VII. THE TESTAMENT OF DAN Concerning anger and lying

1. The record of the words of Dan, which he spake to his sons in his last days. In the hundred and twenty-fifth year of his life he called together his family, and said: Hearken to my words, ye sons of Dan; give heed to the words of the mouth of your father. I have proved in my heart, and in my whole life, that truth with just dealing is good and well-pleasing to God, and that lying and anger are evil, because they teach man all wickedness.

I confess this day to you, my children, that in my heart I rejoiced concerning the death of Joseph, a true and good man; and I rejoiced at the selling of Joseph, because his father loved him more than us.

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

And one of the spirits of Beliar wrought with me, saying, Take this sword, and with it slay Joseph; so shall thy father love thee when he is slain.

This is the spirit of anger that counselled me, that even as a leopard devoureth a kid, so should I devour Joseph.

But the God of Jacob our father gave him not over into my hands that I should find him alone, nor suffered me to work this iniquity, that two tribes should be destroyed in Israel.

2. And now, my children, I am dying, and I tell you of a truth,

that unless ye keep yourselves from the spirit of lying and of anger, and love truth and long-suffering, ye shall perish.

There is blindness in anger, my children, and no wrathful man regardeth any, person with truth: for though it be a father or a mother, he behaveth towards them as enemies; though it be a brother, he knoweth him not;

though it be a prophet of the Lord, he disobeyeth him; though a righteous man, he regardeth him not; a friend he doth not acknowledge.

For the spirit of anger encompasseth him with the nets of deceit, and blindeth his natural eyes, and through lying darkeneth his mind, and giveth him a sight of his own making. And wherewith encompasseth he his eyes? In hatred of heart; and he giveth him a heart of his own against his brother unto envy.

3. My children, mischievous is anger, for it becometh as a soul to the soul itself; and the body of the angry man it maketh its own, and over his soul it getteth the mastery, and it bestoweth upon the body its own power, that it may work all iniquity;

and whenever the soul doeth aught, it justifieth what has been done, since it seeth not. Therefore he who is wrathful, if he be a mighty man, hath a treble might in his anger;

one by the might and aid of his servants,
and a second by his wrath, whereby he persuadeth and overcometh in injustice:
and having a third of the nature of his own body, and of his own self working the evil.
And though the wrathful man be weak, yet hath he a might twofold of that which is by nature;
.......... for wrath ever aideth such in mischief.
.......... This spirit goeth always with lying at the right hand of Satan,
.......... .......... that his works may be wrought with cruelty and lying.

4. Understand ye therefore the might of wrath, that it is vain. For it first of all stingeth him in word: then by deeds it strengtheneth him who is angry,

and with bitter punishments disturbeth his mind, and so stirreth up with great wrath his soul.
Therefore, when any one speaketh against you, be not ye moved unto anger,

And if any man praiseth you as good, be not lifted up nor elated, either to the feeling or showing of pleasure.

For first it pleaseth the hearing, and so stirreth up the understanding to understand the grounds for anger; and then, being wrathful, he thinketh that he is justly angry. If ye fall into any loss or ruin, my children, be hot troubled;

for this very spirit maketh men desire that which hath perished, in order that they may he inflamed by the desire.
.......... If ye suffer loss willingly, be not vexed, for from vexation he raiseth up wrath with lying.

And wrath with lying is a twofold mischief; and they speak one with another that they may disturb the mind; and when the soul is continually, disturbed,
.......... the Lord departeth from it, and Beliar ruleth over it.

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

Speak truth each one with his neighbour,
so shall ye not fall into lust and confusion;

but ye shall be in peace, having the God of peace, so shall no war prevail over yon. Love the Lord through all your life, unit one another with a true heart.
.......... For I know that in the last days ye will depart from the Lord, and will provoke Levi unto anger,
.......... and will fight against Judah; but ye shall not prevail against them.
.......... For an angel of the Lord shall guide them both; for by them shall Israel stand.

And whensoever ye depart from the Lord, ye will walk in all evil, working the abominations of the Gentiles, going astray with women of them that are ungodly; and the spirits of error shall work in you with all malice.

For I have read in the book of Enoch the righteous, that your prince is Satan,
............ and that all the spirits of fornication and pride shall be subject unto Levi,
............ to lay a snare for the sons of Levi, to came them to sin before the Lord.
............ And my sons will draw near unto Levi, and sin with them in all things;
............ and the sons of Judah will be covetous, plundering other men's goods like lions.

Some Old Testament Background:

Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Ezekiel 28:12

Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Ezekiel 28:13

Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Ezekiel 28:14

So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. Gen 3:24

Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. Ezekiel 28:15

By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Ezekiel 28:16

Chalal (h2490) khaw-lal'; a prim. root [comp. 2470]; prop. to bore, i. e. (by impl.) to wound, to dissolve; fig. to profane (a person, place or thing), to break (one's word), to begin (as if by an "opening wedge"); denom. (from 2485) to play (the flute): - begin (* men began), defile, * break, defile, * eat (as common things), * first, * gather the grape thereof, * take inheritance, pipe, player on instruments, pollute, (cast as) profane (self), prostitute, slay (slain), sorrow, stain, wound.

Hebrew Dictionary linked to Strong Numbers Chalal (h2490) an instroctor/ of distance/space, start, commence; to redeem, to desecrate, make void, to create a cavity, vacuum, hollow, an empty space; a hollow/vacuum as a means to trap or bring together, nature; a vault, to make hollow: to wound, pierce, define, violate, make vulgar, wounded, slain, dead, the action of resisting: to break, disregard; violating instruction, to arrange/ an order of instruction; to assign, to pipe, play pipes

Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. Ezekiel 28:17

Thou hast defiled (h2490 above) thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. Ezekiel 28:18

Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Exodus 31:14

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: Matt 25:41

Aggelos (g32) ang'-el-os; [prob. der. from 71; comp. 34] (to bring tidings); a messenger; esp. an "angel"; by impl. a pastor: - angel, messenger

Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones (he goats: leaders) of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. Isaiah 14:9

All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us? Isaiah 14:10

Thy pomp is brought down to the grave (sheol), and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee. Isaiah 14:11KJV

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! Isaiah 14:12

All your pomp has been brought down to the grave, along with the noise of your harps; maggots are spread out beneath you and worms cover you. Isaiah 14:11NIV

For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north (dark north): Isaiah 14:13

The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: Joel 2:10

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Isaiah 14:14
............ Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. Isaiah 14:15

Sheowl (h7585) sheh-ole'; or shÿ·oÇl sheh-ole'; from 7592; hades or the world of the dead (as if a subterranean retreat), includ. its accessories and inmates: - grave, hell, pit

Shaal (h7592) shaw-al'; or shaÇ·eÇl shaw-ale'; a prim. root; to inquire; by impl. to request; by extens. to demand: - ask (counsel, on), beg, borrow, lay to charge, consult, demand, desire, * earnestly, enquire, / greet, obtain leave, lend, pray, request, require, / salute, * straitly, * surely, wish

They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; Isaiah 14:16

But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet. Isaiah 14:19

Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned. Isaiah 14:20

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation (offspring) of vipers (poisonious serpents), who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Matt 3:7

Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: Matt 3:8

O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. Mt.12:34

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, Matthew 23:29

And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Matthew 23:30

Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. Matthew 23:31
............ Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. Matthew 23:32

Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? Mt.23:33

Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: Matthew 23:34

That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Matthew 23:35

Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them. 2 Chr 24:17

And they left the house of the Lord God of their fathers, and served groves (asherah poles) and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass 2 Chr 24:18 .

Ashthoret (h6253) ash-to'-reth; prob. for 6251; Ashtoreth, the Phoenician goddess of love (and increase): - Ashtoreth.

Acab (h6091) aw-tsawb'; from 6087; an (idolatrous) image: - idol, image.

Asaph is

Acaph (h623) aw-sawf'; from 622; collector; Asaph, the name of three Isr., and of the family of the first: - Asaph.

Acaph (h622) aw-saf'; a prim. root; to gather for any purpose; hence to receive, take away, i. e. remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.): - assemble, bring, consume, destroy, fetch, gather (in, together, up again), * generally, get (him), lose, put all together, receive, recover [another from leprosy], (be) rereward, * surely, take (away, into, up), * utterly, withdraw.

And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood. Ps.106:38

And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the Lord, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the Lord, he hath also forsaken you. 2 Chron 24:20

And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the Lord. 2 Chron 24:21

Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. Matthew 23:36

I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. John 8:38

But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. John 8:40

Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. John 8:41

Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Jn.8:42

Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. John 8:43

Lalia (g2981) lal-ee-ah'; from 2980; talk: - saying, speech.

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Ephesians 5:19

Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: Col.4:3

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. Jn.8:44

And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. John 8:45

Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? John 8:46

He that is of God heareth Gods words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. John 8:47

Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? John 8:48

Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. John 8:49

And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. John 8:50

Revelation 13:7, 8, 11, 16-18 states: "And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them; and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundations of the worldÉ"if any man have an ear, let him hear. .. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads; And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast or the number of his name. Here is wisdom: Let him that has understanding count the number of the beast for it is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred, threescore and six - 666." Those who take the mark: "And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever; and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name."

Therefore shall ye be led away with them in captivity, and there shall ye receive all the plagues of Egypt, and all the malice of the Gentiles: and so, when ye return to the Lord, ye shall obtain mercy, and He shall bring you into His sanctuary, calling peace upon you; and there shall arise unto you from the tribe of Judah and of Levi the salvation of the Lord;

and He shall make war against Beliar, and He shall give the vengeance of victory to our coasts.

And the captivity shall He take from Beliar, even the souls of the saints, and shall turn disobedient hearts unto the Lord, and shall give to them who call upon Him everlasting peace;

and the saints shall rest in Eden, and the righteous shall rejoice in the new Jerusalem, which shall be unto the glory of God for ever and ever.

And no longer shall Jerusalem endure desolation, nor Israel be led captive; for the Lord shall be in the midst of her, dwelling among men, even
............ the Holy One of Israel reigning over them in humility and in poverty;
............ and he who believeth on Him shall reign in truth in the heavens.

6. And now, my children, fear the Lord, and take heed unto yourselves of Satan and his spirits; and draw near unto God,

and to the Angel that intercedeth for you, for He is a Mediator between God and man for the peace of Israel.

He shall stand up against the kingdom of the enemy; therefore is the enemy eager to destroy all that call upon the Lord. For he knoweth that in the day on which Israel shall believe, the kingdom of the enemy shall be brought to an end; and the very angel of peace shall strengthen Israel, that it fall not into the extremity of evil.

And it shall be in the time of the iniquity of Israel, that the Lord will depart from them, and will go after him that doeth His will, for unto none of His angels shall it be as unto him. And His name shall be in every place of Israel, and among the Gentiles--Saviour.

Keep therefore yourselves, my children. from every evil work, and cast away wrath and all lying, and love truth and long-suffering; and the things which ye have heard from your father, do ye also impart to your children, that the Father of the Gentiles may receive you: for He is true and long-suffering, meek and lowly, and teacheth by His works the law of God. Depart, therefore, from all unrighteousness, and cleave unto, the righteousness of the law of the Lord: and bury me near my fathers.

7. And when he had said these things he kissed them, and slept the long sleep. And his sons buried him, and after that they carried up his bones to the side of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob. Nevertheless, as Dan had prophesied unto them that they should forget the law of their God, and should be alienated from the land of their inheritance, and from the race of Israel, and from their kindred, so also it came to pass.

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THE TESTAMENT OF DAN Concerning anger and lying VII.