Naphtali
Naphtali
Naphtali meaning "my struggle" was the sixth son of Jacob, the second of his two sons with Bilhah. He was the founder of the Israelite tribe of Naphtali.
Testament of Naphtali
A copy of the Testament of Naphtali was discovered at Qumran among the Dead Sea Scrolls found in the Cave 4 (4Q215) does exist.
In the Testament of Naphtali There are more dreams of Joseph. In one place he seizes a bull which he rides. There is also a storm at sea and the brethren being separated upon the waters.
Scholars interpret that there is a reference to the recurrent theme of sexual relations but the text is talking about strange fire and adultery with a strange woman which has to do with systems and institutions of welfare including the whore of Babylon who rides a beast.
Chapter 1
In Chapter 1 Naphtali tells us that "my mother was Bilhah, daughter of Rotheus the brother of Deborah, Rebecca's nurse, who was born on one and the self-same day with Rachel." The text goes on to say that "Rotheus was of the family of Abraham, a Chaldean, God-fearing, free-born, and noble. 11 And he was taken captive and was bought by Laban;"
In verse 19 he tells of the separation of light and darkness and the order of things, "19 And as there is a division between light and darkness, between seeing and hearing, so also is there a division between man and man, and between woman and woman; and it is not to be said that the one is like the other either in face or in mind. 20 For God made all things good in their order, ..."
He compares themselves to the other nations who go astray falling under the authority of "stocks and stone" like Sodom which alters the nature of things in so doing.[1]
He warns his children that the "wickedness of Sodom" is fruitless and brings again captivity.[2]
Even though they return to the land of their father they will again forget the way of righteousness.[3]
Chapter 2
In Chapter 2 that the way of the other nations shall dishonor God and be owned by the adversary and like the Nicolaitan they will again be conquered.[4]
Footnotes
https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/english-testament-of-naphtalipdf/261015587
- ↑ 25 The Gentiles went astray, and forsook the Lord, and charged their order, and obeyed stocks and stones, spirits of deceit. 26 But ye shall not be so, my children, recognizing in the firmament, in the earth, and in the sea, and in all created things, the Lord who made all things, that ye become not as Sodom, which changed the order of nature. 27 In like manner the Watchers also changed the order of their nature, whom the Lord cursed at the flood, on whose account He made the earth without inhabitants and fruitless. 28 These things I say unto you, my children, for I have read in the writing of Enoch that ye yourselves also shall depart from the Lord, walking according to all the lawlessness of the Gentiles, and ye shall do according to all the wickedness of Sodom.
- ↑ 29 And the Lord shall bring captivity upon you, and there shall ye serve your enemies, and ye shall be bowed down with every affliction and tribulation, until the Lord have consumed you all. 30 And after ye have become diminished and made few, ye return and acknowledge the Lord your God; and He shall bring you back into your land, according to His abundant mercy.
- ↑ 31 And it shall be, that after that they come into the land of their fathers, they shall again forget the Lord and become ungodly. 32 And the Lord shall scatter them upon the face of all the earth, until the compassion of the Lord shall come, a man working righteousness and working mercy unto all them that are afar off, and to them that are near.
- ↑ 28 But him that doeth not that which is good, both angels and men shall curse, and God shall be dishonoured among the Gentiles through him, and the devil shall make him as his own peculiar instrument, and every wild beast shall master him, and the Lord shall hate him.