THE TRUE HISTORY 
 
 AND 
 
 TRAGEDY 
 
 OF 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
Read 
 Page 9 
 
 23- 
 24, 
 
 ERRATA. 
 Copyright, 1904, By Edward A. Guy for "Copyrighted 1903". 
 Column 2, line 41, read does it for "does it". 
 
 9, " Retire thou; " "Retire thou," 
 heaven nests 
 But 
 
 25. 
 
 29. 
 45. 
 
 38, 
 16, 
 
 5. 
 17. 
 
 3i. 
 1, 
 
 13. 
 
 40, 
 
 *5. 
 
 supply comma (,) after 
 
 read If for 
 
 Peter 
 supply comma (,) after 
 hyphen (-) 
 dele comma (,) 
 
 "heavens nest 1 
 
 "B ut". 
 
 "sun". 
 
 "cloud". 
 
 "if". 
 
 "Peter". 
 
 "sons". 
 
 "chief". 
 
 "him,". 
 
THE TRUE HISTORY AND TRAGEDY 
 
 OF 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH 
 
 BY 
 
 LEVI BEN-HALPAI. 
 
 WASHINGTON, D. C-, U- S- A.: 
 
 EDWARD. A. GUY. 
 
 1903. 
 
1 904 
 
 fl Cooyrtffht 
 
 CBLASS Ct, XXo. No 
 
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 COPY B 
 
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 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 DRAMATIS PERSONS. 
 
 God the Father. 
 
 Joshua the Messiah [Jesus Christ]. 
 
 Joseph, son of David the heir to the 
 
 throne. • 
 
 Gabriel, the angel of the Lord. 
 Astrologers from the East. 
 Herod the Great, the usurping king. 
 
 Johanan, the immerser. 
 The Devil. 
 Herod, the tetrarch. 
 Pilatus, the Roman governor. 
 Miriam, the mother of Joshua the 
 
 Messiah. 
 Miriam Magdalene, and other women. 
 
 The chief priests, scribes, elders, Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, the 
 disciples, a leper, and others. All the characters of the Drama are properly 
 introduced at their time and place by Levi Ben-halpai the historian and 
 dramatist. 
 
 Scene — Various parts of Palestine: Egypt. Time — 5 B. C. — 28 A. D. 
 
 [1-33 A. D.]. 
 
 The most ancient Greek Manuscripts on papyrus and parchment are writ- 
 ten in Uncial, or Capital letters, without any division of the words, punctuation. 
 or Chapters and verses; so that it is left to every nation, or people, to put the 
 translation into the best form, each, in their own language. But many of the 
 MSS. have paragraphs and sections and separate lines, a careful collation of 
 which has resulted, after forty-one year's study of the text, in the following 
 Dramatic form. May it be blessed of God to the salvation of souls, and the com- 
 fort and edification of all believers in Joshua the Messiah. 
 Address all communications to 
 
 Edward A. Guy, • 
 
 329 C Street Northwest, 
 
 Washington, D. C, U. S. A. 
 
 Copyrighted 1903. All rights reserved. 
 
JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 PROLOGUE. 
 Enter Levi Ben-halpai. 
 Levi. A book of the birth of Joshua 
 O the Messiah, the son of David, the son 
 of Abraham. 
 
 Abraham begot Isaac; 
 
 but Esaac begot Jacob; 
 
 but Jacob begot Judah and his 
 
 brothers; 
 but Judah begot Perez and Zerah 
 
 out of Tamar; 
 but Perez begot Hezron; 
 but Hezron begot Ram; 
 but Ram begot Amminadab; 
 but Amminadab begot Nahshon; 
 but Nahshon begot Salmon; 
 but Salmon begot Boaz out of 
 
 Rahab; 
 but Boaz begot Obed out of Ruth; 
 but Obed begot Jesse; 
 but Jesse begot David the king: 
 but David begot Solomon out of 
 
 the of Uriah; 
 
 but Solomon begot Rchoboam; 
 but Rchoboam begot Abijah; 
 but Abijah begot Asa; 
 but Asa begot Jehoshaphat; 
 but Jehoshaphat begot Jehoram; 
 but Jehoram begot Uzziah; 
 btit Uzziah begot Jotham; 
 but Jotham begot Ahaz; 
 but Ahaz begot Hezekiah; 
 but Hezekiah begot Manasseh; 
 but Manasseh begol Anion; 
 but Anion begot Josiah; 
 but Josiah begot Jeconiah and his 
 brothers, at the time of the re- 
 moval to Babylon: 
 but, after the removal to Babylon 
 Jeconiah begot Shealtiel; 
 but Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel; 
 but Zerubbabel begot Abiud; 
 but Abiud begot Eliakim; 
 but Eliakim begot Azor; 
 
 but Azor begot Sadoc; 
 but Sadoc begot Achim; 
 but Achim begot Eliud; 
 but Eliud begot Eleazar; 
 but Eleazar begot Matthan; 
 but Matthan begot Jacob; 
 but Jacob begot Joseph the hus- 
 band of Miriam, out of whom 
 was begotten Joshua, the one de- 
 nominated the Messiah. 
 Therefore all the generations from 
 Abraham until David are fourteen 
 generations; and from David until 
 the removal to Babylon are fourteen 
 generations; and from the removal 
 to Babylon until the Messiah are 
 fourteen generations. 
 ACT I. 
 Scene i. Nazareth. 
 Levi. But the birth of Joshua the 
 Messiah was thus: While his mother 
 Miriam was betrothed to Joseph, be- 
 fore the time for them ever to come 
 together, she was found with child, 
 out of a holy Spirit. But Joseph her 
 husband, being righteous, and never 
 wishing to make her a public example, 
 intended to put her away privately. 
 But while he devised these things, lo, 
 an angel of the Lord appeared to him 
 in a dream, saying, 
 
 An angel. Joseph, son of David, 
 never mightest thou fear to receive 
 beside thee Miriam thy wife: for the 
 thing begotten in her is out a holy 
 Spirit. But she shall bear a son; and 
 thou shalt call his name Joshua 
 [Saviour]: for he himself will save his 
 people from their sins. 
 
 Levi. But this whole thing has 
 
 Le, in order that there might be 
 
 fulfilled the thing spoken under the 
 
 Lord through the prophet, saying, 
 
 Lo, the virgin shall be with child, 
 
JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 ACT I. 
 
 and shall bear a son; and they shall 
 call his name Immanuel (which is, 
 being interpreted, The God in com- 
 pany with vis). 
 
 But Joseph arose from the sleep 
 and did as the angel of the Lord or- 
 :d to him; and he received beside 
 him his wife: and he was not knowing 
 her until after she bore a son; and he 
 called his name Joshua. 
 
 Scene 2. Jerusalem. Bethlehem. 
 Egypt. 
 
 Levi. But when Joshua was beg< 
 in Bethlehem of Judasa in the days 
 of Herod the king, lo, astrologers from 
 eastern regions arrived into Hiero- 
 soluma, saying, 
 
 Astrologers. Where is the one born 
 King of the Judasans? for we saw his 
 star in the east; and we came to wor- 
 ship him. 
 
 Levi. But the king Herod heard it 
 and was troubled, and all Hierosoluma 
 in company with him. And he gath- 
 ered all the chiefpriests and scribes 
 of the people and was inquiring from 
 beside them where the Messiah should 
 be begotten. But the ones spoke to 
 him, 
 
 The chiefpriests and scribes. In Beth- 
 lehem of Judaea: for thus it has been 
 written through the prophet, 
 
 And thou Bethlehem, land of 
 Judah, thou art by no means least 
 among the governors of Judah: for 
 out of thee shall come forth a govern- 
 ing one, whoever will shepherd my 
 people Israel. 
 
 Levi. Then lb-rod privately called 
 the astrologers and accurately ascer- 
 tained from beside them the time 
 lelicu the star appeared. And he 
 them into Bethlehem and sp 
 
 Herod. Go ye and investigate . 
 rately concerning the child: but so 
 soon as ye might find it, n porl to me, 
 to the intent that also I, I might come 
 worship it. 
 
 Levi. But the ones heard the king 
 
 and went: and, lo, the star, which 
 they saw in the east, was leading be- 
 fore them, until it came and was made 
 to stand overabove wdiere the child 
 was. But when they saw the star, 
 they rejoiced with excessive great joy. 
 And they came into the dwelling and 
 saw the child in company with Miriam 
 its mother; and they fell down and 
 worshipped it: and they opened their 
 treasures and brought unto it presents, 
 gold and frankincense and myrrh. 
 And being warned in a dream never 
 to revert unto Herod, they withdrew 
 into their own country through another 
 way. 
 
 But when they were withdrawn, lo, 
 an angel of the Lord appears to 
 Joseph in a dream, saying, 
 
 An angel. Arise thou and receive 
 beside thee the child and its mother, 
 and flee into Egypt; and be thou 
 there until assuredly I might speak 
 to thee: for Herod is about to seek 
 the child for to destroy it. 
 
 Levi. But the one arose and re- 
 ceived beside him the child and its 
 mother by night, and withdrew into 
 Egypt: and he was there until the 
 decease of Herod: in order that there 
 might be fulfilled the thing spoken 
 under the Lord through the prophet, 
 saying 
 
 Ou. _f Egypt I called my son. 
 
 Then Herod, when he saw that he 
 was mocked under the astrologers, 
 was exceedingly wroth; and he com- 
 missioned and slew all the boys the 
 ones in Bethlehem, and in all its 
 1" Tders, from two years old and down- 
 ward, according to the time which he 
 accurately ascertained from beside 
 the astrologers. Then was fulfilled 
 the thing spoken through Jeremiah 
 the prophet, saying, 
 
 A voice was heard in Ramah, v. 
 ing and much walling, Rachel weep- 
 ing for her beams; and she was not 
 wishing to be comforted; because 
 
SCEXE IV. 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 they arc not. 
 
 But when Herod deceased, lo, an 
 angel of the Lord appears in a dream 
 to Joseph in Egypt, saying, 
 
 An angel. Arise thou and receive 
 beside thee the child and its mother, 
 and go into the laud of Israel: for they 
 have died the ones seeking the soul of 
 the child. 
 
 Levi. But the one arose and re- 
 ceived beside him the child and its 
 mother, and entered into the land of 
 Israel. But he heard that Archelaus 
 reigns over Judaea instead of his father 
 III rod and he feared to come away 
 there: but being warned in a dream, 
 he withdrew into the parts of Galilee: 
 and he came am/ resided into a city 
 denominated Nazareth: to the in- 
 tent that there might be fulfilled the 
 thing spoken through the prophets, 
 that he shall be called a Nazarene. 
 Scene 3. Wilderness of Judcea. River 
 Jordan: 
 
 Levi. But in those days Johanan 
 the immerser arrives, heralding in the 
 wilderness of Judaea, saying, 
 
 JoJianan the immerser. Reconsider 
 ye: for the kingdom of the heavens 
 has neared. 
 
 Levi. For this is the one spoken of 
 through Isaiah the prophet, saying, 
 
 A voice of one shouting in the wil- 
 derness. Ready ye the way of the Lord, 
 make his paths straight. 
 
 But Johanan himself was having 
 his clothing from camel's hair, and a 
 leathern girdle about his loins: btit 
 his nourishment was locusts and wild 
 honey. Then there was going out 
 unto him Hierosoluma, and all Judaea, 
 and all the country round about the 
 Jordan; and they were being im- 
 mersed under him in the ri*ver Jordan, 
 ones confessing out their sins. But 
 when he saw many of the Pharisees 
 and Sadducees coming over upon the 
 immersion, he spoke to them, 
 
 Johanan. Progeny of vipers, who 
 
 foreshowed to you to flee from the 
 anger which is about to be? There- 
 I' ire bring ye forth fruit worthy of the 
 reconsideration: and never might ye 
 think to say in yourselves, We have 
 Abraham to our father: for I say to 
 you, that The God is able out of these 
 stones to raise up beams to Abraham. 
 But already the axe is laid unto the 
 root of the fruit-trees: therefore every 
 fruit-tree never bringing forth beauti- 
 ful fruit is chopped out, and is cast 
 into the fire. I indeed, I immerse you 
 in water into reconsideration: but the 
 one coming behind me is mightier than 
 I, whose shoes I am not sufficient to 
 carry: he himself will immerse you in 
 the Holy Spirit and fire: whose fan is 
 in his hand, and he will thoroughly 
 cleanse his threshingfloor, and will 
 gather his wheat into the storehouse; 
 but the chaff he will burn up with un- 
 quenchable fire. 
 
 Levi. Then Joshua arrives from 
 Galilee over upon the Jordan unto 
 Johanan, for to be immersed under 
 him. But the one was prohibiting 
 him, saying, 
 
 Johanan. I, I have need to be im- 
 mersed under thee: and thou, comest 
 thou unto me? 
 
 Levi. But Joshua answered and 
 spoke unto him, 
 
 Joshua. Acquit thou it at present: 
 for thus it is a beseeming thing to us 
 to fulfil all righteousness. 
 
 Levi. Then he acquits him. But 
 Joshua, being immersed, straightway 
 ascended from the water: and, lo, the 
 heavens were opened, and he saw the 
 Spirit of God descending as if a dove, 
 coming over upon him: and. lo, a 
 voice out of the heavens, saying, 
 
 Gad. This is my Son the David, in 
 whom I wellthought. 
 Scene 4. The wilderness. Jerusalem. 
 A mountain. 
 
 Levi. Then Joshua was led up 
 under the Spirit into the wilderness 
 
JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 ACT I. 
 
 to be tempted under the devil. And 
 he fasted forty days and forty nights 
 and afterward he hungered. And 
 the one tempting approached and 
 spoke to him, 
 
 The devil. If thou art a son of the 
 God, speak thou in order that these 
 stones might become loaves of bread. 
 
 Levi. But the one answered and 
 spoke, 
 
 Joshua. It has been written, The 
 human shall not live upon bread 
 alone, howbeit upon every saying 
 going out through the mouth of God. 
 
 Levi. Then the devil receives him 
 beside himself into the holy city, and 
 stood him over upon the loftiest 
 battlement of the temple, and says to 
 him, 
 
 The devil. If thou art a son of the 
 God, cast thou thyself down: for it 
 has been written, that He will com- 
 mand his angels concerning thee: and 
 over their hands they shall take thee, 
 lest at any time thou mightcst 
 stumble thy foot unto a stone. 
 
 Levi. Joshua was speaking to him, 
 
 Joshua. Again it has been written, 
 Thou shalt not deliberately tempt the 
 Lord thy God. 
 
 Levi. Again the devil receives him 
 beside himself into an exceedingly 
 high mountain, and shows to him all 
 the kingdoms of the world, and their 
 glory; and spoke to him, 
 
 The devil. All these things I will 
 to thee, if assuredly thou might- 
 cst fall down and worship me. 
 
 Levi. Then Joshua says to him, 
 
 Joshua. Retire thou, Satan: for it 
 has been written, Thou shalt worship 
 the Lord thy God, and to him alone 
 thou shalt minister. 
 
 Levi. Then the devil acquits him; 
 and, lo, angels approached, and were 
 serving him. 
 
 ernaum. Lake of Gali- 
 Galilee. 
 
 Levi. But when he heard that 
 
 Johanan was delivered up, he with- 
 drew into Galilee. And he left Naz- 
 areth behind, and came and resided 
 into Capernaum, the city beside the 
 sea, in the borders of Zebulun and 
 Naphtali: in order that there might 
 be fulfilled the thing spoken through 
 Isaiah the prophet, saying. 
 
 The land of Zebulun, and the land 
 of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, 
 beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the 
 nations, the people the one sitting in 
 darkness saw great light; and to the 
 ones sitting in the country and shadow 
 of death, light sprang up to them. 
 
 From then Joshua began to herald, 
 and to say, 
 
 Joshua. Reconsider ye : for the king- 
 dom of the heavens has neared. 
 
 Levi. But he, walking beside the 
 sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, 
 Simon the one denominated Petros 
 [Peter], and Andrew his brother, cast- 
 ing a drag-net into the sea: for they 
 were fishers. And he says to them, 
 
 Joshua. Hither ye behind me, and 
 I will make you fishers of humans. 
 
 Levi. But the ones immediately 
 acquitted the nets and followed him. 
 And he advanced' thence and saw 
 other two brothers, Jacob the son of 
 Zebedee, and Johanan his brother, in 
 the boat in company with Zebedee 
 their father, repairing their nets: and 
 he called them. But the o>ics im- 
 mediately acquitted the boat and 
 their father and followed him. 
 
 And Joshua was leading about in 
 the whole Galilee, teaching in their 
 synagogues, and heralding the glad 
 tidings of the kingdom, and curing 
 every disease' and every illness among 
 the people. And his fame came away 
 into the whole Syria: and they 
 brought unto him all the ones faring 
 badly, constrained with various dis- 
 eases and tests, and fiendized, and 
 moonized, and paralytics, and he 
 cured them. And there followed him 
 
SCENE VI. 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 many crowds from Galilee, and De- 
 capolis, and Hierosoluma, and Judaea, 
 and from beyond the Jordan. 
 
 Scene 6. A mountain in Galilee. 
 Levi. But he saw the crowds and 
 ascended into the mountain: and 
 when he sat down, his disciples came 
 unto him: and he opened his mouth 
 and was teaching them, saying, 
 
 Joshua. Happy are the poor in the 
 Spirit; because theirs is the kingdom 
 of the heavens. 
 
 Happy are the ones mourning; be- 
 cause they themselves shall be com- 
 forted. 
 
 Happy are the meek; because they 
 themselves shall inherit the earth. 
 
 Happy are the ones hungering and 
 thirsting after the righteousness; be- 
 cause they themselves shall be suf- 
 ficed. 
 
 Happy are the merciful; because 
 
 they themselves shall obtain mercy. 
 
 Happy are the clean in the heart; 
 
 because they themselves shall see the 
 
 God. 
 
 Happy are the peacedoers; be- 
 cause they themselves shall be called 
 sons of God. 
 
 Happy arc the ones having been 
 pursued for righteousness' sake; be- 
 cause theirs is the kingdom of the 
 heavens. 
 
 Happy are ye whenever they might 
 reproach you, and pursue you, and 
 speak every evil thing against you 
 they lying, for my sake. Rejoice ye, 
 and be glad; because your hire is 
 much in the heavens: for thus they 
 pursued the prophets the ones before 
 you. 
 
 Ye, ye are the salt of the <jarth: but 
 if assuredly the salt might become 
 insipid, in what shall it be salted? it 
 is not yet mighty into one thing, 
 except to be cast without and trodden 
 down under the humans. 
 
 Ye, ye are the light of the world. 
 A city lying overabove a mountain 
 
 is not able to be hid. Neither do 
 they burn a lamp, and place it under 
 the modius [peck], howbeit over upon 
 the lampstand; and it shines to all 
 the ones in the dwelling. Thus let 
 your light shine in front of the humans, 
 to the intent that they might see your 
 beautiful works, and glorify your 
 Father the one in the heavens. 
 
 Never might ye deem that I came 
 to break down the law, or the proph- 
 ets: I did not come to break down, 
 howbeit to fulfil. For amen I say to 
 you, Until assuredly the heaven and 
 the earth might pass away, one yod 
 [i] or one little horn of a letter might 
 not ever pass away from the law, 
 until assuredly all things might be- 
 come. Therefore whosoever might 
 break one of these least command- 
 ments, and might teach the humans 
 thus, he shall be called least in the 
 kingdom of the heavens: but whoso- 
 ever might do and teach them, this one 
 shall be called great in the kingdom of 
 the heavens. For I say to you, that 
 Except assuredly your righteousness 
 might abound more than the righteous- 
 ness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye 
 might not ever enter into the kingdom 
 of the heavens. 
 
 Ye heard that it was spoken to the 
 ancients, 
 
 Thou shalt not murder; but who- 
 soever might murder shall be guilty 
 in the judging. 
 
 But I, I say to you, that 
 Everyone the one angered with his 
 brother shall be guilty in the judging: 
 but whosoever might speak to his 
 brother, Raca, shall be guilty in the 
 council: but whosoever might speak, 
 Fool, shall be guilty into the Gehenna 
 of the fire. Therefore if assuredly 
 thou mayest be bringing unto thy 
 present over upon the altar, and there 
 mightest remember that thy brother 
 has anything against thee ; acquit 
 there thy present in front of the altar, 
 
JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 ACT I. 
 
 and retire thou; first be conciliated 
 to thy brother, and then come and 
 bring unto thy present. Be thou one 
 well considering with thy adversary 
 quick, until whatever time thou art 
 in company with him in the way: lest 
 at any time the adversary might de- 
 liver line up to the judge, and the 
 judge to the officer, and thou shalt 
 be cast into guard. Amen I say to 
 thee, Thou mightest not ever come 
 out thence, until assuredly thou 
 mightest render the last quadrans. 
 
 Ye heard that it was spoken, 
 
 Thou shalt not commit adultery. 
 
 But I, I say to you, that 
 
 Everyone the one beholding a 
 woman unto the purpose to desire her 
 committed adultery with her already 
 in his heart. But if thy right eye 
 entraps thee, take thou it out, and 
 cast it from thee: for it is expedient 
 for thee in order that one of thy mem- 
 bers might be destroyed, and never 
 that thy whole body might be cast 
 into Gehenna. And if thy right 
 hand entraps thee, chop thou it out, 
 and cast it from thee: for it is expedi- 
 ent for thee in order that one of thy 
 members might be destroyed, and 
 never that thy whole body might 
 come away into Gehenna. 
 
 But it was spoken, 
 
 Whoso might put away his wife, 
 let him give her a divorce. 
 
 But I, I say to you, that 
 
 E cryonc the one putting away his 
 wife, saving for the cause of whoredom, 
 makes her to commit adultery, and 
 whosoever might marry a woman 
 having been put away commits adul- 
 tery. 
 
 Again, ye heard that it was spoken 
 to the ancients, 
 
 Thou shalt not forswear thyself, 
 but shalt render to the Lord thy oaths. 
 
 But I, I say to you, 
 
 Never to swear at all : neither by 
 the heaven; because it is the throne 
 
 of the God: nor by the earth; be- 
 cause it is the footstool of his feet: 
 nor by Hierosoluma; because it is 
 the city of the great King: neither 
 mightest thou swear by thy head; 
 because thou art not able to make 
 one hair white or black. But let 
 your word be, Yes, yes; No, no: but 
 the thing more abundant than these 
 is out of the Evil one. 
 
 Ye heard that it was spoken, 
 
 An eye instead of an eye, and a 
 tooth instead of a tooth. 
 
 But I, I say to you, 
 
 Never to resist the evil person: 
 howbeit whoever slaps thee on thy 
 right cheek, turn thou to him also the 
 other. And to the one wishing to be 
 judged with thee, and receive thy 
 undergarment, acquit thou to him 
 also the outcrgarment. And who- 
 ever shall impress thee for one mile, 
 retire thou in company with him two. 
 To the one requesting of thee give 
 thou; and from the one wishing to 
 borrow from thee never mightest thou 
 turn away. 
 
 Ye heard that it was spoken, 
 
 Thou shalt love thy neighbour; and, 
 Thou shalt hate thy enemy. 
 
 But I, I say to you, 
 
 Love ye your enemies, and pray on 
 behalf of the ones pursuing you: to 
 the intent that ye might become sons 
 of your Father the one in the heavens; 
 because he causes his sun to spring up 
 over upon evil ones and good ones, 
 and causes rain over upon righteous 
 ones and unrighteous ones. For if 
 assuredly ye might love the ones 
 loving you, what hire have ye? are 
 not even -the tax-collectors doing the 
 same? And if assuredly ye might 
 salute your brothers only, what are 
 ye doing more abundant than others.' 
 are not even the ones of the nations 
 doing the same? Therefore ye, ye 
 shall be perfect, as your heavenly 
 Father is perfect. 
 
SCENE VI. 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 Attend ye never to do your right- 
 eousness in front of the humans unto 
 the purpose to be gazed at by them: 
 but if ye do otherwise, ye do not have 
 hire beside your Father the one in the 
 heavens. 
 
 Therefore whenever thou mayest do 
 mercifulness, never mightest thou 
 trumpet in front of thee, as even the 
 dissemblers do in the syagogues and 
 in the streets, to the intent that they 
 might be glorified under the humans. 
 Amen I say to you, They secure their 
 hire. But when thou art doing merci- 
 fulness, never let thy left hand know 
 what] thy right hand does: to the in- 
 tent that thy mercifulness may be in 
 the hidden thing; and thy Father 
 the one beholding in the hidden thing 
 will render to thee. 
 
 And whenever ye may pray, ye 
 shall not be as the dissemblers; be- 
 cause they friendship to pray having 
 stood in the synagogues and in the 
 corners of the squares, to the intent 
 that they might appear to the humans. 
 Amen I say to you, They secure their 
 hire. But thou, whenever thou 
 mayest pray, enter thou into thy 
 private room; and shut thou thy 
 door and pray to thy Father the one 
 in the hidden thing; and thy Father 
 the one beholding in the hidden thing 
 will render to thee. But never might 
 ye, while praying, say the same thing 
 over and over again, as even the ones 
 of the nations: for they think that 
 they shall be favourably heard in 
 their much speaking. Therefore 
 never might ye be likened to them: 
 for the God your Father cognises 
 what things ye have need of before 
 the time for you to request of him. 
 Therefore ye, pray ye thus: 
 
 Our Father the one in the heavens, 
 let thy name be sanctified. Let thy 
 kingdom come. Let thy wish be 
 made to become even over earth, as 
 it is in heaven. Give thou to us to- 
 
 day our needful bread. And acquit 
 thou to us our debts, as also we, we 
 acquitted to our debtors. And never 
 mightest thou bring us along into 
 temptation, howbeit deliver thou us 
 from the Evil one. 
 
 For if assuredly ye might acquit 
 to the humans their trespasses, your 
 heavenly Father will acquit also to 
 you: but if assuredly ye might never 
 acquit to the humans their trespasses, 
 neither will your Father acquit your 
 trespasses. 
 
 But whenever ye may fast, never 
 become ye, as the dissemblers, sad- 
 countenanced: for they disfigure 
 their faces, to the intent that they 
 might appear to the humans to be 
 fasting. Amen I say to you, They 
 secure their hire. But thou, when 
 fasting, oil thou for thyself thy head, 
 and lave for thyself thy face; to the 
 intent that thou mightest never 
 appear to the humans to be fasting, 
 howbeit to thy Father the one in the 
 secreted thing; and thy Father the 
 one beholding in the secreted thing 
 will render to thee. 
 
 Never treasure ye to you treasures 
 over the earth, whither moth and 
 rust disfigure, and whither thieves 
 dig through and steal : but treasure 
 ye to you treasures in heaven, 
 whither neither moth nor rust dis- 
 figure, and whither thieves do not dig 
 through nor steal: for whither thy 
 treasure is, there also thy heart will 
 be. The lamp of the body is the eye: 
 therefore if assuredly thy eye may 
 be single, thy whole body shall be full 
 of light. But if assuredly thy eye may 
 be evil, thy whole body shall be full of 
 darkness. Therefore if the light the 
 one in thee is darkness, how dense is 
 the darkness ! No one is able to bond- 
 serve two lords: for either he will hate 
 the one, and love the different one; 
 or he will cling to one, and despise 
 the different one. Ye are not able to 
 
JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 ACT I. 
 
 bondserve God and mamon. On 
 this account I say to you. Never be 
 ye anxious for your sen], what ye 
 might eat, or what ye mighl drink; 
 nor ever for your body, what ye 
 might be clothed in. Is not the soul 
 more than the nourishment, and the 
 body than the clothing? Look ye 
 intently at the birds of the heaven; 
 because they do not sow, nor reap, 
 nor gather into storehouses; and 
 your heavenly Father nourishes them. 
 Are ye not rather, ye, of more value 
 than they? But who out of you by 
 being anxious is able to add one cubit 
 over upon his stature? And why 
 are ye anxious concerning clothing? 
 Learn ye the lesson from the lilies of 
 the Held, how they grow; they do not 
 labour, nor spin: but I say to you, 
 that Not even Solomon in all his glory 
 was arrayed as one of these. But if the 
 God thus attires the grass of the field, 
 to-day being, and to-morrow being 
 east into an oven, will he not by much 
 rather attire you, littlebelief ones? 
 Therefore never might ye be anxious, 
 saying, What might we eat, or what 
 might we drink, or in what might we 
 be arrayed? For after all these 
 things the nations seek: for your 
 heavenly Father cognises that ye 
 need quite all these things. But seek 
 it his kingdom and rightei tusness ; 
 and all these things shall be added 
 to you. Therefore never might ye 
 be anxious into the to-morrow: for 
 the to-morrow shall be anxious of 
 itself. Enough t<» the day is its bad- 
 ness. 
 
 Never judge ye, in order that ye 
 never mighl be judged. For in what 
 judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; 
 and in what measure ye measure, it 
 shall l>e measured to you. Hut why 
 beholdest thou the mote the one in 
 thy brother's eve, but dost not con- 
 template the beam in thy own eye? 
 Or how will thou speak to thy brother, 
 
 Acquit thou me, 1 will cast out the 
 mote out of thy eye; and, lo, the 
 beam is in thy own eye? Dissembler, 
 first cast thou out the beam out of 
 thy own eye; and then thou shalt 
 behold clearly to cast out the mote 
 out of thy brother's eye. 
 
 Never might ye give the holy thing 
 to the dogs, nor ever cast your pearls 
 in front of the hogs, lest at any time 
 they might trample them under their 
 feet; and they might turn and rend you. 
 
 Request ye, and it shall be given to 
 you; seek ye, and ye shall find; knock 
 ye, and it shall be opened to you: for 
 everyone the one requesting receives; 
 and the one seeking finds; and to the 
 one knocking it shall be opened. Or 
 what human is there out of you, of 
 whom his son shall request bread, 
 will he ever give over to him a stone? 
 or shall he request also a fish, will he 
 ever give over to him a serpent? 
 Therefore if ye, being evil, ye cognise 
 to give good gifts to your beams, by 
 how much rather will your Father 
 the one in the heavens give good 
 things to the ones requesting of him? 
 Therefore all things as many as as- 
 suredly ye may wish in order that the 
 humans may do to you, thus also ye, 
 do ye to them: for this is the law and 
 the prophets. 
 
 Enter ye through the narrow ga^e ; 
 because wide is the gate, and broad 
 is the way, the one leading away into 
 the destruction, and many are the 
 mii-s entering through it; because 
 narrow is the gate, and having been 
 afflicted is the way, the one leading 
 away into the life, and few are the 
 ones finding it . 
 
 Beware ye of the false prophets, 
 whoever come unto you in sheep's 
 clothing, but from within they are 
 extortionous wolves. From their 
 fruits ye shall fully know them. Do 
 they ever at all collect grapes from 
 thorns, or figs from thistles? Thus 
 
SCENE VI. 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 9 
 
 every good fruit-tree brings forth 
 beautiful fruits; but the rotten fruit- 
 tree brings forth evil fruits. A good 
 fruit-tree is not able to bring forth 
 evil fruits, neither is a rotten fruit- 
 tree able to bring forth beautiful 
 fruits. Every fruit-tree never bring- 
 ing forth beautiful fruit is chopped 
 out, and is cast into the fire. So then 
 at least from their fruits ye shall 
 fully know them Not everyone the 
 one saying to me, Lord, Lord, shall 
 enter into the kingdom of the heav- 
 ens; howbeit the one doing the wish 
 of my Father the one in the heavens. 
 Many will speak to me in that day, 
 Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in 
 thy own name? and in thy own name 
 cast out fiends? and in thy own name 
 do many mighty works? And then 
 I will confess to them, that I neither 
 at any time knew you: retreat ye 
 from me, the ones working the in- 
 iquity. 
 
 Therefore everyone whoever hears 
 these words of mine, and does them, 
 shall be likened to a prudent man, 
 whoever built his dwelling over upon 
 the rock: and the rain descended, 
 and the rivers came, and the winds 
 blew, and fell unto that dwelling; 
 and it did not fall: for it had been 
 foundatcd over upon the rock. And 
 i me the one hearing these words 
 of mine, and never doing them, shall 
 be likened to a foolish man, whoever 
 built his dwelling over upon the sand: 
 and the rain descended, and the rivers 
 came, and the winds blew, and stum- 
 bled on that dwelling; and it fell: 
 and the falling of it was great. 
 
 Levi. And it became, when Joshua 
 ended these words, the crowds were 
 astounded upon his doctrine: for he 
 was one teaching them as one having 
 authority, and not as their scribes. 
 
 ACT II. 
 Scene i. A road in Galilee. Caper- 
 naum. The lake. Gadara. 
 
 /.'."'/. But when he descended from 
 the mountain, many crowds followed 
 him. And, lo, a leper approached 
 and was worshipping him, saying, 
 
 A leper. Lord, if assuredly thou 
 mayest wish, thou art able to cleanse 
 me. 
 
 Levi. And he stretched out the 
 hand and touched him, saying, 
 
 Joshua. I wish it; be thou cleansed. 
 
 Levi. And immediately his leprosy 
 was cleansed. And Joshua says to 
 him, 
 
 Joshua. See thou, never mightest 
 thou speak to one; howbeit retire 
 thou, show thyself to the priest, and 
 bring unto the present which Mosheh 
 ordained, into a testimony to them. 
 
 Levi. But when he entered into 
 Capernaum, there came unto him a 
 centurion, beseeching him, and say- 
 ing, 
 
 A centurion. Lord, my servant-hoy 
 has been cast down in the dwelling 
 paralysed, dreadfully tested. 
 
 Levi. And he says to him, 
 
 Joshua. I, I will come and cure 
 him. 
 
 Levi. But the centurion answered 
 and was speaking, 
 
 The centurion. Lord, I am not 
 sufficient in order that thou mightest 
 enter under my roof: howbeit only 
 speak thou with a word, and my 
 servant-hoy shall be healed. For 
 also I, I am a htiman arranged under 
 authority, having under myself sol- 
 diers: and I say to this one, Go thou; 
 and he goes: and to another, Come 
 thou; and he comes: and to my bond- 
 servant, Do thou this; and he does j£. 
 
 Levi. But when Joshua heard it, 
 he marvelled, and spoke to the ones 
 following, 
 
 Joshua. Amen I say to you, Not 
 even in Israel found I so much be- 
 lief. But I say to you, that Many 
 shall come from eastern regions and 
 western regions, and shall accumb in 
 
10 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 ACT II. 
 
 company with Abraham, and Isaac, 
 and Jacob, in the kingdom of the 
 heavens: but the sons of the kingdom 
 shall be cast#out into the outer dark- 
 ness: there shall be the weeping and 
 the gnashing of the teeth there. 
 
 Levi. And Joshua spoke to the 
 cenl uric >n , 
 
 Joshua. Retire thou; as thou be- 
 lievedst, let it be made to become to 
 
 thee. 
 
 Levi. And the servant-hoy was 
 
 healed in that hour. 
 
 And Joshua came into the dwelling 
 of Peter and saw his mother-in-law 
 having been cast down, and sick of a 
 fever. And he touched her hand, 
 and the fever acquitted her: and she 
 arose, and was serving him. But 
 when evening became, they brought 
 unto him many ficndized ones: and 
 he cast out the spirits with a word, 
 and cured all the ones faring badly: 
 to the intent that there might be ful- 
 filled the thing spoken through Isaiah 
 the prophet, saying, 
 
 He himself received our infirmities, 
 and carried our diseases. 
 
 But Joshua saw crowds about him 
 and bade to come away into the o1 her 
 side. And one, a scribe, approached 
 and spoke to him, 
 
 A scribe. Teacher, I will follow 
 thee whithersoever thou mayest come 
 away. 
 
 Levi. And Joshua says to him, 
 
 Josliua. The foxes have burrows, 
 and the birds of the heaven^ nest ; but 
 the Son of the human does not have 
 where he may couch the head. 
 
 Levi. But a different one of the 
 disciples spc >ke to him, 
 
 A disciple. Lord, permit thou mc 
 first to come away and bury my 
 
 fat her. 
 
 Levi. But Joshua says to him, 
 Joshua. Follow thou me; and ac- 
 quit the dead t<> bury their own dead. 
 Levi. And when he embarked into 
 
 the boat, his disciples followed him. 
 And, lo, there became a great earth- 
 quake in the sea, so as for the boat 
 to be covered under the waves: but 
 he himself was sleeping. And they 
 approached and raised him up, say- 
 ing, 
 
 The disciples. Lord, save thou; 
 we are being destroyed. 
 
 Levi. And he says to them, 
 
 Josliua. Why are ye cowardly, 
 littlebelief ones? 
 
 Levi. Then he arose and rebuked 
 the winds and the sea; and there be- 
 came a great calm. But the humans 
 marvelled, saying, 
 
 The disciples. What manner of man 
 is this, that even the winds and the 
 sea obey him? 
 
 Levi. And when he came into the 
 other side into the country of the 
 Gaderenes, there met him two fiendized 
 ones coming forth out of the tombs, 
 exceedingly fierce, so as never to be 
 mighty anyone for to pass by through 
 that way. And, lo, they cried out, 
 saying, 
 
 The fiends. What have we to do 
 with thee, Son of the God? earnest 
 thou here to test us before the season? 
 
 Levi. But there was far from them 
 a herd of many hogs feeding. But 
 the demons were beseeching him, 
 saying, 
 
 The demons. If thou castest us 
 out, commission thou us into the herd 
 of the hogs. 
 
 Levi. And he spoke to them, 
 
 Joshua. Retire ye. 
 
 Levi. But the ones came out and 
 came away into the hogs: and, lo, all 
 the herd rushed down the precipice 
 into the sea; and they died of! in the 
 waters. But the ones feeding them 
 lied; and they came away into the 
 city and reported everything, and 
 the things of the fiendized ones. And, 
 lo, all the city came out into meeting 
 Joshua: and when they saw him, they 
 
SCENE II. 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 11 
 
 besought him to the intent that he 
 might pass on from their borders. 
 Scene 2. Capernaum. 
 Levi. And he embarked into a boat 
 and crossed over, and came into his 
 own city. And, lo, they were bring- 
 ing unto him a paralytic, having been 
 cast over a couch: and Joshua saw 
 their belief and spoke to the paralytic, 
 Joshua. Be thou of good cheer i 
 beam; thy sins are acquitted. 
 
 Levi. And, lo, certain of the scribes 
 spoke in themselves, 
 
 Certain scribes. This one defames. 
 
 Levi. And Joshua saw their de- 
 vices and spoke, 
 
 Joshua. To what purpose devise 
 ye evil things in your hearts? For 
 which is easier, to speak, Thy sins are 
 acquitted; or to speak, Arise thou, and 
 walk? But in order that ye may cog- 
 nise that the Son of the human has 
 authority over the earth to acquit 
 sins (Levi. Then he says to the 
 paralytic), Arise thou and take tip 
 thy couch, and retire into thy house. 
 
 Levi. And he arose and came away 
 into his house. But when the crowds 
 saw it. they feared, and glorified the 
 God, the one who gave such authority 
 to the humans. 
 
 And Joshua passes along thence 
 and saw a human, denominated 
 Maththew, sitting over upon the tax- 
 office; and he says to him, 
 
 Joshua. Follow thou me. 
 
 Levi. And he stood up and followed 
 him. And it became, as he is re- 
 clining at tabic in the dwelling, lo, 
 even many tax-collectors and sinners 
 came and were reclining with Joshua 
 and his disciples. And the Pharisees 
 saw it and were saying to his, disciples, 
 
 The Pharisees. On what account 
 does your Teacher eat in company 
 with the tax-collectors and sinners? 
 
 Levi. But the one heard it and 
 spoke, 
 
 Joshua. The ones being mighty do 
 
 not have need of a physician, how- 
 beit the ones faring badly. But go 
 ye and learn what this is, I wish 
 mercy, and not sacrifice: for I did not 
 come to call righteous ones, howbeit 
 sinners. 
 
 Levi. Then the disciples of Johanan 
 come unto him, saying, 
 
 Johanan's disciples. On what ac- 
 count do we and the Pharisees, we 
 fast, but thy disciples do not fast? 
 
 Levi. And Joshua spoke to them, 
 
 Joshua. Are the sons of the bride- 
 chamber ever able to mourn, as long 
 a% the bridegroom is in company with 
 them? but days shall come, when- 
 ever the bridegroom might be borne 
 away from them, and then they will 
 fast. But no one pieces a piece of 
 unfulled cloth upon an old garment: 
 for its fulness takes from the gar- 
 ment, and a worse division becomes. 
 Neither do they put fresh wine into 
 old skin-bottles: but if they do other- 
 wise, the skin-bottles arc rent, and 
 the wine is poured out, and the skin- 
 bottles are destroyed: howbeit they 
 put fresh wine into new skin-bottles, 
 and both are preserved. 
 
 Levi. While he is talking these 
 things to them.lo.a ruler approached 
 and was worshipping him, saying, 
 that 
 
 A ruler. My daughter at present 
 deceased; howbeit come thou and 
 place thy hand over upon her, and 
 she shall live. 
 
 Levi. And Joshua arose and fol- 
 lowed him, and so did his disciples'. 
 And, lo, a woman, having an issue of 
 blood twelve years, approached from 
 behind and touched the hem of his 
 garment: for she was saying in her- 
 self. 
 
 A woman. If assuredly I might 
 only touch his garment, I shall be 
 saved. 
 
 Levi. But Joshua turned, and saw 
 her, and spoke, 
 
12 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 ACT II. 
 
 Joshua. Be thou of good cheer, 
 daughter; thy belief has saved thee. 
 Levi. And the woman was saved 
 from that hour. And when Joshua 
 came into the ruin's dwelling, and 
 saw the pipers, and the crowd making 
 an uproar, he was saying, 
 
 Joshua. Withdraw ye : for the maid- 
 en did not die off, howbeit she is sleep- 
 ing. 
 
 Levi. And they were laughing at 
 him. But when the crowd was cast 
 out, he entered in and took hold of 
 her hand, and the maiden arose. And 
 this repute came out into that whore 
 land. 
 
 And when Joshua is passing along 
 thence, two blind men followed him, 
 crying out, and saying, 
 
 ■ blind men. Have thou mercy 
 on us, Son of David. 
 
 Levi. But when he came into the 
 dwelling, the blind men came unto 
 him: and Joshua says to them, 
 
 Joshua. Believe ye that I am able 
 to do this? 
 
 Levi. They say to him, 
 The two blind men. Yes, Lord. 
 Levi. Then he touched their eyes, 
 saying, 
 
 Joshua. According to your belief 
 let it be made to become to you. 
 
 Levi. And their eyes were opened. 
 And Joshua strictly charged them, 
 saying, 
 
 Joshua. Sec ye, never let one 
 know it. 
 
 Levi. But the ones came out and 
 thoroughly spoke of him in that 
 wh( ile land. 
 
 But as tluy are coming out, lo, 
 they brought unto him a dumb man 
 fiendized. And when the fiend was 
 cast out, tin 1 dumb ;;;.;;/ talked: and 
 the crowds marvelled, saying, 
 
 The crowds. It neither at any time 
 appeared thus in Israel. 
 
 Levi, but Hi.- Pharisees were say- 
 ing, 
 
 The Pharisees. He casts out the 
 fiends by the ruler of the fiends. 
 Scbne 3. Cities and villages and a 
 mountain of Galilee. 
 Levi. And Joshua was leading on 
 about all the cities and the villages, 
 teaching in their synagogues, and 
 heralding the glad tidings of the 
 kingdom, and curing every disease 
 and every illness. But when he saw 
 the crowds, he was moved with pity 
 concerning them; because they were 
 having been harassed and hurled 
 down, as if sheep never having a 
 shepherd. Then he says to his 
 disciples, 
 
 Joshua. The harvest indeed is im- 
 mense, but the w r orkers are few: 
 therefore supplicate ye the Lord of 
 the harvest, to the intent that he might 
 cast out workers into his harvest. 
 
 Levi. And he called unto him his 
 twelve disciples and gave to them 
 authority over unclean spirits, so as 
 to cast them out, and to cure every 
 disease and every illness. But the 
 names of the twelve commissioners 
 are these: 
 
 The first, Simon, the one denomi- 
 nated Petros [Peter], and Andreas 
 [Andrew] his brother; 
 
 and Jacob the son of Zebedec, and 
 J oh an an his brother; 
 
 Philip and Bartholomew; 
 Thomas, and Maththew [Levi Ben- 
 lialpai] the tax-collector; 
 
 Jacob the son of Halpai, and Thad- 
 deus ; 
 
 Simon the Canana?an [Zealot], and 
 Judah Iscariot, the one who even de- 
 livered him up. These the twelve 
 Joshua commissioned, and charged 
 them, saying, 
 
 Joshua. Never might ye come away 
 into a way of the nations, and never 
 might ye enter into a city of Samari- 
 tans: but go ye rather unto the sheep 
 the ones having been destroyed of the 
 house of Israel. But as ye are going, 
 
SCENE III. 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 13 
 
 herald, saying, that The kingdom of 
 the heavens has neared. Cure ye 
 ones being sick, raise dead ones, 
 cleanse lepers, cast out fiends: gratu- 
 itously ye received, gratuitously give. 
 Never might ye possess gold, nor ever 
 silver, nor ever copper, into your 
 girdles; never a pouch into the way, 
 nor ever two undergarments, nor ever 
 shoes, nor ever a staff: for the worker 
 is worthy of his nourishment. But 
 into whatsoever city or village ye 
 might enter, investigate who in it is 
 worthy; and abide ye there until 
 assuredly ye might come out thence. 
 But when ye are entering into the 
 dwelling salute it. And if assuredly 
 the dwelling may indeed be worthy, 
 let your peace come over upon it: but 
 if assuredly it may never be worthy, 
 let your peace return over upon you. 
 And whoso might never accept you, 
 nor ever hear your words, when ye 
 are coming forth without that dwell- 
 ing or city, shake out the dust of your 
 feet. Amen I say to you, It shall be 
 more forbearable for the land of 
 Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of 
 judging, than for that city. 
 
 Lo, I, I commission you as sheep 
 in the midst of wolves: therefore be- 
 come ye prudent as the serpents, and 
 unmixed as the doves. But beware 
 ye of the humans: for they will de- 
 liver you up into councils, and they 
 will scourge you in their synagogues; 
 but ye shall be led also over upon 
 governors and kings for my sake, 
 into a testimony to them and to the 
 nations. But whenever they might 
 deliver you up, never might ye be 
 anxious how or what ye might talk: 
 for it shall be given to you in that 
 hour what ye might talk. For ye, 
 ye, are not the ones talking, howbeit 
 it is the Spirit of your Father the one 
 talking in you. But a brother will 
 deliver up a brother into death, and 
 a father a beam; and beams will 
 
 stand up in rebellion over upon 
 parents, and put them to death. 
 And ye shall be ones hated under all 
 on account of my name: but the one 
 who endured into the end, this one 
 shall be saved. But whenever they may 
 pursue you in this city, flee ye into 
 the different one: for amen I say to 
 you, Ye might not ever end the cities 
 of Israel, until the Son of the human 
 might come. 
 
 A disciple is not above the teacher, 
 nor a bondservant above his lord. 
 It is enough for the disciple in order 
 that he might become as his teacher, 
 and the bondservant as his lord. If 
 they surnamed the master of the house 
 Beelzebul, by how much rather will 
 they surname his household ones? 
 Therefore never might ye fear them: 
 for there is nothing having been cov- 
 ered, which shall not be revealed; and 
 hid, which shall not be known. That 
 which I say to you in the dark, speak 
 ye in the light: and that which ye 
 hear into the ear, herald ye over the 
 housetops. And never fear ye from 
 the ones killing the body, but never 
 being able to kill the soul: but rather 
 fear ye the one being able to destroy 
 both soul and body in Gehenna. Are 
 not two sparrows sold for an assarius ? 
 and one out of them shall not fall 
 over upon the earth apart from your 
 Father. But even the hairs of your 
 head are all having been numbered. 
 Therefore never fear ye; ye are of 
 more value than many sparrows. 
 Therefore everyone whoever shall 
 confess that he is in me in front of the 
 humans, also I, I will confess that I 
 am in him in front of my Father the 
 one in the heavens. But whoever 
 assuredly might deny me in front of 
 the humans, also I, I will deny him 
 in front of m^ T Father the one in the 
 heavens. 
 
 Never might ye deem that I came 
 to cast peace over upon the earth: I 
 
14 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 ACT II. 
 
 did not come to cast peace, howbeit 
 a sword. For I came to divide in two 
 a human against his father, and a 
 daughter against her mother, and a 
 daughter-in-law against her mother- 
 in-law: and the human's enemies shall 
 be his household ones. The one friend- 
 shipping father or mother above me 
 is not worthy of me; and the one 
 friendshipping son or daughter above 
 me is not worthy of me. And he who 
 does not receive his cross, and follow 
 behind me is not worthy of me. The 
 one who found his soul shall destroy 
 it: and the one who destroyed his soul 
 for my sake shall find it. 
 
 The one accepting you accepts me, 
 and the one accepting me accepts the 
 one who commissioned me. The one 
 accepting a prophet into the name of 
 a prophet shall receive a prophet's 
 hire; and the one accepting a right- 
 eous one into the name of a righteous 
 one shall receive a righteous one's hire. 
 And whosoever might cause one of 
 these little ones to drink a cup of cool 
 water only, into the name of a disciple, 
 amen I say to you, he might not ever 
 destroy his hire. 
 
 Scene 4. The cities of Galilee. 
 
 Levi. And it became, when Joshua 
 ended regulating to his twelve dis- 
 ciples, he passed on thence for to 
 teach and herald in their cities. 
 
 But when Johanan heard in the jail 
 the works of the Messiah, he sent 
 through his disciples, and spoke to 
 him, 
 
 Johanan's disciples. Thou, art thou 
 the one coming, or may we expect a 
 different onel 
 
 Levi. And Joshua answered and 
 spoke to them, 
 
 Joshua. Go ye and report to Joha- 
 nan what things ye hear and behold: 
 blind ones receive sight, and lame 
 walk; lepers are cleansed, and 
 deaf ones hear; and dead ones are 
 raised up; and poor ones have the 
 
 glad tidings announced to them. And 
 happy is he, whosoever might never 
 be entrapped in me. 
 
 Levi. But while these are going, 
 Joshua began to say to the crowds 
 concerning Johanan, 
 
 Joshua. What came ye out into 
 the wilderness to gaze at? a reed 
 shaken under the wind? Howbeit 
 what came ye out to see? a human 
 having been attired in soft clothes? 
 Lo, the ones wearing the soft clothes 
 arc in the houses of the kings. How- 
 beit what came ye out for? to see a 
 prophet? Yes, I say to you, and 
 more abundantly than a prophet. 
 This is he, concerning whom it has 
 been written, Lo, I, I commission my 
 messenger before thy face, who shall 
 furnish thy way in front of thee. 
 Amen I say to you, There' has not 
 arisen among ones begotten of women 
 a greater than Johanan the immerser: 
 but the least one in the kingdom of 
 the heavens is greater than he. But 
 from the days of Johanan the im- 
 merser until at present the kingdom 
 of the heavens suffers violence, and 
 violent ones snatch it away For all 
 the prophets and the law prophesied 
 until Johanan: and if ye wish to ac- 
 cept him, he himself is Elijah, the 
 one being about to come. The one 
 having ears to hear, let him hear. 
 
 But to what shall I liken this gen- 
 eration? It is like to children sitting 
 in the markets, who voice unto the 
 different ones, and say, We piped to 
 you, and ye did not dance; we la- 
 mented, and ye did not bewail. For 
 Johanan came neither eating nor 
 drinking, and they say, He has a 
 fiend. The Son of the human came 
 eating and drinking, and they say, Lo, 
 a gluttonous human, and a wine- 
 drinker, a friend of tax-collectors and 
 sinners! And wisdom was justified 
 from her works. 
 
 Levi. Then he began to reproach 
 
SCENE V. 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 15 
 
 the cities in which the most of his 
 mighty works became; because they 
 did not reconsider. 
 
 Joshua. Woe to thee, Chorazin! 
 woe to thee, Bcthsaida! because' if 
 there became in Tyre and Sidon 
 the mighty works the ones which 
 became in you, they assuredly re- 
 considered of old in sackcloth and 
 ashes. Nevertheless I say to you, 
 It shall be more forbearable for Tyre 
 and Sidon in the day of judging, than 
 for you. And thou Capernaum* 
 shalt thou ever be exalted unto 
 heaven? Thou shalt be caused to 
 descend unto the grave ; because if there 
 were made to become in Sodom the 
 mighty works the ones which became 
 in thee, it assuredly abode up to this 
 very day. Nevertheless I say to you, 
 that It shall be more forbearable for 
 the land of Sodom in the day of judg- 
 ing, than for thee. 
 
 Levi. In that season Joshua an- 
 swered and spoke, 
 
 Joshua. I confess out to thee, 
 Father, Lord of the heaven and the 
 earth; because thou hiddest these 
 things from wise and understanding 
 ones, and thou revealedst them to in- 
 fants. Yes, the Father; because thus 
 it became wellthought in front of 
 thee. All things were delivered up to 
 me under my Father: and no one 
 fully knows the Son, except the Father; 
 neither does anyone fully know the 
 Father, except the Son, and he to 
 whomsoever the Son may intend to 
 reveal him. Hither ye unto me, all 
 the ones labouring and having been 
 burdened, and I, I will repose you. 
 Take ye my yoke over upon you, and 
 learn from me ; because I am meek 
 and lowly in the heart: and ye shall 
 find repose to your souls. For my 
 yoke is kind, and my burden is light. 
 Scene 5. Grainfields. A synagogue. 
 Galilee. 
 
 Levi. In that season Joshua went 
 
 on the sabbath day through the grain- 
 fields; but his disciples hungered, and 
 began to pluck heads of grain, and to 
 eat. But the Pharisees saw it and 
 spoke to him, 
 
 The Pharisees. Lo, thy disciples do 
 that which it is not authorised to do 
 in the sabbath. 
 
 Levi. But the one spoke to them, 
 
 Joshua. Did ye not read what 
 David did, when he hungered, and 
 the ones in company with him; how 
 lie entered into the house of the God, 
 and they ate the shewbread, which 
 it was not an authorised thing for him 
 to eat, neither for the ones in com- 
 pany with him, except for the priests 
 alone? Or did ye not read in the law, 
 that on the sabbath day the priests in 
 the temple profane the sabbath, and 
 are guiltless? But I say to you, that 
 One greater than the temple is here. 
 But if ye had known what this is, I ' 
 wish mercy, and not sacrifice, ye 
 assuredly did not proscribe the guilt- 
 less. For the Son of the human is 
 Lord of the sabbath. 
 
 Levi. And he passed on thence and 
 came into their synagogue: and, lo, 
 there was a human having a withered 
 hand. And they interrogated him, 
 saying, 
 
 The Pharisees. Whether is it au- 
 thorised to cure on the sabbath dayf 
 
 Levi. In order that they might 
 accuse him. But the one spoke to 
 them, 
 
 Joshua. What human shall there 
 be out of you, who shall have one 
 sheep, and if assuredly this might fall 
 over into a ditch on the sabbath day, 
 will he not lay hold on it, and raise it 
 up? Therefore by how much is a 
 human of more value than a sheep! 
 So that it is authorised to do beauti- 
 fully on the' sabbath day. 
 
 Levi. Then he says to the human, 
 
 Joshua. Stretch thou out thy hand. 
 
 Levi. And he stretched it out; and 
 
16 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 ACT II. 
 
 it was restored sound, as the other. 
 But the Pharisees came out and re- 
 ceived consultation against him, to 
 the intent that they might destroy 
 him. But Joshua knew it a>id with- 
 drew thence: and many followed him, 
 and he cured them all; and he rebuked 
 them, in order that they never might 
 make him manifest: in order that 
 tlicrc might be fulfilled the thing 
 spoken through Isaiah the prophet, 
 saying, 
 
 Lo, my boy whom I preferred; 
 my beloved in whom my soul well- 
 thought: I will place my Spirit over 
 upon him, and he will report judging 
 to the nations. He will not strive, 
 nor clamour; neither shall anyone 
 hear his voice in the squares. A 
 reed having been crushed he will not 
 fracture, and smoking flax he will not 
 quench, until assuredly he might cast 
 out the judging into victory. And in 
 his name the nations shall hope. 
 
 Then there was brought unto him 
 one fiendized, blind and dumb: and 
 he cured him, so as for the dumb one 
 to talk' and behold. And all the 
 crowds were astonished, and were 
 saying, 
 
 The crowds. Is this one ever at all 
 the Son of David? 
 
 Levi. But the Pharisees heard it 
 and spoke, 
 
 The Pharisees. This one does not 
 cast out the fiends, except by the Beel- 
 zebul the ruler of the fiends. 
 
 Levi. But he, cognising their de- 
 vices, spoke to them, 
 
 Joshua. Every kingdom parted 
 against itself is desolated; and every 
 city or dwelling parted against itself 
 shall not be made to stand. And if 
 the Satan casts out the Satan, he was 
 parted over upon himself; therefore 
 how shall his kingdom be made to 
 stand? And if I, I by Beelzcbul cast 
 out the funds, by whom do your sons 
 cast them out? on this account they 
 
 themselves shall be your judges. But 
 if I by the Spirit of God, I cast out the 
 fiends, so then the kingdom of the 
 God anticipated over upon you. Or 
 how is anyone able to enter into the 
 dwelling of the mighty one, and 
 plunder his vessels, except assuredly 
 he might first bind the mighty one? 
 and then he will plunder his dwelling. 
 The o-ne never being in company with 
 me is against me; and the one never 
 gathering in company with me scat- 
 ters. On this account I say to you, 
 All sin and defamation shall be ac- 
 quitted to the humans; but the defa- 
 mation of the Spirit shall not be ac- 
 quitted. And whosoever might speak 
 a word against the Son of the human, 
 it shall be acquitted to him: but who- 
 soever might speak against the Holy 
 Spirit, it shall not ever be acquitted 
 to him, neither in this age, nor in the 
 one about to be. Either make ye the 
 fruit-tree beautiful, and its fruit 
 beautiful; or make the fruit-tree 
 rotten, and its fruit rotten: for the 
 fruit-tree is known out of the fruit. 
 Progeny of vipers, how are ye, being 
 evil, able to talk good things ? for out of 
 the abundance of the heart the mouth 
 talks. The good human out of the 
 good treasure casts out the good 
 things; and the evil human out of the 
 evil treasure casts out evil things. 
 But I say to you, that Every idle say. 
 ing which the humans shall talk, they 
 shall render account concerning it in 
 the day of judging. For out of thy 
 words thou shalt be justified, and out of 
 thy words thou shalt be proscribed. 
 
 Levi. Then certain of the scribes 
 and Pharisees answered him, saying, 
 
 Certain scribes & Pharisees. Teacher, 
 we wish to see a sign from thee. 
 
 Levi. But the one answered and 
 spoke to them, 
 
 Joshua. An evil and adulterous 
 generation seeks after a sign; and a 
 sign shall not. be given to it, except 
 
SCENE V. 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 17 
 
 the sign of Jonah the prophet: for as 
 even Jonah was in the belly of the 
 sea-monster three days and three 
 nights; thus shall the Son of the 
 human be in the heart of the earth 
 three days and three nights. The 
 men of Nineveh shall stand up in the 
 judging in company with this gener- 
 ation, and condemn it; because they 
 reconsidered into the proclamation 
 of Jonah; and, lo, more than Jonah 
 is here. The queen of the south 
 shall arise in the judging in company 
 with this generation, and condemn it; 
 because she came out of the utter- 
 most parts of the earth to hear the 
 wisdom of Solomon; and, lo, more 
 than Soloman is here. But when- 
 ever the unclean spirit might come 
 out from the human, it comes across 
 through unwatered places, seeking re- 
 pose, and does not find it. Then it 
 says, I will return into my house 
 whence I came out; and when it came, 
 it finds it vacant, having been swept, 
 and having been adorned. Then it 
 goes, and receives along in company 
 with itself seven different spirits more 
 evil than itself, and they entered in 
 and reside there; and the last things 
 of that human become worse than 
 the first. Thus it shall be also to 
 this evil generation. 
 
 Levi. While he is yet talking to the 
 crowds, lo, his mother and his brothers 
 had stood without, seeking to talk to 
 him. But the one answered and 
 spoke to the one telling him, 
 
 Joshua. Who is my mother? and 
 who are my brothers? 
 
 Levi. And he stretched out his hand 
 over upon his disciples and spoke, 
 
 Joshua. Lo, my mother and my 
 brothers! For whoever assuredly 
 might do the wish of my Father the 
 one in the heavens, he himself is my 
 brother, and sister, and mother. 
 ACT III. 
 Scene i. The Lake of Galilee. 
 
 Levi. In that day Joshua came 
 forth out of the dwelling and was sit- 
 ting by the sea side. And many 
 crowds were gathered unto him, so 
 as for him to embark into a boat and 
 sit; and all the crowd had stood over 
 upon the shore. And he talked many 
 things to them in comparisons, say- 
 ing. 
 
 Joshua. Lo, the one sowing came 
 out for to sow; and in the time for 
 him to sow, some seeds indeed fell by 
 the wayside; and the birds came and 
 devoured them. But others fell 
 over upon the rocky places, whither 
 they were not having much earth; 
 and immediately they sprang up out 
 of it, on account of the fact for them 
 never to have depth of earth; but 
 when the sun sprang up, they were 
 scorched ; and on account of the fact 
 for them never to have root, they 
 withered away. But others fell 
 over upon the thorns; and the 
 thorns ascended, and choked them 
 off. But others fell over upon the 
 beautiful earth; and they were giving 
 fruit, some indeed a hundred-fo/d, but 
 some sixty, but some thirty. The one 
 having ears, let him hear. 
 
 Levi. And the disciples approached 
 tun! spoke to him, 
 
 The disciples. On what account 
 talkest thou to them in comparisons? 
 
 Levi. But the one answered, and 
 spoke to them, 
 
 Joshua. Because to you it has been 
 given to know the secrets of the king- 
 dom of the heavens; but to those it 
 has not been given. For whoever has, 
 there shall be given to him, and he shall 
 be made to abound: but whoever does 
 not have, even that which he has shall 
 be taken from him. On this account 
 I talk to them in comparisons; be- 
 cause they beholding do not behold; 
 and they hearing do not hear, neither 
 do they understand. And by them 
 the prophecy of Isaiah is supplemented, 
 
18 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 ACT III. 
 
 the one saying, 
 
 With hearing ye shall hear, and 
 might not ever understand; and ye 
 beholding shall behold, and might not 
 ever see: for this people's heart be- 
 canie gross, and with the ears they 
 heard heavily, and their eyes they 
 closed; lest at any time they might 
 see with the eyes, and might hear with 
 the ears, and might understand with 
 the heart, and might return, and I 
 shall heal them. 
 
 But happy are your eyes, because 
 they behold; and your ears, because 
 they hear. For amen I say to you^ 
 that Many prophets and righteous 
 ones desired to see the things which 
 ye behold, and they did not see them; 
 and to hear the things which ye 
 hear, and they did not hear them. 
 Therefore ye, hear ye the comparison 
 of the one who sowed: 
 
 When anyone is hearing the word 
 of the kingdom, and is never under- 
 standing it, the Evil one comes and 
 snatches away the thing having been 
 sown in his heart: this is the one 
 sown by the way side. But the one 
 sown over upon the rocky places, this 
 is the one hearing the word, and 
 straightway in company with joy re- 
 ceiving it; but he does not have root 
 in himself, howbeit he is temporary; 
 but when affliction or pursuing be- 
 came on account of the word, straight- 
 way he is entrapped. But the one 
 sown into the thorns, this is the one 
 hearing the word; and the anxiety 
 of the age, and the deceitfulness of 
 the riches, choke the word, and he 
 becomes unfruitful. But the one sown 
 oyer upon the beautiful earth, this 
 is the one hearing the word, and un- 
 derstanding it; who forsooth bears 
 fruit, and brings forth, some indeed 
 a hundred- j old, but some sixty, but 
 some thirty. 
 
 Levi. Another comparison he placed 
 beside them, saying, 
 
 Joshua. The kingdom of the heav- 
 ens was likened to a human w}io 
 sowed beautiful seed in his field: but 
 in the time for the humans to sleep, his 
 enemy came and oversowed tares 
 amidst the wheat, and came away. 
 But when the grass budded, and 
 brought forth fruit, then also the 
 tares appeared. But the bondservants 
 of the master of the house approached 
 and spoke to him, 
 
 The bondservants. Lord, didst thou 
 not sow beautiful seed in thy own 
 field? therefore from whence has it 
 tares? 
 
 Joshua. But the one was speaking 
 to them, 
 
 The master. Some enemy did this. 
 
 Joshua. But the bondservants say 
 to him, 
 
 The bondservants. Therefore wishest 
 thou that we might come away and 
 collect them? 
 
 Joshua. But the one spoke, 
 
 The master. No; lest at any time, 
 while collecting the tares, ye might 
 root out at the same time with them 
 the wheat. Acquit ye both to grow 
 together up to the harvest: and in 
 the season of the harvest I will speak 
 to the harvesters, Collect ye first the 
 tares, and bind them into bundles 
 unto the purpose to burn them up: 
 but gather ye the wheat into my 
 storehouse. 
 
 Levi. Another comparison he placed 
 beside them, saying, 
 
 Joshua. The kingdom of the heav- 
 ens is like to a grain of mustard seed, 
 which a human received and sowed 
 in his field: which is a less one indeed 
 of all the seeds; but whenever it 
 might be grown, it is a greater one 
 of the vegetables, and becomes a 
 fruit-tree, so as for the birds of the 
 heaven to come and make their nests 
 in its branches. 
 
 Levi. Another comparison he talked 
 to them, 
 
scene nr. 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 19 
 
 Joshua. The kingdom of the heav- 
 ens is like to leaven, which a woman 
 received and hid in into three seahs 
 [measures] of flour, until what time 
 the whole was leavened. 
 
 Levi, All these things Joshua talked 
 in comparisons to the crowds; and 
 without a comparison he was not 
 talking one thing to them: to the 
 intent that there might be fulfilled 
 the thing spoken through the prophet, 
 saying, 
 
 I will open my mouth in compari- 
 sons, I will utter things having been 
 hid from the evolution of the world. 
 Scene 2. Capernaum. 
 
 Levi. Then he acquitted the crowds 
 and came into the dwelling: and his 
 disciples came unto him, saying, 
 
 The disciples. Explain thou to us 
 the comparison of the tares of the 
 field. 
 
 Levi. But the one answered and 
 spoke, 
 
 Joshua. The one sowing the beau- 
 tiful seed is the Son of the human; 
 but the field is the world; but the 
 beautiful seed, these are the sons of 
 the kingdom; but the tares are the 
 sons of the Evil one; but the enemy 
 the one who sowed them is the devil; 
 but the harvest is the consummation 
 of the age; but the harvesters arc 
 angels. Therefore as even the tares 
 arc collected and burned up with 
 fire; thus it shall be in the consum- 
 mation of the age. The Son of the 
 human will commission his angels, 
 and they shall collect out of his 
 kingdom all the traps, and the ones 
 doing the iniquity; and they shall 
 cast them into the furnace of fire: 
 there shall be the weeping and the 
 gnashing of the teeth there. Then the 
 righteous shall shine forth as the sun 
 in the kingdom of their Father. The 
 one having ears, let him hear. 
 
 The kingdom of the heavens is like 
 to a treasure having been hid in the 
 
 field; which a human found and hid; 
 and from his joy he retires and sells 
 all things as many as he has, and 
 buys that field. 
 
 Again, the kingdom of the heavens 
 is like to a merchant seeking beauti- 
 ful pearls: but when he found one very 
 precious pearl, he came away and has 
 bartered all things as many as he was 
 having, and bought it. 
 
 Again, the kingdom of the heavens 
 is like to a seine, which was cast into 
 the sea, and gathered out of every kind : 
 which, when it was filled full, they 
 drew up over upon the shore, and sat 
 down, and collected the beautiful into 
 pails, but the rotten they cast without. 
 Thus it shall be in the consummation 
 of the age: the angels shall come 
 forth, and set apart the evil out of the 
 midst of the righteous, and shall cast 
 them into the furnace of fire: there 
 shall be the weeping and the gnash- 
 ing of the teeth there. 
 
 Understood ye all these things? 
 
 Levi. They say to him, 
 
 The disciples. Yes. 
 
 Levi. But the one spoke to them, 
 
 Joshua. On this account every 
 scribe, who was discipled to the king- 
 dom of the heavens, is like to a hu- 
 man a master of a house, whoever 
 casts forth out of his treasure new 
 things and old things. 
 Scene 3. Nazareth. A synagogue. 
 Capernaum. 
 
 Levi. And it became, when Joshua 
 ended these comparisons, he migrated 
 thence. And he came into his father- 
 land and was teaching them in their 
 synagogue, so as for them to be 
 astounded, and say, 
 
 The Nazarenes. From whence is to 
 this one this wisdom, and the mighty 
 works? Is not this the carpenter's 
 son? is not his mother denominated 
 Miriam? and his brothers, Jacob, and 
 Joseph, and Simon, and Judah? 
 And his sisters, are they not all with 
 
20 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 ACT III. 
 
 us? Therefore from whence are to 
 this one all these things? 
 
 Levi. And they were entrapped in 
 him. But Joshua spoke to them, 
 
 Joshua. A prophet is not un- 
 honourcd, except in his own father- 
 land, and in his dwelling. 
 
 Levi. And he did not do many 
 mighty works there on account of 
 "heir unbelief. 
 
 In that season Herod the tetrarch 
 heard of the fame of Joshua, and 
 spoke to his servant-boys, 
 
 Herod the tetrarch. This is Johanan 
 the immerser; he himself arose from 
 the dead; and on this account the 
 mighty works in work in him. 
 
 Levi. For Herod laid hold on Jo- 
 hanan and bound him, and placed 
 him away in guard on account of 
 Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. 
 For Johanan was saying to him, 
 
 Johanan. It is not authorised for 
 thee to have her. 
 
 Levi. And when he is wishing to 
 kill him, he feared the crowd; be- 
 cause they were esteeming him as a 
 prophet. But when Herod's birth- 
 day festivities became, the daughter 
 of Herodias danced in the middle 
 space, and pleased Herod. Whence 
 he confessed in company with an 
 oath to give to her whatsoever she 
 might request for herself. But the 
 girl, instigated under her mother, 
 speaks, 
 
 Herodias' daughter. Give thou to 
 me here upon a plate the head of 
 Johanan the immerser. 
 
 Levi. And the king was grieved; 
 but on account of the oaths, and the 
 ones reclining with him at tabic, he 
 bade it to be given. And he sent and 
 beheaded Johanan in the guard. 
 And his head was brought upon a 
 plate, and was given to the maiden: 
 and she brought it to her mother. 
 And his disciples approached and 
 took up the corpse, and buried him; 
 
 and they came and reported it to 
 Joshua. 
 
 Scene 4. The lake of Galilee. Gcn- 
 nesaret. 
 
 Levi. But when Joshua heard it, he 
 withdrew thence in a boat into a 
 desert place apart: and the crowds 
 heard of it and followed him on foot 
 from the cities. And he came out 
 and saw an immense crowd, and was 
 moved with pity upon them, and 
 cured their sick. But when evening 
 became, the disciples came unto him, 
 saying, 
 
 The disciples. The place is desert, 
 and the noon-hour already passed by; 
 release thou the crowds, in order that 
 they might come away into the vil- 
 lages and buy for themselves victuals. 
 
 Levi. But Joshua spoke to them, 
 
 Joshua. They do not have need to 
 come away; give ye to them, ye, to 
 cat. 
 
 Levi. But the ones say to him, 
 
 The disciples. We are not having 
 anything here, except five loaves of 
 bread, and two fishes. 
 
 Levi. But the one spoke, 
 
 Joshua. Bring ye them here to me. 
 
 Levi. And he bade the crowds to 
 accumb over the grass, and he re- 
 ceived the five loaves of bread, and 
 the two fishes, and looked up into the 
 heaven and blessed them; and he broke 
 the loaves of bread and gave to the 
 disciples, but the disciples to the 
 crowds. And they all ate, and were 
 sufficed: and they took up the over- 
 abounding of the broken pieces, 
 twelve baskets full. But the ones 
 eating were about five thousand men, 
 without counting women and children. 
 
 And immediately he compelled his 
 disciples to embark into the boat, and 
 to lead before him into the other side, 
 until what time he might release the 
 crowds. And when he released the 
 crowds, he ascended into the mount- 
 ain apart to pray: but when evening 
 
SCENE IV. 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 21 
 
 became, he was there alone. But 
 the boat was already in the midst of 
 the sea, tested under the waves: for 
 the wind was contrary. But in the 
 fourth guard of the night he came 
 unto them, walking over upon the sea. 
 But when the disciples saw him walk- 
 ing over the sea, they were troubled, 
 saying, that 
 
 The disciples. It is a ghost. 
 
 Levi. And they cried out from fear. 
 But straightway Joshua talked to 
 them, saying, 
 
 'Joshua. Be ye of good cheer; I, I 
 am he; never fear ye. 
 
 Levi. But Peter answered him and 
 spoke, 
 
 Peter. Lord, if thou, thou art he, 
 bid thou me to come unto thee over 
 upon the waters. 
 
 Levi. But the one spoke, 
 
 Joshua. Come thou. 
 
 Levi. And Peter descended from 
 the boat and walked over upon the 
 waters, to come unto Joshua. But 
 when he is beholding the wind, he 
 feared; and as he began to drown, he 
 cried out, saying, 
 
 Peter. Lord, save thou me. 
 
 Levi. But immediately Joshua 
 stretched out the hand and received 
 hold of him, and says to him, 
 
 Joshua. Littlcbclief one, into what 
 end hesitatedst thou? 
 
 Levi. And when they ascended into 
 the boat, the wind assuaged. But 
 tin ones in t he boat worshipped him, 
 saying. 
 
 The disci pics. Truly thou art God's 
 Son. 
 
 Levi. And they crossed over and 
 came over upon the land into Gen- 
 nesaret. And the men of that 
 place recognised him and commis- 
 sioned into that whole country round 
 about, and brought unto him all the 
 ones faring badly; and they were 
 beseeching him in order that they 
 plight only touch the hem of his 
 
 garment; and as many as touched 
 him were thoroughly saved. 
 
 Then there come unto Joshua from 
 Ilicrosoluma Pharisees and scribes, 
 saying, 
 
 Pharisees & scribes. On what ac- 
 count do thy disciples transgress 
 the tradition of the elders? for they 
 do not lave the hands whenever they 
 may eat bread. 
 
 Levi. But the one answered and 
 spoke to them, 
 
 Joshua. On what account do ye, 
 also ye, transgress the commandment 
 of the God on account of your tradi- 
 tion? For the God commanded, say- 
 ing, Honour thou the father and the 
 mother: and, The one saying bad of 
 father or mother, let him decease with 
 death. But ye, ye say, Whoso might 
 speak to the father or to the mother, 
 It is a present, by whatsoever thou 
 mightest be profited out of me; he 
 might not ever honour his father. 
 And ye unratified the word of the 
 God on account of your tradition. 
 Dissemblers, beautifully did Isaiah 
 prophesy concerning you, saying, 
 
 This people honours me with the 
 lips; but their heart is very far away 
 from me. But in vain they reverence 
 me, teaching as teachings the com- 
 mands of humans. 
 
 Levi. And he called unto him the 
 crowd and spoke to them, 
 
 Joshua. Hear ye, and understand: 
 Not the thing entering into the mouth 
 degrades the human; howbeit the 
 thing going forth out of the mouth, 
 this degrades the human. 
 
 Levi. Then the disciples approached 
 and spoke to him, 
 
 The disciples. Cognisest thou that 
 the Pharisees were entrapped, when 
 they heard the word ? 
 
 Levi. But the one answered and 
 
 Spoke, 
 
 Joshua. Every plant, which my 
 heavenly Father did not plant, shall 
 
22 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 ACT III, 
 
 be rooted out. Acquit ye them: they 
 are blind guides. But if assuredly 
 a blind person may guide a blind per- 
 son, both shall fall into a ditch. 
 
 Levi. But Peter answered and spoke 
 to him, 
 
 Peter. Point thou out to us the 
 comparison. 
 
 Levi. But the one spoke, 
 Joshua. Are ye, also ye, still with- 
 out understanding? Do ye not yet 
 consider, that everything the thing 
 going in into the mouth passes along 
 into the belly, and is cast out into the 
 draught? But the things going forth 
 out of the mouth come forth out of 
 the heart; and those degrade the 
 human. For out of the heart come 
 forth evil reasonings, murders, adul- 
 teries, whoredoms, thefts, falsewit- 
 nessings, defamations: these are the 
 things degrading the human: but 
 the fact to eat with unlaved hands 
 does not degrade the human. 
 Scene 5. The borders of Tyre and 
 Sidon. 
 Levi. And Joshua came out thence 
 and withdrew into the parts of Tyre 
 and Sidon. And, lo, a woman a 
 Canaanitess came out from those 
 borders and cried out, saying, 
 
 A Canaanitess. Have thou mercy 
 on me, Lord, Son of David; my 
 daughter is badly fiendized. 
 
 Levi. But the one did not answer 
 her a word. And his disciples ap- 
 proached and were asking him, say- 
 ing, 
 
 The disciples. Release thou her; 
 because she cries out from behind us. 
 Levi. But the one answered and 
 spoke, 
 
 Joshua. I was not commissioned 
 except into the sheep the ones having 
 been destroyed of the house of Israi 1 
 Levi. But the woman came and was 
 worshipping him, saying, 
 
 The Canaanitess. Lord, help thou 
 me. 
 
 Levi. But the one answered and 
 spoke, 
 
 Joshua. It is not beautiful to re- 
 ceive the beams' bread and cast it 
 to the little dogs. 
 
 Levi. But the woman spoke, 
 The Canaanitess. Yes, Lord: for 
 even the little dogs eat from the 
 crumbs the ones falling from their 
 lords' table. 
 
 Levi. Then Joshua answered and 
 spoke to her, 
 
 Joshua. O woman, great is thy be- 
 lief: let it be made to become to 
 thee as thou wishest. 
 
 Levi. And her daughter was healed 
 from that hour. 
 
 Scene 6. A mountain near the lake of 
 Galilee. 
 Levi. And Joshua passed on thence 
 and came by the side of the sea of 
 Galilee; and he ascended into the 
 mountain and was sitting there. And 
 many crowds came unto him, having 
 in company with themselves lame, 
 blind, maimed, dumb, and many 
 different ones, and hurled them down 
 beside his feet; and he cured them: 
 so as for the crowds to marvel, be- 
 holding dumb ones talking, maimed 
 ones sound, and lame ones walking, 
 and blind ones beholding: and they 
 glorified the God of Israel. But 
 Joshua called unto him his disciples 
 and spoke, 
 
 Joshua. I am moved with pity 
 over upon the crowd, because they 
 adhere to me already three days, and 
 they do not have what they might 
 eat: and I do not wish to release them 
 fasting, lest at any time they might 
 faint in the way. 
 
 Levi. And the disciples say to him, 
 The disciples. From whence are to 
 us so. many loaves of bread in a des- 
 ert, so as to suffice so immense a 
 crowd ? 
 
 Levi. And Joshua says to them, 
 Joshua. How many loaves of bread 
 
SCENE VIII. 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 23 
 
 have ye? 
 
 Levi. But the ones spoke. 
 The disciples. Seven, and a few- 
 little fishes. 
 
 Levi. And he charged the crowd to 
 fall back over upon the earth, and he 
 received the seven loaves of bread, 
 and the fishes; and he gave thanks 
 and broke them, and was giving to the 
 disciples, but the disciples to the 
 crowds. And they all ate, and wire 
 sufficed: and they took up the over- 
 abounding of the broken pieces, 
 seven hampers full. But the ones 
 eating were about four thousand men, 
 without counting women and children. 
 Scene 7. The borders of Magadan. 
 The lake of Galilee. 
 
 Levi. And he released the crowds 
 and embarked into the boat, and 
 came into the borders of Magadan. 
 And the Pharisees and Sadducees 
 approached, tempting him, and in- 
 terrogated him to show forth to 
 them a sign out of the heaven. But 
 the one answered and spoke to them, 
 
 Joshua. An evil and adulterous 
 generation seeks after a sign; and a 
 sign shall not be given to it, except 
 the sign of Jonah. 
 
 Levi. And he left them behind and 
 came away. And the disciples came 
 into the other side and forgot to re- 
 ceive loaves of bread. But Joshua 
 spoke to them, 
 
 Joshua. See ye and beware of the 
 leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. 
 
 Levi. But the ones were reasoning 
 among themselves, saying, 
 
 The disciples. It is because we did 
 not receive loaves of bread. 
 
 Levi. But Joshua knew it and 
 spoke, 
 
 Joshua. Why reason ye among 
 yourselves, littlebelief ones, because 
 ye do not have loaves of bread? Do 
 ye not yet consider, neither recollect 
 the five loaves of bread of the five 
 thousand, and how many baskets full 
 
 ye received? Neither the seven 
 loaves of bread of the four thousand, 
 and how many hampers full ye re- 
 ceived? How do ye not consider 
 that I did not speak to you concern- 
 ing loaves of bread? But beware of 
 the leaven of the Pharisees and Sad- 
 ducees. 
 
 Levi. Then they understood that 
 he did not speak to beware of the 
 leaven of the loaves of bread, how- 
 beit of the doctrine of the Pharisees 
 and Sadducees. 
 
 Scene 8. The parts of Cvsarea 
 Ph Hip pi. 
 
 Levi.B ut Joshua came into the 
 parts of Cajsarea Philippi and was 
 asking his disciples, saying, 
 
 Joshua. Whom do the humans say 
 the Son of the human to be? 
 
 Levi. But the ones spoke, 
 
 The disciples. The ones indeed say 
 Johanan the immerser; but others, 
 Elijah: but different ones, Jeremiah, 
 or one of the prophets. 
 
 Levi He says to them, 
 
 Joshua. But ye, whom do ye'say 
 me to be? 
 
 Levi. But Simon Peter answered 
 and spoke, 
 
 Simon. Thou, thou art the Mes- 
 siah, the Son of the living God. 
 
 Levi. But Joshua answered and 
 spoke to him, 
 
 Joshua. Happy art thou, Simon 
 Bar-jonah; because flesh and blood 
 did not reveal */ to thee, howbeit my 
 Father the one in the heavens. But 
 also I, I say to thee, that Thou, thou 
 art Petros [rocklet]; and, Upon this 
 the petra [rock] I will build my 
 assembly; and the gates of the grave 
 shall not prevail against it. I will 
 give to thee the keys of the kingdom 
 of the heavens: and whatsoever thou 
 mightcst bind over the earth shall be 
 having been bound in the heavens; 
 and whatsoever thou mightest loose 
 over the earth shall be having been 
 
24 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 ACT III. 
 
 loosed in the heavens. 
 
 Levi. Then he cautioned the disci- 
 ples in order that they might never 
 speak to one that he himself is the 
 Messiah. From then Joshua the Mes- 
 siah began to show to his disciples, 
 that he must come away into Hicro- 
 soluma, and suffer many things from 
 t he elders and chiefpricsts and scribes, 
 and be killed, and on the third day be 
 raised up. And Petros [Peter] re- 
 ceived him unto himself and began to 
 rebuke him, saying, 
 
 Peter. Be it far from thee, Lord: 
 this shall not ever be to thee. 
 
 Lev i. But the one turned and spoke 
 to Peter, 
 
 Joshua. Retire thou behind me, 
 Satan: thou art a trap to me; be- 
 cause thou dost not mind the things 
 of the God, howbeit the things of the 
 humans. 
 
 Levi. Then Joshua spoke to his 
 disciples, 
 
 Joshua. If anyone wishes to come 
 behind me, let him utterly deny him- 
 self, and take up his cross, and follow 
 me. For whosoever may wish to 
 save his soul shall destroy it: but 
 whosoever might destroy his soul for 
 my sake shall find it. For what shall 
 a human be profited, if assuredly he 
 might gain the whole world, but 
 might experience the loss of his soul? 
 or what shall a human give in ex- 
 change for his soul? For the Son of 
 the human is about to come in the 
 glory of his Father in company with 
 his angels; and then he will render to 
 each one according to his act. Amen 
 I say to you, that There arc certain 
 of the ones having stood here, who- 
 ever might not ever taste of death, 
 until assuredly they might see the 
 Son of the human coming in his 
 kingdom. 
 
 Scene 9. .4 mountain in Galilee. 
 The plain. 
 Levi. And after six days Joshua 
 
 receives beside him Peter, and Jacob, 
 and Johanan his brother, and brings 
 them up into a high mountain apart: 
 and he was transformed in front of 
 them; and his face shone as the sun, 
 but his garments became white as the 
 light. And, lo, there was seen by 
 them Mosheh and Elijah talking to- 
 gether in company with him. But 
 Peter answered and spoke to Joshua, 
 
 Peter. Lord, it is beautiful for us to 
 be here: if thou wishest, I will make 
 here three tents ; one for thee, and one 
 for Mosheh, and one for Elijah. 
 
 Levi. While he is yet talking, lo, 
 a cloud full of light overshadowed 
 them: and, lo, a voice out of the cloudy 
 saying, 
 
 God. This is my Son the David, in 
 whom I wellthought; hear ye him. 
 
 Levi. And when the disciples heard 
 it, they fell over upon their face, and 
 feared excessively. And Joshua ap- 
 proached; and he touched them and 
 spoke, 
 
 Joshua. Arise ye, and never fear. 
 
 Levi. But when they lifted up their 
 eyes, they did not see one, except 
 Joshua himself alone. And as they 
 are descending out of the mountain, 
 Joshua commanded them, saying, 
 
 Joshua. Never might ye speak of 
 the sight to one, until what time the 
 Son of the human might stand up 
 out o f dead ones. 
 
 Levi. And his disciples interrogated 
 him, saying, 
 
 The disciples. Therefore why say 
 the scribes that Elijah must first 
 come ? 
 
 Levi. But the one answered and 
 spoke to them, 
 
 Joshua. Elijah indeed comes, and 
 shall restore all things. But I say to 
 you, that Elijah already came, and 
 they did not recognise him, howbeit 
 they did in him as many things as 
 they wished. Thus also the Son of 
 the human is about to suffer under 
 
SCENE X. 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 25 
 
 them. 
 
 Levi. Then the disciples understood 
 that he spoke to them concerning 
 Johanan the immcrscr. And when 
 they came unto the crowd, there came 
 unto him a human, kneeling down to 
 him, and saying, 
 
 A father. Lord, have thou mercy 
 on my son; because he is moonized, 
 and fares badly: for many times he 
 falls into the fire, and many times 
 into the water. And I brought him 
 unto thy disciples, and they were not 
 able to cure him. 
 
 Levi. But Joshua answered and 
 spoke. 
 
 Joshua. O unbelieving and having 
 been perverted generation, how long 
 shall 1 be in company with you? how 
 long shall I forbear with you? bring 
 ye him here to me. 
 
 Levi. And Joshua rebuked him, 
 and the fiend came out from him: 
 and the boy was cured from that 
 hour. Then the disciples came unto 
 Joshua apart and spoke, 
 
 The disciples. On what account 
 were we not able, we, to cast it out? 
 
 Levi. But the one says to them, 
 
 Joshua. On account of your little- 
 belief: for amen I say to you, If as- 
 suredly ye may have belief as a grain 
 of mustard seed, ye shall speak to 
 this mountain, Pass thou on hence 
 there; and it shall pass on : and noth- 
 ing shall be unable to you. 
 
 Levi. But while they are turning 
 about together in Galilee, Joshua 
 spoke to them, 
 
 Joshua. The Son of the human is 
 about to be delivered up into the hands 
 of humans: and they will kill him, 
 and on the third day he shall be raised 
 up. 
 
 Levi. And they were excessively 
 grieved. 
 
 Scene io. Capernaum. 
 
 Levi. But when they came into 
 Capernaum, the ones receiving the 
 
 half-shekel came unto Peter, and 
 spoke, 
 
 Rate-collector. Does not your teacher 
 pay the tax of the half-shekel? 
 Levi. He says, 
 Peter. Yes. 
 
 Levi. And when he entered into the 
 dwelling, Joshua forestalled him, say- 
 ing, 
 
 Joshua. What seems it to thee, 
 Simon? from whom do the kings of 
 the earth receive taxes or census- 
 money? from their sons, or from for- 
 eigners? 
 
 Levi. But when he spoke, From 
 foreigners, Joshua was speaking to 
 him, 
 
 Joshua. So then at least the sons 
 are free. But in order that we might 
 never entrap them, go thou into the 
 sea and cast a hook, and take the fish 
 which ascended first; and thou shalt 
 open its mouth and find a stater: 
 that receive thou and give to them 
 instead of me and thee. 
 
 Levi. In that hour the disciples 
 came unto Joshua, saying, 
 
 The disciples. So then who is great- 
 est in the kingdom of the heavens? 
 
 Levi. And he called unto him a 
 child and stood it in the midst of 
 them, and spoke, 
 
 Joshua. Amen I say to you, Ex- 
 cept assuredly ye might turn, and be- 
 come as the children, ye might not 
 ever enter into the kingdom of the 
 heavens. Therefore whoever shall 
 humble himself as this child, this one 
 is the greatest in the kingdom of the 
 heavens. And whosoever might ac- 
 cept one such child upon my name 
 accepts me. But whosoever might 
 entrap one of these little ones the ones 
 believing into me, it is expedient for 
 him in order that an ass-power mill- 
 stone might be hung about his neck, 
 and that he might be drowned in the 
 expanse of the sea. Woe to the world 
 from the traps! for there is necessity 
 
26 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 ACT III. 
 
 for the traps to conic; nevertheless 
 woe to that human through whom the 
 trap comes! But it thy hand, or thy 
 foot, entraps thee, chop thou it out, 
 and cast it from thee: it is beautiful 
 for thee to enter into the life maimed 
 or lame, rather than having two hands 
 or two feet to be cast into the ever- 
 lasting fire. And if thy eye entraps 
 thee, take thou it out, and cast it 
 from thee: it is beautiful for thee to 
 enter into the life with one eye, rather 
 than having two eyes to be cast into 
 the Gehenna of the fire. See ye that 
 ye might never despise one of these 
 little ones: for I say to you, that Their 
 angels in the heavens continually be- 
 hold the face of my Father the one in 
 the heavens. What seems it to you? 
 if assuredly there might become to 
 any human a hundred sheep, and one 
 out of them might wander astray, 
 does he not acquit the ninety nine, 
 and go over upon the mountains, and 
 seek the one wandering astray? And 
 if assuredly it might become for him 
 to find it, amen I say to you, that he 
 rejoices upon it rather than upon the 
 ninety nine the ones never having 
 wandered astray. Thus it is not the 
 wish in front of your Father the one 
 in the heavens, in order that one of 
 these little ones might be destroyed. 
 But if assuredly thy brother might 
 sin, retire thou, reprove him between 
 thee and him alone: if assuredly he 
 might hear thee, thou gainedst thy 
 brother. But if assuredly he might 
 never hear, receive thou beside thee 
 in company with thee yet one or two, 
 in order that over the mouth of two 
 witnesses or three every saying might 
 be made to stand. But if assuredly 
 he might disregard them, speak thou 
 to the assembly: but if assuredly he 
 might disregard also the assembly, 
 let him be to thee as even the one of 
 the nations and the tax-collector. 
 Amen I say to you, As many things 
 
 as if assuredly ye might bind over the 
 earth shall be having been bound in 
 heaven; and as many things as if 
 assuredly ye might loose over the 
 earth shall be having been loosed in 
 heaven. Again I say to you, that If 
 assuredly two out of you might agree 
 over the earth concerning every ac- 
 tion whatsoever they might request, 
 it shall become to them from beside 
 my Father the one in the heavens. 
 For where two or three are having 
 been gathered into my own name, 
 there I am in the midst of them. 
 
 Levi. Then Peter approached and 
 spoke to him, 
 
 Peter. Lord, how many times shall 
 my brother sin into me, and shall I 
 acquit to him? until seven times? 
 
 Levi. Joshua says to him, 
 
 Joshua. I do not say to thee, Until 
 seven times; howbeit, Until seventy 
 times seven. On this account the 
 kingdom of the heavens was likened 
 to a human a king, who wished to 
 compute an account in company 
 with his bondservants. But when 
 he began to compute, there was 
 brought unto him one, who was debtor 
 of ten thousand talents. But when 
 he is never having the means to pay 
 with, the lord bade him to be bartered, 
 and the wife, and the beams, and all 
 things as many as he was having, and 
 payment to be made. Therefore the 
 bondservant fell down and was wor- 
 shipping him, saying, 
 
 A slave. Lord, be thou longsuffer- 
 ing upon'me, and I will pay all to thee. 
 
 Joshua. But the lord of that bond- 
 servant was moved with pity and re- 
 leased him, and acquitted the loan to 
 him. But that bondservant came 
 out and found one of his fellowbond- 
 servants, who was owing to him a 
 hundred denarii: and he laid hold on 
 him and was strangling him, saying, 
 
 The slave. 1'ay thou, if thou owest 
 anything. 
 
SCENE X. 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 27 
 
 Joshua. Therefore his fcllowbond- 
 servant fell down and was beseech- 
 ing him, saying, 
 
 A co-slave. Be thou longsuffering 
 upon me, and I will pay it to thee. 
 
 Joshua. Hut the one was not wish- 
 ing so to do: howbeit he came away 
 dial cast him into guard, until he 
 might pay the thing owed. Then- 
 fore his fellowbondscrvants saw the 
 things which became and were ex- 
 cessively grieved; and they came and 
 explained to the lord of themselves 
 all the things which became. Then 
 his lord called him unto him and says 
 to him, 
 
 The master. Evil bondservant, I 
 acquitted to the all that due, since 
 thou besoughtest me: oughtest not 
 also thou to have had mercy on thy 
 fcllowbondservant, as also I, I had 
 mercy on thee? 
 
 Joshua. And his lord was angered 
 and delivered him tip to the testers, 
 until what time he might pay all the 
 thing owed to him. Thus also my 
 heavenly Father shall do to you, ex- 
 cept assuredly ye might each one 
 from your hearts acquit to his brother. 
 
 ACT IV. 
 
 Scene i. The borders of Judaea be- 
 
 yond the Jordan. 
 
 Levi. And it became, when Joshua 
 ended these words, he migrated from 
 Galilee, and came into the .borders 
 of Judrea beyond the Jordan. And 
 many crowds followed him; and he 
 cured them there. 
 
 And the Pharisees came unto him, 
 tempting him, and saying, 
 
 The Pharisees. Whether is it author- 
 ised for a man to put away his wife 
 according to every cause? 
 
 Levi. But the one answered and 
 spoke. 
 
 Joshua. Did ye not read, that the 
 One who made them from the beginning 
 made them male and female, and 
 spoke, For the sake of this a human 
 
 shall leave father and mother behind, 
 and shall cleave unto his wife; and 
 the two shall be into one flesh? So 
 that they are no more two, howbeit 
 one flesh. Therefore that which the 
 God yoked together, never let. a hu- 
 man separate. 
 
 Levi. They say to him, 
 
 The Pharisees. Therefore why did 
 Mosheh command to give a scroll of 
 divorce, and to put her away? 
 
 Levi. lie says to them, 
 
 Joshua. Because Mosheh unto your 
 hardheartedness permitted you to 
 put away your wives: but from the 
 beginning it has not become thus. 
 But I say to you, that Whoso might 
 put away his wife, except upon whore- 
 dom, and might marry another, com- 
 mits adultery: and the one who mar- 
 ried a woman having been put away 
 commits adultery. 
 
 Levi. The disciples say to him, 
 
 The disciples. If the cause of the 
 human is thus in company with the 
 wife, it is not expedient to marry. 
 
 Levi. But the one spoke to them, 
 
 Joshua. Not all contain this word, 
 howbeit they to whom it has been 
 given. For there are eunuchs, who- 
 ever were begotten thus out of their 
 mother's belly: and there are, eunuchs, 
 whoever were made eunuchs under 
 the humans: and there are eunuchs, 
 whoever made themselves eunuchs on 
 account of the kingdom of the heavens. 
 The one being able to contain it, let 
 him contain it. 
 
 Levi. Then children were brought 
 unto him, in order that he might 
 place the hands upon them, and pray: 
 but the disciples rebuked them. But 
 Joshua spoke, 
 
 Joshua. Acquit ye the children, 
 and never forbid them, to come unto 
 me: for of such is the kingdom of 
 the heavens. 
 
 Levi. And he placed the hands 
 upon them and went thence. And, 
 
28 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 ACT IV, 
 
 lo, one came unto him and spoke, 
 
 A young man. Teacher, what good 
 thing shall I do, in order that 1 might 
 have everlasting life? 
 
 Levi. But the one spoke to him, 
 
 Joshua. Why askest thou me con- 
 cerning the good thing? The good 
 one is One: but if thou wishest to 
 enter into the life, keep the com- 
 mandments. 
 
 Levi. He says to him, 
 
 The young man. Which sort? 
 
 Levi. But Joshua spoke, 
 
 Joshua. The sort: Thou shalt not 
 murder, Thou shalt not commit adul- 
 tery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt 
 not bear false witness, Honour thou 
 the father and the mother: and, Thou 
 shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 
 
 Levi. The young man says to him, 
 
 The young man. All these things I 
 guarded : what lack I yet ? 
 
 Levi. Joshua was speaking to him, 
 
 Joshua. If thou wishest to be per- 
 fect, retire, sell the things subsisting 
 of thee, and give to poor ones, and 
 thou shalt have treasure in heaven: 
 and hither thou, follow me. 
 
 Levi. But the young man heard 
 the word and came away grieved: for 
 he was one having many possessions. 
 But Joshua spoke to his disciples, 
 
 Joshua. Amen I say to you, that 
 A rich one shall difficultly enter into 
 the kingdom of the heavens. But 
 again I say to you, It is easier jor a 
 ca mel to come across through the eye of 
 a needle, than for a rich one to enter 
 into the kingdom of the God. 
 
 Levi. But when the disciples heard it, 
 they were excessively astounded, 
 saying, 
 
 The disciples. So then who is able 
 to be saved? 
 
 Levi. But Joshua looked at them 
 and spoke to them, 
 
 Joshua. Beside humans this is 
 unable; but beside God all things 
 arc able. 
 
 Levi. Then Peter answered and 
 spoke to him, 
 
 Peter. Lo, we, we acquitted all 
 
 things, and followed thee; so then 
 what shall be to us? 
 
 Levi. But Joshua spoke to them, 
 
 Joshua. Amen I say to you, that 
 Ye the ones who followed me, in the re- 
 generation whenever the Son of the 
 human might sit down over the throne 
 of his glory, ye shall sit, also ye, over 
 upon twelve thrones, judging the 
 twelve tribes of the Israel. And 
 everyone whoever acquitted dwellings, 
 or brothers, or sisters, or father, or 
 mother, or wife, or beams, or fields, 
 for my name's sake, shall receive a 
 hundredfold, and shall inherit ever- 
 lasting life. But many first ones 
 shall be last; and last ones shall be 
 first. 
 
 For the kingdom of the heavens is 
 like to a human a master of a house, 
 whoever came out early in the morn- 
 ing to hire workers into his vine- 
 yard. But when he agreed in com- 
 pany with the workers for a denarius 
 by the day, he commissioned them 
 into his vineyard. And he came out 
 about the third hour and saw others 
 having stood idle in the marketplace; 
 and he spoke to those, 
 
 A master. Retire ye, also ye, into 
 the vineyard, and whatsoever may be 
 righteous, I will give to you. 
 
 Joshua. But the ones came away. 
 Again he came out about the sixth 
 and ninth hour and did after the same 
 manner. But about the eleventh 
 hour he came out and found others 
 having stood; and he says to them, 
 
 The master. Why have ye stood 
 here the whole day idle? 
 
 Joshua. They say to him, 
 
 The workers. Because no one hired 
 us. 
 
 Joshua. lie says to them, 
 
 /'//(• master. Retire ye, also ye, into 
 the vineyard. 
 
SCENE III. 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 29 
 
 Joshua. But when evening became, 
 the lord of the vineyard says to his 
 manager, 
 
 The master. Call thou the workers, 
 and pay to them the hire, beginning 
 from the last ones until the first ones. 
 Joshua. And when the ones who 
 were hired about the eleventh hour 
 came, they received a denarius apiece. 
 But when the first ones came, they 
 deemed that they shall receive more; 
 and they also themselves received a 
 denarius apiece. But when they re- 
 ceived it, they were murmuring against 
 the master of the house, saying, 
 
 The first workers. These the last 
 made one hour, and thou madest them 
 equal to us, the ones who carried the 
 weight of the day and the heat. 
 
 Joshua. But the one answered one 
 of them and spoke, 
 
 The master. Companion, I am not 
 unrighteous with thee: didst not thou 
 agree with me for a denarius? Take 
 thou the thing that is thy own, and 
 retire: but I wish to give to this 
 the last one, as even to thee. Or is it 
 not authorised for me to do that 
 which I wish in my own things? or is 
 thy eye evil, because I, I am good? 
 
 Joshua. Thus the last ones shall 
 be first, and the first ones last. 
 Scene 2. On the way to Jerusalem. 
 Levi. And Joshua is ascending into 
 rlierosoluma and received beside him 
 the twelve disciples apart, and in the 
 way spoke to them, 
 
 Joshua. Lo, we ascend into Hiero- 
 soluma; and the Son of the human 
 shall be delivered up to the chief- 
 priests and scribes, and they will con- 
 demn him into death, and will deliver 
 him up to the nations into the end for 
 to mock, and scourge, and crucify 
 him: and on the third day he shall 
 stand up. 
 
 Levi. Then came unto him the 
 mother of the sons of Zebedee in 
 company with her sons, worshipping 
 
 him, and requesting a certain thing 
 from beside him. But the one spoke 
 to her, 
 
 Joshua. What wishest thou? 
 
 Levi. She says to him, 
 
 Salome. Speak thou in order that 
 these my two sons might sit down, 
 one on thy right hand, and the other 
 on thy left, in thy kingdom. 
 
 Levi. But Joshua answered and 
 spoke, 
 
 Joshua. Ye do not cognise what 
 ye request. Arc ye able to drink the 
 cup which I, I am about to drink? 
 
 Levi. They say to him, 
 
 Jacob & Johanan. We are able. 
 
 Levi. He says to them, 
 
 Joshua. Ye shall drink my cup 
 indeed: but the thing to sit down on 
 my right hand, and on my left, is not 
 mine to give, howbeit it shall be given 
 to whom it has been readied under 
 my Father. 
 
 Levi. And the ten heard it and 
 they were indignant concerning the 
 two brothers. But Joshua called 
 them unto him and spoke, 
 
 Joshua. Ye cognise that the rulers 
 of the nations exercise lordship over 
 them, and the great ones exercise au- 
 thority over them. It shall not be 
 thus among you: howbeit whosoever 
 may wish to become great among you, 
 he will be your servant; and whoso 
 may wish to be first among you, let 
 him be your bondservant: as even 
 the Son of the human did not come t° 
 be served, howbeit to serve, and to 
 give his soul a ransom in the stead of 
 many. 
 Scene 3. On the way out of Jericho. 
 
 Levi. And as they are going out 
 from Jericho, an immense crowd 
 followed him. And, lo, two blind 
 men sitting by the way side, when 
 they heard that Joshua passes along, 
 cried out, saying, 
 
 Two blind men. Lord, have mercy 
 on us, thou Son of David. 
 
30 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 ACT IV. 
 
 Levi. But the crowd rebuked them, 
 in order that they might keep still: 
 but the ones cried out louder, saying, 
 
 The blind men. Lord, have mercy 
 on us, thou Son of David. 
 
 Levi. And Joshua stood and voiced 
 them,. and spoke, 
 
 Joshua. What wish ye that I shall 
 do for you? 
 
 Levi. They say to him, 
 
 The blind men. Lord, in order that 
 oxir eyes may be opened. 
 
 Levi. But Joshua was moved with 
 pity and touched their eyes: and 
 immediately they received sight, and 
 followed him. 
 
 Scene 4. Bethphage. The mount of 
 Olives. Jerusalem. 
 
 Levi. And when they neared into 
 llierosoluma, and came into Beth- 
 phage, unto the mount of Olives, 
 then Joshua commissioned two disci- 
 ples, saying to them, 
 
 Joshua. Go ye into the village the 
 one opposite you, and immediately ye 
 shall find an ass having been tied, and 
 a colt in company with her: loose ye 
 them and lead them to me. And if 
 assuredly anyone might speak any- 
 thing to you, ye shall speak, that 
 The Lord has need of them; but 
 straightway he will commission them. 
 
 Levi. But this whole thing has 
 become, in order that there might be 
 fulfilled the thing spoken through the 
 prophet, saying, 
 
 Speak ye to the daughter of Zion, 
 Lo, thy King comes to thee, meek, 
 and having ridden over upon an ass, 
 even over upon a colt the foal of a 
 beast of burden. 
 
 But the disciples went, and did ac- 
 cording as Joshua ordained to them, 
 and led the ass and the colt; and they 
 placed on over them the garments; 
 and he sat upon overabove them. 
 But the most immense crowd spread 
 the garments of themselves in the 
 way; but others were chopping 
 
 branches from the fruit-trees, and 
 were spreading them in the way. But 
 the crowds the ones leading before 
 him, and the ones following, were 
 crying out, saying, 
 
 The crowds. Hosanna to the Son of 
 David: having been blessed is the 
 one coming in the name of the Lord; 
 Hosanna in the highest places. 
 
 Levi. And when he entered into 
 Hierosoluma, all the city was quaked, 
 saying, 
 
 All Jerusalem. Who is this? 
 
 Levi. But the crowds were saying, 
 
 The crowds. This is the Prophet, 
 Joshua, the one from Nazareth of 
 Galilee. 
 
 Levi. And Joshua entered into the 
 temple, and cast out all the ones 
 selling and buying in the temple, and 
 overturned the tables of the coin- 
 brokers, and the seats of the ones 
 selling the doves, and says to them, 
 
 Joshua. It has been written, My 
 house shall be called the house of 
 prayer: but ye, ye make it a cave of 
 robbers. 
 
 Levi. And blind and lame ones 
 came unto him in the temple; and 
 he cured them. But when the chief- 
 priests and the scribes saw the mar- 
 vellous things which he did, and the 
 boys the ones crying out in the temple 
 and saying, Hosanna to the Son of 
 David; they were indignant, and 
 spoke to him, 
 
 The chief priests & scribes. Hearest 
 thou what these say? 
 
 Levi. But Joshua says to them, 
 
 Joshua. Yes; did ye ncnther at any 
 time read, that Out of the mouth of 
 infants and sucklings thou repairedst 
 praise? 
 
 Scene 5. Bethany. On the way to 
 Jerusalem. In the temple. 
 
 Levi. And he left them behind and 
 came forth without the city into 
 Bethany; and he lodged there. 
 
 But in the morning, as he led back 
 
SCENE V. 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 31 
 
 into the city, he hungered. And he 
 saw one fig tree over the way and came 
 over upon it, and did not find one 
 thing in it, except leaves only; and he 
 says to it, 
 
 Joshua. Nevermore might fruit be- 
 come out of thee for ever. 
 
 Levi. And forthwith the fig tree 
 withered away. And the disciples 
 saw it and marvelled, saying, 
 
 The disciples. How forthwith the 
 fig tree withered away! 
 
 Levi. But Joshua answered and 
 spoke to them, 
 
 Joshua. Amen I say to you, If 
 assuredly ye may have belief, and 
 might never doubt, not only shall ye 
 do the affair of the fig tree, howbeit 
 even if assuredly ye might speak to 
 this mountain, Be thou taken up and 
 cast into the sea; it shall become. 
 And all things as many as assuredly 
 ye might request in the prayer, be- 
 lieving, ye shall receive. 
 
 Levi. And when he came into the 
 temple, the chiefpriests and the 
 elders of the people came unto him 
 as he is teaching, saying, 
 
 The chiefpriests & elders. By what 
 sort of authority doest thoix these 
 things? and who gave this authority 
 to thee? 
 
 Levi. But Joshua answered and 
 spoke to them, 
 
 Joshua. I will ask you, also I, one 
 word, which if assuredly ye might 
 Speak to me, also I, I will speak 
 to you by what sort of authority 
 I do these things. The immersion 
 the one of Johanan, from whence 
 was it? out of heaven, or out of 
 humans? 
 
 Levi. But the ones were reasoning 
 beside themselves, saying, 
 
 The chiefpriests & ciders [Aside], If 
 assuredly we might speak, Out of 
 heaven : he will speak to us, Therefore 
 on what account did ye not believe 
 him? But if assuredly we might speak, 
 
 Out of humans: we fear the crowd: 
 for all esteem Johanan as a prophet. 
 
 Levi. And they answered Joshua 
 and spoke, 
 
 The chiefpriests & elders. We do not 
 cognise. 
 
 Levi. He also himself was speaking 
 to them, 
 
 Joshua. Neither do I, I say to you 
 by what sort of authority I do these 
 things. But what seems it to you? A 
 human was having two beams; and 
 he came unto the first and spoke, 
 
 A father. Beam, retire thou, work 
 to-day in my vineyard. 
 
 Joshua. But the one answered and 
 spoke, 
 
 The first beam. I do not wish to. 
 
 Joshua. Afterward he regretted and 
 came away. But he came unto the 
 second and spoke after the same 
 manner. But the one answered and 
 spoke, 
 
 The second beam. I go, sir. 
 
 Joshua. And he did not come away. 
 Who out of the two did the wish of 
 the father? 
 
 Levi. They say, 
 
 The chiefpriests & elders. The first. 
 
 Levi. Joshua says to them, 
 
 Joshua. Amen I say to you, that 
 The tax-collectors and the whores 
 lead before you into the kingdom of 
 the God. For Johanan came unto you 
 in a way of righteousness, and ye did 
 not believe him: but the tax-col- 
 lectors and the whores believed him: 
 but ye, when ye saw it, ye did not 
 regret afterward, for to believe him. 
 
 Another comparison hear ye: There 
 was a human a master 1 of a house, 
 whoever planted a vineyard, and 
 placed a hedge about it, and dug a 
 winepress in it, and built a tower, 
 and rented it out to farmers, and 
 travelled abroad. But when the sea- 
 son of the fruits neared, he commis- 
 sioned his bondservants unto the 
 farmers to receive his fruits. And 
 
32 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 ACT IV. 
 
 the fanners received his bondservants 
 and beat one indeed, but killed 
 another, but cast stones at another. 
 Again he commissioned other bond- 
 servants more than the first: and 
 they did to them after the same man- 
 ner. But afterward he commissioned 
 unto them his son, saying, 
 
 A master. They will respect my 
 son. 
 
 Joshua. But when the farmers saw 
 the son, they spoke among them- 
 selves, 
 
 The farmers. This is the heir; 
 hither ye, let us kill him, and have his 
 inheritance. 
 
 Joshua. And they received him 
 and cast him forth without the vine- 
 yard, and killed him. Therefore 
 whenever the lord of the vineyard 
 might come, what will he do to those 
 farmers? 
 
 Levi. They say to him, 
 
 The chief priests & elders. He will 
 destroy them the bad ones badly, and 
 will rent out the vineyard to other 
 farmers, whoever will render to him 
 the fruits in their seasons. 
 
 Levi. Joshua says to them, 
 
 Joshua. Did ye neither at any 
 time read in the scriptures, The stone 
 which the ones building disapproved, 
 this was made to become into the head 
 of the corner: this corner stone became 
 from beside the Lord, and it is mar- 
 vellous in our eyes? On this account 
 I say to you, The kingdom of the God 
 shall be taken from you, and be given 
 to a nation bringing forth the fruits 
 of it. And the one who fell over upon 
 this stone shall be shattered: but over 
 upon whomsoever it might fall, it shall 
 winnow him away. 
 
 Levi. And the chiefpriests and the 
 Pharisees heard his comparisons and 
 knew that he says them concerning 
 them. And when they are seeking 
 to lay hold on him, they feared the 
 crowds, since they were esteeming him 
 
 into a prophet. And Joshua an- 
 swered and spoke to them again in 
 comparisons, saying, 
 
 Joshua. The kingdom of the heav- 
 ens was likened to a human a king, 
 whoever made marriage festivities 
 for his son, and commissioned his 
 bondservants to call the ones having 
 been called into the marriage festiv- 
 ities: and they were not wishing to 
 come. Again he commissioned other 
 bondservants, saying, 
 
 A king. Speak ye to the ones hav- 
 ing been called, Lo, I have readied 
 my dinner: my bulls and fatlings 
 have been sacrificed, and all things 
 are ready: hither ye into the mar- 
 riage festivities. 
 
 Joshua. But the ones neglected 
 it and came away, the one indeed into 
 his own field, but another over upon 
 his merchandise: but the rest laid 
 hold on his bondservants and de- 
 spited them, and killed them. But the 
 king was angered; and he sent his 
 armies and destroyed those murder- 
 ers, and blazed up their city. Then 
 he says to his bondservants, 
 
 The king. The marriage indeed is 
 ready, but the ones having been called 
 were not worthy. Therefore go ye 
 over upon the thoroughfares of the 
 ways, and as many as if assuredly ye 
 might find, call ye into the marriage 
 festivities. 
 
 Joshua. And those bondservants 
 came out into the ways and gathered 
 all whom they found, both evil and 
 good: and the bridechamber was 
 filled with ones reclining at table. But 
 the king entered to gaze at the ones 
 reclining at table and saw there a 
 human not having been clothed in 
 the marriage clothing: and he says 
 to him, 
 
 The king. Companion, how enter- 
 edst thou here never having the mar- 
 riage clothing? 
 
 Joshua. But the one was muzzled. 
 
SCENE VI. 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 :;:; 
 
 Then the king spoke to the servants, 
 
 The king. Bind ye him feet and 
 hands and cast him out into the out- 
 er darkness: there shall be the weep- 
 ing and the gnashing of the teeth 
 there. For many are called ones, but 
 few are select. 
 Scene 6. Jerusalem. In the temple. 
 
 Levi. Then the Pharisees went and 
 received consultation to the intent 
 that they might ensnare him in a 
 word. And they commission to him 
 their disciples in company with the 
 Herodians, saying, 
 
 The Pharisees & Herodians. Teach- 
 er, we cognise that thou art true, and 
 teachest the way of the God in truth, 
 and it is not care to thee concerning 
 anyone: for thou dost not behold into 
 the face of humans. Therefore speak 
 thou to us, What seems it to thee? 
 Is it authorised to give census money 
 to Caesar, or not? 
 
 Levi. But Joshua knew their evil 
 and spoke, 
 
 Joshua. Why tempt ye me, dis- 
 semblers? Show forth to me the coin 
 of the census money. 
 
 Levi. But the ones brought unto 
 him a denarius. And he says to 
 them, 
 
 Joshua. Of whom is this the image 
 and the superscription? 
 
 Levi. They say, 
 
 The Pharisees & Herodians. Of 
 Caesar. 
 
 Levi. Then he says to them, 
 
 Joshua. Therefore render ye the 
 things of Caesar to Caesar; and the 
 things of the God to the God. 
 
 Levi. And when they heard it, they 
 marvelled; and they acquitted him 
 and came away. 
 
 In that day there came unto him 
 Sadducees, ones saying that there never 
 is to be a resurrection, and they in- 
 terrogated him, saying, 
 
 Sadducees. Teacher, Mosheh spoke, 
 If assuredly anyone might die off, 
 
 never having beams, his brother 
 shall intermarry his wife, and stand 
 up seed to his brother. But there 
 were beside us seven brothers: and 
 the first married and deceased, and, 
 never having seed, acquitted his wife 
 to his brother: likewise also the sec- 
 ond, and the third, until the seven 
 deceased. But afterward of all the 
 woman died off. Therefore in the 
 resurrection, of whom of the seven 
 shall she be wife? for they all had her. 
 
 Levi. But Joshua answered and 
 spoke to them, 
 
 Joshua. Ye wander astray, never 
 cognising the scriptures, nor ever the 
 power of the God. For in the resur- 
 rection they neither marry, nor are 
 given in marriage, howbeit they are 
 as the angels of God in the heaven. 
 But concerning the resurrection of 
 the dead, did ye not read the thing 
 spoken to you under the God, saying, 
 I, I am the God of Abraham, and the 
 God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? 
 He is not the God of dead ones, how- 
 beit of living ones. 
 
 Levi. And the crowds heard it and 
 were astounded upon his doctrine. 
 But the Pharisees heard that he 
 muzzled the Sadducees, and they were 
 gathered over upon the same purpose; 
 and one out of them, a lawyer, inter- 
 rogated him, tempting him, 
 
 A lawyer. Teacher, of what sort is 
 the great commandment in the law? 
 
 Levi. But the one was speaking to 
 him, 
 
 Joshua. Thou shalt love the Lord 
 thy God in thy whole heart, and in 
 thy whole soul, and in thy whole intel- 
 lect. This is the great and first com- 
 mandment. The second is like to it, 
 Thou shalt love thy neighbour as 
 thyself. In these the two command- 
 ments the whole law hangs, and the 
 prophets. 
 
 Levi. But while the Pharisees are 
 having been gathered, Joshua interro- 
 
34 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 ACT IV. 
 
 gated them, saying, 
 
 Joshua. What seems it to you con- 
 cerning the Messiah? of whom is he 
 the Son? 
 
 Levi. They say to him, 
 
 The Pharisees. Of David. 
 
 Levi. He says to them, 
 
 Joshua. Therefore how does David 
 in the Spirit call him Lord, saying, 
 The Lord spoke to my Lord, Sit thou 
 on my right hand, until assuredly I 
 might place thy enemies underneath 
 thy feet? Therefore if David calls 
 him Lord, how is he his son? 
 
 Levi. And no one was able to 
 answer him a word, neither dared 
 anyone from that day to interrogate 
 him any more. 
 Scene 7. Jerusalem. In the temple. 
 
 Levi. Then Joshua talked to the 
 crowds, and to his disciples, saying, 
 
 Joshua. The scribes and the Phari- 
 sees sat down over Mosheh's seat: 
 therefore all things as many as as- 
 suredly they might speak to you, do 
 ye and keep; but never do ye accord- 
 to their works: for they say, and 
 they do not do. But they bind up 
 weighty burdens and difficult to be 
 carried, and place them on over upon 
 the shoulders of the humans ; but they 
 themselves do not wish to move them 
 with their finger. But all their works 
 they do unto the purpose to be gazed 
 at by the humans: for they widen 
 their amulets, and enlarge the hems 
 of their garments; but they friendship 
 the first couch in the suppers, and the 
 first seats in the synagogues, and the 
 salutations in the markets, and to be 
 called under the humans, Rabbi. 
 But ye, never might ye be called 
 Rabbi: for One is your Teacher; but 
 all ye, ye are brothers. And never 
 might ye call anyone your father over 
 the earth: for One is your heavenly 
 Father. Nor ever might ye be called 
 leaders: for One is your Leader, even 
 the Messiah. But the one greatest of 
 
 you will be your servant. But who- 
 ever will exalt himself shall be hum- 
 bled; and whoever will humble him- 
 self shall be exalted. 
 
 But woe to you, scribes and Phari- 
 sees, dissemblers! because ye shut up 
 the kingdom of the heavens in front of 
 the humans: for ye, ye do not enter 
 yourselves, neither do ye acquit the 
 ones entering to enter. 
 
 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, 
 dissemblers! because ye lead on about 
 the sea and the dry land to make one 
 convert; and whenever he might be- 
 come, ye make him twofold more a 
 son of Gehenna than yourselves. 
 
 Woe to you, blind guides! the ones 
 saying, Whoso might swear by the 
 shrine, it is nothing; but whosoever 
 might swear by the gold of the shrine, 
 he owes. Fools and blind: for which 
 is greater, the gold, or the shrine the 
 one which sanctified the gold? And 
 Whoso might swear by the altar, it is 
 nothing; but whosoever might swear 
 by the present the one overabove it, 
 he owes. Fools and blind: for which 
 is greater, the present, or the altar 
 the one sanctifying the present ? 
 Therefore the one who swore by the 
 altar, swears by it, and by all things 
 the ones overabove it. And the one 
 who swore by the shrine, swears by it, 
 and by the One residing in it. And 
 the one who swore by the heaven, 
 swears by the throne of the God, and 
 by the One sitting overabove it. 
 
 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, 
 dissemblers ! because ye pay the tenth 
 from the mint, and the anise, and the 
 cumin; and ye acquitted the weightier 
 things of the law, the judging, and 
 the mercy, and the belief: these ye 
 ought to do, and never to acquit those. 
 Blind guides.the ones straining out the 
 gnat, but drinking down the camel. 
 
 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, 
 dissemblers! because ye cleanse the 
 part from without of the cup and the 
 
SCEXE VIII. 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 35 
 
 sidedish; but from within they are 
 freighted out of extortion and incon- 
 tinence. Blind Pharisee, cleanse thou 
 first the inside of the cup and the 
 sidedish, in order that also the outside 
 of them might become clean. 
 
 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, 
 dissemblers! because ye are similar 
 to sepulchres having been whitened, 
 whichever from without indeed ap- 
 pear splendid; but from within they 
 are freighted with dead ones' bones, 
 and all uncleanness. Thus also ye, 
 from without indeed ye appear right- 
 eous to the humans; but from within 
 ye are ones laden with dissimulation 
 and iniquity. 
 
 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, 
 dissemblers! because ye build the 
 sepulchres of the prophets, and adorn 
 the tombs of the righteous, and say, 
 If we were for ourselves in the days of 
 our fathers, we assuredly were for 
 ourselves not partners of them in the 
 blood of the prophets. So that ye 
 witness to yourselves, that ye are 
 sons of the ones who murdered the 
 prophets. And ye, fill ye full the 
 measure of your fathers. Serpents, 
 progeny of vipers, how might ye flee 
 from the judging of the Gehenna? 
 
 On this account, lo, I, I commission 
 unto you prophets, and wise ones, and 
 scribes: out of them ye will kill, and 
 crucify; and out of them ye will 
 scourge in your synagogues, and pur- 
 sue them from city into city: to the 
 intent that over upon you might come 
 all the righteous blood poured out over 
 the earth, from the blood of Abel the 
 righteous until the blood of Zacharias 
 the son of Barachias, whom ye mur- 
 dered between the shrine and the 
 altar. Amen I say to you, All these 
 things shall come over upon this 
 generation. 
 
 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one kill- 
 ing the prophets, and casting stones 
 at the ones having been commissioned 
 
 unto her, how many times I wished to 
 gather thy beams together, in the 
 same manner that a hen gathers her 
 chickens together under her wings, 
 and ye did not wish it! Lo, your 
 house is acquitted to you desolate. 
 For I say to you, Ye might not ever 
 see me henceforth, until assuredly ye 
 might speak, Having been blessed is 
 the one coming in the name of the Lord. 
 Scene 8. Jerusalem. The temple. 
 The mount of Olives. 
 
 Levi. And Joshua came out from 
 the temple and was going away: and 
 his disciples approached to show forth 
 to him the buildings of the temple. 
 But the one answered and spoke to 
 them, 
 
 Joshua. Do ye not behold all these 
 things? amen I say to you, There 
 might not ever be acquitted here 
 stone over upon stone, which shall not 
 be thrown down. 
 
 Levi. But when he is sitting over 
 the mount of Olives, the disciples 
 came unto him apart, saying, 
 
 The disciples. Speak thou to us, 
 When shall these things be? and, 
 What shall be the sign of thy own 
 presence, and of the consummation of 
 the age? 
 
 Levi. And Joshua answered and 
 spoke to them, 
 
 Joshua. Take ye heed lest anyone 
 might cause you to wander astray. 
 For many will come upon my name, 
 saying, I, I am the Messiah; and they 
 will cause many to wander astray. 
 But ye shall be about to hear of 
 wars, and rumours of wars: see ye, 
 never be ye frightened: for they must 
 become; howbeit the end is not yet. 
 For nation will arise over upon nation, 
 and kingdom over upon kingdom: 
 and there shall be famines, and earth- 
 quakes, in various places. But all 
 these things are the beginning of 
 travail-throes. 
 
 Then they will'deliver you"up into 
 
36 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 ACT IV. 
 
 affliction, and will kill you: and ye 
 shall be ones hated under all the 
 nations on account of my name. 
 And then many will be entrapped; 
 and they will deliver up one another, 
 and will hate one another. And 
 many falseprophets will arise, and 
 will cause many to wander astray. 
 And on account of the fact for the 
 iniquity to be multiplied, the love of 
 the many will become cold. But the 
 one who endured into the end, this 
 one shall be saved. And this glad 
 tidings of the kingdom shall be 
 heralded in the whole inhabited 
 earth into a testimony to all the 
 nations; and then the end shall come. 
 Therefore whenever ye might see 
 the abomination of the desolation, the 
 one spoken of through Daniel the 
 prophet, having stood in the holy 
 place (let the one reading consider), 
 then let the ones in Judaea flee over 
 upon the mountains: let the one over 
 the housetop never descend to take 
 the things out of his dwelling: and 
 let the one in the field never return 
 behind to take his garment. But 
 woe to the ones being with child, and 
 to the ones giving suck in those days! 
 But pray ye in order that your flight 
 might never become in the winter, nor 
 ever on the sabbath day: for then 
 there shall be great affliction, such as 
 has not become from the beginning of 
 the world until the now, no, nor 
 ever might become. And except 
 those days were shortened, no flesh at 
 all would be saved: but on account of 
 the select those days shall be short- 
 ened. 
 
 Then if assuredly anyone might 
 speak to you, Lo, here is the Messiah, 
 or here; never mighl ye believe it. For 
 tlicrc will arise falsemessiahs, and false- 
 prophets, and they will give great 
 signs and wonders; so as to cause 
 to wander astray, if able, even the 
 select. Lo, I have forespoken to 
 
 you. Therefore if assuredly they 
 might speak to you, Lo, he is in the 
 wilderness; never might ye come out: 
 Lo, he is in the private rooms; never 
 might ye believe it: for as even the 
 lightning comes out from eastern 
 regions and appears until western 
 regions', thus the presence of the 
 Son of the human shall be. Whither- 
 soever the carcase may be, there the 
 eagles will be gathered. 
 
 But immediately after the affliction 
 of those days the sun shall be dark- 
 ened, and the moon shall not give 
 its lustre, and the stars shall fall from 
 the heaven, and the powers of the 
 heavens shall be shaken: and then 
 the sign of the Son of the human shall 
 appear in heaven: and then all the 
 tribes of the earth shall bewail, and 
 they shall see the Son of the human 
 coming over the clouds of the heaven 
 in company with power and much 
 glory. And, he will commission his 
 angels in company with a trumpet of 
 great sound, and they shall gather 
 together his select out of the four 
 winds, from the outermost parts of 
 the heavens until their outermost 
 parts. 
 
 But learn ye the comparison from 
 the fig tree: Whenever its branch 
 might already become tender, and 
 may shoot forth the leaves, ye know 
 that the summer is near. Thus also 
 ye, whenever ye might see all these 
 things, know ye that he is near, even 
 upon the doors. Amen I say to you, 
 This generation might not ever pass 
 away, until assuredly all these things 
 might become. The heaven and the 
 earth shall pass away, but my words 
 might not ever pass away. 
 
 But concerning that day and hour 
 no one cognises, neither the angels of 
 the heavens, nor the Son, except the 
 Father alone. But as even the days 
 of Noah were, thus the presence of the 
 Son of the human shall be. For as 
 
SCENE VIII. 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 37 
 
 they were in the days the ones before 
 the flood, desserting and drinking, 
 marrying and giving in marriage, 
 down to what day Noah entered into 
 the ark, and they did not know until 
 the flood came, and took them quite 
 all away; thus also the presence of the 
 Son of the human shall be. Then 
 two men shall be in the field; one is 
 received beside him, and one is ac- 
 quitted. Two women shall be grind- 
 ing grain in the mill; one is received 
 beside him, and one is acquitted. 
 Therefore watch ye; because ye do 
 not cognise in what sort of day your 
 Lord comes. But that thing know 
 ye, that if the master of the house cog- 
 nised in what sort of guard the thief 
 comes, he assuredly watched, and 
 assuredly did not allow his dwelling to 
 be dug through. On this account also 
 ye, become ye ready; because in 
 what hour ye do not think the Son of 
 the human comes. 
 
 So then who is the faithful and pru- 
 dent bondservant, whom the Lord 
 constituted over his household, for to 
 give to them the nourishment in sea- 
 son? Happy is that bondservant, 
 whom his Lord when he came shall 
 find thus doing. Amen I say to you, 
 that he will constitute him upon all 
 the things subsisting of him. But 
 if assuredly that bad bondservant 
 might speak in his heart, My Lord 
 delays; and might begin to strike his 
 fellowbondservants, but may eat and 
 drink in company with the ones being 
 drunken; the Lord of that bondserv- 
 ant will come in a day which he does 
 not expect, and in an hour which he 
 does not know, and will cut him in 
 two, and place his part in company 
 with the dissemblers: there shall be 
 the weeping and the gnashing of the 
 teeth there. 
 
 Then the kingdom of the heavens 
 shall be likened to ten virgins, who- 
 ever received their torches and came 
 
 out into meeting the bridegroom. 
 But five out of them were foolish, and 
 five prudent. For the foolish re- 
 ceived their torches and did not re- 
 ceive oil in company with themselves: 
 but the prudent received oil in the 
 cans in company with the torches of 
 themselves. But while the bride- 
 groom is delaying, they all napped 
 and were sleeping. But at midnight 
 there has become a clamour, 
 
 Voices. Lo, the bridegroom! come 
 ye out into escorting him. 
 
 Joshua. Then all those virgins arose, 
 and adorned the torches of themselves. 
 But the foolish spoke to the prudent, 
 
 The foolish virgins. Give ye to us 
 out of your oil; because our torches 
 are quenched. 
 
 Joshua. But the prudent answered, 
 saying, 
 
 The prudent virgins. Lest at any 
 time there might not be enough for us 
 and you, go ye rather unto the ones 
 selling, and buy for yourselves. 
 
 Joshua. But while they are coming 
 away to buy, the bridegroom came; 
 and the ones ready entered in com- 
 pany with him into the marriage 
 festivities: and the door was shut. 
 But afterward also the rest of the 
 virgins come, saying, 
 
 The foolish virgins. Lord, Lord, 
 open thou to us. 
 
 Joshua. But the one answered and 
 spoke, 
 
 The Bridegroom. Amen I say to 
 you, I do not cognise you. 
 
 Joshua. Therefore watch ye ; because 
 ye do not cognise the day nor the hour. 
 For it is as even a human travelling 
 abroad, who called his own bondserv- 
 ants, and delivered up to them the 
 things subsisting of him. And to one 
 indeed he gave five talents, but to 
 another two, but to another one; 
 to each one according to his own 
 power; and he travelled abroad. Im- 
 mediately the p?te who received the 
 
38 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 ACT IV. 
 
 five talents went and traded with 
 them, and made other five talents. 
 After the same manner also the one 
 who received the two gained other 
 two. But the one who received the 
 one came away and dug in the earth, 
 and hid his lord's money. But after 
 much time the lord of those bond- 
 servants comes, and compixtes the 
 account in company with them. And 
 the one who received the five talents 
 approached and brought unto him 
 other five talents, saying, 
 
 The -first bondservant. Lord, thou 
 deliveredst up to me five talents: 
 see, I gained other five talents. 
 
 Joshua. His lord was speaking to 
 him, 
 
 The lord. Well do ne, good and faith- 
 ful bondservant: thou wast faithful 
 over upon a few things, I will consti- 
 tute thee over many things: enter 
 thou into the joy of thy lord. 
 
 Joshua. Also the one who received 
 the two talents approached and spoke, 
 
 The second bondservant. Lord, thou 
 deliveredst up to me two talents: 
 see, I gained other two talents. 
 
 Joshua. His lord was speaking to 
 him, 
 
 The lord. Well done, good and faith- 
 ful bondservant : thou wast faithful 
 over upon a few things, I will consti- 
 tute thee over many things: enter 
 thou into the joy of thy lord. 
 
 Joshua. But also the one having 
 received the one talent approached 
 and spoke, 
 
 The evil bondservant. Lord, I knew 
 thee that thou art a hard human, 
 reaping whither thou didst not sow, 
 and gathering whence thou didst not 
 scatter abroad: and I feared and 
 came away and hid thy talent in the 
 earth: see, there thou hast thy own 
 money. 
 
 Joshua. But his lord answered and 
 spoke to him, 
 
 The lord. Evil and slothful bond- 
 
 servant, thou cognisedst that I reap 
 whither I did not sow, and gather 
 whence I did not scatter abroad: 
 therefore thou oughtest to have put 
 my moneys with the bankers, and when 
 I came, I assuredly procured my own 
 money together with interest. There- 
 fore take ye the talent from him, 
 and give it to the one having the ten 
 talents. For to everyone the one 
 having there shall be given, and he 
 shall be caused to abound: but from 
 the one never having, even that which 
 he has shall be taken from him. 
 And cast ye out the unuseful bond- 
 servant into the outer darkness: there 
 shall be the 1 weeping and the gnashing 
 of the teeth there. 
 
 Joshua. But whenever the Son of 
 the human might come in his glory, 
 and all the angels in company with 
 him, then he will sit down over the 
 throne -of., his glory: and all the 
 nations shall be gathered in front of 
 him; and' he will set them apart from 
 one another, as even the shepherd 
 sets apart the sheep from the kids: 
 and he will stand the sheep indeed on 
 his right hand, but the kidlings on 
 the left. Then the King will speak to 
 the ones on his right hand, 
 
 The King. Hither ye, the ones 
 having been blessed of my Father, in- 
 herit the kingdom having been readied 
 for you from the evolution of the 
 world: for I hungered, and ye gave 
 to me to eat ; I thirsted, and ye caused 
 me to drink; I was for myself a 
 stranger, and ye gathered me; naked, 
 and ye arrayed me; I was sick, and 
 ye visited me; I was for myself in 
 guard, and ye came unto me. 
 
 Joshua. Then the righteous will 
 answer him, saying, 
 
 The saved. Lord, when saw we thee 
 hungering, and nourished thee? or 
 thirsting, and caused thee to drink? 
 But when saw we thee a stranger, 
 and gathered thee? or naked, and 
 
SCENE VIII. 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 39 
 
 arrayed thee? But when saw we thee 
 sick, or in guard, and came unto thee? 
 
 Joshua. And the King will answer 
 and speak to them, 
 
 The King. Amen I say to you, In- 
 asmuch as ye did it to one of the least 
 of these my brothers, ye did it to me. 
 
 Joshua. Then he will speak also to 
 the ones on the left hand, 
 
 The King. Go ye from me, ones 
 having been cursed, into the ever- 
 lasting fire, the one having been read- 
 ied for the devil and his angels: for 
 I hungered, and ye did not give to me 
 to eat; I thirsted, and ye did not 
 cause me to drink; I was for myself 
 a stranger, and ye did not gather me; 
 naked, and ye did not array me; 
 sick, and in guard, and ye did not 
 visit me. 
 
 Joshua. Then they also themselves 
 will answer, saying, 
 
 The lost. Lord, when saw we thee 
 hungering, or thirsting, or a stranger, 
 or naked, or sick, or in guard, and 
 did not serve thee? 
 
 Joshua. Then he will answer them, 
 saying, 
 
 The King. Amen I say to you, In- 
 asmuch as ye did not do it to one of the 
 least of these, neither did ye do it to 
 me. 
 
 Joshua. And these shall come away 
 into everlasting cutting off: but the 
 righteous into everlasting life. 
 ACT V. 
 
 Scene i. Jerusalem. Bethany. 
 Jerusalem. 
 
 Levi. And it became, when Joshua 
 ended all these words, he spoke to his 
 disciples, 
 
 Joshua. Ye cognise that after two 
 days the passover becomes, and the 
 Son of the human is delivered up into 
 the end for to be crucified. 
 
 Levi. Then the chiefpriests, and 
 the elders of the people, were gathered 
 into the court of the highpriest, the 
 one denominated Caiaphas; and they 
 
 consulted in order that they might 
 lay hold on Joshua by guile, and kill 
 him. But they were saying, 
 
 The Sanhedrim. Never in the feast, 
 in order that there never might become 
 an uproar among the people. 
 
 Levi. But when Joshua became in 
 Bethany, in the dwelling of Simon the 
 leper, there came unto him a woman 
 having an alabaster-boa; of very pre- 
 cious ointment, and poured it down 
 over his head, as he is reclining at 
 table. But the disciples saw it and 
 were indignant, saying, 
 
 The disciples. Into what end is 
 this destruction? for this was able to 
 be bartered for much, and given to 
 poor ones. 
 
 Levi. But Joshua knew it and spoke 
 to them, 
 
 Joshua. Why annoy ye the woman? 
 for she worked a beautiful work into 
 me: for ye have the poor always in 
 company with yourselves; but me ye 
 do not have always: for when this 
 woman cast this ointment over my 
 body, she did it unto the -purpose to 
 ensepulchre me. Amen I say to you, 
 Whithersoever this glad tidings might 
 be heralded in the whole world, also 
 that which this woman did shall be 
 talked into a memorial of her. 
 
 Levi. Then one of the twelve, the 
 one denominated Judah Iscariot, went 
 unto the chiefpriests and spoke, 
 
 Judah Iscariot. What wish ye to 
 give to me, and I, I will deliver him 
 up to you? 
 
 Levi. But the ones bargained with 
 him for thirty pieces of silver. And 
 from then he was seeking an oppor- 
 tunity in order that he might deliver 
 him up. 
 
 Scene 2. Bethany. Jerusalem. A 
 large upper room. 
 
 Levi. But on the first day of the 
 unleavened bread the disciples came 
 unto Joshua, saying, 
 
 The disciples. Where wishest thou 
 
40 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 ACT V. 
 
 that we might ready for thee to eat 
 the passover. 
 
 Levi. But the one spoke, 
 
 Joshua. Retire ye into the city 
 unto such an one, and speak to him, 
 The Teacher says, My season is near, 
 I will keep the passover at thy home 
 in company with my disciples. 
 
 Levi. And the disciples did as Josh- 
 ua prescribed to them; and they 
 readied the passover. But when even- 
 ing became, he was reclining at table 
 in company with the twelve. And 
 while they are eating, he spoke, 
 
 Joshua. Amen I say to you, that 
 One out of you will deliver me up. 
 
 Levi. And they, being excessively 
 grieved, began to say to him, each 
 one by one, 
 
 Each disciple. I, am I ever at all he, 
 Lord? 
 
 Levi. But the one answered and 
 spoke, 
 
 Joshua. The one who dipped in the 
 hand in company with me in the dish, 
 this one will deliver me up. The Son 
 of the human indeed retires according 
 as it has been written concerning him: 
 but woe to that human through whom 
 the Son of the human is delivered up! 
 it was beautiful for him, if that hu- 
 man was not begotten. 
 
 Levi. But Judah, the one delivering 
 him up, answered and spoke, 
 
 Judah. I, am I ever at all he, 
 Rabbi ? 
 
 Levi. He says to him, 
 
 Joshua. Thou, thou spokest it. 
 
 Levi. But while they are eating, 
 Joshua received bread, and blessed it, 
 and broke it; and he gave it to the 
 disciples and spoke, 
 
 Joshua. Receive ye, eat; this is my 
 body. 
 
 Levi. And he received a cup, and 
 gave thanks, and gave it to them, 
 saying, 
 
 hua. Drink all ye out of it: for 
 this is my blood of the covenant, the 
 
 one poured out concerning many into 
 the acquittal of sins. But I say to 
 you, that I will not ever drink hence- 
 forth out of this product of the vine, 
 until that day whenever I may drink 
 it new in company with you in the 
 kingdom of my Father. 
 Scene 3. The mount of Olives. The 
 garden of Gethsemane. 
 
 Levi. And they sang a hymn and 
 came out into the mount of Olives. 
 Then Joshua says to them, 
 
 Joshua. All ye, ye shall be entrapped 
 in me in this night: for it has been 
 written, I will smite the Shepherd, 
 and the sheep of the flock shall be 
 scattered abroad. But after the fact 
 for me to arise, I will lead before you 
 into Galilee. 
 
 Levi. But Peter answered and spoke 
 to him, 
 
 Peter. If all shall be entrapped in 
 thee, I, I will neither at any time be 
 entrapped. 
 
 Levi. Joshua was speaking to him, 
 
 Joshua. Amen I say to thee, that 
 In this night, before the time for the 
 cock to crow, thou wilt utterly deny 
 me thrice. 
 
 Levi. Peter says to him, 
 
 Peter. Even if assuredly I must die 
 off together with thee, I will not ever 
 utterly deny thee. 
 
 Levi. Likewise also all the disciples 
 spoke. Then Joshua comes in com- 
 pany with them into an estate denom- 
 inated Gethsemane; and he says to 
 the disciples, 
 
 Joshua. Sit ye down just here, until 
 what time I might come away there 
 and pray. 
 
 Levi. And he received beside him 
 Peter and the two sons of Zebedee 
 and began to be grieved and an- 
 guished. Then he says to them, 
 
 Joshua. My soul is extremely 
 grieved until death: abide ye here, 
 and watch in company with me. 
 
 Levi. And he came before a little. 
 
SCENE IV. 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 41 
 
 and fell over upon his face, praying, 
 and saying, 
 
 Joshua. My Father, if it is able, let 
 this cup pass away from me: never- 
 theless not as I, I wish, howbeit as 
 thou wishest. 
 
 Levi. And he comes unto the disci- 
 ples, and finds them sleeping, and 
 says to Peter, 
 
 Joshua. Thus were ye not mighty 
 to watch in company with me one 
 hour? Watch and pray, in order that 
 ye might never enter into temptation: 
 the spirit indeed is eager, but the 
 flesh is weak. 
 
 Levi. Again out of a second time he 
 came away and prayed, saying, 
 
 Joshua. My Father, if it is not 
 able for this to pass away, except as- 
 suredly I might drink it, let thy wish 
 be made to become. 
 
 Levi. And he came again and found 
 them sleeping: for their eyes were 
 having been weighted down. And he 
 acquitted them again, and came 
 away and prayed out of a third time, 
 and spoke the same word again. 
 Then he comes unto the disciples, and 
 says to them, 
 
 Joshua. Sleep ye hereafter, and re- 
 pose yourselves: lo, the hour has 
 neared, and the Son of the human is 
 delivered up into the hands of sinners. 
 Arise ye, let us lead on: lo, the one 
 delivering me up has neared. 
 
 Levi. And while he is yet talking, 
 lo, Judah, one of the twelve, came, 
 and in company with him an immense 
 crowd in company with swords and 
 clubs, from the chiefpriests and elders 
 of the people. But the one delivering 
 him up gave to them a sign, saying, 
 
 Judah. Whomsoever I shall kiss, 
 it is he: lay ye hold on him. 
 
 Levi. And immediately he came 
 unto Joshua and spoke, 
 
 Judah. Rejoice thou, Rabbi. 
 
 Levi. And he tenderly kissed him 
 But Joshua spoke to him, 
 
 Joshua. Companion, over'upon what 
 errand art thou present? 
 
 Levi. Then they approached and 
 overcast the hands over upon Joshua, 
 and laid hold on him. And, lo, one 
 of the ones in company with Joshua 
 stretched forth the hand and pulled 
 out his sword; and he smote the 
 bondservant of the highpriest and 
 slashed off his ear. Then Joshua 
 says to him, 
 
 Joshua. Turn thou away thy sword 
 into its place : for all the ones who 
 received the sword shall be destroyed 
 with the sword. Or thinkest thou 
 that I am not able to beseech my 
 Father, and he will stand beside me 
 at present more than twelve legions 
 of angels? Therefore how might the 
 scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it 
 must become? 
 
 Levi. In that hour Joshua spoke to 
 the crowds, 
 
 Joshua. Came ye out as over upon 
 a robber in company with swords and 
 clubs to capture me? I was seated 
 daily in the temple teaching, and 
 ye did not lay hold on me: but this 
 whole thing has become, in order 
 that the scriptures of the prophets 
 might be fulfilled. 
 
 Levi. Then all the disciples ac- 
 quitted him and fled. 
 Scene 4. Jerusalem. The palace of 
 the high priest. 
 
 Levi. But the ones who laid hold 
 on Joshua led him away unto Caiaphas 
 the highpriest, whither the scribes 
 and the elders were gathered. But 
 Peter was following him from afar off 
 until the court of the highpriest; 
 and he entered within and was sitting 
 in company with the officers, to see 
 the end. But the chiefpriests and 
 tlic whole council were seeking false- 
 witness against Joshua, to the intent 
 that they might put him to death; 
 and they did not find it. though 
 many falsewitpesses approached. Rut 
 
42 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 ACT V. 
 
 afterward two approached and spoke, 
 
 Two faleswitnesses. This one was 
 speaking, I am able to throw down 
 the shrine of the God, and through 
 three days to build it. 
 
 Levi. And the highpriest stood up 
 and spoke to him, 
 
 The highpriest. Dost thou not an- 
 swer one thing? what witness these 
 against thee? 
 
 Levi. But Joshua was keeping still. 
 And the highpriest spoke to him, 
 
 The highpriest. I officially adjure 
 thee by the living God, in order that 
 thou mightest speak to us whether 
 thou, thou art the Messiah, the Son 
 of the God. 
 
 Levi. Joshua says to him, 
 
 Joshua. Thou, thou spokest it: 
 nevertheless I say to you, Hence- 
 forth ye shall see the Son of the hu- 
 man sitting on the right hand of the 
 power, and coming over the clouds of 
 the heaven. 
 
 Levi. Then the highpriest rent 
 through his garments, saying, 
 
 The highpriest. He defamed: what 
 need have we yet of witnesses? see, 
 now ye heard the defamation: what 
 seems it to you? 
 
 Levi. But the ones answered and 
 spoke, 
 
 The Sanhedrim. He is guilty of 
 death. 
 
 Levi. Then they spat right into 
 his face, and cuffed him; but some 
 slapped him, saying, 
 
 The Sanhedrim. Prophesy thou to 
 us, Messiah, who is the one who hit 
 thee? 
 
 Levi. But Peter was sitting with- 
 out in the court : and one maidservant 
 came unto him, saying, 
 
 A maidservant. And thou, thou 
 wast in company with Joshua the 
 Galilaean. 
 
 Levi. But the one denied it in 
 front of all, saying, 
 
 Peter. I do not cognise what thou 
 
 sayest. 
 
 Levi. But when he came out into the 
 gateway, another maidservant saw 
 him, and says to the ones there, 
 
 Another maidservant. This one was 
 in company with Joshua the Nazarene. 
 Levi. And again he denied it in 
 company with an oath, that 
 
 Peter. I do not cognise the human. 
 Levi. But after a little time the 
 ones having stood by approached 
 and spoke to Peter, 
 
 The bystanders. Truly also thou, 
 thou art out of them: for even thy 
 talk makes thee evident. 
 
 Levi. Then he began to imprecate 
 and to swear, that 
 
 Peter. I do not cognise the human. 
 Levi. And immediately the cock 
 crew. And Peter remembered the 
 saying of Joshua, having spoken, that 
 Before the time for the cock to crow, 
 thou wilt utterly deny me thrice. 
 And he came forth without and 
 wept bitterly. 
 
 Scene 5. Jerusalem. The Roman cita- 
 del. The temple. The Praetorium . 
 Levi. But when the morning be- 
 came, all the chiefpriests and the 
 elders of the people received consulta- 
 tion against Joshua so as to put him 
 to death: and they bound him and led 
 him away, and delivered him up to 
 Pilatus the governor. Then Judah, 
 the one delivering him up, when he 
 saw that he was condemned, re- 
 gretted it and turned over the thirty 
 pieces of silver to the chiefpriests and 
 elders, saying, 
 
 Judah. I sinned, in that I delivered 
 up innocent blood. 
 
 Levi. But the ones spoke, 
 The Sanhedrim. What is that unto 
 us? thou, thou shalt see to that. 
 
 Levi. And he hurled the pieces of 
 silver into the shrine and withdrew; 
 and he came away and hanged him- 
 self. But the chiefpriests received 
 the pieces of silver and spoke, 
 
SCENE V. 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 43 
 
 The chief priests. It is not author- 
 ised to cast them into the Korbanas, 
 since it is the price of blood. 
 
 Levi. But they received consulta- 
 tion and bought out of them the 
 potter's field, into burial for the 
 strangers. Wherefore that field was 
 called, The field of blood, until this 
 very day. Then was fulfilled the 
 thing spoken through Jeremiah the 
 prophet, saying, 
 
 And they received the thirty 
 pieces of silver, the price of the one 
 having been priced, whom they from 
 the sons of Israel priced for themselves; 
 and they gave them for the potter's 
 field, according to what things the 
 Lord prescribed to me. 
 
 But Joshua was made to stand in 
 front of the governor: and the govern- 
 or interrogated him, saying, 
 
 Pilatus. Thou, art thou the King of 
 the Judaeans? 
 
 Levi. But Joshua was speaking to 
 him, 
 
 Joshua. Thou, thou sayest it. 
 Levi. And in the time for him to be 
 accused under the chiefpriests and 
 elders, he did not answer one thing. 
 Then Pilatus says to him, 
 
 Pilatus. Dost thou not hear how 
 many things they witness against 
 thee? 
 
 Levi. And he did not answer him 
 unto neither one saying; so as for the 
 governor to marvel exceedingly. 
 But according to the feast the govern- 
 or was accustomed to release to the 
 crowd one prisoner, whom they were 
 wishing. But they were having then 
 a notable prisoner, denominated Bar- 
 abbas. Therefore when they were 
 having been gathered, Pilatus spoke 
 to them, 
 
 Pilatus. Whom wish ye that I shall 
 release to you? Barabbas, or Joshua 
 the one denominated the Messiah? 
 
 Levi. For he cognised that on ac- 
 count of envy they delivered him up. 
 
 But while he is sitting over the 
 judgment-seat, his wife commissioned 
 unto him, saying, 
 
 Claudia's messenger. Never have 
 thou even one thing to do with that 
 righteous one: for I suffered many 
 things to-day in a dream on account 
 of him. 
 
 Levi. But the chiefpriests and the 
 elders persuaded the crowds in order 
 that they might request Barabbas, but 
 destroy Joshua. But the governor 
 answered and spoke to them, 
 
 Pilatus. Whom wish ye from the 
 two that I shall release to you? 
 Levi. But the ones spoke, 
 The chiefpriests, &c. Barabbas. 
 Levi. Pilatus says to them, 
 Pilatus. Therefore what shall I do 
 with Joshua the one denominated 
 the Messiah? 
 
 Levi. They all say, 
 The chiefpriests, &c. Let him be 
 crucified. 
 
 Levi. But the one was speaking, 
 Pilatus. For what bad thing did 
 he do? 
 
 Levi. But the ones were crying out 
 abundantly, saying, 
 
 The chiefpriests, &c. Let him be 
 crucified. 
 
 Levi. But when Pilatus saw that he 
 does not profit one thing, howbeit 
 rather an uproar becomes, he received 
 water and laved the hands clean, in 
 full view of the crowd, saying, 
 
 Pilatus. I am innocent from the 
 blood of this righteous one: ye, ye 
 shall see to it. 
 
 Levi. And all the people answered 
 and spoke, 
 
 All. His blood be over upon us, 
 and over upon our beams. 
 
 Levi. Then he relased Barabbas to 
 them; but he lashed Joshua and de- 
 livered him up in order that he might 
 be crucified. Then the soldiers of the 
 governor received Joshua beside them 
 into the Practorium ami gathered 
 
44 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 ACT V. 
 
 over upon him the whole cohort. 
 And they unclothed him and placed 
 about him a scarlet military cloak. 
 And they plaited a crown out of 
 thorns and placed it on over his head, 
 and a reed in his right hand: and 
 they bowed the knee in front of him 
 and mocked him, saying, 
 
 The soldiers. Rejoice thou, the 
 King of the Judaeans! 
 
 Levi. And they spat right on him 
 and received the reed, and were 
 striking him on the head. And when 
 they mocked him, they unclothed 
 him of the military cloak, and clothed 
 him in his own garments, and led him 
 away into the end for to crucify him. 
 Scene 6. Jerusalem. On the way to 
 Golgotha. Calvary. 
 
 Levi. But as they are coming out, 
 they found a human, a Cyrenian, 
 Simon by name: this one they im- 
 pressed in order that he might take 
 his cross. And when they came into a 
 place denominated Golgotha, which 
 is to say, Skull-place, they gave to 
 him to drink wine having been min- 
 gled in company with gall: and when 
 he tasted it, he did not wish to drink 
 it. But they crucified him and parted 
 his garments throughout for them- 
 selves, casting the lot: and sitting 
 down they were keeping him there. 
 And they placed on overabove his 
 head his cause having been written, 
 
 I'ilatus. This Is Joshua The King Of 
 The Judaeans. 
 
 Levi. Then two robbers are cruci- 
 fied together with him, one on the 
 right hand, and the other on the left. 
 But the ones going by were defaming 
 him, moving their heads, and saying. 
 
 The bygoers. The one throwing 
 down the shrine, and in three days 
 building it, save thou thyself. If 
 thou art the Son of the God, descend 
 from the cross. 
 
 Levi. Likewise also the chiefpriests 
 in company with the scribes and 
 
 elders were mocking him and saying, 
 
 The chiefpriests, &c. He saved 
 others; he is not able to save him- 
 self. He is the King of Israel; let him 
 descend now from the cross, and we 
 will believe over upon him. He has 
 confidence over upon the God; let 
 him deliver him now, if he wishes 
 him: for he spoke, that I am God's 
 Son. 
 
 Levi. But also the robbers, the 
 ones crucified together along with 
 him, were reproaching him with the 
 same. But from the sixth hour dark- 
 ness became over upon all the land 
 until the ninth hour. But about the 
 ninth hour Joshua shouted out with a 
 loud voice, saying, 
 
 Joshua. Eloi, Eloi, lema sabach- 
 thani {Levi. This is, My God, my God, 
 to what purpose forsookest thou me) ? 
 
 Levi. But certain of the ones having 
 stood there, when they heard it, were 
 saying, that 
 
 Certain bystanders. This one voices 
 Elijah. 
 
 Levi. And immediately one out of 
 them ran, and received a sponge, 
 filled it too with vinegar, and placed 
 it on a reed and was causing him to 
 drink. But the rest were saying, 
 
 The rest. Acquit thou, let us see if 
 Elijah is coming who will save him. 
 
 Levi. But Joshua cried out again 
 with a loud voice and acquitted the 
 spirit. And, lo, the veil of the shrine 
 was divided into two from the top 
 to the bottom; and the earth was 
 quaked, and the rocks were divided; 
 and the tombs were opened; and 
 many bodies of the holy ones having 
 fallen asleep arose; and they came 
 forth out of the tombs after his 
 arising and entered into the holy 
 city, and exhibited themselves to 
 many. But the centurion and the 
 ones in company with him keeping 
 Joshua, when they saw the earth- 
 quake, and the things which;, became, 
 
6CENE VIII. 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 45 
 
 feared excessively, saying, 
 
 The centurion & guard. Truly this 
 one was God's Son. 
 
 Levi. But many women were there 
 viewing from afar off, whoever fol- 
 lowed Joshua from Galilee, serving 
 him: among whom was Miriam Mag- 
 dalene, and Miriam the mother of 
 Jacob and Joses, and the mother of 
 the sons of Zebedee. 
 Scene 7. Jerusalem. The sepulchre. 
 
 Levi. But when evening became, 
 there came a rich human from Ari- 
 mathaea, the name Joseph, who also 
 himself discipled to Joshua: this one 
 came unto Pilatus and requested the 
 body of Joshua. Then Pilatus bade 
 it to be rendered. And Joseph re- 
 ceived the body and wrapped it in a 
 clean linen cloth, and placed it in 
 his own new tomb, which he hewed 
 out in the rock: and he rolled a great 
 stone unto the door of the tomb and 
 came away. But Miriam Magdelene 
 was there, and the other Miriam, sit- 
 ting in full view of the sepulchre. 
 
 But on the morrow, whichever is 
 after the preparation, the chiefpriests 
 and the Pharisees were gathered unto 
 Pilatus, saying, 
 
 The chiefpriests & Pharisees. Sir, 
 we remembered that that wanderer 
 spoke, while yet living, After three 
 days I am arising. Therefore bid 
 thou for the sepulchre to be made safe 
 until the third day, lest at any time 
 the disciples might come and steal 
 him away, and speak to the people, 
 He arose from the dead : and the last 
 wandering shall be worse than the 
 first. 
 
 Levi. But Pilatus was speaking to 
 them, 
 
 Pilatus. Ye have a custodia [guard] : 
 retire ye, make it safe, as ye cognise 
 how. 
 
 Levi. But the ones went and made 
 the sepulchre safe, and sealed the 
 stone, in company with the custodia. 
 
 Scene 8. The sepulchre. 'Jerusalem. 
 A mountain in Galilee. 
 
 Levi. But long after the sabbath 
 was over, as it began to dawn into 
 the first day of the week, there came 
 Miriam Magdalene, and the other 
 Miriam, to view the sepulchre. And, 
 lo, there became a great earthquake: 
 for an angel of the Lord descended 
 out of heaven, and approached and 
 rolled away the stone, and was sit- 
 ting overabove it. But his semblance 
 was as lightning, and his clothing 
 white as snow: but from the fear of 
 him the ones keeping were quaked, 
 and were made to become as dead ones. 
 ■But the angel answered and spoke 
 to the women, 
 
 An angel. Never fear ye, ye: for I 
 cognise that ye seek Joshua the one 
 having been crucified. He is not here: 
 for he arose, according as he spoke. 
 Hither ye, see the place whither he 
 lay. And go ye quickly and speak 
 to his disciples, that He arose from 
 the dead; and, lo, he leads before you 
 into Galilee; there ye shall see him: 
 lo, I spoke to you. 
 
 Levi. And they came away quickly 
 from the tomb in company with fear 
 and great joy and ran to report to his 
 disciples. And, lo, Joshua met them 
 saying, 
 
 Joshua. Rejoice ye. 
 
 Levi. But the ones approached and 
 laid hold on his feet, and worshipped 
 him. Then Joshua says to them, 
 
 Joshua. Never fear ye: retire, re- 
 port to my brothers, in order that 
 they might come away into Galilee; 
 and there they shall see me. 
 
 Levi. But while they are going, lo, 
 certain of the custodia came into the 
 city and reported to the chiefpriests 
 quite all the things which became. 
 And they were gathered in company 
 with the elders, received consultation 
 too and gave sufficient money to the 
 soldiers, saying, 
 
46 
 
 JOSHUA THE MESSIAH. 
 
 ACT V. 
 
 The Sanhedrim. Speak ye, that 
 His disciples came by night and stole 
 him away when we fell asleep. And 
 if assuredly this might be heard of by 
 the governor, we, we will persuade 
 him, and make you unanxious. 
 
 Levi. But the ones received the 
 money and did as they were taught: 
 and this account was spread abroad 
 beside Judagans tip to this very day. 
 
 But the eleven disciples went into 
 Galilee, into the mountain where 
 Joshua arranged for them. And they 
 
 saw him and worshipped him: but 
 some hesitated. And Joshua ap- 
 proached and talked to them, saying, 
 
 Joshua. All authority was given to 
 me in heaven and over earth. Go ye 
 and disciple all the nations, immers- 
 ing them into the name of the Father, 
 and of the Son, and of the Holy 
 Spirit: teaching them to keep all 
 things as many as I commanded you: 
 and, lo, I, I am in company with you 
 all the days, until the consummation 
 of the age. 
 
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