|
 HEN JOSEPH started on his way with the members of his family and the little Child walked along between Joseph and Mary, the whole group felt a noticeable quaking of the earth at every step of the little Child.
|
|
2 |
Joseph found this phenomenon to be quite marked at times and asked Mary,
|
|
3 |
'Wife, do you not feel how the surface of the earth shakes and quakes?'
|
|
4 |
Mary replied, 'Oh, I feel that very strongly!
|
|
5 |
If only a mighty storm, which likes to appear after an earthquake, does not strike us while on the way or in the town!
|
|
6 |
And notice, the earthquake continues on, which I have not experienced before.
|
|
7 |
Oh, a terrible storm will surely follow!'
|
|
8 |
Here Joseph said, 'I still do not see the least cloud anywhere in the sky;
|
|
9 |
but for all that you could be quite right.
|
|
10 |
If this earthquake does not come to an end very soon, it will not even be safe to go into the town.'
|
|
11 |
As the family neared the town, a number of refugees already came toward them from there and warned them about going there.
|
|
12 |
And they declared, 'Friends, from wherever you may be, be sure not to go into the town!
|
|
13 |
For a mighty earthquake was there less than half an hour ago, and one is not safe for a minute from the collapse of the houses!'
|
|
14 |
Even Joseph was somewhat in doubt here whether or not he should turn back.
|
|
15 |
Here James went over to Joseph and said to him in an aside,
|
|
16 |
'Father, you must not be afraid - this earthquake will not do the least harm to anyone, neither in the town nor in the surrounding country.'
|
|
17 |
At this Joseph quickly understood whence the earthquake came.
|
|
18 |
He therefore promptly encouraged all the members of his family to go into the town.
|
|
19 |
But when the refugees saw that the old man went into the town,
|
|
20 |
they said among themselves, 'Just who must this man be, that he has no fear of the earthquake?'
|
|
21 |
And they guessed back and forth; but no one recognized him.
|
|
22 |
Then they wanted to go back into the town also;
|
|
23 |
but when the earth began to quake again as the little Child walked onward, they fled. - And Joseph quite fearlessly went into the town with his family.
|
|