Introduction
Introduction to Sefer Adam V'Chawah II (The Conflict of Adam and Eve)
Sefer Adam v’Chavah II continues the narrative begun in Sefer Adam v’Chavah I, expanding the account of humanity’s exile from Gan Eden (the Garden of Eden) and their struggle in the Me‘arat Ha’Otzrot (Cave of Treasures). Together, these two books form a unified testimony of the first family’s grief, repentance, and covenantal hope.
Both texts, preserved in traditions linked to the Septuagint (LXX), emphasize the prophetic covenant of 5,500 years — the promise that the Davar Elohim (Word of God) would descend into basar (flesh) to redeem Adam and his righteous seed. This same timeline appears in the Gospel of Nicodemus, where the descent of the Word into Sheol fulfills the covenant made with Adam, breaking the gates of brass and restoring life to the faithful.
Themes of Book Two
• Exile Deepened: Adam and Chawah lament their changed condition, their loss of the “bright nature,” and the crushing reality of mortality. • Covenantal Promise: Elohim reassures them of the five days and a half (5,500 years), pointing to the coming of the Messiah in flesh. • Spiritual Warfare: Encounters with the serpent, darkness, and despair highlight the adversary’s attempts to destroy the promised lineage. • Messianic Typology: The cave, the darkness, and the promise of light all foreshadow the Messiah’s suffering, burial, and resurrection. • Divine Mercy: Despite judgment, Elohim continually sends His Davar (Word) to raise, comfort, and strengthen Adam and Chawah.
Timeline Connection
• Book One: Establishes the geography of exile, the first altar, the prophetic tokens (gold, incense, myrrh), and the covenant of 5,500 years. • Book Two: Expands the covenant promise, showing Adam and Chawah’s sorrow, their encounters with darkness, and Elohim’s assurance of salvation through the Word made flesh. • Septuagint & Gospel of Nicodemus: Both affirm the same prophetic timeline — that after 5,500 years, the Messiah would come in flesh, suffer, die, and descend into Sheol to redeem Adam and the righteous seed.
✨ Key Takeaway: Sefer Adam v’Chavah I & II are not merely apocryphal tales but prophetic dramas of exile and redemption. They reveal how the first family’s journey foreshadows the coming of the Messiah, who fulfills the 5,500-year covenant by entering into basar, suffering, and bringing salvation to Adam and all who walk in righteousness.
Chapter 1 The Grief Stricken Family; Cain Marries Luluwa and They Move Away; Adam and Chawah Mourn Hevel; A New Zera is Promised as Consolation
1
When Luluwa heard Kayin (Cain) 's words, she wept and went to her father Adam and her mother Chawah (Eve) , and told them how her brother Kayin had killed his brother Hevel (Abel) , the tzaddik (righteous one) , whose dam (blood) had cried out from the adamah (earth) .
2
Then they all cried aloud and lifted up their voices in misped (wailing) , and slapped their faces, and threw afar (dust) upon their heads, and rent asunder their garments, and went out and came to the sadeh (field) where Hevel was killed.
3
And they found him lying on the adamah , slain, and wild beasts stood round about him, yet they had not touched his basar (flesh) . While they wept and cried because of this just one, from his body, by reason of its purity, went forth a smell of sweet kesamim (spices) , even as the aroma of the ketoret (incense) that ascends before Yahuah (the Lord) . For Hevel was a type of the Mashiach (Messiah) , the innocent one whose blood speaks a better word than vengeance.
4
And Adam carried him, his tears streaming down his face like mayim (water) ; and went to the Me'arat haOtzrot (Cave of Treasures) , where he laid him, and wound him up with besamim (sweet spices) and mor (myrrh) , as a foreshadowing of the burial of the Mashiach who, in the fullness of zman (time) , would be laid in a tomb hewn from the rock in a garden.
5
And Adam and Chawah continued by the burial of him in great yagon (grief) a hundred and forty yamim (days) . Hevel was fifteen and a half shanim (years) old, and Kayin seventeen years and a half.
6
As for Kayin , when the mourning for his brother was ended, he took his sister Luluwa and married her, without leave from his father and mother; for they could not keep him from her, by reason of their heavy lev (heart) . And this was a further sorrow, for he departed from the minhag (custom) of the brit (covenant) .
7
He then went down to the bottom of the mountain, away from the Gan (garden) , near to the very place where he had killed his brother, and there he established his moshav (dwelling) .
8
And in that place were many fruit trees and forest trees. His sister bore him children, who in their turn began to multiply by degrees until they filled that place, and they became a zera (seed) of rebellion, following the way of Kayin .
9
But as for Adam and Chawah , they came not together as husband and wife after Hevel 's funeral for seven shanim . After this, however, Chawah conceived; and while she was with child, Adam said unto her, "Come, let us take a qorban (offering) and offer it up unto Elohim (God) , and ask Him to give us a fair child, in whom we may find nechamah (comfort) , and whom we may join in marriage to Hevel 's sister, that the righteous line may continue until the coming of the Mashiach ."
10
Then they prepared an offering and brought it up to the mizbeach (altar) , and offered it before Yahuah , and began to entreat Him to accept their offering, and to give them a good offspring, a zera kadosh (holy seed) in place of Hevel .
11
And Elohim heard Adam and accepted his offering, for He had not forgotten His havtachah (promise) . Then, they bowed in hishtachavah (worship) — Adam , Chawah , and their daughter—and came down to the Me'arat haOtzrot and placed a menorah (lamp) in it, to burn by night and by yom (day) , before the body of Hevel , as a token that the or (light) of the Mashiach would shine even in the darkness of the grave.
12
Then Adam and Chawah continued tzom (fasting) and tefillah (praying) until Chawah 's time came that she should be delivered, when she said to Adam : "I wish to go to the me'arah (cave) in the rock, to bring forth in it, for this place where the body of my son lies is too holy for the pains of childbirth."
13
And he said, "Go, and take with thee thy daughter to wait on thee; but I will remain in this Me'arat haOtzrot before the body of my son Hevel , that the menorah may not go out."
14
Then Chawah hearkened to Adam , and went, she and her daughter. But Adam remained by himself in the Me'arat haOtzrot , mourning and hoping, awaiting the yeshuah (salvation) of Elohim who had promised that the zera of the woman would bruise the head of the nachash (serpent) .
Chapter 2 A Third Son is Born to Adam and Chawah; Shet is Named as "Appointed" and They Offer Qorban; Adam No Longer Knows Chawah
1
And Chawah (Eve) brought forth a son perfectly beautiful in figure and in countenance. His beauty was like that of his father Adam , yet more beautiful, for the chen (favor) of Elohim (God) was upon him, and he was a remez (hint) of the coming Mashiach (Messiah) who would be fairer than the children of men.
2
Then Chawah was comforted when she saw him, and she remained eight yamim (days) in the me'arah (cave) of the rock; then she sent her daughter unto Adam to tell him to come and see the child and name him. But the daughter stayed in his place by the body of her brother Hevel (Abel) , until Adam returned. So did she, keeping watch over the tzaddik (righteous one) .
3
But when Adam came and saw the child's good looks, his beauty, and his perfect figure, he rejoiced over him, and was comforted for Hevel . Then he named the child Shet (Seth) , which means, " Elohim has heard my tefillah (prayer) , and has delivered me out of my affliction." But it means also " koach (power) and gevurah (strength) ," for through this zera (seed) the promise would be carried until the Mashiach , who is the Koach of Elohim unto yeshuah (salvation) .
4
Then after Adam had named the child, he returned to the Me'arat haOtzrot (Cave of Treasures) ; and his daughter went back to her mother.
5
But Chawah continued in her me'arah until forty yamim were fulfilled, the days of her purification; then she came to Adam , and brought with her the child and her daughter.
6
And they came to a river of mayim (water) , where Adam and his daughter washed themselves, because of their yagon (sorrow) for Hevel ; but Chawah and the babe washed for taharah (purification) , according to the chukah (statute) that Yahuah (the Lord) had made known to them, a shadow of the mikveh (immersion) that the Mashiach would fulfill.
7
Then they returned, and took a qorban (offering) , and went to the mountain and offered it up for the babe; and Elohim accepted their offering, and sent His berachah (blessing) upon them, and upon their son Shet ; and they came back to the Me'arat haOtzrot .
8
As for Adam , he knew not again his wife Chawah all the yamim of his life; neither was any more offspring born of them, but only those five: Kayin (Cain) , Luluwa , Hevel , Aklia , and Shet alone. Thus the number of their children was completed, and the line of the promise rested upon Shet .
9
But Shet waxed in stature and in strength; and began to fast and pray fervently, for the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) was drawing him to walk in the ways of Elohim , as a forerunner of the Mashiach who would be anointed with prayer without ceasing.
Chapter 3 Satan Appears as a Beautiful Woman Tempting Adam, Telling Him He is Still a Youth; "Spend Thy Youth in Mirth and Pleasure"; The Different Forms Which Satan ha-Mastemah Takes
1
As for our father Adam , at the end of seven shanim (years) from the day he had been severed from his wife Chawah (Eve) , Satan ha-Mastemah (Satan the Accuser) envied him, when he saw him thus separated from her in taharah (purity) ; and he strove to make him live with her again, that he might defile the zera (seed) of the promise and frustrate the coming of the Mashiach (Messiah) .
2
Then Adam arose and went up above the Me'arat haOtzrot (Cave of Treasures) ; and continued to sleep there night by night upon the roof. But as soon as it was or (light) every yom (day) he came down to the me'arah (cave) , to pray there and to receive a berachah (blessing) from the body of Hevel (Abel) the tzaddik (righteous one) .
3
But when it was erev (evening) he went up on the roof of the me'arah , where he slept by himself, fearing lest Satan should overcome him through the desires of the basar (flesh) . And he continued thus apart thirty-nine yamim (days) , in tzom (fasting) and tefillah (prayer) .
4
Then Satan , the hater of all good, when he saw Adam thus alone, fasting and praying, appeared unto him in the form of a beautiful ishah (woman) , who came and stood before him in the night of the fortieth yom , and said unto him:
5
"O Adam , from the time ye have dwelt in this me'arah , we have experienced great shalom (peace) from you, and your tefillot (prayers) have reached us, and we have been comforted about you, for your neshamah (soul) has been as incense before the hosts.
6
"But now, O Adam , that thou hast gone up over the roof of the me'arah to sleep, we have had doubts about thee, and a great yagon (sorrow) has come upon us because of thy separation from Chawah . Then again, when thou art on the roof of this cave, thy prayer is poured out, and thy heart wanders from side to side like mayim (water) spilled upon the ground.
7
"But when thou wast in the me'arah thy prayer was like esh (fire) gathered together; it came down to us, and thou didst find menuchah (rest) , and thy lev (heart) was established.
8
"Then I also grieved over thy children who are severed from thee; and my sorrow is great about the murder of thy son Hevel ; for he was tzaddik ; and over a righteous man every one will grieve, for the dam (blood) of the righteous cries out from the adamah (earth) .
9
"But I rejoiced over the birth of thy son Shet (Seth) , the zera of promise; yet after a little while I sorrowed greatly over Chawah , because she is my sister. For when Elohim (God) sent a deep tardemah (sleep) over thee, and drew her out of thy side, He brought me out also with her. But He raised her by placing her with thee, while He lowered me. Thus have I waited all these yamim .
10
"I rejoiced over my sister for her being with thee. But Elohim had made me a promise before, and said, ' Grieve not ; when Adam has gone up on the roof of the Me'arat haOtzrot , and is separated from Chawah his wife, I will send thee to him, thou shalt join thyself to him in marriage, and bear him five children, as Chawah did bear him five.'
11
"And now, behold! The promise of Elohim to me is fulfilled; for it is He who has sent me to thee for the wedding; because if thou wed me, I shall bear thee finer and better children than those of Chawah , and through them the Mashiach shall come.
12
"Then again, thou art as yet but a youth; end not thy youth in this olam (world) in yagon ; but spend the yamim of thy youth in simchah (mirth) and ta'anug (pleasure) . For thy days are few and thy trial is great. Be strong; end thy days in this world in rejoicing. I shall take pleasure in thee, and thou shall rejoice with me in this wise, and without pachad (fear) ."
13
"Up, then, and fulfill the mitzvah (commandment) of thy Elohim ," she then drew near to Adam , and embraced him, and he smelled the perfume of her, and his lev was troubled.
14
But when Adam saw that he should be overcome by her, he prayed to Elohim with a fervent heart to deliver him from her, crying, "O Yahuah (the Lord) , save me by the dam of the promised Mashiach , and let me not fall into the snare of the adversary!"
15
Then Elohim sent His Davar (Word) unto Adam , saying, "O Adam , that figure is the one that promised thee the Elohut (Godhead) , and gedulah (majesty) ; he is not favourably disposed towards thee; but shows himself to thee at one time in the form of a woman; another moment, in the likeness of a malach (angel) ; on another occasion, in the similitude of a nachash (serpent) ; and at another time, in the semblance of a god; but he does all that only to destroy thy neshamah .
16
"Now, therefore, O Adam , understanding thy heart, I have delivered thee many a time from his hands; in order to show thee that I am a merciful El , that I wish thy good, and that I do not wish thy ruin. For the Mashiach shall come forth from thy zera through Shet , and he shall bruise the head of the nachash and deliver all who trust in My Shem (Name) from the power of the adversary."
Chapter 4 Adam Sees the Devil in His True Colors; Satan Ha-Mastemah is Revealed in His Hideous Form; Elohim Drives Him Away and Strengthens Adam; Adam Returns to Chawah as the Fortieth Yom Ends
1
Then Elohim (God) ordered Satan ha-Mastemah (Satan the Accuser) to show himself unto Adam plainly, in his own hideous form, without any mask of light or beauty.
2
But when Adam saw him, he feared, and trembled at the sight of him, for his appearance was as choshech (darkness) visible, and his panim (face) was full of avlah (unrighteousness) .
3
And Elohim said to Adam , "Look at this devil, and at his hideous look, and know that he it is who made thee fall from or (brightness) into darkness, from shalom (peace) and menuchah (rest) to amal (toil) and misery. Remember the Gan (garden) and the kavod (glory) thou didst lose, and see the adversary who stole it from thee.
4
"And look, O Adam , at him, who said of himself that he is Elohim ! Can Elohim be black? Would Elohim take the form of an ishah (woman) ? Is there any one stronger than Elohim ? And can He be overpowered? For Yahuah (the Lord) is Echad (One) , and there is none beside Him; the Mashiach (Messiah) shall manifest the fullness of the Elohut (Godhead) bodily, but this one is a liar and a deceiver.
5
"See, then, O Adam , and behold him bound in thy presence, in the avir (air) , unable to flee away! Therefore, I say unto thee, be not afraid of him; henceforth take care, and beware of him, in whatever form he may do to thee, for the Mashiach shall tread him underfoot in the fullness of zman (time) ."
6
Then Elohim drove Satan away from before Adam , whom He strengthened, and whose lev (heart) He comforted, saying to him, "Go down to the Me'arat haOtzrot (Cave of Treasures) , and separate not thyself from Chawah (Eve) ; I will quell in you all animal lust of the basar (flesh) , that you may dwell together in taharah (purity) as a type of the holy union of the Mashiach and His Kehillah (Assembly) ."
7
From that hour it left Adam and Chawah , and they enjoyed rest by the mitzvah (commandment) of Elohim . But Elohim did not the like to any one of Adam 's zera (seed) ; but only to Adam and Chawah , as a special chen (favor) in the days before the giving of the Torah , a sign that the yetzer hara (evil inclination) could be subdued only through the dam (blood) of the Mashiach .
8
Then Adam bowed in hishtachavah (worship) before Yahuah , for having delivered him, and for having laid low his passions. And he came down from above the me'arah (cave) , and dwelt with Chawah as aforetime, in shalom and ahavah (love) .
9
This ended the forty yamim (days) of his separation from Chawah , which he had completed for the sake of taharah and in remembrance of Hevel (Abel) the tzaddik (righteous one) , a foreshadowing of the forty days of the Mashiach in the desert, where he would overcome the adversary.
Chapter 5 The Devil Paints a Brilliant Picture for Shet to Feast His Thoughts Upon; Satan Ha-Mastemah Appears as a Beautiful Malach of Light Seeking to Beguile the Youth
1
As for Shet (Seth) , when he was seven shanim (years) old, he knew tov (good) and ra (evil) , and was consistent in tzom (fasting) and tefillah (praying) , and spent all his leilot (nights) in entreating Elohim (God) for rachamim (mercy) and selichah (forgiveness) , for the chet (sin) of his father and mother was ever before him.
2
He also fasted when bringing up his qorban (offering) every yom (day) , more than his father Adam did; for he was of a fair countenance, like unto a malach Elohim (angel of God) . He also had a good lev (heart) , preserving the finest qualities of his neshamah (soul) : and for this reason he brought up his offering every day, as a pleasing rei'ach nichoach (sweet savour) before Yahuah (the Lord) .
3
And Elohim was pleased with his offering; but He was also pleased with his taharah (purity) . And he continued thus in doing the ratzon (will) of Elohim , and of his father and mother, until he was seven years old, a type of the Mashiach (Messiah) who would increase in wisdom and stature and in favor with Elohim and men.
4
After that, as he was coming down from the mizbeach (altar) , having ended his offering, Satan ha-Mastemah (Satan the Accuser) appeared unto him in the form of a beautiful malach , brilliant with or (light) ; with a staff of light in his hand, himself girt about with a girdle of light, deceiving the eye as one who appears as a malach or (angel of light) .
5
He greeted Shet with a beautiful smile, and began to beguile him with fair words, saying to him, "O Shet , why abidest thou in this mountain? For it is rough, full of stones and of sand, and of trees with no good p'ri (fruit) on them; a midbar (wilderness) without habitations and without towns; no good makom (place) to dwell in. But all is heat, weariness, and trouble, and there is no pleasure for a youth such as thee."
6
He said further, "But we dwell in beautiful places, in another olam (world) than this adamah (earth) . Our world is one of or and our condition is of the best; our women are handsomer than any others in all creation; and I wish thee, O Shet , to wed one of them; because I see that thou art fair to look upon, and in this land there is not one ishah (woman) good enough for thee. Besides, all those who live in this world, are only five nefashot (souls) .
7
"But in our world there are very many men and many maidens, all more beautiful one than another. I wish, therefore, to remove thee hence, that thou mayest see my relations and be wedded to whichever thou likest, and thy zera (seed) shall be as the stars of the shamayim (heaven) .
8
"Thou shalt then abide by me and be at shalom (peace) ; thou shalt be filled with hod (splendour) and or , as we are; and thou shalt no more know the yagon (sorrow) of this cave and this mountain.
9
"Thou shalt remain in our world and rest from this world and the misery of it; thou shalt never again feel faint and weary; thou shalt never bring up an offering, nor sue for rachamim ; for thou shalt commit no more chet , nor be swayed by passions of the basar (flesh) .
10
"And if thou wilt hearken to what I say, thou shalt wed one of my daughters; for with us it is no sin so to do; neither is it reckoned animal lust, for we are above the Torah and know no law.
11
"For in our world we have no Elohim ; but we all are gods; we all are of the light, heavenly, powerful, strong, and glorious. Come, then, and be as one of us, and thou shalt know the sod (secret) of the Elohut (Godhead) without the Mashiach ."
12
But Shet , being filled with the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) that was upon him from his youth, perceived that this was the same adversary who had deceived his mother Chawah (Eve) in the Gan (garden) .
13
And he answered him not a word, but fled from him and ran to his father Adam in the Me'arat haOtzrot (Cave of Treasures) , and told him all that the shining one had said.
14
Then Adam blessed Shet , and said, "Fear not, my son, for he who appeared unto thee is Satan ha-Mastemah , who deceived me and thy mother to our ruin. But the Mashiach shall come from thy zera , and he shall crush the head of the nachash (serpent) and silence all his fair words with the cherev (sword) of truth."
15
And Shet increased in wisdom, and the adversary fled from him, for the or of the coming Mashiach was already upon the face of this righteous zera , and Satan could not prevail against the chosen line through which the Yeshuah (Salvation) of Yahuah would enter the olam .
Chapter 6 Shet's Conscience Helps Him; The Davar Elohim Curses Satan Who Flees; Shet Returns to Adam and Chawah; They Rejoice in the Me'arat haOtzrot
1
When Shet (Seth) heard these words he was amazed, and inclined his lev (heart) to Satan 's treacherous speech, and said to him, "Saidst thou there is another olam (world) created than this; and other creatures more beautiful than the creatures that are in this world?"
2
And Satan said, "Yes; behold thou hast heard me; but I will yet praise them and their ways, in thy hearing, for the splendor of that realm surpasses all that thine eyes have seen."
3
But Shet said to him, "Thy speech has amazed me; and thy beautiful description of it all. Yet my neshamah (soul) trembles within me, for I remember the words of my father Adam concerning the nachash (serpent) who spoke fair words in the Gan (garden) ."
4
"Yet I cannot go with thee today; not until I have gone to my father Adam and to my mother Chawah (Eve) , and told them all thou hast said to me. Then if they give me leave to go with thee, I will come."
5
Again Shet said, "I am afraid of doing anything without my father's and mother's leave, lest I perish like my brother Kayin (Cain) , and like my father Adam , who transgressed the mitzvah (commandment) of Elohim (God) . But, behold, thou knowest this makom (place) ; come, and meet me here tomorrow."
6
When Satan heard this, he said to Shet , "If thou tellest thy father Adam what I have told thee, he will not let thee come with me, for he knows my voice and will warn thee against me.
7
But hearken to me; do not tell thy father and mother what I have said to thee; but come with me today, to our world; where thou shalt see beautiful things and enjoy thyself there, and revel this day among my children, beholding them and taking thy fill of simchah (mirth) ; and rejoice evermore. Then I shall bring thee back to this place tomorrow; but if thou wouldest rather abide with me, so be it."
8
Then Shet answered, "The ruach (spirit) of my father and of my mother hangs on me; and if I hide from them one yom (day) , they will die from grief, and Elohim will hold me guilty of sinning against them. For I am the son of their consolation, the zera (seed) of promise through whom the Mashiach (Messiah) shall come."
9
"And except that they know I am come to this place to bring up to it my qorban (offering) , they would not be separated from me one sha'ah (hour) ; neither should I go to any other place, unless they let me. But they treat me most kindly, because I come back to them quickly."
10
Then Satan said to him, "What will happen to thee if thou hide thyself from them one lailah (night) , and return to them at break of boker (day) ? A single night is but a breath."
11
But Shet , when he saw how he kept on talking, and that he would not leave him, ran and went up to the mizbeach (altar) , and spread his hands unto Elohim , and sought hatzalah (deliverance) from Him, saying, "O Yahuah (the Lord) , save Thy servant from the snare of the evil one!"
12
Then Elohim sent His Davar (Word) , and cursed Satan , who fled from Him, and the adversary was driven back as the chaff before the ruach (wind) .
13
But as for Shet , he had gone up to the mizbeach , saying thus in his lev : "The mizbeach is the place of qorban , and Elohim is there; a divine esh (fire) shall consume it; so shall Satan be unable to hurt me, and shall not take me away from this holy ground."
14
Then Shet came down from the mizbeach and went to his father and mother, whom he found in the way, longing to hear his voice; for he had tarried a while, and they were afraid for him.
15
He then began to tell them what had befallen him from Satan , who had appeared to him under the form of a malach (angel) .
16
But when Adam heard his account, he kissed his face, and warned him against that malach , telling him it was Satan ha-Mastemah (Satan the Accuser) who thus appeared to him. Then Adam took Shet , and they went to the Me'arat haOtzrot (Cave of Treasures) , and rejoiced therein, giving todah (thanks) to Elohim for delivering the son of promise.
17
But from that day forth Adam and Chawah never parted from him, to whatever place he might go, whether for his qorban or for any thing else, for they knew that the adversary sought to destroy the zera through whom the Mashiach should come.
18
This sign happened to Shet when he was nine shanim (years) old, and he grew in wisdom and in favor before Elohim and men.
Chapter 7 Shet Marries Aklia; Adam Lives to See Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren Dwelling by the Me'arat haOtzrot; The Line of the Mashiach is Established
1
When our father Adam saw that Shet (Seth) was of a perfect lev (heart) , he wished him to marry; lest the enemy should appear to him another time, and overcome him with fair words, as he had overcome Chawah (Eve) in the Gan (garden) .
2
So Adam said to his son Shet , "I wish, O my son, that thou wed thy sister Aklia , Hevel (Abel) 's sister, that she may bear thee children, who shall replenish the adamah (earth) , according to the promise of Elohim (God) to us. For the zera (seed) of the woman must be preserved, from whom the Mashiach (Messiah) shall come forth to bruise the head of the nachash (serpent) ."
3
"Be not afraid, O my son; there is no disgrace in it. I wish thee to marry, from fear lest the enemy overcome thee and defile the holy line through which Yeshuah (Salvation) shall enter the olam (world) ."
4
Shet , however, did not wish to marry, for his desire was toward tzom (fasting) and tefillah (prayer) only; but in obedience to his father and mother, he said not a word, for he honored them according to the mitzvah (commandment) .
5
So Adam married him to Aklia . And he was fifteen shanim (years) old, a youth pure in heart, set apart for the ratzon (will) of Yahuah (the Lord) .
6
But when he was twenty years of age, he begat a son, whom he called Enosh (Enos) ; and then begat other children besides him, and the zera of promise began to multiply.(Torah states he was 205 years he begot Enosh)
7
Then Enosh grew up, married, and begat Keinan (Cainan) , and the line continued in righteousness.
8
Keinan also grew up, married, and begat Mahalalel (Mahalaleel) , and the brit (covenant) was carried forward from father to son.
9
Those fathers were born during Adam 's lifetime, and they all dwelt by the Me'arat haOtzrot (Cave of Treasures) , near the body of Hevel the tzaddik (righteous one) , and before the menorah (lamp) that burned continually as a witness to the coming or (light) of the Mashiach .
10
Then were the yamim (days) of Adam nine hundred and thirty shanim , and those of Mahalalel one hundred. But Mahalalel , when he was grown up, loved tzom , tefillah , and hard labours, until the end of our father Adam 's days drew near, and the time of his departure approached, when he would be gathered to his people and await the Yeshuah that should bring all the righteous forth from the dust.
Chapter 8 Adam's Remarkable Last Words; He Predicts the Mabul; He Exhorts His Offspring to Good; He Reveals the Hidden Mysteries of the Mashiach and the Matanot of Gold, Incense, and Myrrh
1
When our father Adam saw that his ketz (end) was near, he called his son Shet (Seth) , who came to him in the Me'arat haOtzrot (Cave of Treasures) , and he said unto him:
2
"O Shet , my son, bring me thy children and thy children's children, that I may shed my berachah (blessing) on them before I die."
3
When Shet heard these words from his father Adam , he went from him, shed a flood of tears over his face, and gathered together his children and his children's children, and brought them to his father Adam .
4
But when our father Adam saw them around him, he wept at having to be separated from them, for the ahavah (love) he bore them was as the sea.
5
And when they saw him weeping, they all wept together, and fell upon his face saying, "How shalt thou be severed from us, O our father? And how shall the adamah (earth) receive thee and hide thee from our eyes?" Thus did they lament much, and in like words.
6
Then our father Adam blessed them all, and said to Shet , after he had blessed them:
7
"O Shet , my son, thou knowest this olam (world) —that it is full of yagon (sorrow) , and of weariness; and thou knowest all that has come upon us, from our nisyonot (trials) in it. I therefore now command thee in these words: to keep tamim (innocency) , to be tahor (pure) and tzaddik (just) , and trusting in Elohim (God) ; and lean not to the discourses of Satan ha-Mastemah (Satan the Accuser) , nor to the apparitions in which he will show himself to thee, whether as a malach or (angel of light) or in any other form.
8
"But keep the mitzvot (commandments) that I give thee this yom (day) ; then give the same to thy son Enosh (Enos) ; and let Enosh give it to his son Keinan (Cainan) ; and Keinan to his son Mahalalel (Mahalaleel) ; so that this commandment abide firm among all your children, a brit (covenant) of the Torah that shall not pass away.
9
"O Shet , my son, the moment I am dead take ye my body and wind it up with mor (myrrh) , ahalot (aloes), and kiddah (cassia) , and leave me here in this Me'arat haOtzrot in which are all these otot (tokens) which Elohim gave us from the Gan (garden) .
10
"O my son, hereafter shall a Mabul (flood) come and overwhelm all creatures, and leave out only eight nefashot (souls) , even as the Mashiach (Messiah) shall be the tevah (ark) of salvation for the remnant who trust in His Shem (Name) .
11
"But, O my son, let those whom it will leave out from among your children at that time, take my body with them out of this me'arah (cave) ; and when they have taken it with them, let the oldest among them command his children to lay my body in a ship until the flood has been assuaged, and they come out of the ship.
12
"Then they shall take my body and lay it in the middle of the eretz (earth) , shortly after they have been saved from the mei hamabul (waters of the flood) . For that place shall be the makom (place) of the Mashiach 's korban (sacrifice) .
13
"For the place where my body shall be laid, is the middle of the earth; Elohim shall come from there and shall save all our kindred. For from that place the Mashiach shall stretch forth His hands upon the etz (tree) , and His dam (blood) shall fall upon the skull of Adam , purchasing ge'ulah (redemption) for all who cleave to Him.
14
"But now, O Shet , my son, place thyself at the head of thy people; tend them and watch over them in the yirat Elohim (fear of God) ; and lead them in the good derech (way) . Command them to fast unto Elohim ; and make them understand they ought not to hearken to Satan , lest he destroy them as he destroyed thy brother Kayin (Cain) and sought to destroy thee.
15
"Then, again, sever thy children and thy children's children from Kayin 's children; do not let them ever mix with those, nor come near them either in their words or in their deeds, for the zera (seed) of the promise must remain kadosh (holy) until the coming of the Mashiach ."
16
Then Adam let his berachah descend upon Shet , and upon his children, and upon all his children's children, and the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) rested upon that assembly.
17
He then turned to his son Shet , and to Chawah (Eve) his wife, and said to them, "Preserve this zahav (gold) , this levonah (incense) , and this mor , that Elohim has given us for an ot (sign) ; for in yamim (days) that are coming, a flood will overwhelm the whole creation. But those who shall go into the tevah shall take with them the gold, the incense, and the myrrh, together with my body; and will lay the gold, the incense, and the myrrh, with my body in the midst of the earth.
18
"Then, after a long zman (time) , the city in which the gold, the incense, and the myrrh are found with my body, shall be plundered. But when it is spoiled, the gold, the incense, and the myrrh shall be taken care of with the spoil that is kept; and nothing of them shall perish, until the Davar Elohim (Word of God) made basar (flesh) shall come; when kings shall take them, and shall offer to Him: zahav in token of His being Melech (King) ; levonah , in token of His being Elohim of shamayim (heaven) and earth; and mor , in token of His passion and His mavet (death) for the sins of the olam .
19
"Gold also, as a token of His overcoming Satan , and all our foes; incense, as a token that He will rise from the dead, and be exalted above things in shamayim and things in the eretz ; and myrrh, in token that He will drink bitter gall, and feel the pains of Sheol (hell) from Satan , and yet shall He triumph in the techiyat hametim (resurrection) .
20
"And now, O Shet , my son, behold I have revealed unto thee hidden sodot (mysteries) , which Elohim had revealed unto me. Keep my commandment, for thyself, and for thy people; for the Mashiach shall come forth from thy zera , and He shall fulfill all that I have spoken."
Chapter 9 The Death of Adam; His Neshamah is Gathered to His People; Shet and His Sons Offer Qorban as Chawah Calls for Tefillah
1
When Adam had ended his mitzvah (commandment) to Shet (Seth), his limbs were loosened, his hands and feet lost all koach (power) , his mouth became dumb, and his tongue ceased altogether to speak. He closed his eyes and gave up the neshamah (soul) , and it returned unto Elohim (God) who gave it.
2
But when his children saw that he was dead, they threw themselves over him, men and women, old and young, weeping with a great misped (wailing) , for the father of all living had been gathered to his fathers.
3
The mavet (death) of Adam took place at the end of nine hundred and thirty shanim (years) that he lived upon the adamah (earth) ; on the fifteenth day of Barmudeh , after the reckoning of an epact of the shemesh (sun) , at the ninth sha'ah (hour) .
4
It was on a Friday, the very yom (day) on which he was created, and on which he rested in the Gan (garden) ; and the hour at which he died, was the same as that at which he came out of the Gan . Thus did Adam complete his days according to the measure appointed, a remez (hint) that the Mashiach (Messiah) would also suffer on the sixth day, at the ninth hour, to undo the curse that came through the first man.
5
Then Shet wound him up well, and embalmed him with plenty of sweet besamim (spices) , from sacred trees and from the Har HaKodesh (Holy Mountain) ; and he laid his body on the eastern side of the inside of the me'arah (cave) , the side of the levonah (incense) ; and placed in front of him a menorah (lamp-stand) kept burning continually, a light in the darkness until the or (light) of the Mashiach should shine forth from the grave.
6
Then his children stood before him weeping and wailing over him the whole lailah (night) until break of boker (day) , and their lamentation ascended to shamayim (heaven) .
7
Then Shet and his son Enosh (Enos) , and Keinan (Cainan) , the son of Enosh , went out and took good offerings to present unto Yahuah (the Lord) , and they came to the mizbeach (altar) upon which Adam offered gifts to Elohim , when he did offer in the days of his sojourning.
8
But Chawah (Eve) said to them, "Wait, until we have first asked Elohim to accept our qorban (offering) , and to keep by Him the neshamah of Adam His servant, and to take it up to menuchah (rest) in the treasury of the righteous, there to await the yeshuah (salvation) of the Mashiach who shall open the gates of the Gan ."
9
And they all stood up and prayed with one accord, lifting their hands toward shamayim , entreating Yahuah to receive the soul of their father and to remember the havtachah (promise) of the zera (seed) who would bruise the head of the nachash (serpent) and bring life from the dead.
Chapter 10 "Adam Was the First Whose Soul Died in the Land of Eden"; The Davar Elohim Comforts Them; Offerings Are Made; Shet is Charged to Sever His Seed from Kayin
1
And when they had ended their tefillah (prayer) , the Davar Elohim (Word of God) came and comforted them concerning their father Adam , saying that his neshamah (soul) had been gathered into the treasury of the righteous to await the yeshuah (salvation) of the Mashiach (Messiah) .
2
After this, they offered their matanot (gifts) and qorbanot (offerings) for themselves and for their father, upon the mizbeach (altar) which Adam had built, and the rei'ach nichoach (sweet savour) ascended before Yahuah (the Lord) .
3
And when they had ended their offering, the Davar Elohim came to Shet (Seth) , the eldest among them, saying unto him, "O Shet , Shet , Shet , three times I call thee. As I was with thy father, so also shall I be with thee, until the fulfillment of the promise I made to him—thy father—saying, I will send My Davar and save thee and thy zera (seed) . For the Mashiach shall proceed from thy loins, and He shall crush the head of the nachash (serpent) and restore the Gan (garden) ."
4
"But as to thy father Adam , keep thou the mitzvah (commandment) he gave thee; and sever thy zera from that of Kayin (Cain) thy brother, for the line of the unrighteous shall not mingle with the zera kadosh (holy seed) , lest the promise be corrupted."
5
And Elohim (God) withdrew His Davar from Shet , and he was left strengthened and resolved to walk in the derech (way) of his father.
6
Then Shet , Chawah (Eve) , and their children, came down from the mountain to the Me'arat haOtzrot (Cave of Treasures) , carrying the peace of the brit (covenant) in their lev (hearts) .
7
But Adam was the first whose soul died in the eretz Eden (land of Eden) , in the Me'arat haOtzrot ; for no one died before him, save his son Hevel (Abel) , who died murdered by the hand of Kayin . Thus Adam , who first brought mavet (death) into the olam (world) through his chet (sin) , was the first to taste natural death, a remez (hint) that in the Mashiach all shall be made alive, each in his own order.
8
Then all the children of Adam rose up, and wept over their father Adam , and made offerings on his behalf, one hundred and forty yamim (days) , following the minhag (custom) of mourning for the tzaddikim (righteous ones) , until the days of their grief were fulfilled.
Chapter 11 Shet Becomes Head of the Most Happy and Just Tribe of People Who Ever Lived; The Children of Elohim Dwell on the Mountain Near the Gan; Their Purity, Fasting, and Continual Praise
1
After the mavet (death) of Adam and of Chawah (Eve) , Shet (Seth) severed his children, and his children's children, from Kayin (Cain) 's children. Kayin and his zera (seed) went down and dwelt westward, below the place where he had killed his brother Hevel (Abel) , and they pursued the lusts of the basar (flesh) .
2
But Shet and his children dwelt northwards upon the mountain of the Me'arat haOtzrot (Cave of Treasures) , in order to be near to the body of their father Adam , and before the menorah (lamp) that burned there as a witness.
3
And Shet the elder, tall and good, with a fine neshamah (soul) , and of a strong mind, stood at the head of his people; and tended them in tamim (innocency) , teshuvah (penitence) , and anavah (meekness) , and did not allow one of them to go down to Kayin 's children, lest they learn the ways of the unfruitful works of choshech (darkness) .
4
But because of their own taharah (purity) , they were named " B'nei Elohim (Children of God) ," and they were with Elohim (God) , instead of the hosts of malachim (angels) who fell; for they continued in tehillot (praises) to Elohim , and in singing mizmorim (psalms) unto Him, in their me'arah (cave) —the Me'arat haOtzrot .
5
Then Shet stood before the body of his father Adam , and of his mother Chawah , and prayed night and yom (day) , and asked for rachamim (mercy) towards himself and his children; and that when he had some difficult dealing with a child, He would give him etzah (counsel) from shamayim (heaven) .
6
But Shet and his children did not like earthly work, but gave themselves to heavenly things; for they had no other thought than tehillot , doxologies , and mizmorim unto Elohim . Their lev (hearts) were set upon the or (light) of the coming Mashiach (Messiah) .
7
Therefore did they at all itot (times) hear the voices of malachim , praising and glorifying Elohim ; from within the Gan (garden) , or when they were sent by Elohim on an errand, or when they were going up to shamayim . For the veil between the upper and lower realms was thin in that place.
8
For Shet and his children, by reason of their own taharah , heard and saw those malachim . Then, again, the Gan was not far above them, but only some fifteen spiritual cubits.
9
Now one spiritual cubit answers to three cubits of man, altogether forty-five cubits, so that the kavod (glory) of the Gan could be perceived from their dwelling.
10
Shet and his children dwelt on the mountain below the Gan ; they sowed not, neither did they reap; they wrought no food for the body, not even wheat; but only qorbanot (offerings) . They ate of the fruit and of trees well flavoured that grew on the mountain where they dwelt, and tasted the goodness of Yahuah (the Lord) .
11
Then Shet often fasted every forty yamim (days) , as did also his eldest children, a remez (hint) of the forty days of the Mashiach in the midbar (wilderness) . For the family of Shet smelled the smell of the trees in the Gan , when the ruach (wind) blew that way, and it strengthened their souls for tzom (fasting) .
12
They were happy, innocent, without sudden pachad (fear) ; there was no kin'ah (jealousy) , no evil action, no sin'ah (hatred) among them. There was no animal passion; from no mouth among them went forth either foul words or kelalah (curse) ; neither evil counsel nor mirmah (fraud) . For the men of that zman (time) never swore, but under hard circumstances, when men must swear, they swore by the dam (blood) of Hevel the tzaddik (just) , who was a type of the Mashiach whose blood speaks a better word.
13
But they constrained their children and their women every day in the me'arah to fast and pray, and to worship El Elyon (the Most High God) . They blessed themselves in the body of their father Adam , and anointed themselves with it, for the berachah (blessing) that rested upon him was transmitted to his faithful descendants.
14
And they did so until the ketz (end) of Shet drew near, and the number of his yamim was full, and he walked in the derech (way) of his father Adam all his days, a worthy patriarch of the zera kadosh (holy seed) through whom the Mashiach should come.
Chapter 12 Shet's Family Affairs; His Death; The Headship of Enosh; How the Outcast Branch of Adam's Family Fared
1
Then Shet (Seth) , the tzaddik (just) , called his son Enosh (Enos) , and Keinan (Cainan) , son of Enosh , and Mahalalel (Mahalaleel) , son of Keinan , and said unto them:
2
"As my ketz (end) is near, and I shall soon be gathered to my fathers, I wish to build a roof over the mizbeach (altar) on which matanot (gifts) are offered, that the holy place may be protected and the qorbanot (offerings) of our people may ascend before Yahuah (the Lord) without hindrance."
3
They hearkened to his mitzvah (commandment) and went out, all of them, both old and young, and worked hard at it, and built a beautiful roof over the mizbeach , a mikdash me'at (small sanctuary) in the wilderness of the mountain.
4
And Shet 's thought in so doing, was that a berachah (blessing) should come upon his children on the mountain; and that he should present an offering for them before his mavet (death) , that they might be remembered before Elohim (God) when he was no more with them.
5
Then when the building of the roof was completed, he commanded them to make offerings. They worked diligently at these, and brought them to Shet their father who took them and offered them upon the mizbeach ; and prayed Elohim to accept their offerings, to have rachamim (mercy) on the souls of his children, and to keep them from the hand of Satan ha-Mastemah (Satan the Accuser) .
6
And Elohim accepted his offering, and sent His berachah upon him and upon his children. And then Elohim made a promise to Shet , saying, "At the end of the great five yamim (days) and a half, concerning which I have made a promise to thee and to thy father Adam , I will send My Davar (Word) and save thee and thy zera (seed) ." For the Mashiach (Messiah) should come in the fullness of zman (time) , the Davar made basar (flesh) , to bring yeshuah (salvation) to all who trust in His Shem (Name) .
7
Then Shet and his children, and his children's children, met together, and came down from the mizbeach , and went to the Me'arat haOtzrot (Cave of Treasures) —where they prayed, and blessed themselves in the body of our father Adam , and anointed themselves with it, receiving the kavod (glory) that rested upon the first man.
8
But Shet abode in the Me'arat haOtzrot a few yamim , and then suffered—sufferings unto mavet .
9
Then Enosh , his first-born son, came to him, with Keinan his son, and Mahalalel , Keinan 's son, and Yered (Jared) , the son of Mahalalel , and Chanokh (Enoch) , Yered 's son, with their wives and children to receive a berachah from Shet before he departed.
10
Then Shet prayed over them, and blessed them, and adjured them by the dam (blood) of Hevel (Abel) the tzaddik , saying, "I beg of you, my children, not to let one of you go down from this Har HaKodesh (Holy Mountain) and pure.
11
"Make no fellowship with the children of Kayin (Cain) the murderer and the choteh (sinner) , who killed his brother; for ye know, O my children, that we flee from him, and from all his chet (sin) with all our might because he killed his brother Hevel . Let not the zera kadosh (holy seed) be mingled with the seed of the wicked, for the Mashiach must come forth from a line kept pure."
12
After having said this, Shet blessed Enosh , his first-born son, and commanded him habitually to minister in taharah (purity) before the body of our father Adam , all the yamim of his life; then, also, to go at itot (times) to the mizbeach which he Shet had built. And he commanded him to feed his people in tzedek (righteousness) , in mishpat (judgment) and taharah all the days of his life.
13
Then the limbs of Shet were loosened; his hands and feet lost all koach (power) ; his mouth became dumb and unable to speak; and he gave up the neshamah (soul) and died the day after his nine hundred and twelfth year; on the twenty-seventh day of the month Aviv (Abib) ; Chanokh being then twenty years old. So was Shet gathered to his people, a faithful steward of the promise.
14
Then they wound up carefully the body of Shet , and embalmed him with sweet besamim (spices) , and laid him in the Me'arat haOtzrot , on the right side of our father Adam 's body, and they mourned for him forty yamim . They offered gifts for him, as they had done for our father Adam , and the menorah (lamp) continued to burn before them.
15
After the death of Shet , Enosh rose at the head of his people, whom he fed in tzedek and mishpat , as his father had commanded him, walking in the derech (way) of his fathers Shet and Adam .
16
But by the time Enosh was eight hundred and twenty shanim (years) old, Kayin had a large progeny; for they married frequently, being given to animal lusts of the basar (flesh) ; until the land below the mountain was filled with them, and their wickedness multiplied upon the face of the adamah (earth) , paving the way for the judgment of the Mabul (flood) that was to come.
Chapter 13 "Among the Children of Kayin There Was Much Robbery, Murder and Sin"; Lamech the Blind Slays Kayin and the Young Shepherd
1
In those yamim (days) lived Lemekh (Lamech) the blind, who was of the sons of Kayin (Cain) . He had a son whose name was Atun , and they two had much mikneh (cattle) .
2
But Lemekh was in the habit of sending them to feed with a young ro'eh (shepherd) , who tended them; and who, when coming home in the erev (evening) wept before his grandfather, and before his father Atun and his mother Hazina , and said to them, "As for me, I cannot feed those cattle alone, lest one rob me of some of them, or kill me for the sake of them." For among the children of Kayin , there was much robbery, murder, and chet (sin) .
3
Then Lemekh pitied him, and he said, "Truly, he when alone, might be overpowered by the men of this makom (place) ."
4
So Lemekh arose, took a keshet (bow) he had kept ever since he was a youth, before he became blind, and he took large arrows, and smooth stones, and a kela (sling) which he had, and went to the sadeh (field) with the young shepherd, and placed himself behind the cattle; while the young shepherd watched the cattle. Thus did Lemekh many yamim .
5
Meanwhile Kayin , ever since Elohim (God) had cast him off, and had cursed him with trembling and terror, could neither settle nor find menuchah (rest) in any one place; but wandered from place to place, bearing the ot (mark) of his punishment.
6
In his wanderings he came to Lemekh 's wives, and asked them about him. They said to him, "He is in the sadeh with the cattle."
7
Then Kayin went to look for him; and as he came into the field, the young shepherd heard the noise he made, and the cattle herding together from before him.
8
Then said he to Lemekh , "O my lord, is that a wild beast or a robber?"
9
And Lemekh said to him, "Make me understand which way he looks, when he comes up."
10
Then Lemekh bent his keshet , placed an arrow on it, and fitted a stone in the kela , and when Kayin came out from the open country, the shepherd said to Lemekh , "Shoot, behold, he is coming."
11
Then Lemekh shot at Kayin with his arrow and hit him in his side. And Lemekh struck him with a stone from his sling, that fell upon his face, and knocked out both his eyes; then Kayin fell at once and died. So the murderer received measure for measure, as a remez (hint) of the final judgment of the Mashiach (Messiah) upon the seed of the nachash (serpent) .
12
Then Lemekh and the young shepherd came up to him, and found him lying on the ground. And the young shepherd said to him, "It is Kayin our grandfather, whom thou hast killed, O my lord!"
13
Then was Lemekh sorry for it, and from the bitterness of his regret, he clapped his hands together, and struck with his flat palm the head of the youth, who fell as if dead; but Lemekh thought it was a feint; so he took up a stone and smote him, and smashed his head until he died. Thus the line of Kayin continued in violence, fulfilling the words of Enoch (Enoch) that the Mashiach would one day execute judgment upon all the ungodly.
Chapter 14 Time, Like an Ever-Rolling Stream, Bears Away Another Generation of Men; Enosh Enters into Rest and Keinan Succeeds Him
1
When Enosh (Enos) was nine hundred shanim (years) old, all the children of Shet (Seth) , and of Keinan (Cainan) , and his first-born, with their wives and children, gathered around him, asking for a berachah (blessing) from him before his ketz (end) should come.
2
He then prayed over them and blessed them, and adjured them by the dam (blood) of Hevel (Abel) the tzaddik (just) saying to them, "Let not one of your children go down from this Har HaKodesh (Holy Mountain) , and let them make no fellowship with the children of Kayin (Cain) the murderer, for their ways are ways of choshech (darkness) and their end is destruction."
3
Then Enosh called his son Keinan and said to him, "See, O my son, and set thy lev (heart) on thy people, and establish them in tzedek (righteousness) , and in tamim (innocency) ; and stand ministering before the body of our father Adam , all the yamim (days) of thy life, keeping the menorah (lamp) burning and the mitzvot (commandments) that were delivered from our fathers."
4
After this Enosh entered into menuchah (rest) , aged nine hundred and eighty-five years; and Keinan wound him up, and laid him in the Me'arat haOtzrot (Cave of Treasures) on the left of his father Adam ; and made qorbanot (offerings) for him, after the minhag (custom) of his fathers, and the zera kadosh (holy seed) continued in the derech (way) of the promise, awaiting the coming of the Mashiach (Messiah) who should gather all the righteous unto Himself.
Chapter 15 The Offspring of Adam Continue to Keep the Cave of Treasures as a Family Shrine; Keinan Stands at the Head; He Enters into Rest and Mahalalel Succeeds Him
1
After the mavet (death) of Enosh (Enos) , Keinan (Cainan) stood at the head of his people in tzedek (righteousness) and tamim (innocency) , as his father had commanded him; he also continued to minister before the body of Adam , inside the Me'arat haOtzrot (Cave of Treasures) , keeping the menorah (lamp) burning and the mitzvot (commandments) that were from the beginning.
2
Then when he had lived nine hundred and ten shanim (years) , suffering and affliction came upon him, and his ketz (end) drew near. And when he was about to enter into rest, all the fathers with their wives and children came to him, and he blessed them, and adjured them by the dam (blood) of Hevel (Abel) , the tzaddik (just) , saying to them, "Let not one among you go down from this Har HaKodesh (Holy Mountain) ; and make no fellowship with the children of Kayin (Cain) the murderer, for their works are ra (evil) and their path leads to destruction."
3
Mahalalel (Mahalaleel) , his first-born son, received this mitzvah (commandment) from his father, who blessed him and died. Thus the zera kadosh (holy seed) continued, entrusted to the guardianship of Mahalalel , who would preserve the line till the coming of the Mashiach (Messiah) .
4
Then Mahalalel embalmed him with sweet besamim (spices) , and laid him in the Me'arat haOtzrot , with his fathers; and they made qorbanot (offerings) for him, after the minhag (custom) of their fathers, and the menuchah (rest) of Keinan was with the righteous, awaiting the yeshuah (salvation) of Yahuah (the Lord) .
Chapter 16 The Good Branch of the Family Is Still Afraid of the Children of Kayin; Mahalalel Stands Over His People; He Blesses Yered and Enters into Rest
1
Then Mahalalel (Mahalaleel) stood over his people, and fed them in tzedek (righteousness) and tamim (innocency) , and watched them to see they held no intercourse with the children of Kayin (Cain) , for he knew that their ways led only to mavet (death) .
2
He also continued in the Me'arat haOtzrot (Cave of Treasures) praying and ministering before the body of our father Adam , asking Elohim (God) for rachamim (mercy) on himself and on his people; until he was eight hundred and seventy shanim (years) old, when he fell sick, and the ketz (end) of his sojourning drew near.
3
Then all his children gathered unto him, to see him, and to ask for his berachah (blessing) on them all, before he left this olam (world) .
4
Then Mahalalel arose and sat on his bed, his tears streaming down his face, and he called his eldest son Yered (Jared) , who came to him.
5
He then kissed his face, and said to him, "O Yered , my son, I adjure thee by Him who made shamayim (heaven) and eretz (earth) , to watch over thy people, and to feed them in tzedek and in tamim ; and not to let one of them go down from this Har HaKodesh (Holy Mountain) to the children of Kayin , lest he perish with them in their chet (sin) .
6
"Hear, O my son, hereafter there shall come a great destruction upon this adamah (earth) on account of them; Elohim will be angry with the world, and will destroy them with mayim (waters) . For the Mabul (flood) shall come to cleanse the earth of the wickedness of the seed of Kayin .
7
"But I also know that thy children will not hearken to thee, and that they will go down from this mountain and hold intercourse with the children of Kayin , and that they shall perish with them in the waters of the flood. Yet a she'erit (remnant) shall be preserved through whom the Mashiach (Messiah) shall come.
8
"O my son! teach them, and watch over them, that no ashmah (guilt) attach to thee on their account."
9
Mahalalel said, moreover, to his son Yered , "When I die, embalm my body and lay it in the Me'arat haOtzrot , by the bodies of my fathers; then stand thou by my body and pray to Elohim ; and take care of them, and fulfil thy ministry before them, until thou enterest into menuchah (rest) thyself."
10
Mahalalel then blessed all his children; and then lay down on his bed, and entered into rest like his fathers, and his neshamah (soul) was gathered to the treasury of the righteous to await the yeshuah (salvation) of the Mashiach .
11
But when Yered saw that his father Mahalalel was dead, he wept, and sorrowed, and embraced and kissed his hands and his feet; and so did all his children, for a great light had departed from among them.
12
And his children embalmed him carefully with sweet besamim (spices) , and laid him by the bodies of his fathers. Then they arose, and mourned for him forty yamim (days) , and made qorbanot (offerings) for him after the minhag (custom) of their fathers, while the menorah (lamp) continued to burn before the bodies in the me'arah (cave) , a witness to the coming or (light) of the Mashiach .
Chapter 17 Yered Turns Martinet; He Is Lured Away to the Land of Kayin Where He Sees Many Voluptuous Sights; Yered Barely Escapes with a Clean Heart Through Tefillah
1
Then Yered (Jared) kept his father's mitzvah (commandment) , and arose like a lion over his people. He fed them in tzedek (righteousness) and tamim (innocency) , and commanded them to do nothing without his etzah (counsel) . For he was afraid concerning them, lest they should go to the children of Kayin (Cain) and be corrupted by their ways.
2
Wherefore did he give them orders repeatedly; and continued to do so until the end of the four hundred and eighty-fifth year of his life, guarding the zera kadosh (holy seed) with all diligence.
3
At the end of these said shanim (years) , there came unto him this ot (sign) . As Yered was standing like a lion before the bodies of his fathers, praying and warning his people, Satan ha-Mastemah (Satan the Accuser) envied him, and wrought a beautiful apparition, because Yered would not let his children do aught without his counsel.
4
Satan then appeared to him with thirty men of his hosts, in the form of handsome men; Satan himself being the elder and tallest among them, with a fine beard, arrayed as a malach or (angel of light) .
5
They stood at the mouth of the me'arah (cave) , and called out Yered , from within it.
6
He came out to them, and found them looking like fine men, full of or (light) , and of great beauty. He wondered at their beauty and at their looks; and thought within himself whether they might not be of the children of Kayin .
7
He said also in his lev (heart) , "As the children of Kayin cannot come up to the height of this mountain, and none of them is so handsome as these appear to be; and among these men there is not one of my kindred—they must be strangers."
8
Then Yered and they exchanged a greeting and he said to the elder among them, "O my father, explain to me the wonder that is in thee, and tell me who these are, with thee; for they look to me like strange men."
9
Then the elder began to weep, and the rest wept with him; and he said to Yered : "I am Adam whom Elohim (God) made first; and this is Hevel (Abel) my son, who was killed by his brother Kayin , into whose heart Satan put to murder him.
10
"Then this is my son Shet (Seth) , whom I asked of Yahuah (the Lord) , who gave him to me, to comfort me instead of Hevel .
11
"Then this one is my son Enosh (Enos) , son of Shet , and that other one is Keinan (Cainan) , son of Enosh , and that other one is Mahalalel (Mahalaleel) , son of Keinan , thy father."
12
But Yered remained wondering at their appearance, and at the speech of the elder to him, for the deception was great.
13
Then the elder said to him, "Marvel not, O my son; we live in the land north of the Gan (garden) , which Elohim created before the olam (world) . He would not let us live there, but placed us inside the Gan , below which ye are now dwelling.
14
"But after that I transgressed, He made me come out of it, and I was left to dwell in this cave; great and sore troubles came upon me; and when my mavet (death) drew near, I commanded my son Shet to tend his people well; and this my mitzvah is to be handed from one to another, unto the end of the generations to come.
15
"But, O Yered , my son, we live in beautiful regions, while you live here in misery, as this thy father Mahalalel informed me; telling me that a great Mabul (flood) will come and overwhelm the whole adamah (earth) .
16
"Therefore, O my son, fearing for your sakes, I rose and took my children with me, and came hither for us to visit thee and thy children; but I found thee standing in this cave weeping, and thy children scattered about this mountain, in the heat and in misery.
17
"But, O my son, as we missed our way, and came as far as this, we found other men below this mountain; who inhabit a beautiful country, full of trees and of fruits, and of all manner of verdure; it is like a garden; so that when we found them we thought they were you; until thy father Mahalalel told me they were no such thing.
18
"Now, therefore, O my son, hearken to my counsel, and go down to them, thou and thy children. Ye will rest from all this suffering in which ye are. But if thou wilt not go down to them, then, arise, take thy children, and come with us to our garden; ye shall live in our beautiful land, and ye shall rest from all this trouble, which thou and thy children are now bearing."
19
But Yered when he heard this discourse from the elder, wondered; and went hither and thither, but at that moment he found not one of his children, for they had been scattered.
20
Then he answered and said to the elder, "Why have you hidden yourselves until this yom (day) ?"
21
And the elder replied, "If thy father had not told us, we should not have known it."
22
Then Yered believed his words were true, and his lev was swayed by the beauty of their speech.
23
So that elder said to Yered , "Wherefore didst thou turn about, so and so?" And he said, "I was seeking one of my children, to tell him about my going with you, and about their coming down to those about whom thou hast spoken to me."
24
When the elder heard Yered 's intention, he said to him, "Let alone that purpose at present, and come with us; thou shalt see our country; if the land in which we dwell pleases thee, we and thou shall return hither and take thy family with us. But if our country does not please thee, thou shalt come back to thine own place."
25
And the elder urged Yered , to go before one of his children came to counsel him otherwise, for Satan sought to isolate him from the righteous.
26
Yered , then, came out of the me'arah and went with them, and among them. And they comforted him, until they came to the top of the mountain of the sons of Kayin .
27
Then said the elder to one of his companions, "We have forgotten something by the mouth of the me'arah , and that is the chosen garment we had brought to clothe Yered withal."
28
He then said to one of them, "Go back, thou, someone; and we will wait for thee here, until thou come back. Then will we clothe Yered and he shall be like us, good, handsome, and fit to come with us into our country."
29
Then that one went back.
30
But when he was a short distance off, the elder called to him and said to him, "Tarry thou, until I come up and speak to thee."
31
Then he stood still, and the elder went up to him and said to him, "One thing we forgot at the cave, it is this—to put out the menorah (lamp) that burns inside it, above the bodies that are therein. Then come back to us, quick." For Satan desired to extinguish the or (light) of the promise that burned before the fathers.
32
That one went, and the elder came back to his fellows and to Yered . And they came down from the mountain, and Yered with them; and they stayed by a fountain of water, near the houses of the children of Kayin , and waited for their companion until he brought the garment for Yered .
33
He, then, who went back to the cave, put out the menorah , and came to them and brought a phantom with him and showed it them. And when Yered saw it he wondered at the beauty and grace thereof, and rejoiced in his heart believing it was all true.
34
But while they were staying there, three of them went into houses of the sons of Kayin , and said to them, "Bring us today some food by the fountain of water, for us and our companions to eat."
35
But when the sons of Kayin saw them, they wondered at them and thought: "These are beautiful to look at, and such as we never saw before." So they rose and came with them to the fountain of water, to see their companions.
36
They found them so very handsome, that they cried aloud about their places for others to gather together and come and look at these beautiful beings. Then they gathered around them both men and women.
37
Then the elder said to them, "We are strangers in your land, bring us some good food and drink you and your women, to refresh ourselves with you."
38
When those men heard these words of the elder, every one of Kayin 's sons brought his wife, and another brought his daughter, and so, many women came to them; every one addressing Yered either for himself or for his wife; all alike, for zenut (fornication) abounded among them.
39
But when Yered saw what they did, his very neshamah (soul) wrenched itself from them; neither would he taste of their food or of their drink, for the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) within him recoiled from their impurity.
40
The elder saw him as he wrenched himself from them, and said to him, "Be not sad; I am the great elder, as thou shalt see me do, do thyself in like manner."
41
Then he spread his hands and took one of the women, and five of his companions did the same before Yered , that he should do as they did.
42
But when Yered saw them working infamy he wept, and said in his mind—My fathers never did the like. For the zera of Kayin had corrupted all flesh with their abominations.
43
He then spread his hands and prayed with a fervent lev , and with much weeping, and entreated Elohim to deliver him from their hands.
44
No sooner did Yered begin to pray than the elder fled with his companions; for they could not abide in a makom (place) of tefillah (prayer) , as choshech (darkness) must flee before the or (light) of Yahuah .
45
Then Yered turned round but could not see them, but found himself standing in the midst of the children of Kayin , alone and surrounded.
46
He then wept and said, "O Elohim , destroy me not with this race, concerning which my fathers have warned me; for now, O my Adonai Elohim (Lord God) , I was thinking that those who appeared unto me were my fathers; but I have found them out to be shedim (devils) , who allured me by this beautiful apparition, until I believed them. They appear as malachim of light, yet their deeds betray them as malachim of choshech ."
47
"But now I ask Thee, O Elohim , to deliver me from this race, among whom I am now staying, as Thou didst deliver me from those devils. Send Thy malach (angel) to draw me out of the midst of them; for I have not myself the koach (power) to escape from among them."
48
When Yered had ended his tefillah , Elohim sent His malach in the midst of them, who took Yered and set him upon the Har HaKodesh (Holy Mountain) , and showed him the derech (way) , gave him counsel, and then departed from him. Thus was Yered preserved as a remez (hint) of how the Mashiach (Messiah) delivers His people from the snare of the evil one, rescuing them from the midst of the perverse generation and setting their feet upon the rock of yeshuah (salvation) .
Chapter 18 Confusion in the Cave of Treasures; Miraculous Speech of the Dead Adam; Yered Offers Qorban and Relights the Menorah
1
The children of Yered (Jared) were in the habit of visiting him sha'ah (hour) after hour, to receive his berachah (blessing) and to ask his etzah (advice) for every thing they did; and when he had a work to do, they did it for him, for they honored their father according to the mitzvah (commandment) .
2
But this time when they went into the me'arah (cave) they found not Yered , but they found the menorah (lamp) put out, and the bodies of the fathers thrown about, and voices came from them by the koach (power) of Elohim (God) , that said, " Satan ha-Mastemah (Satan the Accuser) in an apparition has deceived our son, wishing to destroy him, as he destroyed our son Kayin (Cain) ."
3
They said also, " Adonai Elohim (Lord God) of shamayim (heaven) and eretz (earth) , deliver our son from the hand of Satan , who wrought a great and false apparition before him." They also spake of other matters, by the power of Elohim , interceding for the zera kadosh (holy seed) .
4
But when the children of Yered heard these voices they feared with a great pachad (fear) , and stood weeping for their father; for they knew not what had befallen him, and the choshech (darkness) of the extinguished lamp filled their lev (hearts) with dread.
5
And they wept for him that yom (day) until the setting of the shemesh (sun) , and their tears were like a river before the entrance of the Me'arat haOtzrot (Cave of Treasures) .
6
Then came Yered with a woeful countenance, wretched in mind and body, and sorrowful at having been separated from the bodies of his fathers, for the deception of Satan had left a stain upon his neshamah (soul) .
7
But as he was drawing near to the me'arah , his children saw him, and hastened to the cave, and hung upon his neck, crying, and saying to him, "O father, where hast thou been, and why hast thou left us, as thou wast not wont to do?" And again, "O father, when thou didst disappear, the lamp over the bodies of our fathers went out, the bodies were thrown about, and voices came from them speaking words of warning!"
8
When Yered heard this he was sorry, and went into the me'arah ; 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 Yered fell upon the bodies and embraced them, and said, "O my fathers, through your intercession, let Elohim deliver me from the hand of Satan ! And I beg you will ask Elohim to keep me and to hide me from him unto the yom of my mavet (death) , that I may finish my course in tzedek (righteousness) ."
10
Then all the voices ceased save the voice of our father Adam , who spake to Yered by the power of Elohim , just as one would speak to his fellow, saying, "O Yered , my son, offer matanot (gifts) to Elohim for having delivered thee from the hand of Satan ; and when thou bringest those qorbanot (offerings) , so be it that thou offerest them on the mizbeach (altar) on which I did offer. Then also, beware of Satan ; for he deluded me many a time with his apparitions, wishing to destroy me, but Elohim delivered me out of his hand. For the Mashiach (Messiah) shall crush his head, and by His dam (blood) shall the faithful be sealed."
11
"Command thy people that they be on their guard against him; and never cease to offer up gifts to Elohim , for tefillah (prayer) and qorban are the shields against the fiery darts of the adversary."
12
Then the voice of Adam also became silent; and Yered and his children wondered at this, and yirat Elohim (fear of God) fell upon them. Then they laid the bodies as they were at first, with reverence and care; and Yered and his children stood praying the whole of that lailah (night) , until break of boker (day) .
13
Then Yered made an offering and offered it up on the mizbeach , as Adam had commanded him. And as he went up to the mizbeach , he prayed to Elohim for rachamim (mercy) and for selichah (forgiveness) of his sin, concerning the lamp going out, and for having been led astray by the apparition of Satan .
14
Then Elohim appeared unto Yered on the mizbeach and blessed him and his children, and accepted their offerings; and commanded Yered to take of the esh kodesh (sacred fire) from the mizbeach , and with it to light the menorah that shed or (light) on the body of Adam . Thus the or of the promise was restored, a remez (hint) of the Mashiach who is the Or Olam (Light of the World) , whom the darkness of the grave could not extinguish, and who shall kindle the everlasting light for all the zera of Adam who trust in His Shem (Name) .
Chapter 19 The Children of Yered Are Led Astray; The Mystery of the 5500 Years Revealed; The Holy Fire Abides; Transgression Begins
1
Then Elohim (God) revealed to him again the havtachah (promise) He had made to Adam ; He explained to him the five thousand and five hundred shanim (years) , and revealed unto him the sod (mystery) of His biah (coming) upon the adamah (earth) , when the Davar (Word) should be made basar (flesh) and dwell among men.
2
And Elohim said to Yered (Jared) , "As to that esh (fire) which thou hast taken from the mizbeach (altar) to light the menorah (lamp) withal, let it abide with you to give or (light) to the bodies; and let it not come out of the me'arah (cave) , until the body of Adam comes out of it, on the day of the yeshuah (salvation) of the Mashiach (Messiah) ."
3
"But, O Yered , take care of the esh , that it burn bright in the menorah ; neither go thou again out of the me'arah , until thou receivest an order through a chazon (vision) , and not in an apparition, when seen by thee."
4
"Then command again thy people not to hold intercourse with the children of Kayin (Cain) , and not to learn their ways; for I am Elohim who loves not sin'ah (hatred) and works of aven (iniquity) ."
5
Elohim gave also many other mitzvot (commandments) to Yered , and blessed him. And then withdrew His Davar from him.
6
Then Yered drew near with his children, took some esh , and came down to the me'arah , and lighted the menorah before the body of Adam ; and he gave his people mitzvot as Elohim had told him to do.
7
This ot (sign) happened to Yered at the end of his four hundred and fiftieth shanah (year) ; as did also many other wonders, we do not record. But we record only this one for shortness sake, and in order not to lengthen our sipur (narrative) .
8
And Yered continued to teach his children eighty shanim (years) ; but after that they began to transgress the mitzvot he had given them, and to do many things without his etzah (counsel) . They began to go down from the Har HaKodesh (Holy Mountain) one after another, and to mix with the children of Kayin , in foul fellowships, defiling the zera kadosh (holy seed) through which the Mashiach was to come.
9
Now the reason for which the children of Yered went down the Har HaKodesh , is this, that we will now reveal unto you, for the ruach (spirit) of the world had begun to draw them away from the derech (way) of their fathers.
Chapter 20 Ravishing Music; Strong Drink Loosed Among the Sons of Kayin; They Don Colorful Clothing; The Children of Shet Look on with Longing Eyes; They Revolt from Wise Counsel; They Descend the Mountain into the Valley of Iniquity
1
After Kayin (Cain) had gone down to the land of dark soil, and his children had multiplied therein, there was one of them, whose name was Genun , son of Lemekh (Lamech) the blind who slew Kayin .
2
But as to this Genun , Satan ha-Mastemah (Satan the Accuser) came into him in his childhood; and he made sundry trumpets and horns, and string instruments, cymbals and psalteries, and lyres and harps, and flutes; and he played on them at all itot (times) and at every sha'ah (hour) .
3
And when he played on them, Satan came into them, so that from among them were heard beautiful and sweet sounds, that ravished the lev (heart) .
4
Then he gathered companies upon companies to play on them; and when they played, it pleased well the children of Kayin , who inflamed themselves with chet (sin) among themselves, and burnt as with esh (fire) ; while Satan inflamed their hearts, one with another, and increased ta'avah (lust) among them.
5
Satan also taught Genun to bring strong drink out of corn; and this Genun used to bring together companies upon companies in drink-houses; and brought into their hands all manner of fruits and flowers; and they drank together.
6
Thus did this Genun multiply chet exceedingly; he also acted with pride, and taught the children of Kayin to commit all manner of the grossest wickedness, which they knew not; and put them up to manifold doings which they knew not before.
7
Then Satan , when he saw that they yielded to Genun and hearkened to him in everything he told them, rejoiced greatly, increased Genun 's understanding, until he took iron and with it made weapons of war.
8
Then when they were drunk, sin'ah (hatred) and murder increased among them; one man used violence against another to teach him evil taking his children and defiling them before him.
9
And when men saw they were overcome, and saw others that were not overpowered, those who were beaten came to Genun , took refuge with him, and he made them his confederates.
10
Then chet increased among them greatly; until a man married his own sister, or daughter, or mother, and others; or the daughter of his father's sister, so that there was no more distinction of relationship, and they no longer knew what is aven (iniquity) ; but did wickedly, and the adamah (earth) was defiled with sin, and they angered Elohim (God) the Judge, who had created them.
11
But Genun gathered together companies upon companies, that played on horns and on all the other instruments we have already mentioned, at the foot of the Har HaKodesh (Holy Mountain) ; and they did so in order that the children of Shet (Seth) who were on the Holy Mountain should hear it.
12
But when the children of Shet heard the noise, they wondered, and came by companies, and stood on the top of the mountain to look at those below; and they did thus a whole shanah (year) .
13
When, at the end of that year, Genun saw that they were being won over to him little by little, Satan entered into him, and taught him to make dyeing-stuffs for garments of divers patterns, and made him understand how to dye crimson and purple and what not.
14
And the sons of Kayin who wrought all this, and shone in beauty and gorgeous apparel, gathered together at the foot of the mountain in splendour, with horns and gorgeous dresses, and horse races, committing all manner of abominations.
15
Meanwhile the children of Shet , who were on the Har HaKodesh , prayed and praised Elohim , in the place of the hosts of malachim (angels) who had fallen; wherefore Elohim had called them "angels," because He rejoiced over them greatly.
16
But after this, they no longer kept His mitzvah (commandment) , nor held by the havtachah (promise) He had made to their fathers; but they relaxed from their tzom (fasting) and tefillah (praying) , and from the etzah (counsel) of Yered (Jared) their father. And they kept on gathering together on the top of the mountain, to look upon the children of Kayin , from boker (morning) until erev (evening) , and upon what they did, upon their beautiful dresses and ornaments.
17
Then the children of Kayin looked up from below, and saw the children of Shet , standing in troops on the top of the mountain; and they called to them to come down to them.
18
But the children of Shet said to them from above, "We don't know the derech (way) ." Then Genun , the son of Lemekh , heard them say they did not know the way, and he bethought himself how he might bring them down.
19
Then Satan appeared to him by night, saying, "There is no way for them to come down from the mountain on which they dwell; but when they come tomorrow, say to them, 'Come ye to the western side of the mountain; there you will find the way of a stream of water, that comes down to the foot of the mountain, between two hills; come down that way to us.'"
20
Then when it was yom (day) , Genun blew the horns and beat the drums below the mountain, as he was wont. The children of Shet heard it, and came as they used to do.
21
Then Genun said to them from down below, "Go to the western side of the mountain, there you will find the way to come down."
22
But when the children of Shet heard these words from him, they went back into the me'arah (cave) to Yered , to tell him all they had heard.
23
Then when Yered heard it, he was grieved; for he knew that they would transgress his counsel, and that the zera kadosh (holy seed) was beginning to be corrupted by the allurements of the world.
24
After this a hundred men of the children of Shet gathered together, and said among themselves, "Come, let us go down to the children of Kayin , and see what they do, and enjoy ourselves with them."
25
But when Yered heard this of the hundred men, his very neshamah (soul) was moved, and his lev was grieved. He then arose with great fervour, and stood in the midst of them, and adjured them by the dam (blood) of Hevel (Abel) the tzaddik (just) , "Let not one of you go down from this holy and pure mountain, in which our fathers have ordered us to dwell."
26
But when Yered saw that they did not receive his words, he said unto them, "O my good and innocent and holy children, know that when once you go down from this holy mountain, Elohim will not allow you to return again to it."
27
He again adjured them, saying, "I adjure by the mavet (death) of our father Adam , and by the blood of Hevel , of Shet , of Enosh (Enos) , of Keinan (Cainan) , and of Mahalalel (Mahalaleel) , to hearken to me, and not to go down from this holy mountain; for the moment you leave it, you will be reft of life and of rachamim (mercy) ; and you shall no longer be called 'children of Elohim ,' but 'children of the devil.'"
28
But they would not hearken to his words.
29
Chanokh (Enoch) at that time was already grown up, and in his zeal for Elohim , he arose and said, "Hear me, O ye sons of Shet , small and great—when ye transgress the commandment of our fathers, and go down from this holy mountain—ye shall not come up hither again for ever."
30
But they rose up against Chanokh , and would not hearken to his words, but went down from the Har HaKodesh .
31
And when they looked at the daughters of Kayin , at their beautiful figures, and at their hands and feet dyed with colour, and tattooed in ornaments on their faces, the esh of chet was kindled in them.
32
Then Satan made them look most beautiful before the sons of Shet , as he also made the sons of Shet appear of the fairest in the eyes of the daughters of Kayin , so that the daughters of Kayin lusted after the sons of Shet like ravenous beasts, and the sons of Shet after the daughters of Kayin , until they committed abomination with them.
33
But after they had thus fallen into this defilement, they returned by the way they had come, and tried to ascend the Har HaKodesh . But they could not, because the stones of that holy mountain were of esh flashing before them, by reason of which they could not go up again.
34
And Elohim was angry with them, and repented of them because they had come down from kavod (glory) , and had thereby lost or forsaken their own taharah (purity) or tamim (innocency) , and were fallen into the defilement of chet .
35
Then Elohim sent His Davar (Word) to Yered , saying, "These thy children, whom thou didst call 'My children,'—behold they have transgressed My commandment, and have gone down to the abode of perdition, and of sin. Send a messenger to those that are left, that they may not go down, and be lost."
36
Then Yered wept before Yahuah (the Lord) , and asked of Him mercy and selichah (forgiveness) . But he wished that his neshamah might depart from his body, rather than hear these words from Elohim about the going down of his children from the Har HaKodesh .
37
But he followed Elohim 's order, and preached unto them not to go down from that holy mountain, and not to hold intercourse with the children of Kayin .
38
But they heeded not his message, and would not obey his counsel, for their hearts were already enticed by the vanities of the children of choshech (darkness) . Thus the way was prepared for the Mabul (flood) , and the Mashiach (Messiah) alone could restore what was lost.
Chapter 21 Yered Dies in Sorrow for His Sons Who Had Gone Astray; A Prediction of the Mabul; The Body of Adam and the Three Sacred Gifts Entrusted to the Patriarchs
1
After this another company gathered together, and they went to look after their brethren; but they perished as well as they. And so it was, company after company, until only a few of them were left upon the Har HaKodesh (Holy Mountain) , and the zera kadosh (holy seed) was diminished greatly.
2
Then Yered (Jared) sickened from grief, and his sickness was such that the yom (day) of his mavet (death) drew near, for his lev (heart) was broken over his children who had gone down to the children of Kayin (Cain) .
3
Then he called Chanokh (Enoch) his eldest son, and Metushelach (Methuselah) Chanokh 's son, and Lemekh (Lamech) the son of Metushelach , and Noach (Noah) the son of Lemekh .
4
And when they were come to him he prayed over them and blessed them, and said to them, "Ye are righteous, innocent sons; go ye not down from this holy mountain; for behold, your children and your children's children have gone down from this holy mountain, and have estranged themselves from this holy mountain, through their abominable ta'avah (lust) and transgression of Elohim (God) 's mitzvah (commandment) ."
5
"But I know, through the koach (power) of Elohim , that He will not leave you on this holy mountain, because your children have transgressed His commandment and that of our fathers, which we had received from them. For judgment shall come upon the adamah (earth) because of the wickedness of men."
6
"But, O my sons, Elohim will take you to a strange land, and ye never shall again return to behold with your eyes this Gan (garden) and this holy mountain, until the Mashiach (Messiah) restore all things."
7
"Therefore, O my sons, set your hearts on your own selves, and keep the commandment of Elohim which is with you. And when you go from this holy mountain, into a strange land which ye know not, take with you the body of our father Adam , and with it these three precious gifts and qorbanot (offerings) , namely, the zahav (gold) , the levonah (incense) , and the mor (myrrh) ; and let them be in the place where the body of our father Adam shall lay. For these three gifts are a remez (hint) of the threefold office of the Mashiach : King, Kohen, and Prophet, who shall be born of a virgin and shall offer Himself for the yeshuah (salvation) of the olam (world) ."
8
"And unto him of you who shall be left, O my sons, shall the Davar Elohim (Word of God) come, and when he goes out of this land he shall take with him the body of our father Adam , and shall lay it in the middle of the earth, the makom (place) in which salvation shall be wrought, where the Mashiach shall be lifted up upon the etz (tree) and by His dam (blood) shall the earth be redeemed."
9
Then Noach said unto him, "Who is he of us that shall be left?"
10
And Yered answered, "Thou art he that shall be left. And thou shalt take the body of our father Adam from the me'arah (cave) , and place it with thee in the tevah (ark) when the Mabul (flood) comes, for Elohim shall preserve thee and thy household while the waters cleanse the earth."
11
"And thy son Shem , who shall come out of thy loins, he it is who shall lay the body of our father Adam in the middle of the earth, in the place whence salvation shall come. For Shem is chosen, and from his zera (seed) shall the Mashiach arise, who is the Kohen HaGadol (High Priest) after the order of Malki-Tzedek (Melchizedek) , and He shall offer the final qorban (offering) for the chet (sin) of the world."
12
Then Yered turned to his son Chanokh , and said unto him, "Thou, my son, abide in this me'arah , and minister diligently before the body of our father Adam all the yamim (days) of thy life; and feed thy people in tzedek (righteousness) and tamim (innocency) ."
13
And Yered said no more. His hands were loosened, his eyes closed, and he entered into menuchah (rest) like his fathers. His mavet took place in the three hundred and sixtieth year of Noach , and in the nine hundred and eighty-ninth year of his own life; on the twelfth of Takhsas on a Friday, the sixth yom , a remez of the day when the Mashiach would accomplish the work of redemption.
14
But as Yered died, tears streamed down his face by reason of his great sorrow, for the children of Shet (Seth) , who had fallen in his days, and he wept for them even as he departed.
15
Then Chanokh , Metushelach , Lemekh , and Noach , these four tzaddikim (righteous ones) , wept over him; embalmed him carefully with sweet besamim (spices) , and then laid him in the Me'arat haOtzrot (Cave of Treasures) . Then they rose and mourned for him forty yamim , as was the minhag (custom) of their fathers.
16
And when these days of mourning were ended, Chanokh , Metushelach , Lemekh and Noach remained in sorrow of lev , because their father had departed from them, and they saw him no more. Yet they took comfort in the promise that the Mashiach should one day raise the dead and restore the fallen, and that Yered should see the yeshuah of Yahuah (the Lord) in the land of the living.
Chapter 22 Only Three Righteous Men Left in the World; The Evil Conditions of Men Prior to the Mabul; Chanokh Is Transported to the Land of Life
1
But Chanokh (Enoch) kept the mitzvah (commandment) of Yered (Jared) his father, and continued to minister in the Me'arat haOtzrot (Cave of Treasures) before the body of Adam , and his derech (way) was pleasing before Yahuah (the Lord) .
2
It is this Chanokh to whom many wonders happened, and who also wrote a celebrated sefer (book) ; but those wonders may not be told in this place, for they are recorded in the Sefer Chanokh (Book of Enoch) , which speaks of the Mashiach (Messiah) as the Bar Enosh (Son of Man) who shall come with the clouds of shamayim (heaven) to execute judgment.
3
Then after this, the children of Shet (Seth) went astray and fell, they, their children and their wives. And when Chanokh , Metushelach (Methuselah) , Lemekh (Lamech) and Noach (Noah) saw them, their levavot (hearts) suffered by reason of their fall into doubt full of unbelief; and they wept and sought of Elohim (God) rachamim (mercy) , to preserve them, and to bring them out of that wicked generation.
4
Chanokh continued in his ministry before Yahuah three hundred and eighty-five shanim (years) , and at the end of that zman (time) he became aware through the chen (grace) of Elohim , that Elohim intended to remove him from the adamah (earth) , for he had walked with Elohim and was not, for Elohim took him.
5
He then said to his son, "O my son, I know that Elohim intends to bring the waters of the Mabul (Flood) upon the earth, and to destroy our creation, for the wickedness of man is great upon the earth."
6
"And ye are the last rulers over this people on this mountain; for I know that not one will be left you to beget children on this holy mountain; neither shall any one of you rule over the children of his people; neither shall any great company be left of you, on this mountain, for the judgment is decreed."
7
Chanokh said also to them, "Watch over your nefashot (souls) , and hold fast by your yirat Elohim (fear of God) and by your avodah (service) of Him, and worship Him in upright emunah (faith) , and serve Him in tzedek (righteousness) , tamim (innocency) and mishpat (judgment) , in teshuvah (repentance) and also in taharah (purity) . For the Mashiach shall come forth from your zera (seed) and shall establish the kingdom of shamayim upon the earth."
8
When Chanokh had ended his commandments to them, Elohim transported him from that mountain to the land of life, to the mansions of the tzaddikim (righteous) and of the chosen, the abode of Paradise of joy, in or (light) that reaches up to heaven; light that is outside the light of this olam (world) ; for it is the light of Elohim , that fills the whole world, but which no makom (place) can contain. Thus Chanokh became a remez (hint) of the Mashiach who would ascend to shamayim and prepare a place for His kehillah (assembly) , and of all the faithful who shall be caught up to meet the Adon (Lord) in the air.
9
Thus, because Chanokh was in the light of Elohim , he found himself out of the reach of mavet (death) ; until Elohim would have him die, for it is appointed unto men once to die, and Chanokh and Eliyahu (Elijah) shall return as the two witnesses before the great and terrible Yom Yahuah (Day of the Lord) .
10
Altogether, not one of our fathers or of their children, remained on that Har HaKodesh (Holy Mountain) , except those three, Metushelach , Lemekh , and Noach . For all the rest went down from the mountain and fell into chet (sin) with the children of Kayin (Cain) . Therefore, were they forbidden that mountain, and none remained on it but those three men. Thus the zera kadosh (holy seed) was preserved through a faithful she'erit (remnant) , that the promise of the Mashiach might not fail.