Testament
Of Amram (4Q543, 545-548)
Manuscript C Column 1
(1) A copy [of the book of the words of the vis]ion of Amram the son of Kohath, the son of Levi: all (2) that [he revealed to his sons and that he commanded t]hem on the day [of his death, in] the year (3) one hundred and thirty-six, whi[ch] was the year of his death, [in the o]ne hundred (4) and fifty-second year of the exil[e of Israel to Egypt... upon [him, and he sent] (5) to call Uzziel his youngest brother, and [gave] to him [in marr]iage [Miri]am [his] daughter. [For he said] (6) ‘You (Miriam) are thirty years old.’ Then he gave a wedding feast seven [day]s long, (7) and ate and drank and rejoiced at the feast. Then, when (8) the Mays of the wedding feast were completed, he called for Aaron his son. Now, [h]e (Aaron) was a man of... years of age (9) [...and he said] to him, ‘Call... and Malachijah... from the house of (10)... above. He called him... Column 2 (11) in this land, and I went up to... (12) to bury our fathers. And I went up... (13) to [a]rise, to bind and pile sheaths and to build... (14) gre[a]t from the sons of my uncle, all togeth[er... and from] (15) our excee[ding great labors, [until in Egy]pt there died... (16) the rumor of war and unrest returned... to the land of E[gypt...] (17) to meet and [they had] not bui[lt gr]aves for their fa[th]ers. Then [my father Kohath] released me [to go,] (18) to build and to get [all their needs] for the[m from the land of Canaan. [And while] (19) we [were] building, wa[r broke out between] the Philistines and Egypt, and... was winn[ing...]
Manuscript E Fragment 1
(1)... that Levi his son sacrificed to... (2) I said to you at the alt[ar] of stop[e...] (3) [con]cerning sacrifice[s...]
Fragment 2
(2) I
rescued... (3) he built... (4) at Mount Sinai... (5) a great blessing at the
bronz[e] altar... (6) from among all the people on earth his [son] will be
exalted as a priest. The[n...] (7) and his sons after him, for all the
generations of eternity in Tru[th...] (8) and I awoke from the sleep of my eyes,
and [I] wrote down the vision... (9) I went out from the land of Canaan, and it
happened to me just as he said... (10) exalting, and afterwar[d], in the
twen[tieth] year, [I returned to the land of Canaan] (11)... you were...
Manuscript B Fragment 1
(9) [...1
saw Watchers] (10) in my vision, the dream-vision. Two (men) were fighting over
me, saying... (11) and holding a great contest over me. I asked them, ‘Who are
you, that you are thus empo[wered over me?’ They answered me, ‘We] (12) [have
been em]powered and
rule over all mankind.’
They said to me, ‘Which of us do yo[u choose to rule (you)?’ I raised my eyes
and looked.] (13) [One] of them was terr[i]fying in his appearance, [like a
serpent,
[his] cl[oa]k many-colored yet very dark... (14) [And I looked again], and... in
his appearance, his visage like a
viper,
and [wearing...] (15) [exceedingly, and all his eyes...]
Fragment 2
(1)
[...em]powered over you... (2) [I replied to him,] ‘This [Watcher,] who is he?’
He answered me, ‘This
Wa[tcher...]
(3) [and his three names are
Belial
and
Prince of Darkness]
and
King of
Evil.’
I said, ‘My lord, what dom[inion...?’] (4) [’and his every way is darkened, his
every work da[rk]ened. In Darkness he... (5) [Yo]u saw, and he is empowered over
all Darkness, while I [am empowered over all light.] (6) [...from] the highest
regions to the lowest I rule over all Light, and over al[1 that is of God. I
rule over (every) man]
Fragment 3
(1) [of
His grace and peace. Over all the sons of Lig]ht have] I been empowered.’ I
asked him, [What are your names... ?’] (2) He [s]aid to me, ‘[My] three names
are [Michael and Prince of Light and King of Righteousness.’]
Manuscript ?
Column 1
(1)... tribes... (2) to them and all [his] ways [are True...] (3) [and he will heal] them of all their ills... (4) them from death and from de[struction...] (5) [o]ver you, blessed sons... (6) all the generations of Israel for[ever...] (7) angry at me, for the sons of Ri[ghteousness...] (8) between the sons of Lying and the sons of Tr[uth...] (9) I [will make known to you;] certainly I will inform y[ou that all the sons of Light] (10) will be made Light, [whereas all the sons] of Darkness will be made Dark. [The sons of Light...] (11) and in all their Knowledge [they will] be, and the sons of Darkness will be dest[ro]yed... (12) For all foolishness and Evi[1 will be darkened, while all [pea]ce and Truth will be made Ligh[t. All the sons of Light] (13) [are destined for Light and [eternal j]oy (and) [re]joic[ing.] All the sons of Dark[ness] are destined for [Darkness and death] (14) and destruction... Lightness for the people. And I shall reveal [to you...] (15) from Darkness, for all... (16) the sons of [Darkness...] and all the sons of Light...
Notice that one of the Watchers looked like a serpent!
Biblical references to the serpent;
Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" And the woman said, " The serpent deceived me, and I ate." Gen 3;13
"You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Matt 3;7
"You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell? Matt. 23;33