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2 Meqabyan
2 Meqabyan
Introduction
Introduction to the 2nd Sefer (Book) of Meqabyan
Within the Framework of the Ivri Heritage Bible
The text presented here is an authentic rendering of the second book of the Meqabyan (the Ethiopic Maccabees), preserved within the uncorrupted scriptural lineages of the African and East African assemblies. Far distinct from the standard Greek accounts of the Hasmonean crisis in Judea, this book provides an alternative, deeply spiritual Semitic-underlay narrative detailing the early catastrophic invasion of Makabis—a Moabite ruler out of Ramoth—who desolated Jerusalem as an instrument of divine mishpat (judgment) due to the systemic generational sins of the people. Positioned as a critical prophetic anchor within The Ivri Heritage Bible, this book acts as a majestic covenantal blueprint, cosmological guide, and eschatological chronicle for the assembly (Kehillah) that faithfully awaits the righteous judgment of the Most High. Delivered directly through the unyielding testimonies of holy martyrs, the preaching of the prophet Ri, and comprehensive revelations concerning the intermediate state of souls, these chapters transform historical crises into a strict structural and priestly constitution.
Textual Methodology: Restoring the Ancient Path
As a foundational book within The Ivri Heritage Bible, this edition of Sefer Meqabyan Sheni utilizes a meticulous comparative textual methodology designed to strip away centuries of Western, Greco-Roman, and Eurocentric theological varnish, restoring the original Lashon Khodesh (Holy Tongue) concepts directly to the text.
The Historical Authority of the Ethiopic (Ge'ez) Stream
While Western text-types altogether omitted this independent historical window, the Ethiopic scriptural tradition uniquely rescued this text from total suppression. Rather than charting the Hellenistic battles against Antiochus IV Epiphanes found in standard apocryphal books, Sefer Meqabyan Sheni preserves an ancient, localized tradition that traces the dramatic conversion of the invading king, Makabis, after he was confronted by the prophet Ri. Convinced of the total futility of his elilim (idols), Makabis underwent deep teshuvah (repentance), sitting in a pit up to his neck, and ultimately established a righteous Israelite-guided priestly order within his household.
Correcting the Omissions of the Masoretic Text
A primary reason The Ivri Heritage Bible prioritizes ancient witnesses like Sefer Meqabyan Sheni is that late rabbinic copyists systematically altered, truncated, or completely deleted texts that explicitly confirmed the supernatural realities of the final judgment and the physical resurrection. Multiple vital theological elements are exposed and corrected through the light of this book:
1. The Strict Defense of Physical Resurrection (Techiyat ha'Metim) — Chapter 14 explicitly addresses and dismantles the false doctrines of early sectarian groups, including the Yehudim (Jews), Shomronim (Samaritans), Tzeduqim (Sadducees), and Perushim (Pharisees). It refutes the Pharisaic claim that souls receive completely "different flesh" from heaven, forcefully proving that Yahuah will call back the exact same physical body that decayed into dust. 2. The Biological and Seasonal Manifestation of Cosmic Law — The text implements biological signs—such as the cyclical regrowth of human hair and nails after being cut—as an unchanging material proof of the resurrection built directly into human flesh by the Borei (Creator). 3. The Narrative of Intermediate Souls — This book repairs the theological vacuum regarding the intermediate state of the dead, detailing how the human nefesh (soul) separates from the flesh at death and is guarded either in the houses of Or (light) within Gan Eden or the houses of Choshech (darkness) within Sheol until the final blast of the shofar.
Hebraic Messianic Nazarene Wordings
While adhering to the pristine layout of the ancient Ethiopic preservation, this translation completely eliminates Westernized, church-centric nomenclature. By implementing a strictly Hebraic Messianic Nazarene vocabulary, the narrative restores the original context directly to the reader. Artificial terms and Hellenized titles are completely discarded, replacing them with the true, restored names and terms:
* Yahuah / Adonai: The personal Covenant Name of the Almighty Master of the heavenly hosts. * Torah / Mitzvot: The foundational instruction, law, and commandments delivered at Chorev. * Techiyat ha'Metim / Yom ha'Din: The physical resurrection of the dead and the final Day of Reckoning. * Shedim / Malach ha'Mavet: The demonic host of the adversary and the specific cosmic executioner of death.
Core Theological Themes and Structural Blueprint
The layout of "THE 2nd BOOK OF MEQABYAN." forms a complete mathematical, historical, and apocalyptic manual for a set-apart society. Within this edition, the text is organized around four major spiritual and administrative pillars:
1. The Invasion of Makabis and the Judgment of Jerusalem (Chapters 1–4)
The book opens with a historical chronicle of desolation. Prompted by the systemic sins of the house of Israel, Yahuah stirs up Makabis, a Moabite ruler from Ramoth, who allies with the Syrians and Amalekites to lay waste to Jerusalem. The city's fall is accompanied by severe cosmic warnings from the prophet Ri, who confronts Makabis with the terrifying reality of an impending divine plague. Stricken with fear, the king undergoes an unprecedented public repentance (teshuvah), destroys the empty shrines of Moab, and appoints captured Israelite youth to teach his entire royal household the Aseret ha'Dibrot (Ten Commandments).
2. The Seleucian Persecution and the Martyrdom of the Five Sons (Chapters 5–7) Following the peaceful death of Makabis, the narrative shifts to the wicked invasion of the Seleucian tyrant Tseerutsaydan (Antiochus IV Epiphanes). The five young sons of Makabis, walking faithfully in the instructions of their father, flatly refuse to eat defiled pagan sacrifices or bow before the golden statue of Belil Figore. Embracing physical martyrdom over eternal damnation, they willingly surrender their bodies to a great furnace. They immediately reappear to the king in a terrifying night vision as sword-wielding judges, exposing the total vanity of his idol priests and pronouncing his eternal condemnation into the fires of Gehenna.
3. Apocalyptic Polemics and the Agricultural Parable of the Seed (Chapters 8–14) The book rises into a fierce theological defense of the Techiyat ha'Metim. The text delivers a scathing critique of the theological corruption of the Sadducees and Samaritans who deny the afterlife, and the Pharisees who distort the nature of the resurrected flesh. To establish absolute clarity, the text provides the definitive agricultural Mashal (parable) of the wheat and the vine, demonstrating that a seed must first decay and be broken open within the soil before it can burst forth into its proper, multiplied, and uncompromised form under the solar heat and the dew of mercy.
4. The Cosmic Day of Reckoning, Angelic Escorts, and the Final Separation (Chapters 15–20) Uniquely combining thematic arcs that are profoundly likened to the book of Exodus and the book of Revelation, the text culminates in a sweeping, panoramic revelation of the final Ketz (End of Days). The text maps out the great cosmic collapse where the sun is extinguished, lightning cracks the firmament, and the earth brings forth its dead in a manner likened to a pregnant woman unable to hold back her labor. Mirroring the historical liberation of Exodus and the apocalyptic triumph of Revelation, the narrative closes with the final blast of the shofar blown by the chief angel Mikha’el, a complete separation where glorious angels of light escort the tzaddikim into Gan Eden, and the unrepentant deniers and wicked rulers are permanently dragged down by dark shedim into the sulfurous, unquenchable chambers of Gehenna.
Glossary of Key Restored Terms
To grasp the authentic covenantal depth of Sefer Meqabyan Sheni within The Ivri Heritage Bible, the reader should understand the following key terms:
* Makabis / Maqabis: The Moabite conqueror from Ramoth whose historic conversion and strict adherence to the Torah serves as an archetype of true teshuvah. * Ri: The ancient prophet sent by Yahuah to deliver the words of absolute correction and cosmic warning to the invading armies. * Belil Figore: Baal-Peor; the deaf, mute, and empty idol of gold and silver worshiped by the lawless Seleucian armies. * Tseerutsaydan: Antiochus IV Epiphanes; the proud, blasphemous king struck down mid-sentence by the angel of death. * Thlimyakos: The Malach ha’Mavet (Angel of Death) tasked with striking down the arrogant potentates of the earth. * Techiyat ha'Metim: The physical resurrection of the dead; the absolute, undeniable reunion of the same flesh and soul at the end of the age. * Gan Eden / Gehenna: The Garden of Paradise and the pit of eternal fire; the two definitive, permanent dimensions of reward and retribution.
Through this restored, Hebraic, and pre-Masoretic lens, Sefer Meqabyan Sheni stands revealed not as an obscured, external work, but as the active, authoritative, and chronological blueprint for the children of Adam and the preservation of our genuine heritage, the unmasking of wickedness, and the realization of righteousness under the unchanging clock of the Almighty.
2 Meqabyan—Chapter 1
The Invasion of Makabis the Moabite and the Desolation of Jerusalem
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1This is the sefer (book) that tells how Makabis (Macabies) came up against Yisrael (Israel), rising out of Aram Naharayim (Mesopotamia) and Aram (Syria), and struck them down throughout their eretz (land) from the Yaboq (Jabbok) all the way to Yerushalayim (Jerusalem), leaving it in ruin.2For the people of Aram (Syria), Edom , and the Amaleqim (Amalachites) had joined with Makabis , the Mo’abi (Moabitete) from Ramoth , to destroy the city of Yerushalayim .3They camped from Shomron (Samaria) to Yerushalayim , sweeping through every region and killing the people, sparing only a few who managed to escape.4And when the children of Yisrael sinned against Yah, He stirred up Makabis the Mo’abi to rise against them.5And with the cherev (sword) He brought mishpat (judgment). Because of this, the oyevim (enemies) of Yah took pride in their conquest of His eretz ha’kodesh (holy land), boasting in their sin and blaspheming His Shem (Name).6The Yisraelim (Israelites) set up camp, sent by the hand of Yah because Yisrael had mocked His davar (word). These enemies brought vengeance and ruin upon Yah ’s nachalah (inheritance).7Makabis, who came from Ramoth of Mo’av (Moab), rose up in strength, gathering allies from every side to join his cause.8He camped with his forces in the region of Gilboa, stretching from Aram Naharayim to Aram , intending to lay waste to the eretz of Yahuah .9And there he persuaded the Amaleqim and Plishtim (Philistines) to join him, giving them great wealth— kesef (silver), zahav (gold), susim (horses), and merkavot (chariots)—to secure their loyalty in his rebellion.10Together they stormed the strongholds and tore down the fortresses. The blood of the people flowed like mayim (water) in the streets.11They turned Yerushalayim into a storage house, filling it with noise and violence. Every kind of wickedness that Yahuah despises was committed there.12And the Ir ha’Kodesh (Holy City) was desecrated by their hands. They fed the bodies of servants and neighbors to the beasts of the field and the birds of the air.13They robbed the widows and the orphans without fear of Yahuah. They acted according to the ways Ha’Satan (the Adversary) had taught them, and their cruelty was great, even ripping the unborn from their mother’s wombs.14But Yuahah, who examines the hearts and minds, brought His affliction upon them. And when they returned to their own lands, they were joyful in their wickedness, taking with them the spoils of the Eretz ha’Kodesh .15As they arrived at their homes, they celebrated with dancing, music, and clapping, rejoicing in the evil they had done.
2 Meqabyan—Chapter 2
The Prophecy of Ri and the Repentance of Makabis
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1And the navi (prophet) whose name was Ri came and spoke to Makabis , saying, “You may feel at peace today, rejoicing in your victories, but know this: Yahuah, the one Yisrael praises, has declared that He will bring mishpat (judgment) and destruction upon you, because you have refused to humble yourself.2“Will you say, ‘My horses are fast; I will flee and escape’? I tell you the truth: those sent to chase you will be swifter than nesharim (eagles).3You cannot outrun Yah ’s judgment, nor escape the destruction coming for you.4“Will you say, ‘I wear armor of iron; my spears and arrows will protect me’? But Yah, the one who honors Yisrael , says: ‘I will not destroy you with weapons of war.5No, I will strike you with sickness of heart, with pain and torment worse than any spear or arrow.6Yet even this is not the fullness of My judgment. You have provoked My wrath. I will afflict your heart with dread, and you will find no one to help you.7My hand will pursue you until your name is forgotten from the aretz .’”8“You lifted yourself up in pride and walked proudly through My land. But I will bring you low in an instant. Then you will know that I am your Borei (Creator).9You are like grass before the fire, like dust scattered by the wind. You are nothing before Me.10Because you stirred up My anger and refused to acknowledge Me, I will forsake your people and leave even your mighty warriors without protection.11“But even now,” the navi said, “turn away from your sin. If you humble yourself in sorrow and mourning before Yahuah, if you cry out with a pure heart, He will forgive you. He will show rachamim (mercy) for the evil you have done.”12And when Makabis heard these words, he was struck with fear. He cast himself down in mourning, for Adonai had afflicted him deeply.13For Yah sees all things. Nothing is hidden from His eyes. His ears are open to every cry. He never lies or delays His word. What He declares, He accomplishes swiftly.14So Makabis tore his garments, clothed himself in saq (sackcloth), poured dust over his head, and wept bitterly before his Borei, Yahuah, repenting for all the sin he had committed.
2 Meqabyan—Chapter 3
The Repentance of Maqabis and the Mercy of Yahuah
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1The navi (prophet) came to Ramoth , the city in Moab near Syria, and found Maqabis there. Maqabis had dug a pit for himself and sat in it up to his neck, weeping bitterly. In great sorrow, he began truly to make teshuvah (repentance) for his sins before Yahuah.2Then the devar Yahuah (word of Yahuah) came to the prophet: “Tell Maqabis , ‘Return now from the land of Yehudah to Ramoth in Moab. Tell him this is what Yahuah says: I, your Creator, sent you by My own decree to strike My land. Do not say in your pride, “I conquered Yerushalayim by my own strength and the power of my army.” For it was not you who did this. Yerushalayim grieved Me with her greed, betrayal, and lust. That is why I gave her over into your hand. I allowed you to spoil her.3But I have forgiven you, not for your prideful claim, but because of the children you have raised. Repent and do not be like those who doubt and are never given the gift of teshuvah. Be humble and turn back with all your heart. Blessed are those who make teshuvah with a sincere heart and do not return again to their sin. Beloved are those who humble themselves before Yahuah, mourning and praying, bowing low in sorrow. For Yahuah says, “You are My treasure—you who have turned back, even though once you were far from Me.”’4And so Yahuah said to proud Maqabis when he turned and repented: “I forgive your sin because of your fear and brokenness. I am Yahuah your Creator. I bring hardship to the children of sinners up to seven generations if they follow in their fathers’ wickedness. But I show mercy for ten thousand generations to those who love Me and obey My Torah.5Now I make a Beriyt (covenant) with you, Maqabis , because of your children. Yahuah, who rules all and honours Yisrael , has accepted the teshuvah you have made.”6So Maqabis came up from the pit and bowed down before the prophet, swearing, “I have grieved Yahuah . Do with me whatever seems right to you. But may Yahuah never let me depart from you again. We have lived without Torah. We did not follow His mitzvot as our fathers once did. You know what our fathers taught, and how we turned to elilim. I am a sinner, hardened and proud. I rebelled against Yahuah’s commands. I had never before heard the word of His prophets, nor had I rooted myself in His Torah .”7Then the prophet told him, “None of your people before you ever repented of their sin like this. I know Yahuah has accepted your teshuvah this very day. But now you must leave behind your elilim and learn to truly know Yahuah,” he told him.8Maqabis fell at the prophet’s feet, and the prophet lifted him up and began teaching him the righteous works due to Elohim . And Maqabis returned home and did all that Yahuah had commanded him.9Maqabis renewed his heart in worshiping Yahuah. He tore down every idol, cast out the sorcerers, the idol priests, and all who practice magic. He stopped the sacrifices to false gods, both morning and evening, and instead began learning from the Yisraelite children he had captured in the war, asking them about Yahuah’s commandments, His Torah , and His order.10From among these children, he appointed teachers over his household. Even the little ones were given older children to guide them, so that before sleep they would be taught Yahuah’s law which Yisrael’s children were meant to keep. Maqabis listened closely to these young teachers, learning the Aseret ha’Dibrot (Ten Commandments) and the divine order.11He realized the worship of elilim and the shrines of Moab were all empty and false. So he destroyed their shrines, their mizbechot (altars), their rituals, and the offerings of wine and goats and fattened sheep that were given to false gods morning and evening. He removed every idol he had once prayed to and believed in—those he had thought protected him and blessed his sacrifices.12He had once trusted everything the idol priests told him, believing they were his protectors. But now Maqabis gave up their teachings and turned away from their practices. After hearing the words of Ri the prophet, he walked fully in teshuvah .13At that time, Maqabis and his people did more good works than even Yisrael , who had begun to fall into sin again. But when Yahuah saw that His people were being abused and enslaved, and that they cried out to Him, He remembered the oath He had made with their fathers, Avraham , Yitzchak , and Ya’akov , and forgave them. Yet after He saved them, they quickly forgot Him and returned again to elilim.14So Yahuah would raise up enemies against them, people who would afflict and enslave them. And only then would Yisrael remember Yahuah and cry out to Him. Because He loved them as His creation, He would have mercy and forgive them. But once He protected them again, they would return to their sins, defiling themselves with elilim and evil works.15Then Yahuah would stir up the Moabites, Philistines, Syrians, Midianites, and Egyptians against them. When these enemies overcame and taxed them, ruling harshly, Yahuah would again raise up princes and leaders to rescue them at the time He chose.
2 Meqabyan—Chapter 4
The Pattern of Deliverance and the Righteous Rule of Maqabis
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1Just as there was a day of deliverance in Yehoshua’s (Joshua’s) time, so too Yahuah brought salvation again. And as He saved them in Gideon’s days, and in the time of Shimshon (Samson) and Devorah and Barak and Yehudit (Judith), when He placed His Ruach (Spirit) upon sons and daughters, He raised up deliverers for Yisrael to rescue them from their enemies.2In every season that Yahuah desired, He would save His people from those who oppressed them. And when He rescued them, they rejoiced—rejoiced in their harvests, in their flocks, in the wilderness, and in all their livestock. Yahuah blessed the fruit of their land and the increase of their herds, because His eye was upon them in mercy. He did not let their animals fail, for they were the children of the tzaddikim (righteous), and He loved them as kadosh (holy).3But whenever they turned to evil, He would deliver them into the hands of their enemies. Then when they were afflicted, they would seek Him again. They would turn from their sin and return to Yahuah in teshuvah (repentance). And when they repented with sincere hearts, Yahuah would pardon their sin. He would not remember their past wrongs, for He knows they are flesh and blood, burdened by worldly desires and tempted by shedim (demons).4When Maqabis heard about this pattern—how Yahuah dealt with His people in the Beit ha’Mikdash (Temple)—his heart was truly stirred to make teshuvah. He did not despise the good works that Yahuah required. He embraced them fully, just as Yisrael ’s children did when Yahuah forgave them. Even after they had broken His Torah, they cried out and He showed mercy, and then they kept His mitzvot (commandments) again.5In the same way, Maqabis set his life in order. He followed Yahuah ’s Torah and lived according to the command of Yisrael ’s Creator. When he learned how Yisrael had once taken pride in serving Yahuah, he too found joy in obeying the law. He taught his people and his children to walk firmly in Yahuah ’s commands and statutes.6He prohibited what Yisrael had prohibited and embraced what Yisrael had accepted. With the other Moabites , he avoided the foods forbidden by Yisrael ’s law. He gave tithes faithfully. He offered the firstborn of his cattle, sheep, and donkeys. He faced Yerushalayim and brought korbanot (offerings) as Yisrael had done. He brought sin offerings, vow offerings, peace offerings, and continual offerings.7He gave his first fruits. He poured out the wine as Yisrael did and gave it to the kohanim (priests) he appointed. He did everything just as Yisrael was commanded and prepared the incense with reverence. He made the menorah (lampstand), the basin, the seat, the tent, and the four golden rings. He prepared the oil for the lamp in the holy place, and made the parochet (veil) like the one used by Yisrael in the most holy place.8Just as Yisrael had once walked faithfully in Yahuah ’s law and were not given over to their enemies, Maqabis followed their example and did good works. He prayed continually to Yisrael ’s Creator, asking Him to teach him and not to cut him off from the children of Yisrael whom He had chosen.9He begged Yahuah to give him children in Tziyon (Zion) and a dwelling in Yerushalayim, to grant him the spiritual seed of righteousness in Tziyon and a soul dwelling in Yerushalayim. He pleaded to be spared from the destruction the prophets had warned of, and asked that his sorrowful teshuvah be accepted. He prayed that his children would not be destroyed in his lifetime and that Yahuah would protect him in every step he took.10Under Maqabis ’s leadership, the people of Moab rejoiced. They believed because their leader lived righteously. They saw his just decisions and followed his commands. They rejected their former customs and laws, for they saw Maqabis ’s ways were higher and more upright.11People came from near and far to hear of Maqabis ’s charity and his just judgments. He had great wealth, servants—male and female—camels and donkeys, and five hundred horses with breastplates. He overcame the Amalekites , the Philistines , and the Syrians —those who had once defeated him while he worshiped elilim (idols). But from the moment he turned to worship Yahuah, he never lost a battle.12His enemies would come in the name of their false gods, cursing him, but none could defeat him because his faith was in his Creator, Yahuah. And so Maqabis ruled well and lived in peace, defeating his enemies and leading his people with strength.13He protected the weak and brought justice to the oppressed. He defended the orphan with truth and cared for widows in their distress. He fed the hungry from his own table and clothed the naked from his own garments. He rejoiced in doing good and gave generously without hesitation. He tithed faithfully to the Beit ha’Mikdash .14Maqabis died having lived a life of joy and tzedakah (righteousness).
2 Meqabyan—Chapter 5
The Righteous Children of Maqabis and the Wickedness of the Seusians
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1After Maqabis passed away, his children were still very young, but they grew up following the ways he had taught them. They kept their household in good order and looked after all their people. They never made the poor cry out, nor did they oppress widows or orphans. They feared Yahuah and gave generously to those in need. They held fast to all the teachings their father left them.2When widows and orphans were troubled, they comforted them like a father or mother would, rescuing them from those who tried to harm them and bringing peace to their sorrows. For five years they lived in this way, doing what was right in the eyes of Yahuah.3But after those years passed, the melech (king) of the Seleucian, Tseerutsaydan, came and laid waste to their land. He captured the children of Maqabis and destroyed their villages. He took all they owned.4These Seleucians were a people who lived in deep sin—adultery, greed, violence, and total disregard for their Creator. They did not follow Yahuah ’s Torah or His mitzvot (commandments), and they worshiped elilim (idols). Yet they were the ones who carried off Maqabis ’s children and led them to their foreign land.5These people ate the flesh of dead animals and drank blood. They ate what beasts and vultures devour, things Yahuah utterly rejects. None of the commands written in Horeb meant anything to them. They did not know Yahuah, their Maker, the One who formed them in their mother’s wombs and fed them with provision from His own hand, the One who was their Healer.6Instead, they married their own aunts and even their father’s wives. They walked in robbery, adultery, and all kinds of wickedness. They had no law and no justice, doing whatever evil pleased them. They married their own sisters and lived in complete lawlessness. All their paths were dark and treacherous. Everything they did was sin and sexual immorality.7But Maqabis ’s children refused to follow in those ways. They kept their lives in order and did not eat what scavengers eat or what dies of itself. They stayed away from the evil practices of the Seusians , whose deeds were too many and too wicked to all be written here—deeds done by doubters, traitors, and thieves filled with rebellion and sin, the children of pagans.8Not one of the works that Yahuah loves could be found among them. They bowed down to an idol called Belil Figore, treating it as if it were their god, even though it was deaf and mute. It was nothing more than the creation of a man’s hands, a statue shaped from silver and gold by a smith’s tool.9It had no life, no understanding. It could not eat or drink. It could not kill or rescue. It could not plant or uproot. It could not hurt its enemies or help its friends. It could not bring poverty or bestow honour. And though it misled the foolish Seleucians, it had no power to discipline or to forgive.
2 Meqabyan—Chapter 6
The Martyrdom of Maqabis's Sons and Their Appearance to the King
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1Tseerutsaydan, the arrogant enemy of Yahuah , appointed priests who deceived the people and served his false gods. He would sacrifice to these elilim (idols) and pour out wine offerings to them. And it seemed to him as if they actually ate and drank. Every morning and evening he would bring offerings—cows, donkeys, heifers—and he would partake of these unclean sacrifices himself. Not content to do it alone, he pressured others to sacrifice as well, forcing the people to bow to his idols.2When the priests of the idols saw that the children of Maqabis were handsome and faithful to their Creator, Yahuah, they tried to lure them into offering sacrifice and eating from the defiled food. But the children of Maqabis refused, because they followed their father’s command. Because they stood firmly in tzedakah (righteousness), and because they feared Yahuah with their whole hearts, they would not give in.3So, the priests seized them, insulted them, and stripped them of what they had. Then they reported to Tseerutsaydan, that these sons of Maqabis had refused to sacrifice or bow to the idols. The king became enraged. In his fury, he summoned them to appear before him and said, “By my gods, you will offer sacrifice to these elilim .” But they answered him, saying, “We will not respond to you in this matter. We will not sacrifice to your defiled idols.”4He tried to intimidate them with many threats and evil punishments, but he could not overcome them. For their hearts were firm, and they trusted in Yahuah. So, he lit a great fire and cast them into the flames, and they offered up their bodies to Yahuah without resistance.5But after they died, they appeared to him in a night vision, swords drawn while he sat upon his royal throne. He was filled with terror. In fear, he cried, “My lords, tell me what you want from me. Please don’t take my life. I will do whatever you ask.”6And they answered him plainly, “Know this. Yahuah is your Creator. He will remove you from this kingdom where you have exalted yourself, and He will cast you down into the fire of Gehenna along with the shedim (demons) who are your fathers. For though we did you no wrong and only worshiped our Elohim in truth and in fear, you burned us alive. Just as you gave us hardship, you too will suffer the same.7He is the One who created all things—the earth and heaven and the sea and everything within them. He made the moon, the sun, and the stars. He formed all creation. That is Yahuah . There is no other Creator in heaven or earth besides Him. He alone provides for all. Nothing is beyond His power. He is the One who kills and the One who saves. He chastens in affliction and shows mercy in forgiveness.8And just as you burned us for worshiping Him, you will face the same fire. For He is Adon of heaven and earth, and no one escapes His authority. Of all His creation, only criminals like you resist His command—criminals whose hearts are blinded by the lies of your father, Hasatan .9You, your priests, and your idols will all descend together into Gehenna, where there is no escape forever. Hasatan is the one who taught you this evil, to harm us for doing what is good. But you are not alone in your punishment. You will all go down together.10You have tried to make yourself like Yahuah, your Creator, but you never even knew the One who made you. And because of your pride in these idols and your own handiwork, Yahuah will bring you low. He will hold you accountable for every sin and every iniquity you committed in this life.”
2 Meqabyan—Chapter 7
The Woes Pronounced and the Terror of Tseerutsaydan,
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1Woe unto you who do not know Yahuah your Creator. Woe to your elilim (idols) that are like unto you. And woe to you yourself, for you shall mourn and regret when you descend into Sheol , having gained nothing from all that did not profit.2Woe to you who have not kept His word, nor His Torah (law), for you shall have no escape from that place for all eternity—you and your priests and all who sacrificed to the lifeless elilim as though they were your Creator, Yahuah.3These idols have no breath nor soul. They cannot avenge evil nor reward good. Woe to you who sacrifice to them, for they are the work of human hands, where Hasatan himself dwells, using them to mislead the minds of the careless, as he has misled you, dragging you all down toward the Gehenna of fire, your priests serving shedim (demons) alongside your gods.4You do not know and you do not understand that these things bring you no benefit. You are deceived and astray. Even the beasts which Yahuah created to be food for you—they are better off than you. For they die once, and there is no mishpat (judgment) against them afterward.5But you, after mavet (death), you will suffer affliction in the Gehenna of fire, where there is no escape for all eternity. The animals are better than you.6And after they had spoken these things, they vanished and were hidden from him. But Tseerutsaydan, remained frozen where he sat, trembling, gripped by a deep and dreadful fear. And terror did not leave him until the break of day.
2 Meqabyan—Chapter 8
The Pride and Downfall of Tseerutsaydan, and the Fate of the Wicked
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1Yet he returned again, falling back into the evil of his own heart and arrogance. And as iron is called strong, like as unto Dani'el (Daniel) saw it in his vision concerning the kingdoms, he went forth invading the lands of the peoples around him. He lived rooted in evil and in all falsehood, troubling the people. And he scorned the word once spoken to him, devouring wealth and plundering the innocent, for he was eager to do evil like unto his father shedim (demons) who hardened their necks.2He ravaged what was left with his army. He said in his heart, "My days shall stretch out like the years of the sun." Yet he did not know Yahuah who formed him. It is foolish reasoning. He believed the sun was upheld by his own power.3He rose up in strength and pitched his camp in the territory of Zevulun (Zebulun). He set his formations in Macedonia and took food from Shomron (Samaria), receiving tribute from her. He camped among the nomads, reaching as far as Sidon. He laid tax upon Acacia. His pride swelled even to the sea. And he sent messengers unto the sea of India. His heart was lifted even to the heavens.4He walked wholly in arrogance and evil. Yet he knew not how to humble himself. His paths were darkness and slipperiness. Crime, bloodshed, and pride marked his steps. His works were what Yahuah hates. He committed robbery and sin. He made the orphan weep and showed no kindness to the poor.5He defeated kings of the goyim (nations) by his strength and subdued the rulers of his enemies. He ruled many peoples and laid taxes as he pleased. Even after all his destruction, he did not cease. There was no land he did not touch, from the Sea of Tarsus to the Aegean.6He bowed to elilim (idols). He ate what was defiled—what died of itself, what bled from the sword, what was offered to shedim. His deeds lacked all justice. He did all that pleased him without fearing Yahuah, and lived in malice before the One who formed him. He did not do rightly as his Creator would have him do.7And as he brought harm to his neighbour in cruelty, so Yahuah shall bring upon him equal suffering. For Yahuah has said, "I will repay and destroy the sinner who walks not in My command. I will blot out his name from this world." Like as He destroyed the resha'im (wicked) of old, so shall He destroy him in the appointed day. And as the evil have done evil, so shall they receive their due affliction. But goodly work shall follow the ones who do good. This by the word and will of Yahuah.8For like as unto Yehoshua (Joshua), who destroyed the five kings of Kena'an (Canaan) in one day, who by prayer made the sun stand still over Giv'on (Gibeon) until the slaughter was complete, when the sun lingered in heaven until Chevron (Hebron) and Lakhish (Lachish) and Eglon and Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) fell, and when he slew about twenty thousand at one time, when he bound them and placed his foot upon their necks, when he pierced them with spears and laid great stones upon the cave's mouth—9Even so, tribulation like unto that shall come upon all who grieve Yahuah by their evil works.
2 Meqabyan—Chapter 9
The Way of the Righteous and the Way of the Sinner
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1Oh, you weak and fleeting man, why are you so proud? You who are flesh today and tomorrow will turn to earth's dust, soon to become food for worms in the grave.2For your teachers are shedim (demons) who draw sin back upon all who follow them, just as they misled our father Adam. And Sheol will take you once more. It will find those who live in sin.3For like devil who refused to bow to Adam , whom Yahuah created, and made himself proud, you too have refused to bow to Yahuah your Creator, just as your teachers did before you.4And like your ancestors who never honored Yahuah nor worshiped Him rightly, you too will be cast into Gehenna . Just as Yahuah judged and destroyed them for the wickedness they committed in this world and cast them into the fire, so will you also be cast down into Gehenna with them.5Because you have provoked Yahuah to anger and rejected the worship of the One who gave you rule over five kingdoms. Do you think you will escape His mishpat (judgment)? No. He has tested you. He gave you authority to see if you would walk in goodly work.6If you do what is right in this world, Yahuah will bless all your labor. He will bless the work of your hands and defeat your enemies, both old and new. You will be favoured in all your journeys and in your descendants, in your fields and flocks, and all the things you do, and everything you think to do shall be given into your hand. For Yahuah gave you the right to rule, to plant, and to tear down.7But if you will not listen to Yahuah 's word, or walk firmly in His Torah (law), like those before you who lived lawlessly and failed to worship Him in truth, there is no escape from His authority, for His judgments are righteous and true.8All things are visible before Him. Nothing is hidden from His sight. He alone gives melachim (kings) their crowns and He alone casts them down from their thrones. He lifts up the lowly and raises those who were cast down. He sets the prisoners free and raises the dead. For grace flows like dew from Him.9And at His command He will raise even those whose flesh has turned to dust and rot. And once raised, He will judge all who did wickedly and cast them into Gehenna, for they rebelled against Him. These are the ones who trampled His order and broke His Torah. He will cut off their children from this earth.10For the path of a tzaddik (righteous man) is harder than the way of sinners. Sinners despise the righteous and want no part in their counsel. As far as heaven is above the earth, so far is the work of the righteous from the work of the wicked.11But the sinner's way is filled with robbery and wickedness, adultery and betrayal, drunkenness and greed. They cheat others and steal their goods. They rush to shed blood and walk toward destruction that profits no one. They make orphans cry, eat blood and what died of itself. They consume camel and pig meat and go to women in their impurity or while pregnant.12All of this is the way of the sinner. It is Hasatan 's wide and open trap, leading straight into Gehenna and the pit of Sheol that stays shut forever.13But the path of the righteous is narrow. It leads to mercy and peace. It is a way of humility and love, of prayer and fasting, of purity and self-restraint. They turn from all worthless things. They refuse what the Torah condemns. They do not eat what the sword bled nor what died on its own. They do not go to another man's wife or commit adultery. They reject all things Yahuah hates. They walk away from every evil work.14And Yahuah loves them. He will keep them through all their trials like a precious treasure. For they honour His order and His Torah and everything He loves.15But sinners are ruled by Hasatan.
2 Meqabyan—Chapter 10
The Fear of Yahuah, the Lesson of Balam, and the Fate of Yisrael
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1Fear Yahuah, the One who created you and has preserved you until this day. And you, O melachim (kings) and nobles, do not walk in the path of Hasatan. Live according to Yahuah 's Torah (law) and His command, for He rules over all. Do not follow Hasatan 's way.2When the children of Yisrael approached the land of the Amalekites to take possession of Eglon , Kena'an (Canaan), and Lakhish (Lachish), Balak the son of Be'or said to Bil'am (Balaam), "Whoever you curse is cursed, and whoever you bless is blessed." Yet he urged Bil'am to take the path of evil, saying, "I will give you silver and gold and honour. Only curse them for me so that I may defeat them."3So Bil'am came seeking a reward for his sorcery. Balak showed him where the Yisraelites were encamped. And Bil'am performed his spells, offered sacrifices, and slaughtered fattened cattle and sheep, hoping to curse and ruin Yisrael . But Yahuah turned the curse into a blessing, for He would not allow Bil'am to speak evil against His people.4Do not follow Hasatan 's road, for Yahuah had chosen that people. He called them His Mishkan (Tabernacle) that would come from heaven. "Let those who curse you be cursed, and those who bless you be blessed," Bil'am said.5After blessing them, Balak was furious. He demanded again that Bil'am curse them. But Bil'am replied, "I cannot curse those whom Yahuah has blessed." Balak said, "I brought you here to curse them, but instead you bless them. Had you cursed them and asked me for reward, I would have filled your house with silver and gold, but you've done me no good, and I will do you no good."6And Bil'am answered, "I only speak what Yahuah has put in my mouth. I dare not defy His word. Should I curse those whom Yahuah has blessed? If I love money more than my soul, Yahuah would judge me. But I do not love silver or gold more than my own life."7Yahuah said to Ya'akov (Jacob), "Blessed are those who bless you, and cursed are those who curse you." So, I will not speak against him. Whoever blesses Ya'akov is blessed, and whoever unjustly curses him is cursed.8So, walk in Yahuah 's ways. Do what is right, that He may love you. Do not be like the past generations who grieved Yahuah with their sin and whom He rejected. Some He destroyed in the great Mabul (flood). Others He handed over to wicked enemies, people who brought great suffering. They captured their kings, kohanim (priests), and prophets. They were exiled to foreign lands they had never known. Their flocks were stolen, and their country was laid waste.9Yerushalayim 's walls and towers were torn down. Yerushalayim was left like a field freshly plowed. The priests were taken. The Torah was forgotten, and soldiers died in battle. Widows were dragged away in chains. They mourned for themselves but had no time to mourn their husbands. Children wept. The elders were disgraced, and no honour was shown to the aged or the grey-haired.10Everything in the land was ruined. There was no compassion, no justice, no law. For Yahuah had resolved to break His own house, the Beit ha'Mikdash (Temple), as judgment against His people. Since they constantly provoked Him, He cast off the children of Yisrael. And He let Yerushalayim be destroyed like a field.11But because of their forefathers— Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov —who lived faithfully in His Torah, He did not destroy them entirely. He remembered them for their fathers' sake, not their own righteousness. And so, He gave them a double honour, letting them inherit two kingdoms: one on earth and one in heaven.12And you, O kings and nobles of this temporary world, just as your fathers walked rightly and inherited heaven, let their example be in your thoughts. Straighten your own ways, that Yahuah may establish your kingdom as He did for them and that your name might be honoured like those tzaddikim (righteous) kings who came before you and served Yahuah with a blameless life.
2 Meqabyan—Chapter 11
The Example of Mosheh and the Fate of Korah's Rebellion
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1Consider the servant of Yahuah, Mosheh (Moses). How he remained gentle and faithful even when his own brother and sister spoke against him. In humility, he prayed for them. And though Yahuah was ready to judge them, Mosheh pleaded, "They have sinned against You, Adonai . Please forgive them. Do not turn away from Your people." He offered intercession for their sin.2And Yahuah remembered Mosheh, who did not waver. Mosheh said, "I have sinned against You. Please forgive me, Your servant. You are merciful and full of grace. Pardon their wrongdoing." Mosheh covered the sins of his brother and sister who had slandered him. And because of this, he was called innocent. Yahuah loved him more than any of the sons of the kohanim (priests), his own kin. For it is Yahuah who appoints priests, and He made Mosheh like unto Himself among them.3But those who opposed him, like the sons of Korach (Korah), Yahuah judged. He caused the earth to open and swallow them, along with their tents and livestock, because they had lifted themselves up in pride, saying, "We are worthy in both body and spirit."4But Mosheh remained loyal to Yahuah 's command, and everything he spoke was fulfilled, just as Yahuah declared. And if you too walk in Yahuah 's command, He will honour your obedience, grant your requests, and establish your kingdom.5But Korach , Aviram (Abiram), and the rest who rebelled against Mosheh grumbled when he urged them to let Yahuah be their ruler. They protested, saying, "Are we not also sons of Levi? Do we not already serve in the sacred tent?" They took censers and tried to offer incense, but Yahuah did not accept their offering. Fire came out and consumed them. They melted like wax in the flame. Not a single one remained.6And Yahuah declared, "Though they were destroyed, their censers are sanctified by their deaths. Use them in My Mishkan (Tabernacle)." Even their clothes and bones were gone. And Yahuah told Aharon (Aaron) and Mosheh , "Gather their censers and use them to furnish the tent. This place I have prepared—from the outer courts to the innermost parts."7And so they crafted the holy instruments of the tent: the rings, the fittings, and the kapporet (mercy seat) where the keruvim (cherubim) are. They made the cups, the curtains, the outer courts, the mizbe'ach (altar), and the vessels for offering sacrifice in the sacred tent.8These offerings were made by free will: peace offerings, sin offerings, vows, and the regular morning and evening sacrifices. Everything Yahuah commanded through Mosheh was done in the holy tent so that His worship could be rightly carried out. The people did not reject Yahuah 's rule, so that His name would be glorified through their worship in the Mishkan of the One who promised to give them the land flowing with milk and honey, the inheritance of their fathers.9They did not despise the rule of their Creator, Yahuah, who confirmed His brit (covenant) with Yitzchak (Isaac) and established His worship through Ya'akov (Jacob). And through Mosheh and Aharon , He ordained the Mishkan , the place where His presence dwelt.10From Eli and Shemu'el (Samuel), and later through the Beit ha'Mikdash (Temple) Shelomoh (Solomon) built, He continued His worship there until it became Yahuah 's house in Yerushalayim, His name resting upon it as the honour of Yisrael.11It became the place of intercession, the place of atonement where the innocent and the priests could have their sins covered. It was the place where those who did His will could offer prayer and be heard. It became the dwelling of Yahuah 's Torah, the honour of Yisrael. In it, sacrifices and incense were offered, a sweet aroma to Yahuah who took delight in Yisrael. From the kapporet , He spoke and gave forgiveness. His light shone forth to the children of Ya'akov , those chosen ones who walk faithfully in His Torah and command.12But anyone who ignores Yahuah 's Torah will be like the sons of Korach , swallowed up by the earth. And sinners too will follow them into Gehenna, a place with no way out, lasting for all eternity.
2 Meqabyan—Chapter 12
Woe to Lawless Leaders; the Death of Tseerutsaydan,
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1Woe to you leaders of Yisrael who claim to serve Elohim but do not obey the Torah (law) He gave in the Mishkan (Tabernacle). You follow your own desires instead, filled with pride, greed, adultery, drunkenness, and deceitful oaths.2Because of this, says Adonai, My anger will consume you like dry chaff in fire, like mountains melting in flame, like a whirlwind blowing away dust, until no trace remains. So, I shall wipe out those who live in sin. Yahuah, the One who glorifies Yisrael, declares, “I will destroy all who practice sin.”3So, remember Yahuah, who rules over everything and never fails. He loves those who love Him. He will forgive the sins of those who walk uprightly in His mitzvot (commandments). Do not harden your hearts or doubt Him. Set your mind on obeying Yahuah. Trust in Him and He will give strength to your body. He will rescue you from the hand of your enemies when distress comes. When you cry out in prayer, He will answer.4“I am with you to help,” says Yahuah, “because you trusted in Me, kept My Torah, followed My command, and loved what I love. I will not abandon you in your time of trouble.” He is merciful and forgiving. He guards those who obey His Torah like a precious treasure. Though He disciplines, He holds back His full wrath because He knows we are but flesh and blood. He is full of compassion and did not destroy them completely in His anger.5When their souls left their bodies, they returned to dust. He created them from lifelessness and gave them breath. Yet they do not even know the place they abide in mavet (death) until Yahuah, in His will, restores them again from death to life. And when He chooses, He will raise them again from dust to life by His word.6But Tseerutsaydan, , who had rejected Yahuah , only grew in pride. From the day he turned away, he exalted himself in his heart. He said, “My life will last as long as the heavens. I am the one who brings out the sun. I will never die.”7But before the words even left his mouth, the Malach ha’Mavet (angel of death), whose name is T'ilimyakos (also spelled Thlimyakos), struck him in the heart. He died at once. For he had failed to give glory to his Creator. His arrogance and wickedness brought him to ruin.8Meanwhile, the Selucian armies had been waiting in the city and in the open country to wage war against him. When they learned he had died, they stormed his kingdom, laying waste to his land. Even the elderly who had seen the walls fall were not spared. They looted all his wealth down to the smallest possessions and burned his cities with fire. Then they returned to their own land, having utterly plundered his kingdom.
2 Meqabyan—Chapter 13
The Faith of Maqabis's Five Sons and Their Hope of Resurrection
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1The five sons of Maqabis , strong in faith, chose mavet (death) rather than defile themselves by eating sacrifices offered to elilim (idols). For they understood that to deceive Elohim is far worse than to deceive man, and that His wrath is more fearful than the wrath of kings.2Knowing this world is temporary, and that the tzaddikim (righteous) will not remain bound forever, they surrendered their bodies to the flames so they might escape the fire that lasts forever. For they knew that one day in Gan Eden (the Garden of Paradise) is worth more than a thousand in this life, and that to receive the Adon’s (Lord's) pardon even once is better than to live long without Him.3They gave their bodies to the fire. "What is my life?" they thought. "It is like a passing shadow, like wax melting on a blade—fleeting and fragile. But You, O Adonai, endure forever. Your years never end, and Your name is praised from generation to generation."4So the children of Maqabis decided it was better to suffer now and remain faithful to Yahuah than to break His command by eating what is vile. For they knew that the dead would rise again, and that mishpat (judgment) would come after resurrection. Because of this hope, they embraced martyrdom.5You who do not understand or believe in the resurrection, look to these five sons whose beauty was as radiant as their faith. They gave up their lives, certain that the life to come far surpasses the life of this fading world, because they believed in Yahuah and rejected idols and refused to eat what defiled them.6They offered themselves up to mavet so they might gain the favour of the Lord. For they were sure that Yahuah would raise them, body and soul, to glory in the Olam ha'Ba (world to come). And so they saw no value in worldly pleasures or fear in the pain of death.7Knowing that those who keep Yahuah 's Torah —whether kings or nobles—will live forever with Him, they fixed their hearts on eternity. They believed that in the Malchut Shamayim (Kingdom of Heaven) there is no sorrow, no suffering, and no mavet. And so they gave themselves willingly to die, like wax melting in a fire.8They trusted that their faces would shine brighter than the sun. And in the day of Techiyat ha'Metim (the Resurrection of the Dead), they would stand radiant in Yahuah 's love. So, they gave their bodies to mavet, confident in the reward to come.
2 Meqabyan—Chapter 14
Against the Deniers of the Resurrection
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1The Shomronim (Samaritans), the Yehudim (Jews),the Tzeduqim (Sadducees) —these groups deny the Techiyat ha'Metim (Resurrection of the Dead). And even the Perushim (Pharisees), though closer to the truth, grieve my heart.2The Yehudim say, “We will die tomorrow. Let us eat and drink now.” For the grave holds no joy, no reward. The Shomronim claim, “Our flesh will return to dust and never rise again.” They say, “Since the soul is invisible like wind or a passing voice, here one moment, gone the next, how could it return if the flesh is gone? We will only believe in resurrection when we see it.”3They argue that beasts and worms consume the body in the grave, reducing it to dust and ashes, leaving no trace. The beasts become dust like grass once trampled, they say. So, our bodies will disappear, never to rise again.4The Perushim say, “Yes, the dead will rise, but Elohim will clothe their souls with different flesh from heaven, not with the same decayed bodies. How could that old flesh be found again?” But the Tzeduqim outright deny resurrection. Once the soul leaves the body, they say, “There is no rising again. Flesh and soul die together.”5These ideas are wrong. They insult the power of Yahuah. This deeply saddens me. By rejecting the One who created and honours them, they strip themselves of any hope—not only of salvation, but even of understanding what awaits after mavet (death).6Oh blind-hearted Yehudim, He formed you from nothing into a living soul. Do you really think the Creator cannot reunite the flesh and soul He formed in His own image? You cannot escape Yahuah ’s mishpat (judgment). Whether you believe or not, you will rise again.7Even in Sheol, where you are taken at death, your sins will follow you and justice will be served. From birth, sin has been with you, placed there by shedim (demons), and you fed that sin throughout your life. That same sin will cling to you in death and rise to condemn you because you lived by it.8As sin bound itself to your heart, you walked hand in hand with evil and you invited the company of shedim. The souls of sinners will be drawn down from the edge of heaven and cast toward Gehenna. Their own sin will drag them there.9But when flesh and soul have separated, the dew of Yahuah ’s mercy shall call the body back to life, restored more glorious than Adam’s. And you who mock the idea of rising from the dead, do not think you only deceive others. You deceive yourself, leading many away from Yahuah ’s command.10You will rise again, not to glory, but to punishment equal to the sin you committed. Do you think dust will protect you? Whether your body became wind or water or fire or earth, it will return. And if your soul lies in Sheol, it will return too. The tzaddikim (righteous), whose souls dwell in Gan Eden (the Garden), will also return.11But you— Yehudi, Shomroni, Perushi, Tzeduqi — will remain in Sheol until your judgment is complete. Then you will see: Yahuah will repay your sin because you misled others with your teaching. You said, “There is no resurrection. Let us eat and drink.” And while seated in Mosheh ’s seat, you led others astray.12Yahuah will judge you for your words. You did not know the book of Horeb, and still you dared to teach it. It would have been better if you had stayed ignorant than to mislead others. Better never to have read His word than to corrupt it with your false teaching.13Yahuah shows no partiality. He will reward His friends—those who taught rightly—but He will repay each man according to his works and his words. You will not escape. Judgment awaits both you and those you misled.14Yes, the dead shall rise. Those who kept His Torah will rise like grass after the rain. His word will call them from their graves. Decay cannot resist His command. Just as a tree drinks dew and sprouts new leaves, or wheat bursts forth from seed, so too the dead will return to life when Yahuah sends His power.15A pregnant woman cannot hold back her labour when the time comes. So too, the earth cannot hold back the dead when Yahuah commands them to rise. His word will go forth like dew, and the grave will release all it holds. Nothing can resist His voice.16Bodies will return to where they fell. Souls will come back to the bodies they left. At the blast of the shofar (trumpet), the dead shall rise in the blink of an eye and stand before their Maker to receive their reward.17Then you will see with your own eyes, and you will regret all your evil works—regret that comes too late. You will rise with the rest. You will see the truth, and you will be judged according to your deeds.
2 Meqabyan—Chapter 15
The Day of Judgment and the Reward of the Righteous
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1On that day, those who live righteously will rejoice. They will be made radiant by the fruit of their good works. But those who denied the Techiyat ha’Metim (Resurrection of the Dead) and mocked the promise of eternal life will be struck with sorrow when they see the dead rise and find no comfort in their own deeds.2Their own actions will speak against them. Their sins will bear witness, and not a single person will question the justice they receive. It will be the day of reckoning—the day Yahuah Himself descends to judge. A day of undeniable truth, when all who rejected His Torah (law) will be held accountable, standing where they must stand without escape.3On that day the sun will not shine. Darkness will cover everything. A mist will rise, and lightning will crack the sky while thunder rolls across the heavens. The earth will shake. Fear will grip every soul. Heat and cold will collide—ice and fire side by side—as creation itself testifies to the judgment of its Maker.4That day will bring pain to every evildoer. Those who walked in purity will receive simchah (joy), but those who turned their backs on Yahuah ’s ways will face the same fate as the most corrupt sinner. Each will stand exactly where judgment finds them.5On that day, there will be no status or privilege. The master will stand beside his servant, equal before the throne. The queen will have no more honour than her maid. The melech (king) will be no greater than his subject. The old and the young, the father and the son, the mother and the daughter—all will be level before Elohim.6The rich will have no advantage over the poor. The proud will be no higher than the humble. The mighty and the weak will face the same mishpat (judgment), each receiving what their actions deserve. For this is the day of perfect justice, when the faithful are rewarded and the sinful are repaid for their rebellion.7Those who lived for Yahuah will shine with simchah . But those who twisted the word and declared, “The dead will not rise,” will see the resurrection with their own eyes and tremble.8The resha’im (wicked) of this world who never chose righteousness will wail in anguish. They will mourn for every sin they committed. But their tears will bring no relief.9But those who lived with kindness and honour, who followed Yahuah ’s ways, will be perfected in eternal peace. Their reward will not fade. Because they believed in the resurrection and clung to Yahuah ’s Torah, they shall never be forsaken. Their obedience brought them double blessing—fruitfulness on earth and honour for their children.10But far greater still, they shall inherit the Malchut Shamayim (Kingdom of Heaven). The eternal reward promised to their fathers is now fulfilled when the dead are raised and the proud are brought low.11Meanwhile, those who sinned, who denied the resurrection and ignored Yahuah ’s Torah, will weep bitterly. They never prepared for the day of judgment. Now they will see the punishment that never ends—suffering without rest, pain without peace, and sorrow without comfort.12An unquenchable fire and eternal worms will be their portion. In that place, their flesh will burn amid sulfur and smoke. Whirlwinds and icy storms will rain upon them. Frost and hail will strike without mercy. For this is the fate of those who would not believe in the resurrection of the dead. The fire of Gehenna is prepared for them.
2 Meqabyan—Chapter 16
The Sign of the Resurrection and the Final Separation
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1Take a moment and consider your own body—your fingernails and toenails, the hair on your head. Even after you cut them, they grow back. This is a sign from Elohim, a small reflection of the Techiyat ha'Metim (Resurrection of the Dead) to come. He gave you a heart, a mind to understand, and faith to believe. So, use them.2You might ask, “Where do these things come from?” But surely it is Yahuah who makes them grow again. And just as He causes your nails and hair to regrow, He will raise your own flesh from the grave—not a different body, but your own. This is how you can know that after mavet (death) you will rise.3But if you led others astray by saying there is no resurrection, then when the dead rise, you will be judged for your sin and false teaching.4Look even at the seeds you plant, whether wheat or barley—they never fail to grow when the time comes. In the same way, your day of mishpat (judgment) will surely come, and you will reap what you have sown. A plant does not resist growth. A fig tree or grape vine will never stop bearing its proper fruit or growing its proper leaves. Yahuah 's creation obeys His order.5If you plant grapes, they won't become figs. If you plant figs, they won't become grapes. If you sow wheat, it won't turn into barley. Each grows in its own kind, as Yahuah intended. Every seed produces fruit of its own type, whether roots, leaves, wood, or grain. Each one grows by the blessing of Yahuah, watered by His merciful dew.6So too, barley cannot become wheat. Likewise, when the grave brings forth the dead, it will return exactly what was sown—flesh and soul united again. Those who lived righteously will not be turned into the wicked, and the wicked will not be transformed into the tzaddikim (righteous).7At the sound of the final shofar (trumpet), the dead will rise by the mercy of Yahuah. The tzaddikim will be raised to eternal life, entering Gan Eden (the Garden) that Yahuah has prepared—a place without sickness or sorrow, where they will never die again.8But the resha'im (wicked) will rise for mishpat. They will be cast down with the shedim (demons) who deceived them—surrounded by those enemies of mankind (Fallen angels) who never wanted a single soul from Adam 's line to be saved.9They will be thrown into Gehenna , the outer darkness, where there is only weeping and grinding of teeth, with no mercy, no forgiveness, and no way out. It lies beneath Sheol and will hold them forever. For they lived in sin and refused to make teshuvah (repentance) while they were alive.10And so they will be judged at the time when body and soul rise together. Woe to those who denied this truth—that body and soul would rise again by the power of Yahuah , who reveals His wonders in both. Every person, without exception, will receive what they deserve according to their works and their ways.
2 Meqabyan—Chapter 17
The Parable of the Wheat and the Vine
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1A grain of wheat cannot grow or produce fruit unless it is first broken. But when it is broken open, it sends roots down into the earth, puts forth leaves, sprouts buds, and finally brings forth fruit. And you know well, just one grain of wheat becomes many seeds. And so, it is with all things.2The growth of this wheat comes through water, wind, and the moisture of the earth. Without the sun, wheat cannot ripen. The sun acts like fire bringing heat. The wind is like the breath of life, a symbol of the nefesh (soul). Wheat cannot grow without it. And the water nourishes the earth, soaking into her and filling her up.3Then the earth, once dry and ashen, drinks in the water and begins to produce roots, pushing up with new shoots. And by Elohim 's blessing, she brings forth fruit.4In the same way, the wheat seed is a picture of Adam, into whom Yahuah breathed a living soul.5And just as a grape vine draws up water and sends down fine roots to drink, the dew of mercy from Yahuah waters the farthest tips of the vine, lifting moisture up to the end of its leaves. The warmth of the sun ripens it, and by the will of Yahuah, the vine produces its fruit.6It becomes a sweet fragrance, gladdening the heart. And when eaten, it satisfies—like water that quenches thirst completely, and like grain that fills without hunger. And when it is pressed, it becomes the blood of the cluster.7As it is written in the Tehillim (Psalms), wine gladdens the heart of man. When a person drinks it, simchah (joy) fills him. When someone who had once been loosened or wandering takes it in, he is overcome. It fills his lungs and the blood rushes to his heart.8But drunkenness from the grape can lead people astray. It clouds the mind, makes steep cliffs look like wide open fields, and the drinker no longer sees the dangers—thorns under his feet or wounds on his hands.9Yet Yahuah created the fruit of the vine and the vine itself so that His name would be praised by those who believe in the Techiyat ha'Metim (Resurrection of the Dead) and who obey His mitzvot (commandments) in the Malchut Shamayim (Kingdom of Heaven). He will bring simchah to those who believe the dead shall rise.
2 Meqabyan—Chapter 18
The Fate of the Deniers and the Lament over Mortality
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1You who say the dead will not rise, how greatly you are mistaken. When you are taken to a place you do not know, you will regret it bitterly. Because you did not believe in the Techiyat ha'Metim (Resurrection of the Dead), when body and soul will rise together, you will be cast into Gehenna. Whether you did good or evil, you will receive a reward according to your works.2You misled others when you said, “We know that those who have died and become dust and ashes will not live again.” But the dead cannot escape the mishpat (judgment) that is coming. They cannot resist what is prepared for them. Nor can they stand firm in the day of trouble. Because of this, they led others astray.3Yet all will stand before Yahuah 's judgment. When His anger is poured out, they will tremble in fear. They did not understand that they were created out of nothing and brought into life by His will. They spoke Yahuah 's word without knowledge, and they will be judged for the evil they did.4They have no idea what Gehenna is—the place they are headed. In their pride and twisted deeds, they taught others according to the desires of their corrupt hearts. These are wicked teachers boldly declaring there is no resurrection of the dead. But they will soon know that the dead do rise, and they will be judged for refusing to believe what is true.5For this is the destiny of all the children of Adam. All of us are sons and daughters of Adam. I myself have died because of Adam, and the sentence of death reached me from Yahuah because of my father's sin.6Yet I know I will rise again alongside my father Adam to receive my judgment according to my own deeds. For this world was given over to mavet (death) because of Adam 's disobedience. Because he broke Yahuah 's command, I too suffer.7My body wasted away in the grave like melted wax, and I perished. The earth swallowed my bones and my beauty faded. My body was buried in the ground, and even my once powerful voice was silenced in the dust. Worms came from my bright eyes, and my features decayed into dust.8Where is the beauty of youth? Where is the strength that once stood tall and spoke boldly? Where are the armies of kings or the power of nobles? Where are the fine horses, the silver and gold, the shining weapons? All of it has perished.9Where are the sweet drinks of the vineyard? Where is the taste of fine food?
2 Meqabyan—Chapter 19
The Woe over Earth and Death, and the Promise of Rising
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1Oh earth, you who have taken in nobles, melachim (kings), the wealthy, the old and the young, those who were once admired and beautiful—woe comes from you.2Oh earth, you have swallowed up warriors, the strong and graceful, the wise and eloquent, those whose words once sounded like music, like harps and lyres and the beating of violins. You have taken in those who delighted others with the joy of their voice, like wine lifts the heart. Those whose eyes shone like morning stars. You received the skilled hands that shaped beauty, the swift feet that danced and ran like chariots racing. Woe comes from you.3And you, O Mavet (Death), who tore the nefashot (souls) of the lovely from their flesh—woe comes from you. For you were sent by Yahuah 's decree. You have taken many whom Yahuah created from the dust, and to dust they have returned.4Oh earth, woe from you. For I too came from you, and I returned to you by Yahuah 's will. I rejoiced on your surface by His blessing. You became the bed for my corpse. I fell upon you, and I was buried in you.5I ate of your fruits, and you consumed my flesh. I drank from your waters, and you drank my blood. I took nourishment from your soil, and you took nourishment from my body, just as Yahuah commanded you to feed me. I ate your grain and the dew upon your fields, and you took my strength and beauty and turned it to dust, as Yahuah commanded.6O Mavet (death), who claimed kings and nobles in all their might—woe from you. You did not tremble before their fame or power, for Yahuah gave you that charge. You did not show mercy even to those in pain.7You spared no one, whether beautiful or plain, strong or weak, rich or poor, kind or wicked, young or old, man or woman. You showed no favour even to the tzaddikim (righteous), those who followed the Torah (law). Nor did you withhold from those who were like beasts in their evil deeds. You took both the lovely in appearance and the smooth of speech.8O Mavet, woe from you. You gathered even the bitter-tongued, those full of cursing. You claimed all souls, those who lived in darkness and in light. O Mavet, woe from you.9And earth received everybody, whether buried in caves or fields, until the day the shofar (trumpet) sounds and the dead arise.10On that day, the dead will rise in the blink of an eye at Yahuah 's command. Those who did evil will be judged and receive the full weight of their sins. But those who did what was right will rejoice and be made radiant.
2 Meqabyan—Chapter 20
The Journey of the Soul and the Fate of the Wicked
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1Believe me, none of the works I have done in this world will remain hidden when I stand before Adonai in fear and trembling. On that day, I will have nothing to carry for the journey—no supplies for the road, no clothing for my body. I will have no staff to lean on, no shoes for my feet.2I will not know the path the shedim (demons) will lead me down—whether it is slippery or straight, dark or covered in thorns, full of nettles or deep waters or pits. Believe me, my works will not be hidden.3I will not know who these shedim are, nor will I recognize their voices. They are dark beings leading me into the shadows. I will not see their faces.4Just as the navi (prophet) once said, “When my nefesh (soul) was separated from my flesh, Adonai, You knew my path. But traps were laid for me along the way. I looked to the right, but no one saw me. There was no one there to help me escape.”5So, when they drag me into darkness, I will not even see their faces. The shedim mock him, leading him down a path he does not understand. He looks to the left and to the right, but no one knows him. He is utterly alone, surrounded by shedim, with no one to come to his aid.6But the tzaddikim (righteous) are not left that way. For them, subtle and glorious malachim (angels) of light are sent to receive their souls, and they carry them into a place of light, into Gan Eden (the Garden of Elohim), where peace and blessing dwell.7But the resha'im (wicked) are gathered by shedim and dark angels who carry them to Gehenna, the place of torment prepared for them, where they will receive the punishment their sins deserve.8Woe to the souls of sinners who are dragged into destruction. They will find no peace, no rest, no escape from the torment that has overtaken them. There is no release from Gehenna for all eternity.9They followed the way of Qayin (Cain) and perished in the sin of Bil'am (Balaam). They lived only for selfish gain, taking money and bribes through deceit and greed, accepting what did not belong to them.10And for these sins they shall face punishment in Gehenna, judged for the evil they did.
2 Meqabyan—Chapter 21
The Vanity of IllGotten Wealth and the Call to Righteousness
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1What of those who take money that is not theirs? Wealth stolen from others, not earned by honest work. They deceive and take what is not theirs, and yet they do not know the day of their death will come upon them.2They hoard riches gained by wrongdoing, thinking they are secure. But just like their sinful fathers before them, they store up wealth through theft and violence. Their children will not be blessed through such riches.3These treasures gained in sin will vanish like mist in the morning, like smoke scattered by the wind, like grass that withers, like wax that melts before the fire. The sinner’s glory will perish like this, and no one will benefit from their father’s illgotten gain.4Just as David said, “I saw a sinner prospering, flourishing like a cedar or a cypress, but when I returned, he was gone. I searched for his place, and it could not be found.”5So it is, their wealth cannot save them. They gathered riches through wrongdoing, believing they would never die. But like every boastful sinner, their destruction will come in a moment.6You lazy ones, know that you will die and your silver and gold will perish with you. Even if you bear many children, they will fill many graves. Even if you build many houses, they will fall. You did not live according to Yahuah ’s ways.7If your flocks increase, they will be taken by your enemies. All you hold in your hands, cursed as it is, will disappear. Whether hidden in your house, in the forest, in the wilderness, or in your fields, it will be lost.8For you did not keep Yahuah ’s mitzvot (commandments), and He will not deliver you or your household from the trouble coming upon you. Your enemies will bring sorrow, and even your children will not bring you joy.9But those who obey Yahuah ’s Torah (law) will not be troubled. He gives to those who love Him. He blesses their children and the fruit of their land. He makes them rulers in their land so they are not ruled by others.10And He pours out His abundance over their flocks and fields. He blesses all that they touch—their crops, their livestock—and fills their homes with simchah (joy). He does not withhold His goodness. He protects them from trouble, sickness, destruction, and the enemies they see and those they do not. He defends them in the time of mishpat (judgment). He rescues them from evil.11In ancient days, when a kohen (priest) lived rightly and served in the Mishkan (Tabernacle), he received the ma’aser (tithe), the firstborn of flocks and people, and through him the people were saved from suffering.12Just as Mosheh (Moses) commanded Yehoshua (Joshua), son of Nun, to establish cities of refuge throughout the land for both the guilty and the innocent, so they could await proper judgment.13If someone killed another, they would be weighed in the balance to determine guilt or innocence. “Examine your hearts,” Mosheh said. “Was there hatred before? Did he kill with a stone, an axe, or wood? Was it an accident? If the man acted without intent, let him be saved. But if it was deliberate, he must bear the punishment for his sin. There is no pardon for a murderer, but the innocent must be saved.”14Mosheh set up these safeguards for Yisrael, so the people would not stray from Yahuah ’s Torah. He commanded all Adam ’s children to avoid idol worship, to avoid eating what died on its own or what was killed improperly, and to stay far from evil.15He urged them to live by the mitzvot written in the heavenly pattern given for the Mishkan , that they might guard their lives and one day rest with their fathers.16They are the children of tzedeq (righteousness), descended from Shet (Seth) and Adam, because they obeyed Yahuah ’s word and lived in His commands.17As we are all children of Adam, made in Yahuah ’s image, let us do every good work that brings Him joy. He will not reject us. He will not turn away from His friends.18If we live righteously, we will inherit the Malchut Shamayim (Kingdom of Heaven), the reward of those who do His will. He listens to those who seek Him with a pure heart. He hears their prayers and accepts the teshuvah (repentance) of the humble. He strengthens those who obey His Torah.19All who do His will shall rejoice with Him forever in His kingdom. Whether they came early or late, they will praise Him from now until eternity. Glory be to Yahuah forever and ever.20Thus ends the Second Book of Meqabyan .