Arabic Fragments on the Pentateuch 26–27

Translated by Claude from H. Achelis's German translation (1897) of the Arabic; neither is shown

God revealed to the Israelites twelve blessings and twelve curses. And Moses gave this law to Joshua the son of Nun before his death in the wilderness, for God revealed these blessings and curses while Moses was still alive. And God said to Moses: When you have crossed the Jordan and entered the land of Canaan, follow this law and read out these blessings and curses before the Israelites on Mount Gerizim and on Mount Ebal. Now when death approached Moses the prophet, he called Joshua the son of Nun, his servant, and commanded him to fulfil this law on these two mountains, that is, on Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal. We say: these two mountains lie near Shechem, that is, the city of Nablus; Mount Gerizim lies to the right of the city and Mount Ebal to the left. The two are joined to each other, and the city lies in the middle between the two mountains. And we say: after Joshua the son of Nun had brought the Israelites into the land of promise, he led them to the city of Shechem, that is, Nablus. And God commanded him to do what Moses had commanded him in the wilderness. So Joshua chose one man from each tribe and set six men on the one of these mountains: he chose one from the tribe of Simeon, one from the tribe of Levi, one from the tribe of Judah, one from the tribe of Issachar, one from the tribe of Joseph, one from the tribe of Benjamin; and these six men he set on Mount Gerizim. Further he chose one each from the tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gad, the tribe of Asher, the tribe of Zebulun, the tribe of Dan, and the tribe of Naphtali, and set these on Mount Ebal. And the Israelites were stationed between the two mountains in the plain of the valley. Then the members of the tribes who stood on Mount Gerizim read out the blessings over the people, and those who stood on Mount Ebal said: "So be it"; and the whole people said with them, with raised voice: "So be it." And when those who stood on Mount Gerizim had finished reading the blessings, those who stood on Mount Ebal began to read the curses over the people, and the whole people accompanied them with "So be it." And God commanded Moses to keep this law, and Moses commanded Joshua the son of Nun to keep it; and Joshua fulfilled it in the land of Shechem. We say: the community of the Samaritans has taken Mount Gerizim for itself. And it is said that the mountain is a house of God to this day, and that on it they offer their sacrifices and pray to God; it lies to the right of the city of Shechem, that is, Nablus, toward the west. On this mountain, further, Jacob buried the idols that Rachel had stolen from the house of her father Laban under her skirt. And in this city also Shechem the son of Hamor violated Dinah the daughter of Jacob, after which Simeon and Levi broke in and killed everyone who was in the city. In this city, finally, Christ had his conversation with the Samaritan woman; and she said to him: "Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, and you say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship."

Translated by Claude from H. Achelis's German translation (1897) of the Arabic; neither is shown

After Moses had delivered this prophecy and blessed all Israel, each tribe, and had prayed and pleaded for them, God said to Moses in a revelation: Go up Mount Nebo, that is, the mountain of the Hebrews, which lies in the land of Moab opposite Jericho. And he said to him: Look at the land of Canaan, which I will give to the children of Israel as an inheritance. You yourself will never enter it; but at least look at it from afar. And when Moses looked at it and surveyed it, he found it a fruitful land, rich in trees. Then Moses was distressed and wept. And Moses went down from Mount Nebo; then he called Joshua the son of Nun and said to him before the children of Israel: Be courageous and strong, for you shall lead the children of Israel into the land which God swore to their fathers that he would give them as an inheritance. Do not fear the tribes, and do not shrink back before the nations, for God is with you! And Moses wrote down this law and handed it to the priests, the sons of Levi, and commanded them thus: For seven years keep this law hidden, and do not make it public. After the seven years have passed, at the feast of tabernacles, the priests, the tribe of Levi, shall read this Torah before the people of Israel, and all the people, men, women, and children, shall hear the speech of God and his commandments, and they shall keep the word of God that is in this Torah; and whoever transgresses a single one of the commandments, let him be cursed! After Moses had finished writing the Torah and had handed it to Joshua the son of Nun and commanded him to deliver it to the sons of Levi, the priests, Moses commanded and charged them to lay the book of the law beside the ark of the covenant of God; there it should serve as a testimony for ever. Then, when Moses had completed his commandments, God commanded him to go up Mount Nebo, which lies opposite Jericho, and the Lord showed him the whole land of promise on all four sides, from the wilderness to the sea and from sea to sea; and God said to him: Now you have seen it with your eyes, but you will not enter it. And there Moses, the servant of God, died at God's command, and the angels buried him on Mount Nebo, opposite Beth-peor. And no one knows his grave to this day, for God hid his grave.