The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs 103
Asher 1
Asher spoke his testament to his sons in the hundred and twentieth year of his life while still in health. Themes: Virtue, Vice and the Two Spirits
1he record of the testament of Asher, what things he spake to his sons in the hundred and twentieth year of his life.
2 While he was still in health, he said to them: Hearken, ye children of Asher, to your father, and I will declare to you all that is right in the sight of God.
3 Two ways hath God given to the sons of men, and two minds, and two doings, and two places, and two ends.
4 Therefore all things are by twos, one corresponding to the other.
5 There are two ways of good and evil, with which are the two minds in our breasts distinguishing them.
6 Therefore if the soul take pleasure in good, all its actions are in righteousness; and though it sin, it straightway repenteth.
7 For, having his mind set upon righteousness, and casting away maliciousness, he straightway overthroweth the evil, and uprooteth the sin.
8 But if his mind turn aside in evil, all his doings are in maliciousness, and he driveth away the good, and taketh unto him the evil, and is ruled by Beliar; and even though he work what is good, he perverteth it in evil.
9 For whenever he beginneth as though to do good, he bringeth the end of his doing to work evil, seeing that the treasure of the devil is filled with the poison of an evil spirit.
Did You Know?
Asher spoke his testament to his sons in the hundred and twentieth year of his life while still in health.
God has given the sons of men two ways, two minds, two doings, two places, and two ends.
Asher declared that all things are by twos, with one corresponding to the other.
If the soul takes pleasure in good, it straightway repents after sin and uproots the evil.
When the mind turns to evil, a person is ruled by Beliar and perverts even good into evil.
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