Naphtali's Testimony

Naphtali’s testimony, the eighth son of Jacob and Bilhah, the runner. This is a lesson in physiology in the 130th year of his life, when his sons were gathered together in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, while still in good health; he made them a feast of food and wine. And after he was awake in the morning, he said to them:
“I am dying;” and they believed him not. And as he glorified G-d, he grew strong and said that after yesterday’s feast he should die. “I was born from Bilhah, and because Rachel dealt craftily, and gave Bilhah in place of herself to Jacob, and she conceived and bare me upon Rachel’s knees, therefore she called my name Naphtali.
Now my mother was Bilhah, daughter of Rotheus the brother of Deborah, Rebecca’s nurse, who was born on one and the self-same day with Rachel. And Rotheus was of the family of Abraham, a Chaldean, G-d fearing, free-born, and noble. And he was taken captive and was bought by Laban; and he gave him Euna his handmaid to wife, and she bore a daughter and caller her name Zilpah, after the name of the village in which he had been taken captive, Bilhah was the second born.
And I was swift on my feet like the deer, and my father Jacob appointed me for all messages, and as a deer did he give me his blessing.
For as the potter knoweth the vessel, how much it is to contain, and bringeth clay accordingly, so also doth G-d make the body after the likeness of the spirit, and according to the capacity of the body doth He implant the spirit. As the potter knoweth the use of each vessel, what it is meet for, so also doth G-d know the body, how far it will persist in goodness, and when it begins in evil. For there is no inclination or thought which G-d knoweth not, for He created every man after His own image.
For as a man’s strength, so also in his work; as his eye, so also in his sleep; as his soul, so also in his word either in the Law of G-d or in the law of Beliar.
For G-d made all things good in their order, the five senses in the head, and He joined on the neck to the head, adding to it the hair also for comeliness and glory, then the heart for understanding, the belly for excrement, and the stomach for grinding, the windpipe taking in the breath, the liver for wrath, the gall for bitterness, the spleen for laughter, the reins for prudence, the muscles of the loins for power, the lungs for drawing in, the loins for strength, and so forth.
So then, my children let all your works be done in order with good intent in the fear of G-d, and do nothing disorderly in scorn or out of its due season. For if you bid the eye to hear, it cannot; so neither while you are in darkness can you do the works of light.
Be you, therefore, not eager to corrupt your doings through covetousness or with vain words to beguile your souls; because if you keep silence in purity of heart, you shall understand how to hold fast the will of G-d, and to cast away the will of Beliar.
Sun and moon and stars change not their order; so do you also change not the Law of G-d in the disorderliness of your doings.
The Gentiles went astray, and forsook the L-rd, and changed their order, and obeyed stocks and stones, spirits of deceit.
I have read in the writing of Enoch that you yourselves also depart from G-d, walking according to all the lawlessness of the Gentiles. And G-d shall scatter you upon the face of all the earth, until the compassion of G-d shall come, a man working righteousness and working mercy unto all them that are afar off, and to them that are near.
Lo! My children, I have shown unto you the last times, how everything shall come to pass in Israel. Charge your children that they be united to Levi and to Judah; for through them shall salvation arise unto Israel, and in them shall Jacob be blessed.
If you work that which is good, both men and angels shall bless you; and G-d shall be glorified among the Gentiles through you, and the devil shall flee from you, and the wild beast shall fear you, and G-d shall love you, and the angels shall cleave to you.
Be ye therefore wise in G-d and prudent, understanding the order of His Commandments, and the Laws of every word, that G-d may love you. "
And when he had eaten and drunken with a merry heart, he covered his face and died.