DEMONSTRATION ON THE GRAPE

DEMONSTRATION XXIII

ON THE GRAPE

1 I shall write to you, my beloved brother, to instruct you regarding these chapters you have proposed to me: namely, the blessing hidden in the cluster; for because of the blessed berry, the cluster was not given over to destruction. For in the days of Isaiah, the lord of the cluster desired to destroy it, but it was said to the prophet that he should not destroy the cluster, for there is a blessing in it original: "Is. LXV, 8". And since you have also asked me whether the righteous and upright will always exist upon the earth, I will teach you concerning that blessing which flowed throughout all generations until the appointed time. Furthermore, I will provide a demonstration regarding the word about which you asked me: why the righteous were sometimes heard when they prayed, and why at other times God did not hear them. Finally, I will write for you concerning the years of the ancient generations, calculating the span of each generation in its time, and I will teach you...

1. I shall write to you, most dear friend, to instruct you about those chapters which you have proposed to me, namely, the blessing hidden in the cluster; for because of the blessed berry, the cluster was not given over to destruction. For in the days of Isaiah, the lord of the cluster wished to destroy it; but it was said to the prophet that the cluster would not be corrupted, because the blessing is in it. Because you have also asked me whether the righteous and upright will always be upon the earth, I will instruct you about that blessing which flowed into all generations until the appointed time; and furthermore, I will institute for you a demonstration of the word about which you asked me: why the righteous were sometimes heard when they prayed, and why indeed sometimes God did not hear them. Finally, I will describe to you the years of the ancient generations, instituting a calculation for each...