4 Baruch (Rest of Baruch) 5

Now Abimelech carried the figs in the heat, and coming upon a tree, he sat down under its shade to rest a little.

And resting his head upon the basket of figs, he fell asleep, slumbering sixty-six years; and he did not awake out of his sleep.

And after these things, rising up from his sleep, he said: I slept sweetly for a little while, but my head is heavy, because I had not enough of my sleep.

Then uncovering the basket of figs, he found them dripping milk.

And he said: I would sleep yet a little longer, for my head is heavy; but I am afraid, lest I sleep and be slow to awake, and Jeremiah my father think little of me; for had he not been in haste, he would not have sent me out at dawn today.

Therefore I will arise and go on in the heat; for is there not heat and toil every day?

So rising up, he took the basket of figs and put it upon his shoulders; and he entered into Jerusalem, and did not recognize it, neither his house nor his own place, nor did he find his own family nor any of his acquaintances.

And he said: Blessed be the Lord, for a great trance has fallen upon me today.

This is not the city of Jerusalem; I have lost my way, for I came by the way of the mountain, having risen from my sleep; and because my head was heavy, since I had not had enough sleep, I have lost my way.

It would be a marvelous thing to say this before Jeremiah, that I have lost my way.

And he went out of the city; and observing carefully, he saw the landmarks of the city, and said: This indeed is the city, but I have lost my way.

And again he returned into the city, and sought, and found none of his own; and he said: Blessed be the Lord, for a great trance has fallen upon me.

And again he went out of the city, and remained grieving, not knowing where to go.

And he set down the basket, saying: I will sit here until the Lord takes away this trance from me.

And while he was sitting, he saw an old man coming from the field, and Abimelech said to him: I say to you, old man, what city is this?

And he said to him: It is Jerusalem.

And Abimelech said to him: Where is Jeremiah the priest, and Baruch the reader, and all the people of this city, for I have not found them?

And the old man said to him: Are you not from this city, that today you remember Jeremiah, that you ask about him after so long a time?

For Jeremiah is in Babylon with the people; for they were taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar the king, and Jeremiah is with them, to preach good tidings to them and to instruct them in the word.

And immediately, when Abimelech heard this from the old man, he said: Were you not an old man, and were it not unlawful for a man to insult one greater than himself, I would laugh you to scorn and say that you are mad; for you have said, The people were taken captive to Babylon.

Even if the cataracts of heaven had come down upon them, it would not yet be time for them to go to Babylon.

For how much time is it since my father Jeremiah sent me to the estate of Agrippa to bring a few figs, that we might give them to the sick of the people?

And I went and brought them, and coming to a certain tree in the heat, I sat down to rest a little, and I leaned my head upon the basket, and I fell asleep.

And waking up, I uncovered the basket of figs, supposing that I had delayed, and I found the figs dripping milk, just as I had gathered them.

But you say that the people were taken captive to Babylon.

But that you may know, take and look at the figs.

And he uncovered the basket of figs for the old man, and he saw them dripping milk.

And when the old man saw them, he said: O my son, you are a righteous man, and God did not wish you to see the desolation of the city; therefore he brought this trance upon you.

For behold, today it is sixty-six years since the people were taken captive to Babylon.

And that you may learn, my child, that what I tell you is true, look up into the field and see, that the growth of the crops has not yet appeared.

See also the figs, that their season has not yet come, and understand.

Then Abimelech cried out with a loud voice, saying: I will bless you, O God of heaven and earth, the rest of the souls of the righteous in every place.

Then he said to the old man: What month is this?

And he said: Nisan, which is Abib.

And taking some of the figs, he gave them to the old man, and said to him: May God lead you with his light into the upper city, Jerusalem.