Chapter 64 of the Book of Jasher throws us right into one of those cycles.

We're back in a world of ancient grudges and shifting alliances. Balaam, son of Beor – yes, that Balaam, the one with the talking donkey! – is hanging out with Angeas during a battle. But seeing Angeas getting trounced by Zepho, he wisely flees to Chittim (often associated with Cyprus or other Mediterranean lands).

Zepho, flush with victory, welcomes Balaam and his supposed wisdom. He’s so successful in battle that his kingdom enjoys renewed peace and prosperity. But here’s the kicker: "Zepho remembered not the Lord." He forgets who really gave him the victory, and instead, falls back on the ways of the "wicked children of Esau," serving other gods. The Book of Jasher pointedly reminds us: "From the wicked goes forth wickedness."

Success breeds ambition. Zepho, emboldened by his victories against Africa, starts plotting against… Egypt. He hears that the mighty Egyptian warriors are gone, that Joseph and his brothers are dead, and sees an opportunity. As the text says, Zepho wants to avenge his brethren, the children of Esau, for what Joseph and his brothers did to them way back when they buried Jacob in Hebron. It’s a long-held grudge!

So, Zepho sends out a call to arms, rallying the children of Esau (Edom), the children of the East, and the children of Ishmael. He essentially assembles a coalition of the aggrieved, reminding them of past wrongs and promising vengeance. "Now then if you are willing to come to me to assist me in fighting against them and Egypt, then shall we avenge the cause of our brethren."

And they come! A massive army gathers in Hebron, described as "a people numerous as the sand upon the sea shore which can not be counted." They descend upon Egypt and encamp in the valley of Pathros (Upper Egypt).

The Egyptians, facing this overwhelming force, also gather their troops. They even call upon the children of Israel, who are living in Goshen, to join them. About 150 Israelite men answer the call. Talk about uneven odds!

But the Egyptians don't fully trust the Israelites, fearing they might side with their "brethren," the Edomites and Ishmaelites. So, they keep the Israelites in reserve, planning to unleash them only if things get dire. "Perhaps the children of Israel will deliver us into the hand of the children of Esau and Ishmael, for they are their brethren."

Now, remember Balaam? He's still hanging around with Zepho. Zepho, ever superstitious, asks Balaam to use his divination skills to predict the outcome of the battle. But, wouldn't you know it, Balaam's magic fails him! The text explains, "this was from the Lord, in order to cause Zepho and his people to fall into the hand of the children of Israel." Divine intervention, perhaps?

The battle begins, and the Egyptians are getting hammered. They suffer heavy losses and are forced to retreat. In desperation, they cry out to the Israelites for help.

Those 150 Israelite men, outnumbered and facing a seemingly impossible situation, turn to God. And here's where things get interesting. "The Lord hearkened to Israel, and the Lord gave all the men of the kings into their hand." The Israelites, with divine assistance, rout the enemy, inflicting heavy casualties and throwing the kings' army into chaos.

The Egyptians, witnessing this display of power, are terrified. They flee the battlefield, leaving the Israelites to fight alone. After the battle, the Israelites, feeling betrayed, take a measure of revenge on the fleeing Egyptians, killing about 200 of them. They pointedly ask, "Wherefore did you go from us and leave us, being a few people, to fight against these kings who had a great people to smite us, that you might thereby deliver your own souls?"

The chapter ends with the Israelites returning to Goshen in triumph, while the Egyptians, thoroughly frightened, retreat to their homes.

What are we to make of all this? It's a story of ambition, betrayal, and divine intervention. It shows us the dangers of forgetting God in times of success and the consequences of long-held grudges. And it reminds us that even the smallest, most vulnerable group can achieve victory when they trust in something greater than themselves. It makes you wonder, doesn't it, what cycles we're caught in, and what it would take to break free.