The Childhood of Jesus
The Gospel of James
Biographical Gospel of the Lord
- Chapter 209 -
The Reason For The Storm
THE FOLLOWING DAY Joseph arose very early as usual and apportioned the daily tasks to his four sons
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whose first task it was to provide for a good breakfast, and then to perform whatever duties needed be done.
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After attending to this he went outside to see what damage the storm might have caused during the night.
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And as he thus walked back and forth, he soon found a mass of gnawed-off human bones,
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and found many places that were stained with human blood.
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This sight greatly surprised him and he could not solve this riddle.
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And as he went onward, he also found a mass of daggers and small lances that were frequently stained with blood.
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At this he began to see matters in quite a different light, and slowly began to understand the beneficial reason for the gale and for the wild animals that were brought there because of it.
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Thereupon Joseph quickly went to his four sons, made this known to them and told three of them to gather up the bones and the weapons.
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In an hour and a half a great heap of human bones was piled up beneath a tree and a second heap of bloody weapons next to it.
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After breakfast Joseph led Cyrenius and Jonathan outside and showed them the strange find of the morning.
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When Cyrenius beheld this, he struck his hands together above his head and declared,
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'But in the name of the almighty Lord, just what is that?
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From whence are these bones of the dead? From whence these weapons still dripping with fresh blood?
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Joseph, brother, friend, have you no idea as to the cause of this abomination?'
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And Joseph answered, 'Friend and brother, those are either sea pirates or the assassins that pursued your ship.
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But let us first destroy all of that with fire;
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and then we will attempt to get to the bottom of the matter!'
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Cyrenius was satisfied with this, and all his household servants were sent to gather in wood from all sides.
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And when toward noon a very large pile of wood had been stacked up in an open place, the bones as well as the weapons were laid on the great mound of wood and thus burned up.