THE TESTAMENT OF
REUBEN
THE FIRST-BORN SON
OF JACOB AND LEAH
CHAPTER 1
1 Tʜᴇ copy of the Testament of Reuben, even the commands which he gave his sons ⌈before he died in the hundred and twenty-fifth year of his life.⌉
2 Two years after the death of Joseph ⌈his brother,⌉ when Reuben fell ill, his sons and his sons sons were gathered together to visit him.
3 And he said to them: My children, behold I am dying, and go the way of my fathers.
4 And seeing ⌈there⌉ Judah, and Gad and Asher, his brethren, he said to them: Raise me up, that I may tell to my brethren and to my children what things I have hidden in my heart, for behold now at length I am passing away.
5 And he arose and kissed them, and said unto them: Hear, my brethren, and do ye, any children, give ear to Reuben your father, in the commands which I give you.
6 And behold I call to witness against you this day the God of heaven, that ye walk not in the ignorance of youth and fornication, wherein I was poured out, and defiled the bed of my father Jacob.
7 And I tell you that He smote me with a sore plague in my loins for seven months; and had not my father Jacob prayed for me to the Lord, the Lord would have destroyed me.
8 For I was thirty years old when I wrought the evil thing before the Lord, and for seven months I was sick unto death.
9 And after this repented with set purpose of my soul for seven years before the Lord.
10 And wine and strong drink I drank not, and flesh entered not into my mouth, and I eat no pleasant food; but I mourned over my sin, for it was great, such as had not been in Israel.