Budge_Ethiopic_Alexander

ALEXANDER VISITS THE BLESSED MEN. 56
answered and said unto them, "What excuse had
"ye for coming to this land?" And they said unto
him, "We are of the people of Israel, and we
"belong to the tribes of Levi and Judah, and are
"kinsmen of Jeremiah the Prophet. And because
"of the evil which Zedekiah wrought before God
"Almighty we and our father Jeremiah became
"jealous for God Almighty, and wept sorely, and
"therefore Saint Jeremiah prayed and entreated
"Him for us, that He would protect us from
"the wrath and chastisement which He would bring
"upon the king and upon the people of Israel.
"And God Almighty received and heard his prayer
"and entreaty, and He brought us into this land."
And Alexander answered and said unto them,
"What food do ye eat? What work do ye do?
"And how is your race carried on?" And they
answered and said unto him, "Come and thou
"shalt see [p. 360] what we live upon.'' Then he
went with them and they arrived at a place where Alexander
there were trees laden with fruit, and he saw their ^^j^ ^*!
women sitting down by the side of the trees. And ''^''^''•
they said unto him, "We Hve upon the juice of
"this fruit." And Alexander answered and said,
"Blessed be the name of God Almighty Who hath
"delivered you from the lust of this fleeting world,
"and Who hath set you in the beautiful and blessed
"land." And Alexander received their prayers and
blessings, and departed from them.
And it came to pass that after our Lord had The oospei
ascended into heaven, the Apostles preached theaiitoewon"
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