R. H. Charles Bücher

An excerpt from the INTRODUCTION - General Character of the Book: The book purports to give the last words, at the approach of death, of each of the twelve patriarchs to his sons. It is evident that the general idea of the book is based upon Jacob's last words to his sons as recorded in Gen. xlix. 1-27. Just as Jacob portrays the character of his sons and declares to them what shall befall them, so in our book each of the patriarchs is represented as describing, in some sense, his own character and as foretelling what shall come to pass among his posterity in the last times. From this latter point of view the book partakes of the character of a prophetic-apocalyptic work. In six of the testaments, those of Reuben, Simeon, Judah, Dan, Naphthali and Joseph, there is a certain correspondence between our book and Gen. xlix. regarding the characters of the patriarchs; as for the remaining six patriarchs no such correspondence exists. Speaking generally, though there are considerable modifications of this in some of the testaments, each testament contains the three following component parts: (a) An autobiographical sketch in which the patriarch's special vice or virtue is described. In some cases the biblical story forms the basis for this; in others the Bible is not followed. But in each case the autobiographical details are enlarged by many haggadic embellishments. (b) A warning to avoid the special sin, or an exhortation to cultivate the special virtue, which each patriarch has declared to be specially characteristic of him. (c) A prophecy concerning the patriarch's posterity in the last times; in nearly each case the patriarchs foretell a falling-away of their descendants which will result in misfortune coming upon them; this takes the form, as a rule, of captivity among the Gentiles. In some of the testaments sections of special content are introduced which have nothing at all to do "with the three main topics just enumerated. These sections have an interest of their own; but it may well be doubted whether they formed part of the original work. They are as follows: The seven spirits of deceit (Reuben ii. i-iii. 8). The vision of the heavens (Levi ii. i-v. 7). The vision of the seven men in white raiment (Levi viii. 1-18). A Messianic hymn (Levi xviii. 2-14). The spirits that wait upon man (Judah xx. 1-5). The constitution of man (Naphthali ii. 1-10). The vision on the mount of Ohves (Naphthali v. 1-8). The vision of the wrecked ship (Naphthah vi. 1-9). The two ways (Asher i. 3-vi. 6). Joseph's vision (Joseph xix. 1-12). The good inclination (Benjamin vi. 1-7). The sword of Behar (Bejamin vii. 1-5). These offer much that is of great interest, and should be specially studied. The original language of the book was, in all probability, Hebrew (rather than Aramaic); but the earliest form at present known to be in existence is a Greek translation of this.

As an ancient Jewish religious work attributed to Enoch, the great-grandfather of Noah, this text dates back to approximately 300 BC and significantly influenced the authors of the New Testament. Quoted in the Epistle of Jude, it was also valued by the community behind the Dead Sea Scrolls. While some churches include it in their canon, others regard it as non-canonical yet historically and theologically important. This work serves as a vital resource for researchers and students exploring the cultural and historical context of early Christianity.

The Book of Enoch is an ancient text that is traditionally attributed to the biblical figure Enoch. It is divided into five sections and contains a mixture of apocalyptic and mystical writings. It describes in detail Enoch's journey through the heavens, his visions of the future, and his encounters with various angels and heavenly beings. The book also contains prophecies of judgment, descriptions of the coming of a messianic figure, and teachings on moral and ethical behavior.

Focusing on the Apocrypha, this volume presents a collection of texts from the Second Temple period that are not part of the biblical canon but are recognized by the Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches. This reprint of the 1913 edition is a full facsimile, preserving the original format rather than using Optical Recognition software. Volume Two, covering the Pseudepigrapha, will be available separately. This work offers insight into significant religious writings that shaped early Judeo-Christian thought.

Recognized for its cultural significance, this work contributes to the foundational knowledge of civilization. It has been chosen by scholars for its importance, reflecting key themes and insights that shape our understanding of history and society.

The book presents a significantly revised and enhanced version compared to its first edition, featuring updated translation and commentary. This new work offers a deeper exploration and understanding, making it a substantial advancement over the original, catering to both new readers and those familiar with the earlier version.