2 (Syriac Apocalypse of) BARUCH (early Second Century A.D.)
A NEW TRANSLATION AND INTRODUCTION B Y A. F. J. KLIJN
Although the destruction of Jerusalem in 587 B.C. is given by the apocalyptist as the occasion for writing this work, it was in fact written after the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. 2 Baruch is a work with varied contents consisting of lamentations, prayers, questions with answers, apocalypses with explanations, addresses to the people, and a letter to Jews in the Dispersion. The contents can be summarized as follows: 1:1-8:5. Jerusalem is destroyed by the Babylonians after the angels remove the holy vessels from the Temple. 9:1-12:4. After fasting for seven days, Baruch sends up a lamentation to God. 12:5-20:4. Baruch fasts for seven days. Questions follow concerning the usefulness of being righteous and living a long life with the answer that man must not direct himself to corruption. 20:5-30:5. Baruch fasts for seven days, and after praying, declares that God will finish that which he began. Twelve disasters are announced, followed by the coming of the Anointed One, the resurrection of the dead, and the final judgment. 31:1-34:1. Baruch warns the people that disasters will come before the end of time. 35:1-43:3. In the Holy of Holies Baruch receives a vision of a forest and a plain surrounded by mountains. The forest changes into a cedar; then he sees a vine and a spring. The vision is explained and those who will live to see its consummation are named. 44:1-46:7. Baruch speaks to the people about God's judgment. 47:1-48:50. Baruch fasts for seven days. In a prayer he expresses his conviction that everything is determined by God. 49:1-52:7. Baruch asks about the outward appearance of the righteous ones after the resurrection. 53:1-74:4. Baruch sees a vision of a cloud from which bright and dark waters alternately pour. The vision is explained. 75:1-77:26. Baruch thanks God, then speaks to the people a third time about the righteous ones who will be saved. 78:1-87:1. The work concludes with a letter to the nine and a half tribes in which the Jews of the Dispersion are exhorted to obey God's commandments and to trust in God.
Text
The textual tradition regarding chapters 1-77, the apocalypse proper, must be dealt with separately from that of chapters 78-87, the attached letter. The text of the apocalypse is known from one Syriac manuscript: Bibliotheca Ambrosiana B . 21 Inf. in Milan, fols. 257a-265b, dated from the sixth or seventh century. Three small excerpts are known from Jacobite lectionaries: BM Add. 14.686, dated 1255, fol. 77a, c. 1, 1. 14-77b, c. 2, 1. 9, contains 44:9-15; BM Add. 14.687, dated 1256, fol. 157b, c. 1, 1. 6-158a, c. 2, 1. 3, contains 72:1-73:2, and fol. 175a, c. 2, 1. 12-176a, c. 1,1. 1, also contains 72:1-73:2. A fourth portion is mentioned for the first time in D. Dedering's edition: "Pampakuda [in Kerala, India]. A. Konath Libr., MS 77. The MS is dated A.D. 1423: 44:9-15; 72:1-73:2."* Recently an Arabic version of the apocalypse has been discovered (Sinai No. 589), but the text has not yet been published. Preliminary observations show that this manuscript is a translation of a Syriac document, but probably not the same text as present in Bibliotheca Ambrosiana B. 21 Inf. The translation is rather free and thoroughly adapted to Muslim ideas. The recently discovered manuscript does not significantly improve our understanding of the Syriac text, but it is sometimes useful in evaluating conjectured improvements to the Syriac proposed by former editors of this pseudepigraphon. One fragment, verso and recto, is known in Greek among the Oxyrhynchus Papyri: 12:1-13:2 (verso) and 13:11-14:3 (recto) from the fourth or fifth century.2 There are thirty-six different texts of the letter, in Syriac. The translation below follows the text of Bibliotheca Ambrosiana, fols. 265b-267a, which is the letter as it is attached to the apocalypse. In the following translation, this text is indicated by the siglum c while the other manuscripts are cited according to the sigla presented in the List of Old Testament Pershitta Manuscripts? Only in a few cases are readings of other manuscripts preferred over c.
Original language The heading of the Syriac text states that the document has been translated from Greek; the report is certainly true. The existence of a Greek version is proved by the fragment of this work discovered among the Oxyrhynchus Papyri (see also 3:6). The extant Greek is different from the Syriac and seems to be a free rendering. The Greek version, most of which is lost, appears to have been translated from Hebrew. An original Hebrew version should be accepted because of the many parallels between 2 Baruch and other Jewish writings composed in Hebrew or Aramaic. In some cases the Syriac text is intelligible only after translating it into Hebrew. Finally, a translation of I h e Syriac text into Hebrew restores a play on words apparently contained in the original.4
Date Several passages help determine the probable date of the Apocalypse of Baruch. 32:2-4 states that "after a short time the building of Zion will be shaken in order that it will be rebuilt. But that building will not remain because it will again be uprooted"; finally a new Temple will appear that will last forever. In this passage two destructions are presupposed, indicating that the author lived after the destruction of the second Temple in A.D. 70. In 67:1, the author speaks about the disaster that befalls "Zion now." In 68:5, he writes about the restoration of the Temple. If he assumes the view of Baruch, the author speaks about the destruction of the Temple in 587 B.C. and the building of the second Temple without mentioning its destruction. In that case the author used a source that has to be dated before A.D. 70. If, however, he is referring to the restoration of the Temple which probably took place in A.D. 130 during the time of Hadrian, then the "last black waters," mentioned in chapters 69 and 70, might refer to the time of Bar Kokhba.5 In 28:2, it is said: "For the measure and the calculation of that time will be two parts:
1 S. Dedering, Apocalypse of Baruch, p. iii. The present translation is based on Dedering's edition. The existence of an Ar. version of this work was announced by P. S. van Koningsveld, 4'An Arabic Manuscript of the Apocalypse of Baruch," JSS 6 (1975) 205-7. The Ar. MS is being studied for publication by G. J. H. van Gelder, A. F. J. Klijn, and F. Leemhuis. 2 The Oxyrhynchus Papyri, part III, ed. B. P. Grenfell and A. S. Hunt (London, 1903) pp. 4-7 (12:1-13:2 on 4-5; 13:11-14:3 on 5). 3 List of Old Testament Peshiua Manuscripts (Preliminary Issue). (Peshitta Institute, Leiden, 1961) p. 99. 4 See F. Zimmermann, "Textual Observations on the Apocalypse of Baruch," JTS 40 (1939) 151-56; and F. Zimmermann, "Translation and Mistranslation in the Apocalypse of Baruch," Studies and Essays in Honour of Abraham A. Neuman, ed. by M. Ben-Horin, et al. (Leiden, 1962) pp. 580-87. 5 See H. Bientenhard, "Die Freiheitskriege der Juden unter den Kaisern Trajan und Hadrian und der messianische Tempelbau," Judaica 4 (1948) 164-66. weeks of seven weeks." This passage is thoroughly unclear and cannot be used to arrive at a date of origin.6 The passage 61:7 is quoted in Barnabas 11:9, an indication that the author of Barnabas knew this work. It is, however, not quite clear when Barnabas was written. Two proposed dates are A.D. 117 and 132.7 These passages point to a date after A.D. 70, although the author probably made use of earlier sources. In this connection the relation with 4 Ezra is significant. If this work is dependent on 4 Ezra, a date around A.D. 100 is probable. A dependence, however, of both writings on a common source seems the most acceptable hypothesis. 2 Baruch is probably later than 4 Ezra, since it appears to show an advanced stage of theological development. Therefore, the Apocalypse of Baruch seems to come from the first or second decade of the second century.
Provenance
There are three reasons why this work was probably written in Palestine. The original language, Hebrew, indicates this region. Also, the work shows a close acquaintance with Jewish rabbinical literature. Finally, the author takes his stand with the inhabitants of Palestine, who, especially in the final letter, try to exhort and encourage the Jews in the Dispersion.
Historical importance
The work shows a composite character. The first part is characterized by certain, sometimes conflicting, traditions about the Temple. In chapter 4 the author used a tradition in which a new, already existing Temple from heaven will appear on earth. This differs from the tradition used in chapter 6 in which angels are sent from heaven to take away the vessels from the Temple in order to preserve them in the earth "until the last times, so that you may restore them when you are ordered" (6:8).8 Here a restoration of the second Temple is supposed. Both traditions about the Temple have parallels in Jewish literature before A . D . 70.9 They show that in the Jewish world many ideas existed with regard to the future of the Temple. But the author of this work was not himself interested in the Temple. The destruction was for him a suitable starting point from which to raise a general lamentation about Israel's fate after the disaster in 70. Subsequent to a narrative section the author starts, in chapter 10, a long passage in which Baruch speaks about Israel's sorrows but ironically does not mention the Temple. It is striking that in the final letter, the author speaks about the destruction and writes that the angels came from heaven to remove the vessels "lest they be polluted" (80:2), which only means that he does not expect a restoration of the Temple. An important part of the apocalypse is devoted to the three visions (27:1-30:5; 36:1-40:4; and 53:1-76:5). These visions contain the announcement of the appearance of the Anointed One, after whose appearance there will be a time of abundance. While the importance of the land of Israel is emphasized, nothing is said about the Temple. Here we are dealing with traditions which apparently predate A.D. 70. At the same time, we should note that the author inserts these visions into his work explaining them in his own way. In addresses to the people after the visions, he does not mention their contents. After the first vision (31:1-32:6), Baruch emphasizes that disasters will come at the end of time (31:5); in the address after the second vision (44:1-46:7), he tells the people that everyone will be judged according to
6 L. Gry, "La Date de la fin des temps, selon les revelations ou les calcula du Pseudo-Philo et de Baruch (Apocalypse syriaque)," RB 48 (1939) 337-56. 7 This depends on Barnabas 16:4, from which no certain conclusions can be drawn because its text is corrupt. 8 In PR 26:6 we read that an angel breached the walls of Jerusalem so that the enemies cannot boast that they have vanquished the city, but nothing is said about the holy vessels. See W. G. Braude Pesikta rabbati (Yale Judaica Series 18; New Haven, London, 1968) pp. 524, 534f. In 2Bar two traditions are brought together. 9 For the concept of a temple in heaven see IEn 90:28f.; 1Q32; 2Q24; 5Q15; 4QFlor; Tob 14:5; SibOr 5.402, 414-44; Jub 1:27-29. For the concept of vessels hidden in the earth, see 2Mac 2:4f. his work (46:6); and after the third vision (77:1-26), he says that the righteous ones will be saved (77:26). In the final letter nothing is said about an Anointed One. Here the author speaks about the corruptibility of the world, the final judgment, and the necessity of living according to the Law. From this we may gather that the importance of this work lies in the manner in which the author deals with traditional material. He knows of traditions concerning the Temple and the Messiah, but was not himself influenced by these ideas. He was impressed by the holiness of God and his inscrutable ways. He was convinced that God's judgment has confronted Israel and will come over the whole world; the only way to survive is to live according to God's commandments. Without losing his belief in a coming judgment, he has separated himself from all speculations about the way this judgment will arrive.
Theological importance
A description of the theological importance includes the traditions about the Temple; the apocalyptic parts of the writing; passages in which the author speaks by means of addresses, prayers, answers and questions; and the final letter. With regard to the visions, the following particulars are of importance: The Anointed One will be revealed after the tribulation, which will afflict the earth (29:3). In two of the visions the Anointed One shows a warlike character. He will execute the last ruler over the earth (39:7-40:2), allowing some nations to survive but destroying others (70:9 and 72:2). The first and the third visions present the idea of a great abundance on the earth after the appearance of the Anointed One (29:4-7 and 73:2-74:4). All the visions express the idea that the land of Israel will be protected during the culmination of the tribulations (29:2; 40:2; and 71:1). In the second and third visions it is revealed that the Anointed One will either judge or destroy the nations (39:7-8; 40:1; and 72:2). The rest of the work contains the following concepts: God is the creator (14:17; 21:4-5; 54:13; 78:3; 82:2) who rules his creation (21:5; 54:2-4) and will judge it in the future (5:2-3; 48:27, 39; 83:7; 85:9). God's government is not always evident because he is inscrutable (14:8; 21:9-10; 44:6; 75:2-5). However, he knows the times and periods and has appointed a day on which to judge the earth (21:8; 48:2; 54:1). He also knows the number of men on the earth (21:10; 23:4; 48:6, 46). He will fulfill everything he promised in the past (44:13; 83:5; 84:6), and he will avenge himself on the enemies of Israel (82:2, 4-9). He is merciful to those who show themselves to be righteous (24:2; 75:1; 78:13; 85:8). Israel is loved by God (5:1; 21:21; 78:3) but cannot be compared with the other nations since she was elected by God (48:20; 77:5). For that reason she is separated from the other nations (42:5). Israel has Abraham as her father (78:4) and is not mixed with the other nations (48:23). She has acquired for herself some privileges and received others: She possesses righteous men (14:7), the righteousness of the fathers (84:10), God's promises (78:7), knowledge (14:5), and the Law (48:24; 77:3). This has created more responsibility for Israel (15:6; 19:3). However, she did not sin in the same way as the other nations (14:5), although she trespassed certain of the commandments (1:2; 77:8-10). For this reason she will be punished for some time (4:1; 6:9; 13:9; 78:3; 79:2). Israel deserved this suffering (78:5; 79:2). Her punishment will be the destruction of the Temple and the Dispersion among the nations (1:4). However, all of this shows that God did not reject his people, and the disasters reconcile her sins (13:9-10). Therefore, Israel should rejoice in her sufferings (52:6). After the destruction of the city, Israel has nothing left other than God and his Law (85:3), which will last for ever and ever (77:5). Some Jews separated themselves from Israel (41:3) and mixed themselves with other nations (42:4); they will be rejected. Those who live according to the Law will be gathered together (78:7), will take part in the resurrection of the dead, and will enjoy life on a new earth (30:1-2). The Law is a lamp given by Moses (17:4) on the occasion of the establishment of the covenant (19:1). The Law illuminates (38:1-2; 54:5) and divides between life and death (46:3). Darkness is the result of Adam's sin (18:2). Everyone is free to choose between light and darkness (54:15, 19; 85:7). He who chooses to live according to the Law will receive eternal life (32:1; 38:1; 48:22; 51:3, 4-7; 54:15), the good things (44:7), and grace and truth (44:14). The Law should be explained and expounded (3:6; 46:3) and will last for ever and ever (46:4; 77:16). Wisdom and i n t e l l i g e n c e are g i v e n in order to scrutinize God's L a w (44:14; 46:5; 48:24; 51:3), and to understand God's actions, especially those at the end of time (54:5). But many wise men will be silent at that time (70:5; cf. 48:36). The Law has to be learned (32:1; 84:1—9) so that Israel will live according to God's will in the future (44:3; 46:5; 82:6). The nations have rejected God's goodness (13:12). Although they know that they act unrighteously, still they resist God (82:9). They have become "their own Adam" (54:15, 19). They may live happily (12:3-4; 82:3-9) and boast before their own gods (5:1; 7:2; 67:2; 80:3), but, in f a c t , they served the God of Israel when they destroyed Jerusalem (5:3; 7:2-3). They acted out of their hatred for I s r a e l (3:5); therefore, they await unknowingly their just punishment (5:1; 12:4; 13:5-7; 48:32). They dispersed Israel, but this will benefit both of them (1:4; 41:4). Only a few individuals have joined Israel (41:4f.; 42:5), but eventually all nations will be subjected to Israel (72:5). The world was created by G o d because of man (14:18), the righteous ones (15:7), or the Patriarchs (21:24). Death rules over all men b e c a u s e of Adam's sin (17:3; 19:8; 23:4; 48:42-43). Therefore, life is a struggle (15:8; 16:1) and full of p a i n (48:50). Nothing is more bitter than the world (21:13). Creation will be destroyed (21:4, 83), being subject to corruption (21:9; 28:5; 40:3; 42:2; 44:9; 74:2; 83:9-11; 85:5). The world is only temporary (85:10), but will be renewed (32:6; 44:12; 57:2). At the t i m e of the judgment God will vindicate himself (5:2; 48:27; 85:9). Before that time (83:2-7), however, the number to be borne must be completed (23:4f.), because everything has its own time (22:1-8). The destruction of Jerusalem is only one of the things that will happen at the end (20:2); horror will cover the whole earth (25:3; 32:1; 48:30f.). Then one will know that the end is near (23:7; 82:2; 83:1). God will not tarry (20:15; 54:1; 83:1). On the day of judgment the books will be o p e n e d (24:1). Until that day the righteous will sleep in the earth, the realm of death and the treasure of souls (11:4; 21:23-24; 31:1-2). These righteous possess a treasure of g o o d works (14:12; 24:1). They will rise from the dust (21:23; 31:1-2), no longer corruptible (40:3; 85:5). Their outward appearance will be changed (50-51), and they will receive the world that was promised to them (14:13; 44:13; 84:6). They will be like angels (51:10), but even more excellent than the angels (51:12). Sinners will waste away in the fire (30:4-5; 44:15; 51:6; 54:14, 21-22). The author's clear theological concepts were shaped by reinterpreting traditions passed down to him. He rejected the idea of a messianic kingdom on earth. He awaits God's judgment; only the Law, which is known to Israel alone, is efficacious. The author tried to show the individual Jews living all over the world that at present nothing is left apart from God and his Law (80:3).
Relation to canonical books
The number of quotations from the Old Testament is small. In 4 :2 Isaiah 49:16 is quoted according to the text of the Peshitta. There might also be quotations in 5:1 (Josh 7:9), 13:2 (Ezek 2:1), and 64:3 (2Chr 33:7), but it is not certain that the author really quoted since he is deeply steeped in the usage of the Old Testament and its contents. He continually uses Old Testament expressions and easily shifts from alluding to them to quoting them. It is, therefore, to be e x p e c t e d that the author often refers to the books of Kings and Chronicles and alludes to the prophet Jeremiah in the final letter to Baruch. It is striking that there are many parallels to the New Testament. It i s , of course, impossible to prove dependency on the part of the author. He most likely shared with the New Testament authors a dependency on apocalyptic imagery. The parallels are especially striking with the Pauline Epistles, in particular Romans and 1 and 2 Corinthians.
Relation to apocryphal books
The work shows a great number of parallels with 4 Ezra and Pseudo-Philo. The parallels with Pseudo-Philo are too incidental to suppose dependency, and are explicable from a common knowledge of haggadic material. The parallels with 4 Ezra are attributed by many scholars to a dependence by 2 Baruch on 4 Ezra; but singe the theological ideas of the two writings differ widely, a common source is also more likely here. This source might be written, but it is also possible that we are dealing with common knowledge and teaching popular in the synagogues. Some parallels with 4 Baruch apparently are d u e to dependence by the author of 4 Baruch on 2 Baruch. There are, in addition, a number of parallels with 1 and 2 Enoch, but only in isolated passages.
Cultural importance
2 Baruch is extremely important for an understanding of early Judaism since it copes with the catastrophe of A.D. 70. After the destruction of the Temple, a new period arrived that was characterized by the influence of the rabbis. The author opened a way for studying the Law after a period of apocalyptic expectations. He was a n expert on both apocalyptic imagery and rabbinic teaching, and, as such, was one of the Jews who managed to bring Judaism into a new e r a .
SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY
Charlesworth, PMR, pp. 83-86. Delling, Bibliographie, pp. 162f. Denis, Introduction, pp. 182-86.
Bogaert, P. Apocalypse de Baruch, introduction, traduction du Syriaque et commentaire. SC 144 and 145; Paris, 1969. Charles, R. H. The Apocalypse of Baruch Translated from the Syriac. London, 1896. (An old but still useful work.) Dedering, S. Apocalypse of Baruch. Peshitta Institute, part IV, fasc. 3; Leiden, 1973. (The Syr. text of the apocalypse proper.) Ginzberg, L. "Apocalypse of Baruch (Syriac)," Jewish Encyclopedia, ed. I. Singer. New York, 1902; cols. 551-56. (Important for the relationship of 2Bar to rabbinic literature.) Harnisch, W. Verhdngnis und Verheissung der Geschichte. Untersuchungen zum Zeit- und Geschichtsverstdndnis im 4. Buch Esra und in der syr. Baruchapokalypse. FRLANT 97; Gottingen, 1969. (Useful for understanding the theological background of 2Bar.) Klijn, A. F. J. "The Sources and the Redaction of the Syriac Apocalypse of Baruch," JSS 1 (1970) 65-76. Kmosko, M. Epistola Baruch filliNeriae. Patrologia Syriaca, Pars Prima, Tomus secundus, accurante R. Graffin; Paris, 1907; c o l s . 1215-36. (The Syr. text of the letter.) THE BOOK OF THE APOCALYPSE OF BARUCH THE SON OF NERIAH translated from the Greek into Syriac
Jerusalem will be destroyed*
1 1 And it happened in the twenty-fifth year of Jeconiaha , the king of Judah, that IOM 2 the word of the Lord came to Baruch, the son of Neriah, «and said to him: EKU-IO
Have you seen all that this people are doing to me, the evil things which the ^™£\216. two tribes which remained have done—more than the ten tribes5 which were carried 36:4,8.14,32; 3 away into captivity? #For the former tribes were forced by their kings to sin, but 5*596;45:1:
c 4 these two have themselves forced and compelled their kings to sin. • Behold, 2*8s '7-21-23 therefore, I shall bring evil upon this city and its inhabitants. And it will be taken 2Chr 34:28 away from before my presence for a time. And I shall scatter this people among J".6 ^ 19:3 5 the nations that they may do good to the nations.d • And my people will be Dan 11:29.35 chastened, and the time will come that they will look for that which can make their 2 4 : ? times prosperous.6 Jer 32:31
3 1 2 This, then, I have said to you that you may say to Jeremiah and all those who 21:24; 57:i ; are like you that you may retire from this city.b For your works are for this city 4^*36;8:51 like a firm pillar and your prayers like a strong wall. Jen is-1520
1 3 And I said: 0 Lord, my Lord,a have I therefore come into the world to see the evil things 14:8,16; i6:i; 2 of my mother? «No, my Lord. If I have found grace in your eyes, take away my 48^38:1:
4E z 3 :4:5:23 spirit first that I may go to my fathers and I may not see the destruction of my s a ™ , 3 mother. 'For from two sides I am hard pressed: I cannot resist you, but my soul je?50! 12
: 4 also cannot behold the evil of my mother. • But one thing I shall say in your 4E J„ ? 0:6. 7 5 presence, O Lord: Now, what will happen after these things? *For if you destroy 28*^ your city and deliver up your country to those who hate us, how will the name of 4E L'5:56; 6 Israel be remembered again? #O r how shall we speak again about your glorious ^2;8:42; 7 deeds? Or to whom again will that which is in your Law be explained? «Or will jKgs i9:4 the universe6 return to its nature and the world go back to its original silence? Gen 15.15 8 And will the multitude of the souls be taken away and will not the nature of man ^Phi 9l 1:2 , 39 9 be mentioned again? #And where is all that which you said to Moses about us? 46:3-46:3-44 83:13,14 6 J 83:13,14,16,24Ezra 7:30 1
1 * [A. F. J. Klijn has aimed at an idiomatic trans- explained if one accepts that west of the river Jordan lation. Some vss. in the Syr. are, as R. H. Charles nine and a half tribes were living, i.e. the twelve stated, clearly "unintelligible." No attempt has apart from those of Reuben, Gad, and the half of been made to rewrite or improve the document. Manasseh. The reader needs to be informed that Klijn's trans- c. Contrary to 2Kgs 24:9 Jehoiachin was "kind lation "the Anointed One" could also have been and just" according to Josephus, Ant 10.100, and rendered "the Messiah"; cf. e.g. 30:1; 39:7; 40:1; "a noble example" according to his War 6.106. 70:9; and 72:2. —J.H.C.] See also b.Arak 17a. a. This is King Jehoiachin, Jechonias in 2Chr d. The verb nfb is used. The Jews in the Dis- 36:9 (LXX) and Josephus, Ant 6.103, who became persion make known the God of Israel to the nations, king in his eighteenth year, i.e. 597 B.C., according cf. 41:4 and 42:5. to 2Kgs 24:8. In the eighth year of his reign King e. Lit. "... will look for their prosperity of Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem and carried their time." away Jehoiachin to Babylon (2Kgs 24:12). This is in agreement with "the twenty-fifth year of Jecon- 2 a. According to Jer 3 7 : 1 1 - 1 6 and 38:23 Jeremiah iah" in 1:1 (cf. 6:1), but not with 8:5, where the was taken captive after the capture of the city, imprisonment of Zedekiah is mentioned. This can b. Also in 4Bar 1:1 and PR 26:6. refer only to the devastation of Jerusalem ca. 587 B.C. This discrepancy is not due to different sources 3 a. Probably from the Gk. despota kyrie as in used by the author but to inaccuracy on his part. Gen 15:1 and 8. b. In 62:5; 77:19; 78:1 the nine and a half tribes b. In the Syr. text we find the word tzbyt\ are mentioned. The same is found in 4Ezra 13:40 "ornament." This is obviously a mistranslation in the Syr., Eth., and Ar. translations. This can be from the Gk. word kosmos. The New Jerusalem
1 4 And the Lord said to me:
This city will be delivered up for a time, i:4 And the people will be chastened for a time, 3:5-7 And the world will not b e forgotten.
2 Or do you think that this is the city of which I said: On the palms of my hands isa49:i6 3 / have carved you*! • It is not this building that is in your midst now; it is that |x 25?9?4o which will be revealed, with me, that was already prepared from the m o m e n t that Mk 1 4 : 5 8 I decided to create Paradise.6 And I showed it to Adam before he sinned.0 But when he transgressed the commandment, it was taken away from him—as also 4 Paradise. • After these things I showed it to my servant Abraham in the night 54:4 5 between the portions of the victims.d #And again I showed it also to Moses on 4Ezra 3:13-14 Mount Sinaic when I showed him the likeness of the tabernacle and all its vessels. Ex 25:9,40 6,7 Behold, now it is preserved with me—as also Paradise/ *Now go away and d o 5i:ii;59:8 as I command you. ss?1'123' 2Cor 12:4 Rev 2:7 Preparation made by the angels before the enemies arrive
1 5 And I answered and said:
S o then I shall be guilty3 in Zion, that your haters will come to this place and pollute your sanctuary, and carry off your heritage into captivity, Deut 9:26,29 and rule over them whom you love. And then they will go away again to the land of their idols,
b and boast before them. 7:i; 67:2; 80:3 And what have you d o n e to your great name? 2 And the Lord said to me: Josh 7:9 4Ezra 4:25;
2 M y name and m y glory shall last unto eternity. p?s n5.i3; M y judgment, however, shall assert its rights in its own time. 48:27; 85:9; 3 And you shall see with your eyes that the 6,4 ' enemy shall not d e s t r oy Zion and burn Jerusalem, but that they shall serve the Judge for a time. 4 You, however, go away and d o all which I have said to you.
5 And I went away and took with me Jeremiah and Adu and Seraiah and Jabishc and 2:i Gedaliah and all the nobles of the people. And I brought them to the valley of Nen^8 * 7 6 Kidron and told them all which had been said to me. »And they raised their voices j£51:59- 6 1 7 and they all lamented. »And we sat there and fasted until the evening. Jer38:i;40:i4
J ° 22:1; 31:2 10:1; 31:3; 32:7; 1 6 Now it happened on the followin g day that, behold, an army of the Chaldeans ^^s-iol- surrounded the c i t y . 3 And in the e v e n i n g I, Baruch, left the p e o p l e , went outside, 2i:i; 43:3; 47:2 2 and set myself by an oak. • A n d I was grieving over Zion and sighed because of e^gavn; 3 the captivity which had c o m e upon the people. *And behold, suddenly a strong j2 j 5 1 4 spirit6 lifted me and carried me above the wall of Jerusalem. #And I saw, and
behold, there were standing four angels at the four corners of the city, each of 55. 1;77 :18
4Ezra 14:1
Ez 3:12,14 4 a. The quotation is according to the Peshitta e. See Ps-Philo 11:15. Acts 8:38 version of the Old Testament. f. See Ps-Philo 19:10.
b. According to b.Pes 54a the Temple is one o f 5 a Is it his was n o t h e a f d (cf ch
the seven things created before the creation of the 3)> o r h c a m c he ,eaves the c i (cf 2:1)?
world. See for a temple in heaven TLevi 5 and Wis b Qf 4Bar j . 5 a n d 4<7
9:8, cf. Heb 8:2 c' Thj s name is unknown c. About revelations given to Adam see 2En 31:2; Ps-Philo 13:8-9; 26:6; LAE 25:1-28:4. 6 a. Cf. 4Bar 4:1. d. See Ps-Philo 23:6 and GenR 44:12. b. Or "wind." 5 them with a burning torch in his hands.c *And another angel came down from heaven and said to them, "Hold your torches and do not light them before I say 6 it to you.d ^Because I was sent first to speak a word to the earth and then to deposit 7 in it what the Lord, the Most High, has commanded me., , »And I saw that he descended in the Holy of Holies and that he took from there the veil, the holy Exod26:3i; ephod, the mercy seat, the two tables, the holy raiment of the priests, the altar of ^ j^1 7 incense,e the forty-eight precious stonesf with which the priests were clothed, and Ex 29:5 8 all the holy vessels of the tabernacle. *And he said to the earth with a loud voice: Jer 22:29
Earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the mighty God, and receive the things which I commit to you, 80:2
and guard them until the last times, 2Mac 2:5 so that you may restore them when you are ordered, so that strangers may not get possession of them. 10:19 9 For the time has arrived when Jerusalem will also be delivered up for a time, until the moment that it will be said that it will be restored forever
And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up. 4:2; 32:4
1 7 And after these things I heard this angel saying to the angels who held the torches: Now destroy the walls and overthrow them to their foundations so that the enemies do not boast and say, "We have overthrown the wall of Zion and we 5:i have burnt down the place of the mighty God." And they restored me to the place where I once stood.
The enemies enter the city
1 8 Now the angels did as he had commanded them; and when they had broken up
the corners of the wall, a voice was heard from the midst of the temple after the 2Kg s 25.3-4 wall had fallen, saying: 2 Enter, enemies, and come, adversaries, because he who guarded the house has Jer34:2 left it.a ,4 And I, Baruch, went away. *And it happened after these things that the army 5 of the Chaldeans entered and seized the house and all that is around it. »And they
carried away the people into captivity and killed some of them. And they put King 2Kg s 25:7,11 Zedekiah in irons and sent him to the king of Babylon. Jer 39:5r9
1 9 And I, Baruch, came with Jeremiah, whose heart was found to be pure from 2 sins, and who was not captured during the seizure of the city; «and we rent our Jer39:i4;40:6 garments, and wept and mourned, and fasted for seven days. 5:6
Baruch's lamentation
10 And it happened after seven days that the word of God came to me and said to me: Tell Jeremiah to go away in order to support the captives unto Babylon.3 #You, i:i
however, stay here in the desolation of Zion and I shall show you after these days Rev i:i: 4:i what will happen at the end of days.
c. Cf. 4Bar 3:2-4 and PR 26:6. 8 a. Cf. 4Bar 4:1. The same tradition in Josephus, d. Cf. 4Bar 3:4. War 6.300 and Tacitus, Histories 5.13. e. Syr. pyrnf, lit. "censer," Gk. thymiaterion. In Philo, Heres 226; Vita Mos 2.94; Josephus, Ant 10 a. The word ngym can be translated as "sup- 3.147 and 198; and War 5.218, the Gk. word means port" only. Jer 43:6-7 reports that Jeremiah went "altar of incense." to Egypt. Bar 1:1 states that he is in Babylon. f. Nothing is known about this number of pre- According to 4Bar 4:5, he also went to Babylon. cious stones; cf. Ex 28:21 speaking about twelve PR 26:6 states that he was sent to Babylon, but that precious stones. he returned to Jerusalem; cf. 33:1-2. 4,5 And I spoke to Jeremiah as the Lord commanded me. #He, then, went away with the people, but I, Baruch, came back and sat in front of the doors of the 35:i,4 Temple, and I raised the following lamentation over Zion and said:
6 Blessed is he who was not born, Jer20:i4 or he who was born and died.b Mr26:242 7 But we, the living, woe to us, because we have seen those afflictions of Zion, and that which has befallen Jerusalem. 8 I shall call the Sirensc from the sea, isa i3:2i; 34: I3; and you, Lilin,d come from the desert, (LXX) and you, demons6 and dragonsf from the woods. isa34:i4 Awake and gird up your loins to mourn, and raise lamentations with me, and mourn with me. 9 You, farmers, sow not again. And you, O earth, why do you give the fruit of your harvest?8 Keep within you the sweetness of your sustenance. 10 And you, vine, why do you still give your wine? For an offering will not be given again from you in Zion, and the first fruits will not again be offered, n And you, heaven, keep your dew within you, and do not open the treasuries of rain. 12 And you, sun, keep the light of your rays within you. And you, moon, extinguish the multitude of your light. For why should the light rise again, where the light of Zion is darkened? 13 And you, bridegrooms, do not enter, and do not let the brides adorn themselves. And you, wives, do not pray to bear children, 14 for the barren will rejoice more. Mt24:i9 And those who have no children will be glad, isa 54:l and those who have children will be sad. Lk 23:29 15 For why do they bear in pains only to bury in grief? 16 Or why should men have children again? Or why should the generation of their kind be named again, where this mother is lonely, and her children have been carried away in captivity? 17 Henceforth, do not speak anymore of beauty, and do not talk about gracefulness. is You, priests, take the keys of the sanctuary, and cast them to the highest heaven, and give them to the Lord and say, "Guard your house yourself, because, behold, we have been found to be false stewards."1 1 19 And you, virgins who spin fine linen, and silk with gold of Ophir, make haste and take all things, and cast them into the fire, so that it may carry them to him who made them.
b. Cf. 2En 41:2; IEn 38:2; and b.c Erub 13b. f. Syr. yrwr*. The word is used in the Peshitta c. Syr. syrynws as in IEn 19:2 (Gk. version). version of the Old Testament in Isa 13:22 and Mic 1:8 (LXX) mentions seirenes. 43:20. d. Syr. llyf are mentioned in Isa 34:14 (Heb.); g. See for the following b.Soj 9:12 and b.BB see also b.Shab 151b. 60b. e. Syr. S'd*. In Deut 32:17 and Ps 106:37, they h. Cf. 4Bar 4:3-4; b.Tac an 29a; LevR 19:6; and are identified with idols. PR 131b. And the flame sends them to him who created them, so that the enemies do not take possession of them.'
1 11 Now this I, Baruch, say to you, O Babylon: If you had lived in happiness and Zion in its glory, it would have been a great 2 sorrow to us that you had been equal to Zion. *But now, behold, the grief is infinite and the lamentation is unmeasurable, because, behold, you are happy and Zion 3 has been destroyed. • Who will judge over these things? Or to whom shall we complain about that which has befallen us? 4 O Lord, how have you borne it? Our fathers went to rest without grief and, 4Ezra 3:30 5 behold, the righteous sleep at rest in the earth. *For they did not know this anguish 2i:24; 30:1-2 6 nor did they hear that which has befallen us.a 'Would that you had ears, O earth, ESIVS3 2 and would that you had a heart, O dust, so that you might go and announce in 7 the realm of death and say to the dead, •"You are more happy than we who iive., ,
1 12 But3 1 shall say as I think and I shall speak to you, O land, that which is happy. 2 The afternoon will not always burn nor will the rays of the sun always give 3 light. *Do not think and do not expect that you will always have happiness and 4 joy, and do not raise yourself too much and do not oppress.b «For surely wrath will arise against you in its own time, because long-suffering is now held back, as it were, by reins. 5 And having said these things, I fasted for seven days. 5:6
The nations will be judged
I 13 And after these things, it happened that I, Baruch, was standing on Mount 21:2; 47:2; Zion and, behold, a voice came from the high heavens, saying to me: 4872 2,3 Stand upon your feet, Baruch, and hear the word of the mighty God. 'Because Ezek 2:1 you have been astonished at that which has befallen Zion, you will surely be 4 preserved until the end of times3 to be for a testimony. •This means that if these 25.1 happy cities will ever say, "Why has the mighty God brought upon us this Hid pi 1 ; 13:9 5 retribution?", *you and those who are like you, those who have seen this evil and retribution coming over you and your nation in their own time, may say to them 6,7 that the nations will be thoroughly punished." #And this they may expect. «And when they say in that time, "When?", you will say to them:
8 You who have drunk the clarified wine, you now drink its dregs, for the judgment of the Most High is impartial. Ps 75:9 9 Therefore, he did not spare his own sons first, 44:4 but he afflicted them as his enemies because they sinned Deut 10:17 10 Therefore, they were once punished, Prov 3:11-12
1 5 Rom 11:21 that they might be forgiven. Heb 12:4-11 c II But now, you nations and tribes, you are guilty, 78:3 Wis 12:2 because you have trodden the earth all this time, 2Mac 6:13-15; and because you have used creation unrighteously. 7:16-17, 33 Jdt 8:22 82:3 2Mac 6:14
i. Cf. b.Ket 106a; PR 26:6; ProUames 10. 78:5; and 84:1 Baruch is said to die before long; cf. 4Ezra 14:9, where the death of Ezra is an- 11 a. Cf. 4Bar4:9. nounced. b. Especially in PssSol this idea is met; cf. 3:3-4; 12 a. 12:1-13:2 is available in Gk. 7:8; ch. 10; and 13:8. b. 12:3 reads in Gk. as follows: "And do not c. 13:11-14:3 is available in Gk.: "You have expect to have joy and do not excessively oppress." trodden the earth and misused the created things in it. For you were always ungrateful." 13 a. The same in 25:1, but in 43:2; 44:2; 46:7; 12 For I have always benefited you, and you have always denied the beneficence. What is the profit of being righteous? 1 14 And I answered and said: Behold, you have shown me the course of times,8 and that which will happen 20:6; 48:2; 56:2 2 after these things. - And you have told me that the retribution of that which has been spoken by you will come upon the nations. And now, I know there are many who have sinned and who have lived in happiness and who have left the world, but there will be few nations left in those times to which those words can be spoken 3 which you said. «For what is the advantage (of this), or what evil worse than that # 4 which we have seen befall us can we expect to see? But I will continue to speak Rom3:i 5 before you. *What have they profited who have knowledge before you, and who did not walk in vanity like the rest of the nations, and who did not say to the dead: Jer2:5 6 "Give life to us," but always feared you and did not leave your ways? - And, isa8:i9 behold, they have been diligent and, nevertheless, you had no mercy on Zion on 7 their account. *And if there are others who did evil, Zion should have been forgiven 2:2; 84:io on account of the works of those who did good works and should not have been 8 overwhelmed because of the works of those who acted unrighteously. *0 Lord, my Lord, who can understand your judgment? Or who can explore the depth of 9 your way? #Or who can discern the majesty of your path? Or who can discern your incomprehensible counsel? Or who of those who are born has ever discovered 10 the beginning and the end of your wisdom? *For we all have been made like PS 146:4 11 breath. »For as breath ascends without human control and vanishes, so it is with K M the nature of men, who do not go away according to their own will, and who do 48:i5 12 not know what will happen to them in the end. -For the righteous justly have 4Ezra8:5 good hope for the end and go away from this habitation without fear because they 24:i possess with you a store of good works which is preserved in treasuries, g^777 4 13 Therefore, they leave this world without fear and are confident of the world which jj* g 2Q # 14 you have promised to them with an expectation full of joy. But woe to those of 15:7 ; '44* : i 5 ; us who have also now been treated shamefully and who await evils at that time. 51:3 15 But you know exactly what you have made of your servants, for we are not able 16 to understand that which is good like you, our Creator. •! shall continue to speak Gen 1:6-7 # 3 n before your presence, O Lord, my Lord. When in the beginning the world did J^^ 3 8 not exist with its inhabitants, you devised and spoke by means of your word and Heb ii:3 is at the same time the works of your creation stood before you. •And you said that 15:7 you would make a man for this world as a guardian over your works that it should 19 be known that he was not created for the world, but the world for him. »And now, I see that the world which was made for us, behold, it remains; but we, for whom it was made, depart. 1 15 And the Lord answered and said to me: You are rightly astonished about man's departure, but your judgment about the 2 evils which befell those who sin is incorrect. *And with regard to what you say about the righteous who are taken away and the wicked ones who are happy, Rom* 15 3,4 and with regard to what you say that man does not know your judgment, -for this reason, now, listen and I shall speak to you; pay attention and I shall let my i9:3;48:40; 5 words be heard. »It is true that man would not have understood my judgment if 4^7.72 he had not received the Law and if he were not instructed with understanding. EBars* 6 But now, because he trespassed, having understanding, he will be punished 4Ezra 6-55-59; 7 because he has understanding. »And with regard to the righteous ones, those whom you said the world has come on their account, yes, also that which is 4Eaa 7.3-14. 8 coming is on their account. «For this world is to them a struggle and an effort ^Ifis with much trouble. And that accordingly which will come, a crown with great 2Cor4:n glory. 4Mac 17:15 ICor 9:25 14 a. Syr. dwbrhwn dzbn\ in Gk. kairon taxeis. XQpft&lAy.kwlqysynybw'wltkwnm, "all times j™^8
In 59:4 we have to render the first word by "ways" of God come according to their order"; see also ipe t 5-4 (of the Law) and in 93:3 and 4 by "kinds." Cf. ICor 15:23. Rev 2:10 1 16 And I answered and said: Gen 47:9 Pss 90:9-10 O Lord, my Lord, behold, the present years are few and evil, and who can inherit that which is unmeasurable in this short time? Gen 5:5 1 17 And the Lord answered and said to me: 19:8; 23:4; 48:42-43; 54:15- 2 With the Most High no account is taken of much time and of few years. •For 19; 56:5-6 4Ezra 3:7, 21- what did it profit Adam that he lived nine hundred and thirty years and transgressed 22; 4:30; 7:118- 3 that which he was commanded? •Therefore, the multitude of time that he lived did 121 Rom 5:12 not profit him, but it brought death and cut off the years of those who were born ICor 15:21
4 from him. »Or what did it harm Moses that he lived only one hundred and twenty Deut 34:7 years and, because he subjected himself to him who created him, he brought the 31:3; 46:4 4Ezra3:19; 9:30 3 Law to the descendants of Jacob and he lighted a lamp to the generation of Israel? 59:2 Ps 119:105 1 18 And I answered and said:
# 2 He who lighted took from the light, and there are few who imitated him. But Jn 1:9
many whom he illuminated took from the darkness of Adam and did not rejoice Jn 3:19; 5:35 in the light of the lamp.
1 19 And he answered and said to me: Therefore he appointed a covenant for them at that time and said, "Behold, I 84:2 appoint for you life and death," and he called heaven and earth as a witness against SSg301191 2 them. »For he knew that his time was short, but that heaven and earth will stay AsMos3:i2 3 forever. #They, however, sinned and trespassed after his death, although they knew that they had the Law to reprove them and that light in which nothing could err, apart from the spheres, which witnessed, and me. And I judge everything 4 that exists. #You, however, should not think about this in your heart and you 5 should not be afflicted because of the things which have been. *For now the end of times is at stake whether it be property, happiness, or shame; and not its 6 beginning. #For when a man is happy in his youth and is treated badly in his old 7 age, he forgets all happiness he possessed. »And further, when a man is badly treated in his youth but will be happy in the end, he does not remember his 8 disgrace anymore.3 #And further, listen: Even if everyone had been happy n: 3 continually since the day death was decreed against those who trespassed, but was destroyed in the end, everything would have been in vain.
1 20 Therefore, behold, the days will come and the times will hasten, more than 54:1; 83:1 4Ezra 4:26 the former, and the periods will hasten more than those which are gone, and the 2 years will pass more quickly than the present ones.3 • T h e r e f o r e , I now took away 4Ezra 5:56; 6:18; 9:2 3 Zion to visit the world in its own time more speedily. 'Now, however, remember 4 everything which I commanded you and seal it in the interior of your mind. • And 5 then I shall show you my strong judgment and my unexplorable ways. •Therefore, go away and sanctify yourself for seven days and do not eat bread and do not 5:5 6 drink water and do not speak to anybody. #And after this time come to this place, and I shall reveal myself to you, and I shall speak to you true things, and I shall command you with regard to the course of times, for they will come and will not 14:1 tarry.
Prayer of Baruch, the Son of Neriah
i 21 I went from there and sat in the valley of Kidron in a cave of the earth and 5:5 sanctified myself there and ate no bread, but I was not hungry; I drank no water, but I was not thirsty. And I stayed there until the seventh day as he had commanded 5:6
# 2,3 me. *And after this I came to the place where he had spoken with me. And it i3:i;20:5
17 a. Cf. Ps-Philo 9:8; 15:6; and 19:4. 1-3; and Euripides, Andromache 100-3.
19 a. The same idea is found in classical Gk. 20 a. Cf. Ps-Philo 19:13. writers; cf. Herodotus 1.32; Sophocles, Trachiniae happened at sunset that my soul received many thoughts, and I began to speak in the presence of the Mighty One, and said: 4 O hear me, you who created the earth, the one who fixed the firmament by the
8 word and fastened the height of heaven by the spirit, the one who in the beginning ps 33:6 10 125 5 1 : 1 5 5 of the world called that which did not yet exist and they obeyed you. -You who •Jgg*' gave commandments to the air with your sign and have seen the things which are j^cj:28 6 to come as well as those which have passed.b *You who reign with great thoughts 48:8,i6; 54:2 over the powers which stand before you, and who rules with indignation0 the 48:10 2 1 countless holy beings, who are flame and fire,d whom you created from the S^lf
# 7 beginning, those who stand around your throne. For you alone (all) this exists ps io4:4
# a 6:1 2 8 so that you may create at once all that you want. You are the one who causes the 48 :8 " rain to fall on earth with a specific number of raindrops. You alone know the end ^**8:23 9 of times before it has arrived. Hear my prayer. #For only you can sustain those 48:2; 54:i who exist, those who have gone and those who will come, those who sin and those Rev I*
6 who have proved themselves to be righteous, since you are the Living One, the 3. 62. 7 10 Inscrutable One. 'For you are the only Living One, the Immortal One and the 1*9' n Inscrutable One, and you know the number of men. #And while many have sinned 23:4,48:6,46 once, many others have proved themselves to be righteous. 12 You know where you have preserved the end of those who have sinned or the 13 fulfillment of those who have proved themselves to be righteous. »For if only this icor 15:19 life exists which everyone possesses here, nothing could be more bitter than this. 48:35; 88:11-21 14 For of what help is strength which changes into weakness, or food in abundance 15 which changes into famine, or beauty which changes into ugliness? #For the nature 16 of men is always changeable. 'For as we were once, we are no longer, and as we 17 are now, we shall not remain in the future. »For if an end of all things had not been is prepared, their beginning would have been senseless. «But let me know all that which comes from you, and regarding that which I ask you, enlighten me. 19 How long will corruption remain, and until when will the time of mortals be 28:5 happy, and until when will those who pass away be polluted by the great wickedness 4Ezra 6:7 20 in this world?f •Therefore, command mercifully and confirm all that you have said that you would do so that your power will be recognized by those who believe that 21 your long-suffering means weakness. »And now show it to them, those who do 2Pet3:9 not know, but who have seen that which has befallen us and our city, up to now, that it is in agreement with the long-suffering of your power, because you called 22 us a beloved people on account of your name. 'From now, therefore, everything Jer 14:9; 15:16 23 is in a state of dying. 'Therefore, reprove the angel of death,8 and let your glory appear, and let the greatness of your beauty be known, and let the realm of death be sealedh so that it may not receive the dead from this time, and let the treasuries 24 of the souls' restore those who are enclosed in them. • For as many years have 30:2 passed as those which passed since the days of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all ^^5AVl those who were like them, who sleep in the earth—those on whose account you 11* 25 have said you have created the world. #And now, show your glory soon and do i4:i8; is:7 not postpone that which was promised by you. 44:i3; s i :3; 26 And it happened that when I had ended the words of this prayer, I became very 83:4,5 weak.
21 a. The MS reads bmPh. "in his fullness," habitation with indignation and wrath on account which is corrected into bmlth. of his sons." b. The MS reads cfbd, "that which you are d. Cf. 2En 29:3. doing"; corrected by Kmosko and Dedering. e. In Syr. the Ethpael of the verb zdq is used. c. Syr. bz'ypwf. The same word is found in This is usually translated "to act righteously," but 4Ezra 8:23: "whose indignation melts the moun- the above translation seems to be better; cf. also tains." This sentence was quoted in AposCons 8:7: 11, 12; 24:1 and 2; 51:1 and 3; and 62:7. kai he apeile tekei hore. The Gk. apeile is used as f. Answers are given in 23:7-24:1. a translation of the Heb. g'r> in the LXX; cf. Isa g. See for the angel of death Strack-Billerbeck, 50:2, which is also rendered by epitimesis, an im- vol. 1, pp. 144-49. portant word in the NT, cf. Mt 8:26; Lk 4:39; h. Cf. Ps-Philo 3:10. 9:42. The eschatological overtone is also seen in i. Cf. Ps-Philo 32:13. AsMos 10:3: "And he will go forth from his holy 22 And afterward it happened that, behold, the heaven was opened, and I saw, 48:25
ra 5 : I4; 12:5 and strength was given to me, and a voice was heard from on high which said to D^ , 0 . j me: Ezek 1:1 Baruch, Baruch, why are you disturbed? •Who starts on a journey and does not m^i'Snis d : pass< complete it? Or who will be comforted making a sea voyage unless he can reach ^e v ^ a harbor? »Or he who promises to give a present to somebody—is it not a theft, unless it is fulfilled? »Or he who sows the earth—does he not lose everything unless he reaps its harvest in its own time? *Or he who plants a vineyard—does the planter expect to receive fruit from it, unless it grows until its appointed time? «Or a woman who has conceived—does she not surely kill the child when she bears untimely? »Or he who builds a house, can it be called a house, unless it is provided with a roof and is finished? Tell this to me first.
23 And I answered and said: No, Lord, my Lord. And he answered and said to me: Why, then, are you disturbed about that which you do not know, and why are you restless about that of which you do not possess any knowledge? *For as you have not forgotten men who exist and who have passed away, I remember those who will come. •For when Adam sinned and death was decreed against those who 17:3 were to be born, the multitude of those who would be born was numbered. And 21:10 for that number a place was prepared where the living ones might live and where the dead might be preserved.8 #N o creature will live again unless the number that 4Ezra 4:33-36 has been appointed is completed. For my spirit creates the living, and the realm Re^ii2 5 of death receives the dead. *And further, it is given to you to hear that which will come after these times. »For truly, my salvation which comes has drawn nearb Rev4:i and is not as far away as before. S: 21.28 IPet 4:7 24 For behold, the days are coming, and the books will be opened in which are written the sins of all those who have sinned,3 and moreover, also the treasuries ^ ^ : 2 Q in which are brought together the righteousness of all those who have proven iEn90:20 themselves to be righteous. *And it will happen at that time that you shall see, and ^ ' many with you, the long-suffering of the Most High, which lasts from generation 21:9
to generation, who has been long-suffering toward all who are born, both those K™9-22 who sinned and those who proved themselves to be righteous. And I answered and said: But, behold, O Lord, a man does not know the number of things which pass 21:9 away nor those which come. •For behold, I also know what has befallen me; but that which will happen with our enemies, I do not know, or when you will command your works.
25 And he answered and said to me: You also will be preserved until that time, namely until that sign which the Most 13:3 High will bring about before the inhabitants of the earth at the end of days. •This then will be the sign:3 »When horror seizes the inhabitants of earth, and they fall Mt24:3o into many tribulations and further, they fall into great torments. »And it will happen i±2i& 11:25 that they will say in their thoughts because of their great tribulations,4 'The Mighty ^jv 12:1-3 One does not anymore remember the earth"; It will happen when they lose hope, 4Ezra 13.30 that the time will awake. Lk 21:25-26
23 a. Cf. 2En 49:2 and b.Hag 15a. 25 a. About signs announcing the coming judg- b. Cf. IEn 51:2. ment, cf. 4Ezra 4:51-5:13; 8:63-9:6; IEn 99:4-7; 24 a. IEn 90:20. Jub 23:22-31; SibOr 3.796-808. The apocalypse of the twelve calamities and the coming of the Messiah 1 26 And I answered and said: That tribulation which will be will it last a long time; and that distress,8 will it embrace many years?
1 27 And he answered and said to me: That time will be divided into twelve parts, and each part has been preserved 2 for that for which it was appointed. •In the first part: the beginning of commotions.3 53:6 3.4 In the second part: the slaughtering of the great. *In the third part: the fall of MrSi*1 1 5,6 many into death. #In the fourth part: the drawing of the sword. *In the fifth part: Rev 15:1 7 famine and the withholding of rain. *In the sixth part: earthquakes and terrors. 70:8 b 0 9,10 In the eighth part: a multitude of ghosts and the appearances of demons. »In the m2i£s 11,12 ninth part: the fall of fire. •In the tenth part: rape and much violence. •In the 1*21.11 13 eleventh part: injustice and unchastity. #In the twelth part: disorder and a mixture 10:8 14 of all that has been before. •These parts of that time will be preserved and will 70:8 15 be mixed, one with another, and they will minister to each other. «For some of 4Ezra5:18 these parts will withhold a part of themselves and take from others and will accomplish that which belongs to them and to others; hence, those who live on earth in those days will not understand that it is the end of times. 48:32
# 1,2 28 But everyone who will understand will be wise at that time. For the measure Dan 12:10 and the calculation of that time will be two parts: weeks of seven weeks.3 Mt 24:15 3 And I answered and said: It is good that man should come so far and see, but it is better that he should 4Ezra 13:16-20 4.5 not come so far lest he fall. «But I shall also say this: •Will he who is incorruptible despise those who are corruptible, and will he despise what happens with those 40:3; 43:2; 44:9; 74:2; 85:5 who are corruptible so that he might only look to those who are not corruptible? 4Ezra4:ll; 6 But when, O Lord, these things will surely come of which you spoke to me before, 7:31,114 # 7 let me also know this, if I have found grace in your eyes: Is it in one place or Gen 6:8; 19:19 in one part of the earth that these things will come or will they be noticed by the 4Ezra 4:56 whole earth?
1 29 And he answered and said to me: That which will happen at that time bears upon the whole earth. Therefore, all 2 who live will notice it. *For at that time I shall only protect those found in this 69.i a # 3 land at that time. And it will happen that when all that which should come to 40:2;7i:i pass in these parts has been accomplished, the Anointed One will begin to be ?§4?-498 ; b 7 2 2 4 revealed. *And Behemoth will reveal itself from its place, and Leviathan will J|^ 7 : 2 7 28. come from the sea, the two great monsters which I created on the fifth day of 12*32; 13.32 ' 0 creation and which I shall have kept until that time. And they will be nourishment 4^6:49-32 d 6 5 for all who are left. •The earth will also yield fruits ten thousandfold. And on 4Eaa 6J25; 7*28* 9*8' 12*34* one vine will be a thousand branches, and one branch will produce a thousand 13:24,26' ' ' clusters, and one cluster will produce a thousand grapes, and one grape will 6 produce a cor of wine.f • And those who are hungry will enjoy themselves and they # 7 will, moreover, see marvels every day. For winds will go out in front of me 4Ezra7:28; every morning to bring the fragrance of aromatic fruits and clouds at the end of 12:34; 13:50
29 a. Cf. Ps-Philo 7:4 and b.Pes 113a. 26 a. Syr. *ntuf from the Gk. anagke; cf. Lk b. In PssSol the Anointed One is mentioned in 21:23. 18:6; cf. 17:23ff. about the Son of David and the Servant. See also IEn 48:10 and 52:4. About the 27 a. Syr. zwl\ which in the Syr. translations of "appearance" of the Anointed One, see Jn 1:31 the NT is used to render the Gk. seismos, "earth- and 2Thes 1:7. quake"; cf. Lk 21:11; Mt 24:71; and Mk 13:5. c. See Strack-Billerbeck, vol. 4, pp. 1156f. b. The seventh part is absent. d. Cf. IEn 90:30; SibOr 5:384; and PssSol 18:7. e. We find a close parallel in Irenaeus, Adv Haer c. Syr. pntsf; cf. Gk. phantasia, also in 48:34. 5.33.3-4, see also IEn 10:19. 28 a. This indication is not clear. f. See for this measure Josephus, Ant 15.14. 8 the day to distill the dew of healths -And it will happen at that time that the 73:2 9 treasury of manna will come down again from on high, and they will eat of it in JE^7:I2: 52 those years" because these are they who will have arrived at the consummation ps £ 2 5 O f time.' Rev 2:17
1 30 And it will happen after these things when the time of the appearance3 of the Anointed One has been fulfilled and he returns with glory,b that then all who 48:22 2 sleep in hope of him will rise. #And it will happen at that time that those treasuries will be opened in which the number of the souls of the righteous were kept,c and 21:23; 50:2 they will go out and the multitudes of the souls will appear together, in one assemblage, of one mind. And the first ones will enjoy themselves and the last icor 15:52 3 ones will not be sad. #For they know that the time has come of which it is said 4 that it is the end of times. «But the souls of the wicked will the more waste awayd 51.5 5 when they shall see all these things. -For they know that their torment has come and that their perditions have arrived.
Baruch speaks to the people
1 31 And it happened after these things, that I went to the people and said to them: Assemble to me all our elders and I shall speak words to you. 5:5; 44:1 2,3 And they all assembled in the valley of the Kidron. »And I began to speak and 5:5 said to them: Hear, O Israel, and I shall speak to you, and you, O seed of Jacob, pay attention, 4 and I shall teach you. »Do not forget Zion but remember the distress of Jerusalem. 17:4 5 For, behold, the days are coming, that all that has been will be taken away to be destroyed, and it will become as though it had not been.
1 32 You, however, if you prepare your minds to sow into them the fruits of the 46:5 law,3 he shall protect you in the time in which the Mighty One shall shake the 4Ezra9:3i 2 entire creation. #For after a short time, the building of Zion will be shaken in order 3 that it will be rebuilt. •That building will not remain; but it will again be uprooted 4 after some time and will remain desolate for a time. #And after that it is necessary 5 that it will be renewed in glory and that it will be perfected into eternity.b #W e 4:2 should not, therefore, be so sad regarding the evil which has come now, but much 6 more (distressed) regarding that which is in the future. -For greater than the two
0 7 evils will be the trial when the Mighty One will renew his creation. • A n d now, Cn . 27 do not draw near to me for some days and do not call upon me until I shall come 44:12; 57:2 t n vmi Isa 65:17 1 0 y°u - 4Ezra 7:75 8 And it happened after having said all these words to them that I, Baruch, went 4Ezra 5:i my way. And when the people saw that I went away, they raised their voices and lamented and said: 9 Where are you going from us, Baruch, and do you leave us as a father who leaves his children as orphans and goes away from them? 4Ezra5:i8
1 33 These are the commands which your friend Jeremiah, the prophet, gave to 2 you. And he said to you, '"Look to this people during the time I am absent, while 10:2 I help the rest of our brothers in Babylon, against whom has been declared the 3 sentence that they should be carried away into captivity/* #And now, if you 4Ezra 17:40
g. About dew as an eschatological gift see lEn d. Cf. Ps-Philo 16:3. 60:20; cf. 34:1-2; 36:1; and 75:5; and cf. b.Hag 12b. 32 a. Lit. "to sow in them." The Law as source h. SibOr 3.746; Ps-Philo 19:10; and b.Hag 12b. of life, cf. 38:2 and 48:24; cf. also Sir 17:11; 32:24; i. Syr. Swlmh dzbri*; see Gal 4:4. 45:5; !Bar4:l; WisSol6:18; 7:14; PssSol 14:2; and 4Ezra 7:45. 30 a. Syr. nftyf, Gk. parousia; see Mt 24:37. b. See Introduction. b. The Anointed One is pre-existent; cf. lEn c. Transformation of the creation is in lEn 46:1-2; 48:3; 62:7; 4Ezra 12:32 and 13:26. 45:4-5, and about a new heaven and earth see lEn c. Cf. Ps-Philo 3:10; 11:6; 19:2; and 51:5. 72:1 and 91:15-16. abandon us too, it would have been better for all of us that we shall die first, and that then you should abandon us.
1 34 And I answered and said to the people: Heaven forbid that I should abandon you or that I should go away from you. But 1 shall go to the Holy of Holies to ask from the Mighty One on behalf of you io:5 and Zion so that I may receive in some ways more light, and after that I shall return to you.
The apocalypse of the forest, the vine, the fountain, and the cedar
1 35 And I, Baruch, went to the holy place and sat on the ruins and wept and said:
2 O that my eyes were springs, je r9:i and my eyelids, that they were a fountain of tears. 3 For how shall I be sad over Zion, 4 and lament over Jerusalem? For at the place where now I am prostrate, the high priests used to offer holy sacrifices, and placed thereon incense of fragrant spices. Now, however, that of which we are proud has become dust, and that which our soul desired is ashes.
1 36 And when I had said this, I fell asleep at that place and saw a vision in the zecn i* 2 night. «And behold there was a forest with trees that was planted on the plain and surrounded by high mountains and rugged rocks. And the forest occupied much Ezek 17:3-9 3 space. #And behold, over against it a vine arose, and from under it a fountain (ran) 4 peacefully. *And that fountain came to the forest and changed into great waves, and those waves submerged the forest and suddenly uprooted the entire forest and 5 overthrew all the mountains which surrounded it. #And the height of the forest became low, and that top of the mountains became low. And that fountain became 6 so strong that it left nothing of the great forest except one cedar. •When it had also cast that one down, it destroyed the entire forest and uprooted it so that nothing Ps29:5 was left of it, and its place was not even known anymore. Then that vine arrived with the fountain in peace and in great tranquillity and arrived at a place which was not far away from the cedar, and they brought to him that cedar which had 7 been cast down. «And I saw, and behold, that vine opened its mouth and spoke and said to the cedar, 4 4 A r e you not that cedar which remained of the forest of wickedness? Because of you, wickedness remained and has been done during all 8 these years, but never goodness. »And you possessed power over that which did not belong to you; you did not even show compassion to that which did belong to you. And you extended your power over those who were living far from you, and you keep those who are close to you in the nets of your wickedness, and you 9 uplift your soul always like one who could not be uprooted. «But now your time 10 has hastened and your hour has come. •Therefore O cedar, follow the forest which has departed before you and become ashes with it, and let your earth be mixed 11 together. «And now, sleep in distress and rest in pain until your last time comes in which you will return to be tormented even more.'*
I 37 And after these things I saw that the cedar was burning and the vine growing, while it and all around it became a valley full of unfading flowers. And I awoke and arose.
Interpretation of the apocalypse 44:14; 46:5; i 38 And I prayed and said: S-s4 ^ 6 ? 513, O Lord, my Lord, you are the one who has always enlightened those who Prov'16:22 2 conduct themselves with understanding. *Your Law is life, and your wisdom is 32-1 3,4 the right way. »Now, show me the explanation of this vision. 'For you know that Prov4:11 my soul has always been associated with your Law, and that I did not depart from Mk 10:20 your wisdom from my earliest days. Lk 18:21
1 39 And he answered and said to me: 2 Baruch, this is the explanation of the vision which you have seen. »As you have seen the great forest surrounded by high and rocky mountains, this is the word: 3 Behold, the days will come when this kingdom that destroyed Zion once will be 4 destroyed and that it will be subjected to that which will come after it. •This again will also be destroyed after some time. And another, a third, will rise and also that 5 will possess power in its own time and will be destroyed. 'After that a fourth kingdom3 arises whose power is harsher and more evil than those which were before it, and it will reign a multitude of times like the trees on the plain, and it 6 will ruleb the times and exalt itself more than the cedars of Lebanon. *And the 4Ezra5:i truth will hide itself in this and all who are polluted with unrighteousness will flee to it 7 like the evil beasts flee and creep into the forest. *And it will happen when the time of its fulfillment is approaching in which it will fall, that at that time the
2 :3 dominion of my Anointed One which is like the fountain and the vine, will be n 5:1 revealed. And when it has revealed itself, it will uproot the multitude of its host. 40.2 8 And that which you have seen, namely the tall cedar, which remained of that forest, and with regard to the words which the vine said to it which you heard, this is the meaning.
1 40 The last ruler who is left alive at that time will be bound, whereas the entire host will be destroyed. And they will carry him on Mount Zion, and my Anointed One will convict him of all his wicked deeds and will assemble and set before him 4Ezra 12:32; 2 all the works of his hosts. »And after these things he will kill him3 and protect the 13:37
3 rest of my people who will be found in the place that I have chosen. »And his j$*7 . 2 7 dominion will last forever until the world of corruption has ended5 and until the 28:4; 30:1 4 times which have been mentioned before have been fulfilled. #This is your vision, Gai 4:4 and this is its explanation. IE^4UM
About the apostates and the believers
1 41 And I answered and said: For whom and for how many will these things be? Or who will be worthy to 2 live in that time? »I shall now say before you everything that I think, and I shall 3 ask you about the things of which I meditate. #For behold, I see many of your people who separated themselves from your statutes and who have cast away from 4 them the yoke of your Law.3 •Further, I have seen others who left behind their 5 vanityb and who have fled under your wings.c "What will, therefore, happen with i:4 6 those? Or how will that last time receive them? •Their time will surely not be Ruuf^if72 weighed exactly, and they will certainly not be judged as the scale indicates?
1 42 And he answered and said to me: 2 Also these things I shall show you. As for what you said: 'To whom and to how many will these things be?" The good that was mentioned before will be to those who have believed,3 and the opposite of these things will be to those who 3 9 a. Apparentiy Babylon, Persia, Greece, and 41 a. This applies to Christians from the Jews; see Rome are meant; cf. Dan 7. for the expression "yoke of the Law" Ab 3:5 and b. The verb *hd is used; cf. 48:8, "to take" or b.Sanh 94b. "to seize." b. The heathen idols are meant; cf. Deut 32:2. c. The author refers to proselytes; see for the 4 0 a. The Messiah as warrior, cf. 72:2; Isa 11:4; expression "to flee under your wings" Pss 36:8; IEn 46:3-6; 62:2. See also the Targum of Ps. 57:2; and Ruth 2:12. Jonathan on Genesis 49:11. b. The rule of the Anointed One seems to be of 42 a. To believe in God is to live according to the a limited time. Law. Cf. 54:5 and 21; 59:2; 4Ezra 6:27, 28; 9:7-8; and IEn 47:8. 3 have despised.1 5 •And as for that which you said with regard to those who have 4 drawn near4 1 and to those who have withdrawn, this is the explanation. #A s for those who have first subjected themselves and have withdrawn later and who mingled themselves with the seed of the mingled nations,d their first time will be 5 considered as mountains. «And those who first did not know life and who later knew it exactly and who mingled with the seed of the people who have separated 6 themselves, their first time will be considered as mountains.6 *And times will inherit times, and periods periods, and they will receive from one another. And then, with a view to the end, all will be compared according to the length of times 7 and the hours of periods/ »For corruption will take away those who belong to it, 8 and life those who belong to it. »And dust will be called, and told, "Give back that which does not belong to you and raise up all that you have kept until its own 30:1-2 time."
1 43 You, however, Baruch, strengthen your heart with a view to that which has been said to you, and understand that which has been revealed to you because you 2 have many consolations which will last forever. #For you will go away from this place and leave the regions which are now before your eyes. And you shall forget 13:3 that which is corruptible and not again remember that which is among the mortal 2i:i9; 28:5 3 ones. »Go away, therefore, and command your people and come to this place and afterward fast seven days. And then I shall come to you and speak with you. 5:6
Baruch speaks to the people
i 44 And I, Baruch, went from there and came to my people and called my first- 46:i
born son and the Gedaliahs, my friends, and seven of the elders of the people and 5:i; 5:6:46:i said to them: 2,3 Behold, I go to my fathers in accordance with the way of the whole earth. #You, 3:2; 13:3
however, do not withdraw from the way of the Law, but guard and admonish the f™h ^'J* people who are left lest they withdraw from the commandments of the Mighty iKgs 2:2 4 One. «For you see that he whom we serve is righteous and that our Creator is 5,6 impartial. #And see what has befallen Zion and what happened to Jerusalem, #that 13:8 the judgment of the Mighty One will be made known, as well as his ways which 7 are inscrutable and right. *For when you endure and persevere in his fear and do 14:9 not forget his Law, the time again will take a turn for the better for you.a And they 8 will participate in the consolation of Zion. •For that which is now is nothing. But u 2:25 9 that which is in the future will be very great. • For 6 everything will pass away 28:4 which is corruptible, and everything that dies will go away, and all present time will be forgotten, and there will be no remembrance of the present time which is 10 polluted by evils. *For he who runs now runs in vain and he who is happy will n fall quickly and be humiliated. #For that which will be in the future, that is what one will look for, and that which comes later, that is what we shall hope for. For 12 there is a time that does not pass away. »And that period is coming which will remain forever; and there is the new world which does not carry back to corruption 32:6 those who enter into its beginning, and which has no mercy on those who come 13 into torment or those who are living in it, and it does not carry to perdition. #For those are the ones who will inherit this time of which it is spoken, and to these 14 is the heritage of the promised time. 'These are they who prepared for themselves 21:25
b. Cf. for the destruction of sinners 4Ezra 7:93; torily emended. The author wants to say that the 9:^-12; lEn 53:2; 56:1-4; 60:6; 69:27; 90:3-10; periods before the conversion no longer have sig- and 102:1-3. nificance. c. See for the expression "to draw near" Eph f. It seems that the length of time during which 2:13 and 17; cf. Strack-Billerbeck, vol. 3, pp. 585f. one has been disobedient is taken into consideration. d. See for the expression Ex 30:5 and Jer 25:20; cf. Jub 30:7; TLevi 9:10; Philo, Spec Leg 3.29, 44 a. The same promise in 46:5-6; 84:2; 85:4; Jub about the prohibition of mixed marriages. 1:22-23; 5:17; 23:26; and TJud 26:1. e. As in v. 4, we find the expression wrmf b. 9-15 also in BM Add. 14.686 and A. Konath mthsb, which is unknown and cannot be satisfac- Library MS 77; see Introduction. treasures of wisdom. And stores of insight are found with them. And they have 28:1-2 15 not withdrawn from mercy and they have preserved the truth of the Law. *For the coming world will be given to these, but the habitation of the manyc others will be in the fire.d
1 45 You, therefore, admonish the people as much as you can. For this is our work. 2 For, when you instruct them, you will make them alive.
1 46 And my son and the elders of the people said to me: 44:1 Did the Mighty One humiliate us to such an extent that he will take you away 2 from us quickly? - And shall we truly be in darkness, and will there be no light 3 anymore for that people who are left? »For where shall we again investigate the 3:6
Law, or who will distinguish between death and life for us? ps 119:92-93 4 And I said to them: Kft^ i I cannot resist the throne of the Mighty One. But Israel will not be in want of Jer i4:2i; 17:12 5 a wise man, nor the tribe of Jacob, a son of the Law.3 »But only prepare your heart 17:4; 77:16 so that you obey the Law, and be subject to those who are wise and understanding 6 with fear. And prepare your soul that you shall not depart from them. »If you do 32:1 this, those good tidings will come to you of which I spoke to you earlier, and you 38:I" 2 7 will not fall into the torment of which I spoke to you earlier. "But with regard to 44:7 the word that I shall be taken up, I did not let it be known to them at that time, i3:3;48:i3
. w *~ 0„ „ 4Ezra 14:50 not even to my son. 1 47 And after I had left, having dismissed them, I returned from there and said to them: Behold, I go to Hebron, for to there the Mighty One has sent me. 2 And I arrived at that place where the word was spoken to me, and I sat there and fasted seven days. 5:6
Prayer of Baruch
48 And it happened after seven days that I prayed before the Mighty One and said:
O Lord, you summon the coming of the times, and they stand before you. You cause the display of power of the worlds to pass away and they do not resist you. You arrange the course of the periods, i4:i and they obey you. Only you know the length of the generations, and you do not reveal your secrets to many. You make known the multitude of the fire, and you weigh the lightness of the wind. You investigate the end of the heights, and you scrutinize the depths of darkness. You command the number which will pass away, and which will be 21:10 preserved. And you prepare a house for those who will be. Jn 14:2 You remember the beginning which you created, and you do not forget that destruction which will come. With signs of fear and threat you command the flames, 21:5-6 and they change into winds. And with the word you bring to life that which does not exist,
c. The word "many" is absent in the two MSS 46 a. In b.Shab 139b we meet "the disciples of mentioned under n. b. the wise men," but it is not certain that they are d. Cf. 4Ezra 7:36; IEn 90:26f.; 100:9; TZeb identical with the unknown "son of the Law." 10:3; and 4Mac 12:12. and with great power you hold3 that which has not yet come. 9 You instruct the creation with your understanding, 21:6.4 and you give wisdom to the spheres so that they minister according to their positions.b si-.n 10 Innumerable hosts0 stand before you, and serve peacefully your sign according to their positions. 48:8 11 Hear your servant, and regard my appeal. 12 For we are born in a short time, and in a short time we return. 13 With you, however, the hours are like times, and the days like generations. 14 Be, therefore, not angry at man because he is nothing; and do not take count of our works; for what are we? 15 For behold, by your gift we come into the world, and we do go not of our own will. 14:11 16 For we did not say to our parents: "Beget us," nor have we sent to the realm of death saying: "Receive us." 17 What therefore is our strength that we can bear your wrath, or what are we that we can endure your judgment? is Protect us in your grace, and in your mercy help us. 19 Look at the small ones who submit to you, Mt io:42; and save all those who come to you. 18:6,0 And do not take away the hope of our people, and do not make short the times of our help. 20 For these are the people whom you have elected, and this is the nation of which you found no equal. 21 But I shall speak to you now, and 1 shall say as my heart thinks. 22 In you we have put our trust, because, behold, your Law is with us, and we know that we do not fall as long as we keep your statutes. 44:7:77:3 23 We shall always be blessed; at least, we did not mingle with the nations. For we are all a people of the Name; 42:4 24 we, who received one Law from the One. And that Law that is among us will help us, 78:4; 85:4 and that excellent wisdom which is in us will support us. Eph 4:4" 6 r r 38:1-2 25 And when I had prayed these things I became very weak. 21:26 26 And he answered and said to me: You have prayed honestly, Baruch, and all your words have been heard. 27 But my judgment asks for its own, and my Law demands its right. 28 For from your words I shall answer you, and from your prayer I shall speak with you.
29 Because it is as follows: There is nothing that will be destroyed unless it acted wickedly, if it had been able to do something without remembering my goodness and accepting my long-suffering. 3o.3i For this reason surely you will be taken up, as I said to you before. «And the 46:7 time will come of which I spoke to you and that time is appearing which brings affliction. For it will come and pass away with enormous vehemence; and arriving
48 a. See 29:5. b. Cf. 1 En 2:1 and lClem 20; see also Jude 6. c. 2En 20:1-3. 32 in the heat of indignation, it will be turbulent. #And it will be in those days that all inhabitants of the earth will live with each other in peace, because they do not 27:15 33 know that my judgment has come near.d 'For in that time there will not be found £^£101 1 many wise men and there will also be not many intelligent ones, but, in addition, 34 they who know will be silent more and more.e »And there will be many tidings ch. 28;70;5 and not a few rumors, and the works of the phantoms will be visible, and not a Mt 24:6.11,24 35 few promises will be told, some idle and others affirmed/ #And honor will change 27:9 itself into shame, and strength will be humiliated to contempt, and the strong one 36 will be broken down, and beauty will become contemptible. «And many will say to many in that time, "Where did the multitude of intelligence hide itself and 38:i-2;70:5 37 where did the multitude of wisdom depart?'^ «And when one thinks about these 4Ezra5:9H things, jealousy will arise in those who did not think much of themselves; and passion will take hold of those who were peaceful; and many will be agitated by 70:6 wrath to injure many; and they will raise armies to shed blood; and they will Mt24:6 38 perish with those at the end. *And it will happen in that time that a change of 44:7 times will reveal itself openly for the eyes of everyone because they polluted themselves in all those times and caused oppression, and each one walked in his 4Ezra 3:8 39 own works and did not remember the Law of the Mighty One. •Therefore, a fire
h will consume their thoughts, and with a flame the meditations of their kidneys pS 7 :io 40 will be examined. For the Judge will come and will not hesitate. *For each of the 20A2'20,17:10: inhabitants of the earth knew when he acted unrighteously, and they did not know ****** 41 my Law because of their pride. »But many will surely weep at that time—more, Rom 2:14-15 however, because of the living ones than of the dead. 42 And I answered and said: O Adam, what did you do to all who were born after you? And what will be n:3 43 said of the first Eve who obeyed the serpent, *so that this whole multitude is going to corruption? And countless are those whom the fire devours. 44 But again I shall speak before you. 45,46 You, O Lord, my Lord, you know that which is in your creation, #for you commanded the dust one day to produce Adam; and you knew the number of those who are born from him and how they sinned before you, those who existed and 47 who did not recognize you as their Creator. »And concerning all of those, their end will put them to shame, and your Law which they transgressed will repay them on your day. 48 But now, let us cease talking about the wicked and inquire about the righteous. 49 And I will tell about their blessedness and I shall not be silent about their glory 50 which is kept for them. #For surely, as you endured much labor in the short time in which you live in this passing world, so you will receive great light in that 2c<>r4:i7 world which has no end.
1 49 But further, I ask you, O Mighty One; and I shall ask grace from him who 2 created all things. *In which shape will the living live in your day? Or how will 3 remain their splendor which will be after that? •Will they, perhaps, take again this present form, and will they put on the chained3 members which are in evil and by which evils are accomplished? Or will you perhaps change these things which have been in the world, as also the world itself?
50 And he answered and said to me: Listen, Baruch, to this word and write down in the memory of your heart all
d. [Klijn has accurately represented the Syr. g. 36 is quoted in Cyprian, Testimoniorum libri Charles saw a problem with this verse and emended HI ad Quirinium 3.29. the Syr. so as to obtain "shall be moved one against h. This Syr. idiom means "the meditations of the other, because they know not that my judgement their innermost self." has drawn nigh." APOT, vol. 2, p. 506. —J.H.C.] e. 33 is quoted in Cyprian, Testimoniorum libri 49 a. Cf. OdesSol 17:4: "My chains were cut off III ad Quirinium 3.29. by his hands" and 21:2: "Because he cast off my f. 34 is quoted in Cyprian, Testimoniorum libri bonds for me." [The Syr. text here is difficult to III ad Quirinium 3.29. understand. —J.H.C.] 2 that you shall learn. "For the earth will surely give back the dead at that time; it 3 0 : 2 receives them now in order to keep them, not changing anything in their form. But as it has received them so it will give them back. And as I have delivered them 3 to it so it will raise them. #For then it will be necessary to show those who live that the dead are living again, and that those who went away have come back. 4 And it will be that when they have recognized each other,a those who know each other at this moment, then my judgment will be strong, and those things which have been spoken of before will come.
1 51 And it will happen after this day which he appointed is over that both the shape of those who are found to be guilty as also the glory of those who have JcwisSi 2 proved to be righteous will be changed. • For the shape of those who now act 2 i : 9 wickedly will be made more evil than it is (now) so that they shall suffer torment. 3 Also, as for the glory of those who proved to be righteous on account of my law, 21.9 those who possessed intelligence in their life, and those who planted the root of wisdom in their heart—their splendor will then be glorified by transformations, 33-1-2 and the shape of their face will be changed into the light of their beauty so that ws^is0 they may acquire and receive the undying world which is promised to them. 4Ezra7:97 4 Therefore, especially they who will then come will be sad, because they despised PHU 3:21 my Lawa and stopped their ears lest they hear wisdom and receive intelligence. 74:2 5 When they, therefore, will see that those over whom they are exalted now will 21:25 then be more exalted and glorified than they, then both these and those will be Zecn7:ii changed, these into the splendor of angels and those into startling visions and 6 horrible shapes; and they will waste away even more. *For they will first see and 30:4 then they will go away to be tormented. 7 Miracles, however, will appear at their own time to those who are saved because of their works and for whom the Law is now a hope, and intelligence, expectation, 5i:3 8 and wisdom a trust. "For they shall see that world which is now invisible to them, 9 and they will see a time which is now hidden to them. #And time will no longer U20:36 10 make them older. •For they will live in the heights of that world and they will be like the angelsb and be equal to the stars.c And they will be changed into any shape which they wished, from beauty to loveliness, and from light to the splendor of 11 glory. #For the extents of Paradise will be spread out for them, and to them will 4:7 be shown the beauty of the majesty of the living beings under the throne,d as well 48:10 as all the hosts of the angels, those who are held by my word now lest they show 48:10 themselves, and those who are withheld by my command so that they may stand 12 at their places until their coming has arrived. "And the excellence of the righteous 13 will then be greater than that of the angels. #For the first will receive the last, those whom they expected; and the last, those of whom they had heard that they had 14 gone away. #For they have been saved from this world of affliction and have put 15 down the burden of anguishes. • Because of which men lost their life and for what 15:8 16 have those who were on the earth exchanged their soul? •For once they chose for Mt 16:26 themselves that time which cannot pass away without afflictions. And they chose for themselves that time of which the end is full of lamentations and evils. And they have denied the world that does not make those who come to it older. And they have rejected the time which causes glory so that they are not coming to the glory of which I spoke to you before.
50 a. Cf. Ps-Philo 62:9. Billerbeck, vol. 1, p. 891. c. Cf. Dan 12:3 and IEn 104:2; see also 2En 51 a. This can be compared with lQpHab 1:11 66:7. and 5:11-12. d. b.Shab 152b speaks about the souls under the b. According to IEn 62:13-16 "the righteous throne. If we have to accept that * 'the living beings'' and elect" will be clothed with "garments of are standing lower than the throne, we can refer to glory," and according to 104:4 their joy will be Rev 6:4 or 7:11. as that of the angels of heaven; see also Strack- 1 52 And I answered and said: 2 How shall we forgeta those for whom at that time woe is preserved? »And why are we again sad for those who die? Or why do we weep for those who go into 3 the realm of death? "The lamentations should be kept for the beginning of that coming torment; let the tears be laid down for the coming of that destruction which 4,5 will then come. "But with a view of these things, I shall also speak. 'And concerning 6 the righteous ones, what will they do now? •Enjoy yourselves in the suffering which you suffer now.b For why do you look for the decline of your enemies? 7 Prepare your souls for that which is kept for you, and make ready your souls for the reward which is preserved for you. And when I had said this I fell asleep there.
The apocalypse of the clouds
1 53 And I saw a vision. And behold, a cloud was coming up from the great sea. And I was looking at it, and behold, it was entirely filled with black water and there were many colors in that water. And something like great lightning appeared 2 at its top. #And I saw that the cloud was rapidly passing in a quick run and covering 3 the whole earth. •And it happened after this that the cloud began to pour the water 4 that it contained upon the earth. *And I saw that the water which descended from 5 it was not of the same likeness. #For at first, it was very black until a certain time. And then, I saw that the water became bright, but there was not much of it. And after this, I saw black water again, and after this bright again, and black again and 6 bright again. 'This, now, happened twelve times, but the black were always more 27:1 7 than the bright. • A n d it happened at the end of the cloud that, behold, it poured black water and it was much darker than all the water that had been before. And fire was mingled with it. And where that water descended, it brought about 8 devastation and destruction. "And after this I saw how the lightning which I had 9 seen at the top of the cloud seized it and pressed it down to the earth. "That lightning shone much more, so that it lighted the whole earth and healed the regions Mt 24:17 where the last waters had descended and where it had brought about destruction. 10.11 And it occupied the whole earth and took command of it. -»And after this I saw, behold, twelve riversa came from the sea and surrounded the lightning and became 12 subject to it. #And because of my fear I awoke.
Prayer of Baruch
1 54 And I asked the Mighty One and said: You alone, O Lord, knew the heights of the world beforehand and that which will happen in the times which you bring about by your word. And against the
works of the inhabitants of the earth you hasten the beginnings of the times. And 21:g 2 the ends of the periods you alone know. »You are the one for whom nothing is Jer 32:17,27 3 hard; but you are, however, the one who easily accomplishes all by a sign. *You 2^:5 ^ are the one to whom both the depths and the heights come together, and whose 4 word the beginnings of the periods serve. "You are the one who reveals to those 5 who fear that which is prepared for them so that you may comfort them. »You show your mighty works to those who do not know. You pull down the enclosure Eph 2:i4 for those who have no experience and enlighten the darknesses, and reveal the secrets to those who are spotless, to those who subjected themselves to you and 38:1-2 your Law in faith. sir 42.19 6,7 You showed this vision to your servant; open to me its exposition also. "For 42:2
52 a. MS fyn, "how will they forget," but with 5:10; Acts 5:41; Jas 1:2. the editions of Charles, Ryssel, and Kmosko fynn must be read. 5 3 a. The rivers can refer either to Israel or the b. About the joy to suffer see 4Mac 15:24; nations. 16:17ff.; 17:2; 9f.; b.Sanh 101a; GenR 33:1; Mt I know that I have recieved the answer regarding the subjects about which I asked you, and that you gave me a revelation about that which I asked, and that you have let me know with what voice I should honor you or from which members I should 8 cause glory and praise to go up to you. #For if my members should be mouths and the hairs of my head voices, even so I should not be able to honor you properly; and I should not be able to utter your glory or to express the excellence of your 9 beauty.a #For who am I among men or what is my significance among those who are more excellent than I that I have heard all these marvelous things from the 10 Most High and innumerable promises from him who created me? • B l e s s e d is my mother among those who bear, and praised among women is she who bore me. 11 For I shall not be silent in honoring the Mighty One but with the voice of glory Judg 5:24 121 shall narrate his marvelous works. »For who is able to imitate6 your miracles, ^ 107^2127 O God, or who understands your deep thoughts of life? 75:1
13 For with your counsel, you reign over all creation which your right hand has §Mg£.5 . 42. 1 7 created, and you have established the whole fountain of light with yourself, and 4Ezra3:5' 14 you have prepared under your throne the treasures of wisdom. • A n d those who do not love your Law are justly perishing. And the torment of judgment will fall upon 15 those who have not subjected themselves to your power. *For, although Adam sinned first and has brought death upon all who were not in his own time, yet each of them who has been born from him has prepared for himself the coming torment. n:3 16 And further, each of them has chosen for himself the coming glory. 'For truly, Rom5:12
2 4 the one who believes will receive reward. Rom i i 7 17 But now, turn yourselves to destruction, you unrighteous ones who are living Heb io':38 now, for you will be visited suddenly, since you have once rejected the under- 18 standing of the Most High. »For his works have not taught you, nor has the artful wis 13:1-9
c 1 20 2 1 19 work of his creation which has existed always persuaded you. *Adam is, therefore, ^5 ' ' not the cause, except only for himself, but each of us has become our own Adam. 20 You, however, O Lord, explain to me what you have revealed to me. And 21 inform me about that which I asked you. #For at the end of the world, a retribution will be demanded with regard to those who have done wickedly in accordance with their wickedness, and you will glorify the faithful ones in accordance with 42:2 22 their faith. «For those who are among your own, you rule; and those who sin, you blot out among your own.
Interpretation of the apocalypse
1 55 And it happened that when I had finished the words of this prayer, I sat down 2 there under a tree to rest in the shadow of its branches. #And I was surprised and 6:i astonished, and I pondered in my thoughts about the multitude of the goodness which the sinners who are on earth have rejected from them, and about the great punishment which they have despised, when they knew that they should be punished 15.6 3 because of the sins they have committed. #And while I was pondering these and similar things, behold, Ramael,3 the angel who is set over true visions, was sent 63:6 to me and said to me: 4EzR 4 Why does your heart trouble you, Baruch, and why are you disturbed by your 5 thought? *For if you are already disturbed, only hearing about the judgment, what 6 about when you see it with your eyes openly? »And if you are already so disturbed by the expectation with which you expect the day of the Mighty One, what about 7 when you arrive at its coming? •And if you are so fully terrified by the words of the announcement of the punishment of those who have transgressed, how much 8 more when this event itself will reveal marvelous things? #And if you have heard the names of the good and evil things which will come at that time, and if you are
54 a. PssSol 15:3 and OdesSol 26:4. 55 a. In 4Ezra 4:36 he is called Jeremiel, but in b. Syr. mtdm', also in 75:1, can be translated the Syr. translation he is also named Ramael; cf. as "to imagine" and "to imitate." Both translations SibOr 2.215-17 and lEn 20:8, where he is one of are possible here. the archangels. c. Cf. lEn 36:4. grieved, what about when you will see what the Majesty will reveal, who will convince some and cause others to rejoice?
1 56 But now, since you have asked the Most High to reveal to you the explanation 2 of the vision which you have seen, I have been sent to say to you 'that the Mighty One has let you know the course of times, namely those which have passed and 1*1 those which in his world will come to pass, from the beginning of his creation 3 until the end, (the times) which are known by deceit and by truth. "For as you saw a great cloud which came up from the sea and went and covered the earth; this is the length of the world which the Mighty One has created when he took counsel 4 iri order to create the world.3 *And it happened when the word had gone out from him, that the length of the world was standing as something small, and it was established1 5 in accordance with the abundance of the intelligence of him who let 5 it go forth. *And as you first saw the black waters on the top of the cloud which first came down upon the earth; this is the transgression which Adam, the first 6 man, committed. »For when he transgressed, untimely death came into being, 17-3 mourning was mentioned, affliction was prepared, illness was created, labor accomplished, pride began to come into existence, the realm of death began to ask Prov 27.20 to be renewed with blood, the conception of children came about, the passion of Ha\>V:5 the parents was produced, the loftiness of men was humiliated, and goodness Gen 3:16 7 vanished. 'What could, therefore, have been blacker and darker than these things? 8,9 This is the beginning of the black waters which you have seen. #And from these 10 black waters again black were born, and very dark darkness originated. »For he 11 who was a danger to himself was also a danger to the angels. *For they possessed 12 freedom in that time in which they were created. #And some of them came down 13 and mingled themselves with women. «At that time they who acted like this were Gen 6:1-4 14 tormented in chains.0 »But the rest of the multitude of angels, who have no number, 15 restrained themselves. »And those living on earth perished together through the 16 waters of the flood. 'Those are the first black waters.
1 57 And after these you saw the bright waters; that is the fountain of Abraham and his generation, and the coming of his son, and the son of his son, and of those 2 who are like them. #For at that time the unwritten law was in force3 among them, and the works of the commandments were accomplished at that time, and the belief 32:6 in the coming judgment was brought about, and the hope of the world which will be renewed was built at that time, and the promise of the life that will come later 3 was planted. • T h o s e are the bright waters which you have seen.
1 58 And the third black waters you have seen; that is the mingling of all sins which the nations committed afterward, after the death of those righteous men, and the wickedness of the land of Egypt, in which they acted wickedly in the 2 oppression with which they oppressed their sons. 'But also these perished at the Ex i:i4 end.
1 59 And the fourth bright waters which you have seen; that is the coming of Ex 2:10 Moses, and of Aaron, and of Miriam, and of Joshua, the son of Nun, and of EX?7:9 I5: 2 Caleb, and all those who are like these. *For at that time the lamp of the eternal Num 13:6 law which exists forever and ever illuminated all those who sat in darkness. This n: 4 (lamp) will announce to those who believe the promise of their reward and to those 3 who deny the punishment of the fire which is kept for them. »But also the heaven 42:2 will be shaken from its place at that time; that is, the heavens which are under the throne of the Mighty One were severely shaken when he took Moses with him.3 Ex24:i2-i8
56 a. The cloud exists of thirteen parts: twelve c. Cf. IEn 10:4; see also 2En 18:4-6 and Sir parts alternately black and bright and finally one 44:20. very black part. b. [Klijn here follows Charles, who accepted 57 a. See Jub 23:10 and b.Yoma 28b. Ceriani's emendation of the Syr., and rendered this verb as "was established." —J.H.C.] 59 a. Cf. Ps-Philo 19:16. 4 For he showed him many warnings together with the ways of the Law and the end of time, as also to you; and then further, also the likeness of Zion with its 4:5 measurements which was to be made after the likeness of the present sanctuary. Ex 25:40; 26:30 5 But he also showed him, at that time, the measures of fire, the depths of the abyss,b Heb 8:5 6 the weight of the winds,0 the number of the raindrops,d •the suppression of wrath, 7 the abundance of long-suffering, the truth of judgment, -the root of wisdom, the 5i;3 8 richness of understanding, the fountain of knowledge, »the height of the air,e the Bar 3:12 greatness of Paradise, the end of the periods, the beginning of the day of judg- SFMV*47 9,10 ment,f •the number of offerings,8 the worlds which have not yet come, •the 4:? mouth of hell,h the standing place of vengeance, the place of faith, the region of 11 hope, »the picture of the coming punishment, the multitude of the angels which cannot be counted, the powers of the flame, the splendor of lightnings,1 the voice of the thunders, the orders of the archangels,j the treasuries of the light, the changes 12 of the times,k and the inquiries into the Law. •These are the fourth bright waters you have seen.
1 60 And the fifth black waters which you have seen poured down; those are the works which the Amorites have done, and the invocations of their incantations which they wrought, and the wickedness of their mysteries, and the mingling of Josh 2*18 2 their pollutions.8 • But even Israel was polluted with sins in these days of the Judg 3:5 judges, although they saw many signs which were from him who created them.
1 61 And the sixth bright waters which you have seen; this is the time in which 2 David and Solomon were born. *And at that time the building of Zion took place, iKgs 8:iff and the dedication of the sanctuary, and the shedding of much blood of the nations which sinned at that time, and the many offerings which were offered at that time 3 at the inauguration of the sanctuary. »And rest and peace reigned at that time. iKgs 8:62-63 4 And wisdom was heard in the assembly, and the richness of understanding was 5 magnified in the congregations. «And the holy festivals were fulfilled in happiness iKgs3:i2 6 and much joy. »And the judgment of the rulers was seen at that time without deceit, and the righteousness of the commandments of the Mighty One was accomplished 21:9 7 in truth. »And the land which then received mercy, since its inhabitants did not sin, was praised above all countries, and the city of Zion ruled over all countries EBar n:9 8 and regions at that time. •These are those bright waters you have seen.
1 62 And the seventh black waters you have seen; that is the perversion of the ideas 2 of Jeroboam who planned to make two golden calves, • and all the iniquities iKgs 12:32 3 accomplished by the kings who succeeded him, -and the curse of Jezebel, and the iKgs 18:4 4 idolatry which Israel practiced at that time, *and the withholding of rain, and the
5 famines of such a kind that the women ate the fruits of their womb, «and the time 2Kg s 6:28-29 of their exile which befell the nine and a half tribes because they lived in many 1:2 6 sins. »And Salmanassar, the king of the Assyrians, came and carried them away 1:2 7 into captivity. »And concerning the nations much could be said: how they acted Ie^i^ unrighteously and wickedly, and how they never proved themselves to be righteous. 21:9 8 These are those seventh black waters you have seen.
1 63 And the eighth bright waters you have seen; that is the righteousness and the
2 integrity of Hezekiah, King of Judah, and the grace which came upon him. -For 2Kg s 16:20
at that time Sennacherib was moved to destroy, and his wrath roused him, and also 2Kg s 18:13-37 3 the multitude of the nations which were with him in order to destroy; • when Hezekiah the king heard that which the Assyrian king devised, namely, to come
b. Cf. lEn 18:11 and 21:7-10. h. Cf. lEn 27:2f.; 54:1-6; and 90:26f. c. Cf. lEn 41:4 and 2En 40:11. i. Cf. lEn41:3;43:lf.;60:13-15;and2En40:9. d. Cf. Sir 1:2; 2En 47:5; and Ps-Philo 19:10. j . Cf. lEn 61:10; 71:7-9; and 2En 30:1 and 3. e. Cf. lEn 40:12. k. Cf. lEn 82:11-20; 2En 13:5; and 40:6. f. Cf. 2En 65:7-10. g. Cf. Ps-Philo 19:10. 6 0 a. Cf. Jub 29:11 and Ps-Philo 25:10-13. and seize him and destroy his people—the two and a half tribes which were left— and that he also wanted to destroy Zion, then Hezekiah trusted upon his works, and hoped upon his righteousnesses, and spoke with the Mighty One and said: 21:9 4 4'Pay attention, behold, Sennacherib is ready to destroy us, and he will boast and
# 5 be uplifted when he has destroyed Zion." And the Mighty One heard him for 2Kg s 19:14-19 6 Hezekiah was wise, and he paid attention to his prayers for he was righteous. #And 7 the Mighty One then commanded Ramael, his angel who speaks with you. *And 55:3 I went away and destroyed their multitude, of which the number of the chiefs alone was one hundred and eighty-five thousand, and each of them had an equal 8 number.3 #And at that time I burned their bodies within, but I preserved their clothes and their arms on the outside so that still more of the marvelous works of the Mighty One might be seen, and so that his name might be mentioned throughout 9 the entire earth.b •Thus Zion was saved, and Jerusalem was delivered from its 10 tribulations. #And all those who were in the holy land rejoiced, and the name of 11 the Mighty One was praised so that it was spoken of. -These are those bright waters which you have seen.
1 64 And the ninth black waters you have seen; that is, the wickedness that existed
# 2 in the days of Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah. For he acted very wickedly, and 2KgS2i:2 killed the righteous, and perverted judgment, and shed innocent blood, and violently polluted married women, and overturned altars, and abolished their offerings, and 3 drove away the priests lest they minister in the sanctuary. #And he made a statue with five faces: Four of them looked into the direction of the four winds, and the fifth was on the top of the statue so as to challenge the zeal of the Mighty One.3 4 And then the wrath of the Mighty One went out so that Zion should be uprooted 5 as has also happened in your days. »But also the judgment went out against the two and a half tribes so that they also should be carried away into captivity as 6 you have now seen. *And the impiety of Manasseh increased to such a degree 7 that the glory of the Most High removed itself from the sanctuary.1 5 •Therefore, Manasseh was called the impious one in that time, and finally his habitation was 8 in the fire. #For although the Most High had heard his prayer, in the end when he fell into the brazen horse and the brazen horse was melted, it became to him as 9 a sign regarding the hour (which was to come).c #For he had not lived perfectly since he was not worthy, but (the sign was given to him) that he might know 10 henceforth by whom he should be punished at the end. •For,he who is able to benefit is also able to punish.
1 65 This Manasseh sinned and he thought in his time that the Mighty One would 2 not call account for these things.3 • T h e s e are those ninth black waters you have seen.
1 66 And the tenth bright waters you have seen; that is the purity of the generation 2Kgs 22:1 of Josiah, the king of Judah, who was the only one in his time who subjected
2 himself to the Mighty One with his whole heart and his whole soul. *He purified 2Kg s 23=4-30 the country from the idols, sanctified all the vessels which were polluted, restored the offerings to the altar, raised the horn of the holy, exalted the righteous, and honored all those who were wise with understanding. He brought the priests back to their ministry, and destroyed and removed the magicians, enchanters, and
63 a. 2Kgs 19:35-36; 2Mac 8:19 and 15:22 men- in the Peshitta version of 2Chr 33:7 and also in the tion a number of one hundred and eighty-five thou- Commentary on the Diatessaron by Ephraem Syrus; sand killed. 2Chr 32:21 does not speak about a see L. Leloir (ed.), Commentaire de L'Evangile particular number, but b.Sanh 95b writes about a Concordant ou Diatessaron (SC 121; Paris, 1966) baraitha giving the number as two thousand and six p. 200. See also b.Sanh 103b. hundred million "less one." b. Cf. b.Sanh 103b. b. Cf. b.Sanh 94a. c. Cf. 2Chr 33:10-13 and Targum 2Chr 33:11. 64 a. The same or a similar tradition is available 65 a. Cf. b.Sanh 90a. 3 diviners from the land. »And he not only killed the impious who were living, but 4 also the bones were taken from the graves of the dead and burned with fire. #And he established the festivals and the sabbaths with their holy practices, and he burned the polluted with fire, and as for the lying prophets who deceived the people, also these he burned with fire. He cast the people who obeyed them, as 5 long as they lived, into the Kidron valley, and heaped stones upon them. »And he was zealous with the zeal of the Mighty One with his whole soul, and he alone was strong in the Law at that time so that he left no one un-circumcised or anyone 6 who acted wickedly in the whole country all the days of his life. #He, then, is one who shall receive reward forever and ever and be honored with the Mighty 7 One more than many in the last time. #For on his account and on account of those who are like him, the precious glories have been created and prepared which were 8 spoken to you earlier. •These are those bright waters which you have seen.
1 67 And the eleventh black waters you have seen; that is the disaster which has 2 befallen Zion now. »Do you think that there is no mourning among the angels before the Mighty One, that Zion is delivered up in this way? Behold, the nations 5:i rejoice in their hearts, and the multitudes are before their idols and say, "She who has trodden others down for such a long time has been trodden down; and she who 3 has subjugated has been subjugated." «Do you think that the Most High rejoices 4 in these things or that his name has been glorified? • But how will it be with his 5 righteous judgment? *But after these things those scattered among the nations will 6 be taken hold of by tribulations and live in shame in every place. #For so far as Zion has been delivered up and Jerusalem laid waste, the idols in the cities of the nations are happy and the flavor of the smoke of the incense of the righteousness of the Law has been extinguished everywhere in the region of Zion; behold, the 2i:9 7 smoke of the impiety is there. wBut the king of Babylon will arise, the one who phjjV^ ^ now has destroyed Zion, and he will boast over the people and speak haughtily 8.9 in his heart before the Most High. *And he too will fall finally. • T h e s e are those black waters. i.2 68 And the twelfth bright waters which you have seen; this is the word. °For there will come a time after these things, and your people will fall into such a 3 distress so that they are all together in danger of perishing. 'They, however, will 4 be saved, and their enemies will fall before them.a «And to them will fall much 5 joy one day. «And at that time, after a short time, Zion will be rebuilt again, and the offerings will be restored, and the priests will again return to their ministry.1 5
c # 6.7 And the nations will again come to honor it. «But not as fully as before. But it Ezra3:i2 8 will happen after these things that there will be a fall of many nations. 'These are the bright waters you have seen.
1 69 With regard to the last waters you have seen which are blacker than all those preceding which came after the twelfth, those which were brought together; they 2 apply to the whole world. #For the Most High made a division at the beginning 29:i 3 for only he knows what will happen in the future. #For with regard to the evils of 4 the coming impieties which occurred before him, he saw six kinds. »And of the good works of the righteous which would be accomplished before him, he foresaw six kinds, with the exclusion of that which he should accomplish himself at the 5 end of the world. • T h e s e are, therefore, not black waters with black, nor bright with bright. For that is the end.
1 70 Therefore, hear the exposition of the last black waters which will come after 2 the black waters. This is the word. #Behold, the days are coming and it will happen when the time of the world has ripened and the harvest of the seed of the evil ones
68 a. This might refer to Esther. after the exile in Babylon, b. This refers to the restoration of the Temple c. Cf. Tob 14:5-6. and the good ones has come that the Mighty One will cause to come over the earth and its inhabitants and its rulers confusion of the spirit and amazement of the heart.
3 And they will hate one another and provoke one another to fight. And the despised 4 ^ 6:24 will rule over the honorable, and the unworthy will raise themselves over the 4 illustrious. #And many will be delivered to the few, those who were nothing will rule over the strong, the poor will be greater in number than the rich, and the 5 impious will exalt themselves over the brave. •The wise will be silent, and the foolish will speak. And the thought of men will not be realized then, nor the 48:33.36 6 counsel of the strong, and the hope of those who hope will not be realized. •Then 4Ezra5:i2 it will happen when those things occur which have been said before will come to pass, that confusion will fall upon all men. And some of them will fall in war, and others will perish in tribulations, and again others of them will be troubled by their 48:37 7 own. »The Most High will then give a sign to those nations which he has prepared before, and they will come and wage war with the rulers who will then remain. 8 And it will happen that everyone who saves himself from the war will die in an 27:7.10.6
4 3 : earthquake, and he who saves himself from the earthquake will be burned by fire, f* 2 9-32 9 and he who saves himself from the fire will perish by famine. #And it will happen that everyone who will save himself and escape from all things which have been said before—both those who have won and those who have been overcome—that 10 all will be delivered into the hands of my Servant, the Anointed One. *For the isa 2i:9:42:i;
whole earth will devour its inhabitants. MIUWJ Acts 3:13.26: 4:27. 1 71 And the holy land will have mercy on its own and will protect its inhabitants 29:2 2 at that time. •This is the vision which you have seen, and this is its explanation. For I have come to tell you these things since your prayer has been heard by the Most High.
1 72 Now,a hear also about the bright waters which come at the end after these 2 black ones. This is the word. • A f t e r the signs have come of which I have spoken to you before, when the nations are moved and the time of my Anointed One comes, he will call all nations, and some of them he will spare, and others he will 3.4 kill.b #These things will befall the nations which will be spared by him. •Every nation which has not known Israel and which has not trodden down the seed of 5 Jacob will live. #And this is because some from all the nations have been subjected 6 to your people. •All those,c now, who have ruled over you or have known you, will be delivered up to the sword.
1 73 And it will happen that after he has brought down everything which is in the icor 15:24-25 world, and has sat down in eternal peace on the throne of the kingdom,a then joy Heb 4:3 2 will be revealed and rest will appear.6 #And then health will descend in dew, and 29:7 illness will vanish, and fear and tribulation and lamentation will pass away from Rev2i:4 3 among men, and joy will encompass the earth. • And nobody will again die 54.15 4 untimely, nor will any adversity take place suddenly. 'Judgment, condemnations, Rev 21:4 contentions, revenges, blood, passions, zeal, hate, and all such things will go into 5 condemnation since they will be uprooted.c «For these are the things that have filled this earth with evils, and because of them life of men came in yet greater 6 confusion. •And the wild beasts will come from the wood and serve men, and the asps and dragons will come out of their holes to subject themselves to a child.d
72 a. 72:1-73:2 also in BM Add. 14.687 twice everything." and A. Konath Library MS 77; see Introduction. b. The Messiah as warrior, see 39:7-40:2. Con- 73 a. Cf. Rev 21:5; IEn 69:27 and 29; 61:8. cerning his dominion over the nations, see Ps 72:11 b. Cf. Jub 23:29; IEn 5:7-9; 25:6; 51:6; TLevi and 17; Isa 14:2; 66:12; 19-21; 4Ezra 13:37-38 18:4; and TJud 24:1. and 49; AsMos 10; TJud 24:6; IEn 90:30; and c. Cf. 4Ezra 6:26-28; SibOr 3.376-80 and PssSol 17:32. 751-55. c. The second text of BM Add. 14.687 omits d. See also the quotation from Papias in Iren- the words "who ruled . . . [73:1 ] brought down aeus, Adv Haer 5.33.3-4. And women will no longer have pain when they bear, nor will they be tormented isa 11:6-9 when they yield the fruits of their womb.e
74 And it will happen in those days that the reapers will not become tired, and the farmers will not wear themselves out, because the products of themselves will shoot out speedily, during the time that they work on them in full tranquillity. For that time is the end of that which is corruptible and the beginning of that which is incorruptible. •Therefore, the things which were said before will happen in it. 28:4 Therefore, it is far away from the evil things and near to those which do not die. Those are the last bright waters which have come after the last dark waters.
75 And I answered and said:
Who can equal your goodness, O Lord? for it is incomprehensible. Or who can fathom your grace 54:12 14:8f. which is without end? Isa40:13f. Or who can understand your intelligence? Or who can narrate the thoughts of your spirit? Or who of those born can hope to arrive at these things, apart from those to whom you are merciful and gracious? For if you were not merciful to men, 4Ezra 7:132-34; 8:3 If. .36,45: those who are under your right hand, 12:48 they were not able to come to them, apart from those who are named among the famous number.8 But we who exist, when we know why we have come, and then subject ourselves to him who brought us out of Egypt, w e shall come againb and remember those things which have passed away, and rejoice with regard to the things which have been. But if we do not know now why we have come, and do not recognize the sovereignty of him who brought us up from Egypt, we will come again and ask for that which has now occurred, and shall be severely grieved because of that which has happened.
76 And he answered and said to me: Since the revelation of this vision has been explained to you as you prayed for, hear the word of the Most High that you know that which will happen to you after these things. #For you will surely depart from this world, nevertheless not to death but to be kept unto (the end) of times. •Therefore, go up to the top of this mountain, and all countries of this earth will pass before you, as well as the likeness of the inhabited world, and the top of the mountains, and the depths of the valleys, and Deut 34:1-3 Mt 4:8 the depths of the seas, and the number of rivers, so that you may see that which 3:3 you leave and whither you go. •This will happen after forty days. #Go, therefore, Ex 24:18; 34:28 Deut 9:9,18 now during these days and instruct the people as much as you can so that they may 4Ezra 14:23, learn lest they die in the last times, but may learn so that they live in the last times. 43.45
Baruch speaks to the people
77 And I, Baruch, went away from there and came to the people, and assembled them from the greatest to the smallest and said to them: Hear, O children of Israel, behold how many are left from the twelve tribes of Jer6:i3; 8:io; Israel. *To you and to your fathers the Lord gave the Law above all nations. *And 31:34 because your brothers have transgressed the commandments of the Most High, he 48:22 4 brought vengeance upon you and upon them and did not spare the ancestors, but JE^SS*
e. Cf. LevR 14:9.
75 a. The elect ones, cf. IClem 2:4. b. At the resurrection of the dead. he also gave the descendants into captivity and did not leave a remnant of them. 5,6 And, behold, you are here, with me. «If, therefore, you will make straight your ways, you will not go away as your brothers went away, but they will come to 78:7 7 you. »For he is merciful whom you honor, and gracious in whom you hope, and 8 true so that he will do good to you and not evil. -Have you not seen what has 9 befallen Zion? #O r do you think that the place has sinned and that it has been destroyed for this reason, or that the country has done some crime and that it is 10 delivered up for that reason? • And do you not know that because of you who sinned the one who did not sin was destroyed, and that because of those who acted unrighteously, the one who has not gone astray has been delivered up to the enemies? Bar 2:26
The people invite Baruch to write a letter
11 And the whole people answered and they said to me: Everything which we can remember of the good things which the Mighty One has done to us we shall remember, and that which we do not remember he knows 12 in his grace. #But do this for us, your people: Write also to our brothers in Babylon a letter of doctrine and a roll of hope so that you might strengthen them also before 13 you go away from us.a #For the shepherds of Israel have perished, and the lamps which gave light are extinguished, and the fountains from which we used to drink 14 have withheld their streams. •Now we have been left in the darkness and in the thick forest and in the aridness of the desert. 15 And I answered and said to them: Shepherds and lamps and fountains came from the Law and when we go away, 16 the Law will abide. «If you, therefore, look upon the Law and are intent upon 46:4 wisdom, then the lamp will not be wanting and the shepherd will not give way and 4Ezra 9:37 17 the fountain will not dry up. •Nevertheless, I shall also write to your brothers in 46:4 Babylon, as you have said to me, and I shall send it by means of men. Also I shall write to the nine and a half tribes, and send it by means of a bird. is And it happened on the twenty-first day of the ninth month that I, Baruch, came and sat down under the oak in the shadow of the branches, and nobody was with 6:i 19 me; I was alone. #And I wrote two letters. One I sent by means of an eagle6 to the nine and a half tribes, and the other I sent by means of three men to those who i:2 20 were in Babylon. #And I called an eagle and said to him these words: 21 You have been created by the Most High that you should be higher than any 22 other bird. *But now go and do not stay in any place, do not go into a nest, do not sit on any tree until you have flown over the breadth of the many waters of the river Euphrates and have come to the people that live there and cast down to 23 them this letter. •Remember that Noah at the time of the flood received the fruit 24 of the olive tree from a dove when he sent it away from the ark. »And also the Gen8:ii ravens served Elijah when they brought food to him as they were commanded. 25 Also Solomon, in the time of his kingship, commanded a bird whither he wanted iKgs 17:6 to send a letter and in whatever he was in need of and it obeyed him as he 26 commanded it.c »And do not be reluctant and do not deviate to the right nor to the left, but fly and go straight awayd that you may preserve the command of the Mighty One as I said to you.
The letter to the nine and a half tribes
i 78 The letter of Baruch, the son of Neriah which he wrote to the nine and a half tribes.8
77 a. This letter is unknown. 78 a. This is the heading of the text as it is found b. Cf. 4Bar 7:3. attached to the apocalypse. This text is generally c. Cf. EcclR 2.25. followed in the translation; see Introduction. In d. Cf. 4Bar 7:12. other texts of this letter different headings are avail- These areb the words of the letter* which Baruch, the son of Neriah, sent to the i:2 nine and a half tribes which were across the river1 1 in which were written the following things: 2 Thus speaks Baruch, the son of Neriah, to the brothers who were carried away 3 in captivity: • G r a c e and peace be with you.e I remember, my brothers, the love Rom 1.7 of him who created me,f who loved us from the beginning and who never hated Jcof Is
8 h 4 us but, on the contrary, chastised us. *And truly I know: Are we not all, the i:5;4:i; i3:io twelve tribes, bound by one captivity as we also descend from one father? 48:24 5 Therefore, I have been the more diligent to leave you the words of this letter before I die so that you may be comforted regarding the evils' which have befallen you, 13:3 and you may also be grieved with regard to the evils which have befallen your brothers, and then further, so that you may consider the judgment of him who decreed it against you to be righteous,j namely, that you should be carried away into captivity, for what you have suffered is smaller than what you have done, in 6 order that you may be found worthy of your fathers in the last times. •Therefore, if you think about the things you have suffered now for your good so that you may not be condemned at the end and be tormented, you shall receive hope which lasts 83:8 forever and ever, particularly if you remove from your hearts the idle error for 7 which you went away from here. #For if you do these things in this way, he shall 77.6 continually remember you. He is the one who always promised on our behalf to j^ U 233 3 3 those who are more excellent than wek that he will not forever forget or forsake1 ^Ma4 / 3 ? 6 ^ 5,6 our offspring, but with much mercy assemble all those"1 again who were dispersed." Tob !3:i3 4Ezra 13:12f.
1 79 Therefore, my brothers, learn first what befell Zion, namely, that Nebucad- 2 nezzar, the king of Babylon, came up against us. *For we had sinned against him i:3 who created us, and had not observed the commandments8 which he ordered us. Bar 1:1523 3.4 And yet he has not chastised us as we deserved. «For what befell you, we suffered even more,b for it befell us also.
1 80 And now, my brothers,8 when the enemies had surrounded the city, angels were sent from the Most High. And they demolished the fortificationb of the strong wall, and he destroyed0 their solid iron corners which could not be loosened. 7:1-2 2 Nevertheless, they hid the holy vesselsd lest they be polluted6 by the enemies. 6:7-8 3 And when they had done these things/ they left the demolished wall, the looted house, the burned temple, and the people who were overcome to the enemies, for 7:i they were delivered up lest the enemies should boast and say, "We have overcome8 4 to such an extent that we have even destroyed the house of the Most High." #They have also bound your brothers and carried them away to Babylon and have caused 8:5 5,6 them to live there. »And we have been left here with very few. »That is the 7 affliction about which I write to you. «For truly I know that the inhabitants1 1 of
b. "These are." 1; "and these are," c solus. ment," c solus. c. "Of the letter," 1; om., c solus. b. "For w h a t . . . us also'': The various readings d. "The river," 1; "the river Euphrates," c so- in the MSS are all corrupt, but the meaning of the lus. text is clear. e. "Be with you," 1; om., c solus. f. "Me," 1; "us," c solus. 80 a. "I make known to you that" post "broth- g. MSS 17al/2/3/4pw 16g6 12al 17/15al omit ers," c solus omits. "on the contrary." b. "Fortification," 1; "fortifications," c solus. h. "Are we not all," 1; "that, behold . . .," c c. "He destroyed," 1; "they destroyed," c so- solus. lus. i. "The evils," 1; "the evil," c solus. d. "The holy vessels," 1; "the vessels of the j . Cf. 4Ezra 10:16 and PssSol 3:3; 4:9; 8:7. holy vessels," c solus. k. The Patriarchs. e. "Destroyed," 1; "polluted," 17a2; "taken," 1. "That he will . . . forsake," 1; "that he will 1; "polluted," 17a3 p w 16g6 17/15al. never forget or forsake us," c solus. f. "And when these things had gone by," 1; m. "All those," 1; "those," c solus. "And when they had done these things," c solus n. Cf. lEn 90:33 and PssSol 17:50. (wrong reading). g. "Overcome," 1; "overcome with power," 79 a. "The commandments," 1; "the command- c solus. h. "Inhabitants," I; "habitation," 7al and c. Zion were a comfort to you. As long1 as you knew that they were happy, this was more important than the affliction you endured being separated from them.
1,2 81 But also hear the word of consolation. «For I mourned with regard to Zion Heb 13:22 3 and asked grace from the Most High and said, #t4Will these things exist for us 4 until the end?3 •And will these evils befall us always?" And the Mighty One did according to the multitude of his grace,b and the Most High according to the magnitude of his mercy, and he revealed to me a word that I might be comforted, and showed me visions that 1 might not be again sorrowful, and made known to me the mysteries0 of the times, and showed me the coming of the periods.
1 82 My brothers, therefore I have written to you that you may find consolation 2 with regard to the multitude of tribulations." *But you ought to know that our Creator will surelyb avenge us on all our brothers according to everything which 13:10-12 they have done against us and among us; in particular that the end which the Most Bar4:30 35 High prepared is near, and that his grace is coming,c and that the fulfillment of 3 his judgment is not far. • For now we seed the multitude of the happiness of the 4 nations although they have acted wickedly; but they are like a vapor.e *And we behold the multitude of their power while they act impiously; but they will be 4Ezra 7:6i
6 5 made like a drop/ *And we see the strength of their power while they resist the isa40:i5 6 Mighty One every hour;h but they will be reckoned like spittle.' #And we will 4Ezra6:56 ponder about the glory of their majesty while they do not keep the statutesj of the 7 Most High; but as smoke they will pass away. »And we think about the beauty of
1 1 1 their gracefulness while they go down in impurities; but like grass which is isa40:6-7 8 withering, they will fade away. • A n d we ponder about the strength of their cruelty while they themselves do not think about the end; but they will be broken like a 9 passing wave. #And we notice the pride"1 of their power while they deny the goodness of God" by whom it was given to them; but as a passing cloud0 they will vanish.
1 83 For the Most High will surely hasten his times, and he will certainly cause 20:1 2 his periods to arrive. »And he will surely judge3 those who are in his world, and 20:2 will truly inquire into everything with regard to all their works which were sins.b 3 He will certainly investigate the secret thoughts and everything which is lying in the inner chambers of all their membersc which are in sin.d And he will make them Jer 17:9 4 manifest in the presence of everyone with blame. • Therefore,6 nothing of the {£^'12 M" present things should come into your heart, but they should, on the contrary, be 21:25 5 expected, since that which was promisedf will come. #And we should8 not look
i. "So far," I; "As long," f w p. (wrong reading). i. Cf. Isa 40:15 (LXX); 4Ezra 6:56; and Ps-Philo 81 a. "Will these ... the end," I; "How long 7:3. will these things exist for us," c solus. j . "Statutes," I; "commandments," c solus. b. "His grace," 1; "grace," 7a 1 c 6hl4 lOgl k. "Their gracefulness," 1; "their life," c solus. 12d2 17/15al. 1. "Impurities," 1; "impurity." c solus. c. "Mysteries," 1; "mystery," c I2d2 17/15al. m. "Pride," 1; "beauty," c solus. n. "Of God," 1; om., c solus. 82 a. "Tribulations," 1; "your tribulations" (or: o. Cf. Ps-Philo 19:13. "your tribulation," 17a 1/2/3/4 16g6 12al 17/15al w p), c solus. 83 a. "And our God will judge." 1; "And he b. "Surely," 1; "surely . . . us," c solus. . . .judge," 6hl4 lOgl. c. Cf. Did 10:6. b. "Which were sins," I; "which were hidden," d. "For now we see," 1; "For, see. we see," c solus. c solus. c. 4 i n the inner chambers of all their members. e. "Like impure," 1: "like a vapor," c solus 1; "which is in the inner chamber ["chambers." (wrong reading). 17a2/3/4 16g6 w pi which is in all their members." f. "Impurity," I; "drop," c solus (wrong read- c solus. ing). d. "Which are in sin," 1; "of man," c solus. g. "Truth," I; "power." c solus (wrong read- e. "Therefore," I; "For therefore," 7al c. ing). f. "Promised," 1; "promised us," c solus. h. "Every year," I; "every hour." c solus g. "We should," 1; "we should now," c solus. upon the delights of the present nations, but let us think about that which has been 6 promised to us regarding the end. #For the ends of the times and the periods will 7 surely pass away and all which is in them together. •The end' of the world will then show the great power of our Ruler since everything will come to judgment. 8 You should, therefore, prepare your hearts for that which you have believed before, lest you should be excluded from both worlds, namely, that you were 9 carried away into captivity here and tormented there.j #For that which exists now or that which has passed away or that which will come, in all of that, neither the 10 evil in it is fully evil, nor the good is even fully good. #For all sorts of health 11 which exist now changes into illnesses.k #And every might which exists now changes into weakness, and every power that exists now changes into miseries,1 12 and every youthful energy changes into old age and consummation. And every beauty of gracefulness which exists now changes into withering and ugliness. 13 And every infantile pridem which exists now changes into lowliness and shame. And every glory of haughtiness which exists now changes into the shame of u silence. #And every delight and all splendor which exists now changes into ruin is of silence. • A n d every joy and every delight" which exist now change into rejection i6,i7 and ruin.° #And every clamor of pridep changes into silent dust.q #And every possession of richnessr which exists now changes into the realm of death alone, is And every seizings desire which exists now changes into involuntary death, and 19 every desire of lust1 changes into the judgment of punishment. »And every 20 capability of deceit" which exists now changes into refutation by truth. *And every sweetness of ointments which exists now changes into judgment and condemnation. 21.22 And every friendship" changes into silentw defamations/ 'Since all these things 23 happened now, do you think* that they will not be avenged? »But the end of everything will come to light.2
1 84 Now, I gave you knowledge,3 while I still live. For I have said that you should particularly learn my mighty commandments6 which he has instructed you. And I shall set before you some of the commandments of his judgment before I die. i3:3 2 Remember that once Moses called heaven and earth to witness against you and i9:i-3 said, 4'If you trespass the law, you shall be dispersed. And if you shall keep it, Dem33:l9- :
c # d 3 you shall be planted. " And also other things he said to you when you were in isa60:2i 4 the desert as twelve tribes together. *And after his death you cast it away from 5 you and, therefore,6 that which has been said before has come upon you.f - A n d Bar 2:14-20 now, Moses spoke to you before it befell you and, behold, it has befallen you for 6 you have forsaken the Law. - A l s o I, behold, I say to you after you suffered that if you obey the things which I have said to you, you shall receive from the Mighty 7 One everything which has been prepared and has been preserved for you. •Therefore,
12d2; "which now (are)" post "lusts," c solus h. "The present," 1; "the," c solus. omits. i. "The end," 1; "And the end" (17a3), or: u. "Deceit," 1; plural, c solus. "In the end," c solus. v. "Of treachery" post "friendship," c solus j . "That you were . . . tormented there," 1; omits (wrong reading). "that will be carried away in captivity now and be w. "Silent," 1; "true," c solus. tormented thereupon," c solus. x. "Defamations," 1; singular, c solus. k. "Illness," 1; "illnesses," 17al/2/4 15/17al y. "Do you think," 1; "does anyone think," c w p. solus. I. "Miseries," 1; "misery," c solus, z. Lit. "truth." m. "Infantile pride," 1; "dominion and vanity," c solus. 84 a. "I gave you," 1; "behold, I gave you," c n. "Every joy and every delight," 1; singular, solus. c solus. b. "My mighty commandments," 1; "the com- o. "Ruin," 1; "worms," c solus. mandments of the Mighty One," c solus. p. "Pride," 1; "pride which is now," c solus. c. "Be planted," 1; "be preserved," c solus. q. "Silent dust," 1; "dust and silence," c solus. d. "And also," 1; "But also," c solus. r. "Of richness," 1; "and richness," c 7al/2/3/ e. "And therefore," 1; "therefore," c 12d2. 4 16g6 w p. f. See for 2-4:19:1-3; Deut 30:19^20; Isa 60:21; s. "Seizing," 1; plural, 17al/3 6hl4 w p. 1QS 8.5 and 11.8; Jub 7:34; lEn 84:6; and PssSol t. Lit., "lusts," I; singular, c 17al/3 6hl4 lOgl 14:3. let this letter be a witness between me and you that you may remember the commandments of the Mighty One, and that it also may serve as my defense in 8 the presence of him who has sent me. #And remember Zion and the Law8 and the holy land and your brothers and the covenant and your fathers,1 1 and do not forget 9 the festivals and the sabbaths. #And give this letter and the traditions' of the Law 10 to your children after you as also your fathers handed down to you. »And ask always* and pray seriously with your whole soul that the Mighty One may accept you in mercy and that he may not reckon the multitude of your sinners,k but 4Ezra 10:24 11 remember the integrity of your fathers. *For if he judges us not according to the 1*7 multitude of his grace, woe to all us who are born.1 75:6
1 85 Further, know that our fathers in former times and former generations had 2 helpers, righteous prophets and holy men.a #But we were also in our country, and Mt 13:17 they helped us when we sinned, and they intervened for us with him who has created us since they trusted in their works. And the Mighty One heard themb and 3 purged us from our sins. «But now, the righteous have been assembled, and the prophets are sleeping.0 Also wed have left our land, and Zion has been taken away iMac 9:27 from us, and we have nothing now apart from the Mighty One and his Law.e 4 Therefore, if we direct and dispose our hearts, we shall receive everything which 5 we lost again by many times / #For that which we lost was subjected to corruption, 44:7 6 and that which we receive will not be corruptible. »We also have written to our 28:4 7 brothers in Babylon so that I may8 attest to them these things also. #And these things which I have said earlier should be before your eyes always, since we are
1 , 8 still in the spirit of the power of our liberty. *And further, the Most High is also' 4Ezra 8:56; 9:11 long-suffering to us here and has shown to us that which comes and has not 9 concealed from us what will happen at the end. •Therefore, before his judgment1 exacts his own and truth of thatk which is its due, let us prepare ourselves that we 5:2 may possess and not be possessed, and that we may hope and not be put to shame, and that we may rest with our fathers and not be punished with those who hate us. 10 For the youth of this world has passed away, and the power of creation is 4Ezra 5:50-56; already exhausted, and the coming of the times is very near and has passed by. 14:10,6 And the pitcher is near the well, and the ship to the harbor, and the journey to the 11 city, and life to its end. •Further, prepare yourselves so that, when you sail and ascend from the ship, you may have rest and not be condemned when you have 12 gone away. »For behold, the Most High will cause all these things to come. There will1 not be an opportunity to repent"1 anymore, nor a limit to the times, nor a duration of the periods, nor a change to rest," nor an opportunity to prayer, nor sending up petition, nor giving knowledge,0 nor giving love, nor opportunity of repentence, nor supplicating1 5 for offenses, nor prayers0 - of the fathers, nor in-
g. "Zion and the Law," 1; "the Law and Zion," solus. c solus. g. "That I may . . .," 1: "And 1 m a y , " c solus. h. "And your fathers," I; "of your fathers," c h. "Of the power," 1; "and in the power," c solus. solus. i. "Traditions," 1; "tradition," c solus. i. "Also," 1; om., c solus. j . "Always," 1; "always continuously," c so- j . "His judgment," 1; "the judgment," 7al, or lus. "the Judge," c solus. k. "Sinners," 1; "sins," c solus. k. "Of that," 1; "that," 7al c. 1. Cf. Ps-Philo 19:9 and 28:5. 1. ". . . the Most High . . . There will . . .," 1; "when the Most High .... there will . . .," c 85 a. "Prophets and holy men," 1; "holy proph- solus. ets," c solus. m. 4Ezra 7:82 and 9:12 and 2En 62:2. b. "Them," 1; "their prayer," c solus. n. "To rest," 1; "for the ways," 6hl4 lOgl w c. Cf. b.Sanh 11a. p; "for the way," 17a2/3/4 15/17al 16g6; "for the d. "Also we," 1; "And also we," c solus. souls," 12d2, 7al c 17al 10ml. e. Cf. b.Sot 49ab. o. "Nor giving of knowledge," 1; "nor a giver," f. "We shall receive ... by many times," 1; 17a2c. "shall we receive again everything which we lost, p. "Supplicating," 1; "supplication," c solus. and much more than we lost, by many times," c q. "Prayers," 1; "prayer," c solus. 13 tercessions of the prophets, nor help of the righteous/ •There is the proclamation of judgment to corruption,5 regarding the way1 to the fire and the path that leads Mt 7:13 14 to the glowing coals." •Therefore, there is one Law by One, one world and an end 48:24 15 for all those who exist. #Thenv he will make alive those whom he has found, andw he will purge them from sins, and at the same time he will destroy those who are polluted with sins.
1 86 When you, therefore, receive the letter,3 read it carefully in your assemblies. And think about it, in particular, however,6 on the days of your fasts. And col4! 16 remember me by means of this letter in the same way as I remember you by means iMac 12:11 of this, and always/ Rom 1:9
1 87 Anda it happened when I had finished all the words of this letter and had written it carefully until the end, I folded it, sealed it cautiously, and bound it to the neck of the eagle. And I let it go and sent it away. The end of the letter of Baruch, the son of Neriah.
r. Cf. Ps-Philo 33:5. that . . .," c solus. s. ' T o corruption," 1; " o f corruption," c solus. t. "Regarding the way," 1; "and the way," c 86 a. "The letter," 1; "this my letter," c solus. solus. b. "However," 1; o m . , c solus. u. "To the glowing coals," I; "to the realm of c. "And always," 1; "and it may fare you well death," c solus. always," c solus. v. "Then," 1; "And then," 6hl4 lOgl 12d2 c. w. "Has found and . . .," 1; "has found 87 a. This ch. is available in c only.