Folio 1r (Latin)

Upper left: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth and the light and the angels. One part of these was devoted to its creator and stays happy with its attachment to him. But the other was haughtily averse and sunk into eternal miseries. (Genesis 1: 1-5; Isaiah 14: 12-19; Luke 10:18; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Revelation 12: 7-9)

Upper right: On the second day God made a firmament between the upper and lower waters, dividing them from one another. (Genesis 1: 6-8)

Lower left: On the third day God gathered onto one place the waters, which were under the heaven and separated them from the dry land, giving names to the dry land and the seas as well as to green plants and fruit-bearing trees. (Genesis 1: 9-13)

Lower right: On the fourth day God made the lights in the firmament of the heaven: the sun and the moon and the stars, by which the day, the night and the seasons are divided. (Genesis 1: 14-19)

Folio 1r (Persian)

Upper left margin: This is the theme of the angels who submitted to God except for the Devil who did not prostrate himself and was cursed.

Upper right: This is the image of the second heaven separating [from] the sphere of water.

Lower left: This is the third image where, according to God’s command waters have gathered to one side so that the sphere of the earth is revealed; vegetation appears and the habitable quarter is prepared.

Lower right: And on the fourth day heaven was created and the sun, moon, and stars appeared.

Folio 1r (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left margin: The tale of Satan, who did not bow down before Adam.

Upper right margin: The tale of the second day; calling forth the waters.

Lower left margin: The tale of the third day. The third day: The waters were gathered so that the sphere of the earth became visible; plants appeared.

Lower right margin, between Persian and Latin: The fourth day. The heavens, the sun, and the moon appeared.

Italicized words are in Hebrew.

Folio 1v (Latin)

Upper left: On the fifth day God created reptiles and fish and all creatures that live in the water and winged fowl and birds over the earth. (Genesis 1: 20–23)

Upper right: On the sixth day God created the reptiles of the earth, cattle and beasts, and finally man, destined to have dominion over all the living beings of the sea, the heaven and the earth. These were the works of the six days. On the seventh God rested from all the work which he had created. (Genesis 1:24 – 2:3)

Lower left: Here is how God placed Adam, the first man, in the garden of Eden and, in order that he might not be alone, formed a woman for him from one of his ribs as he was sleeping, commanding him to eat freely of every tree in the garden of Eden excluding the tree of knowledge of good or bad, for on the day in which he ate thereof he would surely die. (Genesis 2:8–25)

Lower right: Here is how the woman, deceived by the serpent’s fraud, ate of the forbidden tree, against the Lord’s command, and gave also to her man. When he had similarly eaten the eyes of them both were opened. (Genesis 3: 1–7)

Folio 1v (Persian)

Persian foliation: 43

Upper left: On the fifth day the birds and the fish were created.

Upper right margin: On the sixth day animals were created and after that Adam appeared.

Lower left margin: This is the image of Paradise wherein Adam rested [and Eve emerged from [his] left side; and His Excellence the Almighty commanded [them] to eat from the fruits of Heaven except from the specific tree which He forbade.

Lower right: At Eve’s behest, Adam’s eating [from] the forbidden tree and the symbol of rebellion of the pure Adam.

Folio 1v (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left margin: This is the scene of the fifth day, when birds and fish were created.

Upper right margin, furthest to right: On the sixth day animals were created; afterwards His Excellence Adam appeared.

Lower left margin, furthest to left: This is an image of the Garden [of Eden], when Eve was taken out from Adam’s left side. They were [not] prevented from eating from every tree, except from the Tree of Knowledge.

Lower right margin, below Latin: Adam’s eating [from] the tree.

Italicized words are in Hebrew.

Folio 2r (Latin)

Upper left: Here is how Adam and his wife, knowing that they were naked, made aprons or perisomata [for the Vulgate’s Greek word penzomata] for themselves of fig leaves and thereafter, having confessed all of their sin at the arrival of the Lord—although the man was casting the blame on the woman and the woman on the snake—were expelled from the garden of Eden with many a threat, an armed angel having been placed at the garden’s gate in order that they might not return. (Genesis 3: 7–24)

Upper right: How Adam, in consequence of the Lord’s threats, seeks bread in the sweat of his face while Eve bears children in pain as they both lead toilsome life. (Genesis 3:19;4:1–2)

Lower left: How when Cain and Abel, Adam’s sons, were making an offering and God had respect not for Cain’s sacrifice but for Abel’s, Cain, driven by anger and jealousy, kills his brother. (Genesis 4:3–8)

Lower right: How Lemech, blind by old age and for that reason having a youth to lead him on his way, while hunting, aimed an arrow, at the youth’s indication, and killed Cain who was hiding in the bushes. (Genesis 4:23 and Historia scholastica, Genesis 28)

Folio 2r (Persian)

Upper left margin: The expulsion of His Excellence Adam [and Eve] from Paradise for [his] rebellion.

Upper right margin: Adam tilling the ground for earning [his] sustenance and Eve spinning wool for clothes.

Lower left margin: This is the image of Abel and Cain and the murder of the brother and the sacrifice of Cain.

Lower right margin: The death of Abel by the arrow of the blind Lamech on the direction of Lamech’s son.

Folio 2r (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left margin, furthest left: Adam’s expulsion from Paradise.

Upper right margin, furthest right: Adam’s having a shovel as a means for his livelihood and Eve’s spinning of wool for clothing.

Lower left, above Latin: [An] image of Cain and Abel, the killing of Abel, and Cain’s [sic!] offering of sacrifice.

Lower right margin, furthest right: Lamech the Blind kills Cain as guided by his [Lamech’s] son.

Folio 2v (Latin)

Upper left: How God announces the impending flood to Noah, instructing him to make an ark for himself in which he may be saved, as the latter follows God’s instruction. (Genesis 6: 12–22)

Upper right: How Noah, his wife, his three sons and three daughters-in-law come into the ark, accompanied by two or seven of every kind of the animals of the earth and the winged fowl. And how at length, after he had sent a raven to reconnoiter which, having found a cadaver, did not return, Noah eventually sent a dove that returned bringing back an olive branch in her mouth. (Genesis 7:7 – 8:12)

Lower left: How Noah went forth onto the land with his sons and their wives and all the animals which were in the ark. (Genesis 8:18–19)

Lower right: How Noah, having built an altar, offered sacrifice to God who blessed him and his sons with many promises and many threats. (Genesis 8:20 – 9:17)

Folio 2v (Persian)

Persian foliation: 42

Upper left: This is the scene of the prophet Noah whom God the Exalted commanded to build an ark for deliverance.

Upper right: This is Noah’s Ark and from every creature a male and a female were gathered to it for the sake of [preserving] the race.

Lower left: When the rain halted, His Excellence Noah disembarked from the Ark.

Lower right: This is the image of Noah who, after deliverance from the Flood, offered sacrifice to God the Exalted.

Folio 2v (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left margin: [It is] the scene when God commanded Noah: "Make yourself an ark."

Upper right margin: This is the scene when every living being was present in order to enter the ark.

Lower left margin: When the rain stopped, Noah came out of the ark.

Lower right margin: It is the scene of Noah’s offering a sacrifice after having been saved from the Flood.

Folio 3r (Latin)

Upper left: How Noah planted the vine and thereupon, drunken with wine and uncovered, having been ridiculed by one of his sons, is modestly covered by the other two. (Genesis 9:20–23)

Upper right: How the tower of Babylon is erected and God, watching over human haughtiness from on high, confounds their languages that they may not understand each other while building and the work which was begun may thus not be completed. (Genesis 9: 3–9)

Lower left: How Abraham, wishing with the utmost obedience to sacrifice his one and only son at God’s command, having already raised his sword to slaughter, is held back by an angel and beyond hope a ram is offered and destined for sacrifice. (Genesis 22: 1–13)

Lower right: How the army of the King of the Elamites and one of the three other kings, having defeated the king of Gomorrah and four other kings, leads captives and among others Lot, Abraham’s nephew (Genesis 14: 1–12)

Folio 3r (Persian)

Upper left margin & upper left: After Noah left the Ark, he planted a vineyard and grew a cluster of grapes. Noah squeezed that cluster and drank its juice and became drunk. He had three sons; one came upon him and saw the father drunk and naked. He was clever, and it was he who called his brothers to see the father in this state. The brothers, seeing the father in this state, averted their eyes and covered his shame.

Upper right margin: A crowd conspired to build a tall tower so that if the rain would come again they would be safe from the Flood. Contrary to their intention, the Exalted God so deemed that if a master builder requested water, soil was delivered, and this was because they were not unanimous.

Lower left: This is the image of His Excellence Abraham who was commanded to sacrifice Isaac and having drawn [his] sword he intended to abide by God’s command. The Most Holy and Exalted God sent [a messenger] to halt his hand and blade to prevent him [Isaac] from harm.

Lower right: Four kings mustered armies; they entered a city and captured the people and amongst them the relative of His Excellence Abraham was captured.

Folio 3r (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left margin, furthest left: Here Noah, having drunk wine, became unconscious; his sons covered him.

Upper right margin, furthest right: The tale about the building of the palace in the days of Nimrod.

Lower left margin, beneath Latin: The site of Isaac’s binding.

Lower right, beneath Latin: The tale of the four kings going to Sodom, taking Lot and his wife prisoners, and assaulting them.And Abraham met them and retook the prisoners and the[ir] goods.

Folio 3v (Latin)

Upper half: How Abraham, upon discovering the matter, having pursued the victors who were going away with few men, defeated and scattered them and snatched away his nephew with all the spoils. (Genesis 14: 14–16)

Lower left: How Melchizedek, a priest and king of Jerusalem, met with Abraham as he was returning from the foretold victory, offering him bread and wine which were the prefiguration of the body and blood of Christ. (Genesis 14: 18–20)

Lower right: How when, due to the foul sins of the Sodomites, God had sent two angels to destroy the city and Lot had received them in hospitality, all the host of the men of the city surrounded Lot’s house, demanding the guests to basely abuse them. However, Lot was beseeching them to accept his two virgin daughters and avoid injuring the guests. (Genesis 19: 1–11)

Folio 3v (Persian)

Persian foliation: 41

Upper left margin: And his Excellence Abraham, with a group of his servants, pursued that army in order to rescue his relative. He fought them and most of the army was slain so that Abraham’s relative was recaptured by the assistance of God the Exalted.

Lower left: Because of Abraham’s victory, peace be upon him, the priest-king named Melchizedek and [sic] offered sacrifice to God the Exalted.

Lower right margin: Abraham’s relative, whose name was Lot, was resident at a city and the people of that city were sodomites and sinners. His Excellence God the Exalted sent two to ward against their harms and Lot hosted those two angels. A company of the sodomites came to Lot’s house [demanding], "Deliver these guests to us so that we fornicate with them." Lot did not oblige. And Lot had two daughters and said, "Take these girls instead of the guests." They did not accept and at this time the angel(s) went out and the group was blinded by the power of God the Exalted.

Folio 3v (Judeo-Persian)

Upper half: The coming of His Excellence Abraham against those four [sic!] kings who plundered and took prisoners [from] Lot’s town and other towns; he returns the goods and the prisoners.

Lower left, beneath Latin: Melchizedek, king of Salem, comes out to meet Abraham in order to apologize.

Lower right, above Latin: The tale of the angel going to Lot’s town in order to destroy it and his speaking with Lot.

Folio 4r (Latin)

Upper left: How Sodom and Gomorrah were overturned by fire sent from heaven. Lot alone escaped safely with his two daughters and his wife who, nevertheless, had looked backward against the angelic prohibition and thereupon became a pillar of salt. (Genesis 19: 12–26)

Upper right: How when Isaac who was already old and close to death and his eyes had dimmed had ordered his firstborn, Esau, who was to receive his father’s blessing, to go hunting and make him savory meat of his game, Rebecca, Isaac’s wife, cooked savory meat of kid’s flesh, and, in the absence of Esau, having carefully instructed him, sent Jacob, her younger son whom she loved more, to obtain her father’s blessing; beforehand. (Genesis 27:1–29)

Lower left: How Esau, having made savory meat of his game, came up [to?] his father who was ignorant of the deed and greatly astonished he poured forth [his grief], demanding in tears to be blessed. (Genesis 27: 30–34)

Lower right: How Jacob, fearing his brother’s anger and threats, saw in his dream, while retiring from his homeland, a vision of a mighty ladder from earth to heaven and of angels ascending and descending as the Lord was standing above the ladder. Thus when he had woke up he made an offering in that place. (Genesis 27: 41 – 28:22)

Folio 4r (Persian)

Upper left margin: And the angels told Lot, "Depart from amongst this company of sinners for the wrath of His Excellence God the Exalted is directed towards them, and get yourselves to the mountain and do not look to the sides." But Lot’s wife ignored the angels’ words and started looking [back] and was instantly turned into salt stone by the power of the Most Holy and Exalted God.

Right margin: And his Excellence Isaac the prophet had two sons each from a [different] wife. The elder son was named Esau and the younger son [was named] Jacob. Isaac was blind and he summoned the elder son to bring a sheep’s head [for me] to eat and to bless you. The mother of the younger son was present and she heard [it] and told the son, "You perform this service so that you receive the blessings." The son said, "My brother has hair on [his] limbs and I do not have hair; perhaps [my father] will touch my body, what shall I do then?" The mother said, "I shall remedy that." She attached pieces of lamb skin on his hand and neck and said, "Go and take the food." When he did so, Isaac said, "How is it that you came so soon?" He said, "The Lord provided." Isaac touched his hand, found hair, and blessed him. After an hour, the elder brother came and brought food and Isaac realized that it was the younger son who had [previously] brought the food and had procured the blessings. The mother of the elder son insisted on the blessing; Isaac said, "Earlier, he had brought [the food], and earlier, he was blessed."

Lower left: This is Isaac’s elder son who, since the father requested food, went for a hunt and caught a prey and when he had brought the food, the father had [already] blessed the younger son; he returned [and was] deprived [of the blessing].

Lower right: And the elder brother became the enemy of the younger brother who fled [to a certain place] in fear and hid in a corner. At night, he dreamt that a ladder was placed to the sky and the angels were ascending and descending. So that son took refuge in God and was delivered.

Folio 4r (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left margin, furthest left: Here it is that the angel said to Lot, "Get out of this town, this town will be destroyed." Lot left that town accompanied by his wife and daughters. His wife turned her head to look and turned into salt.

Right margin, furthest right: The tale of Isaac who wanted something brought to him to eat; Jacob brought it, then Esau came; he became Jacob’s enemy.

Lower left, beneath Latin: Here Esau also went hunting and brought [something for Isaac] to eat, but Jacob having brought his [food] earlier was blessed with God’s blessing.

Lower right, beneath Latin: When Jacob went toward Laban’s house, angels appeared going up and down a ladder.

Folio 4v (Latin)

Upper left: How Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban, his uncle near a well whence the flocks were watered and rolled the stone from the mouth of the well telling her who he was which she told her father and he, receiving Jacob in his house, makes a pact with him to tend his flocks in return for the hand of his daughter, Rachel. (Genesis 29: 1–20)

Upper right: How when Jacob who was made rich at Laban’s side was secretly returning to his homeland with his two wives, Laban’s daughters, with many young children born of each and with slaves and maids and ilochs, Laban pursued him with armed men and overtook him in mount Gilead. (Genesis 31)

Lower left: How Jacob wrestled with the angel and on the breaking of the day set out on his way. (Genesis 32: 24–31)

Lower right: How Jacob having sent messengers and presents to Esau, his brother, found him at last on his way and reconciled with him. (Genesis 32: 3–23, 32:1–15)

Folio 4v (Persian)

Upper left margin: According to legend, Jacob was walking a road; he saw his cousin standing by a well and, wanting to water the sheep and [seeing] a heavy stone on top of the well, he came forth and removed the stone. Accordingly, the girl’s father, who was his uncle, granted him his sheep and his daughter.

Upper right margin: After some time, Jacob decided to leave and took his wife and possessions and went to a mountain. The girl’s father gathered a group and pursued him on foot and caught up with him at the foot of the castle.

Lower left margin: And this is the image of Jacob when, at night, an angel of God came and embraced him and kept him till dawn in his embrace. Then he left and Jacob was struck with awe.

Lower right: This is the image of Jacob making peace with his brother [Esau], the arrival of [Jacob’s] ambassador, and the presentation of offerings, and the making of peace [with Esau].

Folio 4v (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left margin, furthest left: The tale of Jacob’s arrival at the mouth of the well where the daughter of his uncle was; Jacob drew water, quenched the thirst of her flock;....

Upper right margin, top: Here it is that Jacob, upon leaving Laban’s house, Laban comes after him and catches up with him.

Lower left, above Latin: Here it is that the angel and Jacob wrestle one another.

Lower right margin: This is the scene when, Jacob’s gifts having come before Esau, Esau comes and they are reconciled.

Folio 5r (Latin)

Upper left: How Jacob sent Joseph, his dearest son to his brothers who were tending the flock and these, as they hated him mortally and wished to kill him, revoked such an impious plan by the counsel of Reuben, the firstborn and cast him, having stripped him, into a pit, pristine and arid. (Genesis 37: 3–24)

Upper right: How Joseph was drawn out of the pit by his brothers and sold for thirty pieces of silver to merchants on their way to Egypt. (Genesis 37: 25–28)

Lower left: How Joseph’s brothers sent his coat, soiled in kid’s blood, to their father and he, when he had seen the coat said mournfully: ’An evil beast has devoured Joseph’; and he was saddened beyond consolation. (Genesis 37: 29–35)

Lower right: How after Joseph was sold to Pharaoh’s captain of the guard and was made an overseer over his house, at length his master’s wife fell in love with him and desired him to commit adultery with her. But when he had often refused, she secretly lay hand on him and snatched away his mantle as he was fleeing. Wherefore, seeing that she was put in contempt, she accused him in front of her husband, displaying the garment to add credibility to the charge, as if Joseph had wished to attack her. And indeed, the man, trusting her much, sent him to prison. There he was interpreting the dreams of the king’s imprisoned servants. One of these, the chief of butlers, saw himself with the king’s cup in his hand into which he was pressing ripe clusters of grapes offering it to Pharaoh. The other, the chief of bakers, saw himself carrying a basket of baked goods while birds were eating of it. Joseph declared that the first one was soon about to win the king’s favor again, while the second was about to die by hanging. And this befell both in three days. (Genesis 39, 40)

Folio 5r (Persian)

Upper left margin: This is the story of Joseph whose brethren [took] him from Jacob to the fields and with enmity cast Joseph into a waterless well; they returned to Jacob and brought [him] the news of his loss.

Upper right margin: And here, the brethren draw Joseph out of the well and sell him into slavery; his worth was assessed at thirty coins of silver.

Lower left margin: This is the image of Joseph’s brethren who captured a wolf and smeared his mouth with blood and smeared Joseph’s shirt with blood and they told Jacob that the wolf had devoured Joseph.

Lower right margin: And here, the merchants bring Joseph to Egypt and sell [him] to Zulaikha and Joseph’s imprisonment thereafter.

Folio 5r (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left margin, furthest left: This is the scene when the brothers took Joseph [and] threw him into a dry well.

Upper right margin, furthest right: The brothers took Joseph out of the well and sold him for a tribute of thirty [pieces] of silver.

Lower left margin, furthest left: This is the scene when, afterwards, having caught a wolf, they [the brothers] smeared Joseph’s shirt with [the wolf’s] blood.

Lower right margin, furthest right: This is the scene when, Joseph having been sold in Egypt, is imprisoned.

Italicized words are in Hebrew.

Folio 5v (Latin)

Upper left: How there appeared in Pharaoh’s dream seven cows, pleasant to the sight and plump and as many thin ones which devoured them; and likewise seven full ears of corn and as many empty ones which devastated them. (Genesis 41: 1–7)

Upper right: How the king, having woke up and summoned his wise men, found none who knew how to interpret these dreams. (Genesis 41:8)

Lower left: How Joseph who had been led out of the prison and brought before the king explained that seven years of plenty and as many years of famine were predicted in these dreams. (Genesis 41: 9–36)

Lower right: How the king honored Joseph with a ring and arranged that he be driven around in a chariot, ordering through a herald that all should bow their knees in front of him. (Genesis 41: 37–43)

Folio 5v (Persian)

Persian foliation: 39

Upper left margin: This image is of the king of Egypt who saw in a dream that seven lean kine devoured seven fat kine and then he saw that seven weak stalks of wheat destroyed seven strong stalks; these occurrences were a portent of the seven-year famine in Egypt.

Upper right margin: When the king awoke from that sleep, he summoned interpreters and learned men and told them of his dream. The interpreters were unable to interpret that dream and it remained unsolved.

Lower left margin: Afterwards they told the king of Egypt that there is someone sitting in the prison who knows the interpretation of this dream. They fetched Joseph and His Excellence Joseph interpreted each of the seven as signs of the seven-year famine [to come to] Egypt.

Lower right margin: And since Joseph, peace be upon him, had related the interpretation of the king’s dream, the king gave his ring to Joseph and exalted Joseph; they placed him upon a chariot and the court grandees rose to show [their] respect to Joseph.

Folio 5v (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left margin, furthest left: The king [Pharaoh] dreams about the fat and lean cattle.

Upper right margin, furthest right: The king seeks out dream interpreters to interpret his dream.

Lower left margin, furthest left: The ruler of Egypt is informed that there is a person in [his] prison who knows how to interpret dreams well.

Lower right margin, furthest right: Joseph interprets the king’s dream and the king bestows his ring upon Joseph.

Folio 6r (Latin)

Upper left: How when Joseph, having been made overseer over all the land of Egypt during the years of plenty which came as he had predicted, had collected an infinite amount of grain in immense storehouses which were built, and, during the following years of hunger which came over the whole world and over Egypt itself, was selling grain to the people for a high price, his brothers, having been sent by their father, came to Egypt. Knowing them but unknown to them, Joseph speaks roughly calling them spies and ordering them to fetch their youngest brother whom, as they were saying, they had left alone at home with their old father. Meanwhile he gave them the grain for which they came and furtively restored the money to each of their sacks (Genesis 41: 46 – 42: 24)

Upper right: How, having returned to their father, when they had told him all, they at length and with difficulty brought him to give them the youngest of his sons whom they brought with them as they returned to Egypt. (Genesis 42: 29 – 43: 14)

Lower left: How, having returned to Joseph, they offered him gifts and honored him. He was indeed brought to pity at the site of Benjamin. (Genesis 43: 26–30)

Lower right: How, Joseph, the money having been put in their sacks as before and a silver cup in Benjamin’s sack, orders that they be brought before him as they retire. (Genesis 44: 1–12)

Folio 6r (Persian)

Upper left margin: The coming of Joseph’s brethren from the famine of Canaan to Egypt in search of grain; Joseph’s recognition of his brothers; the hiding of gold in the wheat sacks; the accusation of theft; keeping them hostage until they bring the ransom from Jacob.

Upper right margin: Joseph’s brethren came to the father and requested the ransom, which [consisted of Benjamin] Joseph’s blood brother. They took him to Egypt and the rest of the true story manifested [itself].

Lower left margin: The arrival of the brethren in Egypt and their presentation to Joseph of the ransom [Benjamin] with gifts and offerings.

Lower right & lower right margin: And after they brought grain in order to leave for Canaan, Joseph, peace be upon him, wished to keep the ransom [Benjamin]. And it was the law that whoever was accused of theft must serve in slavery for one year. Thus in this manner the ransom was separated from the brethren and they returned to the father and increased the father’s sorrow.

Folio 6r (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left margin, furthest left: The arrival of the brothers from the famine of Canaan to Egypt in order to purchase corn and Joseph’s recognizing them.

Upper right margin, furthest right: The return of the brothers from Egypt wanting to carry off Benjamin from his father and [their] doing so.

Lower left, above Latin: The arrival of Joseph’s brothers from Canaan bringing Benjamin, along with gifts, before Joseph.

Lower right margin, furthest right: The hiding of the wheat measuring [cup] in Benjamin’s sack in order to detain Benjamin.

Folio 6v (Latin)

Upper left: How, as these returning in great fear, Joseph, unable to contain himself any longer, embraces Benjamin his brother with many a tear (Genesis 44: 13 – 45:14)

Upper right: How Joseph feasts with his brothers (Genesis 43: 32–34)

Lower left: How, after they have received many presents as well as a chariot to bring their father with all his household to Egypt, the sons return to Jacob telling him all that they have seen, as he is stupefied and hardly willing to believe. (Genesis 45: 19–28)

Lower right: How Joseph introduces his father and brothers before Pharaoh the king. (Genesis 48: 1–10)

Folio 6v (Persian)

Persian foliation: 38.

Upper left margin: When they brought the brethren accused of theft before Joseph, they were extremely fearful and shaken and the ransom (Joseph’s blood brother) was exceedingly frightened. Joseph embraced him and kissed his face. It became apparent then that he was Joseph’s blood brother.

Upper right margin: And Joseph’s reception for the brethren.

Lower left margin: Joseph sends off his brothers with a wealth of offerings and requests his father [to come].

Lower right: The arrival of Jacob in Egypt and Joseph’s presentation of Jacob and his brethren to the king of Egypt.

Folio 6v (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left margin, furthest left: The brothers are bought before Joseph on account of the theft [of the goblet]. Benjamin was very frightened, [but] Joseph pulled Benjamin toward him and kissed him.

Upper right margin, bottom: Joseph shows hospitality to his brothers.

Lower left margin, furthest left: Joseph sends off his brothers with many favors to seek out [their] father.

Lower right, below Latin: Jacob’s arrival in Egypt and Joseph’s petitioning of the King on behalf of his brothers’ coming to Egypt.

Folio 7r (Latin)

Upper left: How Joseph led to his father his two sons whom he had begotten in Egypt, placing the elder to the right of his father and the younger to his left. The old man, his hands crossed, placed his right hand upon the younger’s head but upon the elder’s head he placed the left, blessing them both and setting the younger before the elder. (Genesis 48: 1–20)

Upper right: How Jacob, in great sickness and close to death, tells his sons that which will befall them, ordering them to bury him with his fathers. (Genesis 49)

Lower left: How Joseph and his brothers together with the king’s household and many other Egyptians bury Jacob where he himself had ordered. Here ends the book of Genesis. (Genesis 49: 1–13)

Lower right: Here begins the book of Exodus. How, after the death of Joseph and the Pharaoh who, on his account, had liked the children of Israel, as another Pharaoh was ruling over the Egyptians, when the Children of Israel had increased abundantly, the king, starting to suspect them, began oppressing them in strange ways by building cities of mud and bricks and by all sorts of servitude. (Exodus 1: 6–14)

Folio 7r (Persian)

Upper left margin: And this is the image of Jacob who blesses the sons of Joseph and holds the hand of the elder son in his right hand and the younger in his left; and after that he changed hands so the elder remained in [his] left hand. And Joseph asked, "Why did you change hands?" Jacob said, "God the Exalted has so commanded."

Upper right margin: This is His Excellence Jacob who summoned his sons and blessed each one separately telling them how each shall be what shall befall them [because] God has grafted on his soul whatsoever shall happen to them.

Lower left margin: When Jacob died, the sons, fearing the evil they had done to Joseph, went to Joseph asking for forgiveness. Joseph said, "I have forgotten your evils."

Lower right margin: And when Joseph died, and the king of Egypt died, and another king ascended to rule, he wondered about the tribe of Joseph who were numerous lest they seize the kingdom from him. He sanctioned the oppression of that people.

Folio 7r (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left, beneath Latin: The tale of Jacob blessing Joseph’s sons.

Upper right, beneath Latin: The gathering of the tribes before Jacob, peace be upon him, and his blessing each one of them.

Lower left, above Latin: His Excellence Jacob departs from the world and the brothers come before Joseph to beg his forgiveness for his having been sold.

Lower right, above Latin: [After] Joseph’s death and the death of Pharaoh, [there came] the reign of a second Pharaoh who tormented the Children of Israel. The Persian text as it found [here] is wrong; this is not what it says.

Italicized words are in Hebrew.

Folio 7v (Latin)

Upper left: How, upon the birth of Moses, his mother fearing the king who had ordered that all newborn male Hebrews be killed, put him in a little ark woven of rushes on the river’s bank. (Exodus 2:1–3)

Upper right: How the daughter of the king had found the child, and, knowing him to be of the Hebrew’s children, had compassion for him and devised that he be nursed. (Exodus 2: 5–10)

Lower left: How, as Moses was tending his flock in the desert, there appeared to him that marvelous vision of a bush burning without being consumed, and God, talking to him in the midst of the bush and telling him to put off his shoes from his feet, and moreover to go to Pharaoh and to tell him to set the Israelites free. (Exodus 3:2–10)

Lower right: How the children of Israel, seeing Moses and hearing that God had compassion for them, leaned to the ground in worship. (Exodus 4: 29–31)

Folio 7v (Persian)

Persian foliation: 35

Upper left margin: And thereafter, Pharaoh ordered the killing of all the sons born to anyone in this tribe. At that time, His Excellence Moses was born and his mother was afraid and she placed him in a basket and cast it into the water entrusting him to God.

Upper right margin: And when they threw Moses into water, by chance Pharaoh’s daughter came by the river and suddenly saw a basket on it and they pulled it out. They saw a boy wrapped in stuff; Pharaoh’s daughter was pleased and took him in as her child.

Lower left margin: Moses’s occupation was that of a shepherd and [once] while in the desert a voice from His Excellence [God] the Exalted came that "O, Moses, We assist you to go and save the tribe of Joseph from Pharaoh’s oppression."

Lower right margin: Moses came to the tribe and said, "God has commanded [me] to deliver you from Pharaoh."

Folio 7v (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left, beneath Latin: Pharaoh decrees the killing of male [children from among the] Children of Israel. The birth of Moses, peace be upon him, and casting him into the water.

Upper right, beneath Latin: Bithiah’s coming to the river, her seeing Moses’ small basket, taking it and carrying it off.

Lower left, above Latin: In the desert when a voice came to the prophet saying: "Go to Egypt to bring out the Children of Israel, [Moses thought] "I wish He would not bring them out."

Lower right, above Latin: The entrance of the faithful prophet into Egypt in order to deliver the Children of Israel.

Italicized words are in Hebrew.

Folio 8r (Latin)

Upper left: How Moses and his brother Aaron talk to Pharaoh and start to show miracles before him. Indeed, Aaron’s rod had turned into a serpent, but when by their magical art the king’s wise men had also turned their rods into serpents, Aaron’s rod swallowed up the other rods. (Exodus 7: 1–12)

Upper right: How Moses and Aaron, having returned to the king, showed another miracle. For when Aaron had smote the river the water was turned into blood and the fish died. (Exodus 7: 19–21)

Lower left: How they showed another miracle. For when Aaron’s rod had touched the river such a multitude of frogs went up that they covered all the land. (Exodus 8:1–7)

Lower right: How, when Aaron’s rod had smote the dust, it all turned into lice and flies. (Exodus 8: 16–24)

Folio 8r (Persian)

Left Margin: Moses coming before Pharaoh for the liberation of his people, saying, "God has commanded that you deliver them to me." Pharaoh said, "You lie." Moses threw his staff and it turned into a serpent. Pharaoh told the magicians, "You too perform magic." They too made serpents with magic and threw them in Moses’ path. Moses threw his staff; it turned into a serpent and quelled their magic.

Lower left: Once again Moses came before Pharaoh and demanded his people. Pharaoh exhorted him, "I shall not give [them]." Moses struck water with his staff; the water instantly turned into blood and the fish and the creatures [in it] perished.

Upper right margin: The next time Moses came to demand his people, Pharaoh refused; Moses struck the water with his rod; instantly so many frogs appeared that the Pharaoh was helpless.

Lower right margin: The next time Moses came to demand his people, Pharaoh refused; Moses struck the ground with his staff; so many bees appeared and sat on Pharaoh’s head and face and made Pharaoh cry that he said to halt. So Moses shook his staff and the bees dispersed and Pharaoh was relieved and afterwards he did not release [them].

Folio 8r (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left, below Latin: The first coming of the prophet before Pharaoh.

Upper right, below Latin: On another occasion, the miracle of water turning into blood.

Lower left, below Latin: The miracle of the appearance of the frogs.

Lower right, above Latin: The miracle of the appearance of the bees and their sticking to the head of His Excellence, Pharaoh; his giving permission to the Children of Israel to [go and] repent.

Italicized words are in Hebrew.

Folio 8v (Latin)

Upper left: How all the animals of the Egyptians died at once. (Exodus: 9–16)

Upper right: How thunder and lightning and storm and hail laid waste all of Egypt except the part where the children of Israel were dwelling. (Exodus 9:22–26)

Lower left: How the children of Israel sacrifice to God according to Moses’ counsel and mark their houses with blood. Thus God or an angel, coming at midnight and leaving the marked houses intact, kills each and every Egyptian firstborn. (Exodus 12: 21 – 29)

Lower right: How, Pharaoh, at last prevailed upon by so many miracles, orders Moses and Aaron at night to go out of Egypt with all the children of Israel, and they leave with their flocks and their herds and all of their possessions, the Egyptians having been despoiled, and the Lord goes before them by day in a pillar of cloud and by night in a pillar of fire. (Exodus 12:30 – 13: 22)

Folio 8v (Persian)

Persian foliation: 34

Upper left margin: Once again Moses demanded his tribe; Pharaoh refused. Again Moses struck the ground with the staff so that all animals, from horse and sheep and camel, whatever there was in that land, perished.

Upper right margin: The next time Moses came before Pharaoh demanding his tribe, he was unsuccessful. Moses shook his staff in the air. Suddenly, burning thunder and lightning appeared in the sky and it burned whatsoever it struck except [that] fire did not appear on the side where the tribe of His Excellence Moses was and they remained intact.

Lower left margin: The next time Moses demanded his tribe, Pharaoh refused and Moses told his tribe," Offer sacrifices and mark with the sacrificial blood the doors of the houses." At midnight, an angel came to the doors of the houses; if he found the mark, he did not enter, and he entered those houses of the Egyptians which were unmarked and he slew their first-born sons.

*Lower right margin: When day broke, Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, "Take away your tribe." So Moses told his tribe to go and borrow all that was valuable from the Egyptians; and they did so.

Lower right: And Moses took his people with the possessions and departed from the court of Pharaoh.

*The text starts from the right side of the illustration and continues at the bottom.

Folio 8v (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left, below Latin: The miracle of the death of all animals.

Upper right, below Latin: The miracle of thunder and lightning and the coming of fire which burned everything.

Lower left, above Latin: The miracle of the death of the firstborn which occurred at night.

Lower right, below Latin: When morning came Pharaoh sought out the prophet and gave permission for the Children of Israel to leave. They asked to borrow their [the Egyptians’] property but they did not give it.

Italicized words are in Hebrew.

Folio 9r (Latin)

Upper half: How, when the children of Israel crossed the depths of the sea with dry feet, and Pharaoh, his heart hardened, was pursuing them with his host, Moses, striking the sea as God had ordered, reduced into one place the sea water in which Pharaoh was overwhelmed and submerged with all his chariots and horses, absolutely none escaping. (Exodus 14)

Lower left: How the children of Israel, saved from such dangers, give thanks to God. (Exodus 15: 1–21)

Lower right: How Moses and the people of Israel, having entered the desert, came to a place where the water was bitter and, as the people could not drink it, they began murmuring against Moses. He, turning to God, devised a remedy on the spot. (Exodus 15: 23–26)

Folio 9r (Persian)

*Left margin: And when Moses had led his tribe three leagues out of the city, Pharaoh regretted having released them. He gathered the army and pursued them. When Moses reached the seashore and struck the sea with his staff, a path appeared. Moses with his people stepped into the sea and Pharaoh and his army [also] entered the water. And Moses struck the water again and the sea closed in and they [the Egyptians] drowned.

Lower left: The tribe of Moses emerged from the sea unscathed and embarked on praising his Excellence the God.

*The inscription begins in the Left Margin and continues beneath the Lower Left quadrant.

Lower right margin: The tribe of Moses reached a place in the desert where there was a well of water [so] exceedingly bitter and salty that they could not drink and they informed Moses wondering what shall happen to them.

Folio 9r (Judeo-Persian)

Left margin, furthest left: Having been authorized, the Children of Israel [exit] from Egypt. Pharaoh, repenting [of having granted permission], sends the army after them.

Lower left, beneath Latin: Here it is that the Children of Israel, having come out of the sea, Moses [and] Miriam busied themselves with singing.

Lower right margin, bottom corner: This is the scene when the Children of Israel arrived at the spring of bitter water, which was Marah.

Italicized words are in Hebrew.

Folio 9v (Latin)

Upper left: How Moses cast into the water a tree which had been just shown to him and the water was made sweet so that the people and the cattle drank. (Exodus 15:25)

Upper right: How when the people of Israel, suffering from hunger, were murmuring once more in the desert, the Lord said to Moses that it would rain bread for them. And it rained manna, which satisfied the people. (Exodus 16: 1–15)

Lower left: How the people of Israel murmur again in thirst, and Moses, having consulted with God, smites a rock and water flows abundantly. (Exodus 17: 1–7)

Lower right: How Amalek attacks Israel and, at Moses’ command, Joshua forms an army and falls upon the enemies. (Exodus 17: 8–10)

Folio 9v (Persian)

Persian foliation: 37

Upper left margin: When Moses reached the bitter water, he threw the rod that he had received from God into the water; by the power of God the Exalted, the water turned sweet.

Upper right margin: And this is the desert into which Moses went with the community. There was nothing to eat in that desert. They said to Moses, "We are hungry." Moses stood in prayer and asked God for food for them. And it rained something from the cloud called Minoo [manna] and each took in a cup as much as they wished and for each it turned into what they desired, be it honey or bread.

Lower left margin: Then they came to a desert where there was no water; Moses struck a rock with the rod and water emerged.

Lower right margin & lower right: His Excellence Moses arrived at a frontier where there was a king named Hamalek [Amalek] and that king rose in enmity and Moses sent forth his army to confront him.

Folio 9v (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left margin, furthest left, corner:The Children of Israel, having arrived at the [spring of] bitter water, Moses struck it with [his] staff [and] sweetened it.

Upper right, below Latin: This is the scene when the prophet [Moses] prayed [and] manna descended; they carried it in goblets.

Lower left margin, furthest left: This is the scene of Massah and Meribah when there was no water and Moses struck the middle of the mountain [sic!] [and] water appeared.

Lower right margin, furthest right: This place is at Rephidim when Amalek came to fight the Children of Israel.

Italicized words are in Hebrew.

Folio 10r (Latin)

Upper half: How Joshua sent ahead three thousand warriors against the city of Ai and the men of the city went out, defeated them and killed some, a thing which was brought about by the anger of God who had commanded through Joshua’s mouth that Jericho be destroyed and its men be killed; the city itself was to be accursed and no spoils were to be taken. But one of the children of Israel had taken of the spoils and concealed it against God’s command. (Joshua 7: 3–12)

Lower left: How Joshua, upon hearing about his men’s flight, sat down before the ark and prostrated himself before God who indicated what was the cause of his anger and ordered that lots be cast and the one who was to blame be found. This was done and the person, once found, revealed his sin, and he brings forth the gold and silver and the precious cloth which he had stolen by stealth. (Joshua 7: 6–23)

Lower right: How Joshua brought about that this transgressor, Achan by name, be stoned with all the spoils and with his sons and daughters, his cattle and sheep, and his tent with its content, as the judgment of God is indeed just but hidden. (Joshua 7: 24–25)

Folio 10r (Persian)

Upper left margin: And Joshua with a company came to capture a city and the people of that city came out and the company of Joshua was broken up.

Lower left margin: And Joshua prayed to God [imploring Him], "Why has my company been defeated?" And God the Exalted said, "There is a sinner among you."

Lower right margin: Joshua searched for the sinner and they found him and killed him.

Lower right: Wherever Joshua is mentioned the intention is Yavush the son of Nun.

Folio 10r (Judeo-Persian)

Upper right margin: Here it is that the Israelites were defeated by the people of Ai.

Lower left margin, closest left: Joshua b. Nun supplicates before God on account of the defeat of the Children of Israel by the people of Ai.

Lower right margin, bottom corner: Here it is that they are killing Achan the son of Carmi.

Italicized words are in Hebrew.

Folio 10v (Latin)

Upper half: How when God, now well disposed toward all the people of Israel after the punishment of one family, had commanded Joshua to set ambushes and attack the city, he obeyed, took the city and having killed all, hanged the king himself on a pole. (Joshua 8: 1–29)

Lower half: How, upon hearing about the destruction of the cities of Jericho and Ai, the people of Gibeon, greatly terrified, perfidiously planned to go to Joshua, concealing the fact that they were the inhabitants of those regions and pretending to be coming from far away. To make it evident they took old clothes and torn shoes and some very old bread, and thus coming to Joshua’s army, they made a treaty, by means of such a pledge, which guaranteed their safety and prevented him from killing them. (Joshua 9: 3–15)

Folio 10v (Persian)

Persian foliation: 36

Upper left margin: After seizing the sinner, they went and conquered that city and hanged the king of that city and the realm became theirs.

Lower left margin: And they sent an ambassador from another city which lay near the realm Joshua had captured; and they came clad in old garments and said, "We have come from far way, make peace with us for we do not intend war." Joshua accepted and made peace with them. And they entered to see the city. He [Joshua] said, "You have lied that you come from far away." But Joshua, who had sworn [to make peace], forgave them.

Folio 10v (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left margin, furthest left: This is a town which the Children of Israel conquered, hanged its king, and became masters of the town. I don’t know where this is.

Lower half, above Latin: This is the tale of the Gibeonites who came with treachery before Joshua so that Joshua would grant them safety.

Italicized words are in Hebrew.

Folio 11r (Latin)

Upper half: How when Joshua’s fame had reached the king of Jerusalem, he, fearing greatly for himself and his kingdom, conspired with four other kings, and first of all attacks the city of Gibeon, since it had made a treaty with Joshua. But the people of Gibeon begged Joshua for help against these five kings and he, coming with a great army, defeated them in battle. Yet, fearing that night would come and prevent the victory, he ordered with great assurance the sun and the moon to stand still. Indeed, there has never been a day as long as that one, as God was obeying a human voice. (Joshua 10: 1–14)

Lower half: How when almost all the men of the king’s army had been killed and it had been told to Joshua that the five kings themselves were hiding in a cave, he had them dragged out and ordered the captains of Israel to trample on their necks with their feet. (Joshua 10: 17–24)

Folio 11r (Persian)

*Upper right margin: Wherever Joshua is written, Joshua the son of Nun is intended.

Upper right margin: And Joshua set out to conquer the other city. The king of that city, with four other kings, levied an army and war broke out on that day. A little while before the sunset, Joshua pointed to it [saying], "Stop!" The sun halted in place and the army of the enemy broke up, by the assistance of the Most High God, exalted be His glory. And it is said that that day was longer than any other.

When Joshua conquered that realm, those five kings who had aided each other took refuge in a cave. And Joshua ordered that they be drawn out and told his people to trample on their heads.

*This inscription in the upper right hand corner.

Folio 11r (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left margin: The tale of Joshua b. Nun’s war with Adoni-zedek [and] with other kings and [their] fleeing the war; Joshua’s praying for the sun to become bound; he defeats the five kings and they flee to a cave.

Lower left margin: Joshua’s bringing out of the cave of the five kings and his commanding the Children of Israel that they should trample those kings.

Italicized words are in Hebrew.

Folio 11v (Latin)

Upper half: How Joshua had the five kings who had been defeated in battle hanged on trees. (Joshua 10: 26)

Lower left: How Joshua, old, advanced in years and near death, gives many orders to the assembled children of Israel, encouraging them to be observant of the laws. (Joshua 23: 1–24 – 24)

Lower right: How, the affairs of the children of Israel now settled, Joshua dies. (Joshua 24: 29)

Folio 11v (Persian)

Persian foliation: 33

Upper left margin: And after that Joshua ordered those five kings to be hanged.

Lower left: When Joshua’s death neared, he summoned his people and gave his last testament.

Lower right: Here, Joshua breathed his last breath and died.

Folio 11v (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left margin, furthest left: The hanging of the five kings.

Lower left margin: At the time of Joshua’s death, he seeks out the Children of Israel and bequeaths his will.

Lower right, beneath Latin: Joshua’s departure from the world.

Italicized words are in Hebrew.

Folio 12r (Latin)

Upper half: From the Book of Judges. How, after the death of Joshua, the people of Israel began to stray from the law of God and to be subdued by their enemies and served the king of the Moabites for a long time. Now, when they sent gifts to him, through the agency of one, Ehud by name, who was able to use both hands for his right he, as if to have a word in secrecy with the king, dismissed all those who were present, approached the king and killed him with a dagger which was hidden under his clothes. Then, having carefully locked the doors of the parlor, he went out through the porch and escaped. (Judges 3:7–30)

Lower half: How Deborah the prophetess who was in those days judging the people with Barak the captain of the army, set out to battle and defeated the captain, the army, and all the chariots of Jabin, the king of Canaan, who had mightily oppressed the people of Israel. (Judges 4: 1–16)

Folio 12r (Persian)

Upper right margin: After Joshua died, his people slackened in their obeisance to God and were finally enslaved by an idolater king. And by the command of God, one of the disciples brought gifts before that king and told the king, "I have a word to deliver and would want no one present when I deliver it." And when it [the room] was cleared, he drew the sword he was hiding and slew the king. After that, the accompanying community of Joshua took over and rescued him [the killer] so he was not harmed.

Lower half: And there was a girl amongst the people of Joshua who was the leader of that group and her name was Delbureh [Deborah]. She levied an army and descended upon the enemies of Joshua and defeated them.

Folio 12r (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left margin: The tale of Eglon, king of Moab, when the Children of Israel sent a gift along with Ehud from Eglon. During the private [interview] he [Ehud] killed Eglon [as] it is written in Judges.

Lower half, beneath Latin: I do not know what is written in Persian.

Then, after Joshua, a girl became leader, she attacked the enemy and defeated them.

Italicized words are in Hebrew.

Folio 12v (Latin)

Upper half: How Sisera, the king’s defeated captain, fled on foot and reached the tent of Jael, the wife of Haber the Kenite, who gave him some drink as he was very thirsty and was asking for it, and hid him in her tent. As he fell asleep, she, having in due time placed nearby a nail of the tent and a hammer, smote and killed him. Then she showed his dead body to Barak, the pursuing enemy’s captain. (Judges 4: 17–22)

Lower half: How, on account of their sins, the children of Israel were delivered into the hand of the Midianites who, oppressing them in various ways, were carrying away all of their victuals. But when the children of Israel, with Gibeon among them, were hastening to collect the grain before it would be snatched away by their enemies, there appeared an angel of the Lord ordering Gibeon to go and free Israel. Now, he asked him to give a clear sign of the divine will and to wait for him while he prepared his sacrifice. Once the angel had responded that he would do so, Gideon prepared a kid and unleavened loaves and carried the broth of the flesh in a pot. The angel instructed him to lay everything upon a rock and to pour the broth thereupon. When this was done, the angel touched the sacrifice with the tip of his staff. Straightway a fire rose up, from which Gideon understood that this was the Lord’s angel. (Judges 6: 1–21)

Folio 12v (Persian)

Persian foliation: 32

Upper left margin: It happened that one of the leaders of the idolaters, who bore enmity towards Joshua’s people, became thirsty and came to the house of one of Joshua’s people. A woman was there; he asked her for water. The woman fetched a cup of milk and he drank the entire cup. Instantly, he was overcome with sleep; excessive drinking of milk results in weakness and sleep. When that foe lay down his head and fell asleep, the woman found an opportunity and brought a nail and nailed his forehead to the ground and he was slain.

Lower left margin: Joshua’s people committed a sin and God enslaved them to the idolaters. And, afterwards God dispatched an angel to one who was the elder amongst them saying that, "The Lord God has appointed you the commander of this company so that you deliver your people from the enemy." And he [said] "How do I know if you are the angel of God?" He said, "Prepare foods of meat and bread so it becomes apparent to you." He fetched food. The angel had a rod in hand; he struck the food and flames of fire arose from the food and all the food burned.

Folio 12v (Judeo-Persian)

Upper right margin: The tale of Sisera’s flight from Barak b. Abinoam, his coming to Jael’s tent to hide, to take refuge with Jael; Jael’s striking a nail in his temple and killing him

Lower right margin: The tale of Gibeon b. Joash, which is described in [chapter] 6 of Judges, [namely], the coming of the angel before him, his striking the angel with the staff and the burning of all the food.

Folio 13r (Latin)

Upper left: How Gideon tore down the altar of Baal and shattered his father’s carved images into pieces, as God had instructed him. (Judges 6: 25–32)

Upper right: How Gideon, now full of the spirit of God, sounded the trumpet, sent messengers, and called other people to come to his assistance. Then he asked as a sign from heaven, that if God was with him, only a fleece of wool that had been placed on the floor would be touched with dew, while the noor would remain dry. This happened as he had asked from God and he rose up after the night and filled a vessel with dew from the wrung fleece. (Judges 6: 34–38)

Lower half: How Gideon enters the Midianite camp with only three hundred men, carrying, as do his allies, a trumpet in one hand and a lamp in the other, for God had instructed him to do so, and thereupon such a great terror and confusion seized the enemies that they not only fled but cut each other down. (Judges 7: 16–23)

Folio 13r (Persian)

Upper left margin: And the man to whom the angel appeared was called Jidian (Gideon) and his father was an idolater and he fashioned two idols in order to convert the people to idolatry. And when Gideon found out that God will make him the commander of the people, he came to his father’s temple of idols and smashed all the idols, for the sake of God.

Upper right margin: And when he had smashed the idols, he blew a trumpet and the army gathered around him and he became their commander.

Lower right margin: And Gideon, having become the commander of the army, gathered a large army to compete with the army of the enemy. His Excellence God the Exalted ordered him to keep [only] three hundred of this group and release the rest to return to their homes [saying], "We will make you victorious with this small army; take a trumpet in one hand and hold an [empty] basin with a lamp inside in the other and when you reach the enemy, blow the trumpet and break the basin so that the lamp glows and when the enemy sees this event, they shall be frightened and the army shall break up and relief will come."

Folio 13r (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left, beneath Latin: The tale of Gideon when, as it is written in Judges [chapter] 6; he went before the idolatry of his father, and struck them [the idols] down.

Upper right margin, furthest right: After gathering together in front of the idolatry of his father, Gideon blew into a trumpet and they [the people] made him their chieftain.

Lower half, above Latin: This is the tale of Gideon, as it is written in Judges [chapter] 7; it was God’s command that Gideon should go to war against the enemy with three hundred men; having gone, he won.

Folio 13v (Latin)

Upper half: How, following Gideon’s order, the tribe of Ephraim takes possession of the enemy’s land. (Judges 7:24)

Lower half: How the same tribe of Ephraim cuts off the head of Oreb and Zeeb in order to bring them to Gibeon. (Judges 11:29–35)

Folio 13v (Persian)

Persian foliation: 31

Upper left margin: And Gideon turned to the army of the enemy and made a vow and a condition that, "When I return home after victory and conquest, I shall sacrifice whoever comes forth [first]. And Gideon had a daughter; the first person to come forth was that same daughter.

Lower half: Gideon chose a company out of his army and sent them to bring back the heads of those two kings; and that company went and brought both their heads.

Folio 13v (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left margin: The tale of Gideon who had vowed that if he won and came home, he would sacrifice whoever would come out to meet him first. His daughter came out to [meet] him.

Upper right & upper right margin: This was also written in error. It is not the tale of Gideon’s daughter but of Jephthah.

Lower half, beneath Latin: Gideon sends away for the heads of the two kings as it is written in Judges [chapter] 8.

Folio 14r (Latin)

Upper left: How Gideon returned as a victor, tore down the tower of Penuel and killed the city’s inhabitants, because he had told them before that he would do it, and because they had refused to give him bread as he was going to battle. (Judges 8: 5–17)

Upper right: How, as the children of Israel were vehemently afflicted on account of their sins, an angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah and his barren wife announcing the birth of a son. (Judges 13: 1–14)

Lower left: How Manoah and his wife, unaware of the fact that he was an angel of the Lord, offered a sacrifice, and the angel ascended to heaven with the victim’s dame. (Judges 13: 15–23)

Lower right: How Samson, a man of enormous strength, was born to Manoah and his sterile wife. When as a youth he was traveling with his parents and a lion rushed toward him roaring, he killed and dismembered it with his hand with no sword or staff. (Judges 13: 24 – 14:6)

Folio 14r (Persian)

Upper right margin: And when Gideon, with God’s assistance, had taken that city, he finally breathed his last breath and after his death his people fell into sin and God delivered them back into the hands of the enemy. Thereafter, God send an angel to one of those people and he said, "God will grant you a son who will vanquish the enemy."
(Fragment beneath # 93) And after...

Lower left: And because of this child, whom the angel foretold, he offered sacrifices to God.

Lower right, above and below Latin inscription: And the angel who came to help a son to be born; his name was Samsam (Samson). One day, he went with his mother and father to the fields. He encountered a lion who charged towards them. Samson stepped forth and tore apart the lion’s jaw and mouth and the father and mother did not know that this help issued from God.

Folio 14r (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left margin: After the death of Gideon, the Children of Israel are at the place of their idolatry. I don’t know what tale this is.

Lower left, beneath Latin: The tale of the birth of Samson; the sacrificial offering of his father.

Lower right, beneath Persian: Samson’s killing of a lion without anyone’s knowledge.

Italicized words are in Hebrew.

Folio 14v (Latin)

Upper half: How Samson, who was angered by the Philistines, from among whom he had a wife, caught three hundred foxes and tied them tail to tail with burning torches placed in between and let them to go only where, running in different directions through the enemy’s ripe crops, they were to burn all. (Judges 15: 1–5).

Lower left: How men of the tribe of Judah, fearing that the Philistines, who were then ruling over them, would take vengeance on them for Samson’s deed, sent three thousand men to arrest him and hand him over, tied up, to the Philistines who fastened him with two new ropes. (Judges 15: 9–13)

Lower right: How when Samson was led by his own men to be handed over to their enemy, the bands by which he was bound were suddenly broken and he, rushing toward his enemies, killed a thousand men with a jawbone of an ass which he had found accidentally. (Judges 15: 14–16)

Folio 14v (Persian)

Persian foliation: 30

Upper left margin: Samson left at dawn and captured many foxes from every direction; it is said that three hundred foxes fell into his hands. In pairs, he tied their tails together and attached a bunch of hay to them and set them on fire. They ran in the midst of the wheat [fields] which belonged to the enemies of Samson and all [the fields] burned.

Lower left margin: Samson’s enemies, seeing their harvest had burned, told Samson’s brethren that, "We shall fight you; better that you deliver him to us." They came to Samson and said, "The enemies have demanded you from us." Samson said, "Tie me up and deliver me into their hands." They brought two new ropes and tied Samson’s hands tightly and surrendered him to the enemy.

Lower right, above and below Latin inscription: They surrendered bound Samson to them, and the army of the enemy was three thousand men and they set out to kill Samson. Samson strained and tore the ropes and he picked up the jawbone of an ass which lay on the ground and slew those three thousand men with a single jawbone of an ass and finished them off.

Folio 14v (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left margin, corner: Samson sets on fire the Philistine’s wheat harvest, by fastening tapers to the tail[s] of fox[es].

Lower left, above Latin: The Philistines seek Samson from his own people; Samson’s saying, "Bind me and hand me over."

Lower right, beneath Persian: The Philistines tie Samson’s hands tightly in order to carry him off and kill him. He strains, frees his hands, seizes the jaw bone of an ass and with one blow strikes them dead and departs.

Folio 15r (Latin)

Upper left: How Samson, who was very thirsty after his victory, cried to the Lord and water came out from a great tooth in the jawbone with which he had become victorious, and he was thus much strengthened and refreshed. (Judges 15: 18–19)

Upper right: How when Samson was lying in Gaza in the house of some woman, the Philistines, upon discovering this, set guards at the gates of the city, that they might kill him as he went back. But he, rising in the middle of the night, carried the entire two doors of the gate with the bolts and the posts up to a hill. (Judges 16: 1–3)

Lower left: How when Samson, enticed by his love to Delilah and subdued by her charms, had revealed to her that his might was in his hair, she, whom the Philistines had bribed with money, shaved his hair. (Judges 16: 4–20)

Lower right: How Samson, having been deprived of his hair and his powers by his lover, is deprived of his eyesight by the Philistines. (Judges 16:21)

Folio 15r (Persian)

Upper left margin: And after slaying those people, Samson felt thirsty and asked God for water. Suddenly, water issued from the place of a tooth in the jawbone of the ass and Samson drank.

Upper right margin: And Samson had a wife from amongst the enemy. He came to that city to see his wife. The enemy was informed and they shut the gates of the city and they all armed themselves to slay him in the morning. Samson found out and came to the gate and removed the door and its posts in each hand. Then he climbed a mountain and was free.

Lower left margin: And Samson came to his wife and the enemies had conspired with his wife that, "If you tell us where Samson’s power and strength lies so that we may defeat him, we shall honor you." The woman implored Samson, "Wherein lies your power?"

Lower Left, above and below Latin inscription: Samson told her, "If the hair on my head is cut, my strength shall dissipate." And the wife had hidden [some of the] enemy in her house. When Samson fell asleep, she picked up the scissors and cut his hair and called on the enemies. They came and captured Samson; Samson was bereft of his power to dispel them.

Lower right margin: And the enemies captured Samson and gouged his eyes out.

Folio 15r (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left, below Latin: After Samson killed the Philistines with the jaw, he became thirsty; he prayed to God for water, and water appeared from one of the teeth of the ass’[s jaw].

Upper right: Samson’s arrival in Gaza, seeing a harlot, in the manner described in [Judges] chapter 16; the Philistines surround the house in order to capture and kill him in the morning when he comes out, but Samson comes out of the house at midnight and, uprooting the doors of the gate, carries them away.

Lower left, beneath Persian: [Upon] Samson’s telling his wife, "My strength is attached to the hair on my head," she cuts it off with [a pair of] scissors; his strength declines, [then] she captures him and gives him to the Philistines to blind him.

Lower right margin, furthest right: Samson’s capture and the plucking out of his eyes.

Folio 15v (Latin)

Upper left: How Samson, having been led by the Philistines to prison, was assigned to grinding duty. (Judges 16: 21)

Upper right: How, when the Philistines had sacrificed to their god and, after the feast, had brought Samson as a laughing stock, that he might play before them, and, while they were giving thanks to their god who had delivered such a mighty foe into their hands, he, who with his hair regrown had now recovered his former strength, told the boy who was leading him to direct him to the pillars of the house, that he might lean against them and rest. Once this was done, he, invoking the name of God, lay hold of the pillars crying: ’Let my soul die with the Philistines’ and as the pillars were thus shaken, the entire house collapsed. In it he killed himself together with the lords of the Philistines and a countless number of men. (Judges 16: 22–30)

Lower left: How six hundred men of the tribe of Dan burnt the city of Laish and killed its people. Nevertheless, later they rebuilt the city and dwelt in it. (Judges 18: 11–28)

Lower right: How a certain man of the tribe of Levi led his wife from her house in Bethlehem. When he reached the city of Gibeah where he was received by no one, a certain old man lodged him. (Judges 19: 1–20)

Folio 15v (Persian)

Persian foliation: 29

Upper left margin: After blinding Samson, the enemies put him in front of a manual mill and set him to work.

Upper right margin: The enemies of Samson, gathered in a house, were making merry and celebrating. And they dispatched one to hold his hand and bring him. And by then Samson’s hair had grown long and his strength had returned. And there were two stone columns in that house. Samson told his guide, "Take me near those columns." He came and pulled both columns out and the house collapsed over their heads and they were killed.

Lower left margin: And afterwards, Samson’s people came into the city of the enemy and set the city on fire and burned it.

Lower right: And from amongst Samson’s people, a man and a woman reached a city on their journey.

Folio 15v (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left margin, furthest left: After plucking out Samson’s eyes, they forced Samson to turn to the mill.

Right margin, furthest right: After Samson’s eyes were plucked out, in their house of idolatry, where there stood two pillars, he uprooted the pillars, that building collapsed, and some people died along with him.

Lower left margin, furthest left: Afterward, Samson’s people came to the town of the enemy and they burned down the town. I don’t know what it is.

Folio 16r (Latin)

Upper left: How that old man prepared a meal for his guests. (Judges 19:21)

Upper right: How, as they were sitting at the table, a most evil clan, devoid of any fear of God, entered the old man’s house, demanding him to bring forth his guest to them, that they might abuse him as they wished. Yet the old man, choosing a lesser evil, was offering them either his maiden daughter or his guest’s wife, lest they commit a sin against nature. When they had spoke against it, the guest himself delivered his wife to them lest they exercise their lust on his body. (Judges 19: 22–25)

Lower left: How the vile men took the wife of a foreigner and, moreover, a guest, amused themselves with her, and abused her all night long. (Judges 19:25)

Lower right: How in the morning the woman returned to the house where her husband was and fell down dead before the door of the house. Upon opening the door the man beheld her and was arousing her, thinking that she was taking her rest. Then, at length, he perceived that she was dead. (Judges 19:26–28)

Folio 16r (Persian)

Upper left margin: And someone took that man and woman, who belonged to Samson, to a banquet.

Upper right margin: The people of that city were sinners and they entered that man’s house and took away the woman who was his guest.

Lower left: And they violated that woman.

Lower right: When morning came, the traveler awoke and found his wife dead at the doorstep.

Folio 16r (Judeo-Persian)

Upper right margin, furthest right: This is a tale that occurs toward the end of [the Book of] Judges. A man and his wife arrived in a village, its people came to the door of that house [where they were lodging] to bring out that guest woman.

Lower left, above Latin to left: This is the woman with whom they fornicated.

Lower right, beneath Latin: This is that woman with whom they fornicated during the night. In the morning they saw her fallen dead by the door of the house.

Italicized words are in Hebrew.

Folio 16v (Latin)

Upper left: How the man lay up his dead wife upon his ass and carried her back to his house. (Judges 19:28)

Upper right: How when he had reached his house, he cut his wife’s body, sending each part to each one of the twelve tribes of Israel, in order that the indignity of the crime might excite their hearts and cause them to retaliate. (Judges 19:29)

Lower half: How the people of Israel, unanimously conjoined by the atrocity of the deed, invade the city where such a crime was perpetrated. When only the tribe of Benjamin was very eagerly defending it, engaging in many battles, eventually, as both the tribe of Benjamin was defeated and the city was almost utterly destroyed, it was lay waste by flame and sword with its citizens and with other cities of Benjamin. (Judges 20)

Folio 16v (Persian)

Persian foliation: 28

Upper left margin: And the traveler lay his murdered wife across the back of an ass and returned to his own city.

Upper right margin: The traveler, having brought the murdered wife to the city, cut her up into twelve pieces and sent each piece to a group in the country.

Lower left margin: And a group descended upon that sinful tribe and slew them all.

Folio 16v (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left margin, furthest left: The woman’s companion tied the woman on the ass and brought her to his town.

Upper right margin, furthest right: The woman’s husband cut up into twelve parts the woman who died from fornication and sent them to [each of] the twelve tribes in order to inform them of this incident.

Lower right margin: And the Children of Israel gathered together against this community which had fornicated, who were of the tribe of Benjamin, and killed five thousand persons.

Italicized words are in Hebrew.

Folio 17r (Latin)

Upper half: How, when the tribe of Benjamin was almost wholly lost in battle and those few of it who had survived could not take wives from the children of Israel since, before the battle, the children of Israel had sworn not to give their daughters in marriage to them, at last, moved by repentance and wishing to help the tribe not to perish, they devise a plan that the survivors of the tribe of Benjamin who had no wives should hide in the vineyards and on a festive day, as the maidens go dancing to the feast in Shiloh, they should go out of their hiding places and each should receive a girl from them and lead her to his house to be his wife. (Judges 21)

Lower half: From the book of Ruth. How Naomi, a Hebrew widow who has lost both her sons, upon returning to her native Bethlehem, encourages her daughters-in-law to remain in their homeland where they were born, with which advice one was pleased and stayed. The other, whose name was Ruth, was by no means willing to be separated from her, but followed her, and thus they both reach Bethlehem where the women recognize Naomi who came back. (Ruth I)

Folio 17r (Persian)

Upper left margin: And they [the tribe of Benjamin] captured the group that had survived of those people and they deceitfully asked for the girls, who had gone to the fields, in marriage.

Lower right: And one of those women was called Naamni [Naomi]; she traveled [back] to her own country.

Folio 17r (Judeo-Persian)

Upper right margin: Here it is that the tribe of Benjamin of whom they [the Children of Israel] had killed, some of their members had survived, but they [the Children of Israel] swore an oath not to give their daughters [in marriage] to them. Then, [when] they sent some maidens to the field, those surviving from the tribe of Benjamin were informed and they went and captured those maidens.

Lower left, above Latin: One of these women is called Naomi; she came to her own province. That is, it is the tale of Naomi and Ruth.

Italicized words are in Hebrew.

Folio 17v (Latin)

Upper half: How, at her mother-in-law’s permission, Ruth went to glean the ears of corn and by chance entered the field of some rich man, Boaz by name, who was related to Naomi. Now, when, coming from the city, he had seen Ruth among the reapers and heard where did she come from and who she was, he ordered the reapers to treat her well, while telling her not to turn to others. (Ruth 2: 1–8)

Lower left: How Ruth ate together with the reapers, as Boaz himself had ordered. (Ruth 2:14)

Lower right: How, as the reapers were heaping up the sheaves, Ruth carried with her what she had gleaned freely and with none preventing her. (Ruth 2:15–17)

Folio 17v (Persian)

Persian foliation: 27

Upper left margin: There was a woman named Ruth; she went to the fields to plant wheat.

Lower left margin: And a servant accompanied Ruth during the harvesting of the wheat.

Folio 17v (Judeo-Persian)

Upper right margin: Both these pages contain the tale of Ruth and Naomi.

Folio 18r (Latin)

Upper left: How Ruth threshes her sheaves and, showing her mother-in-law the barley which was thus extracted, tells her about all of Boaz’s kindheartedness toward her. (Ruth 2: 18–22)

Upper right: How Naomi, having devised a good plan for Ruth, tells her to wash herself, put on nicer clothes and go, at night, to Boaz in the threshing floor, and to hide under his mantle as he sleeps, for thus he will take her to be his wife following the law of kinship according to the Hebrews’ custom. (Ruth 3: 1–6)

Lower half: How, as the reapers winnow the grain and Boaz sleeps on a heap of sheaves, Ruth, following her mother-in law’s plan, hides herself under her mantle. (Ruth 3: 7)

Folio 18r (Persian)

Upper left margin: Ruth gathered the wheat and brought it to her husband.

Upper right margin: Ruth’s mother-in-law counseled Ruth, "Go to that person who used to give you wheat; and since he is your kinsman, sleep by his side."

Lower right margin: And Ruth accepted the advice and slept next to the man whose name was Bar [Boaz] and when the man awoke, he saw her sleeping beside him.

Folio 18r (Judeo-Persian)

Right margin, furthest right, middle: These pages also belong to the Tale of Ruth.

Italicized words are in Hebrew.

Folio 18v (Latin)

Upper half: How, when Boaz, upon finding Ruth during the night, was greatly stupefied and had told her that there was another relative, closer than him, who could, according to the law of priority, vindicate her, and that that person should first be asked if he wanted her, he sent her back in the morning laden with barley. She then related in order the whole affair to her mother-in-law. (Ruth 3: 8–18)

Lower half: How Boaz summoned the relative whom he had mentioned, and, having called on the elders of the people, asked him if he wished to have Ruth for himself, as she had been the wife of his relative. Now, he replied that he did not and that he would yield his right to Boaz. As a token of this, he took his shoes off his feet, for such was the testimony of cession among the people of Israel. (Ruth 4: 1–8)

Folio 18v (Persian)

Persian foliation: 26

Upper left margin: And Bahaz [Boaz] told Ruth, "You have a kinsman closer than me; if he does not take you, I shall take you." After that, he gave her a few clusters of wheat and sent her off.

Lower left margin: And Boaz set up a council and gathered the town elders and summoned the closer kinsman and said, "If you want Ruth’s property, take Ruth to wife." The kinsman said, "I do not want her; take her." And it was customary among this tribe to remove shoes from [their] feet if they did not want someone.

Folio 18v (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left margin, corner: Here it is that Boaz gives some wheat to Ruth; she goes before Naomi, as it is written [in the Book of] Ruth.

Left margin, middle: This also belongs to [the Book of] Ruth, as it is written in [the Book of Ruth].

Lower half, above Latin: Here Boaz [son of] Kish seeks out Naomi’s people regarding marrying Ruth. They answered [in the affirmative and] Boaz married [her].

Folio 19r (Latin)

Upper half: How, after the person who had the option of having Ruth first had refused and Boaz had taken her to be his wife, he begat Obed of her who was the grandfather of king David, of whom Naomi, the mother-in-law, was taking care as his nurse. Moreover, her women neighbors were congratulating her as if he was her son. (Ruth 4: 13–17)

Lower half: From the first book of Kings [I Samuel]. How Elkanah had two wives, of whom the first, Hanna, was barren while the second, Peninnah, had many children, and on certain days he used to go with them to the temple, bearing an offering to God in the presence of the priests. (I Samuel 1:1–3)

Folio 19r (Persian)

Upper left margin: At last, Boaz took Ruth to wife and she bore a son.

Lower right margin: There was a man [Elkanah] who had two wives and he had a son from one wife and none from the other. He went to the temple and offered a sacrifice.

Folio 19r (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left margin, furthest left: This is Ruth giving birth to Obed. Upper right margin: This is Naomi taking Obed, Ruth’s son, into her arms.

Lower right margin, furthest right: This is the tale of Elkanah arriving with a ram for sacrifice.

Folio 19v (Latin)

Upper left: How Elkanah, the sacrifice now completed, gave many portions to his wife Peninnah, who had many children, but only one portion to Hanna who was alone with no children. (I Samuel 1:4–6)

Upper right: How Hanna goes in her sorrow to the temple and silently prays there, weeping sorely, while not moving her lips, with the result that, at first, the priest of the temple censures her, suspecting her to be drunk. Then, hearing that she speaks affected not by wine but by the sorrow of her heart, he pities her and entreats God to listen to her prayers. (I Samuel 1: 9–18)

Lower left: How Elkanah returns home with his wives and children. (I Samuel 1: 19)

Lower right: How after Hanna had asked a son from God with many tears, her wish was granted and she conceived and gave birth to Samuel, the great prophet. (I Samuel 1:20)

Folio 19v (Persian)

Persian foliation: 25

Upper left margin: And after having offered the sacrifice, he thought to give some to the household. He gave [many] pieces to the wife with the son and he set aside a [single] piece for the wife with whom he had no child.

Upper right margin: And the childless woman grieved and in supplication went to the temple.

Lower right: And when she stepped into the house, God the exalted gave her a son who was called Samuel.

Folio 19v (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left margin, furthest left: Elkanah gives something to the wife, [mother] of his children; he gives less to Hannah.

Upper right margin, furthest right: Hannah’s coming before Eli, the High Priest, to beg him [to intercede for her to have] a child.

Lower right, between Persian and Latin: The birth of the prophet Samuel.

Italicized words are in Hebrew.

Folio 20r (Latin)

Upper half: How Hannah leads her weaned son to the temple together with three calves, three measures of flour, and a bottle of wine, saying to the priest that ’Here is the boy whom I have formerly asked from the Lord.’ (I Samuel I: 24–28)

Lower half: How there was a shameful habit that when someone had offered a sacrifice, the servant of the priest was thrusting a fish hook of three teeth into the caldron where the flesh was boiling and whatever he drew up belonged to the priest. (I Samuel 2: 12–17)

Folio 20r (Persian)

Upper right margin: And since the woman’s wish was granted, she kept her vow and brought the son to the temple and offered him [in service].

Lower right margin: And the priest of that temple had two sons and they became sinners because of having violated the [laws of] sacrifice; the father had seen them sin and had said nothing.

Folio 20r (Judeo-Persian)

Upper right margin, furthest right: Hannah brings Samuel and entrusts him to Eil, the High Priest.

Lower right margin, furthest right: The tale of the sons of Eli, the High Priest, as it is written in [chapter] 2 of Samuel.

Italicized words are in Hebrew.

Folio 20v (Latin)

Upper half: How as Eli, the high priest, weakened by old age, was reclining in his bed, and the child Samuel was lying in the temple before the ark of God, the Lord called Samuel who, thinking that his master, Eli, was calling him, went to him. Yet, he ordered him to go and lie down to sleep. When this had happened three times, Eli understood that the Lord had called him and taught him what he ought to do. When the Lord had returned to him for the fourth time, he spoke to him and threatened Eli much, because he had not chastised the inequity and the license of his sons, the priests of the temple, with sufficient severity. (I Samuel 3: 1–14)

Lower half: How, as the Philistines were beginning a war, the people of Israel, having formed an army, set out to battle with the ark of the Lord which had been moved to the camp and with the two sons of Eli, the priests of the temple, escorting it. (I Samuel 4: 1–4)

Folio 20v (Persian)

Persian foliation: 24

Upper left margin: Samuel remained in the temple day and night. One night, a voice came calling, "Samuel, Samuel." Since he thought that the priest had called him, he came forth and said, "What do you wish?" He said, "I did not summon you." And the second time the voice came and he went to the priest and asked, "What are you saying?" The priest realized that the voice was from the heavens and said to him, "If another call comes, say, ’O Lord, what do you command?’"

Lower left margin: The next time that the call came, Samuel said, "O Lord, what do you command?" He [God] said, "Go to the priest and say that God has shunned you for your sons have sinned and you have not chastised them; it is commanded that your sons and you, all of your tribe, shall perish."

Lower half: In the temple, there was an Ark belonging to Moses which they called the Ark of God and the priest held the Ark and the priest’s sons brought the Ark before the enemy.

Folio 20v (Judeo-Persian)

Upper right margin: Here it is that Samuel hears a voice in the night three times; he comes before Eli, then Eli comprehends that this call is from God.

Lower right margin: Here it is that the Children of Israel, with the two sons of Eli, carry the Ark [of the covenant] as a remedy against the Philistines.

Italicized words are in Hebrew.

Folio 21r (Latin)

Upper left: How the sons of Israel were defeated in a great battle and thirty thousand of them fell and, moreover, the sons of Eli, the priests of the temple, and the ark of God was captured. (I Samuel 4: 6–11)

Upper right: How the victorious Philistines carry the ark of God to their homeland to place it in the temple of their god. (I Samuel 5: 1–2)

Lower left: How, when the aged Eli was sitting on a seat and all was announced: the disturbing outcome of the battle, the slaughter of the people, the death of his sons, and the loss of the ark of God, as the ark of God was mentioned, he at once fell off his seat and died. (I Samuel 4: 12–18)

Lower right: How at once, when the Philistines had set the ark of God in the temple of their god who was called Dagon, Dagon himself was found in the next morning lying prostrate on the ground. When they had raised him up and set him back in the same place, again, in the next morning, he was found truncated, his head and hands lying on the ground. (I Samuel 5: 2–4)

Folio 21r (Persian)

Upper left margin: And the enemies slew the sons and brethren of the priest and took away the Ark.

Lower left margin: The priest became weak and blind and while he was sitting on a chair, he received the news of the slaying of his sons. He fell backwards from the chair and his head hit the ground and he died.

Lower right margin: And the company of the idolaters took the Ark of God to the temple of idols and laid it before the idol. That night, by the command of God, the head, hands and feet of the idol were cut off and in the morning they found the head and the body on the threshold of that temple.

Folio 21r (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left margin, closest: The sons of Eli together with thirty thousand from among the Children of Israel were killed; the Philistines also carried off the Ark.

Lower left, above Latin: Eli, upon being told about the killing of his sons and the capture of the Ark, fell backwards and died.

Lower right margin, furthest right: The Philistines carry the Ark into the idolatrous temple of Dagon, place it next to Dagon; [the idol] Dagon falls down and breaks.

Italicized words are in Hebrew.

Folio 21v (Latin)

Upper left: How a great pestilence and an innumerable multitude of mice smote the city where the ark of God was, and for that reason, unable to sustain such a pestilence any longer, the Philistines removed the ark of God from that place, having added golden vessels to soothe the anger of the God of Israel. Then, putting the ark and the vessels themselves on a cart drawn by two suckgiving cows, their calves having been shut up at home, they let it go, that they might see where it went. For thus they were going to learn whether the God of Israel or a fortuitous chance had brought the pestilence upon them. (I Samuel 5:6 – 6:9)

Upper right: How the cows with the cart took the straight way to the land of the Beth-shemites. Seeing it, those who were reaping the wheat in the fields received it joyfully. (I Samuel 6:10–13)

Lower left: How the Levites took the ark and the coffer with the golden vessels and put it upon the great stone. (I Samuel 6:15)

Lower right: How the Beth-shemites set fire to the cart and the cattle and burnt them up, offering sacrifice, and at last the ark is restored to its place. (I Samuel 6:14)

Folio 21v (Persian)

Persian foliation: 23

Upper right margin: This is the image of the idolaters against whom God spread pestilence because they had captured the Ark of God. Afterwards, they [the Philistines] said to tie a cart to two [kine] who had given birth fifteen days before and place the Ark on it so that if the cart would roll, this pestilence of the Ark’s God would pass to them. Then, the kine turned toward the lands of the believers of God.

Lower left margin: The believers saw the cart pulled by two kine; they brought it; and the Ark of God was placed upon it. They went to welcome it and they removed the Ark and placed it upon a stone.

Lower right: They released the kine from the cart and sacrificed them.

Folio 21v (Judeo-Persian)

Upper right margin, corner: The Philistines carry the Ark our of the country.

Lower left, above Latin: The Philistines carry the Ark to Bethshemesh and place it on top of a rock.

Lower right, beneath Latin: Those two kine that had pulled the Ark were killed and offered in sacrifice.

Italicized words are in Hebrew.

Folio 22r (Latin)

Upper half: How Samuel encourages the people of Israel to return to their God and to destroy the strange gods which they had made, and so they did. (I Samuel 7: 3–4)

Lower half: How, when Samuel, offering a whole suckling lamb for a holocaust, was praying for the people of Israel and was heard by God, at that very moment, the Philistines who were invading Israel, were defeated in a great battle. (I Samuel 7:10)

Folio 22r (Persian)

Upper right margin: Some of the company of the believers became idolaters and the prophet Samuel said to them, "If you want not God to exhort you for this sin, break whatever idols you have." They so did.

Lower right margin: And once again the idolaters brought armies against the believers and the prophet Samuel offered sacrifices and defeated the idolaters, by the grace of God the Exalted.

Folio 22r (Judeo-Persian)

Upper right margin, furthest right: The repentance of the Children of Israel upon Samuel’s exhortation, their breaking of the idols which they had worshipped, [saying], "Exalted Lord of the Universe, behold these who have worshipped idols and have shamed You."

Lower right margin, furthest right: [While] Samuel offers a sacrifice, the Philistines are defeated.

Italicized words are in Hebrew.

Folio 22v (Latin)

Upper left: How, when Samuel was old, the children of Israel came to him and asked him to make them a king as other nations had. But he dissuades them from this intention, reminding them of the manner and authority of the king and of the pains of his subjects. (I Samuel 8: 1–18)

Upper right: How, as Samuel’s counsel had found the children of Israel unwilling to calm down, Samuel anointed Saul to be a king, his identity having been revealed by God. He was a man of mighty stature, taller than all of Israel from his shoulders upward. Now, Samuel anointed him at the gate of the city, after he had ordered his servant to go forth and pass on. (I Samuel 9: 2–15 – 10: 1)

Lower left: How, when Saul had been anointed to be a king, at once the holy spirit came upon him, as Samuel had foretold, and he began prophesying among the other prophets. (I Samuel 10: 9–13)

Lower right: How Samuel, having called together the people of Israel, presents before them the one whom God had chosen for a king, showing that there was none like Saul among the people. This having been made known, all the people shout: ’Long live the king’. (I Samuel 10: 17–74)

Folio 22v (Persian)

Persian foliation: 22

Upper left margin: This is the image of the prophet Samuel to whom the company of the believers said, "There must be a king amongst our tribe." Samuel said, "Whoever becomes your king, he shall harm you and kill you." They said, "We accept whatever he does."

Upper right margin: One of the believers was named Saul and he went before the prophet and Samuel, according to God’s command, made him king and anointed him and kingship was granted to him.

Lower left: And Saul, in the presence of the community, was given prophethood by God.

Lower right, above and below Latin inscription: And the prophet Samuel presented Saul to the people and said, "This is your king." They consented and said, "Long live the king!"

Folio 22v (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left margin, furthest left: Samuel is saying to the Children of Israel, "If you want to have a king, the king [will bring] oppression..."

Upper right margin, furthest right: Samuel’s anointing of Saul so that he would become king.

Lower left, beneath Latin: Saul, as Samuel had said, fell into the circle of prophets and he also prophesied.

Lower right, beneath Persian: Samuel brings Saul among the Children of Israel, saying: "This is your king." They accept him.

Italicized words are in Hebrew.

Folio 23r (Latin)

Upper half: How when Nahash the Ammonite began waging war against Jabesh-gilead and the people of Jabesh were finding no equity in him except this term by which he offered to pluck their right eyes, they, terrified by such threats, were telling all of this to the people of Israel, so that all the people were moved to tears and pity. Now, Saul was then coming out of the field with his oxen and upon hearing about the savagery of Nahash, great anger overtook him and he cut his oxen into pieces, sending them throughout the borders of Israel, making it known to all that whoever did not come forth and follow Saul and Samuel so would it be to his oxen. (I Samuel 11: 1–7)

Lower half: How three hundred thousand of the children of Israel and thirty thousand of the tribe of Judah unanimously came together to the king. (I Samuel 11: 7–8)

Folio 23r (Persian)

Upper right margin: And they sent the idolaters before Saul’s assembly [saying], "Each one of you, branding [yourself], send the right eye, otherwise I will gather troops [and] come to annihilate you." Saul demanded a cow and cut it to pieces and sent each piece to a city [threatening], "if you do not fall upon the enemy, just as I tore the cow I shall do onto you the same."

Lower right: After that time, Saul gathered three hundred and thirty thousand persons and attacked the enemy.

Folio 23r (Judeo-Persian)

Upper right margin, corner: Here Nahash the Ammonite, having sent [a message] to the Children of Israel [saying], "If each one of you will pluck out your eye, well and good, otherwise I will come and destroy you," [when] Saul was informed of this, he chopped up an ox [and sent a piece to every (Israelite) city].

Lower right, beneath Latin: Here Saul assembles three hundred and thirty thousand people and leads [them] against the enemy.

Italicized words are in Hebrew.

Folio 23v (Latin)

Upper half: How [Saul, messengers having been sent, came in the morning to help the people] of Jabesh-gilead, and those who were besieged in the city, aware of his arrival, went out, and thus through the courage of Saul, king Nahash and all his army were defeated and scattered. (I Samuel 11: 9–11)

Lower half: How Samuel, who had secretly anointed Saul, anointed him to be a king before the people and both Samuel and the people sacrificed with the utmost happiness. (I Samuel 11: 14–15)

Folio 23v (Persian)

Persian foliation: 21

Upper left margin: After that, Saul brought the army against the enemy and defeated them.

Lower left margin: And once again Samuel anointed Saul before the assembly and kingship was confirmed upon him and he offered sacrifices.

Folio 23v (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left margin, furthest left: Saul, having assembled the people, encountered the enemy and defeated them.

Lower left margin, furthest left: When he [Saul] returned safely, and Samuel sprinkled Saul with oil in this [manner], making him king, they offered sacrifices.

Folio 24r (Latin)

Upper half: How when the Philistines had gathered a huge army against Israel and all the people had fled in terror and were hiding in caves, as Saul was nevertheless sitting in his camp under a pomegranate tree, accompanied by only six hundred men, Ionachas [Jonathan], his son, without his father’s knowledge, went up with a single armor bearer through steep and rugged mountains and rocks to the enemy’s garrisons, and, having defeated those whom he had encountered first, he came back miraculously victorious. (I Samuel 14: 1–14)

Lower half: How, after Ionachas’ victory, a marvelous tumult had arisen in the Philistine camp and every man’s sword was turned upon his neighbor. Now, as his army, which had been first seemingly reduced to nothing by the men’s fear, had already started to be revived with inspiring confidence, king Saul, shouting, went to battle with the ark of God, ordering his men not to eat till the evening and cursing disobeyors. Yet his son, Jonathan [Ionachas], who had not heard his father’s command, having by chance found a honeycomb, reached to it with a staff he was holding, directed the honey to his mouth, and was much strengthened. All were greatly weakened by hunger and indeed, on that day, a great victory was obtained over the Philistines. (I Samuel 14: 15–27)

Folio 24r (Persian)

Upper right margin: Then the son of king Saul, with only one of his servants, fell upon the enemy and defeated them.

Lower right margin: And king Saul, with his own army, fell upon the enemy and defeated them.

Folio 24r (Judeo-Persian)

Upper right margin, furthest right: Here it is that Jonathan, the son of Saul, went with some men and fought the Philistines without his father’s knowledge, as it is written in Samuel [chapters] 14 [and] 15.

Lower right margin, furthest right: Saul goes to fight and defeats the enemy.

Folio 24v (Latin)

Upper half: How king Saul consulted God, asking if he ought to pursue the Philistines. But God did not answer him and thus, aware of his anger, he called together all the people, that God may show whose fault it was, swearing that whoever was to blame, even his very own son, would surely die. When, at length, the fault had been found to be Jonathan’s due to the transgression of eating the honey, he wants to kill him. Still, the people speak against it and Jonathan is released. (I Samuel 14: 37–45)

Lower half: How, when Samuel had ordered Saul, in the name of God, to destroy Amalek, to slay all the men, and to kill their animals, sparing none and keeping no booty, Saul killed all the people, as he had been ordered. Yet, he took the king alive, as well as some excellent flocks of sheep and whatever valuable there was, and thus he partly followed God’s command, but partly disrespected it. (I Samuel 15: 1–9)

Folio 24v (Persian)

Persian foliation: 20

Upper left margin: King Saul sought council before God [saying], "I want to attack the enemy." No response came from God. The king said, "Who amongst my people has sinned?" They discovered that the king’s son had sinned. The king intended to kill him. Some people pleaded with him till he forgave his sin.

Lower half: After that, God the Exalted commanded Saul, "Attack the enemy; and prepare for war, and slay all the living. Kill all, from human and animal." He went and slew the king and spared what was good amongst the animals and did not complete God’s command.

Folio 24v (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left margin, corner: When Saul had commanded that on this day of war no one should eat anything, Jonathan was unaware [of this]; he ate a [small] amount of honey, as it is written in [chapter] 14 of Samuel.

Lower half, beneath Latin: Here it is that Saul went up against Agag, king of the Amalekites. It was God’s command that they kill all the Amalekites and their animals, but they did not kill Agag and some goodly animals [and] God became angry. In the end Samuel himself killed them all. This is related in Samuel [chapter] 15.

Folio 25r (Latin)

Upper left: How God, angry at Saul’s disobedience, speaks to Samuel, saying that he regretted making Saul a king, which grieved Samuel and he cried to the Lord all night. (I Samuel 15: 10, 11)

Upper right: How, when Samuel had come to the king, and having announced God’s order and threat, he wished to go, Saul caught the tip of his mantle and it was torn. Seeing this, Samuel says, prophesying, that God will thus tear his kingdom from him. (I Samuel 15: 13–28)

Lower half: How, when Samuel had stayed at Saul’s entreaties, he orders Agag, the king of Amalek whom Saul, had been ordered to kill but had taken captive, to come to him. When this was done, Samuel himself cuts him into pieces with his own hands. (I Samuel 15: 30–33)

Folio 25r (Persian)

Upper left margin: God inquired of the prophet Samuel, "Why did Saul not perform Our command? Now I regret to have given him the kingship; henceforth, I do not want him to rule." Then, Samuel prayed and asked God to forgive his sin.

Upper right margin: Samuel said to king Saul, "Why have you not obeyed God’s command?" Saul made an excuse and Samuel asked him to leave him. He reached forth and grabbed Samuel’s skirt and in that grip, Samuel’s skirt tore and [a piece of it] remained in his hand. Samuel said, "Just as my skirt tore, so shall your kingdom be torn from you."

Lower half: Saul was alarmed and said, "You part not with me!" And Samuel said, "Bring to us that king you did not kill." He went and brought him. Samuel drew his sword and slew him in pieces.

Folio 25r (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left, beneath Latin: Here it is that God informs Samuel that, "I regret having made Saul king." Samuel prays on behalf of Saul.

Upper right margin, furthest right: In Samuel [chapter] 15 it is written that Saul reached out aggressively and grabbed hold of Saul’s mantle; the mantle tore. Samuel said, "The kingship has been cut off from you."

Lower right, beneath Latin: Here it is that Samuel kills Agag, king of the Amalekites, with his own hand.

Italicized words are in Hebrew.

Folio 25v (Latin)

Upper left: How God himself reproved Samuel, when he mourned for Saul, whom he loved, because the latter had fallen in with God’s anger, ordering him to go to Bethlehem to anoint another king for him, and in order that he might not be in danger if Saul sensed that, he told him to go as if for sacrificial purposes. (I Samuel 15:35 – 16:2)

Upper right: How, when Samuel had reached Bethlehem, the elders of the city rushed to meet him asking if he comes in peace, to whom he responds that he does, and that he comes to offer a sacrifice. (I Samuel 16: 4–5)

Lower half: How Samuel talks to Jesse the Bethlehemite, as God had ordered, telling him to bring his sons to him. When he had fetched all those who were in the city and none of them was the one he wanted, Jesse said that he had no more sons except a young one who was tending the sheep. This indeed was David. Therefore Samuel ordered that he be brought to him, saying that he will not eat before David’s arrival. (I Samuel 16: 6, 11)

Folio 25v (Persian)

Persian foliation 19

Upper left margin: Samuel pleaded with God on account of Saul’s sin and God the Exalted said, "Why do you plead on account of his sin? I do not want him to rule."

Upper right margin: God said, "O, Samuel, go to that city where there is a man who has several sons and I shall tell you which of his sons deserves kingship. If the people of that city ask you about the purpose of your coming, reply that you have come to offer sacrifices."

Lower half, above and below Latin inscription: The prophet Samuel came to the house of the man who had sons in that city and he said, "Bring your son to me." And he went and brought the sons one by one, numbering to six, and the prophet did not accept [them] and said, "Have you another son? Bring him." The man said, "I have one son younger than all who herds the sheep." And when he came near the prophet, God the Exalted said, "This is the one worthy of kingship."

Folio 25v (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left margin, furthest left: Samuel supplicates at God’s threshold for the sake of Saul.

Upper right margin, furthest right, follows Persian: Samuel goes to Jesse’s house.

Lower half, beneath Persian: It is here that God, having commanded Samuel, he came to the house of Jesse and at last saw David.

Folio 26r (Latin)

Upper half: How, in the presence of Jesse and all his sons, when the youngest of the sons, David, a boy of a beautiful countenance, was fetched from the fields, God ordered Samuel to anoint him to be a king. This was done, and from that day the spirit of God was with David. (I Samuel 16: 12, 13)

Lower half: How the good spirit departed from Saul and an evil spirit began troubling him, and on this account, following the advice of his men, a man is sought who may play the harp before the king to alleviate the evil. Now, when David’s reputation had spread, that he was skillful in playing and was besides a man of strength, fit for war, comely and prudent, the king’s messengers came to Jesse, his father, asking him to send him to the king. (I Samuel 16: 14–19)

Folio 26r (Persian)

Upper right margin: And Samuel took up a jar of olive oil and prayed and poured it over the head of the younger son whose name was Davud [David]; from that day on one of the angels of God the Exalted remained with David.

Lower half, above and below Latin inscription: King Saul was troubled with the tortures of Satan. And the physicians said, "Your only remedy would be a musician who has a melodious voice." People said, "There is a person named David who is a fair musician." They went and brought him forth.

Folio 26r (Judeo-Persian)

Upper right margin, furthest right: Samuel anoints David on the head.

Lower half, beneath Latin: Saul’s state of mind having become disturbed, they brought David before Saul that he should play his instrument for him.

Upper left margin, corner: When David came before the king, David’s father gave him some gifts to bring to the king. When the king became very fond of David...

Lower half, below Latin: And whenever Satan overpowered Saul, David played [for Saul] and Satan departed.

Italicized words are in Hebrew.

Folio 26v (Latin)

Upper half: How David, sent by his father to the king, offered him a bottle of wine and bread and one kid which his father had given him to be carried on an ass, and the king loved him dearly. (I Samuel 16: 20, 21)

Lower half: How, whenever the evil spirit came upon the king, David took his harp and played it and the evil spirit departed from the king. (I Samuel 16:23)

Folio 26v (Persian)

Persian foliation: 18

Upper left margin: David’s father gave him a sheep, a bottle of wine, and some loaves of bread and said, "As you are going to the king, take along this offering." David came to the king’s court and presented his gifts. The king was pleased seeing David and he loved him exceedingly.

Lower half: Whenever Satan tortured Saul, His Excellence David would play his instrument and would sing, Satan would depart and King Saul would be relieved.

Folio 26v (Judeo-Persian)

Folio 27r (Latin)

Upper half: How, the Philistines having encamped against Israel, king Saul rushed with his army to resist them and Jesse’s three elder sons, David’s brothers, were following him among others. Now, in the army of the Philistines there was one, Goliath by name, a man of marvelous stature six cubits and a span tall, laden with heavy and astonishing arms, who was calling daily to the army of Israel, inviting, with many reproaches, one single man to fight with him hand-to-hand. (I Samuel 17: 1–13)

Lower left: How, Saul having gone to war, David returned home to tend the flock, as he was accustomed. Once there, his father ordered him to go to the camp, carrying parched grain and loaves of bread for his brothers as well as cheese for their captain, and to inquire how are his brothers doing. (I Samuel 17: 15–18)

Lower right: How, following his father’s orders, as David is about to go to the camp, he gives the charge of his flock to another keeper. (I Samuel 17:20)

Folio 27r (Persian)

Upper right margin: Saul’s army came before the army of the enemy and a man from the army of the enemy, whose height was twelve cubits, stepped onto the [battle] field and called for a warrior. Everyday he would come and demand a warrior and would utter invectives. And there was no one in Saul’s army to match him.

Lower left, above and below Latin inscription: David’s three brothers accompanied King Saul and David’s father sent with David a ration of cheese and bread to carry for his brothers and to inquire about their health.

Lower right: Saul turned his attention to the army of the enemy; David returned to his house.

Folio 27r (Judeo-Persian)

Upper right margin, furthest right: Here it is that Goliath came every day in the field of the enemy [perhaps] someone from Saul’s army would draw lots and come out into the field [to fight him].

Lower left, beneath Persian: Here it is that David’s father sends David to the king’s camp so that he may bring news of his brothers.

Lower right, beneath Latin: While Saul set out against the enemy, David came to his house.

Folio 27v (Latin)

Upper half: How, as David came to the camp, he wished to offer what he had brought, but upon hearing the shout of the armies which were ready for battle, he leaves everything by the camp’s baggage under the care of the keeper, and rushes to the site of the battle. (I Samuel 17: 20–22)

Lower half: How, when David had come to the site of the battle and that giant was defying Israel, as was his habit, while they were fearing exceedingly, one man said that the king would give his daughter and many riches to anyone who could kill the giant, and would make him and all of his father’s house exempt from taxes. Upon hearing this, David asked diligently about the conditions. When he had learned all, he was scornful of that giant and made it clear that he had the highest hopes of victory, although his brothers were rebuking him severely. (I Samuel 17: 23–29)

Folio 27v (Persian)

Persian foliation: 17

Upper left margin: David arrived at the environs of the army [camp] and heard the voices of the army’s captives. And he entrusted all he had with him with someone there and he himself came amidst the army.

Lower half: And David reached the army. And once again, that tall fierce man came in the midst of the army [battlefield] uttering invectives. And on the orders of the king, someone proclaimed that, "Whoever drives away this giant and slays him, the king shall grant him his daughter and great riches and innumerable favors and he shall exempt him from tribute and property [sic.] and taxes." David, who heard this proclamation said, "I shall slay him." His brothers forbade him [saying], "How can you slay this giant?"

Folio 27v (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left margin, furthest left: David, having come near the army, entrusted everything he had to a person, and came to the army himself.

Lower half, beneath Persian: Again, David arriving in Saul’s encampment, saw that the enemy Goliath was preparing to fight the Children of Israel and that no one dared to go into battle with him. A person from the king’s retinue cried out, saying, "Whoever kills this enemy, we shall give him much wealth and a letter of tax exemption." Upon hearing this, David said, "I will kill this enemy..."

Italicized words are in Hebrew.

Folio 28r (Latin)

Upper left: How, when Saul had heard David’s words, he had him brought to him and discouraged him from entering upon such a great undertaking. But he, showing in many ways that he had the highest hope regarding both himself and God’s help, influenced the king’s mind not to deny him his battle plan. (I Samuel 17:31–37)

Upper right: How Saul arms David who is about to go to the hand-to-hand fight. (I Samuel 17: 38)

Lower half: How David, who was not accustomed to arms, having attempted to walk in armor and could not, laid off his arms, took his staff, and, collecting stones from a stream, arms himself for battle, as he is about to fight with his sling. (I Samuel 17: 39–40)

Folio 28r (Persian)

Upper left margin: And the king asked David, "How will you kill this giant?" He said, "By the grace of God, I will kill him." Then he requested permission from the king to go to battle.

Upper right margin: King Saul, with his own hands, clothed him in armor and sent him alone into battle.

Lower half, above and below Latin inscriptions: His Excellence David was not accustomed to armor; he removed it off his head and took his staff and came to the river bank. He picked up a few stones and turned towards the battlefield with the weapon which he had along [and], which was a sling hung on a rope and those stones.

Folio 28r (Judeo-Persian)

Upper half, beneath Latin: The king asked David, "How will you kill this enemy?" David [replied], "I will kill him with the grace of God." Having sought the king’s permission, he went into the battlefield.

Right margin, middle: King Saul with his own hand[s] dressed David with garments of war and sent him into the battle all by himself.

Lower half, beneath Persian: His Excellence David, since he was unaccustomed to garments of war, removed those garments off his head, took hold of his own staff, went by the river bank, collected a few stones, the weapon which he had, and the sling and stones and with these he went onto the battlefield.

Folio 28v (Latin)

Upper half: How Goliath, upon seeing David coming with stones, reproached him for his age and appearance and because he had come to him as one would come to a dog, with stones instead of with a sword. Yet, David answers him saying: ’ you come to me trusting your arms, but I come to you trusting my God.’ As he was saying this, he hastily took a stone, placed it in his sling and smote Goliath, who was drawing near to meet him, in his forehead with so much force, that the stone was affixed to Goliath’s forehead and he sank to the ground. Seeing this, the terrified Philistines turned their backs and fled. David, on the other hand, approached Goliath and, as he did not have a sword of his own, killed him with his sword and cut off his head. (I Samuel 17: 41–51)

Lower half: How, when David had been brought before the king, with the head of Goliath in his hand, and the king asked him about his family and he answered, it came to pass that once he had heard David, Jonathan, the king’s son, at once fell in love with him, and loved him so deeply that he took off his clothes and gave them to him as a present together with his bow and his sword and his girdle. (I Samuel 18: 1–4)

Folio 28v (Persian)

Persian foliation: 16

Upper right margin: And His Excellence David came before that fierce one whose name was Qolia [Goliath] and [as] he was raising the sling the fierce man became furious and cursed him. Since David had no armor, he appeared small in the eye of the giant who said, "You have come to slay me like a dog!" David said, "You come to me with your innate power; I, with this nakedness, will fight with God’s help." After that, he placed a stone in the sling and swung it around his head and hurled it at his forehead so that he fell over and with his sword [David] severed his head.

Lower right: His Excellence David held the fierce man’s head in hand and brought it before the king. And the king had a son named Janatas [Jonathan] who had become fond of David and loved him. David’s garment appeared humble in his eyes; he went forth and removed his own clothes and put them on David and he [also] gave him a bow and a sword.

Folio 28v (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left margin: His Excellence David came up against this enemy; he appeared very contemptible in the eyes of the enemy since David had no accouterments of weapons. Goliath said to him, "Did you come to kill a dog?" David said, "You came into battle by the grace of accouterments of weapons, I [come] by the grace of God." David hurled a stone with the sling at Goliath’s forehead. He fell down, his Excellence David went forward, removed Goliath’s sword, and cut off his head with that same sword.

Lower right, beneath Latin: His Excellence David took the head of that enemy into his hand[s] and brought it before the king. And Jonathan, the king’s son, felt a great love for David, and [since] David’s clothes appeared [exceedingly] humble to the king’s son, he removed his own clothes so that he may put them on David.

Folio 29r (Latin)

Upper half: How, as David was returning with the head of Goliath, the women of all the cities of Israel run to meet the king, dancing and singing to the sound of the drums, saying: ’Saul has smote a thousand and David ten thousand.’ Now this angered the king and he began to feel jealousy and bitter hatred toward David whom he had loved dearly till that day. (I Samuel 18: 6–9)

Lower left: How, when the evil spirit had come upon the king, and David was playing before him as he was accustomed, the king, holding his spear threw it suddenly at him, thinking to nail him to the wall. David perceived this, fled, and avoided the danger. (I Samuel 18: 10–11)

Lower right: How, when Saul had reflected upon the matters and began to fear David, for the Lord was with him and had departed from himself, he decided to send him away. And thus he summoned David and made him a captain over a thousand men. (I Samuel 18: 12, 13)

Folio 29r (Persian)

Upper right margin: And His Excellence David brought the severed head of the fierce man to the city. The people of the city came to receive him and female entertainers, with tambourine and instruments, were all talking and singing that King Saul has killed a thousand and David has killed ten thousands. When the king heard these words, he was displeased with David and took it to heart.

Lower left: And Satan lured King Saul into harming David. He seized a spear and summoned His Excellence David. David came to the assembly with his musical instrument. The king threw the spear at him; David stepped aside and fled the scene.

Lower right: The king’s heart was overcome with the fear of David and he summoned David and consoled him and made him the captain of a thousand men.

Folio 29r (Judeo-Persian)

Upper right margin, corner: His Excellence David, holding the head of the enemy in his hand[s] entered the city...the women singing with musical instruments...came out [to meet him], saying "If Saul killed a thousand persons, David killed ten thousand." When Saul heard these words, vengeance [grew] in his heart against David.

Lower left margin: The king was brought to such a state by Satan that he wished to aim at David. Taking the spear in his hand, he looked for David and when David came into the assembly with his instrument, he threw his spear at David. David drew back, left the assembly and fled.

Lower right margin: Fear of David entered the king’s heart. He summoned David, showed him affection and made him commander over a thousand persons.

Italicized words are in Hebrew.

Folio 29v (Latin)

Upper half: How the king, who was growing more and more attentive to David’s virtue and to the people’s love of him, was happy, knowing that his daughter loved him and hoped that if he gave his daughter to him to be his wife, he, full of spirit for having been made the king’s son-in-law, would go to battle and would be killed by the enemy, and thus it would not be necessary to lay hands on him. When he was offering his daughter to David who was saying that he was but a poor and weak man, Saul responded that as her dowry he was only asking one hundred Philistine foreskins, as they were his enemies. (I Samuel 18: 15–16, 20–25)

Lower half: How David, having accepted the king’s terms, sets out to the enemy’s land with his soldiers and kills two hundred men. (I Samuel 18: 27)

Folio 29v (Persian)

Persian foliation: 15

Upper left margin: The king gave his daughter in marriage to David on the condition that he slays in revenge a hundred men from the army of the enemy.

Lower left margin: Afterwards David came to the battlefield and slew a hundred persons.

Folio 29v (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left margin, furthest left: The king would give his daughter in marriage to David on the condition that he kill one hundred persons from among the enemy.

Lower left margin, furthest left: David kills one hundred persons of the enemy.

Folio 30r (Latin)

Upper left: How David came back to the king and, although he had asked for only one hundred foreskins, offered him two hundred enemy heads. (I Samuel 18: 27)

Upper right: How king Saul, true to his promise, gives his daughter, Michal by name, to David to be his wife. (I Samuel 18:27)

Lower left: How Saul, growing daily more fearful, orders his son and servants to kill David. (I Samuel 19: 1)

Lower right: How Jonathan, the king’s son, makes his father’s state of mind and plan known to Daivd, warning him to watch out for himself. (I Samuel 19: 2)

Folio 30r (Persian)

Upper left margin: And David brought the heads of the slain to the king.

Upper right margin: The king fulfilled his promise and gave his daughter to David.

Lower left: And after that, the king summoned his son and told him, "Go with a company and slay David."

Lower right: Since the king’s son harbored fondness and friendship for David, he informed him of this event and said, "Rest assured on my account and take care of yourself."

Folio 30r (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left, beneath Latin: David brings the heads [!] of the slain to the king’s palace.

Upper right margin, furthest right: The king kept his promise and gave his daughter [in marriage] to David.

Lower left, beneath Persian: The king summoned his son and said, "Go with this group [of men] and kill David."

Lower right, above Latin: Since there was friendship between the king’s son and David, he [Jonathan] informed David of this news, saying, "Rest tranquil as far as I am concerned, but look out for yourself."

Folio 30v (Latin)

Upper left: How Jonathan, having spoke good of David to his father, the king, soothed his mind and makes David agreeable to him. (I Samuel 19: 4–7)

Upper right: How, when the war with the Philistines had begun again, David went out and fought against them and defeated them with a great slaughter and they fled. (I Samuel 19: 8)

Lower left: How, when the evil spirit has come again upon the king, as David was playing before him, as he was accustomed, the king, holding his spear, wished to pierce him but David went out again. (I Samuel. 19:9, 10)

Lower right: How Saul sends his guards to kill David in his house. (I Samuel 19:11)

Folio 30v (Persian)

Persian foliation: 14

Upper left margin: And after that, the king’s son blessed his father for David’s release and said, "No evil has come from David and he has always been at [your] service; what has happened that you attempt to kill him?"

Upper right margin: Afterwards David came to the battlefield and slew a group.

Lower left margin: The king had a spear in hand and he threw it at David; David repelled his spear.

Lower right margin: The king sent a company to David’s house to kill him.

Folio 30v (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left margin, corner: The king’s son supplicates his father for David’s deliverance.

Upper right, below Latin: Afterwards David came to the king’s sleeping quarters and killed a group [of the enemy].

Lower left margin, corner: The king threw the spear at David but he repelled it.

Lower right margin, corner: The king sends a group [of men] to David’s house in order to kill him.

Folio 31r (Latin)

Upper left: How, as they were coming to David’s house, the king’s guards discovered that Michal, his wife, had sent him out through the window and had laid an image in his bed and a goat skin with the hair at the head of the bed and she had covered it with clothes. (I Samuel 19: 11–13)

Upper right: How David ran away and came to Samuel. He told him all that the king had done to him and stayed with him. (I Samuel 19: 18)

Lower left: How, upon hearing where David was, Saul sends armed men to capture him. (I Samuel 19:19, 20)

Lower right: How when the king’s messengers had reached the place where Samuel was with a company of prophets, the spirit of God came upon them and they began prophesying. (I Samuel 19:20)

Folio 31r (Persian)

Upper left margin: David’s wife became aware that a group was coming to kill him; she laid a statue in his place and sent David out through the window. That group came in and found a statue instead of David and David was saved.

Upper right margin: When David had left through the window, he went before the prophet Samuel and told him of his situation and sat before the prophet.

Lower left & lower left margin: When the king heard of David’s escape and of where he was, he armed a company and dispatched them to capture David.

Lower right margin: David was praying amongst the prophets and the company that had come to capture him also raised their arms in prayer, by Divine Mystery, they forgot David and did not arrest him.

Folio 31r (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left margin, corner: It happened that Michal saw that a group [of men] had arrived to kill David. She let David out through a window and laid a sheep in his place [in bed].

Upper right, below Latin: When David fled he came before the prophet Samuel, related to him what had happened and remained with him.

Lower left, below Latin: When the king heard about David’s flight, he sent a group [of men] after him to capture him.

Lower right margin, furthest right: The group[of men] that came to capture David became capable of prophesying [...and the same happened] the second and third time. In the end, Saul himself came and prophesied [but was unable] to take David, as it is written in Samuel [chapter] 19.

Italicized words are in Hebrew.

Folio 31v (Latin)

Upper left: How, when Saul had sent various messengers to capture David, and all of them, having forgotten the task for which they had been sent, had begun prophesying, at length the king himself went, furious, to that place. Still, before he had come there, the spirit of God was upon him and he went on his way, prophesying, and came to the place where Samuel and David were and prophesied before them and stripped himself of his own clothes. (I Samuel 19: 21–24)

Upper right: How David, still on the run, talks to Jonathan, the king’s son, and complains about his father’s wrongdoings. Now, the latter orders him to hide in the field on the next day, the first day of the month, promising him to go to the king, intervene on his behalf, and, if he finds something, to faithfully, yet secretly, report it to him by shooting arrows. (I Samuel 20:11–23)

Lower half: How, when Saul, sitting at the table, had asked why David did not come to dine with him, and Jonathan pretended that he had gone to Bethlehem to sacrifice, the king, angered, reproached his son with harsh words, ordering him to bring David to him that he might be killed. When Jonathan asked: ’What has he done to earn his death?’, the king, greatly disturbed, wished to pierce him with his spear. (I Samuel 20: 24–34)

Folio 31v (Persian)

Persian foliation: 13

Upper left margin: Thrice the king dispatched people to capture David, and all three times they stood in prayer and forgot to capture David. The king became angry at this and he himself rose and went after David but he [also] removed his clothes and stood in prayer and forgot David and he also did not capture [him].

Upper right margin: When David escaped, he came before the king’s son and said, "Why does your father bear enmity towards me?" The king’s son consoled him and said to him, "Tomorrow go to the countryside and hide in a corner, for tomorrow is the feast day and the king will go to the countryside and I will find out about your situation.

Lower half, below Latin inscription: And tomorrow which was the feast day, the king sat and they brought out the spread of food and he asked his son, "Why is not David present at the meal?" He replied that he has gone to a village to offer a sacrifice. The king said, "Go after him and bring him." The son said, "What sin has he committed that you wage war against him?" The king had a spear in hand and he charged toward his son.

Folio 31v (Judeo-Persian)

Upper half, below Latin: When David fled to the king’s son, he said to him, "Why is your father my enemy?" The king’s son, who loved David, said, "Go tomorrow into the plain and hide in a corner; when the festival is over I will come to you to inform you."

Lower half, above Latin: The next day was the first of the month, the king laid a table [for a feast]. Since David remained in Bethlehem, the king asked Jonathan why he [David] had not come. Jonathan answered, "He remained in Bethlehem." The king grew angry and he threw a spear to strike his head. The spear missed its aim, as it is written in Samuel, [chapter] 20.

Folio 32r (Latin)

Upper half: How, Jonathan, aware of his father’s savage and implacable disposition toward David, was angered and arose from the table without eating. Thereupon, having gone with one little boy to the field where David was hiding, he shot three arrows, as he had said, crying, "There is the arrow further behind you," and again: "Make haste quickly, stand not!". This done, he dismissed the boy, unaware of all that had happened. When that one had departed, David arose and went there, and the two conversed, kissing each other with many a tear. (I Samuel 20: 34–42)

Lower left: How, fleeing, David came to Ahimelech, the priest, who wondered why he was coming alone. David told him that the king had sent him on a secret mission to find his servants in certain places. Then he asked bread from the priest, but he offered him holy bread, as he did not have any other. Then he asked him again for a spear or a sword, saying that he had left his arms at home since he was hurrying away. The priest, having no other, gave him the sword of Goliath, whom he himself had killed, which was concealed in a sacred place wrapped up in a mantle. Now, one of the king’s shepherds happened to be there, as these things were happening. (I Samuel 21: 1–9)

Lower right: How Saul was angry with his son and with all of his men who seemed to be against him and to support David, and, when he complained loudly that he did not know where he was, that shepherd told the king where he had seen David and what had happened there. (I Samuel 22: 6–10)

Folio 32r (Persian)

Upper left margin: The king’s son picked up a bow and arrow and went into the fields and he had a page with him. Not wanting the slave to know of David’s whereabouts, he threw an arrow and sent the slave after the arrow and he himself came upon David and informed him of his father’s state.

Lower right margin: His Excellence David went before the priest and requested bread and said, "Give me a sword." He got a sword. A shepherd was present there; he found out about this event and delivered the news to the king.

Folio 32r (Judeo-Persian)

Upper right margin: The next day, which was the day of the festival, David went in the field, hid in the midst of the hills. The king’s son also took along a young boy to bring back arrows shot into the field. He shot off an arrow and said to the boy, "Go get the arrow," while he himself went before David and informed him of the incident [with his father].

Lower right margin: His Excellence David fled and came to a village named Nob, the habitation of priests. He went before Ahimelech, who was their leader, and said, "The king dispatched me on a mission in haste. If you have a loaf of bread and a knife, give them to me." The sword with which David had killed Goliath had been entrusted to Ahimelech; he brought it out and gave it to David...Doeg, the Aramean....

Italicized words are in Hebrew.

Folio 32v (Latin)

Upper half: How Saul sends for Ahimelech and for his family members who were all priests. (I Samuel 22:11)

Lower half: How, when Ahimelech and the other priests, all eighty-five of them, had come to the king, he had them all killed and their city so utterly destroyed, that hardly one man escaped. (I Samuel 22: 6–19)

Folio 32v (Persian)

Persian foliation: 12

Upper left margin: The king sent [someone] and had the priest and his brethren brought forth.

Lower left: Then the king ordered the priest and his people slain.

Folio 32v (Judeo-Persian)

Lower right, above Latin: Doeg, having informed the king, the king ordered, "Go, bring Ahimelech and the rest of the priests." They brought them and they [the priests] were all killed. This also belongs to the tale [of?]

Italicized words are in Hebrew.

Folio 33r (Latin)

Upper left: When David’s brothers and many others, up to the number of four hundred, came together to him, and when he heard that the Philistines had invaded the land of Israel, he went, fought with them, and defeated them. (I Samuel 23 1–5)

Upper right: How Saul, upon hearing where David was, sent all the people to catch him. (I Samuel 23: 19–26)

Lower half: How, when David, fearing the king’s anger, had left the city that he might not be surrounded there, and had fled to the desert where he was hiding, Saul, who had discovered it, went out with his allies to seek him. When he was surrounded all around and had given up hope of escaping, the king having departed and returned again, it came to pass that the king entered the cave where David was to purge his stomach. David refused to kill him, although his servants encouraged him to do so, and secretly cut off the tip of his mantle. When Saul had stood up and was on his way, David cried behind his back, showing him the tip of his cloth, which he had cut off, saying that he could have killed him but had refused. Upon hearing this, Saul wept. (I Samuel 24: 1–16)

Folio 33r (Persian)

Upper left margin: Since David had remained alone, his brothers conspired with four hundred men and they descended upon the enemies of King Saul and slew them.

Upper right margin: King Saul held a grudge against David and however much ingenuity David showed it did not affect [the king]. He [again] sent out an army to capture David.

Lower right margin: David sat hiding in a corner and the king came to the privy. David had a knife in hand; he went forth and cut off his skirt. And he climbed to the top of the mountain and cried, "O, king, this piece is from your mantle that I have cut; I could have harmed you; I did not; why do you wage war towards me?" The king burst into weeping.

Folio 33r (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left margin, furthest left: When David was alone four hundred and twenty Israelites went before David. Having gathered together, David took them and went to a village called Keilah where there was a tribe of Philistines, and they killed all of them.

Lower right margin, corner: David was hidden in a corner while Saul was also in a private corner to purify himself. David approached from the back...and cut off a piece of Saul’s mantle from behind. [Then David] went on top of a hill and shouted, saying, "King, you know me, and you think that I’ve become [your] enemy, [now see this piece of your mantle] which I cut off. I could have killed you..., so why are you after me?"....

Folio 33v (Latin)

Upper half: How, when David was living in the desert, he sent messengers to some very rich man, Nabal by name, asking him, with very gentle words, to help him in his plight and send him something. Now, this person replied very harshly which angered David and, as he was going with armed men to kill him, Nabal’s wife, whose name was Abigail, a very beautiful and wise woman, rushed to him with wine and bread and cooked rams and many other things, and moreover, calmed his anger with incredible humanity and gentle words. (I Samuel 25: 2–35)

Lower left: How, when on the next day Abigail had told Nabal what had happened, he perceiving the danger, was astounded and almost turned into stone. (I Samuel 25: 36–37)

Lower right: How Nabal, Abigail’s husband, died after ten days. (I Samuel 25: 38)

Folio 33v (Persian)

Persian foliation: 11

Upper left margin: David sent to one of the kings [demanding] that he send provisions. That person cursed David’s slave and he informed David. David set out to slay him. And that man had a beautiful, wise wife who became aware of this affair and went before David with two ass loads of offerings and uttered some wise words. And David was dissuaded from killing him.

Lower left margin: The wife of those people’s master said, "David intended to slay you." And the man fell ill from the fear of slaying and took to bed."

Lower right: The stricken [man] died after ten days.

Folio 33v (Judeo-Persian)

Right margin: These pages are all about the tale of Nabal the Carmelite, namely, that David sent a person to Nabal, [saying], "Send us a little food." Nabal replied angrily [and negatively]. Nabal’s wife was not present. When she came and heard that a man came from David and was answered [negatively], Nabal’s wife took some assloads of food and came to meet David. When David heard the news from his man, he became displeased and took some men to go and kill Nabal. On the road he met that woman [Nabal’s wife] and the woman begged him [not to do so]. David forgave him [Nabal] and the woman returned [home] and related to her husband the incident. The husband fell ill out of fear [and] died after ten days. Afterwards David married that woman.

Folio 34r (Latin)

Upper half: How, when Saul, pursuing David, had encamped in the desert, David entered his tent at night with one companion, as all were sleeping deeply. Although he could have killed him, he did not wish to do so, but took only a spear which lay at the head of his bed and a cup, and, without anyone’s knowledge, carried them and went to the nearest mountain. Crying from there, he aroused the king and Abner, the captain of his army, showing them what had happened. Then, rebuking the king’s guards for their lack of care, he told them to send someone to bring back the spear. Moved by this, the king asks David to come back to him. (I Samuel 26)

Lower half: How David, perceiving the king’s implacable hatred toward him, decides to yield to him and go, and thus goes out of the borders of Israel with his men, to live in the land of the Philistines. (I Samuel 27: 1–4)

Folio 34r (Persian)

Upper right margin: One night, King Saul was sleeping in the tent and the guards were surrounding the tent. David crept into the tent and removed the king’s spear with the cup from the scene. He went atop the mountain and cried, "Is this how you protect the king? If it were anyone but me, he would have slain the king; I removed the king’s cup and spear from the residence and you did not know."

Lower half, below Latin inscription: Regardless of David’s increasing good deeds, the king’s enmity did not diminish. [David] rose and set out for another province.

Folio 34r (Judeo-Persian)

Upper right margin, furthest right: The king was sleeping in the tent surrounded by his guards. David came into the king’s tent accompanied by Abishai and skillfully brought out his [the king’s] spear. [Then] they went to the top of a hill and, shouting, informed the king [of their deed].

Lower half, above Latin: [Since] David saw that the king’s vengefulness continued, he moved from the land he was in and traveled on another road.

Folio 34v (Latin)

Upper half: How David, staying with the king of Acish in the land of Acish, was daily running here and there, killing men and women and sparing none. (I Samuel 27: 5–12)

Lower half: How, while David was staying with the king of Achish, the Philistines who had gathered an army, with Saul, opposing them, fought with all their might in the mountains of the Gilboa, where the people of Israel were defeated and the king was pierced through by an arrow. Now, when he had asked his armor bearer to kill him, that he might not fall into the hands of the enemy, and the latter refused to do it, Saul stabbed himself with his own sword. As his armor bearer saw this, he too fell on his sword. Thus died Saul and Jonathan and the king’s other two sons, together with all the men of Israel and the mighty men of Israel. (I Samuel 31: 1–6)

Folio 34v (Persian)

Upper left margin: His Excellence David went to the province of the idolaters and slew the idolaters.

Lower half: The enemy of King Saul became aware that His Excellence David has fled from King Saul. He gathered an army and fell upon Saul and started war; the army of King Saul was slain. Suddenly, from a hiding place, someone threw an arrow at King Saul and slew him.

Folio 34v (Judeo-Persian)

Folio 35r (Latin)

Upper left: How the victorious Philistines strip the bodies of Saul and his sons. (I Samuel 31: 8)

Upper right: How the Philistines cut off Saul’s head. (I Samuel 31: 9)

Lower left: How the Philistines put Saul’s arms in the temple of Ashtaroth, their god. (I Samuel 31: 10)

Lower right: How Saul’s head is sent into the land of the Philistines round about. (I Samuel 31:9)

Folio 35r (Persian)

Upper left margin: When King Saul was slain, they stripped him.

Upper right margin: And they cut off King Saul’s head.

Lower left margin: The idolaters brought King Saul’s garment to the temple of idols and laid it before the idol.

Lower right margin: The idolaters placed King Saul’s head atop a spear and paraded it all over the kingdom.

Folio 35r (Judeo-Persian)

Folio 35v (Latin)

Upper left: How the Philistines hand Saul’s body from the wall of Beth–shan. (I Samuel 31: 10)

Upper right: How, when they had heard this, the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead come at night to Beth-shan, take Saul’s body down from the wall, and carry it away. (I Samuel 31: 1, 12)

Lower left: How the above-mentioned inhabitants of Jabesh come back home, burn up the bodies of Saul and his sons in fire and bury their bones. (I Samuel 31:12)

Lower right: From the second book of Kings [2 Samuel]. How, a few days after the battle, someone from the Israeli camp came to David and told him about the death of Saul, Jonathan, and the captain of the army, carrying Saul’s diadem and his bracelet. Now, when David had asked how he knew it, he said that he had found king Saul lying on his spear, and, having been asked by the king to kill him, he had obeyed. (2 Samuel 1: 1–10)

Folio 35v (Persian)

Persian foliation: 9 (in reverse)

Upper left margin: And the idolaters hung King Saul’s body from the wall of the castle.

Upper right margin: Some of King Saul’s people came in the night and removed his body from the castle.

Lower left: The people of King Saul made a fire and threw King Saul’s body together with his sons’ [bodies] into the fire till they burned and they buried their bones.

Lower right: Someone brought the news of Saul to David that he has been slain. He said, "How do you know?" [The messenger] said, "I arrived and saw that Saul had placed the tip of a sword at his breast and intended to kill himself. [Saul] said, ’Come and kill me’. I went forth and killed him.

Folio 35v (Judeo-Persian)

Upper left margin, furthest left: [After] the killing of Saul his corpse was hung from the walls.

Lower left, below Persian: The tale of [the burning] of Saul and his sons and the burying of their bones.

Lower right, beneath Persian: Someone brings the news to David that Saul [and his sons were killed].