babylon 2

Only the poorest Jews dwelt here in Babylon...

and that in the most wretched [armzalige] dens [holen] and caves. 

But in the Jewish settlement between On and the Nile... 

they were numerous and better off. 

They had a regular temple, for they had lapsed [vervallen] into frightful idolatry. They had a golden calf, a figure with an ox’s head, around which were ranged other representations of animals like polecats [bunzingen], or ferrets [fretten]. These last mentioned animals defend people against the crocodile. 

They had too an imitation of the Ark of the Covenant, and horrible things in it. The idolatry they practiced was of the most shameful kind, and in a subterranean hall, they carried on the most infamous wickedness, deluded by the hope that from it their messiah should come forth. 

They were exceedingly stiff-necked, and would not be converted. Later on however, many of them left that settlement and went to Babylon, about two hours distant. In doing so, they could not, on account of the numerous dykes and canals, travel by a straight road, they had to make a detour around On.

These Jews of the Land of Goshen...

had already made the acquaintance of the Holy Family, while the latter abode in On. Mary while there had done various kinds of work for them, such as knitting and embroidering covers [omslagen] and bands. She would never undertake works for vanity or extravagance, but only useful things and religious vestments. 

I saw women bringing work to her, which they wanted done in accordance with the requirements of vanity and fashion, and Mary returning it, although so much in need of the pay she would have received for it. The women mocked and scornfully derided [uitlachen] her.

The Holy Family at first suffered greatly from want. 

Good water could not be had and wood failed. The inhabitants used only dried grass and reeds for their cooking. The Holy Family generally ate cold food. Joseph had plenty to do. He improved the poor huts for the people, but they treated him almost like a slave, giving him for his labor only what they themselves thought proper. 

Sometimes he brought home something as a remuneration [beloning] for his work, and sometimes he brought nothing. The people were very unskillful in building their huts. They had no wood, excepting here and there a log or two, and even if they had had wood, they had no tools to shape it, for they had only knives of bone or stone. 

Joseph had brought the most necessary tools with him.

~bron~