The Lost Books of the Bible: The Great Rejected Texts Read online

  2 Moses was twenty-seven years old when he began to reign over Cush, and forty years he did reign.

  3 And the Lord granted Moses favor and grace in the eyes of all the children of Cush; the children of Cush loved him greatly, so Moses was favored by the Lord and by men.

  4 In the seventh day of his reign, all the children of Cush assembled and came before Moses and bowed down to him to the ground.

  5 And all the children spoke together in the presence of the king, saying, Give us counsel that we may see what is to be done to this city.

  6 For it is now nine years that we have been besieging round about the city and have not seen our children and our wives.

  7 So the king answered them, saying, If you will listen to my voice in all that I shall command you, then the Lord will give the city into our hands and we shall subdue it.

  8 For if we fight with them as in the former battle which we had with them before the death of Kikianus, many of us will fall down wounded as before.

  9 Now therefore hear this counsel for you in this matter; if you will listen to my voice, then will the city be delivered into our hands.

  10 So all the forces answered the king, saying, All that our lord shall command that we will do.

  11 And Moses said to them, Pass through and proclaim a voice in the whole camp to all the people, saying,

  12 Thus says the king, Go into the forest and bring with you of the young ones of the stork, each man a young one in his hand.

  13 And any person disobeying the word of the king, who shall not bring his young one, shall die and the king will take all belonging to him.

  14 And when you bring them they shall be in your keeping; you shall rear them until they grow up, and you shall teach them to strike their prey, as is the way of the young ones of the hawk.

  15 So all the children of Cush heard the words of Moses, and they rose up and caused announcement to be issued throughout the camp, saying,

  16 To you, all the children of Cush, the king's order is that you all go together to the forest and catch there the young stork; each man his young one in his hand and you shall bring them home.

  17 Any person violating the order of the king shall die and the king will take all that belongs to him.

  18 And all the people did so, and they went out to the wood and they climbed the fir trees and each man caught a young one in his hand, all the young of the storks; they brought them into the desert and reared them by order of the king; they taught them to strike similar to the young hawks.

  19 And after the young storks were reared, the king ordered them to be hungry for three days, and all the people did so.

  20 On the third day the king said to them, Strengthen yourselves and become courageous men; put on each man his armor and gird on his sword, and each man ride his horse and each take his young stork in his hand.

  21 And we will rise up and fight against the city at the place where the serpents are, and all the people did as the king had ordered.

  22 And each man took his young one in his hand and they went away; when they came to the place of the serpents the king said to them, Send forth each man his young stork on the serpents.

  23 And they sent forth each man his young stork at the king's order, and the young storks ran on the serpents and they devoured them all and destroyed them out of that place.

  24 When the king and people had seen that all the serpents were destroyed in that place, all the people sent up a great shout.

  25 And they approached and fought against the city and took and subdued it, and they entered the city.

  26 There died on that day one thousand and one hundred men of the people of the city, all that inhabited the city, but of the people besieging not one died.

  27 So all the children of Cush each went to his home, to his wife and children and to all belonging to him.

  28 And Balaam the magician, when he saw that the city was taken, opened the gate and he and his two sons and eight brothers fled and returned to Egyp,to Pharaoh king of Egypt.

  29 They are the sorcerers and magicians who are mentioned in the book of the law, standing against Moses when the Lord brought the plagues on Egypt.

  30 So Moses took the city by his wisdom, and the children of Cush placed him on the throne instead of Kikianus king of Cush.

  31 They placed the royal crown on his head and they gave him a wife Adoniah the Cushite queen, wife of Kikianus.

  32 Moses feared the Lord God of his fathers so that he came not to her, nor did he turn his eyes to her.

  33 For Moses remembered how Abraham had made his servant Eliezer swear, saying to him, You shall not take a woman from the daughters of Canaan for my son Isaac.

  34 Also what Isaac did when Jacob had fled from his brother, when he commanded him saying, You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan, nor make alliance with any of the children of Ham.

  35 For the Lord our God gave Ham the son of Noah, and his children and all his descendants as slaves to the children of Shem and to the children of Japheth, and to their descendants after them for slaves forever.

  36 Therefore Moses turned not his heart nor his eyes to the wife of Kikianus all the days that he reigned over Cush.

  37 Moses feared the Lord his God all his life, and Moses walked before the Lord in truth with all his heart and soul; he turned not from the right way all the days of his life; he declined not from the way either to the right or to the left, in which Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had walked.

  38 Moses strengthened himself in the kingdom of the children of Cush; he guided the children of Cush with his usual wisdom, and Moses prospered in his kingdom.

  39 At that time Aram and the children of the east heard that Kikianus king of Cush had died, so Aram and the children of the east rebelled against Cush in those days.

  40 Moses gathered all the children of Cush, a people very mighty, about thirty thousand men and he went forth to fight with Aram and the children of the east.

  41 They went at first to the children of the east and when the children of the east heard their report, they went to meet them, and engaged in battle with them.

  42 And the war was severe against the children of the east, so the Lord gave all the children of the east into the hand of Moses; about three hundred men fell down slain.

  43 All the children of the east turned back and retreated, so Moses and the children of Cush followed them and subdued them, and put a tax on them as was their custom.

  44 So Moses and all the people with him passed from there to the land of Aram for battle.

  45 And the people of Aram also went to meet them; they fought against them and the Lord delivered them into the hand of Moses, and many of the men of Aram fell down wounded.

  46 Aram also was subdued by Moses and the people of Cush, and also gave their usual tax.

  47 And Moses brought Aram and the children of the east under subjection to the children of Cush; Moses and all the people who were with him turned to the land of Cush.

  48 Moses strengthened himself in the kingdom of the children of Cush and the Lord was with him, and all the children of Cush were afraid of him.

  CHAPTER 74

  1 In the end of years Saul king of Edom died, and Baal Chanan the son of Achbor reigned in his place.

  2 In the sixteenth year of the reign of Moses over Cush, Baal Chanan the son of Achbor reigned in the land of Edom over all the children of Edom for thirty-eight years.

  3 In his days Moab rebelled against the power of Edom, having been under Edom since the days of Hadad the son of Bedad, who struck them and Midian, and brought Moab under subjection to Edom.

  4 And when Baal Chanan the son of Achbor reigned over Edom, all the children of Moab withdrew their allegiance from Edom.

  5 Angeas king of Africa died in those days, and Azdrubal his son reigned in his stead.

  6 And in those days Janeas king of the children of Chittim died, and they buried him in his temple which he had built for himself in the plain of Canopia f
or a residence; Latinus reigned in his stead.

  7 In the twenty-second year of the reign of Moses over the children of Cush, Latinus reigned over the children of Chittim forty-five years.

  8 And he also built for himself a great and mighty tower; he built therein an elegant temple for his residence, to conduct his government as was the custom.

  9 In the third year of his reign he caused an announcement to be made to all his skilful men who made many ships for him.

  10 And Latinus assembled all his forces, and they came in ships, and went there to fight with Azdrubal son of Angeas king of Africa; they came to Africa and engaged in battle with Azdrubal and his army.

  11 And Latinus won over Azdrubal, and Latinus took from Azdrubal the aqueduct which his father had brought from the children of Chittim, when he took Janiah the daughter of Uzi for a wife; so Latinus overthrew the bridge of the aqueduct and struck the whole army of Azdrubal a severe blow.

  12 The remaining strong men of Azdrubal strengthened themselves, and their hearts were filled with envy; they courted death, and again engaged in battle with Latinus king of Chittim.

  13 The battle was severe on all the men of Africa and they all fell wounded before Latinus and his people, and Azdrubal the king also fell in that battle.

  14 The king Azdrubal had a very beautiful daughter whose name was Ushpezena, and all the men of Africa embroidered her likeness on their garment on account of her great beauty and attractive appearance.

  15 The men of Latinus saw Ushpezena, the daughter of Azdrubal, and praised her to Latinus their king.

  16 And Latinus ordered her to be brought to him; Latinus took Ushpezena for a wife and he turned back on his way to Chittim.

  17 It was after the death of Azdrubal son of Angeas, when Latinus had turned back to his land from the battle, that all the inhabitants of Africa rose up and took Anibal the son of Angeas, the younger brother of Azdrubal, and made him king instead of his brother over the whole land at Africa.

  18 And when he reigned he resolved to go to Chittim to fight with the children of Chittim, to avenge the cause of Azdrubal his brother and the cause of the inhabitants of Africa, and he did so.

  19 He made many ships and he came there with his whole army, and he went to Chittim.

  20 So Anibal fought with the children of Chittim, and the children of Chittim fell wounded before Anibal and his army, and Anibal avenged his brother's cause.

  21 And Anibal continued the war for eighteen years with the children of Chittim, and Anibal lived in the land of Chittim and encamped there for a long time.

  22 Anibal struck the children of Chittim very severely and he killed their great men and princes, and of the rest of the people he struck about eighty thousand men.

  23 And at the end of days and years, Anibal returned to his land of Africa, and he reigned securely in the place of Azdrubal his brother.

  CHAPTER 75

  1 At that time in the hundred and eightieth year of the Israelites going down into Egypt, there went forth from Egypt courageous men, thirty thousand on foot, from the children of Israel who were all of the tribe of Joseph, of the children of Ephraim the son of Joseph.

  2 For they said the period was completed which the Lord had appointed to the children of Israel in the times of old, which he had spoken to Abraham.

  3 And these men prepared themselves, and each man put his sword at his side, and every man his armor on him, and they trusted to their strength; they went out together from Egypt with a mighty hand.

  4 But they brought no provision for the road, only silver and gold, not even did they bring bread for that day in their hands, for they thought of getting their provision for pay from the Philistines; if not they would take it by force.

  5 These men were very mighty and bold men; one man could pursue a thousand and two could rout ten thousand, so they trusted their strength and went together as they were.

  6 They directed their course toward the land of Gath, and they went down and found the shepherds of Gath feeding the cattle of the children of Gath.

  7 They said to the shepherds, Give us some of the sheep for pay that we may eat, for we are hungry; we have eaten no bread this day.

  8 And the shepherds said, Are they our sheep or cattle that we should give them to you even for pay? So the children of Ephraim approached to take them by force.

  9 And the shepherds of Gath shouted over them so their cry was heard at a distance; all the children of Gath went out to them.

  10 When the children of Gath saw the evil doings of the children of Ephraim, they returned and assembled the men of Gath; they put on each man his armor and came forth to the children of Ephraim for battle.

  11 And they engaged with them in the valley of Gath, and the battle was severe; they struck from each other a great many on that day.

  12 And on the second day the children of Gath sent to all the cities of the Philistines that they should come to their help, saying,

  13 Come up to us and help us, that we may strike the children of Ephraim who have come forth from Egypt to take our cattle, and to fight against us without cause.

  14 And the souls of the children of Ephraim were exhausted with hunger and thirst, for they had eaten no bread for three days. Forty thousand men went out from the cities of the Philistines to the assistance of the men of Gath.

  15 These men were engaged in battle with the children of Ephraim, and the Lord delivered the children of Ephraim into the hands of the Philistines.

  16 They struck all the children of Ephraim, all who had gone forth from Egypt, none were remaining but ten men who had run away from the engagement.

  17 This evil was from the Lord against the children of Ephraim for they went contrary to the word of the Lord in going forth from Egypt, before the period had arrived which the Lord in the days of old had appointed to Israel.

  18 And of the Philistines also there fell a great many, about twenty thousand men, and their brothers carried them and buried them in their cities.

  19 And the slain of the children of Ephraim remained forsaken in the valley of Gath for many days and years and were not brought to burial, and the valley was filled with men's bones.

  20 The men who had escaped from the battle came to Egypt and told all the children of Israel all that had happened to them.

  21 Their father Ephraim mourned over them for many days, and his brothers came to console him.

  22 And he came to his wife and she gave birth to a son, and he called his name Beriah, for she was unfortunate in his house.

  CHAPTER 76

  1 Moses the son of Amram was still king in the land of Cush in those days, and he prospered in his kingdom; he conducted the government of the children of Cush in justice, in righteousness and integrity.

  2 And all the children of Cush loved Moses all the days that he reigned over them, and all the inhabitants of the land of Cush were greatly afraid of him.

  3 In the fortieth year of the reign of Moses over Cush, Moses was sitting on the royal throne while Adoniah the queen was before him, and all the nobles were sitting around him.

  4 And Adoniah the queen said before the king and the princes, What is this thing which you, the children of Cush, have done for this long time?

  5 Certainly you know that for forty years that this man has reigned over Cush he has not approached me, nor has he served the gods of the children of Cush.

  6 Now therefore hear, O ye children of Cush, and let this man no more reign over you as he is not of our people.

  7 Behold Menacrus my son is grown up, let him reign over you for it is better for you to serve the son of your lord than to serve a stranger, slave of the king of Egypt.

  8 And all the people and nobles of the children of Cush heard the words which Adoniah the queen had spoken in their ears.

  9 All the people were preparing until the evening, and in the morning they rose up early and made Menacrus, son of Kikianus, king over them.

  10 All the children of Cush were afraid to stre
tch forth their hand against Moses, for the Lord was with Moses, and the children of Cush remembered the oath which they swore to Moses, therefore they did no harm to him.

  11 But the children of Cush gave many presents to Moses, and sent him from them with great honor.

  12 So Moses went forth from the land of Cush and went home and ceased to reign over Cush; Moses was sixty-six years old when he went out of the land of Cush, for the thing was from the Lord. For the period had arrived which he had appointed in the days of old, to bring forth Israel from the affliction of the children of Ham.

  13 So Moses went to Midian, for he was afraid to return to Egypt on account of Pharaoh, and he went and sat at a well of water in Midian.

  14 And the seven daughters of Reuel the Midianite went out to feed their father's flock.

  15 And they came to the well and drew water to water their father's flock.

  16 But the shepherds of Midian came and drove them away, and Moses rose up and helped them and watered the flock.

  17 And they came home to their father Reuel, and told him what Moses did for them.

  18 They said, An Egyptian man has delivered us from the hands of the shepherds; he drew up water for us and watered the flock.

  19 And Reuel said to his daughters, And where is he? Why have you left the man?

  20 And Reuel sent for him and fetched him and brought him home, and he ate bread with him.

  21 And Moses related to Reuel that he had fled from Egypt and that he reigned forty years over Cush, and that they afterward had taken the government from him and had sent him away in peace with honor and with presents.

  22 And when Reuel had heard the words of Moses, Reuel said within himself, I will put this man into the prison house, whereby I shall win over the children of Cush, for he has fled from them.

  23 They took and put him into the prison house, and Moses was in prison ten years; while Moses was in the prison house, Zipporah the daughter of Reuel took pity on him, and supported him with bread and water all the time.