Lectionary Readings for Friday, June 21st, 2019

New Year 171 KE, Holy Compact Day, Summer Solstice

Book of the Arc of Bon Chapters 15 and 16

Chapter 15

1. The king’s palace and pyramids were surrounded by a wall of stone; with twelve gates,
made of wood and iron. The wall was of sufficient breadth for twelve men to walk abreast
thereon, and the height of the wall was equivalent to twelve squares (about 32 feet). On
the summit of the wall were twelve houses for the accommodation of the soldiers who
patrolled the walls. And in each and every gate-way were houses for the keepers of the
gates. So that no man, nor woman, nor child, could come into the palace or palace
grounds without permission.

2. And it came to pass that when Leotonas, the king’s daughter, walked near the river,
accompanied by her maids, she beheld a child in a basket amongst the bullrushes.
Leotonas commanded her maids to fetch it to her; and when she looked upon it, and
beheld it was an Israelitish child, she said: The Gods have sent him to me, and he shall be
my child.

3. And they bore the child into the palace, and Leotonas said to the king: Behold, a
wonder of wonders! I have found an Israelitish child in a basket in the rushes, and only
Gods know how it came, or how it scaled the walls. The king said: Keep thou the child,
and it shall be both a brother and a son to thee. Nevertheless, my guards shall find the
way my grounds are entered, or blood will be upon them.

4. Now after some days, and when the search had been completed, and no way discovered
as to the manner of the child’s ingress, the king issued a decree commanding a thousand
Israelitish male children to be put to death, Moses amongst the rest, unless the mother of
the child, Moses, came and acknowledged as to the manner of ingress. The king allotted
three days in which time the matter should culminate; but nevertheless the mother came
not and acknowledged.

5. And the king called his daughter, and said unto her: What shall be done? Leotonas
said: The king’s word must not be broken; nevertheless, thou gavest the child to me,
saying: Keep thou it, and it shall be a brother and a son to thee. And straightway I sent my
maids and procured an Israelitish woman as nurse for the child. And I set my heart upon
the child, nor can I part with it and live. Last night I consulted the oracle as to the matter,
for I saw that thy mandate must be fulfilled.

6. The king said: And what said the oracle? Leotonas said: Give word abroad that the
nurse of the child is its mother. Now I beseech thee, O king, let it be heralded abroad that
all is acknowledged.

7. The king, seeing the child, relented; and word was proclaimed as Leotonas had desired.
And, moreover, the matter was entered in the recorder’s house that the mother of the child
had made the basket and placed it where it was found, though no reason was assigned
therefore. Such, then, was the Eguptian explanation.

8. Now the truth of the matter was, the angels of Jehovih came to Yokebed and said: Thy
son’s name shall be Moses, signifying, a leader-forth, for he shall deliver the Israelites out
of bondage. But he shall be taken from thee, and thou canst not find him. For the angels
of Jehovih will deliver him into Leotonas’hands. And she shall adopt him as her brother
and son, and bestow upon him the education of a prince.

9. Yokebed feared, for in those days male children of Israelitish parentage were outlawed,
nor could any man be punished for slaying them. And Yokebed prayed Jehovih, saying:
Thy will be done, O Jehovih, for I know Thy hand is upon my son. But I beseech Thee, O
Father, that I may come to the princess and be her nurse for the child. The angel of
Jehovih said: Swear thou before Jehovih thou wilt not betray to the child that thou art his
mother!

10. Yokebed said: Though I be commanded by the king, yet will I not own that I am the
mother, and it be Thy will, O Jehovih!

11. And Jehovih’s angels fashioned a basket; and carried the child and placed it where it
was found by Leotonas and her maids. And Leotonas, seeing it was a Hebrew child,
commanded one of her maids to go and bring an Israelitish woman to nurse it. And the
maid went out beyond the Utak gate and found and brought Yokebed, the child’s mother,
but no one knew she was its mother.

12. And when Yokebed had come before the princess, the latter said unto her: Nurse thou
the child, for I will be its mother and its sister, for the Gods have delivered it into my
hands. And Yokebed said: It is a goodly child; I will nurse it for thee.

13. Moses grew and became a large man, being a pure I’huan, copper-colored and of great
strength. And Pharaoh, having no son, bestowed his heart on Moses, and raised him as a
prince, having provided him men of great learning to teach him. Moses was master of
many languages, and withal made acquainted with kings and queens and governors, far
and near. And he espoused the cause of the king, whose dominions held seven kingdoms
beyond Egupt as tributary kingdoms, which paid taxes to Pharaoh.

14. So Pharaoh made Moses embassador to the foreign kingdoms, in which capacity he
served twelve years. But because of the prejudice against him, for being of Israelitish
blood, the court of Pharaoh importuned the king for his removal, and Moses was so
removed from office under the king.

15. The king said to Moses: My son, this is a double infliction on me in my old days; in
the first place, it is as a sword-thrust, to cut off my love to thee, lest thou some day
become king; and in the second place, it is hard for a Pharaoh to be dictated to by his own
court.

16. Moses replied: Fear not, O king, that my love and thine can be severed. Oft it
happeneth that men are tried in a way they know not the wisdom of, but which, afterward,
we realize to be the best thing that could have taken place.

17. As for myself, I think this rebuke is put upon me by Jehovih because I labored not for
mine own people.

18. The king said: How so? Moses replied: For many days a great heaviness hath come
upon me; it is as if the wind of heaven bore down on my heart, saying: Moses, Moses, lift
up thy voice for thy people. For behold, the king, thy father, will favor thee!
19. Pharaoh said: What wouldst thou. my son? And if it be possible to be done it shall be
done.

20. Moses answered: Until I have gone amongst them and ascertained their grievances, I
know not how to answer thee. The king said: Go, and keep thy counsel to thyself until
thou art returned.

21. So Moses departed and traveled over the land of Egupt, and was four months absent,
and returned unto Pharaoh. And to him Moses related all the grievances of the Israelites;
explaining the tasks put upon them; their denial before the courts; their forbiddance to
education; and withal extolled them highly for being a peaceful and virtuous people.

22. The king said: It is a pity; it is a great pity. But what can I do, O Moses? Thou
beholdest how even thyself is chastised by the king’s court. If I demand the repeal of the
laws, the court will heap coals of fire on thy head and on mine.

23. Moses said: Neither know I, O king, what to do. And Moses was in great trouble of
soul; and after he waited a while for his thoughts to come to him, he said: O king, this
night thou and Leotonas shall reason with me, for I feel it incumbent because of the
pressure on my soul.

24. When the three were alone that night, lo and behold, it was the beginning of the dawn
of light. And Moses’ears were opened, and he heard the Voice of Jehovih (through His
angels) saying:

25. Behold, O king, and thou, Leotonas, and Thou, Moses, now is the beginning of My
power on the face of the earth. Moses, My son, thou shalt take thy people out of the land
of Egupt; and I will bestow upon them the lands of the ancients, even whither I will lead
thee. Change not thy laws, O king; let Egupt have her way; and let the Israelites have their
way also.

26. The king said: To deliver four millions of people! O what a labor!

27. On the next day Moses walked out, going into the woods to be alone, for heavy
trouble was upon him. And an angel of Jehovih appeared in a flame of fire in a bush,
calling: Moses, Moses, My son! And Moses saw that the bush was not burnt, and he said:
Here am I, and I heard Thy Voice.

28. The Voice said: I am the God of Abraham, and of Isaac and Jacob. Moses said: What
wouldst Thou?

29. The Voice said: Go thou once more amongst thy people and say thou: I, Moses, am
come to deliver you out of the land of Egupt, and into an inheritance which shall be your
own.

30. Moses said: My people will ask of me: By whose authority speakest thou? What then
shall I answer them? The Voice said: Say thou to them: The I AM sent me. And if they
question further, saying: Thou has a deceiving spirit, like the Eguptians, then shalt thou
say to them: How can ye distinguish one spirit from another? and they will say: Whoso
laboreth for himself will deceive us. And thou shalt say to them: Whosoever hath faith in
Jehovih, let him give up all, even as I do; and let them follow me; for if a multitude go
forth in Faith in the Father, then will the Father provide unto them. (For this is the
meaning of Faith, from which ye were named Israelites.)

31. So Moses and his brother, Aaron, traveled about in the land of Egupt, calling together
Raban families, explaining to them, and urging the people to get ready and depart out of
Egupt. For three years they thus labored, and it became known far and near that the
project was on foot.

32. And the oracles of the Eguptians prophesied that when the Israelites were once out of
the country they would unite with the kingdoms whereto Moses had been embassador,
and then return and overpower the Eguptians.

33. And in order to stigmatize Moses they said he fled away from Pharaoh’s palace
because he had seen two men, and Eguptian and an Israelite, fighting, and that Moses
slew the Eguptian and buried him in the sand. And the recorders thus entered the report in
the Recorder’s House.

34. Moses was of tender heart and he inquired of the Great Spirit, saying: Will ever a
voice of justice speak in my behalf? Jehovih, through his angel, answered Moses, saying:
Suffer thy enemies to put on record what they will, for the time will surely come when the
truth shall be revealed unto men. Pursue thy course, for it shall be shown that thou dost
still visit the king; wherefore, hadst thou fled as the records state, thou wouldst not return,
with the report hanging over thy head.

35. In those days Egupt was a land of glory and of misery. Hardly is it possible for words
to describe the splendor in which the nobles lived. Of their palaces and chariots a
thousand books might be written, and yet not reveal all. And as to the members of the
king’s court, so grand were they that many of them stood not on the ground from one
year’s end to the other; but caused carpets to be spread wherever they desired to walk.
And as to their chariots, they were bound with silver and gold, and set with precious
stones.

36. Of the royal court and the nobles, there were two thousand four hundred and eighty,
and they owned and possessed everything in Egupt, which was the richest country in the
world.

37. The next in rank were the masters, who were servants and tenants to the courtiers and
nobles; and the third in rank were the Faithists, called Israelites, who were servants under
the masters.

38. And it was against the law for any one to call a meeting of Israelites, or to incite them
against servitude to the masters; for which reason Moses and Aaron violated the law of
the land, nor dared any man to arrest them, because Moses bore with him the king’s seal.

39. Of the miseries of the land of Egupt, the half hath never been told, nor ever shall be;
for they were of the nature of the flesh, and of such kind that one may not mention them
fully, for the history would also involve the beasts of the fields, and dogs, male and
female, and goats also.

40. Suffice it, the people were victims of evil spirits, and had descended to such unnatural
practices as poisoned the flesh, which became inhabited with vermin; and they had
running sores; and only evil practices alleviated the pains. The people were subject to
entrancement by evil spirits, and the latter appeared amongst the people, taking to
themselves corporeal forms for evil’s sake, also eating and drinking with mortals daily.

41. When Moses beheld these things he prayed to Jehovih for wisdom and strength; for
thousands and thousands of the Israelites were becoming afflicted in the same way.
Jehovih answered Moses, saying: Because of the abundance of evil angels in this land, it
is impossible for My chosen to dwell herein and escape affliction. Moses explained this
matter to the Israelites.

42. Jehovih said: Moses, thou and thy brother shall return to the king, for he is worried
concerning thee and thy labors. Behold, the nobles have complained before the king
against thee.

43. Moses visited the king, who was sick with a fever; and the king was on his divan at
the fountain in the palace grounds, and the men servants were forcing water. When the
king saw it was Moses he raised up, rejoicing, and called Moses to come and sit with him.
And servants ran in and told Leotonas that Moses had returned, and Leotonas came also
and rejoiced to see Moses. Now whilst they were talking the king was overcome and fell
in a faint, whereupon Moses raised him up and restored him; and then carried the king
into the palace, in his arms carried he him.

44. Leotonas said: Moses, my son and brother, thou shalt not more leave us alone?
Behold, my father is old, and he gave his heart to thee when thou wert a child. Be thou to
him his son. Behold how he revives in thy strong hands!

45. Then spake the king, saying: My son, with all thy wisdom, canst thou understand a
woman? Moses said: Alas, O king, save the princess, I have not studied them. But why
asketh thou?

46. The king replied: Leotonas had not said one word about the affairs of the kingdom!
What is uppermost in a woman’s heart, that speaketh she first; but as to man, he
speaketh first that which lieth at the bottom of his heart. I love thee, Moses, and delight in
thy presence; but my kingdom concerneth me deeply. The nobles have complained
against thee for meddling with their slaves, and for this I have desired to see thee.

47. Moses said: The Voice came to me, informing me of what thou sayest, and then
commanded me to come to thee, for thou wert ill with fever. And the king replied, saying:
If I should die before thou has accomplished the migration of thy people, I fear my
successor, Nu-ghan, will make it hard for thee. Tell me then, therefore, how matters stand
with thee?

48. Moses said: Jehovih hath planned this migration; it cannot fail. For, witness thee what
proof I have found: The Israelites were looking for a leader-forth, even as I was named in
the basket. And wherever I have gone, the rab’bahs and their families are acquainted with
the matter as if it were born in their souls.

49. The king said: Everywhere the oracles declare against thee and Jehovih; saying thou
art in the hands of evil spirits.

50. Moses said: What are the oracles to me? To feel assured one is in a good work; this is
better than oracles.

Chapter 16

1. The Voice of Jehovih came to Moses, saying: Have the king give thee commissioners
who shall go in advance and examine the countries whither I will lead thee; and when the
commissioners have returned, thou shalt proclaim to My people what the commissioners
say, and the people will be convinced, and rise up and follow thee. So Moses asked
the king for a commission of Eguptians, and the king appointed thirty-three men, and
allotted to them seven months to accomplish the inspection; and he gave to the
commission camels and asses to ride upon, and to carry food to eat on the journey.

2. Meanwhile, Moses sent Aaron around about through Egupt, to inform the people of the
commission, and also as to how they should make their outfits. And Aaron said unto the
rab’bahs: Be ye circumspect as to the outfits of our people; observing that they carry not
away with them anything that is another’s, even to a fraction; for thus hath Moses
commanded me to say unto you.

3. When the commissioners returned and made their report, which was favorable,
Moses had the report sent amongst the Israelites; and Moses added: For there be such,
as, having little faith in Jehovih, will have faith in the words of the commissioners.

4. The Gods of the Eguptians were not idle, and they sent word by way of the oracles to
the courtiers and nobles to the effect that Moses had persuaded the king to hand the
kingdom over to the foreign nations, knowing the king had no son eligible to the throne.

5. The courtiers and nobles, therefore, importuned the king to choose one of two things:
Either to banish Moses out of the country, and put aside all arrangements for the
migration of the Israelites; or, on the other hand, to abdicate the throne in favor of
Nughan. In the meantime, a whole year’s drought came upon Egupt, and the rivers
overflowed not, so that a famine was sure to fall upon many parts of the country.

6. The king answered the demand of the courtiers and nobles with these words: I am
Pharaoh, king of Egupt! Look ye to the threatened famine; provide the stores for my
people. I declare to you all, a new thing is come unto the world, which is: MIGRATION FROM
BONDAGE! Nor is it in the power of nobles or courtiers or kings to stay this invention.

7. When the courtiers received this answer they said to one another: These are Moses’
words, fashioned for the king’s mouth. Certainly he hath lost the fear of the Lord, and
hearkeneth to the Great Spirit of the Israelites!

8. Jehovih, through His angels, spake to Moses, saying: Now is thy time. Go to the Heads
whom thou has chosen and appoint a time unto them of one place, and a time unto others
of another place, and so on unto all the Heads. And thou shalt make the armies going
forth so numerous that the Eguptians will be overwhelmed.

9. These, then, are Heads, the chief rab’bahs appointed by Moses, and the places in Egupt
whence they were to depart from:

10. Rasak, son of Ubeth, of the place Hagor; Ashimel, son of Esta, of the place Ranna;
Gamba, son of Hanor, of the place Nusomat; Bothad, son of Nainis, of the place Palgoth;
Amram, Son of Yoth, of the place Borgol; Lakiddik, son of Samhad, of the place Apau;
Jokai, son of Keddam, of the place Hasakar; Jorvith, son of Habed, of the place Oeda;
Sattu, son of Bal, of the place Harragatha; Tussumak, Son of Aban, of the place Ra;
Makrath, son of Filatti, of the place Nabaoth; Hijamek, son of Tor, of the place Nu’joram;
Fallu, son of Hagan, of the place Ennitz; Shutta, of the place Romja; Jokkin, son of Rutz,
of the place Moan; Tudan, son of Barrahha, of the place Hezron; Osharrak, son of Libni,
of the place Raim; Thammas, son of Rodaad, of the place Sakaz; Misa, son of Tiddiyas,
of the place Tessam; and Sol, son of Zakkaas, of the place Annayis.

11. Jehovih said: And the Heads shall have notice seventy and seven days; and they shall
notify the rab’bah of their places, that due preparation shall be made for the start.
Nevertheless, the time appointed unto thy people shall be kept secret with the Heads and
the rab’bahs. And whatever number the rab’bah can send forth, he shall notify the Head;
and when all things are in readiness, that number shall go forth on the day appointed,
every one on the same day.

12. And Moses appointed the month Abib and the tenth day thereof, when all the people
should start; and moreover, he said unto the Heads: Ye shall see to it that the night before
they start, even at the hour of sunset, and the moment thereof, every family shall offer a
lamb in sacrifice, and every man, and every woman, and every child that can speak, shall
covenant unto Jehovih in the blood of the lamb.

13. When the time of the slaughter is at hand, the family shall stand around, and the lamb
shall be in the midst, bound head and foot; and when the knife is raised for the blow, no
one shall speak, for that which is to be shall be the covenant of the blood of the lamb
against Egupt. And when the throat is cut across and the blood flowing, they shall all say:
In Egupt the lamb of Jehovih is dead; His God shall go hence with Israel, but Egupt shall
be accursed from this night! Accept this, my covenant, with thee, O Jehovih (E-O-Ih!),
for innocent blood hath been shed as a testimony before Thee that, with to-morrow’s
rising sun, I rise to lie not down again in Egupt forever!

14. Thus went Aaron and Akad, bearing this message in secret to the Heads of the Houses
of Israel, saying unto them: Thus saith Moses: This is the commandment of Jehovih, Who
is Almighty!

15. And now, on the eve of success to the Israelites, the king of Egupt, being at the point
of death, sent for Moses, and Moses went to him. The king said: If it should be the Lord’s
will to take me off before they people are gone, thou wilt have great bother; for my
successor, Nu-ghan, hath a great hate toward Israel.

16. Moses said: What, then, shall be done? The king said: Behold, the pestilence hath
overspread Najaut and Arabenah. Thy people will be cut off from traveling by that way.
Nu-ghan and his courtiers dwell in Harboath. Moses replied: My people shall march
through Najaut and Arabenah; neither shall the pestilence come upon them, for the hand
of the Almighty is in this matter.

17. Leotonas, learning that Moses was with the king, went in to see him. She said: O my
son and brother, thou art welcome. Behold, the trials of the royal court, and the
persistence of the nobles, are the death of the king. To this the king said: And still I live,
Leotonas! But, alas, these were his last words, for he laughed, and the blood burst through
his heart, and he died then and there, even in Moses’arms.