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Book of Jasher 63



Book of Jasher 63

Chapter 63

 

1.                 
And in the ninety-third year died
Levi, the son of Jacob, in
Egypt, and Levi
was a hundred and thirty-seven years old when he died, and they put him into a
coffin and he was given into the hands of his children.

2.                 
And it came to pass after the death
of Levi, when all Egypt saw that the sons of Jacob the brethren of Joseph were
dead, all the Egyptians began to afflict the children of Jacob, and to embitter
their lives from that day unto the day of their going forth from Egypt, and
they took from their hands all the vineyards and fields which Joseph had given
unto them, and all the elegant houses in which the people of Israel lived, and
all the fat of Egypt, the Egyptians took all from the sons of Jacob in those
days.

3.                 
And the hand of all Egypt became more
grievous in those days against the children of
Israel, and the
Egyptians injured the Israelites until the children of
Israel were wearied
of their lives on account of the Egyptians.

4.                 
And it came to pass in those days, in
the hundred and second year of Israel’s going down to Egypt, that Pharaoh king
of Egypt died, and Melol his son reigned in his stead, and all the mighty men
of
Egypt and all that
generation which knew Joseph and his brethren died in those days.

5.                 
And another generation rose up in
their stead, which had not known the sons of Jacob and all the good which they
had done to them, and all their might in
Egypt.

6.                 
Therefore all Egypt began from
that day forth to embitter the lives of the sons of Jacob, and to afflict them
with all manner of hard labor, because they had not known their ancestors who
had delivered them in the days of the famine.

7.                 
And this was also from the Lord, for
the children of
Israel, to benefit
them in their latter days, in order that all the children of
Israel might know
the Lord their God.

8.                 
And in order to know the signs and
mighty wonders which the Lord would do in
Egypt on account
of his people
Israel, in order
that the children of
Israel might fear
the Lord God of their ancestors, and walk in all his ways, they and their seed
after them all the days.

9.                 
Melol was twenty years old when he
began to reign, and he reigned ninety-four years, and all Egypt called his name
Pharaoh after the name of his father, as it was their custom to do to every
king who reigned over them in Egypt.

10.            
At that time all the troops of Angeas
king of
Africa went forth to spread along the land of Chittim as usual for
plunder.

11.            
And Zepho the son of Eliphaz the son
of Esau heard their report, and he went forth to meet them with his army, and
he fought them there in the road.

12.            
And Zepho smote the troops of the
king of
Africa with the edge of the sword, and left
none remaining of them, and not even one returned to his master in
Africa.

13.            
And Angeas heard of this which Zepho
the son of Eliphaz had done to all his troops, that he had destroyed them, and
Angeas assembled all his troops, all the men of the land of Africa, a people
numerous like the sand by the sea shore.

14.            
And Angeas sent to Lucus his brother,
saying, Come to me with all thy men and help me to smite Zepho and all the
children of Chittim who have destroyed my men, and Lucus came with his whole
army, a very great force, to assist Angeas his brother to fight with Zepho and
the children of Chittim.

15.            
And Zepho and the children of Chittim
heard this thing, and they were greatly afraid and a great terror fell upon
their hearts.

16.            
And Zepho also sent a letter to the land of Edom to Hadad the
son of Bedad king of
Edom and to all
the children of Esau, saying,

17.            
I have heard that Angeas king of Africa is coming to
us with his brother for battle against us, and we are greatly afraid of him,
for his army is very great, particularly as he comes against us with his
brother and his army likewise.

18.            
Now therefore come you also up with
me and help me, and we will fight together against Angeas and his brother
Lucus, and you will save us out of their hands, but if not, know ye that we
shall all die.

19.            
And the children of Esau sent a
letter to the children of Chittim and to Zepho their king, saying, We cannot
fight against Angeas and his people for a covenant of peace has been between us
these many years, from the days of Bela the first king, and from the days of
Joseph the son of Jacob king of Egypt, with whom we fought on the other side of
Jordan when he buried his father.

20.            
And when Zepho heard the words of his
brethren the children of Esau he refrained from them, and Zepho was greatly
afraid of Angeas.

21.            
And Angeas and Lucus his brother
arrayed all their forces, about eight hundred thousand men, against the
children of Chittim.

22.            
And all the children of Chittim said
unto Zepho, Pray for us to the God of thy ancestors, peradventure he may
deliver us from the hand of Angeas and his army, for we have heard that he is a
great God and that he delivers all who trust in him.

23.            
And Zepho heard their words, and
Zepho sought the Lord and he said,

24.            
0 Lord God of Abraham and Isaac my
ancestors, this day I know that thou art a true God, and all the gods of the
nations are vain and useless.

25.            
Remember now this day unto me thy
covenant with Abraham our father, which our ancestors related unto us, and do
graciously with me this day for the sake of Abraham and Isaac our fathers, and
save me and the children of Chittim from the hand of the king of Africa who
comes against us for battle.

26.            
And the Lord hearkened to the voice
of Zepho, and he had regard for him on account of Abraham and Isaac, and the
Lord delivered Zepho and the children of Chittim from the hand of Angeas and
his people.

27.            
And Zepho fought Angeas king of Africa and all his
people on that day, and the Lord gave all the people of Angeas into the hands
of the children of Chittim.

28.            
And the battle was severe upon
Angeas, and Zepho smote all the men of Angeas and Lucus his brother, with the
edge of the sword, and there fell from them unto the evening of that day about
four hundred thousand men.

29.            
And when Angeas saw that all his men
perished, he sent a letter to all the inhabitants of Africa to come to him, to
assist him in the battle, and he wrote in the letter, saying, All who are found
in Africa let them come unto me from ten years old and upward; let them all
come unto me, and behold if he comes not he shall die, and all that he has,
with his whole household, the king will take.

30.            
And all the rest of the inhabitants
of Africa were terrified at the words of Angeas, and there went out of the city
about three hundred thousand men and boys, from ten years upward, and they came
to Angeas.

31.            
And at the end of ten days Angeas
renewed the battle against Zepho and the children of Chittim, and the battle
was very great and strong between them.

32.            
And from the army of Angeas and
Lucus, Zepho sent many of the wounded unto his hand, about two thousand men,
and Sosiphtar the captain of the host of Angeas fell in that battle.

33.            
And when Sosiphtar had fallen, the
African troops turned their backs to flee, and they fled, and Angeas and Lucus
his brother were with them.

34.            
And Zepho and the children of Chittim
pursued them, and they smote them still heavily on the road, about two hundred
men, and they pursued Azdrubal the son of Angeas who had fled with his father,
and they smote twenty of his men in the road, and Azdrubal escaped from the
children of Chittim, and they did not slay him.

35.            
And Angeas and Lucus his brother fled
with the rest of their men, and they escaped and came into Africa with terror
and consternation, and Angeas feared all the days lest Zepho the son of Eliphaz
should go to war with him.

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