1) Joseph was building a house in the country between Nazareth and Jerusalem.
2) A distinguished citizen of Jerusalem was having
this house built there to serve as an inn, for the Nazarenes had no
shelter all the way to Jerusalem.
3) And Mary, who was brought up in the
temple, had matured, and the Law of Moses required that she
be given from the temple.
4) Messengers were therefore sent
into all of Judea with these tidings to summon the fathers —
that if one were found worthy, he was to take the maiden
into his house.
5) When
these tidings reached Joseph, he quickly laid his axe aside
and hastened to Jerusalem and there to the designated
meeting and council chamber in the temple.
6) Three
days later the applicants again met in the same chamber, and
each candidate for Mary handed a fresh lily stalk to the
priest as previously determined upon. The priest then went
into the sanctuary of the temple with the stalks and there
prayed.
7) When he
had completed his prayer, he came out with the stalks and
returned to each his stalk.
8) All the
stalks thereupon became spotted — only the one last given to
Joseph remained fresh and unblemished.
9) But a few began to find fault at this
and said that this test favored Joseph, and was therefore
not binding and requested another test which would be above
reproach.
10) The priest, somewhat provoked at this,
immediately had Mary sent for, handed her a dove and told
her to walk into the center of the candidates, there to let
the dove fly free.
11) And before ordering the dove freed,
he said to the candidates, "Behold, you false interpreters
of the sign of Jehovah! This dove is a pure, innocent
creature and has no ear for our discussion,
12) for it lives
only in the will of the Lord and understands only the
almighty language of God.
13) Hold high your stalks!
— Upon whose stalk this dove settles, once it has been freed
by this maiden, and upon whose head it will site, he shall
take Mary!"
14) With
this the candidates were satisfied and agreed, "Even so,
this shall be a sure sign!"
15) And when
Mary freed the dove at the word of the priest, it promptly
few over to Joseph, settled on his stalk and thereupon on
Joseph's head.
16) Here the
priest declared, "Thus has the Lord willed it! Upon you, oh
worthy craftsman, is fallen the unerring lot for the maiden
of the Lord! Take her in the name of the Lord into your
unblemished house for future care. Amen."
17) When Joseph heard this, he appealed
to the priest, saying: "Hear me, oh anointed servant of the
Lord according to the Law of Moses, the faithful servant of
the Lord God Zebaoth — I am already an old man with grown-up
sons at home and have been a widower for a long time. I
shall become an object of ridicule before the sons of Israel
if I take this little maiden into my house.
18)
Therefore let the choice be taken once more and let me stand
aside, so I will not be counted among the candidates."
19) Here the priest raised his hand and
warned, "Joseph — fear the Lord
God! Do you now know what He did to Dathan, to Korah and to
Abiram?
20) Behold, the earth opened up and all were
swallowed by her because of their obstinacy! Do you suppose
He could not do the same to you?
21) I tell you, now that
you have seen and recognized the unerring sign of Jehovah,
do therefore obey the Lord who is almighty and just and
always chastens the obstinate and the deserters of His will!
22) But otherwise be greatly afraid for your house, whether
the Lord will not also visit upon your house what He visited
upon Dathan, Korah and Abiram."
23) At this
Joseph was filled with dread, and he said to the priest in
great fear, "So then pray for me, that the Lord may once
more be gracious and merciful toward me, and then give me
the maiden according to His will."
24) The priest now went inside and prayed
for Joseph before the Holy of Holies and the Lord spoke to
the priest praying there:
25) "Do not trouble Me, the man whom I
have chosen — for more justly than he walks none in Israel,
and none on the whole earth, and none before My throne in
all the heavens!
26) No go
out and give the maiden whom I have raised Myself, to the
most righteous of men on the earth."
27) And the
priest smoke his breast and exclaimed, "O Lord, almighty God
of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, be merciful to me a sinner
before You, for now I know that You will judge Your people!"
28)
Thereupon the priest arose, went out and with a blessing in
the name of the Lord gave the maiden to the frightened
Joseph
29) and said
to him, "Joseph, you are found just before the Lord,
therefore He has chosen you from among many thousands. Go in
peace. Amen."
30) Here Joseph took Mary and said, "May
the sole will of My Lord and my God always be done! What
You, O Lord give is always good — therefore I gladly and
most willingly take this gift from Your hand. Now bless her
for me and me for her, so I may be worthy of her before You
now, as always, Your will be done. Amen."
31) When
Joseph had said this before the Lord he was lifted up in his
heart, then went out of the temple with Mary and led her
into the land of Nazareth and there into his humble
dwelling.
32) Much work awaited Joseph, so he
wasted no time at home and accordingly said to Mary,
33)
"See, Mary, I have taken you into my home from the temple of
the Lord, my God, according to His will. But I cannot remain
with you now to protect you, for I must fulfill my contract
to complete the house I showed you on our trip here.
34) But
be assured that you will not be left at home alone. For I
have a closely related housekeeper who is devout and just —
she and my youngest son will be with you, and the grace of the Lord and His
blessing will not leave you.
35) In a short time I and my four sons shall be
your guide in the ways of the Lord. The Lord God will now watch over you and my
house. Amen."
