Moses’ Prayer for Israel’s Future Well-Being

Jubilees 1:19–21

Mid-2nd Century BCE

19Then Moses fell prostrate and prayed and said: “Lord my God, do not allow your people and your heritage to go along in the error of their minds, and do not deliver them into the control of the nations with the result that they rule over them lest they make them sin against you. 20May your mercy, Lord, be lifted over your people. Create for them a just spirit. May the spirit of Belial not rule over them so as to bring charges against them before you and to make them stumble away from every proper path so that they may be destroyed from your presence. 21They are your people and your heritage whom you have rescued from Egyptian control by your great power. Create for them a pure mind and a holy spirit. May they not be trapped in their sins from now to eternity.”

Translated byJames C. VanderKam.

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 2: Emerging Judaism.

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Jubilees begins on Mount Sinai, where God tells Moses about the Israelites’ future sin once they have settled in the promised land, their subsequent exile, and their repentance and restoration. Moses’ response to this information is to pray to God on their behalf.

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