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The Kebra Nagast 48

2 min 5 verses Translated by E. A. Wallis Budge, 1922, public domain. Chapters follow Budge's numbering (1-117); verse numbers are this archive's own divisions.

How They Carried Away Zion

The Angel of the Lord appeared again to Azaryas like a pillar of fire and filled the entire house with light. Themes: Covenant and Eternal Law, Divine Providence and Plan

A1🔗nd behold, the Angel of the Lord appeared again to Azaryas and he stood up above him like a pillar of fire, and he filled the house with his light. And he raised up Azaryas and said unto him, " Stand up, be strong, and rouse up thy brother 'Elmeyas, and 'Abesa, and Makari, and take the pieces of wood and I will open for thee the doors of the sanctuary.

2🔗 And take thou the Tabernacle of the Law of God, and thou shalt carry it without trouble and discomfort. And I, inasmuch as I have been commanded by God to be with it for ever, will be thy guide when thou shalt carry it away."

3🔗 And Azaryas rose up straightway, and woke up the three men his brethren, and they took the pieces of wood, and went into the house of God — now they found all the doors open, both those that were outside and those that were inside — to the actual place where Azaryas found Zion, the Tabernacle of the Law of God; and it was taken away by them forthwith, in the twinkling of an eye, the Angel of the Lord being present and directing.

4🔗 And had it not been that God willed it Zion could not have been taken away forthwith. And the four of them carried Zion away, and they brought it into the house of Azaryas, and they went back into the house of God, and they set the pieces of wood on the place where Zion had been, and they covered them over with the covering of Zion, and they shut the doors, and went back to their houses.

5🔗 And they took lamps and set them in the place where [Zion] was hidden, and they sacrificed the sheep thereto, and burned offerings of incense thereto, and they spread purple cloths over it and set it in a secret place for seven days and seven nights.

Did You Know?

1

The Angel of the Lord appeared again to Azaryas like a pillar of fire and filled the entire house with light.

2

Azaryas rose and woke filmgyas, 'Abesa, and Makari, and they took pieces of wood into the house of God.

3

They found all the doors open both outside and inside and carried Zion away in the twinkling of an eye.

4

The four men set pieces of wood where Zion had stood, covered them with its covering, and shut the doors.

5

They hid Zion for seven days and seven nights with lamps, sheep sacrifices, incense offerings, and purple cloths.

Continue Reading The Kebra Nagast 49 How his Father Blessed his Son

With Zion hidden in Azariah's house, Menyelek goes to Solomon for a father's blessing without knowing what his companions have done.

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