Genesis Apocryphon

Genesis Apocryphon

[The beginning of the scroll is missing.]

Then I considered whether the pregnancy had come from the Watchers and the holy ones, or whether it belonged to the giants, and my heart was troubled because of the child.

I, Lamech, became afraid. I went to Batenosh, my wife, and said to her, ‘Swear to me by the Most High, by the Lord of Majesty, by the Eternal King, and tell me truthfully whether this child is from the heavenly beings. Hide nothing from me and speak no lie.’

Batenosh wept and answered me with force: ‘My brother and my lord, remember my pregnancy and the delight of our union. I swear to you by the Great Holy One, by the Ruler of Heaven, that this seed is yours. This pregnancy is from you, and this fruit was planted by you. It is not from any stranger, nor from a Watcher, nor from any heavenly being. Why has your face changed, and why is your spirit cast down? I have spoken truthfully to you.’

Then I hurried to Methuselah, my father, and told him all these things, so that he might ask Enoch, his father, and learn the truth from him. Enoch was loved and favored, and his lot was among the holy ones, so mysteries were revealed to him.

When Methuselah heard, he went quickly to Enoch, who had journeyed to Parvayim. He found him there and said, ‘My father and my lord, I have come to you concerning a matter. Do not be angry with me because I have come here.’

[Text missing.]

In the days of Jared, my father, the heavenly sons descended. [Text missing.] Violence filled the earth. [Text missing.] I saw the judgment decreed against them and the end appointed for them. [Much of the vision is missing.]

And Enoch said to Methuselah, ‘Concerning this child: he is not from the heavenly beings. He is from Lamech, your son. Lamech feared because the child’s appearance was unlike that of ordinary children. Go and tell your son the truth. In the days of this child, deeds of violence will multiply, and a great mystery will be fulfilled. The Lord of all is to be praised.’

Methuselah returned and spoke privately with Lamech. When I, Lamech, heard that the child had truly come from me, my spirit was quieted.

This is a copy of the book of the words of Noah.

From corruption I was kept, and in my mother’s womb I grew for righteousness. When I came forth from my mother, I was planted for righteousness. Throughout my days I walked in the paths of eternal truth. The holy ones were with me, guarding me from deceit and from the paths that descend into darkness. I bound myself to the vision of righteousness and wisdom and turned away from every path of violence.

When I, Noah, became a man, I held fast to righteousness. I took Amzara, daughter of my kin, as my wife. She bore me three sons and daughters. I took wives for my sons from among the daughters of my brother, and I gave my daughters to the sons of my brother, according to the ancient ordinance given by the Most High to humankind.

When the appointed count of my years was fulfilled, and my sons had taken wives, I saw in a vision the deeds of the heavenly beings. I was shown what had taken place, but I kept the secret within myself and revealed it to no one.

A great Watcher came to me as a messenger from the Holy One. He stood before me in a vision and made me hear the message of the Great Holy One. [Text damaged.] He spoke concerning the inhabitants of the earth and the blood shed by the giants.

I remained silent and waited. The holy ones who had joined themselves to mortal women had corrupted the earth. But I, Noah, found favor, honor, and righteousness before the Lord. [Text missing.]

The Great Holy One spoke concerning the land and all that is upon it, the seas and the mountains, the lights of heaven, the sun, the moon, the stars, and the Watchers. [Text missing.] He said that He would deliver them into my hand. I rejoiced at the words of the Lord of Heaven.

[Several columns are largely missing. They contained the command concerning the coming destruction, the making of the ark, and the gathering of Noah’s household and the living creatures.]

Then the waters covered the earth. [Text missing.] My sons gave praise and blessing to the King of all ages, forever and through every generation.

The ark came to rest upon one of the mountains of Ararat. I made atonement for the earth. First I offered a goat, then another offering, and after them birds. I poured the blood at the base of the altar, burned the flesh, and placed upon the altar fine flour mixed with oil and incense. I salted every offering, and the fragrance of the burning ascended to heaven.

Then the Most High spoke. [The remainder of the passage is missing.]

I, Noah, stood at the entrance of the ark. [Text missing.] I went out and traveled through the land in its length and breadth. Trees were abundant with leaves and fruit, and the whole earth was clothed with plants, grass, and grain.

I praised the Lord of Heaven, whose works are good and whose praise endures forever. I praised Him because He had compassion on the earth, because He had removed those who practiced violence, wickedness, and deceit, and because He had preserved a righteous man.

The Lord of Heaven appeared to me and said, ‘Noah, do not fear. I will be with you and with your descendants who walk as you have walked. Rule over the land, its deserts, its mountains, and all that is in them. I give its plants and growth to you and your descendants for food, but you shall not eat blood. Fear and dread of you shall fall upon the living creatures. [Text damaged.] I am your God.’

[Text missing.]

‘Behold, I have set My bow in the cloud. It shall be a sign to Me in the cloud concerning the earth.’ [Text missing.]

I planted a vineyard among the mountains of Ararat. Afterward I descended to the lower slopes with my sons and grandchildren, for the devastation upon the earth was great. Sons and daughters were born after the Flood.

To Shem, my eldest son, Arpachshad was born two years after the Flood. The sons of Shem were Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram, and he also had five daughters. The sons of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan, and he also had seven daughters. The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras, and he also had four daughters.

I and my sons began to cultivate the earth. I planted a great vineyard on Mount Lubar. After four years it yielded wine. When the festival came in the appointed month, I opened the vessel and drank from it in the fifth year. I summoned my sons, my grandsons, our wives, and our daughters. We assembled together, and I praised the Lord of Heaven, God Most High, the Great Holy One, who had delivered us from destruction. [The end of the feast account is missing.]

[The beginning of Noah’s dream is missing.] I saw creatures of the earth, things of gold and silver, stone and clay, cutting down and carrying away from the tree. Then those of iron cut down all its trees and took them. I saw the sun, moon, and stars cutting and carrying away from it. The creeping things of the land and the creatures of the waters destroyed it, and it came to its end.

Then I turned toward an olive tree. It had grown high and had many leaves. I wondered at the tree and its abundant foliage. Four winds of heaven blew against it, stripping its branches and scattering its fruit. The west wind struck first and scattered leaves and fruit in every direction. [Text missing.]

[The interpretation begins after a loss.] ‘Pay attention and hear. You are the great cedar seen standing upon the summit of the mountains. The shoots growing from it are your three sons. The first shoot joined to the trunk will not be separated from you during his life, and among his descendants your name will be invoked. From him a righteous planting will arise and endure.’

[Text damaged.] ‘Two of the sons will mingle their branches with the branches of the first. [Text missing.] Most of their descendants will turn aside and become wicked. The man whom you saw coming from the south with a sickle in his hand and fire beside him will come against wickedness. [Text missing.] Four angels will stand among the nations. [Text missing.] Do not marvel, for I have told you truthfully what is written concerning you.’

Then I, Noah, awoke from my sleep. [The remainder of the vision is missing.]

[The beginning of the division of the earth is missing.] The first lot was given to Japheth and his descendants as an everlasting possession. Its boundary followed the northern lands and the waters of the Great Sea. [Text damaged.]

The second lot came forth for Shem and his descendants as an everlasting possession. Its border passed by the river Tina and reached the Great Salt Sea, then turned westward and eastward. [Much of the boundary description is missing.]

My son Shem divided his portion among his sons. The first share fell to Elam, beside the waters of the Tigris toward the sea. Another fell to Asshur. Aram received the land between the rivers as far as the mountains. Arpachshad received the land watered by the Euphrates, its valleys and plains. [The boundaries and remaining allotments are damaged.]

Japheth divided his portion among his sons. To Gomer he gave the northern land as far as the Tina. After him came Magog, Madai, and Javan, who received the islands and coasts. Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras received their portions beside them. [The remainder is missing.]

[An entire column is missing.]

[The beginning of Abram’s account is missing.] There I built an altar and called upon the name of God, saying, ‘You are my everlasting God.’ I had not yet reached the holy mountain. I journeyed south until I came to Hebron, which had already been built, and I lived there two years.

A famine came upon the whole land. I heard that grain was available in Egypt, so I set out to enter Egypt. I came to the Carmona, one of the branches of the river, and crossed its seven channels. We left our land and entered the land of the children of Ham, the land of Egypt.

On the night when I entered Egypt, I, Abram, dreamed. I saw a cedar and a beautiful date palm growing from one root. Men came intending to cut down and uproot the cedar, leaving the palm alone. But the palm cried out, ‘Do not cut down the cedar, for we both grow from one root.’ Because of the palm, the cedar was spared.

I awoke in fear and told Sarai, my wife, the dream. She said, ‘Tell it to me so that I may understand.’ I explained its meaning: ‘They will seek to kill me, but they will spare you. In every place say of me, “He is my brother,” so that I may live because of you. They will try to take you from me and kill me.’ Sarai wept that night.

For five years Sarai guarded herself carefully so that no one might see her. Then three princes of Egypt came from Pharaoh of Zoan. They brought gifts and asked me to teach them wisdom, truth, and upright conduct. I read before them from the book of the words of Enoch. [Text damaged.]

One of the princes spoke of Sarai before the king: ‘How beautiful is her face, how delicate the hair of her head, how lovely her eyes, her nose, and all the radiance of her face. Her arms are beautiful, her hands are perfect, her palms are lovely, and her fingers are long and slender. Her feet are beautiful and her form is without defect. No maiden or bride who enters the bridal chamber is equal to her. Her beauty rises above all women, and with her beauty she possesses great wisdom; the work of her hands is excellent.’

When the king heard the words of the three princes, all agreeing together, he desired her greatly. He sent quickly and took her. He saw her and was astonished by her beauty, and he took her for himself. He sought to kill me, but Sarai said, ‘He is my brother.’ Thus I was spared and was not killed.

I, Abram, wept bitterly, and Lot, my brother’s son, wept with me, on the night when Sarai was taken from me by force.

That night I prayed and pleaded with tears: ‘Blessed are You, God Most High, Lord of all ages. You rule over all and judge all the kings of the earth. I bring my complaint before You against Pharaoh of Zoan, king of Egypt, because my wife has been taken from me by force. Judge him for me and reveal Your great power against him and all his household. Do not permit him to defile my wife tonight, so that they may know that You are Lord over all the kings of the earth.’ Then I ceased speaking.

That night God Most High sent an afflicting spirit against Pharaoh and everyone in his household. The spirit struck them continually. Pharaoh could not approach Sarai and had no relations with her. She remained with him for two years. At the end of the two years the afflictions became stronger. Pharaoh summoned the sages, magicians, and physicians of Egypt, but none could heal him, for the spirit struck them also and they fled.

Then Hirqanos came to me and asked me to pray for the king and lay my hands upon him, because he had seen me in a dream. But Lot said to him, ‘My uncle Abram cannot pray for the king while Sarai, his wife, remains with him. Tell the king to return the woman to her husband. Then Abram will pray, and the king will recover.’

Hirqanos went and told the king, ‘These afflictions have come because of Sarai, the wife of Abram. Return her to her husband, and the evil spirit will depart.’

The king summoned me and said, ‘What have you done to me? You said, “She is my sister,” but she is your wife. I took her for myself. Here is your wife. Take her and leave every city of Egypt. Pray for me and my household, that this spirit may be driven away.’

I prayed for him and laid my hands upon his head. The affliction left him, the evil spirit was driven away, and he recovered. The king arose and gave me many gifts. He swore that he had not touched Sarai. He returned her to me with silver, gold, fine linen, purple garments, and Hagar. He appointed men to escort us out of Egypt.

I, Abram, departed with great possessions, silver, and gold. Lot, my brother’s son, went with me and also had many possessions. He had taken a wife from among the women of Egypt.

I returned through all the places where I had formerly camped until I came to Bethel, where I had built an altar. I built it again and offered burnt offerings and a grain offering to God Most High. There I called upon the name of the Lord of Ages. I praised God and gave thanks for all the goods He had given me and because He had brought me safely back to the land.

Afterward Lot separated from me because of the conduct of our shepherds. He went to the valley of the Jordan with his flocks, and I added greatly to what he possessed. He came to Sodom, bought a house, and lived there. I remained in the hill country of Bethel, and I grieved because Lot, my brother’s son, had parted from me.

Then God appeared to me in a night vision and said, ‘Go up to Ramath-Hazor, north of Bethel. Lift your eyes eastward, westward, southward, and northward. Look upon all this land, for I give it to you and to your descendants forever.’

The next day I went up to Ramath-Hazor and viewed the land from the height: from the river of Egypt to Lebanon and Senir, from the Great Sea to Hauran, all the land of Gebal as far as Qadesh, and the great wilderness east of Hauran and Senir to the Euphrates.

He said to me, ‘I will give all this land to your descendants, and they shall possess it through the ages. I will multiply them like the dust of the earth, which no one can count. Rise, walk through the land, see its length and breadth, for I give it to you and to your descendants after you forever.’

I went out to survey the land. I traveled from the river Gihon along the shore of the Great Sea until I reached Mount Taurus. I went eastward across the land to the Euphrates, followed the river toward the eastern sea, then went along the Red Sea to the tongue of the Sea of Reeds. From there I traveled southward until I came again to the Gihon. I returned safely to my house and found all my people well.

Then I dwelt by the oaks of Mamre near Hebron. I built an altar and offered burnt offerings and grain offerings to God Most High. I ate and drank there with all my household. I invited Mamre, Arnem, and Eshcol, the three Amorite brothers who were my allies, and they ate and drank with me.

Before these days, Chedorlaomer king of Elam had come with Amraphel king of Babylon, Arioch king of Cappadocia, and Tidal king of the nations between the rivers. They made war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela. They fought in the valley of Siddim. The king of Elam and his allies prevailed and imposed tribute upon them.

For twelve years the cities paid tribute, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and his allies came by the wilderness road, plundering from the Euphrates onward. They struck the Rephaim in Ashteroth-Qarnaim, the Zamzummim in Ammon, the Emim in Shaveh-Qiriathaim, and the Horites in the mountains of Gebal as far as El-Paran in the wilderness.

The kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela went out against them in the valley of Siddim. They were defeated. The king of Sodom fled, and men fell among the pits of bitumen. The invaders plundered Sodom and Gomorrah and took Lot, my brother’s son, together with all his possessions.

One of the shepherds whom I had given to Lot escaped and came to me at Hebron. He told me that Lot had been taken alive and that the kings were moving northward toward Damascus with captives and spoil.

I wept for Lot. Then I gathered myself and chose three hundred and eighteen trained servants. Mamre, Eshcol, and Arnem went with me. We pursued the kings to Dan and found them encamped in the valley. During the night I divided my force around them and struck them from every side. I defeated them and pursued them as far as Helbon, north of Damascus.

I recovered all the captives and all the spoil. I rescued Lot, my brother’s son, and restored all his possessions.

The king of Sodom heard that I had brought back the captives and the spoil and came to meet me. He came to Salem, that is, Jerusalem. I camped in the valley of Shaveh, the king’s valley, the valley of Beth-Kerem.

Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought food and drink for me and for the men with me. He was priest of God Most High. He blessed me and said, ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Lord of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.’ I gave him a tenth of all the possessions taken from the king of Elam and his allies.

The king of Sodom said to me, ‘My lord Abram, give me the people who are mine, whom you rescued, and keep the possessions for yourself.’

I answered, ‘I lift my hand this day to God Most High, Lord of heaven and earth: I will take neither thread nor sandal strap nor anything that belongs to you, lest you say, “I made Abram rich.” I will take nothing except what the young men have eaten and the portion belonging to the three men who went with me. Let them take their share.’

I returned all the possessions and captives to the king of Sodom. I also released the other captives who remained with me and sent them away.

After these things God appeared to me in a vision and said, ‘Ten complete years have passed since you left Haran: two in this land, seven in Egypt, and one since your return. Count all your possessions and see how greatly they have increased beyond what you brought from Haran. Do not fear, for I am with you. I am your strength, your shield, and your protection against every power greater than you. Your wealth and possessions will increase greatly.’

I said, ‘My Lord God, I have much wealth and many possessions, but what are they to me? When I die I shall depart naked, for I have no child. A member of my household, Eliezer, will inherit me.’

He said to me, ‘This man will not inherit you. One who comes from your own body will be your heir.’

[The remainder of the scroll is missing.]