And the angel saith to Asenath, "Hast thou seen this thing ? " And she said, " Yea, my lord, I have seen all these things." The divine ^ angel saith to her " So shall be all my words as :

"w^yr. ins. "and fine linen interwoven with gold, and a crown of gold was on the head of each one of them " latter angel." ;

many as I have spoken the

anc^el

the

Lord

to thcc to-day."

Then

the

time

for

third ^

hand and touched the side of the comb, and straightway fire came up from the table and devoured the comb, but the And, when much table it injured not a whit. fragrance had come forth from the burning of the comb and filled the chamber, Asenath said to the

stretched

forth

his

right

have seven virgins who were brought up with me from my youth and were born on one night with me, who wait upon me,

divine ^ angel

" Lord,

and I love them all * as my sisters. I will call them and thou shalt bless them too, even as thou blesscdst me."

And the angel said to her

" Call

them." Then Asenath called the seven virgins and set them before the angel, and the angel said to

them " The Lord God Most High shall bless you, and ye shall be ^[pillars] of refuge of seven cities,^ and all the elect of that city who dw^ell together And ^after these shall [upon you rest]^ for ever." " Take Asenath saith to ' ' angel things the divine away this table." And, when Asenath turned to remove the table, straightway he departed from her eyes, and Asenath saw as it were a chariot :

with four horses that were going eastward to heaven, and the chariot was as a flame of fire, and the horses as lightning, and the angel was standing

B versions om ^ CSwf f^ ( ySee p. 8i, n. 4. B D versions om. .2j^;5/-J3) Versions om. f

" ; " " rest." and ye . Slav, om, of refuge ")

'^ Lacuna in text

B D versions om.

above that chariot. Then Asenath said " Silly and foolish am I, the lowly one, for that I have spoken as that a man came into my chamber ""from heaven,! ^^^ j knew not that God came into it and lo now he goeth back to heaven to his :

And she said in herself: "Be gracious, Lord, to thy bondmaid, ^and spare thine handmaid,^

place."

my part, I have in ignorance spoken

because, for

rash things before thee."

Asenath's Face

transformed.

is