t12papocrypha
Testament of Zebulun 8
Zebulun calls his children to mercy and compassion, grounding the command in Joseph's own conduct: when his brothers descended into Egypt, Joseph bore no malice toward those who had sold him. That restraint is not merely a moral example — it is the master type in motion. The one raised up by Pharaoh, who held the famine-relief in his hand, could have wielded it as a weapon; instead compassion governed him. Zebulun reads this as the governing pattern of the last days: wherever Jehovah finds genuine mercy in a man, He dwells there. Malice severs kindred and breaks the unity that the gathering requires.
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Have therefore yourselves also, my children, compassion towards every man with mercy, that the Lord also may have compassion upon you, and have mercy upon you; because also in the last days God sendeth His compassion on the earth, and wheresoever He findeth bowels of mercy, He dwelleth in him. For how much compassion a man hath upon his neighbours, so much also hath the Lord upon him. For when we went down into Egypt, Joseph bore no malice against us, and when he saw me he was filled with compassion. And looking towards him, do ye also, my children, approve yourselves without malice, and love one another; and reckon not each one the evil of his brother, for this breaketh unity, and divideth all kindred, and troubleth the soul: for he who beareth malice hath not bowels of mercy.
