The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Esdras 13
1 It came to pass after seven days, I
dreamed a dream by night.
2 Behold, a wind arose from the sea that
moved all its waves.
3 I saw, and behold, †[this wind caused to
come up from the midst of the sea something
like the appearance of a man. I
saw, and behold,] that man ‡flew with the
clouds of heaven. When he turned his face
to look, everything that he saw trembled.
4 Whenever the voice went out of his
mouth, all who heard his voice melted, like
the §wax melts when it feels the fire.
5 After this I saw, and behold, an innumerable
multitude of people was gathered
together from the four winds of heaven to
make war against the man who came out
of the sea.
6 I saw, and behold, he carved himself a
great mountain, and flew up onto it.
7 I tried to see the region or place from
which the mountain was carved, and I
couldn’t.
8 After this I saw, and behold, all those
who were gathered together to fight
against him were very afraid, and yet they
dared to fight.
9 Behold, as he saw the assault of the
multitude that came, he didn’t lift up his
hand, or hold a spear or any weapon of war;
10 but I saw only how he sent out of his
mouth something like a flood of fire, and
out of his lips a flaming breath, and out of
his tongue he shot out a storm of sparks.†
11 These were all mixed together: the
flood of fire, the flaming breath, and the
great storm, and fell upon the assault of
the multitude which was prepared to fight,
and burned up every one of them, so that
all of a sudden an innumerable multitude was
seen to be nothing but dust of ashes
and smell of smoke. When I saw this, I was amazed.
12 Afterward, I saw the same man come
down from the mountain, and call to
himself another multitude which was peaceful.
13 Many people came to him. Some of
them were glad. Some were sorry. Some
of them were bound, and some others
brought some of those as offerings. Then
through greatfear I woke up and prayed to
the Most High, and said,
14 “You have shown your servant these
wonders from the beginning, and have
counted me worthy that you should
receive my prayer.
15 Now show me also the interpretation
of this dream.
16 For as I conceive in my understanding,
woe to those who will be left in those days!
Much more woe to those who are not left!
17 For those who were not left will be in
heaviness,
18 understanding the things that are laid
up in the latter days, but not
attaining to them.
19 But woe to them also who are left,
because they will see great perils and much
distress, like these dreams declare.
20 Yet is it ‡better for one to be in peril
andto come into §these things,thantopass
away as a cloud out ofthe world, and notto
see the things that †will happen in the last
days.” He answered me,
21 “I will tell you the interpretation of
the vision, and I will also open to you the
things about which you mentioned.
22 You have spoken of those who are left
behind. This is the interpretation:
23 He that will ‡endure the peril in that
time will protect those who fall into danger,
even those who have works and faith
toward the Almighty.
24 Know therefore thatthose who are left
behind are more blessed than those who
are dead.
25 These are the interpretations of the
vision: Whereas you saw a man coming up
from the midst of the sea,
26 this is he whom the Most High has
been keeping for many ages, who by his
own self will deliver his creation. He will
direct those who are left behind.
27 Whereas yousaw that out of his mouth
came wind, fire, and storm,
28 and whereas he held neither spear,
nor any weapon of war, but destroyed the
assault of that multitude which came to
fight against him, this is the interpretation:
29 Behold, the days come when the Most
High will begin to deliver those who are on
the earth.
30 Astonishment of mind will come upon
those who dwell on the earth.
31 One will plan to make war against
another, city against city, place against
place, people against people, and kingdom
against kingdom.
32 It will be, when these things come to
pass, and the signs happen which I showed
you before, then my Son will be revealed,
whom you saw as a man ascending.
33 It will be, when all the nations hear
his voice, every man will leave his own
land and the battle they have against one
another.
34 An innumerable multitude will be
gathered together, as you saw, desiring to
come and to fight against him.
35 But he will stand on the top of Mount
Zion.
36 Zion will come, and will be shown to
all men, being prepared and built, like you
saw the mountain carved without hands.
37 My Son will rebuke the nations which
have come for their wickedness, with
plagues that are like a storm,
38 and will rebuke themto their face with
their evil thoughts, and the torments with
which they will be tormented, which are
like a flame. He will destroy them without
labor by the law, which is like fire.
39 Whereas you saw that he gathered to
himself another multitude that was peaceful,
40 these are the ten tribes which were
led away out of their own land in the time
of Osea the king, whom Salmananser the
king ofthe Assyrians led away captive, and
he carried them beyond the River, and
they were taken into another land.
41 But they made this plan among themselves,
that they would leave the multitude
of the heathen, and go out into a more
distant region, where mankind had never lived,
42 that there they might keep their
statutes which they had not kept in their
own land.
43 They entered by the narrow passages
of the river Euphrates.
44 For the Most High then did signs for
them, and stopped the springs of the River
until they had passed over.
45 For through that country there was a
long way to go, namely, of a year and a half.
The same region is called §Arzareth.
46 Then they lived there until the latter
time. Now when they begin to come again,
47 the Most High stops the springs of the
River again, that they may go through.
Therefore you saw the multitude gathered
together with peace.
48 But those who are left behind of your
people are those who are found within my
holy border.
49 It will be therefore when he will
destroy the multitude of the nations that are
gathered together, he will defend the
people who remain.
50 Then will he show them very many
wonders.”
51 ThenI said, “O sovereignLord, explain
this to me: Why have I seen the man coming
up from the midst of the sea?
52 He said to me, as no one can explore
or know what is in the depths of the sea,
evensono manonearth cansee my Son, or
those who are with him, except in the time
of †his day.
53 This is the interpretation of the dream
which you saw, and for this only you are
enlightened about this,
54 for you have forsaken your own ways,
and applied your diligence to mine, and
have searched out my law.
55 You have ordered your life in wisdom,
and have called understanding your mother.
56 Therefore I have shown you this, for
there is a reward laid up with the Most
High. It will be, after another three days I
will speak other things to you, and declare
to you mighty and wondrous things.”
57 Then I went out and passed into the
field, giving praise and thanks greatly to
the Most High because of his wonders,
which he did from time to time,
58 and because he governs the time, and
such things as happen in their seasons. So
I sat there three days.