arsé pur pecché. E celes cendres serrount melles de ewe pure, e esparpilé sur les fitz de Israel en signe de purgacioun / de pecchiés. [Compare Numbers 19.] ¶ Le pueple de Israel vint en le desert Syn le premer meys. E demora en Cades. E la morust Marie la suere Moises e Aaron. E la fust ensevely. E le pueple avoit graunt defaute de ewe, e grondillerent vers Moysen e Aaron. E eux vindrent a le tabernacle, e prierent Dieu qu’il donast al pueple eawe vyve. E Dieu comanda Moysen e Arron, veiantz tous, feryr de lor verge deus foiz sur le caylowe, e eawe issereit a plente. E yl si fyrent. Donque lur dist Moyses, “Vous de dure creaunce entendez qe nous par la vertu de Dieu ne vous puissoms doner eawe vyve de la dure piere. Ore veiez apertement qe si pooms. Lessez vostre groundylement, ou Dieu prendra greve vengaunce de vos tous.” | ¶ Lors dit Dieu a Moyses e Aaron, “Pur ce qe vous creistes poynt qe vous me seyntefiastes devant les fitz Israel, vous ne amerrez poynt cest pueple a la terre qe je lur ay promys.” ¶ Moyses maunda messagers de Cades a le roy Edom, e ly pria que le pueple de Israel poeit passer parmy sa terre sauntz nulle part torner hors de le chemyn, ou rien de le suen ou de soun pueple aver ou prendre. E le roy Edom ne le velt en nulle manere graunter. E le pueple de Israel desturna de ly. E se must de Cades, e vint en le mount de Hor, qu’est en les synz de la terre de Edom. Donque dist Dieu a Moysen, “Pernez Aaron e Eleazar son fitz, e les menez en le somet de cest mount. E ostez les dras Aaron, e de celes dras vestez Eleazar son fitz. E la morra Aaron, quar je ne vueil mie qu’il entre la Terre de Promissioun pur ce qu’il ne me crust poynt de mey seyntefier a le Eawe de Contradiccion devant les fitz de Israel.” E Moyses fist le comandement Dieu. E quant le pueple vist qe Aaron fust mort, fist grant duel, e plora sur le cors xxx jours. [Compare Numbers 20.] ¶ Quant le roy Cananens savoit par ces espies le venue de la pueple Hebreu, assembla grant pueple de son realme de Arad e se combaty as Hebreus. E illeque fust le roy vencu. E les Hebreus appelerent le lyw de la bataille Horma, e c’est a dyre, taunt come Anathema, c’est a savoyr “eschumegé.” Les Hebreus s’en partyrent dehor par la dreyte veye vers le Rouge Mer. E voleynt envyroner le terre de Edom, e devyndrent molt las pur lur travayl. E se corocerent vers Dieu e vers Moysen, e dyseynt que payn lur faylleit e eawe ne aveynt, e lur alme nausea desur si legere viaunde. Dount Dieu se corouça grantment, e maunda partot le desert serpentz esprises de feu pur ocyre e malmener le pueple que en ly ne creyt poynt ne en ces vertuz. Les Hebreus de Israel ne poeynt mye endurer la persecucioun des serpentz, e crierent a Moysen qu’il lur fesyst remedie. Moyses pria a Dieu pur le pueple. E Dieu ly comaunda fere une serpente de erraym, e mettre al somet de une launce, issi qe la gent ferue des serpentz puissent vere cele serpente de erraym e serreynt sanez de lur entouchementz. ¶ De yleque ala le pueple en Oboch. E de yleque en Iebarym en le desert vers Moab countre le est. E de yleque alerent a le torrent Zareht. E de yleque se herbigerent deprés Arnon, qu’est en le desert devers les fyns d’Amoreye. Arnon c’est le fyn de Moab, departaunt les Moabites des Amorienz. Moyses par le comaundement Dieu assembla le pueple des Hebreus, e Dieu lur dona une puce de eawe. E yleque chaunta Israel dyte, “Ascendat puteus” etc. | De ileque s’en a la Israel en Mathana, e pus a Naalyel, pus en Bamoth. Bamoth est une valeye en la region de Moab en le somet de Phasga, devers le desert. ¶ Israel maunda messagers a Seon roy de Amorienz, e pria qu’il porreit passer parmy sa terre, e de nulle part torner ne rien de le suen aver. E le roi ne le vodera graunter. Mes fist assembler grant ost e encountra Israel en Jasa. E la fust le roy e son pueple vencu. E debatu fust sa terre de Arnon tanque a Jeboc. Israel prist les cités le roy Seon, e habita en Amorei, Essebon e autres vylees. La cité de Essebon fust al roy Seon de Amorienz, qui combaty countre le roy Moab e prist totes ces terres desque Arnon. Israel prist Jazer e tous ces habitatours, e se torna par la veie de Basan. E Og le roy de Basan vint ou grant pueple countre Israel en Edray e vodera ocyre Israele. E Nostre Sire dit a Moysen, “Ne dotez ja le roy Og ne soun grant pueple. Je les dorroi tous en vostre meyn come je fesoy Seon roy de Amorienz.” E quant le roy Og vint a la bataille, meintenaunt fust desconfist. [Compare Numbers 21.] E Israel, en les champs de Moab vers la Jordan, ou Jerico est assis, prist son herbergement. ¶ Lors dit Balaach le fitz Sephor a les greindres de Madyan, “Cest pueple Israel nous devorra tous come fet le buef la herbe.” Cesti Balaach fust en icel temps roy en Moab. E maunda par messagers a Balaham fitz Beor, le dyvynour que habitout la flume de la terre le fitz Amon, qu’il venist a ly e veist la multitude de le pueple Hebreu que vint de Egipte. Issi qu’il les poeit vere e doner malessoun a cel pueple, parount cel pueple serroit le plustost vencu, quar ce, dit il, savoit bien qe cely qe Balaham voleit maldyre serreint maldit, e cely qu’il voleit benedyre serreit beneyt. Les messagers vindrent a Balaham, e porterent le pris de la divinacioun. E counterent a ly ce dont furent chargé. E il lur dit qu’il attendreint desque lendemeyn, e il parleroit a son mestre e pus lur respoundreit. La nuit vint Dieu a Balaham e ly demaunda quei cele gent la fyrent. Balaham ly trestut counta, de mot en autre. E Dieu ly comanda qu’il ne alast ovesque eux, e qu’il ne maldiseit son pueple. Lendemeyn leva Balaham, e dit as messagers qu’il alassent arere a lur seygneur, e deissent que Dieu ly avoit defendu de aler a ly. Quant ceste responce vynt al roy Balac le fitz Sephor, prist autre messagers que furent de greyndre valour que les premers ne furent, e maunda a Balaham en meysme la manere qu’il avoit avant fet. E Balaham lur pria | cele nuit demorer. E il sy fyrent. La nuit vynt Dieu a Balaham, e dit, “Si cele gentz sunt purvous sa venuz, alez ou eux, e rien ne facez si ce noun que je vous comaund.” Balaham leva matyn, e prist ces deus fitz, e mounta sa asne. E chevaucha ov les messagers vers le roy Balac. E come Balaham chyvalcha sa asne, le aungel Dieu estut enmy la voye ov une espere trete e deneya la asne le voie. E la asne le veit bien, e Balaham ne le poeit vere. La asne se destourna de la voye, e Balaham, que ne savoit l’enchesoun, la batyst e defola a demesure. E s’en prist a aler par autre voye, e le aungel vynt encontre ov l’espee trete. E la asne ne poeit avaunt. E Balaham la defola e batist a merveille durement. Balaham assaya le tierce voie, e le aungel vynt si pres de la asne que ele cheye a terre. E Balaham sayly sus e comensa batre sa asne. Donque par le ordeygnement Dieu parla cele asne a Balaham son mestre, e dit, “Purquoi me bates tu ore la tierz foiz? Quei vous ai je mesfet? Je ne vous fesey unqe taunt de mesprisioun, come ore ay fet, e ce n’est mie soulement par moy.” Adonque overy Dieu les oyls Balaham, e yl vist le aungel ov le espee. E s’enmerveilla durement de cele vewe. E chey a terre e honora le aungel. Donque ly dist le aungel, “Je vienke sa pur ce qe je vous voderay encounterer e ocyre, e lesser la asne vyvre.” Donque ly dist Balaham, “Je ay pecchié, e je ne savoy qe vous y fustes. E si vous plest qe je retourne, je le froy volenters.” Donqe dit le aungel, “Alez ov ces princes, e rien ne parlez si noun ce qe je vous comandroy.” Quant le roy Balac savoit sa venue, sy vint countre ly, e a grant honour le reçust. ¶ Lendemeyn le roy amena Balaham a un mount apelé Balal, la ou yl poeit vere le dreyne partie de le pueple Hebreu. [Compare Numbers 22.] Lors dit Balaham, “Apparillez issi set auters, set veans, e set owailles.” Donqe prist Balaham e mist desuz chescun auter un veel e un owaille. E dist al roy, “Atendez si une piece pres de le auter. Je irroi ver si je pus parler a Dieu, e donque vous dirroi je quanqe vous demaundrez.” Balaham parla ou Dieu. E tost revynt al roy, e dit oyauntz tous, “De Aram me amena Balac le roy de Moabytes, de les mountz de orient, pur maldyre Jacob e escumeger Israel. Coment purroi je maldire le pueple qe unqe Dieu ne maldist? Come purroi je escumeger qe unqe | Dieu ne eschumega? Qui purra nounbrer la poudre purra nounbrer la progenie Jacob, e conustre le nounbre de Israel qui purra? Meorge ma alme en la mort de dreiturels, seient mes dreynetes fetz semblale a eux.” Issi prophetiza Balaham plusours choses de Israel. Le roy Balac se coroça, e dist, “Je vous fis quere pur ce qe vous me dussez plere e maldyre mes enymis, e vous fetes tot le contrarie.” Donque dit Balaham, “Je disoi a vos messagers e pri a vous que ne poy rien fere ne dyre si noun a la volenté Dieu.” ¶ Lors amena le roy Balaham en un halt mount qe um apele Phasga, la ou il poeit vere plus de le pueple Hebreu que avant ne fist. Donque fist Balaham set auters, e mist set veals e set owailles, e s’enloigna de le roy pur orrer. E pus revynt quant out parlé ov Dieu. E dist al roy, oyauntz tous ces princes, “Dieu ne est pas sicome autre gent, a quei vous menteroy je, ne sicome le fitz de honme pur estre tousjours chaungé. Pur benesoun doner su je ament, e je ne pus benesoun deneyer. Yl n’y ad poynt ydle en Jacob, ne simulacre en Israel. Dieu Nostre Seigneur est ov eux, que tousjours est benet. E pur ce autre chose ne pus je doner a eux qe benesoun.” Prophecies plusours dit Balaham de Israel. Donque Balac le roy se coroça, e amena Balaham en le mont de Phegor pur vere si yl poeit maldyre Israel. E fist yleque set auters, set veals, e set owailes, come avant aveit fet, e lessa le roy e ces privés demorer ileque. E Balaham s’enloigna de eux e vist le pueple de Israel. E savoit bien sauntz dyvynaille fere, qe la volenté de Dieu fust benedyre Israel. Revynt e dit al roy prophecies, e dit, “Quy benediera le pueple de Israel, yl serra benet. E quy le maldirra serra maldit.” Donque se corosa le roy fierement, e dit, “Je vous fis quere pur ce qe vous dussez maldire mes enymis, e vous avetz fet ore le revers treis foiz. ¶ “Retornez a vostre mesone dount vous venistes. Je vous avoi en pensé de aver honoré devant tous de cest realme, e vous ne le avetz deservy.” Balaham ly dist, “Je dysoi qe je ne vous poey rien fere pur tous les bienz de mounde si noun a la volenté Dieu Nostre Seigneur. E sa volenté est que Israel seit beneit sur totes gentz.” E parla Balaham plusours profecies desqueux mester n’est ore de parler. Donque se retorna Balaham a sa mesone dont il vynt. [Compare Numbers 23-24.] ¶ En ycel temps Israel demora en Sythem, e le pueple fist fornicacioun ov les filles Moab. E les apelerent a sacrifices e aorerent malveis dieus. Dount | se coroça Dieu, e dit a Moysen, “Pernez tous les princes de cest pueple, e les fetes pendre countre le solail en patibles si la que ma corouce seit torné de eux.” Lors dit Moyses a les juges de Israel, “Chescun de vous ocie ces preomes.” E come yl entreparlerent de cel comaundement Dieu, un des fitz Israel veauntz Moyses e tot le pueple entra le bordel de Madyanytes. E plusours de le pueple Israel esturent devant la porte de le tabernacle e plorerent. E quant Phynees le fitz Eleazar (le fitz Aaron le chapeleyn) veist cely entrer le bordel, prist un dart e tresperça parmy le honme e ensement la femme. E adonque cessa cele vengaunce entre les fils de Israel, mes avaunt furent ocis par la vengaunce de Dieu xxiiijm des honmes pur lur fornicaciouns. ¶ Lors dist Dieu a Phynees, “Vous avez torné ma yre de les fitz de Israel, e je say qe vous me avez pur ce qe vous preistes vengaunce de mes enymis.” E cely qe Fynees ocist fust apelé Zambry le fitz Salu myht. E la femme Madianyte fust apelé Cozby la file Sur, le noble prince des Madianytes. Uncore dit Dieu a Moysen, “Ferez les Madianytes pur ce que eux se porterent enymiablement encountre nous.” ¶ E de cel temps en avaunt fust Fynees grant mestre e seigneur entre les Hebreus, e de Dieu privé e amé. [Compare Numbers 25.] E de cet histoyre qui plus oyer vodra en la Byble en le lyvre de Nounbre le trovera, e ce apoy al fyn de meysme le lyvre. E qe bon fyn avera la joie de ciel ne perdra.

¶ Lords, you have heard very often various stories from the Bible, of which many are of Adam, Seth, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and many others of whom I now have leisure to speak. Jacob and Esau were two twin brothers begot of one pregnancy. Esau by natural law ought to have had [the birthright] of having issued from his mother’s womb before Jacob, and by the same law he ought to have had the blessing that Jacob had. And because God did not at all wish this, Jacob supplanted Esau of the one and the other. And for this is Jacob called “supplanter.” [Compare Genesis 25:23–24, 27:36.] It happened that Jacob had twelve sons and one daughter by four women, of whom the first and the next were free, and the two common women were handmaids. By Leah were conceived Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zabulun, and a daughter named Dinah. By handmaid Bilhah, he conceived Dan and Naphtali. By handmaid Zilpah, Gad and Asher. By free [Rachel], Joseph and Benjamin. [Compare Genesis 34:1, 35:22–26.] Leah and Rachel were sisters and the daughters of Laban his uncle, whom Jacob married in Haran. [Compare Genesis 29:16–30.] Jacob loved Joseph more than any of the other children. And Joseph had, after the death of Rachel his mother, accused his brothers that, whenever it pleased them, they had slept with their stepmothers. And for this his brothers hated him to the death. Joseph dreamed that his brothers and he bound sheaves in the fields, and their sheaves bowed down and worshiped him, and the sun and the moon and eleven stars bowed down and worshiped him. Joseph recounted this vision to his father. And the father said to him, “Dear son, it will yet happen that I and my eleven sons shall obey you. And you shall be lord of us all, and we your slaves.” And for this his brothers hated him all the more. And they said that they would kill him. Jacob commanded Joseph to go into the fields to his brothers and bring back news of them and their animals. For at this time men lived close to their animals and their herds, and shepherds were hardy and strong so as to guard their animals from lions and other wild beasts. Joseph came to a field and could not at all find his brothers. Thereupon a young man asked him what he was looking for, and he said to him his brothers. He said, “Just a bit earlier I heard your brothers say, ‘Let us go to Dothan,’ and there | you shall find them.” When his brothers saw him coming from afar, they said, “Here comes the dream- er. Now it will be seen how these dreams will benefit him. We will kill him.” Reuben, the eldest of them all, said to them, “Do not in any way shed his blood, but let him be put in that old pit, and he will die there.” And he said this because he wished to deliver him from their hands and return him living to the father. And when he came, they immediately put him in the deep pit. And then they sat down to eat. Afterwards Reuben went to tend the animals. Thereupon merchants came from Gilead toward Egypt. Then said Judah to them, “Let us sell Joseph our brother to these merchants, who will take him to a foreign land where we will never more hear anything of him.” They sold him to the merchants for twenty deniers. Not long afterwards Reuben came to the pit and wished to take Joseph out. But he did not find him at all, and knew nothing of the sale. And he lamented fiercely, tearing his clothes. And he did not know what to do. The brothers took the tunic that his father had newly made for him, and stained it with the blood of an animal that they had killed. And they carried it to the father. And they asked if this was the tunic of Joseph his son. And when Jacob saw it, he said, “A wicked wild beast has devoured Joseph my son.” And he made such grief that no man could make greater. And he said that he would descend to hell weeping for his son. No one was able to console him, so great was the sorrow for his son whom he loved so much. [Compare Genesis 37.] The merchants who had bought Joseph sold him to Potiphar, the seneschal of King Pharaoh of Egypt. And he gave him, on account of his beauty, to the king in order to serve him. And for his beauty and goodness, he was loved by all. It happened that the queen privately asked him to sleep with her. And he said to her, “Lady,” he said, “our lord the king loves me so much that whatever he has is in my keeping, by his command. You are, my lady, the queen, and it would do you great treason were I to wrong in this way my lord the king.” And he departed from the queen, who forcibly seized his cloak and began to cry out and shout. And she said to everyone that this Hebrew slave would have taken her by force had she not cried out. When the king knew about this, he commanded him to be imprisoned. And he was in prison a long time. [Compare Genesis 39.] Joseph did not eat any of the foods of the Egyptians, who were pagans, except for their bread. The jailers loved Joseph so much that he was entirely free to do whatever he pleased among them. ¶ It happened that the master butler and master baker of the court were sentenced to that same prison for misdeeds that they had done to King Pharaoh. The butler dreamed that a vine appeared before him, from which three branches issued, flowered, and ripened so much that grapes grew out: “From those grapes I made wine issue, and I used a goblet to serve the king.” Then said Joseph to him, “The three branches are three days, after which you will be released from prison and will serve the king in your office as you did before. And then, for God’s sake, think about helping me, who am here unjustly, as God knows.” ¶ “I dreamed,” said the baker, “that I carried on my head three baskets full of breads and other foods of my office. And the birds of the sky came and ate those foods.” Then said Joseph to him, “Upon the third day you will be released from prison, and then hung and beheaded. And the birds of the sky will eat your flesh.” And all this happened as Joseph said. [Compare Genesis 40.] | Two years after this deliverance, King Pharaoh dreamed a dream that no one knew how to interpret. Then, for the first time, the butler remembered Joseph who had for a long time remained in prison. And he recounted to the king how he and the baker dreamed, and how Joseph interpreted it and said exactly what would happen to them. The king had Joseph brought before him, and said, “I dreamed the other night that, as I was near a river, I looked toward a very fertile pasture. And seven cows there weighed the fattest that I had ever seen. And seven exceedingly thin ones came afterwards, and ate the grass and devoured the seven fat cows. And they still remained as thin or more than they were before. ¶ “And I dreamed afterwards that it happened that I saw grow seven ears of corn full of kernels, and seven others grew nearby without having any kernels. And they destroyed the seven ears with kernels. Interpret these two visions, if you know how to.” “Sire,” said Joseph, “these two visions are one. The seven fat cows and the ears with many kernels signify seven years that will arrive so abundant of grasses, grains, and all kinds of growing food that never have such sights been so bountiful. The seven thin cows and the seven ears without kernels signify seven years that will arrive immediately afterwards and devour all the plenty that came before. And there will be such famine that all your people will die of hunger if you do not act very wisely.” ¶ King Pharaoh saw that Joseph was wise and perceptive. And in accord with his advisers that he then had, he made Joseph governor of all the realm of Egypt. And he commanded that all the people be under his direction. And custody of the chariots and all his possessions he entrusted to him. And Pharaoh took from his finger his ring and placed it on Joseph’s finger, and placed around his neck a gold chain. And he commanded that all kneel down before him, and had him called by everyone “Savior of the world.” And all the realm was led and governed by him, and all was under his jurisdiction, except that the king alone retained the name of king. The king married him to Asenath, a very noble girl, the daughter of Potiphera, a great teacher and priest of the Egyptian law born in Heliopolis, a rich city. Joseph had passed thirty years when he was delivered from prison. Joseph commanded that the fifth part of every kind of grain be stored. And he took all the king’s treasure and bought grain throughout the realm. And he built granaries and placed them under strong guard. When the good years had passed, the scarce years came. And within the first two years all the country was in famine. Joseph sold his grain and amassed a wondrous amount of treasure. He bought at the king’s expense fields, rents, and great estates everywhere. Joseph had begotten by God, in the first two good years, two sons by his wife: Manasseh was the elder and Ephraim the younger. [Compare Genesis 41, 47:13-21.] In the land of Canaan, which was very far away, by the river Jordan, where Jacob lived, there was great famine. Jacob commanded his ten sons to take gold and silver, and go to Egypt to buy wheat. Benjamin remained at home with his father. The ten brothers came to Joseph and kneeled before him. And they asked that he grant their wish | to sell from his grain. When Joseph saw them, he knew them at once, and knew quite well their language. But he did not wish to speak with them without an interpreter. He asked them from whence they came. Reuben the eldest told him from the land of Canaan, and that their father and Benjamin their youngest brother were there, very distressed by lack of grain, and that they were all ten brothers of one father, and the eleventh at home with the father, “and our twelfth brother was lost. We do not know what became of him.” “I know well,” said Joseph, “that you are strong and vigorous, and that you have come to spy upon our land. And for this I will hold you in my prison. But if it is true what you have told me about your father and your youngest brother, I want one of you to go to your father with the wheat I will sell to you.” They cried out to him for mercy, and said that they were law-abiding people. He had compassion on his brothers, and said to them, “I want one of you to remain in my prison, and nine to go to their land with the grain. And when you return, you shall bring to me your youngest brother. And when I see that you are law- abiding people, then all will be well.” Reuben said in his language to his brothers, “It is right that we should have this trouble because we sinned deeply in respect to our brother. And I told you this often, and you did not want to listen to me. And likewise regarding our father, who still does not cease to show his sorrow for the loss of him.” Simeon remained in Joseph’s prison. By the commandment of Joseph their sacks were filled with wheat. And Joseph commanded his servant that whatever they had given for the wheat be returned secretly to each in his sack. They took leave and went away. Simeon remained under guard. When they returned home, they recounted to Jacob their whole business. And he considered himself wholly tricked because Simeon remained in prison and Benjamin had to go to Egypt. They opened their sacks and found all the money that they had paid, at which they wondered greatly. And Jacob did not know what to do. But whatever might happen, he said, they would tender their loyalty. Then said Reuben, “Father, I have two sons whom I will give to you, if you please, until the return of Benjamin.” [Compare Genesis 42.] “Now prepare yourself and go with God, dear sons. May he lead you back in joy.” ¶ When they came before Joseph, they kneeled before him. And to him they rendered Benjamin their youngest brother. Then Joseph commanded that Simeon be restored to them, and that their sacks be filled with wheat. And all the money that they had brought was secretly given to each in his sack. And in Benjamin’s sack was placed a cup that was very dear to Joseph. They stayed there three days. And they ate by themselves because they were Hebrews. And whatever they spoke among themselves Joseph understood quite well, and they did not know this at all. And Joseph himself served them food. And at each meal Benjamin received more than two others, about which they wondered and greatly feared that they were being tricked. Reuben spoke privately to the server. “Sire,” he said, “regarding the wheat that we bought here last time, when we came home, we found in our sacks all the money that we paid you. And we wondered at this. And for this, sire, now we have reported it to you.” “Do not be concerned about this,” he said, “for what you found in your sacks, your gods have thus given to you.” [Compare Genesis 43, 44:1-2.] ¶ All the brothers, kneeling, took leave of Joseph and went away. They had barely proceeded before two servants and others came after them. And they commanded them all | to stop and open their sacks. And they found the cup. When the brothers saw this, they were quite dismayed, and held themselves tricked and in danger of death. When they were brought before Joseph, he reproached them most harshly about the cup, and said that they had repaid him badly for the kindness he had done them. They did not know what to do. Therewith they all offered themselves as his slaves at his will. He said, “I desire that you all depart in peace, and your youngest brother in whose sack my cup was found, that he remain at my will.” Then said Judah, “Sire, many thanks. Please, sire, understand that our father is very old. And if this son is taken from him, he will die of grief because ever since he lost a son whom he never afterwards had for his comfort, no solace has been able to avail him. For God’s sake, sire, have mercy on our father and on us, that we not be the cause of his death.” [Compare Genesis 44.] ¶ Joseph felt great compassion at this, and tears fell from his eyes. And he com manded all his household to leave the room. And they went away. [Not in the Bible.] Then said Joseph in a raised voice, weeping tenderly, and he spoke Hebrew, “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold to the merchants that brought me to Egypt. And for your safety, God thus appointed me. And thus have I all lordship and governance over all Egypt, and all is at my command. And had I followed the queen’s counsel, God would not have permitted me to enjoy this honor. This scarcity has lasted two years and will continue five more. And for this I wish that our father, your wives, your children, and our close lineage come to me. And I will give to them the land of Goshen, where they will be able to live.” The brothers wondered greatly. He said, “Do not at all wonder at this. I am your brother. And you may know that I knew you because when I seated you to eat, I seated you each according to his rank, first the eldest, then the second, then the third, and each of you according to his rank.” And he hugged them and kissed them and received them with great honor. When his household knew that these were Joseph’s brothers, they honored them greatly. And the king himself commanded that they be received grandly, and that he should send honorably for his entire lineage. ¶ Joseph ordered chariots, pack horses, and ten asses to be equipped with food, robes, and treasure, in order that his father and kinsman be escorted back to him. And he gave Benjamin three hundred silver deniers for himself, and three hundred silver deniers to bring to his father, and five very costly and choice garments. When they came to Jacob, they told him the whole story of how they had sold Joseph, and the whole truth without hiding anything. When Jacob heard this, then his spirit came back to life, and he rose up as though from sleep. [Compare Genesis 45.] And he made such joy that he could not make greater, and said, “Now I remember the dream of Joseph my son about which I told you, that he would be governor and lord of us all. Now I understand well that whatever God wishes to have done, no one can undo.” | Jacob made sacrifice to God before going to Egypt. And God showed [Jacob] that he would go to Egypt, and that he would be with him. ¶ Jacob and his sons and his kinsmen were received in Egypt with great honor. And Joseph was very happy that he had seen his father. And the Hebrews experienced great joy when they first saw Joseph. [Not in the Bible.] The king himself honored them. And he spoke with five of Joseph’s brothers very amiably, and asked them what their trades were. And they said that they were shepherds of their herds and his slaves, if it were pleasing to his will. The king commanded that the land of Goshen be given to them, and that they be lodged well. ¶ The king asked Jacob how old he was. “Sire,” he said, “I am now of the age of one hundred and thirty years.” Jacob and his people settled with great honor in the land of Goshen. The people of the country and of the kingdoms surrounding Joseph gave him gold, silver, all their herds, lands, rents, and whatever they had, in exchange for grain. And when they had no more to pay for grain, they became slaves to King Pharaoh in order to have their sustenance. ¶ Joseph commanded them to sow their lands, and he would find seed for them and also whatever necessity they had there until they had stored the first harvest. And of this crop he would have the fifth. And forever afterwards, as a sign of homage, they would render to the king the fifth part of their annual wheat harvest. And this they granted. And this rent still exists in Egypt. And because the priests of the land were not obligated to sell the lands belonging to their temples (which were appointed to the service of their temple), they did not have to become slaves to have their sustenance. And Joseph appointed to them prescribed deliveries from the king’s granaries. Jacob and his lineage in the land of Egypt were called Israel by the Egyptians. And Israel is such as to say “he who sees God,” because is means “man,” ra means “seeing,” el means “God.” And thus Israel means “a man seeing God.” ¶ Jacob was in Egypt seventeen years. And when he neared death, he called for Joseph. And he commanded him and had him swear by oath that, when he died, he would carry him off and have his body buried in the land of Canaan with his ancestors. [Compare Genesis 47.] ¶ When Joseph saw that his father might not escape death, he took his two children, Ephraim and Manasseh, and led them before his father, who then was of the age of one hundred and fifty-seven years. And he asked his father to give his blessing to him and his children. Jacob blessed Joseph his son because he loved him tenderly. Joseph took Ephraim his elder son and placed him to the right of Jacob his father, and Manasseh the younger to the left, and asked his father to bless them. Jacob transposed his hands in the form of a cross, and placed his right hand on the head of Manasseh the younger and his left on the head of Ephraim the elder. “Father,” said Joseph, “place your right on the elder, as reason dictates, and the left on the younger.” And he wished to move his father’s hands, but the hands were so heavy that Joseph was not able to move them. “Therefore,” said Jacob, “both will be great, but the younger will be the greater.” [Compare Genesis 48.] When Jacob was dead, his sons, according to the custom of the Egyptians, observed their mourning for forty days. But before his death he had blessed all his sons, each by his name. His sons with great honor brought him toward Canaan, and when they had crossed the river Jordan, | they stopped there. And they rested for a whole week, and observed their mourning and their lamentation. And because of the mourning that they made, the people of the country call that place the Mourning of Egypt. When Jacob was buried in the land of Canaan alongside Abraham and Isaac, Joseph and all the others returned to Egypt. His brothers feared him greatly, and they asked him for mercy, that he not harm them because they had trespassed against him and had hated him in his youth. He said, “Have you not seen that I love you and will love you all my life as I ought my brothers?” Then Joseph lived for a long time in the country with his brothers and kinsmen until he had reached one hundred and ten years. And when in sickness he had assembled his kinsmen, he asked them that, when he was dead, they bury him in Egypt, and that, when they departed from the land of Egypt, they bring his bones out of the country with them. When they had all heard his request, they granted it. Joseph died in great honor. He was buried in Egypt. [Compare Genesis 49-50.] And at the time when Jacob died, there remained in Egypt, of his sons and his lineage that issued from him, seventy-five. ¶ When Joseph was dead, and King Pharaoh his lord was dead, the people increased and multiplied so greatly that it was wondrous. And there were so many Hebrews that he who then was the king of Egypt feared that they might drive him and the Egyptians from the land. And he said that he would oppress them at once with such great hardship and difficult labor that they would not wish to procreate. And because the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied, the king made them construct two great cities. And when he was not able to accomplish anything by this method, he appointed two ladies, Shiphrah and Puah. And he commanded that they be at every birthing of the Hebrew women of Israel, and that they should have all the males killed and preserve the females. The ladies consented to this, but they were good women who did not wish to offend God. And they did not wish at all, nor dare on account of piety, to kill any [of them]. When the king knew that none had been killed, he asked the ladies why they had not followed his command. And they said to him, “Sire, the Hebrew ladies of the sons of Israel are wiser than we are, and they know their times better than we know them, and they have given birth before we come to them.” Then the king appointed reliable justices to go throughout the land, and the males whom they found born were to be drowned, and the females were to be preserved. [Compare Exodus 1.] ¶ At this time a Hebrew lady gave birth and had a very handsome son. And she hid and protected his great beauty as best she could. When she had protected him for three months and saw well that she could no longer hide him from detection, she made a sturdy vessel and had it well sealed inside and out so that water could not get in. And she placed it softly in a stream. Mary the baby’s sister followed from a distance to see what would happen as a result of this. And she made great lamentation. | Thereupon came the daughter of Pharaoh the king, amusing herself near this stream. And she saw this vessel floating, and asked what it was. The vessel was pulled from the water. And the young lady saw that it was a baby. And she said that she knew well that he was Hebrew, and it would be a deep sadness to kill so handsome a baby. And she said that she would have him nursed. Thereupon came Mary the baby’s sister, and said, “My young lady, would you like me to find for you a Hebrew woman to nurse the baby?” “Yes,” she said, “I beg of you.” Mary went running to her mother, and said, “Mother, come now. The king’s daughter summons you through me that you come to her. And you will have your baby to nurse, but in no way make known that he is yours.” The mother went to the king’s daughter, and received the baby to nurse. And then she had large and numerous gifts in return for the nursing. And the young lady came often to the nurse, and the nurse to her, to see the baby. And because he was found near the stream, he was called Moses. ¶ And when Moses was still young, he was very handsome. And the king’s daughter loved him very much, and the king loved him very tenderly on account of his daughter. One day the king took his crown adorned with an idol and placed it on Moses’s head. And he took it and threw it to the ground. And the king grew angry. A priest of their faith saw this and was angry with the baby, and would have had him killed at once had his lady not been there. And he said that by this one would the crown of Egypt be brought down. And afterwards thus did it happen. ¶ When Moses was fully grown, he came to where the Hebrews were, by the toils and oppressions of their labors, overly burdened and poorly treated. And he saw an Egyptian cruelly strike a Hebrew. Moses felt compassion for his people. In helping the Hebrew, he struck the Egyptian so that he died instantly. Moses looked about him and saw no one, and for this he felt very fortunate. Another day Moses came to the workers and saw an Egyptian violently chide a Hebrew. Then in a kind manner Moses said to the Egyptian who had done the wrongful act, “You are not sent here to chide one who is not at fault.” “Ha, ha,” said the Egyptian. “You dare not kill me as you previously did my companion.” When Moses knew that his crime was discovered, he was very upset and did not know what to do. When the deed was revealed to the king, he commanded that, if he could be seized, he should be killed at once. ¶ Moses did not know what to do other than depart the country secretly. He came to the land of Midian, very far from Egypt, and sat down beside a well where the shepherds were wont to water their flocks. Then there came the seven daughters of Reuel, who was of the Hebrew race, and they watered their herd. The shepherds drove them away from there to water their flocks before them. ¶ Moses bravely defended the maidens, and said, “As their flocks came first, | first shall they be watered.” The maidens went home and told their father how a foreign man had protected them from the shepherds. And he asked them why they had not brought him to the house with them. And they told him, “Blessed father, we did not at all know your wish.” “Go quickly,” he said, “after him.” One of them went to the well and found him. And she led him with her to Reuel her father, who received him, and retained his services with an oath. And then he gave him Zipporah his daughter, by whom he engendered two sons, Eliezer and Gershom. And he thanked God greatly that he had freed him from the hand of King Pharaoh. Moses greatly loved his sons, and he taught them to love God and to fear his power above all things. [Compare Exodus 2.] ¶ Pharaoh the king of Egypt died. And another King Pharaoh came afterwards and reigned in Egypt. And with his power he suppressed the Hebrew people more than his predecessor had done. But God with his power freed them fully. [Compare Exodus 1:8-10.] One day Moses watched the sheep of Reuel his father-in-law in the pasture near Mount Horeb. He saw on the hill a burning bush from which a wondrous flame emerged, and it appeared to burn fiercely and not to burn up at all. Moses wished to approach the bush. And a voice said to him, “Moses, stay there, and remove your shoes, for the place where you are is holy. I am God, who am come to speak with you. I have heard in heaven the cry of my Hebrew people, whom the king oppresses so cruelly in Egypt. And you shall go to him from me, and say that I command him to permit my people to leave his realm and go there where you shall lead them. And I shall be in your mouth and teach you whatever you are to say.” “Lord,” said he, “I am not eloquent at all. Send another, whomever you wish.” And God pretended to be angered, and said, “Now go, and you shall meet Aaron your brother, who will have great joy of you. And the two of you shall go together. And he is very eloquent and so wise that he knows well how to convey my message to the king. And I shall be in your mouths whenever you speak. And this rod you shall carry with you, and therewith shall you make my signs.” Moses took the rod, and God said to him, “What are you holding?” “Lord,” he said, “a rod.” “Throw it from you.” He threw it to the ground, and instantly it became a snake. And Moses began to flee. And God said to him, “Take it by the tail.” And he took it, and instantly it became a rod. Said God, “Put your hand into your bosom.” And he did so. “Now, take out your hand.” And he did so. And then the hand was stricken with leprosy so hideously that he was amazed. “Put your hand into your bosom.” And he did so. “Now, take it out.” And he did so. And then it was completely sound. “By these signs,” said God, “the people of Israel will know that you have spoken with me. And I shall give them a rich and bountiful land flowing with milk and honey, the land of the Canaanite, Hittite, Amorite, Perizzite, Hivite, Jebusite, Girgashite.” | ¶ Moses went to take leave of Reuel his father-in-law, and he told him the commandment of God. He took Zipporah his wife and his two sons, and they proceeded on the road to Egypt. Thereupon came an angel. And it seemed to them that he wished to kill the older son. And Zipporah saw this, and she quickly took a stone and circumcised her son. And the angel then left them. The child bled fiercely, and Zipporah said to Moses, “For you I have shed the blood of my son, and you are married by blood to me. If I had taken a husband of the lineage to which I was born, I would not have bloodied my hand like this.” And for this Moses said he did not wish to take her with him. And the child was very weak. And for this Moses sent them back to stay with Reuel her father. ¶ Then Moses went toward Egypt and met Aaron his brother, who had much joy of him. Moses recounted what God had commanded of him, and about the rod and the hand and all his other affairs. They came to King Pharaoh and informed him of the command of their God, and that he should let the Hebrew people go for three days into the wilderness and make a sacrifice to him. When the king heard this, he spoke very contemptuously to them, “Who is this God? I do not care about your God. But now I know well from you that the Hebrew people are too comfortable in my land. And for this they are excessively proud.” And he commanded that everywhere they should be more grievously oppressed than they were before. [Compare Exodus 3-4, 5:1-9.] Moses asked God for help. And God filled Pharaoh’s land with flies, which caused them great troubles everywhere. But in the land of Goshen, where the Hebrews lived, no fly came. Pharaoh asked Moses to rid his land of flies, and he would permit them to sacrifice in his own land. And Moses did not wish this unless [it be] three days away from his land. The king granted this to him. And when they were rid of the flies, then the king revoked what he had previously granted. Then God visited upon all of Pharaoh’s realm the death of animals, and still the king did not want to grant Moses his request. God commanded Moses and Aaron to take the dust of the earth and throw it upward. And they did so. And such torment and bodily illness came to Egypt that the king’s magicians and all the people were so distressed that they could not endure it. And still the king did not wish to comply. God visited upon the land of Egypt hail, wind, thunders, lightning mixed with fire, which struck down trees, houses, arbors, grasses, in flames. When the king saw that he could not endure it, then he granted whatever Moses wished. And when they were delivered, then he quickly revoked it. These misfortunes and many others God visited upon the land of Egypt, and filled it with frogs and with maggots. And in the end he made such mortality of men that in every house the eldest son died. And the son of the king himself died. And in all Goshen no trouble or damage came from all these misfortunes. And the dead lay unburied. When the king saw this, then he permitted the Hebrew people to go. But, principally, God visited ten plagues upon Egypt before the people were able | to gain leave to go out of the land of Egypt for three days to make their sacrifice, the which plagues are indicated by these two verses:               ¶ Blood, frog, gnat, flies, herd, ulcers, hail,               Locust, darkness, death seizes by killing. ¶ Then was the number of the Hebrews six hundred thousand, not counting women, children, and servants. God commanded them to prepare for their journey and to borrow from their Egyptian neighbors their costly garments, vessels, gold and silver, and all the valuables that they might. And they lent them willingly to them because they understood that they would return quickly. Four hundred and thirty years had passed since the people of Israel first came to Joseph in Egypt. [Compare Exodus 7-12.] Moses took the bones of Joseph, as that one had requested of his sons, and left with all the people toward the Red Sea. And a cloud in the form of a pillar passed before them to show them their path. And when night fell, a brightness from above passed before them so that they would not be led astray. And they encamped in Etham. [Compare Exodus 13:19-22.] And God commanded Moses that the people move forward and encamp between Migdol and the Red Sea. And the people did this. And they said that, should Pharaoh then come, all would be ruined because they were enclosed by the sea and Migdol in such a way that they would not be able to flee or escape, “and perhaps we have been led here to be killed, so that we can have the number of graves that we were not able to have in Egypt.” Then said Moses, “Do not be dismayed by anything nor fear the king in anything because God will fight for you.” The king assembled five hundred chariots and an innumerably large host and all the best men of his realm, and followed the Hebrews. Moses at the commandment of God raised his rod and struck upon the Red Sea. And a misty road appeared there, and the sea stopped itself on one side and the other as though it were a wall. And the Hebrew people passed the sea safely by that path. The king and his host and his chariots entered the same path. But when Moses had arrived with his people, he then struck the sea with his rod. And the sea enclosed the king and all his people in such a way that not even one escaped, for they were all drowned. [Compare Exodus 14.] ¶ Moses, Aaron, and Mary their sister stood and saw the king’s chariots and his men overturned in the sea. They were very joyous. Mary took her tambourine with other women, and they sang first, and others sang after:       ¶ “Let us sing to the Lord, for gloriously” etc. ¶ For three days they traveled through the wilderness and found no water. Then they came to Marah and found plentiful water, but it was so bitter that none could consume it, for which reason it was called marah, that is, “bitterness.” God showed a tree to Moses. And he took it and placed it in the water, and it was very sweet. And the Hebrews drank plentifully and watered their animals. From there they turned toward Elim, where they found twelve fountains and seventy palm trees. [Compare Exodus 15.] And they rested in Sin, between Sinai and Elim, | in a very delightful place. The people made a great grumbling to Moses that they had had abundant food in Egypt, but now they had been led against their will into the wilderness and scarcely survived on account of hunger. Moses spoke to God about this. And he said to him that he would rain bread from the sky for them. And he commanded that they gather each day what was sufficient for them, without [gathering] more and without storing any. And on the sixth day, double would rain for them because, on the seventh, nothing would rain. And on that sixth day they should gather for two days. When the Hebrews saw the bread from the sky fall among them, they said, “Manhu, manhu,” in their language, wondering, “what is this?” That is to say, “Manna, manna, quid est hoc?” Manna is an interjection denoting wonder, and the bread is called manna. Then it was said that the people had taken more of this bread than was sufficient for them, and that it had spoiled. Then Moses grew very angry, and he took a measure that was called a gomor. And with this measure they divided their bread among themselves, and on the sixth day they doubled it. And upon this bread they lived forty years, for as long as they were in the wilderness. [Compare Exodus 16.] ¶ And from Sin the people went to Rephidim. And when they found no water there, they chided God and Moses. And Moses feared that they wished to stone him. And then God commanded Moses to strike upon the rock of Horeb with his rod. And he did so. And an abundance of water issued from the hard rock, from which all drank. And God took vengeance on the Hebrews for their chiding, for King Amalek came against them with a large host. And Moses commanded Joshua with the best of the Hebrews to issue forth in battle against Amalek. And the Hebrews were well armed. Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed a hill to watch the combatants. Moses prayed to God for the Hebrews, and raised his hands toward the sky. And as long as his hands were raised, his people were victorious. And when they were lowered, Amalek’s people had the advantage. And because Moses himself was not able to keep his hands raised, Aaron and Hur held them up until evening, and his Hebrew people had the advantage. [Compare Exodus 17.] ¶ From Rephidim they journeyed and encamped in a valley beneath Mount Sinai. Then said God to Moses, “Go sanctify my people, and command that they keep my commandment. And say that for three days no one should approach either the foot of Mount Sinai or his wife, but that they should wash their clothes. And I will descend in a cloud to speak with them and show my glory. And if any of them behaves otherwise, he will die a hideous death.” ¶ The third day having passed, thunder and lightning were heard on Mount Sinai, in semblance of when Jesus descended from the Mount and taught all those listening to hold his precepts and the Word of God. The people trembled in fear of the Word of God (so fearful was it!), and saw the smoke from the mountain rise|up, and heard there the trumpet sound. Moses told them that God did it to test them, and that they should love him the more. [Compare Exodus 19.] Moses climbed Mount Sinai and spoke with God. And God commanded him to tell his people that they should take gold and silver, precious stones, vestments, and other costly valuables that they had, and that they should have a tabernacle built according to the plan and ordinance of God. [Compare Exodus 25-26.] The building of the structure was assigned to Bezalel son of Uri and to Oholiab, who were skillful in every manner of work. The tabernacle was built according to the specifications of God himself, and you may well know that richly, skillfully, and nobly was the tabernacle built, as God himself ordained. And he gave the workers the knowledge to accomplish it according to his plan. A richer earthly thing could not be seen by eye when all was built. God commanded that the costly vestments, the ark of the sanctuary, cups, candelabras, basins, ewers, tables, altar, censers, valuables, and dias of twisted gold be placed there. I know not how to describe to you the richness that was there inside the tabernacle. [Compare Exodus 31, 36-39.] ¶ In the first month of the second year, the tabernacle was erected. And God covered it with a cloud and with a fire from the sky. And so great was this brightness there that no one dared to approach the tabernacle. God commanded Moses to make two silver trumpets for assembling the people, and appointed the sons of Aaron to sound the trumpets. And to assemble the princes, they sounded them for a short time in low tones. “And for those in the east, you will sound them longer. And let them sound and resound if you wish everyone to assemble. And to have those of the south, let the sound go out twice. If you wish everyone to assemble, then it is appropriate to sound longer. If you wish to hold a feast, you ought to sound softly and peaceably. And if you wish to sound for war, sound them roughly and vigorously.” [Compare Numbers 10:1-10.] When Moses had everyone together, then he commanded all the people to be be under the rule of Aaron his brother and Hur. And he said to the people that if anything strange should happen to them, they should go to Aaron and Hur, and they would tell them what they ought to do. And he himself would climb Mount Sinai in order to speak with God. And on that mountain he lived forty days without anything to eat or drink. [Compare Exodus 31:12-18.] Then God taught Moses from mouth to mouth the law that he should teach to the Hebrews. And he took two tablets, and inscribed that law, and gave it to Moses. And the tablets were made of stone. While Moses was on the mountain, the people came to Aaron, and said that Moses their leader had passed from them. And they said that they certainly wished to have a god to worship. Aaron feared their hostility, and dared not speak against them. And he was afraid that they wished to stone him. And he granted to them whatever they wanted to have. And he commanded them to bring gold, rings, brooches, and many other jewels. And he took them all, and threw | them in a furn¬ace. And when from the furnace and the fire there issued a golden calf, all the people worshiped it, and said that it was their god in whom they believed and who had led them out of Egypt. Aaron had an altar raised, and had it proclaimed that on the next day the ceremony of their god, which he had made of gold, would be celebrated. The next day the people took horns, tambourines, and other instruments. They sang, caroled, and unrestrainedly made music. And because of this golden calf, they forgot God, Creator of heaven and earth. God said to Moses, “The people of Israel have entirely forsworn me, and have abandoned all your teaching. And they have made a golden calf, and worship it, and call it their god. Consent that I avenge myself upon them and destroy them all, and I shall make you the ruler of another people.” “Lord,” he said, “have mercy on your people, and remember the promise that you, Lord, have vowed to this people. And if you take this vengeance, then the Egyptians will say that their god has cleverly led them to be killed in the wilderness.” God said, “Were it not for you, this people would not be spared.” ¶ Moses, having descended from Mount Sinai, came to Joshua and to the elders who awaited him in a hidden spot. And they heard the outcry and the trumpets and the music that the people made. Joshua said, “I think the people fight with their enemies.” “Not at all,” said Moses, “there is no one who assails them.” When Moses came to the people and saw what they had done, and that they worshiped the golden calf, he threw down on a rock the stone tablets upon which God with his finger had inscribed the law that the Hebrews ought to uphold. And he shattered them in anger. And he took a stick and smashed completely the golden calf and the altar and whatever the people worshiped. And he grew fiercely angry, and said that he would exact vengeance. And he asked Aaron how this had happened. And he begged him for mercy, and told him word for word how he had acted at the request of the people, and how the golden calf had issued from the furnace and the fire. And Moses cried out, and said, “All those who are of God, come right here from over there.” And the sons of Levi drew near. “And arm yourselves quickly, and kill all those people who worshiped the golden calf. And spare no one — relative, brother, friend, companion, or other.” Upon this killing, there was much outcry and noise. And killed there were twenty- three thousand people who worshiped the golden calf. And such vengeance thus was taken for this sin. Moses sanctified the people who had done this killing, and highly reproved the others for the assent by which they had agreed to worship the calf and abandon God their Creator. “Now I will go to God and pray for mercy for you.” Moses very devoutly prayed to God for mercy for his people. [Compare Exodus 32.] “Moses,” said God, “the people are so hard-hearted that they do not believe in me, nor do they see the miracles I perform. And all those who sin against me I will remove from my book. And I will send an angel who will destroy the Canaanite, Hittite, Amorite, Perizzite, Hivite, Jebusite, and Girgashite. And I will give to your lineage the land that I promised to your ancestors.” Moses had the tabernacle taken down and had it pitched in another place. | God descended in a pillar of cloud before the entrance of the tabernacle. And all, from their lodgings, bowed down to him very low. Moses said to God, “Lord, what will I do with this people? I do not dare remove the tabernacle from here, nor may I conduct or lead this people from here if you do not wish to go with us. Dear Lord God, show mercy in your compassion for your people, and permit me, if it please you, that I may see your blessed face.” God said to him, “I wish for your love to have mercy on the people. But grace you shall have, though my face you cannot see. Come tomorrow morning to the mountain, and I shall tell you what to do. And see to it that no animal nor any other approach the foot of the mountain.” ¶ When the others were asleep, Moses climbed the mountain until he saw the pillar of cloud. And Moses bowed very low before it, and said, “Dear Lord King and God Omnipotent, have mercy on your people and me, and give grace to us so that we shall be able to love, worship, and serve you. And come with us, and never abandon us, for you well know that hard-hearted is your people.” God said to him, “I will show you by a sign that I am God Omnipotent and that I love you. Keep well my commandment, and I shall destroy all people who oppose you. I shall destroy Amorite, Canaanite, Perizzite, Hivite, Jebusite. And take care that you have no friends or companions at all who are of their way of living. Destroy altars, temples, idols. And honor no god, other than me, who speaks to you. And teach this to the people. And carry these two tablets with you, which I have inscribed for you. And teach them the law.” Moses took the tablets and descended from the mountain. And he taught the people the word of God. And the people who saw him wondered greatly that he had two horns on his head, and hesitated to go to him. And Moses said, “Why do you not come to me?” And the people said to him, “You have horns that you did not have before.” When Moses perceived this, he covered his face, and knew well that this was from God. And he always covered it when he was outside the tabernacle. And when he was inside, then he uncovered it. [Compare Exodus 33-34.] ¶ Moses comforted the people and taught them as God had commanded him. [Not in the Bible.] ¶ In the second year after they had entered the wilderness, God came and commanded Moses that he should now record his people, that those who were twenty years old or more should be recorded in troops (the younger ones and others were to be written down for various other offices and labors), and that from each lineage a prince would be made to govern the people, except that the lineage of Levi would not be written down for battle or for labor. [Compare Numbers 1:1-4.] ¶ Of the lineage of Reuben the eldest, were forty-six thousand, not counting women and children, of whom Elizur the son of Shedeur was prince to lead them and organize their troop. [Compare Numbers 1:5, 1:20-21, 2:10-11.] ¶ Of the lineage of Simeon, fifty-nine thousand and three hundred, not counting women and children, of whom Shelumiel was prince. [Compare Numbers 1:6, 1:22- 23, 2:12-13.] | [quire 11] ¶ Of the lineage of Gad, forty-five thousand six hundred and fifty, of whom Eliasaph was prince. [Compare Numbers 1:14, 1:24-25, 2:14-15.] ¶ Of the lineage of Judah the good warrior, seventy-four thousand and six hundred, of whom Nahshon son of Amminadab was prince. [Compare Numbers 1:7, 1:26-27, 2:3-4.] ¶ Of the lineage of Issachar, fifty-four thousand four hundred, of whom Nethanel the son of Zuar was prince. [Compare Numbers 1:8, 1:28-29, 2:5-6.] ¶ Of the lineage of Zabulun, fifty-seven thousand four hundred, of whom Eliab the son of Helon was prince. [Compare Numbers 1:9, 1:30-31, 2:7-8.] ¶ Of Ephraim and Manasseh who were the sons of Joseph, seventy-two thousand and seven hundred, from the one lineage, Elishama, and from the other, Gamaliel. [Compare Numbers 1:10, 1:32-35, 2:18-21.] ¶ Of the lineage of Benjamin, thirty-five thousand and four hundred, of whom Abidan was prince. [Compare Numbers 1:11, 1:36-37, 2:22-23.] ¶ Of the lineage of Dan, forty-two thousand and seven hundred, of whom Ahiezer was prince. [Compare Numbers 1:12, 1:38-39, 2:25-26.] ¶ Of the lineage of Asher, forty-one thousand five hundred, of whom Pagiel was prince. [Compare Numbers 1:13, 1:40-41, 2:27-28.] ¶ Of the lineage of Naphtali, fifty-three thousand four hundred, of whom Ahira was prince. [Compare Numbers 1:15, 1:42-43, 2:29-30.] ¶ When all were counted, appointed, and written down — only of those who were twenty years old or more, who would be engaging in battle — then the number was six hundred and three thousand five hundred fifty good men, not counting women and children and also common servants, and not counting the line of Levi, of whom you have not heard anything yet. [Compare Numbers 1:44-47, 2:32-33.] ¶ God spoke to Moses and commanded that the lineage of Levi be counted, of whom there were twenty-two thousand, not counting women and children. And of these, twenty thousand five hundred and fifty were thirty years old or more. And to this lineage, by the commandment of God, was entrusted the tabernacle and the ark, and the precious vestments and ornaments that were inside, to serve and to pro¬tect. And to carry the tabernacle itself, it was ordained to the strongest of this line, fourteen thousand. And to the ark and other things — censers, altars, ewers, basins — they were ordained, as was their office. The cattle, camels, horses, and other animals that bore the holy things or carried anything pertaining to the tabernacle were covered with well-fitted costly garments. And the holy things were enclosed very richly in most precious cloths and vessels. [Compare Numbers 1:48-54, 4:1-14.] In the first month of the second year, the people left the foot of the mountain. And a cloud in the wilderness covered the tabernacle, and a cloud moved, leading the people forward. [Compare Numbers 9:1, 9:17.] ¶ Then Moses spoke to Hobab the son of Reuel of the line of Israel (the brother of Moses’s wife), who came to Moses with the wife and two sons of Moses, Eliezer and Gershom, whom he had engendered in the land of Midian. And Reuel himself came there when Amalek was conquered. And Moses asked Hobab very tenderly if he might wish to go with them. And he said that he would return to the land of Midian from which he came. | Moses said to him that if he wished to go with them, he would have great authority over everyone because he knew well how to be a lord and leader. Then Hobab consented to go with them. Then all the people set out, and the cloud passed before them. When they had journeyed for three days, then the people grumbled against God and said that they were tormented too much, and they spoke among themselves that they had journeyed with difficulty ever since they came from Egypt. Then God grew very angry, and visited a fire from the sky on this people, and destroyed many of them. Then Moses prayed for the people, and God had the fire end. And because of this fire, the place where the fire first burned is called the Burning. ¶ When they came to the Graves of Covetousness, there they pitched their tents. And the tabernacle was raised. Then the Hebrews grumbled against God because they had no food to eat except manna, and they wanted to have meat to eat. Moses heard the grumbling of the people. And he prayed God that he grant him assistance in governing so many people, and that he send them meat because they desired it intensely. God came down in the cloud into the tabernacle, and commanded Moses to bring to the tabernacle seventy of the oldest and wisest Hebrews. And Moses did it. God took of the spirit of Moses and filled the seventy Hebrews with this spirit. And then they became wise in prophecy and very devoted to assisting Moses. God said that the people who desired to have meat would have it plentifully enough for a whole month. Then said Moses, “Lord, where might you have so many animals — cattle or sheep — or meat that would suffice for so many people a whole month?” God knew what he wished to do. A wind began to blow in which many quail came through the pastures and fell down everywhere so thickly that the people gathered them and made large mounds. And there were so many that the people did not know what to do with them. God took vengeance for the covetousness of the people: he sent plague among them by which many people died. [Compare Numbers 10-11.] ¶ From there they went to Hazeroth. Then said Mary to Aaron, “Why doesn’t God speak to us as he does to Moses our brother? Does God do this only for him, and not at all for us and our merit?” And God, who knew well that she said this through envy, came down in the cloud into the tabernacle, and spoke to Mary in front of Moses and Aaron, and said, “How are you so bold as to slander my servant behind his back, to whom I myself speak mouth to mouth? And I love him | and he me, and I speak to him and not at all to you nor to others except by sign or by dream.” And for this slander God struck Mary with hideous leprosy. Aaron was greatly dismayed on account of Mary his sister, and asked Moses to pray to God for her. And Moses did so. Then said God to him, “After seven days she will be entirely healed.” She was removed and separated from the people seven days, after which she was entirely healed and returned to the people. [Compare Numbers 12.] ¶ Then all the people moved from Hazeroth to Paran. Then by the commandment of God Moses took twelve men from the twelve lineages, namely Shammua, Shaphat, Caleb the son of Jephunneh, Joshua, Igal, Palti, Gaddiel the son of Sodi, Gaddi, Ammiel, Sethur the son of Michael, Nahbi, Geuel the son of Machi. These twelve were sent from Paran to spy upon the land of Canaan that God had promised to the Hebrews. These twelve went from Paran to the south toward Canaan, and they traversed the land of Canaan. And then they returned, and said that the land of Canaan was very rich and filled with all good things — a rich and delightful land with woods, waters, meadows, very beautiful springs, and abundant with all fruits: “The cities are well furnished with walls. And the people are very ready for war. And there, there are giants of the line of Anak, strong and brave and large. Toward the south dwells Amalek. ¶ “In the mountains are Hittites, Jebusites, Amorites. The Canaanites are next to the sea on the bank of the river Jordan. They would be capable of devouring us completely, were they to encounter us.” [Compare Numbers 13.] When Caleb and Joshua saw the Hebrews becoming disheartened, they said, “Lords, do not believe it! Let us go on. With the aid of God, all is ours. We shall take all of them at our will.” The Hebrews were greatly dismayed, and said that it worked out badly for them that they were led here from their land, where they had had whatever they needed. And now they are in the wilderness, and are on the brink of dying from hunger, and will be killed and destroyed by their enemies. And they grumbled to God and to Moses. And God grew fiercely angry, and came down in the cloud into the tabernacle, and said that he would destroy all the people on account of their hard hearts and bad conscience and faith. Moses prayed him very tenderly and very reverently for mercy. And God said to him, “Those who have chided and slandered me and have not kept my commandment shall never see that land that I promised to their ancestors. But to Joshua and Caleb, who feared me, and to their lineage, I shall give it. And all those who were written down who were over twenty years old have so wronged me that they shall die here. And to their children who were not written down as having twenty years, I shall give this land. And these children shall live here (so very wretched were their fathers!), and for forty years I shall lead them through the wilderness. And afterwards I shall give them that land.” Moses said to the Hebrews that God would take great vengeance for their misdeeds. They wept and made great mourning for their crimes against God, and said that they would go to the land of Canaan and destroy all their enemies that they could find. Moses said, “You shall not go against your enemies at all, for God is not at all with you. And for | this you will not be able to accomplish anything, but you will be vilely abused by your enemies.” They said that they wished to go. The next day they climbed a large mountain and saw their enemies. Then they went down and ran against them. Thereupon Amalek came from one side, and the Canaanites from the other side, and struck upon them. And the Hebrews received the worst of it, as Moses had told them, for God was not with them. And many Hebrews were killed and many hurt. And thus did God take vengeance for their misdeeds. [Compare Numbers 14.] ¶ In the Bible you will now find at this point much writing about the sacrifices that pagans, Jews, and their kin were wont to make of calves, lambs, and other animals. And now they have given up all that because they are captives among us. And in remembrance of their Creator, according to what they say, they make stone sculptures and paintings every day because they do not want to forget him, for painting is a book for those who do not have understanding of letters. But now regarding the Synagogue, which was a temple for the Jews, now it is ordained a Church for Christians to make their Christian sacrifice. At the time that this writing was made, one thous¬and one hundred and thirty years had passed since Jesus Christ first was sacrificed for our sins, which sacrifice each day among Christians is made in remembrance of their Creator, and will be until the end of the world. [Not in the Bible.] ¶ Then two hundred and fifty companions of the Hebrews gathered together. They came to Moses and Aaron. Among these companions, Lord Korah, Dathan, and Abiram were the leaders. Then said Korah, “Moses, we have not gained anything during the lordship and governance that you have had over us. You shall no longer be chief or governor over this people. We have no interest in your prelacy. We are all holy. God is with us.” When Moses heard this, he was very saddened that the Devil had so deceived them by pride and envy and by other ugly sins. And he said, “Korah, you say that you are holy. Tomorrow we shall see your holiness. Bear forth tomorrow your censer and yourself — together with Dathan and Abiram and all your companions — before the tabernacle, and place the incense on the coals. And then it shall be seen which of us God calls.” Dathan and Abiram, who were wicked and proud, said that they would not carry a censer for him, and that they would have nothing to do with him. Moses was very saddened that they were taken by the Devil. ¶ The next day the two hundred and fifty came with their censers before the tabernacle, but Dathan and Abiram did not come at all. Then God said to Moses and Aaron, “Remove yourselves from that company so that I may avenge myself upon them most mightily.” “God,” they said, “have mercy! Do not permit so many people to perish for the misdeeds of one or two men.” Moses by the commandment of God took a good many Hebrews. He came to the lodgings of Dathan and Abiram, and had them dragged outside. And he said to the people, “Sirs, God will take vengeance upon Dathan and Abiram. And should he not take a vengeance upon them different from what he has ever taken upon others, do not ever believe that he is the true God. And you will see this | openly, for too excessively in their pride, haughtiness, arrogance, and disobedience have they sinned against God their Creator, who has granted to them great honor among us.” When Moses had said this before all the people who were assembled to see what Moses would do, the earth drew apart and opened, and devoured and swallowed up Dathan and Abiram entirely alive. And they let out a cry, “The deep pit of hell!” And nothing remained of whatever was theirs which the earth did not devour quickly. All the people who saw this ran up and down everywhere, and did not know what to do. And they all thought they would perish. And they cried to God for mercy, and asked Moses to pray for them. And they thought they would be utterly destroyed. Thereupon came a most horrible fire from the sky. And, in the sight of all the people, there where the two hundred and fifty companions offered their incense, it seized them and entirely engulfed them in flames. And such vengeance did God take upon these two hundred and fifty companions of the Hebrews for their misdeeds. ¶ Then commanded Moses by the precept of God that Eleazar the son of Aaron take the censers of those who had perished, and scatter the fire, and fashion pieces from the censers, and fasten them to the altars, for they are sanctified by the death of the sinners. Thus may this be a sign to the sons of Israel that none of them should approach the altar to offer incense if he not be of the lineage of Aaron, should he not wish to perish as Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and the others did. ¶ The following day the Hebrew people complained and made great noise to Moses and Aaron. And the people said that Moses and Aaron had killed the people of God. And for fear of the people, Moses and Aaron fled to the tabernacle. And they entered inside, and the glory of God appeared to them. And God placed a fire above the people. And Moses commanded Aaron to take a censer, and stand in the midst of the people, and pray for the people. And he did so. And the fire ceased, but before the cessation, fourteen thousand and seven hundred of the Hebrews perished. [Compare Numbers 16.] ¶ God commanded Moses to take from each lineage a rod, and upon these twelve rods to write the name of the prince on each rod, and one rod shall contain the names of all their households, and to put them in the tabernacle “as a sign that I have spoken with you. And the rod of the one I choose shall flower.” And Moses did the commandment of God, and placed the rods in the tabernacle. The next day Moses found in the house of Levi the rod of Aaron budding and bearing flowers, and the leaves extracted from this rod became almonds. Then Moses carried [the rods] to the sons of Israel and gave to each his rod, but Aaron’s rod remained in the tabernacle as a sign to the rebellious sons of Israel, and that they should cease their grumbling and complaints, | so that they not die. [Compare Numbers 17.] Then said God to Aaron, “You and your sons and the house of your father shall bear the sins of the priesthood and shall carry the iniquity of the sanctuary. And take with you your brothers of the line of Levi and the scepter of your father. And you and your brothers will be in charge of the priesthood and all that relates to the altar. If any other approach it, he will be killed. And I give you custody of the first fruits of offerings and sacrifices, and whatever is given or offered to me for sins or violations is yours. The first fruits of corn, lands, wines, and oils are yours, and you shall live upon this. “Whatever comes first out of the womb of each one — woman or else beast — is yours. Thus, for the issue of a woman, you shall be given a fee. And for each unclean beast, you shall receive a payment, which payment shall be made after a month. And the payment shall be a silver shekel, that is, twenty halfpennies. “For cattle, sheep, goats, and such — clean beasts — there shall be no payment, but their blood shall be spread upon the altar, and you shall eat their flesh. And the fat shall be burned, and the aroma shall be given to the Lord. Of the land of the Hebrews you shall have nothing, for I myself shall be your land and your inheritance. And to the sons of Levi I have given possession of all the tithes of the children of Israel for the service that they perform for me in the tabernacle.” [Compare Numbers 18.] ¶ Moses by the precept of God commanded that the children of Israel bring a red cow of full age that had never worn a yoke and had no blemish, and that it be given to Eleazar the priest, and that he make the sacrifice of this cow outside the enclosure, in the sight of all, and put his finger in the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before the doors of the tabernacle, and then have all the flesh placed in smoke and fire. And the ashes of the cow shall be placed in a beautiful and clean place in the keeping of the people of Israel, because it was burned for sin. And the ashes shall be mixed with pure water, and sprinkled on all the sons of Israel as a sign of purgation of sin. [Compare Numbers 19.] ¶ The people of Israel came into the wilderness of Sin in the first month. And they lived in Kadesh. And there died Mary the sister of Moses and Aaron. And she was buried there. And the people had a great dearth of water, and complained against Moses and Aaron. And they came to the tabernacle, and asked God that he give living water to the people. And God commanded Moses and Aaron, in the sight of all, to strike with their rods twice on the stone, and water would issue abundantly. And they did so. Then Moses said to them, “You of hard-hearted belief think that we by the power of God are not able to give you living water from the hard rock. Now you may see openly that we can. Cease your complaining, or God will take heavy vengeance upon you all.” | ¶ Then said God to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe entirely that you should honor me before the sons of Israel, you will never lead this people to the land that I have promised them.” ¶ Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, and asked him that the people of Israel might pass through his land without turning anywhere from the path, or [without] having or taking anything belonging to him or his people. And the king of Edom did not wish in any way to grant this. And the people of Israel turned away from him. And they set out from Kadesh, and came to Mount Hor, which is on the boundary of the land of Edom. Then said God to Moses, “Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and lead them to the top of this mountain. And remove Aaron’s garments, and with these garments clothe Eleazar his son. And Aaron will die there, for I do not wish at all that he enter the Promised Land because he did not believe in me so entirely as to honor me at the Waters of Contradiction before the sons of Israel.” And Moses did the commandment of God. And when the people saw that Aaron was dead, they made great mourning, and wept over the corpse for thirty days. [Compare Numbers 20.] ¶ When the king of Canaan learned through his spies of the coming of the Hebrew people, he gathered a large people from his realm of Arad and fought with the Hebrews. And there was the king vanquished. And the Hebrews called the place of the battle Hormah, that is to say, something like Anathema, which means “excommunicated.” The Hebrews left from there by the direct road toward the Red Sea. And they wished to go around the perimeter of the land of Edom, and they grew very weary from their labor. And they grew angry against God and Moses, and said that they lacked bread and did not have water, and their spirits were made sick by such meager food. God grew very angry at this, and sent fiery serpents throughout the wilderness to kill and mislead the people who did not believe at all in him or in his power. The Hebrews of Israel could not endure at all the persecution of the serpents, and cried out to Moses that he devise a cure for them. Moses prayed to God for the people. And God commanded him to make a serpent of brass, and place it at the tip of a spear, so that the people struck by the serpents might behold this serpent of brass and be cured of their poisoning. ¶ From there the people went to Oboth. And from there to Iye-abarim in the wilderness near Moab toward the east. And from there they went to the torrent Zered. And from there they lodged near Arnon, which is in the wilderness near the border of the Amorites. Arnon is the border of Moab, separating the Moabites from the Amorites. Moses by the commandment of God gathered the people of the Hebrews, and God gave them a well of water. And then Israel sang this song, “Let the well spring up” etc. | From there Israel went to Mattanah, and then to Nahaliel, then to Bamoth. Bamoth is a valley in the region of Moab by the summit of Pisgah, facing the wilderness. ¶ Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, and asked that it might pass through his land, and neither turn aside anywhere nor take anything of his. And the king did not wish to permit this. But he gathered a large host, and met Israel in Jahaz. And there the king and his people were conquered. And his land was fought over from Arnon to Jabbok. Israel took the towns of King Sihon, and lived among Amorites, [in] Heshbon and other cities. The town of Heshbon belonged to King Sihon of the Amorites, who had fought against the king of Moab and taken all his lands up to Arnon. Israel took Jazer and all its inhabitants, and turned by the way of Bashan. And Og the king of Bashan came with many people against Israel in Edrei and wished to kill Israel. And Our Lord said to Moses, “Do not ever fear King Og nor his many people. I will deliver them all into your hand as I did Sihon king of the Amorites.” And when King Og came to battle, immediately he was defeated. [Compare Numbers 21.] And Israel, in the fields of Moab by the Jordan, where Jericho is situated, made its encampment. ¶ Then said Balak the son of Zippor to the elders of Midian, “This people of Israel will devour us all as the ox does the grass.” This Balak was at that time king in Moab. And he summoned by means of envoys Balaam the son of Beor, the soothsayer who dwelt by the river of the land of the children of Ammon, that he come to him and see the multitude of the Hebrew people who came from Egypt. Thus might he see and curse this people, whereby this people would be conquered the more quickly, because, he said, he knew well that those whom Balaam wished to curse would be cursed, and those whom he wished to bless would be blessed. The envoys came to Balaam, and carried the fee of divination. And they explained to him that with which they were charged. And he said to them that they should wait until the next day, and he would speak to his master and then answer them. That night God came to Balaam and asked him who those men were. Balaam recounted everything to him, word for word. And God commanded that he not go with them, and that he not curse his people. The next day Balaam arose, and said to the envoys that they should go back to their lord, and say that God had forbidden him to go with them. When this response came to King Balak the son of Zippor, he took other envoys who were of higher rank than were the first, and summoned Balaam in the same way that he had done before. And Balaam asked them | to remain for the night. And they did so. That night God came to Balaam, and said, “If these people have provided for your coming, go with them, and do not do anything other than what I command you.” Balaam arose in the morning, and took his two sons, and mounted his ass. And he rode with the envoys toward King Balak. And as Balaam rode his ass, the angel of God stood in the middle of the path with a drawn sword and denied the ass the path. And the ass saw him well, but Balaam could not see him. The ass turned from the path, and Balaam, who did not know the reason, beat and smote her immoderately. And he began to go by another path, and the angel came against [him] with his sword raised. And the ass could not go forward. And Balaam smote and beat her exceedingly hard. Balaam tried the third path, and the angel came so close to the ass that she fell down to the ground. And Balaam jumped off and began to beat his ass. Then by the ordinance of God this ass spoke to Balaam her master, and said, “Why do you beat me now for the third time? What have I done to you? I have never at any time done any insults against you, as I now have done, and this is not at all by my own doing.” Then God opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel with the sword. And he wondered greatly at this sight. And he fell to the ground and did honor to the angel. Then the angel said to him, “I came here because I wished to meet and kill you, and to permit the ass to live.” Then said Balaam to him, “I have sinned, and I did not know you were there. And if it pleases you that I should turn back, I will do it willingly.” Then said the angel, “Go with these princes, and do not say anything except as I shall command you.” When King Balak knew of his coming, he went to meet him, and received him with great honor. ¶ The next day the king led Balaam to a mountain called Baal, where he could see the larger part of the Hebrew people. [Compare Numbers 22.] Then said Balaam, “Make ready here seven altars, seven calves, and seven sheep.” Then Balaam took and placed on each altar a calf and a sheep. And he said to the king, “Wait here awhile near the altar. I will go to see if I may speak to God, and then I will tell you whatever you ask.” Balaam spoke with God. And he quickly returned to the king, and said for all to hear, “Balak king of the Moabites brought me from Aram, from the mountains of the east, to curse Jacob and anathematize Israel. How can I curse the people that God has never cursed? How can I anathematize what | God has never anathematized? He who can count the dust will be able to count the progeny of Jacob, and who can know the number of Israel? May my soul die in the death of the righteous, and may my final fate be similar to theirs.” Thus prophesied Balaam many things concerning Israel. King Balak grew angry, and said, “I sent for you so that you would please me and curse my enemies, and you do exactly the opposite.” Then said Balaam, “I said to your envoys and affirmed to you that I cannot do or say anything except at the will of God.” ¶ Then the king brought Balaam to a high mountain that is called Pisgah, where he could see more of the Hebrew people than he had before been able to. Then Balaam made seven altars, and placed [on them] seven calves and seven sheep, and went away from the king to pray. And then he returned when he had spoken with God. And he said to the king, for all the princes to hear, “God is not as other people, about whom I would lie to you, nor as the son of man who is constantly changing. I was led here to give a blessing, and I cannot withhold the blessing. There is no idol at all in Jacob, nor any effigies in Israel. God Our Lord is with them, who always is blessed. And for this I cannot give to them anything but a blessing.” Many prophecies did Balaam speak regarding Israel. Then Balak the king grew angry, and led Balaam to the mountain of Peor to see if he would curse Israel. And there he made seven altars, seven calves, and seven sheep, as he had done before, and left the king and his ministers to stay there. And Balaam went away from them and saw the people of Israel. And he knew well without divination what to do, that the will of God was to bless Israel. He returned and spoke prophecies to the king, and said, “Whoever blesses the people of Israel, he shall be blessed. And whoever curses them shall be cursed.” Then the king grew extremely angry, and said, “I deliberately sought you that you should curse my enemies, and you have now done the opposite three times. ¶ “Return to your house from which you came. I had intended to honor you above all in this realm, and you have not earned it.” Balaam said to him, “I said that I could do nothing for you for all the wealth of the world except at the will of God Our Lord. And his will is that Israel be blessed over all people.” And Balaam spoke many prophecies of which there is now no need to speak. Then Balaam returned to his house from whence he came. [Compare Numbers 23-24.] ¶ At that time Israel dwelt in Shittim, and the people committed fornication with the daughters of Moab. And they summoned them to sacrifices and worshiped wicked gods. At this | God grew angry, and said to Moses, “Take all the princes of this people, and have them hung against the sun on gibbets until my anger is turned from them.” Then said Moses to the judges of Israel, “Let every one of you kill his neighbors.” And as they spoke together about this commandment of God, one of the sons of Israel in the sight of Moses and all the people entered the brothel of the Midianites. And many people of Israel stood before the door of the tabernacle and wept. And when Phinehas the son of Eleazar (the son of Aaron the priest) saw this one enter the brothel, he took a javelin and pierced through the middle the man and woman together. And thus ended that vengeance among the sons of Israel, but first were killed by the vengeance of God twenty-four thousand men for their fornications. ¶ Then said God to Phinehas, “You have turned my anger from the sons of Israel, and I know that you belong to me because you took vengeance upon my enemies.” And the one that Phinehas killed was called Zimri the son of mighty Salu. And the Midianite woman was called Cozbi the daughter of Zur, the noble prince of the Midianites. Again God said to Moses, “Kill the Midianites because they carry themselves in enmity against you.” ¶ And from this time forward Phinehas was a great leader and lord among the Hebrews, and an intimate and friend of God. [Compare Numbers 25.] And of this history he who wishes to hear more will find it in the Bible in the book of Numbers, and this is almost at the end of the same book. And he who has a good end will not lose the joy of heaven.