The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs 18

I¹🔗 Levi was conceived in Haran and born there, and after that I came with my father to Shechem.

²🔗 And I was young, about twenty years of age, when with Simeon I wrought the vengeance on Hamor for our sister Dinah.

³🔗 And when we were feeding our flocks in Abel-Maul, a spirit of understanding of the Lord came upon me, and I saw all men corrupting their way, and that unrighteousness had built to itself walls, and iniquity sat upon towers; and I grieved for the race of men, and I prayed to the Lord that I might be saved.

⁴🔗 Then there fell upon me a sleep, and I beheld a high mountain: this is the mountain of Aspis in Abel-Maul.

⁵🔗 And behold, the heavens were opened, and an angel of God said to me, Levi, enter.

⁶🔗 And I entered from the first heaven into the second, and I saw there water hanging between the one and the other.

⁷🔗 And I saw a third heaven far brighter than those two, for there was in it a height without bounds.

⁸🔗 And I said to the angel, Wherefore is this?

⁹🔗 And the angel said to me, Marvel not at these, for thou shalt see four other heavens brighter than these, and without comparison, when thou shalt have ascended thither: because thou shalt stand near the Lord, and shalt be His minister, and shall declare His mysteries to men, and shalt proclaim concerning Him who shall redeem Israel; and by thee and Judah shall the Lord appear among men, saving in them every race of men; and of the portion of the Lord shall be thy life, and He shall be thy field and vineyard, fruits, gold, silver.