1
Asher, the tenth son of Jacob and Zilpah. An explanation of dual personality. The first Jekyll and Hyde story. For a statement of the Law of Compensation that Emerson would have enjoyed, see Verse 27.
THE copy of the Testament To Asher, what things he spoke to his sons in the hundred and twenty-fifth year of his life.
2For while he was still in health, he said to them: Hearken, you children of Asher, to your father. And I will declare to you all that is upright in the sight of the Lord.
3Two ways has God given to the sons of men, and two inclinations, and two kinds of action, and two modes of action, and two issues.
4Therefore all things are by twos, one over against the other.
5For there are two ways of good and evil, and with these are the two inclinations in our breasts discriminating them.
6Therefore if the soul take pleasure in the good inclination, all its actions are in righteousness; and if it sin it immediately repents.
7For, having its thoughts set upon righteousness, and casting away wickedness, it immediately overthrows the evil, and uproots the sin.
8But if it incline to the evil inclination, all its actions are in wickedness, and it drives away the good, and cleaves to the evil, and is ruled by Beliar. Even though it work what is good, he perverts it to evil.
9For whenever it begins to do good, he forces the issue of the action into evil for him, seeing that the treasure of the inclination is filled with an evil spirit.
10A person then may with words help the good for the sake of the evil, yet the issue of the action leads to mischief.
11There is a man who shows no compassion upon him who serves his turn in evil; and this thing bath two aspects, but the whole is evil.
. 12 And there is a man that loves him who works evil, because he would prefer even to die in evil for his sake. And concerning this it is clear that it bath two aspects, but the whole is an evil work.
13Though indeed he have love, yet is he wicked who conceals what is evil for the sake of the good name, but the end of the action tends to evil.
14Another steals, does unjustly, plunders, defrauds, and yet pities the poor: this too bath a twofold aspect, but the whole is evil.
15He who defrauds his neighbor provokes God, and swears falsely against the Most High, and yet pities the poor: the Lord who commanded the law he sets at nought and provokes, and yet he refreshes the poor.
16He defiles the soul, and makes gay the body; he kills many, and pities a few: this, too, bath a twofold aspect, but the whole is evil.
17Another commits adultery and fornication, and abstains from meats, and when he fasts he does evil, and by the power of his wealth overwhelms many; and
notwithstanding his excessive wickedness he does the commandments:
this, too, has a twofold aspect, but the whole is evil.
18Such men are hares; clean,--like those who divide the hoof, but in very deed are unclean.
19For God in the tables of the commandments has thus declared.
20But do not you, my children, wear two faces like to them, of goodness and of wickedness. But cleave to goodness only, for God has his habitation in it, and men desire it.
21But from wickedness flee away, destroying the evil inclination by your good works; for those who are double-faced serve not God. But their own lusts, so that they may please Beliar and men like to themselves.
22For good men, even those who are of single face, though they be thought by those who are double-faced to sin, are just before God.
23For many in killing the wicked do two works, of good and evil; but the whole is good, because he has uprooted and destroyed that which is evil.
24One man hates the merciful and unjust man, and the man who commits adultery and fasts: this, too, has a twofold aspect. But the whole work is good, because he follows the Lord's example, in that he accepts not the seeming good as the genuine good.
25Another desires not to see good day with those who not, lest be defile his body and pollute his soul; this, too, is double-faced, but the whole is good.
26For such men are like to stags and to hinds, because in the manner of wild animals they seem to be unclean. But they are altogether clean; because they walk in zeal for the Lord and abstain from what God also hates and forbids by His commandments, warding off the evil from the good.
27You see, my children, how that there are two in all things, one against the other. And the one is hidden by the other: in wealth is hidden covetousness, in conviviality drunkenness, in laughter grief, in wedlock profligacy.
28Death succeeds to life, dishonor to glory, night to day, and darkness to light. And all things are under the day, just things under life, unjust things under death; wherefore also eternal life awaits death.
29Nor may it be said that truth is a lie, nor right wrong; for all truth is under the light, even as all things are under God.
30All these things, therefore, I proved in my life, and I wandered not from the truth of the Lord. And I searched out the commandments of the Most High, walking according to all my strength with singleness of face to that which is good.
31Take heed, therefore, you also, my children, to the commandments of the Lord, following the truth with singleness of face.
32For those who are double-faced are guilty of a twofold sin. For they both do the evil thing and they have pleasure in those who do it, following the example of the spirits of deceit, and striving against mankind.
33Do you, therefore, my children, keep the law of the Lord, and give not heed to evil as to good. But look to the thing that is really good, and keep it in all commandments of the Lord, having your conversation in it, and resting in it.
34For the latter ends of men do show their righteousness or unrighteousness, when they meet the angels of the Lord and of Satan.
35for when the soul departs troubled, it is tormented by the evil spirit which also it served in lusts and evil works.
36But if he is peaceful with joy he meets the angel of peace, and he leads him into eternal life.
37Become not, my children, as Sodom, which sinned against the angels of the Lord, and perished for ever.
38For I know that you shall sin, and be delivered into the hands of your enemies; and your land shall be made desolate. And your holy places destroyed, and you shall be scattered to the four corners of the earth.
39And you shall be set at nought in the dispersion vanishing away as water.
40Until the Most High shall visit the earth, coming Himself as man, with men eating and drinking, and breaking the head of the dragon in the water.
41He shall save Israel and all the Gentiles, God speaking in the person of man.
42Therefore do you also, my children, tell these things to your children, that they disobey Him not.
43For I have known that you shall assuredly be disobedient, and assuredly act ungodly, not giving heed to the law of God, but to the commandments of men, being corrupted through wickedness.
44And therefore shall you be scattered as Gad and Dan my brethren, and you shall know not your lands, tribe, and tongue.
45But the Lord will gather you together in faith through His tender mercy, and for the sake of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
46And when he had said these things to them, he commanded them, saying: Bury me in Hebron.
47And he fell asleep and died at a good old age.
48And his sons did as he had commanded them, and they carried him up to Hebron, and
buried him with his fathers.