t12papocrypha
Testament of Issachar 6
Issachar closes his testament with a prophetic warning to his posterity: in the last times his sons will abandon the simplicity and guilelessness that marked his own life, turning to avarice, malice, and the devices of Beliar, forsaking Jehovah's commandments and their inheritance of the land. The consequence is dispersion among the Gentiles and bondage to their enemies — the classic covenant-breach pattern. Yet the word is not without mercy: Jehovah will receive those who return, and will bring them back to their land. Issachar charges his children to transmit this warning so repentance may be swift when the fall comes.
1
I know, my children, that in the last times your sons will forsake simplicity, and will cleave unto avarice, and leaving guilelessness will draw near to malice, and forsaking the commandments of the Lord will cleave unto Beliar, and leaving husbandry will follow after their wicked devices, and shall be dispersed among the Gentiles, and shall serve their enemies. And do you therefore command these things to your children, that if they sin they may the more quickly return to the Lord; for He is merciful, and will deliver them even to bring them back into their land.
