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AFTER A WHILE the doctor inquired of Joseph,
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'But friend and brother! What in the Lord's name sort of a Child do you have there, who already talks as wisely as a high priest in the temple of the Lord, when he stands before the most holy sanctuary bedecked with the Urim and Thummim?
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Truly, He spoke only a few words and they penetrated to my very marrow!
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You did of course tell me in your story how the Child was the reason for your flight into Egypt, and sketchily told me a number of strange things about His birth,
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from which I surmised that in time, if this Child would go through the Essenes' school of the prophets, He might come out a great prophet.
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But as I now have heard Him speak, He just does not need the school of the Essenes;
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for thus He already is a prophet of the first degree like a Samuel and like an Elias and Isaiah!'
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At this Joseph was a bit embarrassed and did not know what sort of an answer he should give his friend so soon.
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| 9 |
Here the little Child came to Joseph again and said to him,
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'Just leave the doctor in his faith; for he too is called to the kingdom of God, but he shall not find out too much at one time!'
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| 11 |
When the doctor heard these words also, he said in great surprise,
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'Yes, yes brother Joseph! I have spoken correctly to you!
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That Child is already a prophet who will declare to us the promised Messiah, whose coming is near;
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for He just spoke plainly of the kingdom of God, to which I am also to be called.
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Now do I indeed realize why this little Samuel has just consoled you with a Lord who is mightier than Rome.
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Yes, when the Messiah comes, then the same thing will happen to Rome as once happened to Jericho in the days of Joshua!'
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| 17 |
Here the little Child asserted, 'Oho, friend, what are you saying? Do you not know that it is written: No prophet shall come out of Galilee!
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And if so, who then may He be who comes forth from the tribe of David?
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I tell you this: When the Messiah will come, He will pull no sword against Rome,
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but will only have His spiritual kingdom proclaimed through His messengers on earth!'
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| 21 |
Here the doctor was taken aback and declared after a while, 'Truly, in You God has visited His people!'
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And Joseph agreed with the doctor, but made no further explanation.
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