THE PROTEVANGELION;
Or, an Historical Account of the BIRTH of CHRIST, and the perpetual VIRGIN MARY, his Mother, by JAMES THE LESSER, Cousin and Brother of the Lord Jesus, chief Apostle and first Bishop of the Christians in Jerusalem.
1
1 Joachim, a rich man, 2 offers to the Lord, 3 is opposed by Reuben the high priest, because he has not begotten issue in Israel, 6 retires into the wilderness and fasts forty days and forty nights.
IN the history of the twelve tribes of Israel we read there was a certain person called Joachim, who being very rich, made double offerings to the Lord God, having made this resolution: My substance shall be for the benefit of the whole people, that I may find mercy from the Lord God for the forgiveness of my sins.
2But at a certain great feast of the Lord, when the children of Israel offered their gifts, and Joachim also offered his, Reuben the high-priest opposed him, saying, it is not lawful for you to offer your gifts, seeing you have not begot any issue in Israel.
3At this, Joachim being concerned very much, went away to consult the registries of the twelve tribes, to see whether he was the only person who had begot no issue.
4But upon inquiry he found that all the righteous had raised up seed in Israel;
5Then he called to mind the patriarch Abraham, How that God in the end of his life had given him his son Isaac. Upon which he was very distressed, and would not be seen by his wife:
6But retired into the wilderness, and fixed his tent there, and fasted forty days and forty nights, saying to himself,
7I will not go down either to eat or drink, till the Lord my God shall look down upon me, but prayer shall be my meat and drink.
CHAPTER. II.
1Anna, the wife of Joachim mourns her barrenness,
6is reproached with it by Judith her maid,
9sits under a laurel tree and prays to the Lord.
IN the mean time his wife Anna was distressed and perplexed on a double account, and said, I will mourn both for my widowhood and my barrenness.
2Then drew near a great feast of the Lord, and Judith her maid, said, How long will you thus afflict your soul? The feast of the Lord is now come, when it is unlawful for any one to mourn.
3Take therefore this hood which was given by one who makes such things, for it is not fit that I, who am a servant should wear it. But it well suits a person of your greater character.
4But Anna replied, Depart from me, I am not used to such things; besides, the Lord has greatly humbled me.
5I fear some ill-designing person has given you this, and you are come to reproach me with my sin.
6Then Judith her maid answered, what evil shall I wish you, when you will not hearken to me?
7I cannot wish you a greater curse than you are under, in that God has shut up your womb, that you should not be a mother in Israel.
8At this Anna was very troubled, and having on her wedding garment, went about three o'clock in the afternoon to walk in her garden.
9And she saw a laurel-tree and sat under it, and prayed to the Lord, saying,
10O God of my fathers, bless me and regard my prayer, as you did bless the womb of Sarah; and gave her a son Isaac.
3
1 Anna perceiving a sparrow's nest in the laurels bemoans her barrenness.
AND as she was looking towards heaven she perceive a sparrow's nest in the laurel,
2And mourning within herself, she said, Woe is me, who fathered me? and what womb bore me, that I should be thus accursed before the children of Israel, and that they should reproach and deride me in the temple of my God: Woe is me, to what can I be compared?
3I am not comparable to the very beasts of the earth, for even the beasts of the earth are fruitful before you, O Lord! Woe is me, to what can I be compared?
4I am not compared to the brute animal, for even the brute animals are fruitful before you, O Lord! Woe is me, to what am I comparable?
5I cannot be comparable to these waters, for even the waters are fruitful before you, O Lord! Woe is me, to what can I be compared?
6I am not comparable to the waves of the sea; for these, whether they are calm, or in motion, with the fishes which are in them, praise you, O Lord! Woe is me to what can I be compared?
7I am not comparable to the very earth, for the earth produces its fruits, and praises you, O Lord!
4
1 An Angel appears to Anna and tells her she shall conceive; two angels appear on the same errand. 5 Joachim sacrifices. 8 Anna goes to meet him, 9 rejoicing that she shall conceive.
THEN an angel of the Lord stood by her and said, Anna, Anna, the Lord has heard your prayer. You shall conceive and bring forth, and your progeny shall be spoken of in all the world.
2And Anna answered, As the Lord my God lives, whatever I bring forth, whether it be male or female, I will devote it to the Lord my God and it shall minister to him in holy things, during its whole life.
3And behold there appeared two angels, saying to her, Behold Joachim your husband is coming with his shepherds.
4For an angel of the Lord has also come down to him, and said, The Lord God has heard your prayer, make haste and go hence, for behold Anna your wife shall conceive.
5And Joachim went down and called his shepherds, saying, Bring me here ten she-lambs without spot or blemish, and they shall be for the Lord my God.
6And bring me twelve calves without blemish, and the twelve calves shall be for the priests and the elders.
7Bring me also a hundred goats, and the hundred goats shall be for the whole people.
8And Joachim went down with the shepherds, and Anna stood by the gate and saw Joachim coming with the shepherds.
9And she ran, and hanging about his neck, said, Now I know that the Lord has greatly blessed me:
10For behold, I who was as a widow am no longer as a widow, and I who was barren shall conceive.
5
1 Joachim abides the first day in his house but sacrifices on the morrow. 2 Consults the plate on the priests forehead, 3 and is without sin. 6 Anna brings forth a daughter, 9 whom she calls Mary.
AND Joachim abode the first day in his house, but on the morrow he brought his offerings, and said,
2If the Lord be propitious to me let the plate which is on the priests forehead make it manifest.
3And he consulted the plate which the priest wore, and saw it, and behold sin was not found in him.
4And Joachim said, Now I know that the Lord is propitious to me, and has taken away all my sins.
5And he went down from the temple of the Lord justified, and he went to his own house.
6And when nine months were fulfilled to Anna, she brought forth, and said to the midwife, What have I brought forth?
7And she told her, A girl.
8Then Anna said, The Lord has this day magnified my soul; and she laid her in bed.
9And when the days of her purification were accomplished, she gave suck to the child; and called her name Mary.
6
1 Mary at nine months old, walks nine steps. 3 Anna keeps her holy. 4 When she is a year old, Joachim makes a great feast. 7 Anna gives her the breast, and sings a song to the Lord.
AND the child increased in strength every day, so that when she was nine months old, her mother put her upon the ground, to try if she could stand. And when she had walked nine steps, she came again to her mother's lap.
2Then her mother caught her up, and said, As the Lord my God lives, you shall not walk again on this earth, till I bring you into the temple of the Lord.
3Accordingly she made her chamber a holy place, and suffered nothing uncommon or unclean to come near her, but invited certain undefiled daughters of Israel, and they drew her aside.
4But when the child was a year old, Joachim made a great feast, and invited the priests, scribes, elders, and all the people of Israel;
5And Joachim then made an offering of the girl to the chief- priests, and they blessed her, saying, The God of our fathers bless this girl, and give her a name famous and lasting through all generations. And all the people replied, So be it, Amen:
6Then Joachim a second time offered her to the priests, and they blessed her, saying, O most high God, regard this girl, and bless her with an everlasting blessing.
7Upon this her mother took her up, and gave her the breast, and sung the following song to the Lord.
8I will sing a song to the Lord my God, for he has visited me, and taken away from me the reproach of mine enemies, and has given me the fruit of his righteousness, that it may now be told the sons of Reuben, that Anna gives suck.
9Then she put the child to rest in the room which she had consecrated, and she went out and ministered to them.
10And when the feast was ended, they went away rejoicing, and praising the God of Israel.
7
3 Mary being three years old, Joachim causes certain virgins to light each a lamp, and goes with her to the temple. 5 The high-priest places her on the third step of the altar, and sits dances with her feet.
BUT the girl grew, and when she was two years old, Joachim said to Anna, Let us lead her to the temple of the Lord, that we may perform our vow, which we have vowed to the Lord God, lest he should be angry with us, and our offering be unacceptable.
2But Anna said, Let us wait the third year, lest she should be at a loss to know her father. And Joachim said, Let us then wait.
3And when the child was three years old, Joachim said, Let us invite the daughters of the Hebrews, who are undefiled, and let them take each a lamp, and let them be lighted, that the child may not turn back again, and her mind be set against the temple of the Lord,
4And they did thus till they ascended into the temple of the Lord. And the high-priest received her, and blessed her, and said, Mary, the Lord God has magnified your name to all generations, and to the very end of time by you will the Lord show his redemption to the children of Israel.
5And he placed her upon the third step of the altar, and the Lord gave to her grace, and she dance with her feet, and all the house of Israel loved her.
8
2 Mary fed in the temple by angels. 3 When twelve years old the priests consult what to do with her. 6 The angel of the Lord warns Zacharias to call together all the widowers, each bringing a rod. 7 The people meet by sound of trumpet. 8 Joseph throws away his hatchet, and goes to the meeting. 11 A dove comes forth from his rod, and alights on his head. 12 He is chosen to betroth the Virgin, 13 refuses because he is an old man, 14 is compelled, 16 takes her home, and goes to mind his trade of building.
AND her parents went away filled with wonder, and praising God, because the girl did not return back to them.
2But Mary continued in the temple as a dove educated there, and received her food from the hand of an angel.
3And when she was twelve years of age, the priests met in a council, and said, Behold, Mary is twelve years of age, what shall we do with her, for fear lest the holy place of the Lord our God should be defiled?
4Then replied the priests to Zacharias the high-priest, Do you stand at the altar of the Lord, and enter into the holy place, and make petitions concerning her, and whatsoever the Lord shall manifest to you, that do.
5Then the high-priest entered into the Holy of Holies, and taking away with him the breast-plate of judgment made prayers concerning her;
6And behold the angel of the Lord came to him, and said, Zacharias, Zacharias, Go forth and call together all the widowers among the people, and let every one of them bring his rod, and he by whom the Lord shall show a sign shall be the husband of Mary.
7And the criers went out through all Judaea, and the trumpet of the Lord sounded, and all the people ran and met together.
8Joseph also throwing away his hatchet, went out to meet them; and when they were met, they went to the high-priest; taking every man his rod.
9After the high-priest had received their rods, he went into the temple to pray;
10And when he had finished his prayer, he took the rods, and went forth and distributed them, and there was no miracle attended them.
11The last rod was taken by Joseph, said behold a dove proceeded out of the rod, and flew upon the head of Joseph.
12And the high-priest said, Joseph, You are the person chosen to take the Virgin of the Lord, to keep her for him:
13But Joseph refused, saying, I am an old man, and have children, but she is young, and I fear lest I should appear ridiculous in Israel.
14Then the high-priest replied, Joseph, Fear the Lord your God, and remember how God dealt with Dathan, Korah, and Abiram, how the earth opened and swallowed them up, because of their contradiction.
15Now therefore, Joseph, fear God lest the like things should happen in your family.
16Joseph then being afraid, took her to his house, and Joseph said to Mary, Behold, I have taken you from the temple of the Lord, and now I will leave you in my house. I must go to mind my trade of building. The Lord be with you.
9
1 The priests desire a new veil for the temple, 3 seven virgins cast lots for making different parts of it, 4 the lot to spin the true purple falls to Mary. 5 Zacharias, the high priest, becomes dumb. 7 Mary takes a pot to draw water, and hears a voice, 8 trembles and begins to work, 9 an angel Appears and salutes her, and tells her she shall conceive by the Holy Ghost, 17 she submits. 19 Visits her cousin Elizabeth, whose child in her womb leaps.
AND it happened, in a council of the priests, it was said, Let us make a new veil for the temple of the Lord.
2And the high-priest said, Call together to me seven undefiled virgins of the tribe of David.
3And the servants went and brought them into the temple of the Lord, and the high-priest said to them, Cast lots before me now, who of you shall spin the golden thread, who the blue, who the scarlet, who the fine linen, and who the true purple.
4Then the high-priest knew Mary; that she was of the tribe of David; and he called her. And the true purple fell to her lot to spin, and she went away to her own house.
5But from that time Zacharias the high-priest became dumb, and Samuel was placed in his room till Zacharias spoke again.
6But Mary took the true purple; and did spin it.
7And she took a pot, and went out to draw water, and heard a voice saying to her, Hail you who are full of grace, the Lord is with you; you are blessed among women.
8And she looked round to the right and to the left (to see) from where that voice came, and then trembling went into her house, and laying down the water-pot, she took the purple, and sat down in her seat to work it.
9And behold the angel of the Lord stood by her, and said, Fear not, Mary, for you have found favor in the sight of God.
10Which when she heard, she reasoned with herself what that sort of salutation meant.
11And the angel said to her, The Lord is with you, and you shall conceive:
12To which she replied, What! shall I conceive by the living God and bring forth as all other women do?
13But the angel returned answer, Not so, O Mary, but the Holy Ghost shall come upon you, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow you;
14Wherefore that which shall be born of you shall be holy, and shall be called the Son of the Living God, and you shall call his name Jesus. For he shall save his people from their sins.
15And behold your cousin Elizabeth, she also has conceived a son in her old age.
16And this now is the sixth month with her, who was called barren: for nothing is impossible with God.
17And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.
18And when she had wrought her purple, she carried it to the high-priest, and the high-priest blessed her, saying, Mary, the Lord God has magnified your name, and you shall be blessed in all the ages of the world.
19Then Mary, filled with joy, went away to her cousin Elizabeth, and knocked at the door.
20Which when Elizabeth heard, she ran and opened to her, and blessed her, and said, From where is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
21For lo! as soon as the voice of your salutation reached my ears, that which is in me leaped and blessed you.
22But Mary, being ignorant of all those mysterious things which the archangel Gabriel had spoken to her, lifted up her eyes to heaven, and said, Lord! What am I, that all the generations of the earth should call me blessed?
23But perceiving herself daily to grow big, and being afraid, she went home, and hid herself from the children of Israel; and was fourteen years old when all these things happened.
10
1 Joseph returns from building houses, finds the Virgin grown big, being six months gone with child, 2 is jealous and troubled, 8 reproaches her, 10 she affirms her innocence, 13 he leaves her, 16 determines to dismiss her privately, 17 is warned in a dream that Mary is with child by the Holy Ghost, 20 and glorifies God who had shown him such favor.
AND when her sixth month was come, Joseph returned from his building houses abroad, which was his trade, and entering into the house, found the Virgin grown big:
2Then smiting upon his face, he said, With what face can I look up to the Lord my God? or, what shall I say concerning this young woman?
3For I received her a Virgin out of the temple of the Lord my God, and have not preserved her such!
4Who has thus deceived me? Who has committed this evil in my house, and seducing the Virgin from me, has defiled her?
5Is not the history of Adam exactly accomplished in me?
6For in the very instant of his glory, the serpent came and found Eve alone, and seduced her.
7Just after the same manner it has happened to me.
8Then Joseph arising from the ground, called her, and said, O you who have been so much favored by God, why have you done this?
9Why have you thus debased your soul, who were educated in the Holy of Holies, and received your food from the hand of angels?
10But she, with a flood of tears, replied, I am innocent, and have known no man.
11Then said Joseph, How comes it to pass you are with child?
12Mary answered, As the Lord my God lives, I know not by what means.
13Then Joseph was very afraid, and went ay from her, considering what he should do with her; and he thus reasoned with himself:
14If I conceal her crime, I shall be found guilty by the law of the Lord;
15And if I discover her to the children of Israel, I fear, lest she being with child by an angel, I shall be found to betray the life of an innocent person.
16What therefore shall I do? I will privately dismiss her.
17Then the night was come upon him, when behold an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, and said,
18Be not afraid to take that young woman, for that which is within her is of the Holy Ghost,
19And she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins.
20Then Joseph arose from his sleep, and glorified the God of Israel, who had shown him such favor, and preserved the Virgin.
11
3 Annas visits Joseph, perceives the Virgin big with child, 4 informs the high priest that Joseph had privately married her. 8 Joseph and Mary brought to trial on the charge. 17 Joseph drinks the water of the Lord as an ordeal, and receiving no harm, returns home.
THEN came Annas the scribe, and said to Joseph, Wherefore have we not seen you since your return?
2And Joseph replied, Because I was weary after my journey, and rested the first day.
3But Annas turning about perceived the Virgin big with child.
4And went away to the priest, and told him, Joseph in whom you placed so much confidence, is guilty of a notorious crime, in that he has defiled the Virgin whom he received out of the temple of the Lord, and has privately married her, not discovering it to the children of Israel.
5Then said the priest, Has Joseph done this?
6Annas replied, If you send any of your servants you will find that she is with child.
7And the servants went, and found it as he said.
8Upon this both she and Joseph were brought to their trial, and the priest said to her, Mary, what have you done?
9Why have you debased your soul, and forgot your God, seeing you were brought up in the Holy of Holies, and did receive your food from the hands of angels, and heard their songs?
10Why have you done this?
11To which with a flood of tears she answered, As the Lord my God lives, I am innocent in his sight, seeing I know no man.
12Then the priest said to Joseph, Why have you done this?
13And Joseph answered, As the Lord my God lives, I have not been concerned with her.
14But the priest said, Lie not, but declare the truth. You have privately married her, and not discovered it to the children of Israel, and humbled thyself under the mighty hand (of God), that your seed might be blessed:
15And Joseph was silent.
16Then said the priest (to Joseph), You must restore to the temple of the Lord the Virgin which you took from there.
17But he wept bitterly, and the priest added, I will cause you both to drink the water of the Lord, which is for trial, and so your iniquity shall be laid open before you.--[bitter water that causes the curse]
18Then the priest took the water, and made Joseph drink, and sent him to a mountainous place,
19And he returned perfectly well, and all the people wondered that his guilt was not discovered.
20So the priest said, Since the Lord has not made your sins evident, neither do I condemn you.
21So he sent them away.
22Then Joseph took Mary, and went to his house, rejoicing and praising the God of Israel.
12
1 A decree from Augustus for taxing the Jews. 5 Joseph puts Mary on an ass, to return to Bethlehem, 6 she looks sorrowful, 7 she laughs, 8 Joseph inquires the cause of each, 9 she tells him she sees two persons, one mourning and the other rejoicing. 10 The delivery being near, he takes her from the ass, and places her in a cave.
AND it happened that there went forth a decree from the Emperor Augustus, that all the Jews should be taxed, who were of Bethlehem in Judaea.
2And Joseph said, I will take care that my children be taxed; but what shall I do with this young woman?
3To have her taxed as my wife I am ashamed; and if I tax her as my daughter, all Israel knows she is not my daughter.
4When the time of the Lord's appointment shall come, let him do as seems good to him.
5And he saddled the ass, and put her upon it, and Joseph and Simon followed after her, and arrived at Bethlehem within three miles.
6Then Joseph turning about saw Mary sorrowful, and said within himself, Perhaps she is in pain through that which is within her.
7But when he turned about again, he saw her laughing, and said to her,
8Mary, how happens it, that I sometimes see sorrow, and sometimes laughter and joy in your countenance?
9And Mary replied to him, I see two people with mine eyes, the one weeping and mourning, the other laughing and rejoicing.
10And he went again across the way, and Mary said to Joseph, Take me down from the ass, for that which is in me presses to come forth.
11But Joseph replied, Where shall I take you? for the place is a desert.
12Then said Mary again to Joseph, take me down, for that which is within me mightily presses me.
13And Joseph took her down.
14And he found there a cave, and let her into it.
13
1 Joseph seeks a Hebrew midwife, 2 perceives the owls stopping in their flight, 3 the working people at their food not moving, 8 the sheep standing still, 9 the shepherd fixed and immoveable, 10 and kids with their mouths touching the water but not drinking.
AND leaving her and his sons in the cave, Joseph went forth to seek a Hebrew midwife in the village of Bethlehem.
2But as I was going (said Joseph), I looked up into the air, and I saw the clouds astonished, and the fowls of the air stopping in the midst of their flight.
3And I looked down towards the earth, and saw a table spread, and working people sitting around it, but their hands were upon the table and they did not move to eat.
4They who had meat in their mouths did not eat.
5They who lifted their hands up to their heads did not draw them back,
6And they who lifted them up to their mouths did not put any thing in;
7But all their faces were fixed upwards.
8And I beheld the sheep dispersed, and yet the sheep stood still.
9And the shepherd lifted up his hand to smite them, and his hand continued up.
10And I looked to a river, and saw the kids with their mouths close to the water, and touching it, but they did not drink.
14
1 Joseph finds a midwife. 10 A bright cloud overshadows the cave. 11 A great light in the cave, gradually increases until the infant is born. 13 The mid-wife goes out, and tells Salome that she has seen a virgin bring forth. 17 Salome doubts it. 20 her hand withers, 22 she supplicates the Lord, 28 is cured, 30 but warned not to declare what she had seen.
THEN I beheld a woman coming down from the mountains, and she said to me, Where are you going, O man?
2And I said to her, I go to inquire for a Hebrew midwife.
3She replied to me, Where is the woman that is to be delivered?
4And I answered, In the cave, and she is betrothed to me.
5Then said the midwife, Is she not your wife?
6Joseph answered, It is Mary, who was educated in the Holy of Holies, in the house of the Lord, and she fell to me by lot, and is not my wife. But has conceived by the Holy Ghost.
7The midwife said, Is this true?
8He answered, Come and see.
9And the midwife went along with him, and stood in the cave.
10Then a bright cloud over- shadowed the cave, and the mid- wife said, This day my soul is magnified, for mine eyes have seen surprising things, and salvation is brought forth to Israel.
11But on a sudden the cloud became a great light in the cave, so that their eyes could not bear it.
12But the light gradually decreased, until the infant appeared, and sucked the breast of his mother, Mary.
13Then the midwife cried out, and said, How glorious a day is this, in which mine eyes have seen this extraordinary sight!
14And the midwife went out from the cave, and Salome met her.
15And the midwife said to her, Salome, Salome, I will tell you a most surprising thing which I saw,
16A virgin has brought forth, which is a thing contrary to nature.
17To which Salome replied, As the Lord my God lives unless I receive particular proof of this matter, I will not believe that a virgin has brought forth.
18If Then Salome went in, and the midwife said, Mary, show thyself, for a controversy is risen concerning you.
19And Salome received satisfaction.
20But her hand was withered, and she groaned bitterly;
21And said, Woe to me, because of mine iniquity; for I have tempted the living God, and my hand is ready to drop off.
22Then Salome made her prayer to the Lord, and said, O God of my Fathers, remember me, for I am of the seed of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob.
23Make me not a reproach among the children of Israel, but restore me sound to my parents.
24For you well know, O Lord, that I have performed many offices of charity in your name, and have received my reward from you.
25Upon this an angel of the Lord stood by Salome, and said, The Lord God has heard your prayer, reach forth your hand to the child, and carry him, and by that means you shall be restored.
26Salome filled with exceeding joy, went to the child, and said, I will touch him.
27And she purposed to worship him, for she said, This is a great king, which is born in Israel.
28And immediately Salome was cured.
29Then the midwife went out of the cave, being approved by God.
30And lo! a voice came to Salome. Declare not the strange things which you have seen, till the child shall come to Jerusalem.
31So Salome also departed, approved by God.
15
1 Wise men come from the east. 3 Herod alarmed; 8 desires them if they find the child to bring him word. 10 They visit the cave and offer the child their treasure, 11 and being warned in a dream, do not return to Herod, but go home another way.
THEN Joseph was preparing to go away, because there arose a great disorder in Bethlehem by the coming of some wise men from the east,
2Who said, Where is the King of the Jews born? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
3When Herod heard this, he was very troubled, and sent messengers to the wise men, and to the priests, and inquired of them in the town-hall,
4And said to them, Where have you it written concerning Christ the king, or where should he be born?
5Then they say to him, In Bethlehem of Judaea. For thus it is written: And you Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not the least among the princes of Judah, for out of you shall come a ruler, who shall rule my people Israel.
6And having sent away the chief priests, he inquired of the wise men in the town-hall, and said to them, What sign was it you saw concerning the king that is born?
7They answered him, We saw an extraordinary large star shining among the stars of heaven, and so out-shined all the other stars, as that they became not visible, and we knew thereby that a great king was born in Israel, and therefore we are come to worship him.
8Then said Herod to them, Go and make diligent inquiry; and if you find the child, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
9So the wise men went forth, and behold, the star which they saw in the east went before them, till it came and stood over the cave where the young child was with Mary his mother.
10Then they brought forth out of their treasures, and offered to him gold and frankincense, and myrrh.
11And being warned in a dream by an angel, that they should not return to Herod through Judaea, they departed into their own country by another way.
16
1 Herod enraged, orders the infants in Bethlehem to be slain. 2 Mary puts her infant in an ox-manger. 3 Elizabeth flees with her son John to the mountains. 6 A mountain miraculously divides and receives them. 9 Herod incensed at the escape of John, causes Zacharias to be murdered at the altar. 23 The roofs of the temple rent, the body miraculously conveyed, and the blood petrified. 25 Israel mourns for him. 27 Simeon chosen his successor by lot.
THEN Herod perceiving that he was mocked by the wise men, and being very angry, commanded certain men to go and to kill all the children that were in Bethlehem, from two years old and under.
2But Mary hearing that the children were to be killed, being under much fear, took the child, and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes, and laid him in an ox-manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
3Elizabeth also, hearing that her son John was about to be searched for, took him and went up to the mountains, and looked around for a place to hide him;
4And there was no secret place to be found.
5Then she groaned within herself, and said, O mountain of the Lord, receive the mother with the child.
6For Elizabeth could not climb up,
7And instantly the mountain was divided and received them.
8And there appeared to them an angel of the Lord to preserve them.
9But Herod made search after John, and sent servants to Zacharias, when he was (ministering) at the altar, and said to him, Where have you hid your son?
10He replied, to them, I am a minister of God, and a servant at the altar: how should I know where my son is?
11So the servants went back, and told Herod the whole; at which he was incensed, and said, Is not this son of his like to be king of Israel?
12He sent therefore again his servants to Zacharias, saying, Tell us the truth, where is your son, for you know that your life is in my hand.
13So the servants went and told him all this:
14But Zacharias replied to them, I am a martyr for God, and if you shed my blood, the Lord will receive my soul.
15Besides know that you shed innocent blood.
16However Zacharias was murdered in the entrance of the temple said altar, and about the partition;
17But the children of Israel knew not when he want killed.
18Then at the hour of salutation the priests went into the temple but Zacharias did not according to custom, meet them and bless them.
19Yet they still continued waiting for him to salute them;
20And when they found he did not in a long time come, one of them ventured into the holy place where the altar was, and he saw blood lying upon the ground congealed:
21When, behold, a voice from heaven said, Zacharias is murdered, and his blood shall not be wiped away, until the revenger of his blood come.
22But when he heard this, he was afraid; and went forth and told the priests what he had seen and heard; and they all went in, and saw the fact.
23Then the roofs of the temple howled, and were rent from the top to the bottom:
24And they could not find the body, but only blood made hard like stone.
25And they went away, and told the people, that Zacharias was murdered, and all the tribes of Israel heard of it, and mourned for him, and lamented three days:
26Then the priests took council together concerning a person to succeed him.
27And Simeon and the other priests cast lots, and the lot fell upon Simeon.
28For he had been assured by the Holy Spirit, that he should not die, till he had seen Christ come in the flesh.
(I James wrote this History in Jerusalem: and when the disturbance was I retired into a desert place, until the death of Herod, and the disturbances ceased at Jerusalem. That which remains is, that I glorify God that he has given me such wisdom to write to you who are spiritual, and who love God: to whom (be ascribed) glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.)
THE PROTEVANGELION. Note on the death of Zacharias in Chap. 16.
There is a story both in the Jerusalem and Babylonish Talmud very similar to this. It is cited by Dr. Lightfoot, Talmud, Hierosol, in Taanith, fol. 69; and Talmud. Babyl. in Sanhedr., fol. 96. "O Rabbi Jochanan said, Eighty thousand priests were slain for the blood of Zacharias. Rabbi Judas asked Rabbi Achan, Where did they kill Zacharias? Was it in the woman's court, or in the court of Israel? He answered, Neither in the court of Israel, nor in the court of women, but in the court of the priests. And they did not treat his blood in the same manner as they were wont to treat the blood of a ram or young goat. For of these it is written, He shall pour out his blood, and cover it with dust. But it is written here, The blood is in the midst of her: she set it upon the top of a rock; she poured it not upon the ground. (Ezek. xxiv. 7.) But why was this? That it might cause fury to come up to take vengeance: I have set his blood upon the top of a rock, that it should not be covered. They committed seven evils that day: they murdered a priest, a prophet, and a king. They shed the blood of the innocent; they polluted the court: that day was the Sabbath: and the day of expiation. When therefore Nebuzaradan came there (viz. to Jerusalem,) he saw his blood bubbling, and said to them, What means this? They answered, It is the blood of calves, lambs, and rams, which we have offered upon the altar. He commanded then, that they should bring calves, and lambs, and rams, and said I will try whether this be their blood: accordingly they brought and killed them. But the blood of Zacharias still bubbled, but the blood of these did not bubble. Then he said, Declare to me the truth of this matter, or else I will comb your flesh with iron combs. Then said they to him, He was a priest, prophet, and judge, who prophesied to Israel all these calamities which we have suffered from you. But we arose against him, and killed him. Then, said he, I will appease him; then he took the rabbis and killed them upon his (viz. Zacharias's) blood, and he was not yet appeased. Next he took the young boys from the schools, and killed them upon his blood; and yet it bubbled. Then he brought the young priests and killed them in the same place, and yet it still bubbled. So he killed at length ninety-four thousand persons upon his blood, and it did not as yet cease bubbling. Then he drew near to it, and said, O Zacharias, Zacharias, you halt occasioned the death of the chief of your countrymen, shall I slay them all? then the blood ceased, and did bubble no more."