Legends of Old Testament characters, from the Talmud and other sourcesBaring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
Religion
Legends of Old Testament characters, from the Talmud and other sources
Baring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
Bible. Old Testament -- Legends; Jewish legends
First they said, “It is Ormuzd (God) who has given the water, the earth,
the trees, and the beasts of the field, and the stars, the moon, the
sun, and all things pure.” But Ahriman (Satan) arose, and rushed upon
their thoughts and said to them, “It is Ahriman who has given these
things to you.” Thus Ahriman deceived them, and to the end will deceive.
To this lie they gave credence and became Darvands, and their souls were
condemned till the great resurrection of the body. During thirty days
they feasted and covered themselves with black garments. After thirty
days they went to the chase; and they found a white goat, and with their
lips they drew off her milk, and drank her milk and were glad. “We have
tasted nothing like to this milk,” said our first parents, Meschia and
Meschiane; “the milk we have drunk was pleasant to the taste,” but it
was an evil thing to their bodies.
“Then the Div, the liar, grown more bold, presented himself a second
time, and brought with him fruit of which they ate; and of a hundred
excellences they before possessed, they now retained not one. And after
thirty days and nights they found a white and fat sheep, and they cut
off its left ear; and they fired a tree, and with their breath raised
the fire to a flame; and they burned part of the branches of that tree,
then of the tree khorma, and afterwards of the myrtle; and they roasted
the sheep, and divided it into three portions: and of the two which they
did not eat, one was carried to heaven by the bird Kehrkas.
“Afterwards they feasted on the flesh of a dog, and they clothed
themselves in its skin. They gave themselves up to the chase, and with
the furs of wild beasts they covered their bodies.
“And Meschia and Meschiane digged a hole in the earth, and they found
iron, and the iron they beat with a stone; and they made for themselves
an axe, and they struck at the roots of a tree, and they felled the tree
and arranged its branches into a hut; and to God they gave no thanks;
and the Divs took heart.
“And Meschia and Meschiane became enemies, and struck and wounded each
other and separated; then from out of the place of darkness the chief of
the Divs was heard to cry aloud: O man, worship the Divs! And the Div of
Hate sat upon his throne. And Meschia approached and drew milk from the
bull, and sprinkled it towards the north, and the Divs became strong.
But during fifty winters, Meschia and Meschiane lived apart; and after
that time they met, and Meschiane bare twins.”[68]
The story told by the Mussulmans is as follows:—
Adam and Eve lived for five hundred years in Paradise before they ate of
the tree and fell; for Eblis was outside, and could not enter the gates
to deceive them.
For five hundred years Eblis sought admission, but the angel Ridhwan
warned him off with his flaming sword.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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