The Speech of Tuviah ben Zedekiah

Listen to me, oh maskil, and know my words. Know that when the kings went to war and set out with their armies on the roads, God awakened the spirit of Cushan-rishathaim [Cushan the doubly wicked; see Judges 3:8]. He came up from the land of Merathaim [see Jeremiah 50:21], set his face against my city, En Mishpat [“Well of Judgment”; see Genesis 14:7], and camped against it. He besieged it and caused it distress, and the city split open before him, for its people were few and had been living securely and in peace. He entered its palaces and tore open all its pregnant women. And when the city was breached and we were brought for judgment, my soul was his bounty. I was marched before him in captivity, to rake fire from the hearth or water from the cistern [see Isaiah 30:14]. He led me in hunger and thirst and brought me in chains to the land of Egypt [see Ezekiel 19:4].

I was reproached, taunted [see Ezekiel 5:15]. All those who saw me ridiculed me, dismissing me with the lip [see Psalms 22:8]. My friends and brothers despised me; those who dwell in my house, and my maidservants, counted me as a stranger [see Job 19:15]. My countenance was changed by the hand of the enemy, and my soul was afflicted in sorrow.

I lift my eyes to my Creator; whence comes my help? [see Psalms 121:1]. Now the Lord prepared the Prince of the land: a righteous man, one who stands in the breach. Moses is his name, called a Prince and found in times of trouble [see Psalms 9:10]. He recognized me, for I am the daughter of princes, and had pity on me and was gracious to me. He brought me to his house and spoke to my heart; he made my yoke lighter and relieved my pain [see Job 16:6]. He removed the clothes of my captivity and changed my prison clothes and [gave me] my jewelry. And when he weighed the redemption money, I was his delight day after day—necklaces on my throat and bracelets on my arms, rejoicing always before him [see Proverbs 8:30]. In my memory his tongue speaks, and his heart is enraptured in my love [see Proverbs 5:19]. He had me ride as his second in a chariot [see Genesis 41:43]. I ate of his bread, drank of his cup, and slept in his embrace [see 2 Samuel 12:3]; he returned me to how I was in former times and led me as in my youth; he removed folly [tahalah] from upon me [see Job 4:18] and made mouths praise [tehilah] me. After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure? [see Genesis 18:11]. When I was brought up [see Esther 2:20], and when he called his name upon me and removed my reproach [see Genesis 30:23], his glorious honor was added to my glory.