babylon 1

The Holy Family left Heliopolis...

on account of the persecution they there endured...

and because Joseph could not obtain work [...] The holy travelers proceeded northward from Troja along the river toward Babylon, a dirty, low lying city. Between the Nile and Babylon, they took the route by which they had come, and returned a distance of about two hours. 

Buildings in ruins were scattered here and there along the whole road. After crossing a small branch of the river, or a canal, they reached Matarea, which was built upon a tongue of land, jutting out into the Nile. The river bathed the city on two sides. It was, in general, a wretched [armzalige] enough place, built only of date-wood and solid mud covered with rushes. 

Joseph found plenty of work here. 

He built more substantial houses of wickerwork [vlechtwerk] with galleries around them, to which the occupants could go for air and recreation.

Here the Holy Family dwelt in a dark, vaulted [gewelfde] cave that lay in a retired spot on the land side, not far from the gate by which they had entered. Joseph, as at Heliopolis, built a light screen before it. 

One of the idols in a little temple fell at their arrival, and later all the others did the same. The people were in consternation, but one of the priests quieted them by recalling to their remembrance the plagues of Egypt. 

After some time, as a little community of Jews and converted pagans gathered around the Holy Family, the priests gave over to them the little temple whose idol had fallen at their coming, and Joseph turned it into a synagogue. 

Joseph was like the patriarch of the community. He taught them how to sing the Psalms correctly, for Judaism in those parts had greatly deteriorated.

~bron~