Fragment 1

1 Qahat there, to stay and to dwell and to build [the tombs of our fathers … and many men from among the sons of my uncle went up with us together … every] 2 man, and of our work there was a very great deal, until [the dead should be buried. In the first year of my authority, when there was a frightening rumor of war, our company turned back to the land of Egypt, and I went up to bury them] 3 quickly, but they had not built the tombs of their fathers. [And my father Qahat and my wife Jochebed left me to stay and to build and to take for them all that they needed from the land of Canaan. And we dwelt in Hebron] 4 while we were building. And there was war between [Philistia and Egypt,⁠a and Philistia and Canaan were prevailing over Egypt …] 5 And they closed the [borders of] Egypt, and it was not possible [for my wife Jochebed to come from Egypt to Canaan …] 6 for forty-one years. And we were not able to [return to Egypt … therefore not … the war] 7 between Egypt and Canaan and Philistia. And [during] all this, [Jochebed] my wife [was far from me in the land of Egypt … my charge … who with me] 8 was not. And I did [not] take another wife [for myself]. And women […] 9 all, that I would return to Egypt in peace and see the face of my wife [… and I was looking at the angels whom I saw] 10 in my vision, the vision of the dream. And behold, two were arguing over me⁠b and saying [… of his] 11 and they were holding a great dispute over me.⁠c And I asked them, “Who are you, that you thus [have power over me?” … And they said to me, “We] 12 [thus] are rulers, and rule over all the sons of Adam.” And they said to me, “Which of us do you⁠d [seek to be ruled by?” And behold, I lifted my eyes and saw,] 13 [and one] of them, his appearance was dreadful like a serpent, [and all] his clothing was many-colored,⁠e and he was dark with darkness. [His face …] 14 [And the other, I looked,] and behold … […] in his appearance, and his face was smiling, and [he was covered with clothing …] 15 [exceedingly, and above his eyes …]