The Forbidden Gospels and Epistles Part 8

19 And Salome received satisfaction.

20 But her hand was withered, and she groaned bitterly;

21 And said, Woe to me, because of mine iniquity; for I have tempted the living G.o.d, and my hand is ready to drop off.

22 Then Salome made her supplication to the Lord, and said, O G.o.d of my Fathers, remember me, for I am of the seed of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob.

23 Make me not a reproach among the children of Israel, but restore me sound to my parents.

24 For thou well knowest, O Lord, that I have performed many offices of charity in thy name, and have received my reward from thee.

25 Upon this an angel of the Lord stood by Salome, and said, The Lord G.o.d hath heard thy prayer, reach forth thy hand to the child, and carry him, and by that means thou shalt be restored.

26 Salome filled with exceeding joy, went to the child, and said, I will touch him.

27 And she purposed to wors.h.i.+p him, for she said, This is a great king, which is born in Israel.

28 And straightway Salome was cured.

29 Then the midwife went out of the cave, being approved by G.o.d.

30 And lo! a voice came to Salome.

Declare not the strange things which thou hast seen, till the child shall come to Jerusalem.

31 So Salome also departed, approved by G.o.d.

CHAPTER XV.

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,

2 Who said, Where is the King of the Jews born? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to wors.h.i.+p him.

3 When Herod heard this, he was exceedingly troubled, and sent messengers to the wise men, and to the priests, and enquired of them in the town-hall,

4 And said unto them, Where have you it written concerning Christ the king, or where should he be born?

5 Then they say unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea; for thus it is written: And thou Bethlehem in the land of Judah, art not the least among the princes of Judah, for out of thee shall come a ruler, who shall rule my people Israel.

6 And having sent away the chief priests, he enquired of the wise men in the town-hall, and said unto them, What sign was it ye saw concerning the king that is born?

7 They answered him, We saw an extraordinary large star s.h.i.+ning among the stars of heaven, and so out-s.h.i.+ned 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 wors.h.i.+p him.

8 Then said Herod to them, Go and make diligent inquiry; and if ye find the child, bring me word again, that I may come and wors.h.i.+p him also.

9 So 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.

10 Then they brought forth out of their treasures, and offered unto him gold and frankincense, and myrrh.

11 And 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.

CHAPTER XVI.

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.

2 But 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.

3 Elizabeth also, hearing that her son John was about to be searched for, took him and went up unto the mountains, and looked around for a place to hide him;

4 And there was no secret place to be found.

5 Then she groaned within herself, and said, O mountain of the Lord, receive the mother with the child.

6 For Elizabeth could not climb up,

7 And instantly the mountain was divided and received them.

8 And there appeared to them an angel of the Lord to preserve them.

9 But Herod made search after John, and sent servants to Zacharias, when he was (ministering) at the altar, and said unto him, Where hast thou hid thy son?

10 He replied, to them, I am a minister of G.o.d, and a servant at the altar: how should I know where my son is?

11 So 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?

12 He sent therefore again his servants to Zacharias, saying, Tell us the truth, where is thy son, for you know that your life is in my hand.

13 So the servants went and told him all this:

14 But Zacharias replied to them, I am a martyr for G.o.d, and if ye shed my blood, the Lord will receive my soul.

15 Besides know that ye shed innocent blood.