away, and who will now support thee? Thy king is taken away, and who will now help thee? Thy power is taken away, and who will now strengthen thee? The Compassionate has become angry at thee, and who will now show pity? Signs were shown for thy sake, Misr was devastated for thee, the Divine power appeared in thy behalf, the sea was divided that thou mightest cross, Fir'aûm and his people perished that thou mightest be preserved, manna descended for thy sustenance, bitter water became sweet to satisfy thy thirst, the voice of the Creator was heard for thy instruction, the rock brought forth water to test thee, 'Amlâq was put to route at thy desire, the Creator let the Divine power dwell round about thee for thy protection, and His name alighted upon thee that thy enemies might have fear of thee. He placed the pillar of cloud as a sign of His tender compassion for thee. He closed up the two mountains of the valley elMûjib (Arnon), 3 that thou mightest pass over safely. He destroyed Sîhûn and 'Ug, that thou mightest inherit their cities and possessions. He struck with terror the kings of 'Ammân and Mâb and Midyan, that thou mightest plunder their cattle. He stopped the water of the Urdun, that He might display thy power and make prominent thy glory and exalt thy fame. He killed the seven tyrant kings, that He might give to thee their land and their cities, and their kingdom. He gave over to destruction. those who assembled together for thy slaughter. He extirpated Shaubak the son of Hamâm, and those kings who were assembled with him to slay thee. He commanded the heavens and the earth to guard thee and protect thee. He removed the calamities of the skies and stars from thee and from thy country. He surrounded

3 Note 46.

thee with the greatest prosperity and the largest blessing. He assigned unto thee the most exalted places, and the most glorious of which is the Gate of Paradise. He gave unto thee a kingdom in which no one boasteth besides thyself. He bestowed abundantly upon thee His grace, the like of which was never heard of in former ages. He assisted thee with His angels, and His omnipotence. He enveloped thee with His mercy, and surrounded thee with His compassion. He took thee into His keeping with joy on His part, and took thee under His protection among His own. But thou hast forsaken His worship, and renounced belief in His name, which should be exalted, and thou hast worshipped one that has not the power to remove calamnity even from himself. Ye have not re

garded those who became infidel, and your Lord has disregarded you. Thou did'st cover up from him, and He has covered up His face from you. Our master Mûsa, the Prophet-the most excellent, peace be upon him-led you aright, but ye did not believe him. He informed you, but ye hearkened not unto him. He instructed you, but ye obeyed him not. Yûsh'â, his disciple, made covenant with you, but ye sported with him. Whither does your flight tend? Whom will ye find as a refuge for yourselves? From whence will ye find help for yourselves? Who will rescue you from your enemies? Ye supposed that your victory resulted from the multitude of men, when, lo, the victory was the result of good behavior. Where are those who know our leaders? Where is the one to whom our hearts plight faith? Where is the one who has pity on our infants? Where is the one who hears our voices? Where is the one who makes atonement for our sins and transgressions? Where is

4 Note 82.

the one who makes manifest our power? Where is the one who renders our glory conspicuous here?" And they now felt remorse where remorse profited them nothing, while their weeping became great and their lamentations violent. Thereupon they took vows upon themselves that they would commemorate this sorrow, on the second and fifth days (of the week) always, until the favor of God-glorious be His might— should return unto them. And He is the one who knows when it will return; and we pray Him to remove His anger, and let fall the veil of His protection over us, through His greatness and compassion. Lo, He is a hearer and answerer (of prayer).

CHAPTER XLIII.

THE HISTORY OF THE ERRING MAN WHO WAS ENVIOUS OF THE DESCENDANT OF FINAHAS THE IMAM--PEACE BE UPON HIM.

DISCORD had arisen between the descendant of Fînahas ('Ozi) and his cousin Ilî (Eli), whose name being interpreted means; the insidious. This erring man was of the tribe of Itamar (Ithamar) the brother of el-'Azar the imâm.1 Now the right of administration belonged to the tribe of Fînahas, and it was the one which was offering up the sacrifices upon the brazen altar, and stone altar. And this man-the insidious-was fifty years old, and being great in riches had obtained for himself the lordship over the treasure house of the children of Isrâîl; and he had obtained, through the knowledge of magic, what he had acquired of riches, proud rank and wealth. And his self-importance being great in his own

1 Note 83.

estimation, he gathered to himself a company, and said unto them: "I am one to whom to serve a boy is impossible, and I will not reconcile myself to this, and I hope that ye will not be content to have me do this." 12 And the company answered him: "We are under thy command, and under obedience to thee: command us in whatsoever thou willest." And he put them under covenant that they would follow him unto the place where they purposed going on the morning of the second day (of the week). And he offered up offering on the altar without salt, as if he was ignorant, and immediately started out on the journey with his outfit and company, and cattle, and every thing that he possessed, and settled in Seilûn (Shiloh). And he gathered the children of Isrâîl into a schismatical sect, and held correspondence with their leaders, and said unto them: "Whoever desires to behold miracles, let him come unto me." And there was collected to him a multitude in Seilûn, and he built for himself a shrine there, and organized matters for himself in it on the model of the temple, and erected in it one altar,5 on which he might sacrifice and offer up offerings. And he had two sons, who used to gather the women into the temple in the morning, and lie with them, and would eat up all that was present of the offerings of wine, and other things. Moreover he commanded the men that they should salute him before they offered their offerings. And this man continued diverting the people by magic, for the space of forty years; for God-exalted, exalted be He; glorious be His might--delayed this unto him. And there was Shâmûl (Samuel) of the tribe of Harûn, the Lîwânite, the magician and the infidel; for his father had delivered him over to him (Eli) when he was four years old, saying 2 Note 84. 3 Note 85. 4 Note 86. 5 Note 87.

Note 88.

unto him: "This is a son whom I have received in fulfilment of a desire,7 and it occurred suddenly to my mind that this boy ought to serve in this temple throughout the days of his life." So the erring man received him, and instructed him, and revealed unto him hidden things; and he grew to be as potent in the working of magic as he himself was. And blessed be God who does not punish the rebellious, except after long delay and showing mercy unto them.

CHAPTER XLIV.

THE ACCOUNT OF THE CAUSE OF THE DESTRUCTION OF THIS ERRING MAN, AND OF HIS SONS AND COMPANY.

WHEN the nations heard of the schism among the children of Isrâîl, there gathered together of them a multitude of those who were inhabiting Yûfa (Joppa) and Ludd (Lod, Lydda) and Beit Jibril1 and Ghuzzeh (Gaza) and other places, and they carried out the plan of making an attack upon the company that was in Seilûn. And the army of the erring man went forth to meet them, but it was overthrown and put to rout, and there were killed of his companions four thousand men. And the troops returned to their friends, and said unto him (Eli): "Forsooth the cause of our rout is, that the ark of gold was not with us; so he delivered unto them the ark, and sent forth his two sons with them, and the flower of his army, in place of the first (army). Now they of the nations who had assembled had arranged an ambush, and upon the sallying forth of his army, the army of the nations closed in upon them, and the sword did its work