read. The eleventh[1] use is, that some of the comments of our Rabbies and of other commentators who have explained the law, thou wilt find illustrated in this book, such as the account of the messengers who met Jacob[2] when he came from Mesopotamia after they had gone to Esau, also the account of Gabriel who taught Joseph seventy languages, also the illustration it affords of him[3] who smote Midian in the fields of Moab, and the like. The twelfth use is, that every person lecturing in public may bring forward in his discourse, subjects from this book, which the commentators have not explained, by which means he may make an impression upon the hearts of his audience. The thirteenth use is, that all merchants and travellers, who have an opportunity to study the law, may read this book and receive their reward, for therein is the reward of the soul as well as the delight of the body, in the discovery of new matter not recorded in any other book, and by these means will man understand to know the Lord and cleave unto him.
Now because we have seen the merit of this book, and the great usefulness thereof, we have undertaken to print it without addition or diminution, and from this time we have commenced to print it in a book, that such books may be in the hands of the members of our covenant, the men of our captivity in order that it may be farther circulated throughout every generation, and every city, family and country, so that they may understand the wonders of the Lord which he performed for our ancestors, and his bounties toward them from the days of old, and that he chose us from all nations. May they who devote their hearts to the fear of the Lord, be rendered meritorious by studying therein whilst we confide in the Lord, the God of Gods, and depend upon him and seek salvation and assistance from him, in this heavenly work, and may he prosper us in the right path, and deliver us from errors, and cleanse us from secret faults, as his anointed said, “who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.”[4] May God teach us the good way and direct us in a prosperous path for the sake of his mercies and kindnesses, and may he graciously fulfil the desires of our hearts, Amen, and so be his will.
- ↑ The eleventh use. — I cannot see any mention of the tehth use; this must have been omitted, I think, before the words above, “how after this God was favourable to them through their trusting in him.”
- ↑ See the latter part of ch. 31.
- ↑ The obscure passage in Genesis, 36. 35. in the Bible, is cleared up in Jasher, ch. 62, where it gives a long history of Hadad, the son of Bedad.
- ↑ Psalms, 19. 12.
