Part 156

7:5. And he gave him no inheritance in it: no, not the pace of a foot. But he promised to give it him in possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.

7:6. And God said to him: That his seed should sojourn in a strange country, and that they should bring them under bondage and treat them evil four hundred years.

7:7. And the nation which they shall serve will I judge (said the Lord): and after these things they shall go out and shall serve me in this place.

7:8. And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so he begot Isaac and circumcised him the eighth day: and Isaac begot Jacob: and Jacob, the twelve patriarchs.

7:9. And the patriarchs, through envy, sold Joseph into Egypt. And God was with him,

7:10. And delivered him out of all his tribulations: and he gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharao, the king of Egypt. And he appointed him governor over Egypt and over all his house.

7:11. Now there came a famine upon all Egypt and Chanaan, and great tribulation: and our fathers found no food.

7:12. But when Jacob had heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent our fathers first.

7:13. And at the second time, Joseph was known by his brethren: and his kindred was made known to Pharao.

7:14. And Joseph sending, called thither Jacob, his father, and all his kindred, seventy-five souls.

7:15. So Jacob went down into Egypt. And he died, and our fathers.

7:16. And they were translated into Sichem and were laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Hemor, the son of Sichem.

7:17. And when the time of the promise drew near, which God had promised to Abraham, the people increased and were multiplied in Egypt.

7:18. Till another king arose in Egypt, who knew not Joseph.

7:19. This same, dealing craftily with our race, afflicted our fathers, that they should expose their children, to the end they might not be kept alive.

7:20. At the same time was Moses born: and he was acceptable to God. Who was nourished three months in his father's house.

7:21. And when he was exposed, Pharao's daughter took him up and nourished him for her own son.

7:22. And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians: and he was mighty in his words and in his deeds.

7:23. And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel.

7:24. And when he had seen one of them suffer wrong, he defended him: and striking the Egyptian, he avenged him who suffered the injury.

7:25. And he thought that his brethren understood that God by his hand would save them. But they understood it not.

7:26. And the day following, he shewed himself to them when they were at strife and would have reconciled them in peace, saying: Men, ye are brethren. Why hurt you one another?

7:27. But he that did the injury to his neighbour thrust him away, saying: Who hath appointed thee prince and judge over us:

7:28. What! Wilt thou kill me, as thou didst yesterday kill the Egyptian?

7:29. And Moses fled upon this word: and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begot two sons.

7:30. And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him, in the desert of mount Sina, an angel in a flame of fire in a bush.

7:31. And Moses seeing it wondered at the sight. And as he drew near to view it, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying:

7:32. I am the God of thy fathers: the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. And Moses being terrified durst not behold.