Legends of the Patriarchs and Prophets: And Other Old Testament Characters from Various SourcesBaring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
Religion
Legends of the Patriarchs and Prophets: And Other Old Testament Characters from Various Sources
Baring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
Bible. Old Testament -- Legends
Tubal is said by Tabari to have discovered the art of fermenting the
juice of the grape, as well as that of music. Eblis deceived the young
man, who was full of gayety, and taught him many things, amongst others
how to make wine. Tubal took grapes and crushed them, and made must,
and let it grow bitter. Then he took it and put it in a glass jug. He
made flutes, lutes, cymbals, and drums. When he began to drink the
wine he had made, he jumped and danced. All the sons of Cain looked
on, and, pleased with his merriment, they also drank and played on the
instruments Tubal had made.[175]
Naamah, the sister of Tubal-cain, became the wife of the devil
Schomron, by whom she became the mother of Asmodeus.[176]
XIII.
METHUSELAH.
It is related that an angel appeared to Methuselah, who was then aged
five hundred years, and lived in the open air, and advised him to build
a house. The Patriarch asked how long he had to live. “About five
hundred years more,” answered the angel. “Then,” said Methuselah, “it
is not worth taking the trouble for so short a time.”[177]
“Methuselah,” says the Midrash, “was a thoroughly righteous man. Every
word that fell from his lips was superlatively perfect, exhausting
the praises of the Lord. He had learnt nine hundred chapters of the
Mischna. At his death a frightful thunder was heard, and all beasts
burst into tears. He was mourned seven days by men, and therefore the
outbreak of the Flood was postponed till the morning was over.”[178]
Eusebius says, “He lived longer than all who had preceded him. He,
according to all editions (of the LXX.), lived fifteen years after the
Deluge, but where he was preserved through it is uncertain.”[179]
But the general opinion of the Jews follows the Midrash. The Rabbi
Solomon says, he died seven days before the Flood; and the Pirke of
Rabbi Eliezer and the Jalkut confirm this opinion. He is said to have
pronounced three hundred and thirty parables to the honor of the Most
High. But the origin of this is to be traced to the Cabbalists, who say
that, by transposition of the letters of his name, the anagram “He who
prophesied in parables” can be read.[180]
He had a sword inscribed with the Schem hammphorasch (the
Incommunicable Name), and with it he succeeded in slaying a thousand
devils.[181]
XIV.
NOAH.
The earth being filled with violence, God resolved on its destruction,
but Noah, the just, He purposed to save alive.
On the words of Genesis, “_All flesh had corrupted his way upon the
earth_,” the Rabbi Johanan taught that not only was the race of men
utterly demoralized, but also all the races of animals.[182]
Noah and his family, and one pair of all the beasts of earth, were to
be saved in the ark, but of every clean beast seven were to enter in.
Falsehood hastened to the ark and asked to be admitted; Noah refused.
“I admit the animals only in pairs,” said he.
Then Falsehood went away in wrath, and met Injustice, who said--
“Why art thou so sad?”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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