And now it came to pass that Zeniff conferred the kingdom upon Noah, one of his sons; therefore Noah began to reign in his place. And he did not walk in the ways of his father; for behold, he did not keep the mitzvot of Elohim, but he did walk after the desires of his own heart. And he had many wives and concubines.75 And he did cause his people to commit sin and do that which was abominable in the sight of yhwh; yes, and they did commit whoredoms and all manner of wickedness. And he laid a tax of one-fifth part of all they possessed: a fifth part of their gold and of their silver, and a fifth part of their ziff, and of their copper, and of their brass, and their iron, and a fifth part of their fatlings, and also a fifth part of all their grain.76 And all this did he take to support himself, and his wives, and his concubines, and also his kohanim, and their wives, and their concubines. Thus, he had changed the affairs of the kingdom, for he put down all the kohanim that had been consecrated by his father and consecrated new ones in their place, such as were lifted up in the pride of their hearts. Yes, and thus were they supported in their laziness, and in their idolatry, and in their whoredoms by the taxes which king Noah had put upon his people. Thus did the people labor exceedingly to support iniquity. Yes, and they also became idolatrous because they were deceived by the vain and flattering words of the king and kohanim, for they did speak flattering things unto them.
And it came to pass that king Noah built many elegant and spacious buildings, and he ornamented them with fine work of wood and of all manner of precious things; of gold, and of silver, and of iron, and of brass, and of ziff, and of copper. And he also built him a spacious palace and a throne in the midst thereof, all of which was of fine wood and was ornamented with gold, and silver, and with precious things. And he also caused that his workmen should work all manner of fine work77 within the walls of the Temple, of fine wood, and of copper, and of brass. And the seats which were set apart for the Kohanim HaGadolim, which were above all the other seats, he did ornament with pure gold. And he caused a breastwork to be built before them that they might rest their bodies and their arms upon while they should speak lying and vain words to his people.
And it came to pass that he built a tower near the Temple, yes, a very high tower, even so high that he could stand upon the top thereof and overlook the land of Shilom, and also the land of Shemlon, which was possessed by the Lamanites; and he could even look over all the land round about.
And it came to pass that he caused many buildings to be built in the land Shilom. And he caused a great tower to be built on the hill north of the land Shilom, which had been a refuge for the children of Nefi at the time they fled out of the land. And thus he did do with the riches which he obtained by the taxation of his people.
And it came to pass that he placed his heart upon his riches, and he spent his time in riotous living with his wives and his concubines; and so did also his kohanim spend their time with harlots. And it came to pass that he planted vineyards round about in the land, and he built winepresses, and made wine in abundance; and therefore he became a winebibber, and also his people.
And it came to pass that the Lamanites began to come in upon his people, upon small numbers, and to slay them in their fields and while they were tending their flocks. And king Noah sent guards round about the land to keep them off, but he did not send a sufficient number, and the Lamanites came upon them, and killed them, and drove many of their flocks out of the land. Thus the Lamanites began to destroy them and to exercise their hatred upon them.
And it came to pass that king Noah sent his armies against them and they were driven back, or they drove them back for a time. Therefore they returned, rejoicing in their spoil. And now because of this great victory, they were lifted up in the pride of their hearts. They did boast in their own strength, saying that their fifty could stand against thousands of the Lamanites. And thus they did boast, and did delight in blood and the shedding of the blood of their brothers — and this because of the wickedness of their king and kohanim.
And it came to pass that there was a man among them whose name was Avinodi; and he went forth among them and began to prophesy, saying, Behold, thus says yhwh and thus has he commanded me, saying, Go forth and say unto this people, Thus says yhwh: Woe be unto this people, for I have seen their abominations, and their wickedness, and their whoredoms; and except they repent, I will visit them in my anger. And except they repent and turn to yhwh their Elohim, behold, I will deliver them into the hands of their enemies; yes, and they shall be brought into bondage, and they shall be afflicted by the hand of their enemies. And it shall come to pass that they shall know that I am yhwh their Elohim and am a jealous Elohim, visiting the iniquities of my people. And it shall come to pass that except this people repent and turn unto yhwh their Elohim, they shall be brought into bondage; and none shall deliver them except it be yhwh, El Shaddai. Yes, and it shall come to pass that when they shall cry unto me, I will be slow to hear their cries. Yes, and I will allow that they be smitten by their enemies. And except they repent in sackcloth and ashes, and cry mightily to yhwh their Elohim, I will not hear their prayers, neither will I deliver them out of their afflictions. And thus says yhwh, and thus has he commanded me.
Now it came to pass that when Avinodi had spoken these words unto them, they were angry with him and sought to take away his life; but yhwh delivered him out of their hands. Now when king Noah had heard of the words which Avinodi had spoken unto the people, he was also angry, and he said, Who is Avinodi that I and my people should be judged of him? Or who is yhwh that shall bring upon my people such great affliction? I command you to bring Avinodi here that I may slay him, for he has said these things that he might stir up my people to anger one with another, and to raise contentions among my people; therefore I will slay him. Now the eyes of the people were blinded; therefore they hardened their hearts against the words of Avinodi, and they sought from that time forward to take him. And king Noah hardened his heart against the word of yhwh, and he did not repent of his evil doings.
And it came to pass that after the space of two years, that Avinodi came among them in disguise, that they knew him not, and began again to prophesy among them,78 saying, Thus has yhwh commanded me, saying, Avinodi, go and prophesy unto this my people, for they have hardened their hearts against my words; they have repented not of their evil doings. Therefore I will visit them in my anger; yes, in my fierce anger will I visit them in their iniquities and abominations; yes, woe be unto this generation. And yhwh said unto me, Stretch forth your hand79 and prophesy, saying, Thus says yhwh: It shall come to pass that this generation, because of their iniquities, shall be brought into bondage and shall be struck on the cheek, yes, and shall be driven by men and shall be slain. And the vultures of the air, and the dogs, yes, and the wild beasts shall devour their flesh.
And it shall come to pass that the life of king Noah shall be valued even as a garment in a hot furnace, for he shall know that I am yhwh. And it shall come to pass that I will smite this my people with sore afflictions, yes, with famine and with pestilence. And I will cause that they shall howl all the day long. Yes, and I will cause that they shall have burdens lashed upon their backs, and they shall be driven before like a dumb ass.80
And it shall come to pass that I will send forth hail among them, and it shall smite them, and they shall also be smitten with the east wind, and insects shall pester their land also and devour their grain;81 and they shall be smitten with a great pestilence. And all this will I do because of their iniquities and abominations.
And it shall come to pass that except they repent, I will utterly destroy them from off the face of the earth. Yet they shall leave a record behind them, and I will preserve them for other nations which shall possess the land. Yes, even this will I do that I may uncover the abominations of this people to other nations. And many things did Avinodi prophesy against this people.
And it came to pass that they were angry with him; and they took him and carried him bound before the king, and said unto the king, Behold, we have brought a man before you who has prophesied evil concerning your people, and says that Elohim will destroy them. And he also prophesies evil concerning your life, and says that your life shall be as a garment in a furnace of fire. And again he says that you shall be as a stalk, even as a dry stalk of the field, which is run over by the beasts and trampled underfoot. And again he says you shall be as the blossoms of a thistle, which, when it is fully ripe, if the wind blows, it is driven forth upon the face of the land. And he pretends yhwh has spoken it. And he says all this shall come upon you except you repent, and this because of your iniquities.
And now, O king, what great evil have you done? Or what great sins have your people committed that we should be condemned of Elohim or judged of this man? And now, O king, behold, we are guiltless. And you, O king, have not sinned. Therefore this man has lied concerning you, and he has prophesied in vain. And behold, we are strong; we shall not come into bondage or be taken captive by our enemies. Yes and you have prospered in the land, and you shall also prosper. Behold, here is the man. We deliver him into your hands. You may do with him as seems good to you.
And it came to pass that king Noah caused that Avinodi should be cast into prison; and he commanded that the kohanim should gather themselves together, that he might hold a council with them regarding what he should do with him. And it came to pass that they said unto the king, Bring him here that we may question him. And the king commanded that he should be brought before them. And they began to question him, that they might cross him, that thereby they might have that with which to accuse him. But he answered them boldly and withstood all their questions, yes, to their astonishment; for he did withstand them in all their questions and did confound them in all their words.
And it came to pass that one of them said unto him, What do the words mean which are written and which have been taught by our fathers, saying, How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that brings good tidings, that publishes shalom,82 that brings good tidings of good, that publishes salvation, that says unto Tziyon, Your Elohim reigns! Your watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing.83 For they shall see eye to eye when yhwh shall bring again Tziyon. Break forth into joy. Sing together you waste places of Yerushalayim. For yhwh has comforted his people; he has redeemed84 Yerushalayim. yhwh has made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our Elohim.85 And now Avinodi said unto them, Are you kohanim and pretend to teach this people and to understand the spirit of prophesying, and yet desire to know of me what these things mean? I say unto you, woe be unto you for perverting the ways of yhwh. For if you understand these things, you have not taught them. Therefore you have perverted the ways of yhwh. You have not applied your hearts to understanding; therefore you have not been wise. Therefore, what do you teach this people? And they said, We teach the Torah of Moshe. And again he said unto them, If you teach the Torah of Moshe, why do you not keep it? Why do you set your hearts upon riches? Why do you commit whoredoms and spend your strength with harlots? Yes, and cause this people to commit sin, that yhwh has cause to send me to prophesy against this people, yes, even a great evil against this people? Do you not know that I speak the truth? Yes, you know that I speak the truth, and you ought to tremble before Elohim.
And it shall come to pass that you shall be smitten for your iniquities, for you have said that you teach the Torah of Moshe. And what know you concerning the Torah of Moshe? Does salvation come by the Torah of Moshe?86 What say you? And they answered and said that salvation did come by the Torah of Moshe. But now Avinodi said unto them, I know if you keep the mitzvot of Elohim, you shall be saved; yes, if you keep the mitzvot which yhwh delivered unto Moshe in the mount of Sinai,87 saying, I am yhwh your Elohim, who has brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other Elohim before me. You shall not make unto you any graven image, or any likeness of anything in the Heaven above, or things which are in the earth beneath.88 Now Avinodi said unto them, Have you done all this? I say unto you, no, you have not. And have you taught this people that they should do all these things? I say unto you, no, you have not.
And now when the king had heard these words, he said unto his kohanim, Away with this fellow and slay him. For what have we to do with him? For he is mad. And they stood forth and attempted to lay their hands on him, but he withstood them and said unto them, Touch me not. For Elohim shall smite you if you lay your hands upon me, for I have not delivered the message which yhwh sent me to deliver, neither have I told you that which you requested that I should tell. Therefore Elohim will not allow that I shall be destroyed at this time. But I must fulfill the mitzvot with which Elohim has commanded me. And because I have told you the truth, you are angry with me. And again because I have spoken the word of Elohim, you have judged me that I am mad.
Now it came to pass after Avinodi had spoken these words that the people of king Noah dared not lay their hands on him, for the spirit of yhwh was upon him. And his face shone with exceeding luster, even as Moshe’s did while in the mount of Sinai while speaking with89yhwh. And he spoke with power and authority90 from Elohim. And he continued his words, saying, You see that you have not power to slay me; therefore I finish my message. Yes, and I perceive that it cuts you to your hearts because I tell you the truth concerning your iniquities. Yes, and my words fill you with wonder and amazement, and with anger. But I finish my message, and then it matters not where I go if it so be that I am saved. But this much I tell you, what you do with me after this shall be as a type and a shadow of things which are to come.91 And now I read unto you the remainder of the mitzvot of Elohim, for I perceive that they are not written in your hearts. I perceive that you have studied and taught iniquity the most part of your lives.
And now you remember that I said unto you, You shall not make unto you any graven image, or any likeness of things which are in Heaven above, or which are in the earth beneath, or which are in the water under the earth. And again, You shall not bow yourself down unto them nor serve them, for I, yhwh your Elohim, am a jealous Elohim, visiting the iniquities of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my mitzvot. You shall not take the name of yhwh your Elohim in vain, for yhwh will not hold him guiltless that takes his name in vain. Remember Shabbat, to keep it holy. Six days shall you labor and do all your work; but the seventh day, the Shabbat of yhwh your Elohim, you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son, nor your daughter, neither your manservant nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor the stranger that is within your gates. For in six days yhwh made Heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is; wherefore, yhwh blessed the Shabbat and hallowed it. Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which yhwh your Elohim gives you. You shall not kill. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.92