TC1

1

 * 1 When Yishak was seventeen years of age Melchizedek returned to Earth and journeyed once more to the town called Harran in the land of Abraham's kin. There he became acquainted with Bethuel, who was the son of Milcah. Milcah was the wife of Nahor. And Nahor was Abraham's brother.


 * 2 In the household of Bethuel there dwelt a young woman named Rebekah. She was Abraham's great niece, and therefore Yishak's first cousin once-removed.  Eyeing her, Melchizedek told Bethuel it had fallen to him to find a wife for Yishak from among Abraham's kin.


 * 3 The Ophan could, at need, dispense of Abraham's entire estate. He had brought as much as ten mules could carry, as well as precious stones and jewelry from Heaven itself. All these riches he dangled before the eyes of Bethuel, which prompted him to say, “Rebekah, will you go with this man?”


 * 4 Thus Rebekah was formally asked to take her place in the epic set in motion when Elyon inserted herself into human history and commanded Abraham to go to the land of Canaan. But the display of wealth did not sway Rebekah. She wanted to know more about Yishak himself.


 * 5 So Melchizedek spoke to Rebekah of the time three years prior when as a boy Yishak feared losing his life at the point of a blade. Hy remaining carefully vague about the fact that hy hymself had relayed the kill order from Elyon, the eloah worshiped by Abraham as his deity.


 * 6 And Melchizedek told Rebekah how the incident caused Yishak to develop a more profound affection for his mother, while deliberately neglecting to tell her how Yishak in fact almost never left his mother's tent after he barely escaped being sacrificed to his father's god.


 * 7 The prince used all the statecraft hy had learned at the foot of his father King Melchiyahu. Yet Rebekah did not make her decision on the basis of Melchizedek's testimony of Yishak's personal character.


 * 8 Melchizedek had presented hymself to Rebekah and her family as courteous, humble, and devout. The gifts were obligatory. Something still seemed a bit off, but she decided to proceed on a hunch. She judged Melchizedek to be a good man, for a man she thought him to be.


 * 9 Rebekah was very intelligent and it stood to reason that if the servant was a good man (for a simple servant Melchizedek held hymself out to be) then hyz masters, her kin Abraham and Yishak, must be good men as well. So she answered her father Bethuel by saying, “I will go.”


 * 10 When Melchizedek returned to the oasis at Beersheba, Yishak brought Rebekah into his late mother Sarah's tent and took her as his wife, and he loved her. So was Yishak comforted after his mother's death.  Melchizedek, in a sense, had provided Yishak with a replacement mother.


 * 11 Rebekah sensed this and felt perhaps a twinge of regret, but she was an honorable woman who had assented to the marriage sight unseen.Then Melchizedek received word that his father Melchiyahu had died in his sleep, making him the king of Salem by right of succession.


 * 12 So Melchizedek bid farewell to Abraham. He passed out of all knowledge of those who dwell on Earth, and he came there not again.  The task laid upon him by his father to set aside a holy people for Elyon had been fulfilled.

2

 * 1 In the three and thirtieth year of the Covenant Abraham died and his son Yishak became High Priest of Elyon. Yishak begat twin sons and named them Esau and Yakob.


 * 2 Esau became a cunning hunter, a extroverted man of the field, while Yakob was an introverted man dwelling in tents. Esau derived his life, and life more abundantly from the earthly goods which he was able to obtain by his own efforts.


 * 3 Yakob, as the more interior man, could not compete on those terms, but he took thought obtain more abundant life another way. The first step was to claim the Birthright, which entitled Yishak's son to a double share of Abraham's estate.


 * 4 On only one occasion did Esau's prowess fail him. He came in from the field famished and begged Yakob for some food. Yakob provided bread and lentil soup, but the price was Yishak's Birthright that was Esau's by dint of being born just moments before Yakob.


 * 5 Esau was more than willing to trade his Birthright away, so close to death was he. Esau just needed a little help that one time. So he left with a full stomach and almost convinced himself the Birthright was nothing much anyway.


 * 6 But as time went on the injustice of the incident weighed on the mind of Esau and the bad blood grew until Yakob began to fear for his life.


 * 7 Already the servants of Yishak had become divided into two camps, one favoring Esau and the other Yakob, and at times they came to blows. All it took was a command from Yakob to split off the half of the livestock and servants and depart the lands north of Mount Nebo where Yishak had grazed his flocks from the time his father Abraham died.


 * 8 In the three and sixtieth year of the Covenant Yishak died, and Esau buried him in the tomb that held the bones of his grandfather. Esau left his mother Rebekah in the keeping of his chief steward, then sojourned with his flocks to search out his brother and tell him of the passing of their father.


 * 9 For three generations of men Elyon and Samael carried out a test to see if one clan on Earth could maintain a covenant with the elohim without any intervention. The eloah named Israel made a journey to the Land of Promise to see the place with is own eyes.


 * 10 Israel took little thought for his personal safety. Elyon had said Yakob was more the son of his mother than the son of his father, a man who preferred the womanly arts of whispering and plotting to more masculine action on the field of the hunt or battle.


 * 11 When Israel caught up with Yakob he was preparing to cross the Jordan River. There Yakob had sent messengers to meet his brother Esau and mention that he had a lot of spare animals, hopefully to smooth over any hard feelings Esau might still have from losing the Birthright.


 * 12 The messengers returned with a report that Esau was coming out to meet Yakob with four hundred men, so he divided his caravan in twain. If Esau smote one the other might escape. Yakob prayed to Chokhmah for deliverance, then set aside a portion of his herd as a gift to Esau.


 * 13 Yakob sent two hundred twenty goats, two hundred twenty sheep, thirty horses, fifty cattle, twenty asses, and ten foals, which his servants took on ahead to Esau. As for Yakob himself, he hung back as a rearguard, not against Esau but against someone else he happened to see.14 Yakob hid himself amid thick vegetation near the place where the Zarqa River merged with the Jordan River. When the stranger approached, unaware of Yakob's presence, Yakob assailed him suddenly and there ensued a bitter fistfight that changed into an epic wrestling match.


 * 15 The stranger kept grasping Yakob's clothing to hurl him around, so Yakob shed his clothing and fought entirely in the nude. Then Israel saw how Abraham's grandson bore the peculiar mutilation that Keter had demanded in hyz bid to sabotage Chokhmah's experiment.


 * 16 So Israel had the answer hy had come to Earth looking for, but there was still the growing matter of the ongoing tussle. As they fought Yakob kept asking, 'Who are you?' but Israel refused to say. As the night wore on hy grew dismayed how Yakob proved to be so tenacious.


 * 17 Israel wrenched Yakob's femur out of its socket at the hip, causing intense torment, but Yakob refused to yield. At dawn Israel, a full cubit taller than Yakob and far more bulky, was at the end of hyz own resources and near exhaustion. Hy commanded Yakob to let hym go.


 * 18 Yakob said, 'I will not release you until you tell me who you are, and bless me.' His foe said, 'No longer shall men call you Yakob, but Israel, for you have contended with gods and men, and you have prevailed. You have even wrested my name away, and taken it for your own.'


 * 19 Then Yakob unhanded the bruised seraph, nameless now. He had sufficient dark light banked to crack open a fold-door little more than a cubit tall, just enough to wriggle back into Heaven like a maggot, and he never came again any closer than the Earth's moon.


 * 20 Three of Israel’s servants found him beaten and unable to stand, with a dislocated hip. Two of them held him down with a bit between his teeth while the third popped it back in place. With help he was able rejoin his wife but he walked with a limp for the rest of his life.


 * 21 Esau drew near with his men. Israel stood in front of his people bowed before his brother. And to Israel's everlasting surprise, Esau did not strike him, but rather he embraced and kissed him, and he told him their father was dead, and they both wept.


 * 22 So the great family feud was ended, yet there had never been a feud, since Esau obtained more than his rightful share Yishak's flocks and servants anyway, and after that he had come to miss his brother.


 * 23 Israel begged his brother to accept the gift of herd animals he had already sent to him, saying, 'Take them please, my lord, because Chokhmah has dealt graciously with me, and I have enough. More than enough!' And Esau assured Israel that none of his men gave Israel his beating


 * 24 Esau agreed to go on ahead because Israel’s group had children and young animals and he himself had a limp. Both brothers mourned the passing of their father but even so they rejoiced that they had returned to the good terms they had enjoyed in their youth.


 * 25 Israel would ponder the strange nighttime fight for the rest of his life, whenever his limp prompted him. Ultimately he drew the conclusion that God Most High had sent a thrall to put him to the test even as his grandfather had been tested with an order to slay his father Yishak.

3

 * 1 Esau continued in all the ways passed down from his grandfather Abraham to his father Yishak to himself. He wandered the land with his people and his flocks increased.


 * 2 But Israel tarried in the hill country between the river and the sea where few inhabitants dwelt. On a hilltop Israel built an altar unto God Most High, and he named that place Beit-El, or House of God.


 * 3 Israel and his servants built a courtyard around the altar, and ringed this open area with houses of mud brick laid on stone foundations. And the hillside was terraced for crops, and trees were planted bearing olives and fruits, but the animals were set to graze freely nearby.


 * 4 Israel begat a daughter named Dinah, and he begat sons Levi, Judah, and Joseph. When they were of age Judah departed Beit-El and taking his inheritance of servants and animals he built the town of Hebron near the tomb of his father.


 * 5 And Joseph with his inheritance of servants beat down the tower of Rabbah, and the men of that fenced city came out before them, but God dicomfited them before Joseph with stones of ice from heaven and he slew more of the males of Rabbah than Joseph and his servants did with the edge of the word.


 * 6 Judah son of Israel took to wife Mahlah daughter of Shuah the Canaanite and he begat a daughter, Shelomit. And Judah begat Perez, who took to wife Gaba daughter of Adullam the Gilohite. And Judah built the town of Eltekah after the manner of Beit-El, and he begat other sons and daughters.


 * 7 And the servants of Israel who dwelt among them begat sons and daughters of their own, and they were free, and the same intermarried with the children of Israel, and they became one covenant people in the eyes of God.


 * 8 Perez son of Judah took to wife Selomit daughter of begat a daughter, Atorah, and he begat Hezron, who took to wife Naamah daughter of Sheson the Anabite. The same Perez led the force that slew the Canaanites who inhabited Zephath, and killed of them a hundred men. And Perez begat other sons and daughters.


 * 9 Hezron son of Perez begat a daughter, Huldah, and he begat Jerahmeel, who took to wife Janohah daughter of Ahijah. And Hezron begat other sons and daughters.


 * 10 Jarahmeel son of Hezron begat a daughter, Taphath, and he begat Achar. who took to wife Taralah daughter of Asahel. The same Achar became chieftain of the tribe of Benjamin.


 * 11 And the Benjaminites built the cities of Gibeon and Ai, and seized Jericho and Gilgal, and occupied the high country around Beit-El even as far as the river in the East.


 * 12 Israel's son Levi remained in Beit-El and was taught of his father in all the ways of the Abrahamic Covenant, that he might become priest after the passing of his father.


 * 13 Israel dwelt in Beit-El until the end of his days and he begat more sons and daughters. In the nine and ninetieth year of the Covenant he died and was laid in the cave of Machpelah that housed the bones of his ancestors.

4

 * 1 Israel's third son Joseph begat a daughter named Jerusha, and he begat a son, Machir, who built the town of Socoh after the manner of Beit-El.


 * 2 And Joseph also begat a son, Becher, who led a company to waylay the men of Juttah, and smote their horses and chariots, and slew the Juttahites with a great slaughter. And Joseph begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 3 A messenger of the B'nei Elohim who gave the name Gabriel came to Levi in Beit-El, commanding him, "Rehearse in my hearing the Ten Words of the Covenant of your fathers."


 * 4 And Levi said, 'Elyon is God Most High. Serve no other gods.  Countenance no injustice.  Make no images. Crave nothing of another.  Do not consume blood. Eat no swine.  Eat no shellfish. Every male of you shall be circumcised. Observe the yearly Day of Atonement.'


 * 5 Gabriel said, "You have spoken well, for the same is carved upon this tablet which was made by the hands of Elyon himself." And he set before Levi a black tablet made as it were of stone, with letters carved upon it and embossed with gold.


 * 6 Gabriel said, "Make a chest of wood for the Table of the Covenant and place it therein that it may be carried about to the towns of the children of Israel. When the Day of Atonement is at hand, at sunset, the tablet will sound a blast like that from a ram's horn. You and all the people of Beit-El shall eat no food until atonement with God Most High has been made.


 * 7 Gabriel continued to say, "At sunset on the following day you choose a young bullock of your flock and kill it before the altar, and you shall of the blood of the bullock and put it upon the chest of the Covenant with your finger as a sin offering, and you shall burn all the fat of the bullock on the altar.


 * 8 "Then Elyon himself shall speak to what man of you is chief priest, and give commandment, and the fast shall be ended, for God Most High shall deem the tenth word of the Covenant to be fulfilled." Then Gabriel departed from Beit-El.


 * 9 Levi son of Israel took to wife Adinah of Harran. And the eldest son of Levi was Kohath. In the one hundred seven and twentieth year of the Covenant Levi slept with his fathers and Kohath became high priest unto God Most High.

5

 * 1 Zerah son of Judah took to wife Parah daughter of Avim the Janumite. Zerah begat a daughter, Adah, and he begat Zimri, who took to wife Nahaliel dauighter of Holon the Azemite.


 * 2 The same Zerah built the town of Baalath after the manner of Beit-El. And Zerah begat other sons and daughters.


 * 3 Zimri son of Zerah begat a daughter, Michaiah, and he begat Onam, who took to wife Eglah daughter of Gibrah.


 * 4 The same Zimri smote the Canaanites of Metheg-ammah and subdued them, and took the town out of their hands. And Zimri begat other sons and daughters.


 * 5 Onam son of Zimri begat a daughter, Azubah, and he begat Abinadab, who took to wife Maachah daughter of Shion. The same Abinadab became the first chieftain of the tribe of Judah.6 And the Judahites built the cities of Eglon and Lachish, and seized the cities of Jarmuth and Jebus, but the five strong cities of the Philistines that lay on the coast they could not possess, namely Ashkelon, Gaza, Ashdod, Gath, and Ekron.


 * 7 And God Most High gave perpetual ordinances to Kohath the high priest which he declared were binding upon all the children of Israel. Elyon said,"You shall stand idly by when a human life is in danger. You shall not afflict an orphan or a widow. You shall not to wrong a stranger in speech or in buying or selling. You shall not smite your father nor your mother. You shall not curse a priest."


 * 8 And these are the ordinances God declared governing the yearly festivals. Elyon said, "Do no work on the two days of the festival of First Fruits. Do no work on the head of the year, when the Table of the Covenant makes the sound of the horn. Do work on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, neither shall you eat or drink on Yom Kippur. Do no work on the first day of the festival of Weeks, the harvest festival.  All the children of Israel are to dwell in booths during the time of the festival of Weeks."


 * 9 Kohath took to wife Beriah daughter of Libni the Shamirite and his eldest son was Amram. In the one hundred eight and fiftieth year of the Covenant Kohath slept with his fathers and Amram became high priest unto God Most High.

6

 * 1 Joseph son of Israel took to wife Asenath the daughter of the Egyptian priest Potipherah. Joseph begat a daughter, Jerusha, and he begat Machir, who took to wife Kirjah the daughter of Eshtemah the Heperite. And Joseph begat other sons and daughters.


 * 2 Machir son of Joseph begat a daughter, Abigail, and he begat Gilead, who took to wife Mozah daughter of Jair the Elephite. Machir built the town of Beit-Anoth.  And he begat other sons and daughters.


 * 3 Gilead son of Machir begat a daughter, Jerioth, and he begat Jeezer who took to wife Ziklag daughter of Shimron. Gilead and a brigade of men fell upon the Canaanite city of Beit-horon and smote three hundred of the defenders in battle. And Gilead begat other sons and daughters.


 * 4 Jeezer son of Gilead begat a daughter, Keziah, and he begat Izhar who took to wife Bethuel daughter of Ashan. The same Ishar became the first chieftain of the tribe of Manesseh.


 * 5 And the Manessehites took possession of the coastlands at Dor. They held Tirzah and Gileed nigh to Mount Gilboa, and all that land from the river north to Megiddo.


 * 6 Amram son of Kohath took to wife Kohath's sister Yochebed, for such close marriages were not yet forbidden by Elyon. Then God Most High gave commandment to Kohath concerning the law of marriages among the children of Israel.


 * 7 Elyon said, "Do not commit incest with your mother. Do not commit incest with your sister.  Do not commit incest with your son's daughter nor with your daughter's daughter. Do not to commit incest with your own daughter. Do not commit incest with your father's sister nor with your mother's sister."8 And Elyon said, "Do not have intercourse with a woman in her menstrual period. Do not to have intercourse with a beast. Do not have intercourse with a woman without a deed of marriage. A newly married husband shall be free from military service for one year to rejoice with his wife. Do not withhold food, clothing or conjugal rights from your wife."


 * 9 Then in the one hundred five and seventieth year of the Covenent Amram slept with his fathers, and his son Aaron became high priest unto God Most High.

7

 * 1 Becher son of Joseph took to wife Jashiel daughter of Eran the Bashanite. Becher begat a daughter, Abihah, and he begat Shelah, who took to wife Chephirah the daughter of Arod the Shamirite.


 * 2 The same Becher built the town of Ziph after the manner of Beit-El. And Becher begat other sons and daughters.


 * 3 Shelah son of Becher begat a daughter, Ephrath, and he begat Caleb, who took to wife Azem daughter of Hammon.


 * 4 The same Shelah as captain led a large company against Hannathon, and burnt with fire a third of the houses in the midst of the city, and smote a third of the inhabitants with the edge of the sword, and scattered a third of the inhabitants to the wind. And Shelah begat other sons and daughters.


 * 5 Caleb son of Shelah begat a daughter, Peninnah, and he begat Azubab who took to wife Zorah daughter of Zenan. The same Azubab became the first chieftain of the tribe of Ephraim.


 * 6 And the Ephraimites possessed the hills north of Beit-El even to Mount Ebel and Mount Gerizim, and the Hebrew city of Shiloh waxed strong, but they did not lay seige to Shechem when the inhabitants of that city paid five talents in gold as tribute to Azubab.


 * 6 Aaron son of Armam took to wife Elisheba daughter of Amminadab. And God Most High spoke to him from the Table of the Covenant concerning the food laws that would govern the children of Israel.


 * 7 Elyon said, "Do not eat the things that creep upon the Earth. Do not eat the flesh of a beast that died of itself.  Do not eat a limb removed from a beast that yet lives.  Do not eat the flesh of a beast that is torn.  Set the mother bird free when taking the eggs of a nest."


 * 8 And Elyon said, "Do not boil meat with milk. Do not eat tallow or fat.  Do not eat the vermin of the Earth.  Do not eat fish that lack scales.  Do not eat like a glutton nor drink like a drunkard."


 * 9 Then in the one hundred eight and ninetieth year of the Covenant Aaron slept with his fathers, and his son Eleazar becaome high priest unto God Most High.

8

 * 1 Heman son of Machir took to wife Tolah daughter of Achar the Kenahite. He begat a daughter, Zemarah, and he begat Eshean who took to wife Neah daughter of Shimei the Zanoahite. The same Heman built the town of Zior after the manner of Beit-El, and he begat other sons and daughters.


 * 2 Jether son of Heman took to wife Idalah daughter of Maaz. He begat a daughter, Reumah, and he begat Abishur, who took to wife Hadesh daughter of Hupham. The same Abishur became the first chieftain of the tribe of Naphtali. And Jether begat other sons and daughters.3 The Naphtalites overthrew King Jabin at Hazor and siezed the cities of Madon, Shimron, and Achshaph.  They occupied all the lands nigh to Mount Merom and took tribute from all the towns north of Lake Chinnereth as far as Kedesh and Leshem. But they were ever assailed by the Amorites from the east.


 * 4 Eleazar the high priest took to wife Jehud daughter of Putiel. And God Most High gave commandment from the Table of the Covenant. Elyon said, "Do not reap your entire field or orchard, but leave unreaped corners for the poor. Do not gather the crop that has fallen to the ground while reaping. Do not muzzle a beast while it is working in the field, that it may eat a share of the harvest. Do not return to take a forgotten sheaf of grain or a forgotten bushel of fruit. Do not gather the imperfect clusters of the vineyard but leave them for the poor."


 * 5 And Elyon said, "A man shall not wear women's clothing, nor shall a woman wear the raiment of men. Do not remove the entire beard, as do the idolators of the surrounding towns. Do not inquire of the dead.  Do not consult a wizard.  Do not make cuttings in your flesh for grief."


 * 6 Then in the two hundred seven and tenth year of the Covenant Eleazar slept with his fathers, and his son Phinehas became high priest unto God Most High.

9

 * 1 Ahlai son of Dara begat a daughter, Zeresh, and he begat Shimma, who took to wife Hizpah daughter of Heber.. The same Shimma became the first chieftain of the tribe of Asher. The same Shimma became first chieftain of the tribe of Asher.  And Ahlai begat other sons and daughters.


 * 2 The Asherites seized the city of Achshaph, which name means sorcery. Shimma named the city anew as Kisson. But that tribe did not drive out the inhabitants of Akko on the coast, and their men of war were turned away from the fenced city of Sidon.


 * 3 Seled son of Zimri took to wife Keilah daughter of Mushi. He begat a daughter, Adah, and he begat Bezaleel, who took to wife Remeth daughter of Remmon. The same Bezaleel became first chieftain of the tribe of Reuben.


 * 4 The Reubenities contended with the Amorite King Shihon of the city of Hesbon for the lands nigh to the Salt Sea under Mount Peor and seized Jahaz and Dibon to the east. To the south lay Ammon, and the western fence was the lands of the tribe of Benjamin.


 * 5 Phinehas took to wife Shema daughter of Adamah. And God Most High gave commandment to Phinehas from the Table of the Covenant.  Elyon said, "Do not set up a pillar for worship nor plant a tree for worship. Do not print marks on your body like the idolators. Do not cast spells over serpents and scorpions.  Do not practice magic with herbs and colored stones.  Do not interpret signs in the sky to portend favorable or unfavorable seasons."


 * 6 And Elyon said, "Do not wrong your neighbor in speech. Do not idly bear tales. Do not bear a grudge or take revenge. Do not curse another Israelite.  Do not leave a beast that has fallen beneath its burden unaided."


 * 7 Then in the two hundred four and fourtieth year of the Covenant Phinehas slept with his fathers, and his son Abishua became high priest unto God Most High.

10

 * 1 Helek son of Gilead took to wife Abez daughter of Jaleel. He begat a daughter, Mahlah, and he begat Oren, who took to wife Zibiah daughter of Ashnah.  The same Oren became the first chieftain of the tribe of Zebulun.  And Helek begat other sons and daughters.


 * 2 Oren strengthened himself, and led forth his valiant men with their chariots to the valley of Jezreel and smote a thousand of the city of Shimron, and drove off much cattle. And the Zebulunites dwelt in all that land even unto Mount Carmel.


 * 3 Ozem son of Shelah took to wife Hazah daughter of Shupham. He begat a daughter, Rizpah, and he begat Uri, who took to wife Mahalath daughter of Maralah. The same Uri became the first chieftain of the tribe of Simeon.


 * 4 And the Simeonites grazed their flocks nigh to Beersheba even as Father Abraham and Yishak had once done, and built oasis towns in the wilderness south of the hill country, yet their lands were entirely fenced in by the tribe of Judah, and the Simeonites numbered the smallest among all the tribes of the children of Israel.


 * 5 Abishua took to wife Helah daughter of Eliab. And God Most High gave commandment unto Abishua from the Table of the Covenant concerning the perpetual ordinances of the priesthood. Elyon said, "You shall built for the ark of the Covenant a Sanctuary and kindle therein lights.  You shall offer up incense twice daily. You shall not extinguish the fire of the altar.  You shall remove the ashes of the altar daily. The High Priest shall not enter the Sanctuary with torn raiment."


 * 6 And Elyon said, "The High Priest shall not enter the Sanctuary outside of the Day of Atonement. The Sanctuary shall never remain unwatched. The High Priest shall not defile himself by contact with the dead. No priest shall marry a divorced woman, a widow, or a harlot. Priests shall wear the holy vestments when they offer sacrifice."


 * 7 Then in the two hundred eight and sixtieth year of the Covenant Abishua slept with his fathers, and his son Bukki became high priest

11

 * 1 Dara son of Becher took to wife Tappuah daughter of Hosah the Kanahite. He begat a daughter, Zeruiah, and he begat Ahlai, who took to wife Merah daughter of Achzib.  The same Dara built the town of Ajalon after the manner of Beit-El. And Dara begat other sons and daughters.


 * 2 Azariah son of Ethan begat a daughter, Hamutal, and he begat Balah, who took to wife Jedidah daughter of Ishi. The same Balah became first chieftain of the tribe of Dan.  And Azariah begat other sons and daughters.


 * 3 And the Danites were not able to dislodge the inhabitants of Joppa on the sea, nor Ekron with its many olive oil presses, and they remained camped in tents amid the hills ranging around the vale of the river Sorek.


 * 4 Bukki took to wife Abital daughter of Ashan. And God Most High gave commandment from the table of the Covenant concerning the courts of law among the children of Israel. Elyon said. "Do not testify falsely.  A transgressor shall not testify.  Do not decide a case on the evidence of a single witness. Do not favor a great man in court. Do not be moved by the poverty of a man in court."5 And Elyon said, "Do not curse a judge. Do not accept a bribe.  Do not punish anyone who has commited an offense under duress.  Do not exceed forty stripes when laying on corporal punishment.  You shall inter the executed on the day of execution."


 * 6 Then in the two hundred three and ninetieth year of the Covenant Bukki slept with his fathers, and his son Uzzi became high priest unto God Most High.

12

 * 1 Gibeah son of Perez took to wife Taanath daughter of Janum the Dumahite. He begat a daughter, Sheerah, and he begat Segub, who took to wife Timna daughter of Amad the Ekronite.  And Gibeah begat other sons and daughters.


 * 2 Segub son of Gibeah begat a daughter, Naamah, and he begat Jamin, who took to wife Zillah daughter of Ashur. The same Jamin became the first chieftain of the tribe of Gad.


 * 3 The Gadites dwelt along the river Jordan from the Salt Sea north to Lake Chinnereth, and their chief cites were Jazer and Succoth on the River Jabbok. The city of Ramoth- gilead lay furthest to the east of any possessed by the children of Israel.


 * 4 Ethan son of Zerah took to wife Azeakah daughter of Nethaneelk the Aphekite. He begat a daughter, Hushim, and he begat Azariah, who took to wife Naarah daughter of Ashnah. And Ethan begat other sons and daughters.


 * 5 Chelubai son of Gibeah took to wife Ophni daughter of Hammath. He begat a daughter, Jael, and he begat Raddai who took to wife Maacah daughter of Eliab. The same Raddai became the first chieftain of the tribe of Issachar. And Seled begat other sons and daughters.


 * 6 And the Issacharites took possession of the roads and fields of the vale Jezreel nigh to Mt Tabor and the Hill of Moreh, yet the feet and chariots of many armies crossed through, and seldom did they know peace.


 * 7 Uzzi took to wife Shua daughter of Ishi. And God Most High gave commandment to Uzzi from the table of the Covenant.  Elyon said, "Do not remove landmarks. Do not steal the property of another man. Return lost property.  Do not slay an innocent person. DO not crave that which belongs to another."


 * 8 And Elyon said, "Do not postpone paying a hire his due wages. Do not send away a bonded servant emptyhanded when his time of service is fulfilled. Do not compel a Hebrew servant to do the work of a Canaanite slave.  Do not swear falsely or violate an oath. Do not suffer a eunuch to marry a daiughter of Israel."


 * 6 Then in the three hundred two and twentieth year of the Covenant Uzzi slept with his fathers, and his son Zerahiah became high priest unto God Most High.

13

 * 1 Elyon spoke with the high priest on a single day each year under the covenant he had made with Samael. Elyon told Zerahiah on a certain day the Philistines would be swallowed by the Earth, and when the day arrived, the Philistines fell into a sinkhole that appeared under their feet, letting archers quickly slay them to a man.


 * 2 Zerahiah begat Maraioth, who became the first Judge over all the tribes of the children of Israel.3 And Maraioth, by previous arrangement with Elyon, called down divine fire upon a host of Philistines when they assailed the armies of the children of Israel.


 * 4 Maraioth begat Amariah, who became Judge over all Israel even as his father. Elyon reheased in the ears of Amariah the future movements of enemy commanders, and Amariah parceled this out to the chieftains of the tribes. By degrees all of Canaan fell under the sway of the children of Israel.


 * 5 Amariah begat Ahitub, and Elyon commanded him to build a permanent structure to fulfill his original promise to Abraham of making Canaan the permanent home of his descendants. Elyon chose the city of the Jebusites which was newly occupied by David, the chieftain of the tribe of Judah.


 * 6 Ahitub begat Zadok, who became high priest upon the death of his father. In the sixth year of the high priesthood of Zadok the temple in Jebus, or Jerusalem, was completed by Solomon the son of David, and the ark of the Covenant was moved to the permanent Sanctuary there.


 * 7 When Ahimaaz, son of Zadok, did not became Judge over Israel in his turn, Jeroboam son of Nebat of the Ephraimites claimed that he had taken his place, and he had sufficent men under arms to give this claim the force of a decree.


 * 8 Jeroboam built up his capital first at Shechem in the saddle between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, but them moved his court to Penuel east of the Jordan River where Yakob once fought the seraph Israel to a draw.


 * 9 To prevent the people from going down to the new temple in Jerusalem to worship there, Jeroboam set up a golden calf at Beit-El. He told everyone it was God Most High, and the feast days for the golden calf were carefully timed to coincide with the feast days in Jerusalem.  But no descendant of Levi attended Jeroboam’s cult as priest.


 * 10 A prophet of God Most High named Iddo came before Jeroboam. He said the image of the calf was a most grievous sin against Elyon. Iddo gave commandment to have the idol torn down lest the House of Jeroboam come to an end and another be made Judge over the children of Israel.


 * 11 Jeroboam grew angry and he ordered Iddo to depart from his presence. Jeroboam did not remove the golden calf at Beit-El. And his hand withered such that Jeroboam held it under concealment for the rest of his days.


 * 12 Then Jeroboam died and his son Nadab ruled as Judge for two years from the city of Samaria. And Azrael of the B’nei Elohim, a servant of God Most High, came before Nadab and gave commandment to do away with the cult of the golden calf at Beit-El, but Nadab turned Azrael away.


 * 13 In his second year as Judge over Israel Nadab prey to a plot among the officers within his own army. He was slain by Captain Baasha of the tribe of Issachar, who made himself Judge and waged war against Judah continually.


 * 14 Yet Baasha persisted in the sin of Jeroboam, and did not remove the image of the golden calf at Beit-El. And the prophet Jehu, son of Hanani, said, “The word of God Most High came to me, saying, ‘I will make an end of the House of Baasha, for he has walked in the ways of Jeroboam and made the children of Israel to sin.’”15 Baasha was succeeded by his son Elah, but Elah drank to excess and he did not tear down the idol of the golden calf at Beit-El.  Then Michael of the B’nei Elohim, a servant of God Most High, came before Elah and gave commandment to pull down the golden calf lest his reign be cut short, but Baasha sent Michae away from his presence and persisted in the sin of Jeroboam.


 * 16 Then in the second year of his reign Elah was slain by General Zimri, who commanded half of his charioteers. Zimri destroyed the whole house of Baasha, leaving no male heir alive, and became Judge in Elah's place. Thus the words of Jehu and Michael came to pass.


 * 17 But when news spread that Zimri had set himself up as Judge in Elah's stead, the army proclaimed General Omri as the first king over all the children of Israel, and they marched from Gibbethon to lay siege to Tirzah for a week. Zimri let the palace burn around himself rather than be captured alive.


 * 18 The new king provoked Elyon to anger, for he walked in the ways of Jeroboam and did not remove the golden calf at Beit-El. And Gabriel of the B’nei Elohim came before the king and said, “Behold, God Most High is wroth over the idolatry at Beit-El and looks not with favor upon the House of Omri. Behold, another shall vie for the throne over the children of Israel.”


 * 19 The Israelites of the northern territories outside of the tribes of Ephraim and Manesseh held forth that Tibni was their king rather than this Omri. Civil war raged four years until Omri pulled down the altar at Beit-El, and caused the golden calf to be melted, according to the words of Ithuriel and the prophets who came before him.


 * 20 Then Tibni was slain, and Omri was secure upon the throne. After that was a long peace even with Sidon and the Judahites.


 * 21 King Omri despised the capital city of Tirzah and purchased a hill from Shemer where he built a new capital city for the kingdom. And Samaria became the name of the city and the kingdom after the name of this hill.


 * 22 King Omri waxed was strong enough to make Samaria the greatest power that existed between the Nile and Euphrates rivers. He ruled for twelve years and when he died he left the kingdom to his son Ahab.

14

 * 1 In the first year of his reign Ahab forged an alliance with the Phoenicians by gaining the hand of Princess Jezebel in marriage. Her father Ithobaal was both king of Sidon and a priest of the fertility goddess Astarte. Jezebel herself had been trained to attend to Baal, who was believed by the Phoenicians to be the consort of Astarte.


 * 2 Queen Jezebel needed a shrine to maintain her role as priestess of Baal so Ahab caused one to be made for her in the city of Samaria. Ahab also agreed Baal should have a shrine made for his wife the goddess Asherah too.


 * 3 The Phoenician shrines multiplied in Samaria, and with them came their attendant priests and priestesses. There was a new prosperity that emerged from the alliance and the people became willing to accept the idolatrous practices of their new queen.4 But bringing over from Sidon the priests and idols of foreign gods was too much for Elyon to abide. A new prophet named Elijah frequently rebuked King Ahab to his face about the issue and constantly reminded His Majesty that his God was Elyon alone.


 * 10 King Ahab made alliance with Jehoshapohat, chieftain of the tribe of Judah, to recapture the city of Ramoth-Gilead from the Arameans. The king was laid low by a stray arrow and died after he was carried back to the capital city.  His son Ahaziah became king over Samaria.


 * 5 Queen Jezebel grew tired of the insolence of this Elijah and convinced her husband to bring matters to a head with a public demonstration. Two altars were prepared with slain bulls. The first priest who could get his god to set a bull on fire would prevail.


 * 11 King Ahaziah reigned one year and died when he fell through a railing from the upper floor of his palace. And his brother Jehoram became king over Samaria.


 * 6 Jezebel thought it was likely that neither god would actually strike fire, in which case the arrangement was for Elijah to speak no more to the king of Elyon and allow the people to choose which would be their god.


 * 7 Baal was much delayed in setting his bull aflame. His chief priest called in forty reinforcements to wail and plead and rip their garments and pluck hairs from their heads and beards.


 * 8 Elijah called for jugs of water and completely dowsed his bull. Then Eylon opened a tiny fold-door inside the bull and allowed a small burst of sun fire to slip across. It was enough to kindle the fat in the bull to burn despite being entirely soaked in water.


 * 9 The spirit of the crowd was raised such that Elijah was able to incite them to deadly violence against the priests of Baal who were standing there, but Elyon never commanded this.


 * 12 King Jehoram tore down the pillar of Baal in Jezreel but to keep the people from making pilgrimmage to the temple of Elyon in Jerusalem he restored the golden calf at Beit-El and Dan which had been set up in the days of Jeroboam.


 * 13 And the prophet Elisha, a disciple of Elisha, came before the king and said the idol was a great sin before God Most High, and Elyon would chastise the king by bringing the army of Damascus against Samaria.


 * 14 The seige came to pass, and grew strait for the inhabitants of the city, such that the people contemplated cannibalism, and King Joram sent forth soldiers to seek Elisha and drag him to his court that he might be put to death, but Elisha foretold that the king’s death would follow hard upon his own.


 * 15 Then Jehoram repented of the beheading that he thought to do to Elisha, and swore to remove the idol at Beit-El. And the seige by the king of Damascus was lifted and food was brought into Samaria.  But Jehoram forgot his vow to Elisha and the golden calf remained in place at Beit-El.16 Then Elisha said to king Jehoram, “Behold, because you have sinned against God Most High, and have led the children of Israel to follow you in your sin, Elyon has said the posterity of the House of Omri shall be brought to an end.” King Jehoram grew angry and ordered Elisha to depart from his presence forever.


 * 13 Then Jehoram made alliance with Ahaziah, the son of his sister Athaliah. And Ahaziah was chieftain of the tribe of Judah. He gave battle at Ramoth-gilead to take back the city from Aram even as his father tried to do, but he was soundly defeated.  Following the retreat of his army Jehoram was assassinated by General Jehu at Jezreel.


 * 14 Jehu led a revolt and slew all the male descendants of Omri and Ahaziah in a great slaughter. Jezebel the widow of Ahab he also ordered to be killed by her own eunuch attendants. Jehu then entered the palace at Samaria and declared himself to be king.


 * 15 Jehu caused the golden calf at Beit-El to be torn down, and the cult of priests that served the idol were put to death. Never again while the kingdom of Samaria endured would the city of Beit-El be disfigured by idolatrous images.


 * 15 King Jehu reigned for twenty- eight years but during his reign he was ever assailed by the Arameans in all the lands held by the children of Israel east of the river Jordan.


 * 16 Therefore to gain an ally Jehu paid tribute to the Assyrians in the form of silver, gold, a golden bowl, a golden vase with pointed bottom, golden tumblers, golden buckets, tin, a staff for a king and many spears.

15

 * 1 Jehoahaz the son of Jehu ascended to the throne in Samaria upon the death of his father and reigned for seventeen years. But King Jehoahaz permitted the people to erect a pillar to the goddess Asherah in Samaria.


 * 2 And Jashen of the B’nei Elohim, a servant of God Most High, came before Jehoahaz and said the pillar to Ahsherah in Samaria was exceedingly wicked in the eyes of Elyon, who would certainly mete out chastisement even as he had done to the kings of Samaria before him.


 * 3 But King Jehoahaz waxed full of wrath. He ordered Jashen to depart from his presence and the king did not tear down the pillar.


 * 2 After that the Aramean king Hazael assailed Samaria. In battles beyond count the army of Jehoahaz was steadily reduced to fifty horsemen, ten chariots and just ten thousand infantrymen. Yet the heart of the king was hardened, and the pillar of Asherah was not torn down.


 * 3 Joash the son of Jehoahaz ascended to the throne in Samaria upon the death of his father and reigned for sixteen years. He tore down the piller to Asherah in the capital city and made an end to all idolatry in the kingdom.


 * 4 Then Adad-Nirari III, king of the Assyrians, marched with his chariots and armies to the great sea in the west. He erected a statue of his lordship in the city of Sidon, which is in the midst of the sea.


 * 5 He received two thousand talents of silver, one thousand talents of copper, two thousand talents of iron, and three thousand linen garments with multicolored trim. All of these were tribute of Mari of the land of Damascus. He also received the tribute of King Joash the Samarian.6 When Amaziah the chieftain of the tribe of Judah set up the idols of the Edomites in Jerusalem Joash advanced on that city. God Most High himself caused a portion of the city wall to crumble. King Joash carried off the Temple treasury and took Amaziah the Judahite chieftain prisoner.


 * 7 And the idols of the Edomites were also carried off to Samaria. King Joash ordered them to be stacked in the lowest level of the palace and he set a guard upon them, lest the Judahites retrieve them once more and fall into their grievous sin against God Most High.


 * 8 Jeroboam II ascended to the throne in Samaria upon the death of his father and reigned for forty-one years. During his reign the tribe of Judah acclaimed Uzziah as their own king, as it did not suit them that their brother Joash, even one of the children of Israel, should assail the temple as though he were one of the foreign kings.


 * 9 And a decree went out from King Jeroboam to number Samaria. It was reported back to the king that the men of the kingdom able to hold a sword numbered more than three and ninety thousands, with their wives and men-children and maid-children and servants many more besides.


 * 10 In battle Jeroboam prevailed over the Arameans. He took possession of Damascus, Lodebar, and Karnaim, and he extended the boundaries of Samaria from Hamath on the river Orontes. King Jeroboam took the whole Jordan valley to the Red Seat.


 * 11 But King Jeroboam did not give glory to God Most High for his good fortune. He removed the idols of the Edomites from the depths of the palace and ordered them set up throughout the city of Samaria, thinking it was they who had caused him to prevail on the field of battle.


 * 12 Then a prophet from the city of Tekoa named Amos came before the king and said he had caused the children of Israel to sin by setting up the idols of the Edomites. “Two years are appointed that you may act to remove the abominations from the sight of God Most High. Failing that, at the end of the two years a great earthquake shall smite many.”


 * 13 But Jeroboam grew full of wrath and sent Amos out from his presence, and he did not remove the idols of the Edomites from their shrines in the city. When the two years had passed a great earthquake struck the kingdom, such as had never been known before, and forty thousand were slain.


 * 14 Yet King Jeroboam did not remove the idols of the Edomites, and he restored the shrines that had been smitten of God Most High in the earthquake. Then Amos came before the king once more and said Elyon had decreed the kingdom would be ripped from the hands of Jeroboam’s son and be given to another.


 * 15 Zachariah the son of Jeroboam ascended to the throne in Samaria upon the death of this father, but he only reigned for six months before an officer of his army named Shallum son of Jabesh assassinated him and took the throne for himself.

16

 * 1 But King Shallum did not tear down the shrines of the idols of the Edomites in Samaria. Then Kushiel of the B’nei Elohim, a servant of God Most High, came before the king


 * 2 And Kushiel said, “Because, O King, you have permitted this great offense against Elyon to remain in Samaria, that the children of Israel are led to sin by worshiping the idols of the Edomites, Elyon shall make a quick end of your rule in the kingdom and give the throne to another.”3 And Shallum waxed full of wrath. He ordered Kushiel to depart from his presence, and this Kushiel did.  Then Kushiel went to the cities of the tribe of Ephraim and chose from among them five righteous men who had never performed worship at the shrines of the idols of the Edomites in Samaria.


 * 4 And the names of the righteous Ephraimites were Jalon and Kenaz and Haran and Millo and Shechaniah.


 * 5 And Elyon brought to the mind of Samael remembrance of the covenant he made when the father of the Israelites was yet living in the household of his own father, Yishak.


 * 6 Elyon said the time had come when he would settle families of the children of Israel in Kemen. But Samael said by the covenant ERlyhon was constrained to settle them in Haaretz west of the Wall of God.


 * 7 So Kushiel led the five righteous Ephraimites with their wives to the north and east of Haaretz and brought them to a cool vale between Shaula Wood and the very face of the Wall of God.


 * 8 Jalon knew his wife, and begat Salathiel and Mehullam and Ibnijah, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 9 And Kenaz knew his wife, and he begat Harim and Malchiah and Jimnah, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 10 And Haran knew his wife, and he begat Pashur and Esli and Buzi, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 11 And Millo knew his wife, and he begat Ohad and Rizpah and Raham, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 12 And Shechaniah knew his wife, and he begat Hasrah and Jonadab and Mahazioth, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 13 The same Ephraimites founded the city of Hadal, and in the fulness of time this city became the capital of the kingdom of Nath.

17

 * 1 King Shallum reigned only thirty days before another officer of Zachariah’s army, Menachem son of of Gadi, rose up and smote him in his turn. And Menachem took the throne of Samaria for himself. But the men of Tiphsah did not give assent that Menachem should be king.


 * 2 So Menachem smote that city, the coasts thereof, and put all inhabitants to the edge of sword, slaying even the women were heavy with child. and its the who


 * 3 And King Menachem heard a report that Anael of the B’nei Elohim was seen in the city. So he tore down the shrines of the idols of the Edomites, and caused them to be melted down.  Then Menachem had Anael brought before his throne in Samaria.


 * 4 And the king said to Anael, “Behold, the idols of the Edomites are no more. Bless you, then, my reign, in the name of God Most High that I may live long and lead the people into all righteousness.”


 * 5 But Anael said, “Elyon has said, O King, that a great evil was carried out in Tiphsah, even to the slaying of women who were with child. Now Judah has become the apple of God’s eye, and God Most High has sworn to have nothing further to do with the king who rules from this city.”


 * 6 Then Menachem waxed in wrath, and ordered Anael to depart from his presence. So Anael went to the cities of the tribe of Ephraim and chose from among them five righteous men who had never performed worship at the shrines of the idols of the Edomites in Samaria.4 And the names of the righteous Manessehites were Bashemath and Abihud and Ishiah and Imlah and Ithiel.


 * 5 Bashemath knew his wife and begat Eder and Ahishamar and Shammah, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 6 And Abuihud knew his wife and begat Raphi and Anah and Hezion, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 7 And Ishiah knew his wife and begat Zephi and Jerah and Harhas, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 8 And Imlah knew his wife and begat Alemeth and Henadad and Zidon, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 9 And Ithiel knew his wife and begat Hassenaah and Pahath and Hori, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 10 The same Manessehites built Menkant in the valley of the upper Sabik between Mount Rasal and Mount Menkant. Their settlement grew to become the leading city among the tribes in the south of Haaretz. In time these became the kingdom of Hamar.


 * 11 And Menachem exacted a head tax of fifty shekels upon every male in Samaria that he might give tribute to King Tiglat of Assyria. He reigned for ten years in Samaria, and his son Pekahiah ascended to the throne upon his death.

18

 * 1 Pekahiah reigned for two years before word came to him that Elin, a nephil of the B’nei Elohim and a servant of God Most High, was seen in the city. The king gave commandmnent this Elin should appear before his throne.


 * 2 And Pekahiah said, “Behold, Menachem who sinned against God Most High has been dead these two years, and I have not walked in his ways, neither have I set up idols that the children of Israel may be led into sin. Give to me the blessing of Elyon, therefore, that the people may prosper in the face of our foes the Aramites and the armies of Damascus.


 * 3 But Elin said, “As Anael said to Menachem, “God Most High has vowed to have nought to do with the king in Samaria, and Elyon’s vows are without repentance.”


 * 4 Then Pekahiah waxed greatly in wrath, and taking a spear he thought to smite Elin, but even as his arm drew back with the spear he fell in a faint, and Elin departed from the presence of the king.


 * 5 Then Pekah of Gilead, the son of Remaliah and the king’s chief lieutenant in the army, slew Pekiahiah as he lay before the throne of Samaria, and Pekah took that throne for himself and became king.


 * 6 Then Elin went among the people of the tribe of Gad to find five righteous men who never prostituted themselves with the idols of the Edomites. And the names of these righteous men were Jeush and Manahath and Bedad and Shebna and Shimei.


 * 7 Jeush knew his wife and begat Jedaiah and Anathoth and Joatham, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 8 And Managhath knew his wife and begat Shillem and Haggith and Ludim, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 9 And Bedad knew his wife and begat Mehetabeel and Ishbak and Zaccur, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.10 And knew his wife and Shebna begat Jehudi and Zeruiah and Chelal, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 11 And Shimei knew his wife and begat Amasa and Jephunneh and Elisham, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 12 The same Gadites built the city of Kabark on a plain in Kemen that lacked for water. They built a mighty work of stone to dam the river Armak and dug many canals and ditches to water their farms from the lake that formed behind the dam.  And their fields and orchards became the envy of Haaretz.


 * 13 King Pekah made alliance with King Rezin of Aram, and marched on Jerusalem to levy troops of King Ahaz of Judah to turn against Tiglat of Syria, but they did not prevail.


 * 14 Then Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglat king of Syria begging for succor, and with them sent he also in tribute much silver and gold from the temple, and from the king’s own treasury. Then the Assyrians sacked Damascus and added the lands of Aram to their own territory. And King Rezin was executed,.


 * 15 And King Tiglat assailed all the land of the tribe of Naphtali, and carried the people thereof captive to Syria. Then a party favorable to Assyria appeared in Samaria, with Hoshea, an officer of Pekah’s army, as its leader.

19

 * 1 In the twentieth year of King Pekah word came to him that a nephil of the B’nei Elohim, a servant of God Most High named Beleth, was abroad in the land of Samaria, and he demanded that che appear before the throne to give account of hez doings in his kingdom.


 * 2 And Beleth said she was about an errand appointed by Elyon himself, and it had naught to do with the king in Samaria. Neither did Beleth speak a word to the king of the nature of hez errand.


 * 3 Then Pekah waxed greatly in wrath, and ordered his servants to put Beleth in prison, but no sooner did he pronounce this doom then was a loud report heard by all who dwelt in the palace, and the king was no more, but his smoking bones and entrails lay strewn about.


 * 4 Then Beleth departed from the palace, and none dared hinder hem.


 * 8 Then King Tiglat himself appointed Hoshea as king over the people of Samaria, and he received from him ten talents of gold and a thousand talents of silver and had these brought to his capital.


 * 5 But Beleth went among the tribe of Naphtali that was in exile under the Assyrians and found of them five righteous men who never worshiped the idols of the Edomites. And those men were named Jehozadak and Semachiab and Huppim and Jehiel and Maath.


 * 6 Jehozadak knew his wife and begat Hoshaiah and Toah and Paruah, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 7 And Senmachiab knew his wife and begat Pelatiah and Athaliah and Giddalti, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 8 And Huppim knew his wife and begat Maadai and Jehoadah and Pelaliah, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 9 And Jehiel knew his wife and begat Jeuel and Arodi and Halohesh, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.10 And Maath knew his wife and begat Bariah and Hasshub and Azaz, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 7 And Epher knew his wife and begat Serug and Zehtam and Tiras, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 11 The same Naphtalites built the city of Wazol at the very source of the river Sabik, and the stone Wall of God fairly loomed over it four vertical miles. There the Catwalk of legend touched bottom. The mines of Wazol offered much iron ore, as well as the coal to smelt it.


 * 8 The same tribe of Zebuluin settled Kemen far up the vale of the river Nanki on the road leading north from the Saiph League. There caravans transferred their goods to rafts fashioned from logs felled from the endless forests of pine blanketing the foothills of the Wall of God.

20

 * 1 Hoshea paid tribute to Assyria every year while King Tiglat lived. And when reports came to him that Michael of the B’nei Elohim, a seraph of God Most High, was walking abroad in Samaria, King Hoshea did not demand Michael appear before his throne in the capital.


 * 2 And Michael went to the lands of the tribe of Zebulin, and found among them five righteous men who had never worshiped the idols of the Edomites. And these men were Abdiel and Azaiah and Kabzeel and Imrah and Epher.


 * 3 And Adbeel knew his wife and begat Mahali and Kittim and Gedaliah, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 4 And Azaiah knew his wife and begat Erran and Jeramee and Lehabim, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 5 And Kabzeel knew his wife and begat Letushim and Jonan and Rinnah, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 6 And Imrah knew his wife and begat Shiphi and Tabrimon and Eliab, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.

21

 * 1 When King Tiglat died his son Shalmaneser attained to the throne. Then King Hoshea of Samaria sent ambassadors before the Pharoah in Egypt, and he ceased paying the yearly tribute.


 * 2 But nothing came to fruit after King Hoshea’s overtures to Egypt. Much chastened, the king offered to resume paying the tribute, but Shalmaneser refused, and gave battle, and took Hoshea captive in war. Shalmaneser’s armies laid seige to Samaria and took possession of the city after three years.


 * 3 And the nephil Gabriel of the B’nei Elohim, a servant of God Most High, found five righteous men from among the tribe of Issachar who had never prostituted themselves before the idols of the Edomites. These men were Shaphat and Abishai and Jaazaniah and Habaziniah and Gemalli.


 * 4 Shaphat knew his wife and begat Binnui and Salah and Heth, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 5 And Abishai knew his wife and begat Michri and Ezer and Gallim, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 6 And Jaazaniah knew his wife and begat Madai and Zabad and Ahasai, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.7 And Habaziniah knew his wife and begat Joed and Jaalam and Berachah, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 8 And Gemalli knew his wife and begat Zeror and Ahilud and Naarah, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 9 The same Issacharites built the city of Adjara on the western edge of Shaula Wood. It became a great crossroads in the land of Haaretz and the center of a weaponscraft that rivaled that of the Black Beards in Adan. And they set about to build a temple to God Most High after the manner of the house of God in Jerusalem.

22

 * 1 King Shalmaneser was assassinated by his half-brother Sargon with the support of the foremost generals of the army, as Shalmaneser’s seiges were deemed too long and fruitless. The army was withdrawn from Samaria to consolidate the king’s position in the capital city of Nimrud.


 * 2 And Leliel of the B’nei Elohim, a servant of God Most High, went among the cities of the tribe of Reuben to find five righteous men who never prostituted themselves with the idols of the Edomites. And these men were Mattathah and Bichri and Hothir and Asarelah and Mahlah.


 * 3 Mattathah begat Gilon and Eliphal and Azrikam, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 4 And Bichri begat Kareah and Ahikam and Pethuel, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 5 And Hothir begat Abiud and Eliadah and Shebuel, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 6 And Asarelah begat Jeremai and Tabeal and Malcham, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 7 And Mahlah begat Anath and Geber and Raamah, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 8 The same Reubenites built the city of Mizal near Mount Naruthah, but the lee of the uplands was dry and impoverished. Ever the Reubenites struck north against the Red Beards of Linan for the rich fruit of the orchards round about that city, and they stole much cattle.  At length the Reubenites prevailed and took possession of the city.

23

 * 1 King Sargon set eunuchs as governors of the provinces of Syria, that succession should not be a matter of blood. And he resolved to end the military matters left standing by his predecessor.


 * 2 And Jashen of the B’nei Elohim, a servant of God Most High, went among the cities of the tribe of Dan to find five righteous men who never prostituted themselves with the idols of the Edomites.


 * 3 And the five Danite men were Pethor and Zabud and Abiram and Shamer and Ahumai.


 * 4 Pethor knew his wife, and begat Shisha and Zehtan and Elionai. And he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 5 And Zabud knew his wife, and begat Teman and Immer and Josibiah, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 6 And Abiram knew his wife, and begat Abiah and Kadmiel and Paseah, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 7 And Shamer knew his wife, and begat Jediael and Zobebah and Korah, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.8 And Ahumai knew his wife, and begat Zeziuah and Azzan and Sadoc, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 7 And Akkub knew his wife, and he begeat Shaul and Zabiel and Noadiah, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 9 The same Danites built the city of Fatho at the foot of the Wall of God where many natural caves lay. The Danites delved deep with pick and spade to reap precious stones and much gold.


 * 8 And Shubael knew his wife, and he begat Jeduthun and Mallothi and Saruch, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.

24

 * 1 King Sargon laid siege Samaria and recaptured the capital city. Twenty-seven thousand two hundred and ninety people dwelling in the midst of the city and in the land all about were carried off captive. And Sargon chose fifty of the best chariots for himself and distributed the rest among his army.


 * 2 Then Sargon appointed a general over the remaining people of the land of Samaria and collected the taxes of Hoshea their former and final king.


 * 3 And Asrael of the B’nei Elohim, a servant of God Most High, was sent among the captives of the tribe of Ashur to find five righteous men who never prostituted themselves to the idols of the Edomites. These men were Ziphion and Ebed and Zuar and Akkub and Shubael.


 * 4 Ziphion knew his wife, and begat Abdiel and Shobal and Ithran, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 5 And Ebed knew his wife, and begat Nabal and Gera and Baladan, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 6 And Zuar knew his wife, and he begat Bimhal and Hodoviah and Seled, and he begat other sons and daughters besides.


 * 9 The same Ashurites settled at the midpoint of the river Nanki where it tumbled over a series of cataracts that would dash any cargo-carrying rafts to splinters. They portaged the goods to new rafts made from the same logs sent individually down sluices to below the falls.

25

 * 1 By order of the Assyrian king the people of the tribes of Dan, Asher, Zebulun, Issachar, Gad, Reuben, and half of Manasseh were relocated to lands far to the east. The planning for the move took longer than the march and the execution was without flaw.


 * 2 None marched under the lash, and many even went willingly. The children of Israel were a lettered people, even to the boys among them, and the Assyrians had need of them in the governance of their empire.


 * 3 The exiles built new homes in locations chosen such that when the time came for their sons to find wives it was more likely they would find a foreign man’s daughter rather than a daughter of their fellow exiles. None were compelled to intermarry, yet many of them did.


 * 4 Twelve years later Sargon completed the conquest of Samaria. The remaining people of Manesseh and all of Ephraim were exiled to Medea.  At the same time captives from other lands were settled in the lands once occupied by the children of Israel5 Only the tribes of Simeon, Benjamin, Judah, and Levi remained in the south. But many of the children of Israel who would not go into exile escaped from Samaria to Judah. After that the kingdom of Judah waxed strong even as the kingdom of Samaria once did.


 * 6 And in Haaretz the undying servants of God Most High called the B’nei Elohim dwelt in Nyduly Wood, that they might watch over the children of Israel in Kemen, and be sent among them as oracles.


 * 7 And these are the B’nei Elohim who were Begotten: First was the yan Leliel, who was daughter of Michael and Lilith. She it is who testifies of these things, and wrote them in the White Scroll. And Lilith named Leliel Scout, for it was given to her that she might be fleet of foot, above any of the beasts, and run without tiring.


 * 8 Begotten also was the jan Gabriel, who was the offspring of Jashen and Leliel. The same was oft the herald of God Most High. And Gabriel was called the Magician, for it was given to hem that che could cause a thing to vanish or reappear at will, and to multiply it without end.


 * 9 Begotten also was the yan Doriel, who was the sister of Gabriel and daughter of Jashen and Leliel. And it was given to Doriel that she might speak without words with any of the B’nei Elohim no matter the distance.


 * 10 Begotten also was the lan Ithuriel, son of Sariel and Elin. It was given to Ithuriel that he should be a lan of greater wisdom than has ever been found among any who ever lived in Kemen or on Earth.


 * 11 Begotten also was the lan Remiel, son of Ithuriel and Beleth. And Remiel was called the Diver, for it was given to him that he could remain immersed under water or buried under earth and yet live.


 * 12 Begotten also was the lan Azrael, son of Ithuriel and Beleth. And it was given to Azrael that he all beasts would do whatsoever he bade them to do.


 * 13 And these are the B’nei Elohim who were Made: First was the lan Michael of Salem, who became the living avatar of God Most High in the days of Melchiyahu king of Salem. And it was given to him that he could heal the sick, and he could travel at once to any place in Kemen west of the Wall of God, and to any place on Earth.


 * 14 And Michael was espoused to the yan Lilith, the Queen of Salem in exile who was Made when Michael took her to wife. And it was given to Lilith that she could take flight in Kemen west of the Wall of God. She it was who destroyed the Dragon Demonstroke after the fall of Rumbek when War was come to all Kemen.


 * 15 And also among the Made was the man Jashen of Earth, who became the husband of the Ophan Leliel. It was given to Jashen that he might cause small things to move under his will, such that no arrow loosed by him could fail to hit the mark.


 * 16 And also among the Made was the jan Anael of Kemen. It was given to Anael that che could move a great weight such as a heavy stone with only a touch.


 * 17 And also among the Made was the jan Beleth of Kemen. It was given to Beleth that che could shatter the strong walls of a city with a great report.18 And also among the Made was the woman Shyla of Earth. And it was given to her that she could fade from sight, that no act thought to be done in secret could be hidden from her eyes.


 * 19 And also among the Made was the lan Sariel of Kemen, and she was called the Historian, for it was given to her a sight like that of a prophet, but of time which has passed rather than time which is yet to come. And she could walk without fear in great darkness, or with her eyes covered, as her knowledge of the present moment was absolute.


 * 20 And also among the Made was the jan Elin. And it was given to hem that che could cast, as it were, something akin to lightning, and cause hez foes to fall in a faint.


 * 21 And also among the Made was the lan Kushiel, who was called among the B’nei Elohim the Fixer, for it was given to him that he could repair what is broken at a touch, even broken bones or damaged crops.


 * 22 And last among the Made was the yan Raphaela, Ophan and chief lieutenant of Queen Lilith. And it was given to her that she could cast fire from the heart of a sun. And Raphaela struck greater fear in those who hated God Most High than any other of the B’nei Elohim.