karmin

It came to pass in days of old that there lived in the kingdom of Manasseh, the King of Israel, a certain man whose name was Karmin, and he was a fearer of God, and he gave many alms and oblations to the poor of Israel.

And there was a certain depraved man of the seed of Benjamin, whose name was Benyas, who used to lead the mule of the King of Israel, and Karmin used to feed him, together with the mule of King Manasseh And among the neighbours of Karmin there were certain men who were envious of him because of [his] pastures and wells, and because of the multitude of his flocks and herds and servants, for the region [where he had settled] was the inheritance of their fathers, and for this reason they wished to drive him away from their country.

And there was a certain depraved man of the seed of Benjamin, whose name was Benyas, who used to lead the mule of the King of Israel, and Karmin used to feed him, together with the mule of King Manasseh And among the neighbours of Karmin there were certain men who were envious of him because of [his] pastures and wells, and because of the multitude of his flocks and herds and servants, for the region [where he had settled] was the inheritance of their fathers, and for this reason they wished to drive him away from their country.

And they kept watch upon Benyas, the leader of the king's mule, with evil intent, and they abused Karmin, and said unto Benyas, "This Karmin blasphemeth, and he hath blasphemed the King of Israel, the anointed of God, saying, `This king is not the son of a free woman, but the son of an old woman servant whom [a certain man] bought for two kor-measures [of grain] to work at the mill and brick-making.'

And they kept watch upon Benyas, the leader of the king's mule, with evil intent, and they abused Karmin, and said unto Benyas, "This Karmin blasphemeth, and he hath blasphemed the King of Israel, the anointed of God, saying, `This king is not the son of a free woman, but the son of an old woman servant whom [a certain man] bought for two kor-measures [of grain] to work at the mill and brick-making.'

And they made a covenant together, and they swore to him that they would bear false witness against Karmin, by whose tongue such a word had never been uttered, and into whose mind such a thought had never entered.

And the King said unto him, "Go now and bring them hither secretly so that we may find out whether they agree with thy words; [and if they do] we will cut off the head of Karmin."

And when the King had enquired into all this matter, he called the captain of his host who stood before him, and said unto him, "Go at dawn of day to-morrow and surround the house of Karmin and let not anyone of his people escape thee, neither man nor woman, and slay [them all] with the sword.

And as for Karmin, cut off his head, and bring hither all his possessions, and his goods, and all his flocks and herds, and his gold and silver."

And those liars rejoiced and returned to their district, and they went into the house of Karmin and held converse with him with words of peace, and they paid him compliments, and they made jests before his face, evil being in their hearts.

And they drank themselves drunk in the house of Karmin, and they slept together with him.

And when they had fallen asleep, behold, the Angel of God was sent to Karmin, and he awoke him and said unto him, "Leave all thy possessions and save thyself, for men have been commanded by Manasseh the King to cut off thy head.

Then Karmin rose up straightway, and sought out his treasure in gold and took it, and he awoke his wife and his two sons, and he also awoke his chosen servants, and loaded them with possessions of great value, and went forth by night.

And Bala'on loved Karmin, and gave him a habitation near the house of his merchant, who had departed to a far country for a period of three years.

And the wife of the merchant loved Karmin, and she was seduced by him, and became with child; now the behaviour of women is bad.

And in the second year she went astray and became with child by Karmin, for the person of Karmin was exceeding goodly in Israel.

And in the second year she went astray and became with child by Karmin, for the person of Karmin was exceeding goodly in Israel.

And the handmaiden of the King took the child [of Karmin] to her mistress, and the Queen rejoiced, and it was reported to the King that the Queen had borne a son.

And Moses wrote upon their rods the names of their fathers: on the rod of Aaron was written the name of Levi, and on the rod of Karmin was written the name of Judah, and on the rod of Adonyas was written the name of Reuben, and on the rod of every man of all the houses of Israel was written in like manner the name of his father.