t12papocrypha
Testament of Judah 9
Judah recounts a military campaign against the sons of Esau following eighteen years of peace after the return from Mesopotamia. Esau himself falls to Jacob's bow at Mount Seir, fulfilling the long-standing tension between the twin lines. Judah leads the assault on an iron-walled city, climbing a siege ladder under heavy fire and slaying four champions — Reuben and Gad follow and press the victory. The sons of Esau surrender as tributaries, paying grain, oil, and wine. The episode frames the house of Jacob as the dominant covenant line pressing its inheritance against the Edomite branch.
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Eighteen years we abode at peace, our father and we, with his brother Esau, and his sons with us, after that we came from Mesopotamia, from Laban. And when eighteen years were fulfilled, in the fortieth year of my life, Esau, the brother of my father, came upon us with much people and strong; and he fell by the bow of Jacob, and was taken up dead in Mount Seir: even as he went above Iramna was he slain. And we pursued after the sons of Esau. Now they had a city with walls of iron and gates of brass; and we could not enter into it, and we encamped around, and besieged them. And when they opened not to us after twenty days, I set up a ladder in the sight of all, and with my shield upon my head I climbed up, assailed with stones of three talents’ weight; and I climbed up, and slew four who were mighty among them. And the next day Reuben and Gad entered in and slew sixty others. Then they asked from us terms of peace; and being aware of our father’s purpose, we received them as tributaries. And they gave us two hundred cors of wheat, five hundred baths of oil, fifteen hundred measures of wine, until we went down into Egypt.
