4 Ezra and 2 Baruch: Translations, Introductions, and Notes

2. 2 Baruch

2 2 Baruch GOD ANNOUNCES TO BARUCH THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM Compare: 4 Ezra 3:1 1:1 The twenty-fifth year of Jeconiah, king of Judah, the word of the Lord was upon Baruch, son of Neriah, and he said to him: Compare: 4 Ezra 13:42 1:2 “You have seen everything that this people has done to me. The evils which these two tribes that remained have done are more than [those of] the ten tribes that were led away captive. 1:3 For the former tribes were forced by their kings to sin, but these two have been forcing and compelling their kings to sin. Compare: 4 Ezra 5:28-30 1:4 Therefore, see, I am bringing evil upon this city and upon its inhabitants. It will be removed from me for a time. I am scattering this people among the nations, so that it will do good to the nations. 1:5 My people will be chastised, and the time will come when they will seek the prosperity of their times. Compare: 4 Ezra 4:36; 8:62; 14:9 2:1 “For I have told you these [things] so that you may tell Jeremiah and all those who are like you to go away from this city, 2:2 because your works are for this city like a firm pillar and your prayers like a strong wall.” BARUCH TRIES TO DISSUADE GOD FROM DESTROYING JERUSALEM 83 Compare: 4 Ezra 5:35, 50; 10:7 3:1 And I said: “O Lord, my Lord, have I come into the world for this, that I should see the evil of my mother? No, my Lord. Compare: 4 Ezra 4:44; 5:56; 6:11; 8:42 3:2 If I have found mercy in your eyes, take first my soul, so that I will go to my fathers and will not see the destruction of my mother. 3:3 Because two things greatly press on me: that to resist you I cannot; what is more, my soul cannot look at the evil of my mother. 3:4 For one thing I will say before you, Lord: Compare: 4 Ezra 4:23; 10:22 3:5 What, therefore, will be after these [things]? For if you destroy your city, and you hand your land over to those who hate us, how will the name of Israel again be remembered? 3:6 Or how will we speak about your glories? Or to whom will be explained what is in your Torah? Compare: 4 Ezra 6:39; 7:30 3:7 Or should the world1 return to its [original] nature, and the world [or: age] again go to [primeval] silence? 3:8 And is the multitude of souls taken away,2 and will the nature of humankind not again be named? 3:9 And where is all that you said to Moses about us?” THE HEAVENLY JERUSALEM Compare: 4 Ezra 10:21 4:1 And the Lord said to me: “This city is delivered up for a time, and the people are chastised during a time, and the world [or: age] is not forgotten. 1. Syr tṣbytʾ, “decoration,” likely an alternate translation of Greek κόσμος. 2. Following Ceriani, who emends Syr wmtsb to wmtnsb. 84 | 4 Ezra and 2 Baruch Compare: 4 Ezra 7:26; 13:36 4:2 Or do you perhaps think that this is the city about which I said: On the palms of my hands I have inscribed you. Compare: 4 Ezra 3:14; 8:52 4:3 This building that is now built in your midst is not the one revealed with me, the one already prepared here when I intended to make Paradise. And I showed it to Adam before he sinned, but when he transgressed the commandment, it was taken away from him, as was also Paradise. 4:4 And after these [things], I showed it to my servant Abraham, by night, between the halves of the sacrifices. 4:5 And furthermore, I also showed it to Moses on Mount Sinai when I showed him the likeness of the tabernacle and of all its implements. 4:6 And now, see, it is preserved with me, as is also Paradise. 4:7 Go, therefore, and do as I am commanding you.” Compare: 4 Ezra 4:23, 25; 6:57 5:1 And I answered and said: “Will I therefore be...