Part 15

Thus Moses fought best of all.

ðus fagt Moyſes ðor alðer-beſt. Amalech fleg, and iſrael Hadde hegere hond, and timede wel. 3392 ðo ſente god to moyſen, wið ðis timing to muning ben,

The future destruction of Amalek.

"Get ſal ðe kinde of amalech Ben al fled dun in deades wrech." 3396

[312] MS. rafaclim.

[313] MS. de.

[314] MS. leth.

[315] MS. ut.

JETHRO VISITS MOSES.

Moses raises an altar.

Moyſes made ðor alter on, "Min bliſ" iſ name ðor-one don.

Jethro visits Moses,

ÐO cam ietro to moysen, To ſpeken him and ðo kinnes-men, 3400

bringing with him Zipporah and her two sons.

And ſephora, moyſes wif, And hire two ſunes of faiger lif; Ietro liſtnede moyſes tale,

Moses relates to him the destruction of Pharaoh.

Of him and pharaon ðe dwale, 3404 And ðhankede[316] it almigten wel, ðat waſ bi-tid for iſrael;

[Fol. 66b.]

And at wið moyſen feſtelike,

Jethro counsels Moses to appoint rulers of the people,

And tagte him ſiðen witt_er_like 3408 Vnder him helpes oðere don, ðat folc ſtering to ſtreng[t]hen on.

rulers of thousands,

Al bi ðhuſenz ðiſ folc was told, Ilc ðhuſent adde a meiſter wold; 3412 And vnder ðiſ tgen[317] ſteres ben,

rulers of hundreds,

Ilc here on hundred to bi-ſen; Vnder ðis ilc two ſteres wunen,

rulers of fifties,

And vnder hem fif oðere numen; 3416

and rulers of tens.

Ilc of ðe .v. ſteres-men Vnder hem welden in ſtere tgen.[317]

An appeal to be made from the ruler of ten,

If ymong .x. wurð ogt miſ-don, Here ſtere rigten [ſulde] ðor-on, 3420 And if he ne mai it rigten wel,

to the ruler of hundreds,

Taunet iſ meiſter eu_er_ilc del; And if he rigten it ne can,

and thence to the superior ruler.

He taune it al hiſ ouer-man, 3424 Ai ſo forð fro man to man, Til he it here, ðe rigten can;

The final appeal to be made to Moses.

If it ne mai or rigted ben, ſo ſal it cumen to moysen. 3428

These rulers were to be able men, god-fearing, lovers of truth, and haters of covetousness.

He bad him cheſen ſtereſ-men Migti, ðe gode-frigti ben, ðe ſoð-faſtneſſe lef ben, And ðe niðing [and] giſcing flen. 3432

[316] MS. ðahankede.

[317] ten?

THE PEOPLE COME TO SINAI.

[Fol. 67.] Moses accepts the counsel.

ðiſ red ðhugte moyſes ful god, And leuelike it under-ſtod. Ietro wente in-to his lond a-gen; Al[ſ] he redde, al-ſo gan it ben. 3436

In the third month of the year Exodus, and in the forty-seventh day after they left Egypt,

Ðe ðridde moneð in iſ cumen, To ſynay ðiſ folc iſ numen; ðe ſeuene and forwerti dai ðat he nomen fro egipte awei, 3440

the people come to the desert of Sinai.

Vnder ðiſ munt he funden ſteden, And here teldes ðor he deden. On oðer daiges morgen q_u_ile, God tauned[318] moyſi q_u_at he wile. 3444 "Sei ðiſ folc ðat nu ðolen,

God's message by Moses unto the people out of the mount.

for iſ here ðhogt nogt me for-holen; 'If ye liſten lefful to me, Ic wile min folc owen be.'" 3448 And moyſes tolde ðiſ iſrael, And him heten eu_er_ilc del, ðat hem bideð, ſulen he don. God dede moyſes ðiſ bodeword on, 3452

The people are to be prepared against the third day.

"Clenſe ðiſ folc wel ðiſ to daiges, And bidde hem leden clene la[i]ges; Abute ðiſ munt ðu merke make,[319] If erf or man ðor-one take, 3456

The mountain must not be touched.

It dead ðolen, wið ſtones ſlagen, Or to dead wið goren dragen;

[Fol. 67b.]

ðiſ frig[t]ful [folc] ðus a-biden, Q_u_iles ðiſ daiges for[ð] ben gliden." 3460

On the third day there were thunders and lightning and a thick cloud upon the mount.

Ðe ðridde daiges morge q_u_ile, ðunder and leuene made ſpile, On ðiſ munt ſtod, and ſkies caſt, And dinede an migtful hornes blast; 3464

Smoke up reeked and the mount quaked.

Smoke up-rekeð and munt q_u_akeð, Slep ðor non ðe[320] ðane up-wakeð; Ai was moſes one in ðis dine, ðiſ folc wende haue_n_ for-loren hine;[321] 3468

[318] ? tauneð.

[319] MS. made.

[320] MS. de.

[321] MS. hi_m_ine.

MOSES RECEIVES THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.

Oc he cam faiger and fer him to,

Moses addresses the people.

And gan wið hem ſpeken ſo; "Ilc gure wel in herte mune, Ne iſt nogt moyſes, amrame ſune, 3472

He reminds them of their deliverance from the Egyptians,

ðe ge ſulen to dai here ſpeken; Oc he ðe ſlog, gu for to wreken, Egypte, an weige made in ðe se, And let adam fonden ðe tre 3476 ðe noe barg, and abraham

and of God's kindness to their ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and Joseph.

Ledde vt in-to lond canaan; Of olde abraham and of ſarra bigeten Dede yſaac, of olde teten; 3480 ðe gaf yſaac so manige ſunen, ðe Ioſep dede ſo riche wunen; His word gu wurðe digere[322] al-ſo lif, Digere[322] or eiðer child or wif. 3484

[Fol. 68.]

Cumeð her forð, and beð alle reken, And lereð wel q_u_at he ſal ſpeken."

Moses leadeth the people to the foot of the mount.

He ledde hem to ðe muntes fot, Non but non[323] forðere ne mot, 3488 And on iſ broðer aaron; God bad hem ðat merke ou_er_-gon; ðo ſo ſpac god ſo brigt-like, ðat alle he it herden witt_er_like. 3492

The Ten Commandments. First Commandment.

LOke ðat ð_u_ god oðer ne make, Ne oðer ðan me ðat ðu ne take. for ic am god, gelus and ſtrong, Min wreche iſ hard, min ðole iſ long. 3496

Third Commandment.

Tac ðu nogt i_n_ idel min name[n], Ne ſwer it les to fele in gamen, Ne let ðu nogt min wurðfulhed for-faren in ðe fendes red. 3500

Fourth Commandment.

Min hali dai ðu halge wel, An do ðin dede on oðer ſel.

Fifth Commandment.

Wurð ðin fader and moder ſo, ðat ðu hem drede and helpe do. 3504

[322] = dgere = diere = dere.

[323] ? Nun.

THE PEOPLE ARE AFRAID.

Sixth Commandment.

Ne ſlo ðu nogt wið hond ne wil, Ne rend, ne beat nogt wið vn-ſkil; Help de nedful, ðat he ne be dead for truke of ðin helpe an[d] read. 3508

Seventh Commandment.

Oc horedom ðat ðu ne do, Ne wend no lecherie to.

[Fol. 68b.] Eighth Commandment.

Loke ðe wel ðat ðu ne ſtele, Ne reflac, ne ðefte, for-hele.[324] 3512

Ninth Commandment.

Falſe witneſſe ðat[325] ðu ne bere, Ne wið ðe leſe non ma[_n_][326] ne dere.

Tenth Commandment.

Ne giſce ðu nog[t] ðin neſtes ðing, Huſ, ne agte, ne wif, in ðin giſcing; 3516 For if ðu it gernes and giſſe, ðu tines vn-ended bliſce."

The Israelites at the foot of the mount are in great dread and fear.

Ðiſ for-frigted folc figeren ſtod, dredful, and bleð, and ſori mod; 3520 Herden ðat dredful beames blaſt, Sogen ðat figer, dred held he_m_ faſt. ðo ſeiden he to moyſen,

They intreat Moses to stand between them and God.

"Be ðu nu god and us bi-twen, 3524 Her nu q_u_at god ſal more q_ue_ðen, And tellet uſ ſiðen her bi-neðen." And moyſes ſteg up a-non,

God gave to Moses many commandments and laws,

God hem bad bodes manige on 3528 And lages; and hu he ſulen maken ðe tabernacle, and wor-of taken

instructed him concerning the making of the Tabernacle,

ðe gold, and ſilu_er_, and ðe bras, ðe ſyðen don ðor-on[327] was, 3532 And nemeld it beſeel,

and gave him two tables of stone upon which were written the Ten Commandments.

And two oðere to maken it wel; And gaf to[328] tabeles of ſton, And .x. bodeword writen ðor-on. 3536

[Fol. 69.]

Ðor q_u_iles moyſes was up wið gode, And liſtenede al ðat leue bode,

[324] MS. for for hele.

[325] MS. dat.

[326] MS. ma.

[327] MS. dor-on.

[328] two?

THEY WORSHIP A GOLDEN CALF.

The people, in the absence of Moses, said unto Aaron,

Swilc wod-hed ðiſ folc[329] cam on, ðat he ſeiden to aaraon, 3540

"Make us gods to go before us,"

"Mac vs godes foren us to gon, of moyſes haue we helpe non." Aaron and vr ſtoden a-gen, And boden hem ſwilc ðhowtes leten; 3544 ðat wod folc ðor ur of dage

and compelled him to make a molten calf,

Brogten, and deden aaron i_n_ age; Here faigere ringes he boden taken, And don in fier, and geten, and maken 3548 An calf of gold, and [an] alter Made ðat folc, and lutten it ðer,

which they worshipped.

And ðat calf ofrendes deden, And made gret feſt in ðat ſtede[n]. 3552 Ðo ſeide god to moyſen,

God is angered thereby.

"Go ðu nu dun ðin folc to ſen, He hauen ſineged and miſdon, Let me taken wreche ðer-on." 3556

Moses intreateth for them.

"LOru_er_d,[330] merci!" q_u_ad moyſes, "get ne let hem nogt helpe-les; If he nu her w_u_rðen ſlagen, Egipte folc ſal ðor-of ben fagen, 3560 And ſeyen ðat he ben bi-ſwiken, In ðe deſert wel liðerlike;[331]

[Fol. 69b.]

And ðenk, lou_er_d,[330] q_u_at ben bi-foren Abram, and yſaac, and iacob ſworen." 3564

God listeneth to Moses, and is appeased.

God liſtnede wel[332] al ðis anſwere; ðat he ðis folc al ðer[333] ne dere. And moyſes gan neðer-ten,

Moses came down with the tables,

And Ioſu cam him a-gen, 3568 Alſ he was ilc dai wune to don, q_u_il moyſes ðat munt was on. Q_u_at Ioſue to moyſi, "Ic wene he figten dun her-bi," 3572

[329] MS. has "ðiſ folc" twice over.

[330] MS. lou_er_ð.

[331] MS. liderlike.

[332] MS. wel and wel.

[333] MS. alðer.

THE IDOLATERS ARE SLAIN.

"Nai, for gode," q_u_ad moyſes, "It iſ a ſong wikke and redles."

and seeing the idolatry of the people, he brake them in pieces.

Moyſes cam ner and ſag ðiſ plages,[334] And ðiſ calf, and ðiſ ille lages; 3576 So wurð he wroð, o mode ſarp, Hiſ tables broken dun he iſ warp,

The calf he burnt and ground to powder, and mixed it with the water they drank.

And dede ðat calf melten i_n_ fir, And ſtired it al to duſt ſir, 3580 And mengde in wat_er_ and forð it of, And gaf ðat folc drinken ðat drof. ðo wiſte he wel q_u_ilc hauen it don, Sene it was here berdes on. 3584 ðo gredde he lude, "goð me to, Alle ðe god luuen so."

Moses caused the idolaters to be put to death.

Frend ne broðer ne ſpared he nogt On of hem ðat haued ðiſ wunder wrogt; 3588

[Fol. 70.]

Of ðo ðe weren to ðiſ red,

The number slain were about 3000.

.xxx. hundred to ðe dead woren ðane don ſone a-non, ðurg ſtrengðe of moyſes and aaron; 3592 On oðer ſtede men writen ſen, xxiii. ðhusent ðat ðor ben;

On the morrow, Moses reminded the people of their sin.

Ðo woren on liue ſumdel les. On oðer dai q_u_ad moyſes, 3596 "Michel ſinne haue ðe[335] don,[336] Ic ſal gon ſeken bote her on."

He returned to Mount Sinai to seek God's mercy.

Eft he ſteg up to munt ſynay, for to bi-ſeken god merci. 3600 "Lou_er_d," q_u_ad he, "ðin meðe iſ god, Merci get for ðin milde mod![337] Or ðu ðiſ folc wið milche mod,[338] Or do min name ut of ðin boc." 3604

God promises to send his angel before the people.

God anſwerede, "of ſal ic don Hem, ðe arn nogt to ben ðor-on; Go, led ðiſ folc, min engel on

[334] MS. wlages.

[335] ge?

[336] MS. Michel ſinne q_u_að haue ðe don.

[337] ? milde-hod.

[338] MS. moð.

THE TABLES ARE RENEWED.

Sal ic don ðe bi-foren gon." 3608 Ebrus ſeigen it waſ michael Engel ðe ſiðen ledde hem wel. Moyſes faſtede ſiðen to pligt xl. daiges and xl. nigt; 3612

Moses received other tables.

Oðere tables he brogte eft(.) writen, And ſunne-bem brigt ſon iſ wliten

[Fol. 70b.]

ðat folc on him ne migte ſen But a veil wore hem bi-twen. 3616

The Israelites offer Moses gold and silver for the tabernacle.

Ðo waſ ðiſ folc frigti and rad To don al ðat moyſes he_m_ bad; Offreden him ſiluer and golde, And oðer metal ſwilc he wolde; 3620

Bezaleel and Aholiab are appointed for the work of the tabernacle.

He it bi-tagte beſſeleel, And eliab, he maden wel ðe tabernacle alſ he_m_ was tagt, Goten and grauen wið witt_er_ dragt; 3624

Seven months they were about it.

.vii. moneð ðor-buten he ben, And here ſwinc wel he bi-ten; for ſwilc huſ was ear neu_er_e wrogt, Ne ſwilc ſafte her on werlde brogt; 3628

God taught Moses the fashion of it.

God it tagte al ear moyſen Wiſlike hu it wrogt ſulde ben, Q_u_ilc ſrud, q_u_at offrende, q_u_ilc[339] lage, And q_u_at for luue, and q_u_at for age. 3632

Aaron and others of his kin were appointed to serve in the tabernacle.

Aaron biſſop, oðere of ðat kin, Sette he he_m_ for to ſeruen ðor-in. Bokes he wrot of lore wal, Hu ðiſ folc hem rigt leden ſal, 3636 Bette_n_ miſ-dedes, and clene lif Leden, wið-uten [h]ate and ſtrif.

Twelve months passed ere the people departed from Sinai.

Twelf moneð forð ben alle cumen, Or he fro ſynay ben forð numen; 3640

[Fol. 71.] On the twentieth day of the second month (in the second year),

On ðat oðer twentiðe[340] dai, of ðe oðe[r] moneð[341] tagte he wei; ðat brigte ſkie bi-foren hem fleg,[342]

[339] MS. q_u_il.

[340] MS. twentide.

[341] MS. moned.

[342] MS. flegt.

THE BURNING AT TABERAH.

the Israelites departed from Sinai,

And ðiſ folc ðor after teg. 3644 ðre dages and nigtes faren it gan

and came into the wilderness of Paran.

And wið-ſtod i_n_ ðe deſerd pharan; ðiſ folc iſ after ſofte togen,

For their complaining,

And hauen ſwinc in weige drogen; 3648 for ðat ſwinc he grucheden ðor, ðor-fore hem cam on more ſor.

the fire of the Lord consumed them,

fier iſ on hem bi-ſiden ligt, fele it brende and made o-frigt, 3652

but is quenched by the prayers of Moses.

Moyſes it bleſſ[ed]e wið his bede, And brenni_n_ge he calde ðat ſtede. Here hine-folc ðe waſ hem mide, And ſu_m_me of hem ðor ille dede, 3656

The people lust for flesh and loathe manna.

He gerneden after oðer mete[n], Of manna he ben for-hirked to eten; He greten up-on moyſen, And he to god made his bi-men. 3660

Moses complains of his charge.

"Loru_er_d!" q_u_ad he, "ðiſ folc iſ ðin, And al ðis ſorge nu iſ min; But ic haue an oðer[343] read, Ðu ſalt me raðe don[344] ðolen dead." 3664

God commands him to choose seventy wise men to help him in the government of the people.

Q_u_að god, "ches ðe nu her ſeuenti Wiſe men to ſtonden ðe bi,

[Fol. 71b.]

And ic ſal hem geuen witt_er_-hed, And he ðe ſulen don helpe at ned; 3668 And ðin folc ſal to-morgen bi-geten ynog fles(.) into a moneð[345] for to eten." Moyſes was bliðe an glad[346] of ðis,

The appointment of seventy elders.

And ches ðo men [ðe] god made wiſ; 3672 waſ here non of herte dim, p_ro_phetis he weren and holpen him. Fro lond ortigie cam a wind,

Quails are sent in wrath at Kibroth-Hattaavah.

And brogte turles michel mind; 3676 It flogen longe, and ðikke, and wel Abuten ðe folc of yſrael;

For two days the fowls came.

Two daiges hem ben fugeles cumen,

[343] MS. oder.

[344] MS. ðon.

[345] MS. moned.

[346] MS. glað.

MIRIAM IS SMITTEN WITH LEPROSY.

So fele he wilen, he [h]auen numen, 3680 And dried and holden to eten; Oc god ne wile[347] it nogt for-geten;

The Lord smote the people with a plague because of their murmuring.

ðat gruching hauen he der_re_ bogt, fier haueð[348] on hem ðe wreche wrogt, 3684 Brend and doluen waſ ðat folc ſoth; ðat ſtede beð cald ðor-fore cabroth.

The people come to Hazaroth.

FOrð he nomen to aſſaroth,

Miriam speaks against Moses,

ðor wurð maria ſumdel ſoth,[349] 3688 for ſche ðor haueð wið moyſes fliten;

and is smitten with leprosy.

ðor wurð ghe ðanne wið lepre ſmiten, And vten ſundred .vii. nigt, In grot and i_n_ ſrifte, ſore offrigt;[350] 3692

[Fol. 72.]

Moyſes bi-ſogte, and ſche wurð fer And frend, and cam ðat[351] broðer ner.

The people remove from Hazaroth and come to Paran.

FOrð nam ðiſ folc ſiðen fro ðan fele iurnes in-to pharan; 3696 Forð waſ gon al ðeſe oðer ger, ðo he woren at ſyon-gaber;

Men are sent to search the Land of Promise.

Fro ðeðen[352] he ſente forð to ſen, Q_u_ilc ðo riche londes ben, 3700 ðat god hem ſulde bringen in;

One is sent from each tribe.

On man he ſente of ilc kin. xii. ſondere men ðor vte faren, ðiſ hoten lond ðurg-vt he charen, 3704

The spies having been away forty days,

xl. daigeſ faren ben; Bi ðanne q_u_anne he wenten a-gen, In-to cades ðe folc was ſogt. ðeſ .xii. ðider hem hauen brogt 3708

return bringing with them of the plenty of the land.

Of ðe plenteð ðe god ðor gaf, An win-grape on an cuuel-ſtaf, And tolden hem ðe lond iſ god, ful of erf and of netes brod; 3712

In Hebron they found walled cities, stalworth men, and giants.

Oc burges ſtronge and folc v[n-]frigt, ſtalwurði to weren here rigt;

[347] MS. wile he.

[348] MS. haued.

[349] ? sot.

[350] At the bottom of the page is the catchword—"Moyſes bi-ſogte, &."

[351] MS. dat.

[352] MS. ðeden.

THE REPORT OF THE SPIES.

And geteniſſe men ben i_n_ ebron, Q_u_ilc men mai get wundren on. 3716

The Israelites murmur at the news.

ðiſ folc ðo ſette up grot and gred, And ſeiden he folwen iuel red;

[Fol. 72b.]

"Betre iſ vs get we wenden agen And i_n_ egipte ðralles ben, 3720 ðan we wurðen her ſwerdeſ ſlagen,

"A captain," said they, "we will make, and return into Egypt."

And ure kin to ſorge dragen;[353] An loder-man we wilen us ſen, And wenden i_n_-to egipte agen; 3724

Joshua and Caleb endeavour to still them.