Tribe of Dan

Overview

Dan is the seventh son of Jacob Israel and he lived to be 125 years old.  His tribe was given the responsibility of judgement and he was the first tribe to set sail to Europe.  He has the honor of having places named after him in Europe, such as the Danube River and Denmark (Danmark).

Tribe of Dan was also known as:

·         Phoenicians

·         Danes

·         Danish

·         Danites

The tribe of Dan had the following positions:

·         Seventh son born to Jacob Israel. (1 Ch 2:2)

·         Seventh son to receive a blessing from Jacob Israel.  (Genesis chapter 49)

·         Seventh tribe counted in the Numbers chapter one census.

·         Chief leader of the North in the Numbers chapter two camp

·         Center North position in the Mazzaroth and is the constellation of Scorpio

·         Second largest tribe in the Numbers census count. His tribe had 62, 700 men.

·         Tenth to receive a blessing from Moses.

·         Seventh lot of land inherited in Joshua

·         East position of the Kingdom described in Ezekiel

·         Dan is not sealed in Revelations

The tribes of Dan’s symbols are:

·         Horse kicking up

·         Eagle

·         Eagle biting a snake

·         Scorpion that pinches

Red Garnet

Dan’s birth

Jacob Israel had twelve sons and Dan was his seventh son according to the birth order documented in Chronicles.  It is also stated that Dan was the seventh son in the apocrypha book ‘Testament of Dan’ shown towards the bottom of this page.

“These are the names of the sons of Israel; Ruben, Symeon, Levi, Juda, Issachar, Zabulon, Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Nephthali, Gad, Aser.” Septuagint 1Ch 2:1-2

Dan was born of Jacob Israel and Balla (Bilhah or Bala).  Balla was Rachael’s servant.  Since Rachael was unable to conceive she had Balla conceive two babies on her behalf.  Later Rachael did have sons of her own and that was Joseph and Benjamin.  Rachael gave Dan his name because she was considered the lawful mother since Balla was her servant. 

Dan’s birth name means ‘judgement’ in Hebrew.

“And Balla, Rachel's maid, conceived, and bore Jacob a son. And Rachel said, God has given judgment for me, and hearkened to my voice, and has given me a son; therefore she called his name, Dan.” Septuagint Genesis 30:5-6

Each tribe was given a gift or responsibility and Dan’s was the gift of judgement.

Jacob Israel’s Blessing of Dan

When Jacob Israel was on his death bed he gave blessings to each of his sons that are documented in Genesis chapter 49. Notice that these things are to come about in the last days and we are in the last days.

“And Jacob called his sons, and said to them, Assemble yourselves, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in the last days. Gather yourselves together, and hear me, sons of Jacob; hear Israel, hear your father.”  Septuagint Gen 49:1-2

Jacob Israel said to Dan on his death bed:

“Dan shall judge his people, as one tribe too in Israel. And let Dan be a serpent in the way, besetting the path, biting the heel of the horse (and the rider shall fall backward), waiting for the salvation of the Lord.” Septuagint Genesis 49:16-18

So Dan’s gift is judgement and his responsibility is to stop evil in its path.

Each of the tribes received their heraldry symbols based on the blessing they received from their dad, Jacob Israel. Dan’s descendants used the horse falling backwards in many of the locations where they settled.  The Danites never really used the serpent as their symbol as some believe. 

The serpent is said to be Dan’s original symbol; however the Danites never used it as their symbol. 

Horse Kicking Up

The Danites used the horse kicking up so that the rider would fall backwards just as Jacob Israel described.  Here are a few places where this symbol was used:

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Rhine-Westphalia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithuania

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horom%C4%9B%C5%99ice

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_(country)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_Georgia_(country)

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Horse_riders_in_heraldry

Tribes Cardinal Signs

Numbers chapter 2 explains the 12 tribes camp arrangement used in the desert when the Israelites received the laws of Moses. The tribe’s cardinal directions are based on this arrangement is:  Dan is north shown as serpent, Judah is east shown as Lion, Ruben is south shown as water, and Joseph’s son Ephraim is west shown as the bull, buffalo or ox.  These were and are the leading tribes of Israel.

Revelations chapter 4 shows Dan’s sign is changed to the eagle and all the other leading sign are the same.  The 12 symbols of the tribes are reflected in our constellations; however, Dan is the scorpion or Scorpio since he is the lead northern constellation.  The bible usually reflects order of items:  first east, second south, third west, and then north.  Here is the description of the Throne of Yahweh (God) from Revelations chapter 4:

“And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”  Revelation 4:6 

So in the last book of the bible; Judah the lion is east, Joseph’s son Ephraim the bull is south, Ruben the man pouring water is west, and Dan is the eagle or scorpion in the north. 

Horse & Eagle

The heraldry below shows both Dan’s new eagle symbol and his old horse symbol.

Sources:

Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth

Koszalin, Poland

Russia

Peru

Eagles Biting a Snake

The heraldry below shows Dan’s new symbol the eagle biting the snake.  So the snake is used here is to shows that Dan will have victory over the snake.  I’m sure that the snake is the serpent referenced in these two verses:

“Now the serpent was the most crafty of all the brutes on the earth, which the Lord God made, and the serpent said to the woman, Wherefore has God said, Eat not of every tree of the garden?” Septuagint Genesis 3:2 

“And there was a great battle in heaven, Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels: And they prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven. And that great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, who seduceth the whole world; and he was cast unto the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.” DR Revelations 12:7-9

Sources:

Los Angeles, California

United States

Mexico

New Mexico Territory

New Mexico

Ensenada

Tijuana

Panama

Map of North America

Reflected below is a map showing where the eagle biting the snake heraldry is being used in North America.  Within Dan’s land inheritance he received Sammaus which means city of the sun (more information below).  The city of Phoenix is located in the valley of the sun and in the same valley is Sun City.  Arizona and the surrounding areas are also a great place to find Dan’s breast plate stone the Garnet (more information below).  The Hohokam Indians lived in the area of Phoenix after the time of the Exodus from Egypt and they were a very sophisticated tribe like the Israelites. 

Europe Eagles

Here are countries of Europe that use the eagle in their heraldry.

Sources:

Albania

Austria

Germany

Poland

Romania

Ukraine

Serbia

Czech Republic

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coats_of_arms_of_Europe

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_(heraldry)

Map of Europe

Reflected below is a map of Europe showing where Dan’s symbols are in use.  His symbols are used in east Europe and Russia that is considered east.    When Yahshua (Jesus) returns to judge the earth HE will come from the east; therefore, the Danites in the east will receive judgement first. 

"For as the lightning comes forth from the east, and is seen even to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man."  Matthew 24:27

Moses' Blessing of Dan

When Moses was ready to die, he also gave Dan a blessing as follows:

“And to Dan he said, Dan is a lion's whelp [birth], and shall leap out of Basan [smooth & fertile region].”  Septuagint Deuteronomy 33:22 

Now this is an interesting blessing since he was the first of the 12 tribes to leave the holy land and enter into Europe preparing the way for Judah who’s symbol is the lion.  This must be why Denmark’s symbol is the lion.

Denmark is actually named after the tribe of Dan.  In Europe Denmark is actually referred to as Danmark.

Scorpio Constellation                                               

In the heavens Dan’s symbol is the Scorpio constellation.  The scorpion pinches just like the eagle bits the snake. 

Dan’s Land Inheritance

Forty years after the Exodus of Egypt, each tribe inherited land based on the size of their tribe.  Dan’s tribe was the second largest tribe, only Judah’s tribe was larger.  Dan’s tribe consisted of 62,700 men older than age twenty.   The chief leader of Dan’s tribe was Achiezer, the son of Amisadai. 

“Of Dan, Achiezer the son of Amisadai.” Septuagint Numbers 1:12 

“The numbering of them of the tribe of Dan, was sixty and two thousand and seven hundred.” Septuagint Numbers 1:39 

Reflected below are descriptions of the tribe of Dan’s land inheritance.   Dan’s land was next to Judah’s land.  Dan did have a coastal region where the city of Joppa located.  Since Dan’s tribe was very large he would have received a very large land inheritance. 

The land description are normally described starting on the North east corner, then follows to the south east corner, then the south west corner and then to the north west corner; however, this is not always true.

In every version of our bibles the names of places were left in their original language; however, these names when translated into English will help us to identity the true location of the actual place.  I have indicated the English translation of the place names below.

Historian Josephus describes the tribe of Dan’s land in his Antiquities of the Judeans book, as follows:

“The Danites' lot included all that part of the valley which respects the sun-setting, and were bounded by Azotus [Ashdod, ravager (Judah’s)] and Dora [on sea coast]; as also they had all Jamnia and Gath [wine press] , from Ekron [Accaron, erradication]to that mountain where the tribe of Judah begins.”

Dan’s land described in the Septuagint in Joshua 19:40-48, as follows:

“And the seventh lot came out to Dan. And their borders were Sarath [hornet (Judah)] , and Asa [intreaty (Judah)], and the cities of Sammaus [city of the sun], and Salamin [haunt of fox holes] and Ammon [deer field],  and Silatha [it will hang; be high] and Elon [oak grove], and Thamnatha [a portion assigned] and Accaron [Ekron, erradication]; and Alcatha [Levitical City, unknown meaning], and Begethon [mound, hilly spot], and Gebeelan [mistressship], and Azor [praised or helpful] , and Banaebacat [sons of lighting], and Gethremmon [wine-press pomagranite] . And westward of Hieracon [waters of yellowness] the border was near to Joppa [beautiful, near sea]. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan, according to their families, these are their cities and their villages: and the children of Dan did not drive out the Amorite who afflicted them in the mountain; and the Amorite would not suffer them to come down into the valley, but they forcibly took from them the border of their portion.  And the sons of Dan went and fought against Lachis, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword; and they dwelt in it, and called the name of it Lasendan [amber or jacinth, Dan]: and the Amorite continued to dwell in Edom and in Salamin: and the hand of Ephraim prevailed against them, and they became tribute to them.”

Dan’s land as described in the Latin based Douay-Rheims version of the bible in Joshua 19:40-48, as follows:

“The seventh lot came out to the tribe of the children of Dan by their families: And the border of their possession was Saraa and Esthaol, and Hirsemes, that is, the city of the sun. Selebin and Aialon and Jethela, Elon and Themna and Acron, Elthece, Gebbethon and Balaath, And Jud and Bane and Barach and Gethremmon : And Mejarcon and Arecon, with the border that looketh towards Joppe, And is terminated there. And the children of Dan went up and fought against Lesem, and took it: and they put it to the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt in it, calling the name of it Lesem Dan, by the name of Dan their father. This is the possession of the tribe of the sons of Dan, by their kindreds, the cities and their villages.”

The table below reflects a reference to each place name used to describe Dan’s land.

Type	Septuagint (Greek)	DR (Latin)	WEB Masoretic	Strong’s	Who’s Territory	Also mentioned in
city	Sarath	Saraa	Zorah	Tsorah: a city exchanged by Judah and Dan; hornet	Judah	Dan
city	Asa	Esthaol	Eshtaol	Eshta'ol: Eshtaol; in Judah; intreaty	Judah	Dan
Cities of	Sammaus	Hirsemes	Irshemesh	Ir Shemesh: "city of the sun	Dan
place	Salamin	Selebin	Shaalabbin	Shaalbim: perhaps (haunt of) foxes; fox-holes	Dan
place	Ammon	Aialon	Aijalon	Ayyalon: deer; deer-field	Dan
place	Silatha	Jethela	Ithlah	Yithlah: it will hang; it will hang, i.e. Be high; Jithlah	Dan
city	Elon	Elon	Elon	Elon: terebinth; oak-grove	Dan	Naphtali (different oak grove)
city	Thamnatha	Themna	Timnah	Timnah: "territory," two cities in Judah; a portion assigned	Dan	Judah
city	Accaron	Acron	Ekron	Eqron: a Philistine city; eradication	Dan	Judah
city	Alcatha	Elthece	Eltekeh	Elteqe or Elteqeh: a city; Levitical city	Dan
city	Begethon	Gebbethon	Gibbethon	Gibbethon: mound; a hilly spot	Dan
city	Gebeelan	Balaath	Baalath	Baalath: a city; mistressship	Dan
	Azor	Jud	Jehud	Yehud; praised	Dan
city	Banaebacat	Bane & Barach	Bene-berak	Bene-beraq: sons of lightning	Dan
Levitical city	Gethremmon	Gethremmon	Gath-rimmon	Gath-rimmon: wine press of a pomegranate; two different citites	Dan
place	Hieracon	Mejarcon	Me-jarkon	Me Hayyarqon; water of the yellowness	Dan
		Arecon	Rakkon	Raqqon; thinness
city	Joppa	Joppe	Joppa [by sea]	Yapho: a seaport city; beautiful	Dan
place	Lasendan	Lesem Dan	Leshem (Dan)	Leshem; a gem stone; amber or jacinth	Dan
	Salamin (Amorites)				Dan

Dan’s Breast Plate Stone

While the Israelites were camped in the desert, after the Exodus, Yehovah instructed them to make a breast plate of Judgement.  This breast plate was to be worn by Aaron each time he entered the tabernacle.  The Israelites did make this breast plate during the forty years they were camped in the desert.  According to Josephus the stones were in birth order; therefore, Dan’s stone was ligure since it is the seventh stone mentioned.

“And thou shalt interweave with it a texture of four rows of stone; there shall be a row of stones, a sardius, a topaz, and emerald, the first row. And the second row, a carbuncle, a sapphire, and a jasper. And the third row, a ligure, an agate, an amethyst: and the fourth row, a chrysolite, and a beryl, and an onyx stone, set round with gold, bound together with gold: let them be according to their row.”  Septuagint Exo 28:17-20

The ligure stone probably garnet; however it could be jacinth or amber.  

Sources:

http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/a-greek-gold-and-garnet-finger-ring-1403289-details.aspx?from=searchresults&pos=4&intObjectID=1403289&sid=67afd749-ce87-455a-9ec0-315c05bc04f2&page=19

Garnet found in the US: https://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/gemstones/sp14-95/garnet.html 

Garnet found worldwide:  https://www.gemselect.com/gem-info/garnet/garnet-info.php

https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~adg/adg-pgalimages.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garnet

Dan's Descendants

Shortly after Dan’s descendants received their land inheritance they began sailing in ships and became known as the Phoenicians.  The events, in the Book of Judges, occur shortly after the tribes received their land and this time period is known as ‘Judges’.  This book shows that Dan remained in ships.  Now Dan had been dead for a couple hundred years at this time; therefore, they are referring to Dan’s descendants.   

“Gilead abode beyond the Jordan: Dan, why did he remain in ships? Asher sat still at the haven of the sea, Abode by his creeks.” Judges 5:17

The tribe of Dan was the first tribe to leave and eventually explore Europe.   Dan is not mentioned once in the New Testament during the time when Jesus was living since he was probably not living in the holy land during this time.

One of Dan’s descendants named Samson did remain in Palestine area and became a Judge, during the time of Judges:

“And she bore a son, and called his name Samson. And the child grew, and the Lord blessed him. And the spirit of the Lord began to be with him in the camp of Dan, between Saraa and Esthaol.​” Judges 13:24

Another good example of a Danite being a judge is Chushim the son of Dan, the son of Jacob.  He beheaded Esau since Esau was not allowing Jacob Israel to be buried in the family cave in Hebron.  Jasher 56:62-65

Therefore, Samson and Chushim are good examples of a Danite performing his responsibility of being a judge.

The Exodus occurred about 1448BC and then the tribe of Dan went to sea they became known as the Phoenicians.  The Phoenicia time period takes place between 1500BC and 539BC.  Phoenicia means ‘blood red’ and that is how they identified themselves as being red.   This referred to their skin being red, meaning they blushed, got sunburns and had rosy checks.

According to old newspapers, Caucasians thought it was important to have ‘ruddy’ or red skin.  In fact it was a sign of good health.

1918 Ruddy Skin is Healthy

Column 2 http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85042243/1918-04-11/ed-1/seq-3.pdf

1856 Healthy to have Ruddy Skin

Column 6 http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026752/1856-04-03/ed-1/seq-3.pdf

The mythical bird the Phoenix is derived from the same Greek word as Phoenicia.  The Phoenix is associated with rebirth.   The phoenix symbolizes renewal and resurrection, and represents many themes , such as “the sun, time, the empire, metempsychosis, consecration, resurrection, life in the heavenly Paradise, Christ, Mary, virginity, the exceptional man”.

The Bookof Tephi explains that when the first temple fell in Jerusalem about 586BC, Tea Tephi who was king Zedekiah’s daughter, waited for a Danite to arrive by ship and take her to new home.  Here is an excerpt from the book.

The vase below dated c. 560 – 550 BC, shows the Phoenician hero Cadmus fighting the dragon.  So here Dan is fighting the snake or serpent just like Jacob Israel’s blessing stated he would be.

Danish

Denmark, that is actually called Danmark in Europe, is named after the tribe of Dan.  The history of Denmark as a unified kingdom began in the 8th century, but historic documents describe the geographic area and the people living there, the Danes -, as early as 500 AD.

 The Danish or Danes are descendants of Dan.  Danish is actually two words; Dan for tribe of Dan and ‘ish’ meaning man in Hebrew.  One of the royal coats of arms of Denmark below shows Dan as the eagle and shows the lions of Judah.

The Danish people are of Scandinavia descent.  Scandinavia always includes Denmark, Norway and Sweden. 

According to Wikipedia, here are the top locations where the tribe of Dan lives today:

Therefore the tribe of Dan is living both in the eastern and western countries.  After Denmark, the country with the second largest group of Danish people is the United States.  It is interesting to note that the Mormons in the United States did refer to themselves as Danites back in the 1830s.  The United States did also place Dan’s sign of the eagle biting the snake on the Great Seal.

Dan’s East Gate to the Kingdom to Come

When Jesus returns his kingdom will be established on earth.  Ezekiel describes his kingdom and shows the tribe of Dan will have a gate to enter the city on the east side. 

“And these are the goings out of the city on the north side, four thousand and five hundred measures. And the gates of the city shall be after the names of the tribes of Israel: three gates northward; one gate of Reuben, one gate of Judah, one gate of Levi. And at the east side four thousand and five hundred: and three gates; and one gate of Joseph, one gate of Benjamin, one gate of Dan. And at the south side four thousand and five hundred measures: and three gates; one gate of Simeon, one gate of Issachar, one gate of Zebulun. At the west side four thousand and five hundred, with their three gates; one gate of Gad, one gate of Asher, one gate of Naphtali. It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The Lord is there.”  Ezekiel 48:30-35

Judgement Thrones

According to these verses there will be at least 24 thrones for Judges.  I have wondered if the tribe of Dan will act as judges when Yahshua returns, since that is their gift and responsibility.  Yehovah will the ultimate Judge though.

“Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” Mat 19:28

 “You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Luke 22:28

 “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.” Rev 4:1

“Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed.” Rev 20:4

Conclusion

Dan’s tribe is the only tribe not mentioned as being sealed in the Book of Revelations (chapter 7) and it just might be because his tribes’ responsibility is judgement.   Dan’s testimony below is one of repentance and warning to his descendants.  I look forward to Dan’s tribe providing justice for all the tribes of Israel and catching that serpent in it's tracks.

Dan’s Testimony

http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/fbe/fbe285.htm

THE TESTAMENT OF DAN

The Seventh Son of Jacob and Bilhah.

CHAP. I.

The seventh son of Jacob and Bilhah. The jealous one. He counsels against anger saying that "it giveth peculiar vision." This is a notable thesis on anger.

THE copy of the words of Dan, which he spake to his sons in his last days, in the hundred and twenty-fifth year of his life.

2 For he called together his I family, and said: Hearken to my words, ye sons of Dan; and give heed to the words of your father.

3 I have proved in my heart, and in my whole life, that truth with just dealing is good and well pleasing to God, and that lying and anger are evil, because they teach man all wickedness.

4 I confess, therefore, this day to you, my children, that in my heart I resolved on the death of Joseph my brother, the true and good man. .

5 And I rejoiced that he was sold, because his father loved him more than us.

6 For the spirit of jealousy and vainglory said to me: Thou thyself also art his son.

7 And one of the spirits of Beliar stirred me up, saying: Take this sword, and with it slay Joseph: so shall thy father love thee when he is dead.

8 Now this is the spirit of anger that persuaded me to crush Joseph as a leopard crusheth a kid.

9 But the God of my fathers did not suffer him to fall into my hands, so that I should find him alone and slay him, and cause a second tribe to be destroyed in Israel.

10 And now, my children, behold I am dying, and I tell you of a truth, that unless ye keep yourselves from the spirit of lying and of anger, and love truth and longsuffering, ye shall perish.

11 For anger is blindness, and does not suffer one to see the face of any man with truth.

12 For though it be a father or a mother, he behaveth towards them as enemies; though it be a brother, he knoweth him not; though it be a prophet of the Lord, he disobeyeth him; though a righteous man, he regardeth him not; though a friend, he doth not acknowledge him.

13 For the spirit of anger encompasseth him with the net of deceit, and blindeth his eyes, and through lying darkeneth his mind, and giveth him its own peculiar vision.

14 And wherewith encompasseth it his eyes? With hatred of heart, so as to be envious of his brother.

15 For anger is an evil thing, my children, for it troubleth even the soul itself.

16 And the body of the angry man it maketh its own, and over his soul it getteth the mastery, and it bestoweth upon the body power that it may work all iniquity.

17 And when the body does all these things, the soul justifieth what is done, since it seeth not aright.

18 Therefore he that is wrathful, if he be a mighty man, hath a threefold power in his anger: one by the help of his servants; and a second by his wealth, whereby he persuadeth and overcometh wrongfully; and thirdly, having his own natural power he worketh thereby the evil.

19 And though the wrathful man be weak, yet hath he a power twofold of that which is by nature; for wrath ever aideth such in lawlessness.

20 This spirit goeth always with lying at the right hand of Satan, that with cruelty and lying his works may be wrought.

21 Understand ye, therefore, the power of wrath, that it is vain.

22 For it first of all giveth provocation by word; then by deeds it strengtheneth him who is angry, and with sharp losses disturbeth his mind, and so stirreth up with great wrath his soul.

23 Therefore, when any one. speaketh against you, be not ye moved to anger, and if any man praiseth you as holy men, be not uplifted: be not moved either to delight or to disgust.

24 For first it pleaseth the hearing, and so maketh the mind keen to perceive the grounds for provocation; and then being enraged, he thinketh that he is justly angry.

25 If ye fall into any loss or ruin, my children, be not afflicted; for this very spirit maketh a man desire that which is perishable, in order that he may be enraged through the affliction.

26 And if ye suffer loss voluntarily, or involuntarily, be not vexed; for from vexation ariseth wrath with lying.

27 Moreover, a twofold mischief is wrath with lying; and they assist one another in order to disturb the heart; and when the soul is continually disturbed, the Lord departeth from it, and Beliar ruleth over it.

CHAP. II.

A prophecy of the sins, captivity, plagues, and ultimate restitution of the nation. They still talk of Eden (See Verse 18). Verse 23 is remarkable in the light of prophecy.

OBSERVE, therefore, my children, the commandments of the Lord, and keep His law; depart from wrath, and hate lying, that the Lord may dwell among you, and Beliar may flee from you.

2 Speak truth each one with his neighbour. So shall ye not fall into wrath and confusion; but ye shall be in peace, having the God of peace, so shall no war prevail over you.

3 Love the Lord through all your life, and one another with a true heart.

4 I know that in the last days ye shall depart from the Lord, and ye shall provoke Levi unto anger, and fight against Judah; but ye shall not prevail against them, for an angel of the Lord shall guide them both; for by them shall Israel stand.

5 And whensoever ye depart from the Lord, ye shall walk in all evil and work the abominations of the Gentiles, going a-whoring after women of the lawless ones, while with all wickedness the spirits of wickedness work in you.

6 For I have read in the book of Enoch, the righteous, that your prince is Satan, and that all the spirits of wickedness and pride will conspire to attend constantly on the sons of Levi, to cause them to sin before the Lord.

7 And my sons will draw near to Levi, and sin with them in all things; and the sons of Judah will be covetous, plundering other men's goods like lions.

8 Therefore shall ye be led away with them into captivity, and there shall ye receive all the plagues of Egypt, and all the evils of the Gentiles.

9 And so when ye return to the Lord ye shall obtain mercy, and He shall bring you into His sanctuary, and He shall give you peace.

10 And there shall arise unto you from the tribe of Judah and of Levi the salvation of the Lord; and he shall make war against Beliar.

11 And execute an everlasting vengeance on our enemies; and the captivity shall he take from Beliar the souls of the saints, and turn disobedient hearts unto the Lord, and give to them that call upon him eternal peace.

12 And the saints shall rest in Eden, and in the New Jerusalem shall the righteous rejoice, and it shall be unto the glory of God for ever.

13 And no longer shall Jerusalem endure desolation, nor Israel be led captive; for the Lord shall be in the midst of it [living amongst men], and the Holy One of Israel shall reign over it in humility and in poverty; and he who believeth on Him shall reign amongst men in truth.

14 And now, fear the Lord, my children, and beware of Satan and his spirits.

15 Draw near unto God and unto the angel that intercedeth for you, for he is a mediator between God and man, and for the peace of Israel he shall stand up against the kingdom of the enemy.

16 Therefore is the enemy eager to destroy all that call upon the Lord.

17 For he knoweth that upon the day on which Israel shall repent, the kingdom of the enemy shall be brought to an end.

18 For the very angel of peace shall strengthen Israel, that it fall not into the extremity of evil.

19 And it shall be in the time of the lawlessness of Israel, that the Lord will not depart from them, but will transform them into a nation that doeth His will, for none of the angels will be equal unto him.

20 And His name shall be in every place in Israel, and among the Gentiles.

21 Keep, therefore, yourselves, my children, from every evil work, and cast away wrath and all lying, and love truth and long-suffering.

22 And the things which ye have heard from your father, do ye also impart to your children that the Saviour of the Gentiles may receive you; for he is true and long-suffering, meek and lowly, and teacheth by his works the law of God.

23 Depart, therefore, from all unrighteousness, and cleave unto the righteousness of God, and your race will be saved for ever.

24 And bury me near my fathers.

25 And when he had said these things he kissed them, and fell asleep at a good old age.

26 And his sons buried him, and after that they carried up his bones, and placed them near Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob.

27 Nevertheless, Dan prophesied unto them that they should forget their God, and should be alienated from the land of their inheritance and from the race of Israel, and from the family of their seed.