t12papocrypha
Testament of Zebulun 7
Zebulun recounts a specific act of mercy — stealing secretly from his own household to clothe a man naked in winter — then instructs his children to give from whatever God has given them, doing so impartially and with a full heart. When nothing material is at hand to give, the posture of compassion itself is the offering: Zebulun walked weeping beside the man for more than seven furlongs because his bowels yearned toward him. The teaching is not sentiment but covenant conduct — mercy extended without partiality mirrors how Jehovah deals with all who come to Him.
1
Now I will declare unto you what I did, I saw a man in distress and nakedness in wintertime, and had compassion upon him, and stole away a garment secretly from my house, and gave it to him who was in distress. Do you therefore, my children, from that which God bestoweth upon you, show compassion and mercy impartially to all men, and give to every man with a good heart. And if ye have not at the time wherewith to give to him that asketh you, have compassion for him in bowels of mercy. I know that my hand found not at the time wherewith to give to him that asked me, and I walked with him weeping for more than seven furlongs, and my bowels yearned towards him unto compassion.
