Testament

 1 Reuben  |     years after the death of Joseph his 3 brother, when Reuben
 2 Reuben  |       For ye heard regarding Joseph how he guarded himself from
 3 Reuben  |    me also, and to Dan and 8 Joseph, that we should be for rulers].
 4 Simeon  |      his life, at which time Joseph, his brother, died. For
 5 Simeon  |    jealous in many things of Joseph, because my father loved
 6 Simeon  |    children, that because of Joseph this had befallen me, and
 7 Simeon  |     my father, on account of Joseph my brother, in that I envied
 8 Simeon  |     guilty of the selling of Joseph. 3 And when we went down
 9 Simeon  |     4 and I grieved not. Now Joseph was a good man, and had
10 Simeon  |  good heart, keeping in mind Joseph your father's brother, that
11 Simeon  |   heads, even as ye saw in 6 Joseph's case. All his days he
12 Simeon  |      men. ~5 1 Therefore was Joseph comely in appearance and
13 Simeon  |  Egyptians. For the bones of Joseph 4 the Egyptians guarded
14 Simeon  |    departure of the bones of Joseph there should be throughout
15 Levi    |  hundred and eighteenth year Joseph died. ~13 1 And now, my
16 Levi    |      with kings, As was also Joseph my brother. ~14 1 Therefore,
17 Judah   |     we came into 12 Egypt to Joseph, because of the famine.
18 Judah   |    Levi first, I the second, Joseph third, Benjamin fourth,
19 Judah   |      Zebulun; the mountains, Joseph; the tabernacle, Benjamin;
20 Zebulun |     years after the death of Joseph. And he said to them: 3
21 Zebulun |    which I committed against Joseph; for I covenanted with my
22 Zebulun |      many days on account of Joseph, for I feared my brethren,
23 Zebulun |  Simeon and Gad came against Joseph to kill him, and he said
24 Zebulun |  loosened. 5 And I wept with Joseph, and my heart sounded, and
25 Zebulun |      able to stand. And when Joseph saw me weeping with him,
26 Zebulun |    up in them, in order that Joseph should be preserved. And
27 Zebulun |   brethren took the price of Joseph, and bought sandals for
28 Zebulun |    face. And the brethren of Joseph wished not that their brother
29 Zebulun |      which they wore against Joseph their brother. For when
30 Zebulun |  unloosed by the servants of Joseph outside the gate, and so
31 Zebulun |    so they made obeisance to Joseph after the 7 fashion of King
32 Zebulun |  evils that they had done to Joseph. ~4 1 And after he was sold
33 Zebulun |      But I, through pity for Joseph, did not eat, but watched
34 Zebulun |      that while he was away (Joseph) had been sold, he rent
35 Zebulun |    and dip in it the coat of Joseph; and let us send it to Jacob,
36 Zebulun |   For they stripped off from Joseph his coat when they were
37 Zebulun |  sword, as he was angry that Joseph lived and that 12 he had
38 Zebulun |     were dying on account of Joseph, because they 5 showed not
39 Zebulun |     we went down into Egypt, Joseph bore no malice against us.
40 Dan     |     resolved on the death of Joseph my brother, the true and
41 Dan     |      sword, and with it slay Joseph: so shall thy father love
42 Dan     |   that persuaded me to crush Joseph as a leopard crusheth a
43 Naphtali|     unto thee. Whence 9 also Joseph was like unto me in all
44 Naphtali|      him; but could not. But Joseph came, and 8 seized him,
45 Naphtali|  until it was broken up. And Joseph fled away upon a little
46 Naphtali|  unto me: I believe God that Joseph liveth, for I see always
47 Naphtali|       weeping: Ah me, my son Joseph, thou livest, though I behold
48 Naphtali|     my heart to declare that Joseph had been sold, but I feared
49 Gad     | throw, and so killed it. Now Joseph my brother was feeding the
50 Gad     |    he loved him greatly. And Joseph told our father that the
51 Gad     |      matter I was wroth with Joseph until the day that he was
52 Gad     | wished not either to hear of Joseph with the ears, or see him
53 Gad     |     as I also then looked on Joseph. ~4 I Beware, therefore,
54 Gad     |      had repented concerning Joseph. For true repentance after
55 Gad     |      set mercilessly against Joseph, in my liver too I suffered
56 Gad     |     I had been angry against Joseph. ~6 1 And now, my children,
57 Gad     |  father I spake peaceably to Joseph; and when I had gone out,
58 Joseph  |             THE TESTAMENT OF JOSEPH, THE ELEVENTH SON OF JACOB
59 Joseph  |     copy of the Testament of Joseph. When he was about to die
60 Joseph  |      my children, Hearken to Joseph the beloved of Israel; Give