Chapter 5

5:2 - And leaning his head on the basket of figs, he fell asleep and slept for 66 years; and he was not awakened from his slumber.

5:3 - And afterward, when he awoke from his sleep, he said: I slept sweetly for a little while, but my head is heavy because I did not get enough sleep.

5:4 - Then he uncovered the basket of figs and found them dripping milk.

5:5 - And he said: I would like to sleep a little longer, because my head is heavy. But I am afraid that I might fall asleep and be late in awakening and my father Jeremiah would think badly of me; for if he were not in a hurry, he would not have sent me today at daybreak.

5:6 - So I will get up, and proceed in the burning heat; for isn't there heat, isn't there toil every day?

5:7 - So he got up and took the basket of figs and placed it on his shoulders, and he entered into Jerusalem and did not recognize it -- neither his own house, nor the place -- nor did he find his own family or any of his acquaintances.

5:8 - And he said: The Lord be blessed, for a great trance has come over me today!

5:9 - This is not the city Jerusalem -- and I have lost my way because I came by the mountain road when I arose from my sleep; and since my head was heavy because I did not get enough sleep, I lost my way.

5:10 - It will seem incredible to Jeremiah that I lost my way!

5:11 - And he departed from the city; and as he searched he saw the landmarks of the city, and he said: Indeed, this is the city; I lost my way.

5:12 - And again he returned to the city and searched, and found no one of his own people; and he said: The Lord be blessed, for a great trance has come over me!

5:13 - And again he departed from the city, and he stayed there grieving, not knowing where he should go.

5:14 - And he put down the basket, saying: I will sit here until the Lord takes this trance from me.

5:15 - And as he sat, he saw an old man coming from the field; and Abimelech said to him: I say to you, old man, what city is this?

5:16 - And he said to him: It is Jerusalem.

5:17 - And Abimelech said to him: Where is Jeremiah the priest, and Baruch the secretary, and all the people of this city, for I could not find them?

5:18 - And the old man said to him: Are you not from this city, seeing that you remember Jeremiah today, because you are asking about him after such a long time?

5:19 - For Jeremiah is in Babylon with the people; for they were taken captive by king Nebuchadnezzar, and Jeremiah is with them to preach the good news to them and to teach them the word.

5:20 - As soon as Abimelech heard this from the old man, he said: If you were not an old man, and if it were not for the fact that it is not lawful for a man to upbraid one older than himself, I would laugh at you and say that you are out of your mind -- since you say that the people have been taken captive into Babylon.

5:21 - Even if the heavenly torrents had descended on them, there has not yet been time for them to go into Babylon!

5:22 - For how much time has passed since my father Jeremiah sent me to the estate of Agrippa to bring a few figs, so that I might give them to the sick among the people?

5:23 - And I went and got them, and when I came to a certain tree in the burning heat, I sat to rest a little; and I leaned my head on the basket and fell asleep.

5:24 - And when I awoke I uncovered the basket of figs, supposing that I was late; and I found the figs dripping milk, just as I had collected them.

5:25 - But you claim that the people have been taken captive into Babylon.

5:26 - But that you might know, take the figs and see!

5:27 - And he uncovered the basket of figs for the old man, and he saw them dripping milk.

5:28 - And when the old man saw them, he said: O my son, you are a righteous man, and God did not want you to see the desolation of the city, so he brought this trance upon you.

5:29 - For behold it is 66 years today since the people were taken captive into Babylon.

5:30 - But that you might learn, my son, that what I tell you is true -- look into the field and see that the ripening of the crops has not appeared.

5:31 - And notice that the figs are not in season, and be enlightened.

5:32 - Then Abimelech cried out in a loud voice, saying: I bless you, God of heaven and earth, the Rest of the souls of the righteous in every place!

5:33 - Then he said to the old man: What month is this?

5:34 - And he said: Nisan (which is Abib).