The Holy Scripture
Chapter XXIII
1 And as Joseph and Aseneth were passing by, Pharaoh's eldest son saw them from the wall.
2 And when he saw Aseneth he was driven to distraction by her because she was so beautiful; and Pharaoh's son sent messengers and summoned Simeon and Levi to him, and they came to him and stood before him.
3 And Pharaoh's son said to them, "I have heard that you are better soldiers than any others there are on earth, and that with your own right hands you destroyed the city of Schechem and with your own two swords you cut to pieces thirty thousand fighting men.
4 I need your help: let us get together without delay; and I will give you gold and silver in abundance, and menservants and maidservants, and houses and great estates. Make a compact with me, and shew kindness to me; for I was greatly wronged by your brother Joseph, because he married Aseneth although she was originally pledged to me.
5 And now come with me, and I will take up arms against Joseph and kill him with my sword, and I will marry Aseneth; and you shall be my brothers and my friends for ever,
6 But if you will not listen to me, I will kill you with my sword" (and as he said this he bared his sword and showed it them).
7 Now Simeon was a brave but impetuous man, and he drew his sword from its scabbard and made a rush at Pharaoh's son, as if to strike him.
8 And Levi was aware of what Simeon was about to do, for Levi was a prophet and foresaw everything that was to happen; and Levi trod hard on Simon's right foot as a sign to him to curb his wrath.
9 And Levi said to him, "Why so angry with him? For we are the children of a man who worships God, and it is not right for a man who worships God to repay his neighbor evil for evil."
10 And Levi said to his neighbor, Pharaoh's son, respectfully and in good humor, "My lord, why do you speak to us like this? For we are men who worship God, and our father is the servant of God Most High, and our brother Joseph is loved by God: how could we do anything so wicked in God's eyes?
11 And now, listen to us, and be careful you never repeat what you have just said about our brother Joseph.
12 If, however, you persist in this wicked plan, see, our swords are drawn against you."
13 And they drew their swords from their scabbards and said, "Do you see these swords? It was with them that the Lord God avenged the outrage on the sons of Israel, which the men of Schechem committed in the affair of our sister Dinah, whom Schechem, Hamor's son, defiled."
14 And Pharaoh's son saw their drawn swords, and he was afraid and trembled and fell on his face to the ground at their feet.
15 And Levi stretched his hand out and lifted him up, saying, "Do not be afraid: only be careful you say nothing against our brother."
16 And they went out from him, leaving him trembling and afraid.