SECOND BOOK OF AḎAM AND ḤAWWAH 18

1 The children of Yereḏ were in the habit of visiting him hour after hour, to receive his beraḵah and to ask his advice for every thing they did, and when he had work to do, they did it for him.

2 But this time when they went into the cave they did not find Yereḏ, but they found the lamp put out, and the bodies of the fathers thrown about, and voices came from them by the power of Elohim, that said, “Satan in an apparition has deceived our son, wishing to destroy him, as he destroyed our son Qayin.”

3 They said also, “𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 Elohim of the shamayim and earth, deliver our son from the hand of Satan, who produced such a great and false specter before him.” They also spoke of other matters, by the power of Elohim.

4 But when the children of Yereḏ heard these voices they feared, and stood weeping for their father because they did not know what had happened to him.

5 And they wept for him that day until the setting of the sun.

6 Then Yereḏ come with a mournful expression, miserable in mind and body, and sorrowful at having been separated from the bodies of his fathers.

7 But as he came near the cave, his children saw him and ran to the cave, and hugged his neck, crying, and saying to him, “O father, where have you been, and why have you left us because we know you did not want to?” And they spoke again saying, “Father, when you disappeared the lamp over the bodies of our fathers went out, and the bodies were thrown about, and voices came from them.”

8 When Yereḏ heard this he was sorry, and went into the cave; and there found the bodies thrown about, the lamp put out, and the fathers themselves praying for his deliverance from the hand of Satan.

9 Then Yereḏ fell upon the bodies and embraced them, and said, “My fathers, through your intercession, Elohim delivered me from the hand of Satan! I beg you to ask Elohim to keep me and to hide me from him to the day of my death.”

10 Then all the voices ceased except the voice of our father Aḏam, who spoke to Yereḏ by the power of Elohim, just as one would speak to his friend, saying, “Yereḏ, my son, offer gifts to Elohim for having delivered you from the hand of Satan. And when you bring those offerings, offer them on the same altar on which I gave offerings. Even then you must beware of Satan, for he deluded me many a time with his specters, wishing to destroy me, but Elohim delivered me out of his hand.

11 “Command your people that they be on their guard against him, and never cease to offer up gifts to Elohim.”

12 Then the voice of Aḏam also became silent; and Yereḏ and his children wondered at this. Then they laid the bodies as they were at first; and Yereḏ and his children stood praying the entire night, until break of day.

13 Then Yereḏ made an offering and offered it up on the altar, as Aḏam had commanded him. And as he went up to the altar, he prayed to Elohim for mercy and for forgiveness of his sin concerning the lamp going out.

14 Then Elohim appeared to Yereḏ on the altar and baraḵ him and his children, and accepted their offerings; and commanded Yereḏ to take of the sacred fire from the altar and light the lamp that shed light on the body of Aḏam.