The Household of God
Volume 2
Rise and spiritual prime of the first world empire Hanoch
- Chapter 178 -
THE FIERY JUDGMENT ON LAMECH'S COURTESANS
When they arrived at the puddles, swamps and morasses and Lamech saw his courtesans and noticed that some besmeared, rubbed and washed themselves with mud while others were still busy hauling wood, he rushed up to Kisehel and asked him, incensed:
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Tell me, the great king of Enoch's plain, you long-legged mountain beast, what outrage are you about to commit here on me and my whole house?"
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And Kisehel replied in a firm voice: "Listen, you living abode of Satan, you abhorrent epitome of the entire hell, you living anus of the devil, whose nature we recognize from deed to deed, - the action itself will be your answer! And so be quiet and no longer ask us about anything; and when I ask you, speak with the mouth of a human, not ever with the jaws of a dragon! So be it!"
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Upon this answer Lamech was quiet; for it seemed to him advisable to be silent rather than talking, all the more since the three could by no means be intimidated by his voice and also his weapons were failing him.
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Thus when Kisehel noticed how matters stood with Lamech's courage, he promptly turned to the maids who had gathered the wood and told them:
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"Listen, you cleansed maids, you have done according to our word by providing a just amount of dry wood within so short a time; however, if you want to become completely free, do get also fire in the shortest possible time."
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And the maids ran and soon returned with burning torches prepared from pitch and asphalt.
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As the maids stood there equipped with incendiary matter, Kisehel turned to the women smearing themselves with filth and said:
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"Now you listen! Your body, like your soul, is now fit for hell, looking thanks to the stinking sewer like your soul. So rise from the sewers and climb onto these wood-piles so that the raging flames may put an end to your most miserable existence and you may find the long-deserved reward on the burning stakes! So be it!"
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Now the women began to howl, beg and implore, and screamed: "You mighty emissaries of the sole true, great God, impose on us whatever penitence you want, and we will carry it out faithfully all our lives just as we have done your bidding in these sewers! Only leave us the little bit of our anyway most miserable life lest we may be lost forever!
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"If you want to or must kill us anyway, do not kill us in this most torturous manner!
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"For this we entreat you for the sake of the mercy of your living, almighty, great God!"
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And Kisehel said to them: "Listen, this does not depend on us; for we can neither judge nor redeem you, being nothing but merely the executors of the divine will.
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"Rather prostrate yourselves before God, state your distress and ask Him alone to redeem you and you can be sure that we shall do what our hearts will tell us."
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And the women began to cry to God to redeem them from impending horrible torture.
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But a thunderous voice full of rage sounded in all ears, saying: "Only after the fire shall you be freed!"
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And Kisehel said to the women who were half dead with fear: "Now you have heard with your own ears what has to be done with you here, - and so do no longer tarry and climb onto the wood in the name of the almighty God, who alone is now your judge!"
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And the women rose slowly from the ground and, howling, began to climb onto the wood-piles.
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When they had all climbed the wood-piles, Kisehel ordered the maids to light the same with the torches.
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The maids did this with trembling hands and their faces averted.
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And the fire swiftly seized the piles; the women, half burnt, reared up mad with pain in midst the bright flames until, finally, death put an end to all this.
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Here Lamech almost began to rave and asked Kisehel, full of rage: "What did you and your God gain by the women's horrible execution?"
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And Kisehel replied: "You were told not to speak until you have been asked!
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"But you do not do our bidding; thus you shall receive no answer other than that of the accomplished deed!"
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And forthwith Kisehel shouted with a strong voice: "You women cleansed by fire! Rise again from the ashes of your erstwhile sinful body and bear witness to our message to Lamech!"
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And instantly the women rose from the ashes transfigured, glorified and praised God and testified that the three were true messengers of the eternal God, and also how insignificant the torture was compared to what they were now feeling in this quite new life.
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Here Lamech began to reflect on this unheard-of miracle.