MS M.638, fol. 4r

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.