Benjamin, twelfth and last son of Jacob, born of Rachel, had lived a hundred and twenty-five years. He kissed his sons and began to speak.
"As Isaac was born to Abraham in his old age, so also was I to Jacob. Since Rachel my mother died giving me birth, I had no milk. I was suckled by Bilhah, her handmaid. For Rachel remained barren for twelve years after she bore Joseph. She prayed to the Lord with fasting for twelve days, and she conceived and bore me. My father loved Rachel dearly and prayed that he might see two sons born from her. Therefore I was called Benjamin, that is, a son of days" (Genesis 35:16-18).
Benjamin then revealed a conversation with Joseph in Egypt that his brothers never knew about.
When Benjamin went to Egypt, Joseph recognized him and asked: "What did they tell our father when they sold me?" Benjamin answered: "They dabbled your coat with blood and sent it, saying: Know whether this be your son's coat" (Genesis 37:32). Joseph replied carefully: "Even so, brother. The Canaanite merchants stole me by force. They concealed my garment as though a wild beast had met me and slain me. And so their associates sold me to the Ishmaelites."
Joseph was lying. Deliberately. He wished to conceal from Benjamin what his brothers had actually done. He called the brothers to him privately and said: "Do not tell my father what you have done to me, but tell him as I have told Benjamin." Even after everything they had done to him, Joseph shielded them.
"Do you also, my children, love the Lord God of heaven and earth, and keep His commandments, following the example of the good and holy man Joseph," Benjamin urged. "Let your mind be unto good, for he that has his mind right sees all things rightly. Fear the Lord, and love your neighbor. Even though the spirits of Beliar claim you to afflict you with every evil, they shall not have dominion over you, even as they had not over Joseph."
He said that Joseph besought their father to pray that the Lord would not impute to his brothers whatever evil they had done. And Jacob cried out: "My good child, you have prevailed over the bowels of your father Jacob!" He embraced Joseph and kissed him for two hours.
Benjamin then taught the nature of the good person. "The good man has not a dark eye. He shows mercy to all, even to sinners. Though they devise evil intent against him, by doing good he overcomes evil, shielded by God. He loves the righteous as his own soul. If anyone is glorified, he envies not. If anyone is enriched, he is not jealous. If anyone is valiant, he praises him. The virtuous he lauds. On the poor he has mercy. On the weak he has compassion. Unto God he sings praises."
"If you have a good mind," Benjamin said, "then wicked men will be at peace with you. The profligate will reverence you and turn to good. The covetous will cease from desire. Where there is reverence for good works and light in the mind, even darkness flees."
The inclination of the good person is not in the power of Beliar's deceit. The angel of peace guides such a soul. The good mind has not two tongues: one of blessing and one of cursing, one of honor and one of contempt. It has one disposition, uncorrupt and pure. No double sight, no double hearing. In everything it does, speaks, and sees, it knows the Lord looks upon the soul.
"Flee the malice of Beliar," Benjamin warned, "for he gives a sword to those who obey him, and the sword is the mother of seven evils: bloodshed, ruin, tribulation, exile, famine, panic, and destruction." He invoked Cain, who was delivered over to seven vengeances by God for the murder of his brother Abel. Every hundred years the Lord brought a plague upon him. Those who follow Cain in envy and hatred of brothers shall be punished with the same judgment.
"Flee evil-doing, envy, and hatred of brethren, and cleave to goodness and love," Benjamin commanded. "He that has a pure mind in love looks not after a woman for fornication, for he has no defilement in his heart, because the Spirit of God rests upon him. As the sun is not defiled by shining on dung and mire, but rather dries them up and drives away the stench, so also the pure mind, though encompassed by the defilements of earth, rather cleanses them and is not itself defiled."
He foresaw that the Temple of God would be in their portion, and the last Temple would be more glorious than the first. The twelve tribes would be gathered together, and the Most High would send forth His salvation.
"I command you, my children, carry up my bones out of Egypt and bury me at Hebron, near my fathers." Benjamin died at a hundred and twenty-five years, at a good old age. They placed him in a coffin, and in the ninety-first year after the children of Israel entered Egypt, they carried up the bones of their fathers secretly during the Canaanite war and buried them in Hebron, by the feet of their fathers.
TESTAMENT OF BENJAMIN, THE TWELFTH SON OF JACOB AND RACHEL
1 1 The copy of the words of Benjamin, which he commanded his sons to
observe, after he had lived 2 a hundred and twenty-five years. And he kissed
them, and said: As Isaac was born to Abraham 3 in his old age, so also was I to
Jacob. And since Rachel my mother died in giving me birth, I had 4 no milk;
therefore I was suckled by Bilhah her handmaid. For Rachel remained barren for
twelve years after she had borne Joseph; and she prayed the Lord with fasting
twelve days, and she 5 conceived and bare me. For my father loved Rachel dearly,
and prayed that he might see two 6 sons born from her. Therefore was I called
Benjamin, that is, a son of days.
2 1 And when I went into Egypt, to Joseph, and my brother recognized
me, he said unto me: 2 What did they tell my father when they sold me ? And I
said unto him, They dabbled thy coat with blood and sent it, and said: Know
whether this be thy son's coat. 3 And Joseph said unto me: Even so, brother, the
Canaanite merchants stole me by force, 4 And it came to pass that as they went
on their way they concealed my garment, as though a wild beast had met 5 me and
slain me. And so his associates sold me to the Ishmaelites. 6 And they did not
lie in saying this. For he wished to conceal from me the deeds of my brethren.
And he called to him his brethren and said: 7 Do not tell my father what ye have
done unto me, but tell him 8 as I have told Benjamin. And let the thoughts among
you be such, and let not these things come to the heart of my father.
3 1 Do ye also, therefore, my children, love the Lord God of heaven
and earth, and keep His commandments, following the example of the good and holy
man Joseph. 2 And let your mind be unto good, even as ye know me; for he that
hath his mind right seeth 3 all things rightly. Fear ye the Lord, and love your
neighbour; and even though the spirits of Beliar claim you to afflict you with
every evil, yet shall they not have dominion over you, even 4 as they had not
over Joseph my brother. How many men wished to slay him, and God shielded him!
For he that feareth God and loveth his neighbour cannot be smitten by the spirit
of 5 Beliar, being shielded by the fear of God. Nor can he be ruled over by the
device of men or beasts, for he is helped by the Lord through the love which he
hath towards his neighbour. 6 For Joseph also besought our father that he would
pray for his brethren, that the Lord would 7 not impute to them as sin whatever
evil they had done unto him. And thus Jacob cried out: My good child, thou hast
prevailed over the bowels of thy father Jacob. And he embraced him, and kissed
him for two hours, saying: 8 In thee shall be fulfilled the prophecy of heaven
[concerning the Lamb of God, and Saviour of the world], and that a blameless one
shall be delivered up for lawless men, and a sinless one shall die for ungodly
men [in the blood of the covenant. for the salvation of the Gentiles and of
Israel, and shall destroy Beliar and his servants].
4 1 See ye, therefore, my children, the end of the good man? Be
followers of his compassion, therefore, 2 with a good mind, that ye also may
wear crowns of glory. For the good man hath not 3 a dark eye; for he showeth
mercy to all men, even though they be sinners. And though they devise with evil
intent concerning him, by doing good he overcometh evil, being shielded by God:
4 and he loveth the righteous as his own soul. If any one is glorified, he
envieth him not; if any one is enriched, he is not jealous; if any one is
valiant, he praiseth him; the virtuous man he laudeth, on the poor man he hath
mercy; on the weak he hath compassion; unto God he singeth praises. 5 As for him
who hath the fear of God, he protecteth him as with a shield; him that loveth
God he helpeth; him that rejecteth the Most High he admonisheth and turneth
back; and him that hath the grace of a good spirit he loveth as his own soul.
5 1 If, therefore, ye also have a good mind, then will both wicked men
be at peace with you, and the profligate will reverence you and turn unto good;
and the covetous will not only cease from 2 their inordinate desire, but even
give the objects of their covetousness to them that are afflicted. If 3 ye do
well, even the unclean spirits will flee from you; and the beasts will dread
you. For where there is reverence for good works and light in the mind, even
darkness fleeth away from him 4 For if any one does violence to a holy man, he
repenteth; for the holy man is merciful to his reviler, and holdeth his peace. 5
And if any one betrayeth a righteous man, the righteous man prayeth: though for
a little he be humbled, yet not long after he appeareth far more glorious, as
was Joseph my brother.
6 1 The inclination of the good man is not in the power of the deceit
of the spirit of Beliar, for the 2 angel of peace guideth his soul. And he
gazeth not passionately upon corruptible things, nor 3 gathereth together riches
through a desire of pleasure. He delighteth not in pleasure, [he grieveth for
not his neighbour], he sateth not himself with luxuries, he erreth not in the
uplifting of the eyes, 4 the Lord is his portion. The good inclination receiveth
not glory nor dishonor from men, and it knoweth not any guile, or lie, or
fighting or reviling; for the Lord dwelleth in him and lighteth up his 5 soul,
and he rejoiceth towards all men alway. The good mind hath not two tongues, of
blessing and of cursing, of contumely and of honor, of sorrow and of joy, of
quietness and of confusion, of hypocrisy and of truth, [of poverty and of
wealth]; but it hath one disposition, uncorrupt and pure, concerning all 6 men.
It hath no double sight, nor double hearing; for in everything which he doeth,
or speaketh, or 7 seeth, he knoweth that the Lord looketh on his soul. And he
cleanseth his mind that he may not be condemned by men as well as by God. And in
like manner the works of Beliar are twofold, and there is no singleness in them.
7 1 Therefore, my children, I tell you, flee the malice of Beliar; for
he giveth a sword to them that obey him. 2 And the sword is the mother of seven
evils. First the mind conceiveth through Beliar, and first there is bloodshed;
secondly ruin; thirdly, tribulation; fourthly, exile; fifthly, dearth; sixthly,
panic; seventhly, destruction. 3 Therefore was Cain also delivered over to seven
vengeances by God, for in every hundred years the Lord brought one plague upon
him. 4 And when he was two hundred years old he began to suffer, and in the
nine-hundredth year he was destroyed. For on account of Abel, his brother, with
all the evils was he judged, but Lamech with seventy times seven. 5 Because for
ever those who are like Cain in envy and hatred of brethren, shall be punished
with the same judgment.
8 1 And do ye, my children, flee evil-doing, envy, and hatred of
brethren, and cleave to goodness 2 and love. He that hath a pure mind in love,
looketh not after a woman with a view to fornication; for he hath no defilement
in his heart, because the Spirit of God resteth upon him. 3 For as the sun is
not defiled by shining on dung and mire, but rather drieth up both and driveth
away the evil smell; so also the pure mind, though encompassed by the
defilements of earth, rather cleanseth (them) and is not itself defiled.
9 1 And I believe that there will be also evil-doings among you, from
the words of Enoch the righteous: that ye shall commit fornication with the
fornication of Sodom, and shall perish, all save a few, and shall renew wanton
deeds with women; and the kingdom of the Lord shall not be among, you, for
straightway He shall take it away. 2 Nevertheless the temple of God shall be in
your portion, and the last (temple) shall be more glorious than the first. And
the twelve tribes shall be gathered together there, and all the Gentiles, until
the Most High shall send forth His salvation in the visitation of an only 3
begotten prophet. [And He shall enter into the [first] temple, and there shall
the Lord be treated with outrage, and He shall be lifted up upon 4 a tree. And
the veil of the temple shall be rent, and the Spirit of God shall pass on to the
Gentiles 5 as fire poured forth. And He shall ascend from Hades and shall pass
from earth into heaven. And I know how lowly He shall be upon earth, and how
glorious in heaven.]
10 1 Now when Joseph was in Egypt, I longed to see his figure and the
form of his countenance; and through the prayers of Jacob my father I saw him,
while awake in the daytime, even his entire figure exactly as he was. 2 And when
he had said these things, he said unto them: Know ye, therefore, my children,
that I am dying. 3 Do ye, therefore, truth and righteousness each one to his
neighbour, and judgement unto confirmation, and keep the law of the Lord and his
commandments. 4 For these things do I leave you instead of inheritance. Do ye
also, therefore, give them to your 5 children for an everlasting possession; for
so did both Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob. For all these things they gave us for
an inheritance, saying: Keep the commandments of God, until the Lord 6 shall
reveal His salvation to all Gentiles. And then shall ye see Enoch, Noah, and
Shem, and Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, rising on the right hand in gladness. 7
Then shall we also rise, each one over our tribe, worshipping the King of
heaven, [who appeared upon earth in the form of a man in humility. And as many
as believe on Him on the earth 8 shall rejoice with Him]. Then also all men
shall rise, some unto glory and some unto shame. And the Lord shall judge Israel
first, for their unrighteousness; [for when He appeared as God in the flesh to
deliver them they believed Him 9 not]. And then shall He judge all the Gentiles,
[as many as believed Him not when He appeared 10 upon earth]. And He shall
convict Israel through the chosen ones of the Gentiles, even as He reproved Esau
through the Midianites, who deceived their brethren, [so that they fell into
fornication, and idolatry; and they were alienated from God], becoming therefore
children in the portion of them that fear the Lord. 11 If ye therefore, my
children, walk in holiness according to the commandments of the Lord, ye shall
again dwell securely with me, and all Israel shall be gathered unto the Lord.
11 1 And I shall no longer be called a ravening wolf on account of
your ravages, but [a worker of the Lord, distributing food to them that work
what is good. 2 And there shall rise up from my seed in the latter times one]
beloved of the Lord, [hearing upon the earth His voice] and a doer of the good
pleasure of His will, [enlightening with new knowledge all the Gentiles, even
the light of knowledge, bursting in upon Israel for salvation and tearing away
from them like a wolf, and giving to the synagogue of the Gentiles. 3 Until the
consummation of the age shall he be in the synagogues of the Gentiles, and among
their 4 rulers, as a strain of music in the mouth of all. And he shall be
inscribed in the holy books, both 5 his work and his word, and he shall be a
chosen one of God for ever. And through them he shall go to and fro as Jacob my
father, saying: He shall fill up that which lacketh of thy tribe].
12 1 And when he finished his words, he said: I command you, my
children, carry up my bones out of Egypt, and bury me at Hebron, near my 2
fathers. So Benjamin died a hundred and twenty-five years old, at a good old
age, and they 3 placed him in a coffin. And in the ninety-first year from the
entrance of the children of Israel into Egypt, they and their brethren brought
up the bones of their fathers secretly during the Canaanitish war; and they
buried them in Hebron, 4 by the feet of their fathers. And they returned from
the land of Canaan and dwelt in Egypt until the day of their departure from the
land of Egypt.
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Kirby, Peter. "Historical Jesus Theories." Early Christian Writings.
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