Book of Delight

There was a man in the land of Barcelona, and his name was Joseph Ibn Zabara. That man was settled on his lees, at ease from his youth [see Jeremiah 48:11], with his cousins and friends. His acquaintances would draw him near, while his close friends adored him. He was a prince and a dignitary among them, and each of them labored for his love. He, too, honored, assisted, served, and healed them. When any of them was sick, he would prepare their healing balms, with the aid of his Maker, in accordance with his profession and craft. He would take care of their affliction, dress them, and attend to them with love and compassion, each of them according to their age. In his love, he would increase [yosef] his concern for each person and long [kosef] for their companionship; Joseph [Yosef] was sold as a servant (Psalms 105:17).

It came to pass that one night, I, Joseph, was sleeping on my bed, and my sleep was sweet to me (Jeremiah 31:26), as this was my only portion from all my labor [see Ecclesiastes 2:10]. For there are things which are toil for the soul and rest for the body, while others are toil for the body and rest for the soul, but sleep is rest for the body and soul together, and this is something nobody goes without. The pious Hippocrates was asked, “What is sleep?” and he replied, “the depths of the faculties to the depths of the soul, to produce tranquility and relaxation for the body.” And Aristotle stated, “Natural sleep is a cure for any illness,” and Galen declared, “Natural sleep strengthens the faculties and weakens the humors,” and the wise man Yoḥanan said, “Sleep at the right time brings the body into a state of health.”¹

While I was sleeping, I saw in my dream [that] there was a being of tall stature before me, with the appearance of a man, and he woke me, like a man who is wakened out of his sleep (Zechariah 4:1), and he said to me: “Son of man, get up; why are you asleep [see Jonah 1:6]? Wake up and look upon wine when it is red [see Proverbs 23:31]. Arise, please, and sit and eat of my venison [see Genesis 27:19], which I have brought to you from that which has come into my possession.”

As the morning arose (Genesis 19:15), I got up in haste, and I saw before me wine, bread, and food. And in the man’s hand, there was a burning candle that spread its light to every corner. I raised my voice and said, “What are these, my lord?” He replied, “My wine, bread, and food. Sit, and eat and drink with me, for I love you like one of my mother’s sons.”

After this, I thanked him for his kindness and honor, and for his love and generosity. I said to him, “My lord, I cannot sit and drink until I have [see Genesis 24:33] prayed to the One who understands my path and who prepares my steps and ways, who made for me all my requirements. The choicest of prophets, the head of all those who are called upon [see 1 Samuel 9:22], our teacher Moses, declared: You shall not eat with the blood; nor shall you practice divination or soothsaying (Leviticus 19:26). He thereby warned the children of Israel not to eat before they had prayed for their souls, as the blood is the soul [see b. Berakhot 10a]. Saul likewise said: Slay them here, and eat; and do not sin against the Lord by eating with the blood (1 Samuel 14:34). It is further stated ‘that whoever eats before he has prayed and beseeched his Maker is considered akin to a diviner and soothsayer.’ Aristotle was asked, ‘Which should take precedence—prayer or eating?’ He responded, ‘Prayer, as prayer is the life of the soul, whereas eating is the life of the body.’ Furthermore, ‘Neither prayer nor reading is possible for a satiated soul and a full belly.’ A philosopher was asked, ‘Which is better, eating or praying?’ and he replied, ‘Most of prayer is beneficial, while most of eating is harmful.’ Another wise man said, ‘Prayer leads into eating.’ And a certain wise man from the company of wise men declared, ‘Prayer is like the spirit that rises upward, and eating is like the corpse that descends downward into the ground [see Ecclesiastes 3:21].’”

Upon hearing my comments, he said to me, “Pray as you wish, and do what is right in your eyes.” I washed my hands and face and prayed to the Lord. [ . . . ]

He whetted his tongue against me [see Joshua 10:21], saying, “Why do you multiply words against me [see Job 35:16] and have humiliated me these three times [see Judges 16:15]?”

I replied, “My lord, is it for this purpose that you took me out of my city, to kill me and my donkey through hunger?”

He declared, “Cursed be the day on which I took you out; let it not be counted among the number of the months [see Job 3:1, 6]. For I brought you to my home only to my shame and reproach, and to be reproved by my disgrace. But by the life of my soul and the soul of my elder, Ashmadai,² if you do not cease with your foolishness, I will take you with my little finger and show you a stock and a city where you will permanently encamp.”

I looked at him, and his face was fiery, and his eyes were sparks of fire. Smoke came out his nostrils [see Job 41:11–12] like the smoke of a furnace (Genesis 19:28). I spoke in a gentle tone, while my soul wept within me, “My lord, let me ask you without you growing angry—which Ashmadai was your elder?” He retorted, “Ashmadai the great ministering angel, the one who with his wing deposed King Solomon from his throne and distanced him from his land [see b. Gittin 68a–b].”

I fell upon my face and wept, “Woe for my soul, for I considered you one of the friends, but you are from the sons of demons that hunt the spirits of the sons of man [see Ezekiel 13:20]. Is this your kindness to your friend? (2 Samuel 16:17) Why didn’t you tell me about your descent? Why did you thus deceive me and bring me out of the land of my birthplace?”

He responded, “Where, then, is your intelligence and insight, your knowledge and wisdom? Didn’t I say to you that my name is Enan ha-Natash ben Arnan ha-Dash? Reverse my name and my father’s name, and then my name is Enan the Devil [ha-Satan], son of Arnan the Demon [ha-Shed], son of Hazarmaveth [Courtyard of Death or Cemetery], son of Azmaveth [Strong Death], son of Tsalmaveth [Shadow of Death], son of Ḥaradah [Fear], son of Re‘adah [Trembling], son of Eimah [Terror], [many more demonic names appear here], son of Ashmadai, king of the demons; all of them were his servants.”

When I heard all these names, I was gripped by a furor and desolation, fear and terror fell upon me, my heart forgot all joy and merriment, and horror took hold of my flesh (Job 21:6). I proclaimed the following, “Woe to me for my hurt, for here will be my grave. The sages spoke the truth: A person’s feet are responsible for him, for they lead him to the place where he is wanted [b. Sukkah 53a].”

He said to me, “Do not fear, nor be dismayed (Deuteronomy 1:21). All your words should be spoken softly, for by the lives of all the names I mentioned, I will not leave you until I have done that which I have spoken about to you (Genesis 28:15). Arise, walk through the land, in its length and breadth (Genesis 13:17), and look upon its beauty and goodness.”