Fourth Baruch

And Abimelech brought the figs in the heat, and coming upon a tree, he sat down under its shade to rest for a short while.

And laying his head on the basket of figs, he slept for sixty-six years; and he was not awakened from his sleep.

And after this, having risen from his sleep, he said, “I slept sweetly for a short while, but my head is heavy, for I was not satisfied with my sleep.”

Then, uncovering the basket of figs, he found them dripping milk.

And he said, “I wanted to sleep a little longer, because my head is heavy; but I am afraid lest I sleep and be slow to wake up, and Jeremiah my father will be concerned; for if he were not in a hurry, he would not have sent me this morning.”

“So I will rise and go in the heat; for is there not heat and toil every day?”

So, rising, he took the basket of figs and placed it on his shoulders; and he entered Jerusalem, and did not recognize it, neither the house nor his own place, nor did he find his own family nor any of his acquaintances.

And he said, “Blessed be the Lord, for a great trance has fallen upon me today.”

“This is not the city Jerusalem; I have lost my way, for I came by way of the mountain, having risen from my sleep; and my head being heavy because I was not satisfied with sleep, I have lost my way.”

“It is marvelous to say this before Jeremiah, that I have lost my way.”

And he went out of the city; and looking intently, he saw the landmarks of the city, and said, “This is indeed the city, but I have lost my way.”

And again he returned to the city, and searched, and found none of his own, and said, “Blessed be the Lord, for a great trance has fallen upon me.”

And again he went out of the city, and remained grieving, not knowing where to go.

And he put down the basket, saying, “I will sit here until the Lord removes this ecstasy from me.”

While he was sitting, he saw an old man coming from the field. Abimelech said to him, “I say to you, old man, what city is this?”

And he said to him, “It is Jerusalem.”

And Abimelech said to him, “Where is Jeremiah the priest, and Baruch the scribe, and all the people of this city, for I have not found them?”

And the old man said to him, “Are you not from this city, that you remember Jeremiah today and ask about him after so much time?”

For Jeremiah is in Babylon with the people; for they were taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar the king, and Jeremiah is with them to preach to them and instruct them in the word.

But immediately Abimelech, having heard from the old man, said, “If you were not an old man, and because it is not permissible for a man to insult his elder, I would laugh at you and say that you are mad; because you said, ‘The people were taken captive to Babylon.’

If the cataracts of heaven had come down upon them, it is not yet time for them to go to Babylon.

For how long has it been since my father Jeremiah sent me to the field of Agrippa to bring a few figs, that we might give them to the sick among the people?

And I went and brought them, and coming to a certain tree in the heat, I sat down to rest a little, and I laid my head on the basket, and I slept.

And when I awoke, I uncovered the basket of figs, thinking that I had delayed, and I found the figs dripping milk, just as I had gathered them.

But you say that the people were taken captive to Babylon.

So that you may know, take, see the figs.”

And he uncovered the basket of figs for the old man, and he saw them dripping milk.

And when the old man saw them, he said, “O my son, you are a righteous man, and God did not wish you to see the desolation of the city; for he brought this ecstasy upon you.

For behold, it is sixty-six years today since the people were taken captive to Babylon.

And so that you may learn, child, that what I say to you is true, look up at the field and see that the growth of the produce has not appeared.

See also the figs, that it is not their season, and know.”

Then Abimelech cried out with a loud voice, saying, “I will bless you, O God of heaven and earth, the rest of the souls of the righteous in every place.”

Then he says to the old man, “What month is this?”

And he said, “Nisan, which is Abib.”

And taking some of the figs, he gave them to the old man, and says to him, “May God illuminate you to the upper city, Jerusalem.”