Budge_Ethiopic_Alexander

BY JOSEPH BEN-GORION. 407
like lightning; and he made known to him that
he wished to slay him therewith. And Alexander
quaked with fear, for he knew that he was a
messenger who had been sent from God Almighty,
the Glorious, and Most High God, and he fell from
his litter, and bowed down to the ground, and said
unto him, "O my God, why wilt thou slay thy
"servant?" And he said unto him, "Because thouThe angei'E
"desirest to march against the Holy Place, and to '""""
"blot out the priests of God Almighty and His
"nation also. I am a messenger whom God Al-
"mighty hath sent to help thee to conquer kings
"and nations, and I will be of use unto thee at
"this time." Alexander said unto him, "O my
"lord, pardon thy servant, for behold, I have sinned,
"and if I have done aught which thou likest not,
"let God Almighty bear with me until I return
"to mine own country."' The messenger said unto
him, "Behold, thou hast confessed thy sins. When
"thou hast come into the place of the Sanctuary
"thou shalt see a man of shining form clad in
"white apparel, who shall resemble me both in
"form and appearance; get thee down from thy
"horse and do homage unto him, and listen unto
"everything which he biddeth thee, and refuse
"him not, for if thou refusest thou shalt perish."
And Alexander marched from that place to the
Sanctuary. And it came to pass that when the
p. 86).
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