The Assumption of Moses

Also called the Testament of Moses

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The Testament of Moses, including the things he commanded in the one hundred and twentieth year of his
life, which is the two thousand five hundredth anniversary of the creation of the world: [However, according to
the computation eastern two thousand seven centenary, and fourth centenary after the exit of
Phoenicia], when the people had left after the Exodus that Moses made to Ammon
beyond the Jordan, in the prophecy that Moses made in the book of Deuteronomy: and he called to
Joshua the son of Nun, a man approved by God, who could be the minister of the
population and of the tabernacle of testimony, with all its sacred things, and that could
to bring the people to the land of their parents, which must be given to them according to the
covenant and the oath, that he spoke in the tabernacle to give (it) for Joshua: to Joshua saying
(Be strong) and have good courage to do with your strength everything that has been
command that you may be free from blame to God. " Thus says the Lord of the world. He has
created the world in the name of His people. But He does not delight in manifesting this.
purpose of the creation of the foundation of the world, so that the Gentiles could
to be condemned, yes to his own humiliation could by (his) arguments condemn some to
others. Consequently, He designed and made me, and He prepared me before the foundation of
world, which must be the mediator of His covenant. And now I declare to you that the time of the
Years of my life have been fulfilled and I am passing away to sleep with my parents, even in
presence of all people and receive this writing that you can know how
preserve the books that you will issue to me: and will establish the order in these and anoint with oil of
cedar and store them in the ground the ships in the place that He has made since the beginning of the
creation of the world, that his name must be called until the day of repentance
in the visit with which the Lord will visit them in the consummation of the end of days.
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And now they must go through you in the land that He has determined and committed to.
to give to their parents, in which they are blessed and given to them individually and confirm their
inheritance in me and for them to establish the kingdom, and that will appoint local magistrates
based on the satisfaction of His Lord in judgment and justice. And five years after
their entry into the land, which will later be governed by kings and chiefs of eighteen
years, and for nineteen years, the ten tribes break apart. And the twelve tribes descend and the
transfer of the tabernacle of the testimony. Then, the God of heaven will make the tribunal
from his tabernacle and the tower of his sanctuary, and the two tribes are not established as holy.
but the ten tribes will establish kingdoms for themselves according to their own
ordinances. And they shall offer sacrifices for twenty years, and seven are secured
walls, and I will protect nine, but four transgress the covenant of Jehovah, and profane.
the oath that the Lord made with them. And that they sacrifice their children to strange gods,
and that will establish the idols in the sanctuary, the worship of them. And in the house of the Lord that
he will work wickedness and engrave all kinds of beasts, including many abominations.

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And in those days a king from the east will come against them and his cavalry will refer to their
land. And that its colony burns with fire along with the holy temple of the Lord, and he
It carries all the holy ships. And it must successively issue all the people, and it will have
to the land of his birth, he will indeed have the two tribes with him. Next, the two tribes
it will be asked of the ten tribes, and March like a lion over the dusty plain, to have
hunger and thirst. And they cry out loud: "Just and holy is the Lord, for, to the extent
in what you have sinned, we too, in the same way, have been taken to put an end to
you, along with our children." Next, the ten tribes began to weep upon hearing the reproaches.
of the two tribes, and they will say: 'What have we done with you, brothers? This has not arrived'
tribulation in all the house of Israel? "And all the tribes weep, weep to the heavens and say:
God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, remember your covenant that You have made
with them, and the oath you made to them I swear by yourself, that their seeds will never
they fall from the earth that you have given. "Then he remembers me, saying, on that day, the
tribe to the tribe and each man to his neighbor: 'Isn't this what Moses did to
continuation, declare prophecies in us, who have suffered many things in Egypt and in
the Red Sea and in the desert for forty years and surely the sky and the earth called
to bear witness against us, that we must not transgress his commandments, in
who was the mediator until us? Behold, these things have happened to us after his
death according to his declaration, as he told us at that moment, yes, behold that they have had
place even to our being dragged into captivity in the East. " They will also be
in a servitude regime for around seventy-seven years.

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Then one will enter who is about them, and he must spread his hands forward, and on his knees.
on your knees and pray in his name saying: 'Lord of all, the King on the noble throne, that
govern the world, and made this people choose their leaders, and then (in fact)
that you must be called your God, according to the covenant you made with your
parents. 3 And yet, they have been held captive in another land with their wives and their
children, and around the doors of the villages and strange, where there is great vanity.
Respect and have compassion for them, oh Lord of the heavens. 'Then God appeared to them
remember the account of the pact he made with his parents. He and manifest his compassion in those
times too. And he put it in the mind of a king to have compassion on them, and it should
send to retire to his land and the country. Next, some parts of the tribes rise up
and is placed in its designated spot, and they surround the place again with walls. And the two
tribes will continue in their prescribed faith, sad and lamenting because they will not be able to offer
sacrifices to God from their parents. And the ten tribes will increase and multiply among the
Gentiles during the time of their captivity.

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And when the time of punishment and vengeance almost arises through the kings that
they share in their guilt and punish themselves, they will also be divided in terms of
to the truth. For which it has been said: 'The member states in turn, apart from justice
and the approach injustice, and that they are stained with contaminations of the house of their worship '
because they prostitute themselves with strange gods." Because they do not follow the truth of God,
but some contaminate the altar with the (very) gifts they offer to the Lord, which do not
they are slaves, but the priests, children of slaves. And many times in those they will have the
respect towards people and desirable to receive donations, and they pervert the judgment [of receiving
presents]. And in this account, the colony and the borders of her room are filled with
iniquities and acts outside the law: those who come from evil Lord judges:
They must be willing to judge by the money each one may desire.

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Then He raised up kings over them, and they call themselves priests of the
Most High God, who will surely be the iniquity in the holy work of the saints. And a
insolent king shall happen to them, who will not be from the line of the priests, a brave man
and shameless, and that he values them as they deserve. And that he cuts off his main men with the
sword, and it will be destroyed in secret places, so that no one can know where they are
their bodies. He kills the old and the young, and will not spare. Then, the fear
he becomes bitter in his land. And he must execute the sentences against them as the
Egyptians who have been executed, for thirty-four years, and are to be punished. And it must be
to give birth to children, (that) success will be pronounced for shorter periods. Parts in their
cohorts and a powerful king from the west will come, who will conquer them, and he must have them.
in captivity, and a part of their temple is burned with fire, (and) some are crucified in
returns to his colony.

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And when this is done, the time is up, at a moment when the (second) must be
(finished), the four hours of coming. They will be forced... And, at the moment of these,
destructive and perverse men rule, claiming that they are just. And these stir themselves up
venom from their minds, that treacherous men, self-pleasers, dissemblers in all
their own affairs and the lovers of banquets at every hour of the day. gluttons, gourmets
.... Devourers of the products of the (bad), saying that they do so on the ground of their
justice, but in reality to destroy them, they complain, deceptive, in order to hide from themselves
they should be recognized, perverse, full of evil and anarchy from dawn
until sunset: saying: "We will have feasting and luxury, eat and drink, and it is estimated to
"ourselves as princes." And although their hands and minds touch dirty things,
However, their mouths speak great things, and they will also say: 'Do not touch me lest I...
I get contaminated in the place (where I am)

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And a second visit and wrath will not come upon them, as has not happened since the beginning.
until that moment, when He will shake against them the king of the kings of the earth and that the
norms with great power, to crucify those who confess to their circumcision, and those who
to hide (that) he must submit to torture and be tied up and taken to prison. And his
wives will be given to the gods among the Gentiles, and their children will be treated by the doctors
in order to advance his foreskin. And others among them will be punished with torture penalties
and by fire and sword, and they will be forced to carry their idols in public, since they are
contaminated, like those they keep. And that will also be obliged by those who ...
torture to enter into their intimate sanctuary, and they will be forced by the stings to blaspheme.
insolence with the word, finally after these things the laws and what there was
above his altar.

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Then, on that day, a man of the tribe of Levi, whose name is taxed,
having seven children who were urged to speak with them: "Observe, my children, I have
here a ruthless second (and) has dirty visits reaches the people, and an unrelenting punishment
and far superior to the first. What nation or what region or what the people of those
they are wicked towards the Lord, who have committed many abominations, have suffered greatly
calamities that have devastated us? Now, therefore, my children, hear from me: to
to observe and to know that neither the parents nor their ancestors test God, in order to
to transgress your commandments. And you know that this is our strength and, therefore, that
Let's do it. Let's do it quickly for the span of three days and on the fourth let's go on a ride.
cave that is found on the land, and we will die before we transgress the orders
of the Lord of Lords, the God of our fathers. Because if we do this and die, our
blood avenged before the Lord.

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His kingdom and, afterwards, it must appear in all his creation,

Satan and, thereafter, will be no more,

And the pain exits with it.

Then the hands of the angel will be filled.

Who has been appointed chief,

And he immediately went to take revenge on his enemies.

One of the Heavens will derive from his royal throne,

And he leaves his holy dwelling

With indignation and anger because of His children.

And the earth trembles: it is limited to its being shaken:

And the high mountain will become low

And the hills stir and autumn.

And the horns of the sun break and he will turn into darkness;

And the moon will not give its light, and it turned entirely into blood.

And the circle of stars becomes restless.

And the sea will retreat into the abyss,

And the sources of the waters do not know,

And the rivers dry up.

By the Most High will be produced, the Eternal God,

He will appear to punish the gentiles,

He and destroy all his idols.

So, Israel, be happy,

And that it rides on the neck and wings of the eagle,

And it's over.

Glorify God and you,

And He will make you focus on the sky of the stars,

In the place of his room.

And you will see from above and see your enemies in Ge (henna)

And that they are recognized and rejoice,

And he will thank you and confess to your Creator.

And, Joshua (the son of) Nun, keep these words and this book, By the death of my
until his arrival there it will be 250 times [= year weeks = 1750 years]. And this is
the course of time that will be pursued until it is consumed. And I am going to sleep with
my parents. Therefore, you Joshua (son of) Nun, (be strong and) be of good courage, (for) God
you have chosen a minister in the same pact.

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And when Joshua had heard the words of Moses that were so written in his
writings everything that had been said before, the rental of the clothes and issued in the same Moses
Moses. And he comforted him and wept with him. And Joshua answered him and said: 'Why my
comfort, (my) lord Moses? And how am I going to be consoled regarding the bitter
word that you have spoken, which has come out of your mouth, filled with tears and
Lamentations, in which they separate from this people? (But) what place will you receive? Or it
What will be the sign that the brands (their) tomb? Or that they dare to move their body,
from there, like that of a mere man from one place to another? For all men when
they die according to their age their graves in the earth, but their grave is the
increase from sunset, and from the south to the ends of the north: all the
the world is your grave. My lord, you are leaving, and I wonder what these people are doing? Or what is there
who will have compassion on them and will be their guide on the way? Or that someone prays for them,
not to miss a single day, so that I can lead them to the land of their ancestors? How,
therefore, I am here to nurture this people like a father (his) only son, or like a
lover of her daughter, a virgin who is preparing to consider the husband who
they are worshipped, while the guard of their person and the sun (is occupied) with ensuring that their feet do not
They are unshod so that they can be executed on earth. (And how) they will be supplied with food and
drinks according to the taste of their will? For them, there are 600,000 (men), for
these have multiplied through this degree to your prayers, (my) lord Moses. And
What wisdom or understanding have I gathered that I must judge or respond through the word in the house
(of the Lord)? And the kings of the Amorites also when they hear that they are attacking
they, believing that the Holy Spirit, who was worthy of the Lord, no longer exists among them,
multiple and incomprehensible, the lord of the word, who was faithful in all things, chief
prophet of God on all the earth, the most perfect of teachers in the world, [that he no longer
it's among them], he must say 'We are going to go against them. If the enemy, but once
that they have forged impiously against their Lord, who have no defender to offer prayers.
in His name to the Lord, like Moses, the great messenger, that every hour of day and night
he had fixed his knees to the ground, praying and seeking to contribute to the norms that he
everyone with compassion and justice, remembering him of the covenant of the fathers and
providing the Lord with the oath. "For they say: 'He is not with them: let us go,
therefore, and destroy from the face of the earth." What will happen to this people then, my lord?
Moses?

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And when Joshua had finished, that is, he himself cast again at the feet.
from Moses. And Moses took the hand and lifted him up in the seat before him, and answered and said to him
He said: Joshua, do not underestimate yourself, but keep your mind at ease, and listen.
my words. All the nations that are on the earth that God has created and us, He
has foreseen, and we from the beginning of the creation of the earth to the end of the age,
and nothing has been neglected by man, even the least, but all the things that
he has foreseen and has caused everyone to come. (Yes) all the things that will be on this earth
that the Lord has foreseen and, behold, that He presented (to the light.... The Lord), has appointed in His
name to (pray) for their sins and (intercede) for them. Not for any reason or the
the strength of mine, but of her good taste and her compassion have greatly affected my patient.
For I tell you, Joshua: it is not because of the piety of this people that the root of the...
nations. The lights of the sky, the foundations of the earth have been realized and approved by
God and they are under the seal ring of his right hand. Therefore, those who do and fulfill
with the commandments of God and it will increase prosperity, but those who sin and fixate on
The commandments nothing will be done without the aforementioned blessing, and that there will be punishment.
with many torments through the nations. But completely from the roots and destroy them is not
Allowed. By God, it has been planned that all things are forever, and the covenant has been
established and by the oath.
This work, also called the Ascension of Moses, contains a part that is an apocalypse.
written as a whole gathers the farewell words of this character, before dying, to his successor
Joshua, who serves as his testament. In this speech, Moses predicts the history of Israel from
the entry into the land of Canaan until the end of times. The text has been transmitted to us
incomplete, and it places a special emphasis on the events that go from King Herod the Great
until the burning of a part of the Temple of Jerusalem in the first revolt of the Jews (after the
death of Herod in 4 B.C.), which tragically ended with the death of many Israelites at
hands of the Romans. According to the author, after these events the end of the world will soon come.

The analysis of the content of the work leads to the conclusion that its author belonged to an environment
Jewish sectarian with a mindset similar to the Essenes, although not necessarily linked to the
special ideology of the Essenes of Qumran, who likely formed a separate group
within the sect. This author is convinced that we are living at the end of times.

The work was likely composed in Israel shortly after the last events recorded by
she - facts presented as a prophecy, naturally -. Therefore, between the years 7 and 30 of
our era.

Although it has only been preserved in Latin and in a single manuscript, the text is a translation.
from Greek, which in turn traces back to a Semitic material in Hebrew or Aramaic.
The most original aspect of this 'testament' is that it presents an eschatological doctrine without a messiah. The
celestial messenger, who introduces the last times, is an angelic figure, and the mysterious
a character whose righteous actions make God hasten the end of the world is a Levite,
called Taxo, which has a messianic function: it is simply the ideal figure of a Jew.
pious, who believes in the final divine retribution and is willing to suffer even martyrdom
for being faithful to the Law and to the covenant with the God of Israel.

Unfortunately, at the moment it is impossible for me to publish the full text as usual.
It was my approach, but given the importance of this work, I deemed it appropriate to do so.

I hope that the reader knows how to understand and appreciate the offered text. –Sergio (Our
Ancestors
The war before the end of times.

Then they will rise against the righteous, powerful kings who will be called priests of the Most High.
but they will truly commit wickedness from the holy sanctuary. And an insolent king will happen to them who
He will not be of the lineage of the priests, a bold and shameless man who will judge them as they deserve.
The sword will eliminate the leaders among them and will make their disappear in unknown places.
bodies, so that no one knows where they are. It will kill the old and the young mercilessly. Then
There will be an intense fear of him among them, in the country. For thirty-four years he will subjugate them.
as the Egyptians had subjugated them and imposed penalties on them. And he will bear sons who the
happening will dominate for shorter periods of time.
Cohorts and a powerful king from the west will arrive in their regions, who will subdue them and take them away.
captives and a part of his temple he will burn with fire. He will crucify some around his colony.

The end of times

After which the times will come to an end. At some point, the second course will finish, the four
hours will arrive […]. Then unhealthy and wicked men will reign among them, appearing to be
Just. These will provoke the anger of the divine heart, for they will be false men, pleased with themselves.
the same, hypocrites in all their matters and lovers of feasts at any time of the day,
insatiable gluttons. They say they act this way for justice, but they are devourers of the goods of others.
poor, who as hunters demand; deceitful, who hide to avoid being recognized; impious,
full of iniquity from dawn till sunset; people who say: 'We will have feasts
and abundance in eating and drinking, we will treat each other as if we were princes." And although their
hands and their minds will be occupied with impure things, their mouth will be grandiloquent, saying:
Don't touch me, lest you stain me in the position I hold.

The final pursuit by the king of earthly kings

And a second punishment will come upon them, and a wrath like they have not experienced since the
the beginning of the world until that moment, when the king of kings will rise against them.
land and sovereign of great power, who will crucify those who confess their circumcision. And to those who
The snow will torture and deliver so that the shackled are led to prison. And their women
they will be offered to the gods of the gentiles, and their small children will be operated on by childcare workers
to have their foreskin restored. And others among them will be punished with torture, fire, and sword,
and they were forced to publicly carry their idols, as impure as they are, just like those who hold them.
And those who are tortured will also be forced to enter the secret place for them, and with
stingers will be forced to blaspheme injuriously against the Word and, finally, against the
laws and whatever they have on their altar.

The Levite Taxo and his seven sons

Then on that day there will be a man from the tribe of Levi, whose name will be Taxo, who,
having seven children, he will tell them, exhorting them:

Behold, my children, a second cruel and impure vengeance has befallen the people.
merciless repetition and superior to the first. For what nation, what country, or what people of the
wicked regarding the Lord, who committed many abominations, has suffered so many evils as
those who have reached us? Now, therefore, my children, listen to me; see, then, and know that neither
our parents or their ancestors never tempted God in such a way that they transgressed his
commandments. You certainly know that these constitute our strength. This we will do:
We will fast for three days and on the fourth we will enter a cave in the countryside and die.
before transgressing the commandments of the Lord of Lords, of the God of our fathers.
Well, if we do this and die, our blood will be avenged before the Lord.

Celestial intervention and the end of the world

Then his kingdom will manifest over all his creation, then the devil will meet his end and the
Sadness will depart with her. Then the Messenger will be invested, who is at the highest point.
established, and to the point he will avenge them from their enemies. For the Celestial will rise from his royal throne and
He will come out of his holy dwelling, inflamed with wrath for the sake of his children. The earth will tremble, until its
the confines will be shaken, and the high mountains will be brought low [...]. The sun will not give light and in darkness will
the horns of the moon will return, it will break and turn entirely to blood, and the orbit of the
stars will be disturbed. The sea will retreat to the abyss, the springs of the waters will cease, and the rivers
they will remain eternally dry. For the Most High will rise alone, He will appear to take
revenge of the nations and will destroy all their idols.
Then you, Israel, will be happy, you will rise on the neck and wings of an eagle, and your days will be fulfilled.
God will exalt you and establish you in the heaven of the stars, in the place of His dwelling.
You will contemplate from above and see your enemies on the ground; recognizing them, you will rejoice and,
by giving thanks, you will confess to your Creator.

And you, Joshua, son of Nun, keep these words and this book. For from my death and acceptance until
its arrival will be two hundred and fifty times that will have to be produced. And this is the course of
the times to which they will adapt until they are fulfilled. I, for my part, will go to sleep with
my parents. Therefore, you, Joshua, son of Nun, be strong, for God has chosen you to be my
successor in the same alliance.