Hatata

by Zera Yacob
translation by Claude Sumner and commentary by Brendan Ritchie

Chapter I peaceful: for in the XIX year of King Susenyos, while

Afwons, a Frang, was Abuna, two years [after his arrival]
In the name of God who alone is just. I shall describe the a great persecution spread all over Ethiopia. The king
life, the wisdom and the investigation of Zera Yacob who accepted the faith of the Frang, and from that time on
said: “Come and listen, all you who fear God, while I tell persecuted all those who did not accept it.
you what he has done for me.” Behold, I begin.
COMMENT
In the name of God, who is the creator of all things, the Ethiopia’s first distinctively philosophical text is also her first
beginning and the end, the possessor of all, the source of autobiography. Zera Yacob describes here his traditional
all life and of all wisdom, I shall write of some of the education in poetry, scripture, and hermeneutics; the inquisitive
things that I have encountered during my long life. Let temperament which is hinted at here will be seen in later
my soul be blessed in the sight of God and let the meek chapters to develop into a general skepticism about revealed
religion, prompted by the sectarian conflict in the Ethiopia of his
rejoice. I sought God and he answered me. And now you
day.
approach him and he will enlighten you; let not your face
be ashamed. Join me in proclaiming the greatness of God The “Frang” are foreigners. Portuguese soldiers had arrived in
and together let us extol his name. Ethiopia in the middle of the 16th century, and effectively saved
the ancient Christian highland civilization from the depredations
I was born in the land of the priests of Aksum. But I am of Ahmed Gragn. The Jesuits hung around, and eventually
the son of a poor farmer in the district of Aksum; the day found influence at court, with the results described here.
of my birth is 25th of Nahasye 1592 AD, the third year of
[King] Yacob. By Christian baptism I was named Zera Comparisons with Descartes are nearly ubiquitous in the
(extremely limited) secondary literature on Zera Yacob, and with
Yacob, but people called me Warqye. When I grew up, my
some justification. We already see a bright student with doubts
father sent me to school in view of my instruction. And
about his traditional education; soon we will see Zera Yacob in
after I had read the Psalms of David my teacher said to isolation, tearing down his beliefs and building them back up.
my father: “This young son of yours is clever and has the
patience to learn; if you send him to a [higher] school, he
will be a master and a doctor.” After hearing this, my
father sent me to study zemya. But my voice was course
and my throat was grating; so my schoolmaster used to Chapter II
laugh at me and tease me. I stayed there for three months, While I was teaching in my district, many of my friends
until I overcame my sadness and went to another master came to dislike me. During this period there was no real
who taught me qenye and seweseya. God gave me the friendship and as a result men became jealous of one
talent to learn faster that my companions and this another. I surpassed the others in knowledge and in love
compensated for my previous disappointment; I stayed of one’s neighbour and I was on good terms with all, even
there four years. During those days, God as it were with the Frang [foreigners; i.e. the Portuguese] and the
snatched me from the claws of death: for as I was playing Copts. And while I was teaching and interpreting the
with my friends I fell into a ravine, and I do not know Books, I used to say: “The Frangsay this and this” or “The
how I was saved except by a miracle from God. After I Copts say that and that,” and I did not say: “This is good,
was saved I measured the depth of the ravine with a long that is bad,” but I said: “All these things are good if we
rope and found it to be twenty-five fathoms and one palm ourselves are good.” Hence I was disliked by all; the
[deep]. Thanking God for saving me, I went to the house Copts took me for a Frang, the Frangfor a Copt. They
of my master. After this I left for another school to study brought a charge against me many times to the king; but
the interpretation of the Holy Scriptures. I remained ten God saved me. At that time, a certain enemy of mine,
years in this type of study; I learned the interpretations Walda Yohannes, a priest from Aksum and a friend of the
both of the Frang and of our own scholars. king, went [to bring a charge against me:] since the love of
kings could be won by perfidious tongue. This betrayer
Oftentimes their interpretations did not agree with my went to the king and said this about me: “Truly this man
reason; but I withheld my opinion and hid in my heart all misleads the people and tells them we should rise for the
the thoughts of my mind. Having returned to my native sake of our faith, kill the king and expel the Frang.” He
Aksum, I taught for four years. But this period was not also said many other similar words against me. But being
aware of all this and frightened by it, I took three reason, make me intelligent, reveal to me your hidden
measures of gold which I possessed and the Psalms of wisdom. Keep my eyes open lest they slumber until the
David, with which I prayed, and fled at night. I did not moment of death. Your hands made me and moulded me;
tell anyone where was going. I reached a place close to the render me intelligent that I may know your precepts. My
Takkaze River, and the next day, as I felt hungry I went feet have nearly stumbled and the ground [under them]
out in fear to beg the farmers for some bread. I ate what has nearly given way; and the labour stands before me.”
they gave me and ran away. I lived in this manner for While I was praying in such and similar ways, one day I
many days. On my way to Shoa, I found an uninhabited said to myself in my own thought: “Whom am I praying
location. There was a beautiful cave at the foot of a deep to or is there a God who listens to me?” At this thought I
valley, and I said [to myself:] “I shall live here unnoticed.” was invaded by a dreadful sadness and I said: “In vain
I lived there for two years until [King] Susenyos died. “At have I kept my own heart pure” (as David says).
times I would leave [the cave] and go to the market or to
the country of the Ahmara as they took me for a hermit Later on I thought of the words of the same David, “Is the
who goes about begging and gave me enough to appease inventor of the ear unable to hear?” and I said: “Who is it
my hunger. People however, did not know where I dwelt. that provided me with an ear to hear, who created me as a
rational [being] and how have I come into this world?
Alone in my cave, I felt I was living in heaven. Knowing Where do I come from? Had I lived before the creator of
the boundless badness of men, I disliked contact with the world, I would have known the beginning of my life
them. I built a fence of stone and thorny bush so that wild and of the consciousness [of myself]. Who created me?
animals would not endanger my life at night, and I made Was I created by my own hands? But I did not exist before
an exit through which I could escape if ever I was created. If I say that my father and my mother
people searched for me; there I lived peacefully praying created me then I must search for the creator of my
with all my heart on the Psalms of David and trusting that parents and of the parents of my parents until they arrive
God was hearing me. at the first who were not created as we [are], but who
came into this world in some other way without being
COMMENT generated. For if they themselves have been created, I
This chapter is still strictly biographical, and I don’t have much know nothing of their origin unless I say, “He who
to say about it. It would be interesting to know, though, to what created them from nothing must be an uncreated essence
extent Zera Yacob was diplomatic about the rival views of the
who is and will be for all centuries [to come], the Lord and
Copts and Catholics because he had already become fairly
master of all things, without beginning or end, immutable,
skeptical about revealed religion. This skepticism was hinted at
in chapter I as well. whose years cannot be numbered.” And I said “Therefore
there is a creator, else there would have been no creation.
This creator who endowed us with the gifts of intelligence
and reason, can he himself be without them? For he
created us as intelligent beings from the abundance of his
Chapter III intelligence and the same one being comprehends all,
After prayer, when I was not engaged in any kind of creates all, is almighty.” And I used to say: “My creator
work, I used to meditate for whole days on conflicts will hear me if I pray to him,” and because of this thought
between men and their depravity and on the wisdom of I felt very happy. “I would pray to my creator with great
their creator who is silent while men do evil in His name hope and love, and with all my heart I would say: “You,
and persecute their fellow men and kill their brothers. For Lord, know the thought of my heart from afar. Indeed you
in those days the Frang prevailed. And not only know all that was and all that will be; and all my paths
the Frang [were strong in their persecutions] but my own you know beforehand.” Hence it is said: “You know from
people were even worse than they. Those who had afar. For God read my thoughts before I was born” and I
accepted the faith of the Frang would say: “The Copts said: “O my creator, make me intelligent.”
have denied the rightful see of Peter, and are therefore the
enemies of God;” and so they persecuted them. The Copts COMMENT
did the same in defence of their faith. In the first two paragraphs of this chapter, Zara Yacob struggles
with the question: “why does God allow people to do evil in his
name?” and “If God cares for men, why are they so corrupt?” No
I said to myself: “If God is the guardian of men, how is it
king, unless a mere puppet, would allow people to run around
that their nature is thus deeply corrupted?” and I said:
invoking his name while acting against him; so why does God?
“How does God know, or is there anyone in heaven who A parent would correct his children; why does it seem that God
knows? Or if there is one who knows, why does he remain doesn’t?
silent on men’s depravity while they corrupt his name and
act with iniquity in his holy name?” I said in my prayer: Zera Yacob does not attempt to answer the question right away
“O my Lord and my creator, who endowed me with (he’ll take it up again in chapter IV). Instead he reports that, with
dismay, he began to doubt whether there is any God at all. In curdled like milk.” Their heart is curdled because they
response, he presents an argument which looks to be a assume what they have heard from their predecessors and
combination of, on the one hand, what is known as an argument they do not inquire whether it is true or false. But I said:
from design (or a teleological argument), and, on the other,
“O Lord! who strike me down with such torment, it is
a cosmological argument. The former type of argument appeals
fitting that I know your judgement. You chastise me with
to the presence of design in the world, and the latter to the
contingent nature of things; the idea in the first case is that we truth and admonish me with mercy. But never let my
need a designer, in the second case that we need a creator. In head be anointed with the oil of sinners and of masters in
Zera Yacob’s case, the observation is: we are marvellous but lying: make me understand, for you created me with
transient things, not responsible for ourselves; therefore there intelligence.” I asked myself: “If I am intelligent, what is it
must be an intelligent creator. I understand?” And I said: “I understand there is a
creator, greater than all creatures; since from his
Finally, a question to consider: is philosophical argument an overabundant greatness, he created things that are so
adequate substitute for revelation if the point is to affirming
great. He is intelligent who understands all, for he created
belief in a good and personal God (as Zera Yacob does at the end
us as intelligent from the abundance of his intelligence;
of the chapter)?
and we ought to worship him, for he is the master of all
things. If we pray to him, he will listen to us; for he is
almighty.” I went on saying in my thought: “God did not
create me intelligent without a purpose, that is to look for
Chapter IV him and to grasp him and his wisdom in the path he has
Later on I thought, saying to myself: “Is everything is opened for me and to worship him as long as l live.” And
written in the Holy Scriptures true?” Although I thought still thinking on the same subject, I said to myself: “Why is
much [about these things] I understood nothing, so I said it that all men do not adhere to truth, instead of
to myself: “I shall go and consult scholars and thinkers; [believing] falsehood?” [The cause] seemed to be the
they will tell me the truth.” nature of man which is weak and sluggish. Man aspires to
know truth and the hidden things of nature, but this
But afterwards I thought, saying to myself: “What will endeavour is difficult and can only be attained with great
men tell me other than what is in their heart?” Indeed labour and patience, as Solomon said: “With the help of
each one says: “My faith is right, and those who believe in wisdom I have been at pains to study all that is done
another faith believe in falsehood, and are the enemies of under heaven; oh, what a weary task God has given
God.” These days the Frang tell us: “Our faith is right, mankind to labour at!” Hence people hastily accept what
yours is false.” We on the other hand tell them: “It is not they have heard from their fathers and shy from any
so; your faith is wrong, ours right.” “If we also ask the [critical] examination. But God created man to be the
Mohammedans and the Jews, they will claim the same master of his own actions, so that he will be what he wills
thing, and who would be the judge for such a kind of to be, good or bad. If a man chooses to be wicked he can
argument? “No single human being [can judge:] for all continue in this way until he receives the punishment he
men are plaintiffs and defendants between themselves. deserves for his wickedness. But being carnal, man likes
Once I asked a Frang scholar many things concerning our what is of the flesh; whether they are good or bad, he
faith; he interpreted them all according to his own faith. finds ways and means through which he can satisfy his
Afterwards I asked a well-known Ethiopian scholar and carnal desire. God did not create man to be evil, but to
he also interpreted all things according to his own faith. If choose what he would like to be, so that he may receive
I had asked the Mohammedans and the Jews, they also his reward if he is good or his condemnation if he is bad.
would have interpreted according to their own faith; then, If a liar, who desires to achieve wealth or honours among
where could I obtain a judge that tells the truth? As my men, needs to use foul means to obtain them, he will say
own faith appears true to me, so does another one find his he is convinced this falsehood was for him a just thing. To
own faith true; but truth is one. While thinking over this those people who do not want to search, this action seems
matter, I said: “O my creator, wise among the wise and to be true, and they believe in the liar’s strong faith. I ask
just among the just, who created me with an intelligence, [you,] how many falsehoods do our people believe in?
help me to understand, for men lack wisdom and They believe wholeheartedly in astrology and other
truthfulness; as David said, no man can be relied upon.” calculations, in the mumbling of secret words, in omens,
in the conjuration of devils, and in all kinds of magical art
I thought further and said: “Why do men lie over and in the utterances of soothsayers. They believe in all
problems of such great importance, even to the point of these because they did not investigate the truth but
destroying themselves?” And they seemed to do so listened to their predecessors. Why did these predecessors
because although they pretend to know all, they know lie unless it was for obtaining wealth and honours?
nothing. Convinced they know all, they do not attempt to Similarly those who wanted to rule the people said: “We
investigate the truth. “As David said: “Their hearts are were sent by God to proclaim the truth to you;” and the
people believed them. Those who came after them Egypt and on Mount Sinai and attributed them to Moses.
accepted their fathers’ faith without question; rather, as a But to an inquisitive mind they do not seem to be true. For
proof of their faith, they added to it by including stories of in the Books of Moses, one can find a wisdom that is
signs and omens. Indeed they said: “God did those shameful and that fails to agree with the wisdom of the
things;” and so they made God a witness of falsehood and creator or with the order and the laws of creation. Indeed
a party to liars. by the will of the creator, and the law of nature, it has
been ordained that man and woman would unite in a
COMMENT carnal embrace to generate children, so that human beings
Having satisfied himself in chapter III that God does indeed will not disappear from the earth. Now this mating which
exist, Zera Yacob now wonders about the reliability of scripture. is willed by God in his law of creation, cannot be impure
He begins by arguing that it’s no use to inquire of so-called
since God does not stain the work of his own hands. But
experts, because they all disagree, interpreting things merely
Moses considered the act as evil; but our intelligence
insight of their own traditions. What are sometimes called
“arguments from disagreement,” whereby it is argued that the teaches us that he who says such a thing is wrong and
existence of disagreement (or perhaps “interminable makes his creator a liar. Again they said that the law of
disagreement”) means that there is no fact of the matter or that Christianity is from God, and miracles are brought forth
we ought not to listen to anybody, may or may not be any good. to prove it. But our intelligence tells us and confirms to us
That fact that people disagree doesn’t mean much in itself. with proofs that marriage springs from the law of the
Sometimes one party is right and has a good case and the other creator; and yet monastic law renders this wisdom of the
party is wrong and has a bad case. But Zera Yacob strengthens creator ineffectual, since it prevents the generation of
his case here by arguing that the reason for disagreement in this
children and extinguishes mankind. The law of Christians
case is that people are lazy and credulous: they don’t really want
which propounds the superiority of monastic life over
to investigate things carefully, so they accept the testimony of
charlatans. There is no doubt some truth to this: most people are marriage is false and cannot come from God. How can the
not thinkers or critics. violation of the law of the creator stand superior to his
wisdom, or can man’s deliberation correct the word of
On the other hand, philosophically minded people—and Zera God? Similarly Mohammed said: “The orders I pass to
Yacob is no exception—tend to be overly sceptical of tradition, you are given to me by God;” and there was no lack of
and, indeed, of history in general. They’re good at thinking writers to record miracles proving Mohammed’s mission,
things through, and, as a result, they come to think that it should and [people] believed in him. But we know that the
be possible to figure everything out a priori. But there are lots of
teaching of Mohammed?) could not have come from God;
things—including surprising and unintuitive things—that we
those who will be born both male and female are equal in
know only because they gave been reported to us. Moreover, it’s
often possible to tell truth from fiction, even without resorting to number; if we count men and Women living in an area,
archaeology. Compare the Gospel of Luke to the Gospel of we find as many women as men; we do not find eight or
Thomas, for example. The Gospel of Luke may or may not be ten women for every man; for the law of creation orders
entirely accurate, but it’s a serious work. The Gospel of Thomas, one man to marry one woman. If one man marries ten
by contrast, is obvious nonsense, and it’s no surprise that it was women, then nine men will be without wives. This
not incorporated into the Biblical cannon. violates the order of creation and the laws of nature and it
ruins the usefulness of marriage; Mohammed, who taught
Zera Yacob also makes some remarks of relevance to the
in the name of God, that one man could marry many
problem of evil: he says that God didn’t make man to be evil, but
wives, is not sent from God.
that man is free to do evil if he so chooses (and consequently will
be punished for it). More generally, people could think for
themselves and correct their behaviour, but they refuse to. This These few things I examined about marriage. Similarly
is a pretty standard response, but doesn’t go very deep. Zera when I examine the remaining laws, such as the
Yacob will have a bit more to say about the problem of evil in Pentateuch, the law of the Christians and the law of Islam,
chapter VIII. I find many things which disagree with the truth and the
justice of our creator that our intelligence reveals to us.
God indeed has illuminated the heart of man with
understanding by which he can see the good and evil,
Chapter V recognize the licit and the illicit, distinguish truth from
error, “and by your light we see the light, oh Lord!” If we
To the person who seeks it, truth is immediately revealed. use this light of our heart properly, it cannot deceive us;
Indeed he who investigates with the pure intelligence set the purpose of this light which our creator gave us is to be
by the creator in the heart of each man and scrutinizes the saved by it, and not to be ruined [by it.] Everything that
order and laws of creation, will discover the truth. the light of our intelligence shows us comes from the
source of truth; but what men say comes from the source
Moses said: “I have been sent by God to proclaim to you of lies and our intelligence teaches us that all that the
his will and his law;” but those who came after him added creator established is right. The creator in his kind
stories of miracles that they claimed had been wrought in
wisdom has made blood to flow monthly from the womb woman and a woman to a man springs from the wisdom
of women. And the life of a woman requires this flow of of the creator; it is improper to do away with it; but we
blood in order to generate children; a woman who has no should act according to the well-known law that God
menstruation is barren and cannot have children, because established concerning legitimate intercourse. God did not
she is impotent by nature. But Moses and Christians have put a purposeless concupiscence into the flesh of men and
defiled the wisdom of the creator; Moses even considers of all animals; rather he planted it in the flesh of man as a
impure all the things that such a woman touches; this law root of life in this world and a stabilizing power for each
of Moses impedes marriage and the entire life of a woman Creature in the way destined for it. In order that this
and it spoils the law of mutual help, prevents the bringing concupiscence lead us not to excess, we should eat
up of children and destroys love. Therefore this law of according to our needs, because overeating and
Moses cannot spring from him who created woman. drunkenness result in ill health and shoddiness in work. A
man who eats according to his needs on Sunday and
Moreover our intelligence tells us that we should bury our during the fifty days does not sin, similarly he who eats
dead brothers. Their corpses are impure only if we follow on Friday and on the days before Easter does not sin. For
the wisdom of Moses; they [are] not, however, if we God created man with the same necessity for food on each
follow the wisdom of our creator who made us out of dust day and during each month. The Jews, the Christians and
that we may return to dust. God does not change into the Mohammedans did not understand the work of God
impurity the order he imposed on all creatures with great when they instituted the law of fasting; they lie when they
wisdom, but man attempts to render it impure that he say that God imposed fasting upon us and forbade us to
may glorify the voice of falsehood. The Gospel also eat; for God our creator gave us food that we support
declares: “He who does not leave behind father, mother, ourselves by it, not that we abstain from it.
wife and children is not worthy of God.” This forsaking
corrupts the nature of man. God does not accept that his COMMENT
creature destroy itself, and our intelligence tells us that “To the person who seeks it, truth is immediately revealed.” This
abandoning our father and our mother helpless in their is incredibly over-optimistic. Nevertheless the attitude is fairly
characteristic of moral philosophers. When students ask “who is
old age is a great sin; the Lord is not a god that loves
to say what is right and what is wrong,” philosophy professors
malice; those who desert their children are worse than the
will often say “you have to! You have to think it through for
wild animals that never forsake their offspring. He who yourself!” In fact almost nobody is intelligent, knowledgeable,
abandons his wife abandons her to adultery and thus and dispassionate enough to simply work out the answers to
violates the order of creation and the laws of nature. moral questions for themselves with any reliability.
Hence what the Gospel says on this subject cannot come
from God. Likewise the Mohammedans said that it is right Regarding Zera Yacob’s discussion of marriage, it’s worth noting
to go and buy a man as if he were an animal. But with our that monasticism was (and still is) very prominent in Ethiopia.
intelligence we understand that this Mohammedan law Marriage is an interesting case to think about in a bit more detail,
because it’s really not nearly so straightforward as Zera Yacob
cannot come from the creator of man who made us equal,
supposes, and that shows the limits of this kind of a priori moral
like brothers, so that we call our creator our father, But
philosophizing. Marriage is, no doubt, suitable for human
Mohammed made the weaker man the possession of the beings, and, as a matter of equity, it seems fair that each person
stronger and equated a rational creature with irrational should have one and only one spouse. But that’s hardly the end
animals; can this depravity be attributed to God? of the question. Let’s take at what Paul says about marriage in 1
Corinthians 7:25–35:
God does not order absurdities, nor does he say: “Eat this, Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I
do not eat this; today eat, tomorrow do not eat; do not eat give my judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. I
meat today, eat it tomorrow,” unlike the Christians who think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to
remain as he is. Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are
follow the laws of fasting. Neither did God say to the
you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. But if you do marry, you have
Mohammedans: “Eat during the night, but do not eat
not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet
during the day,” nor similar and like things. Our reason those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you
teaches us that we should eat of all things which do no that. This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very
harm to our health and our nature, and that we should eat short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had
each day as much as is required for our sustenance. Eating none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and
one day, fasting the next endangers health; the law of those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who
fasting reaches beyond the order of the creator who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as
created food for the life of man and wills that we eat it and though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world
is passing away. I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried
be grateful for it; it is not fitting that we abstain from his
man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the
gifts to us. If there are people who argue that fasting kills
Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to
the desire of the flesh, I shall answer them: The please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or
concupiscence of the flesh by which a man is attracted to a betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be
holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about falsehood, just as by no means do they agree on their faith.
worldly things, how to please her husband. I say this for your own I pray [you,] let us think why all men agree that there is a
benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order God, creator of all things? Because reason in all men
and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.
knows that all we see was created, that no creature can be
found without a creator and that the existence of a creator
Whatever the situation in Ethiopia, this isn’t terribly doctrinaire.
But the key point is that Paul thinks there are special is the pure truth. Hence all men agree on this. When we
circumstances (namely the coming of Christ) that make it wise examine the beliefs taught by men, we do not agree with
not to marry. If you don’t agree with Paul about those special them, because we find in them falsehood mixed with
circumstances, then of course you won’t see marriage his way truth. Men quarrel among themselves; one says: “This is
either. The facts change things. the truth;” another says: “No, that is false.” All of them lie
when they claim to attribute to the Word of God the word
Polygamy is an interesting case, too (or more specifically of men. I kept on reflecting and said to myself: “Even if
polgyny, since polyandry is very uncommon). No doubt some
the faith of men does not come from God, it is however
men will suffer if other men monopolize multiple women. But is
necessary for them and produces good effects, since it
everyone entitled to a spouse? No doubt many women would
rather be the second or third wife of a high-status man than the deters the wicked from doing evil and comforts the good
first wife of a low-status man. That’s unfortunate for low status in their patience.” To me such a faith is like a wife who
men, but why should women be compelled to marry them? gives birth to an illegitimate child, without the knowledge
Well, there’s a practical reason: lots of single men with no access of the husband; the husband rejoices taking the child for
to women are a social hazard. This is, historically speaking, quite his son, and loves the mother; were he to discover that she
likely one of the reasons monogamy is in fact so widely bore him an illegitimate child, he would be sad and would
practiced. (For an engaging discussion of such matters, see The send her out with her child. Likewise, when I found out
Moral Animal by Robert Wright.) To my mind this is a better—
that my faith was adulterous or false, I became sad on
though less obvious—justification for monogamy than Zera
account of it and of the children that were born from this
Yacob’s. Again, the historical and social context matters, and in
un-obvious ways. adultery, namely: hatred, persecution, torture, bondage,
death, seeing that these had forced me to take refuge in
An implication: one of the reasons not to be too dismissive of the this cave.
revelation in favour of one’s own `wisdom’ is that, most of the
time, most of us don’t know why we do what we do, or why we However, to say the truth, the Christian faith as it was
should (or shouldn’t) do it. founded in the days of the Gospel was not evil, since it
invites all men to love one another and to practice mercy
towards all. But today my countrymen have set aside the
love recommended by the Gospel and turned away
Chapter VI towards hatred, violence, the poison of snakes; they have
pulled their faith to pieces down to its very foundation;
There is a further great inquiry, [namely:] all men are
they teach things that are vain; they do things that are
equal in the presence of God; and all are intelligent, since
evil, so that they are falsely called Christians.
they are his creatures; he did not assign one people for
life, another for death, one for mercy, another for
COMMENT
judgement. Our reason teaches us that this sort of Zera Yacob claims that “it is not possible that all men agree on
discrimination cannot exist in the sight of God, who is falsehood, just as by no means do they agree on their faith.” But
perfect in all his works. But Moses was sent to teach only this is not right. Sometimes everyone (or nearly everyone) does
the Jews, and David himself said: “He never does this for agree on something that is false. For example, everyone used to
other nations, he never reveals his rulings to them.” Why think that the earth was flat. Whether people all believe about
did God reveal his law to one nation, withhold it from something also changes over time. Thus at one point everyone
another? At this very time Christians say: “God’s doctrine thought the earth was flat, and slowly more and more people
came to believe that it was round. So it is quite possible for
is only found with us;” similarly with the Jews, the
everyone to agree on a falsehood, and also for there to be a lot of
Mohammedans, the Indians and the others. Moreover the
disagreement about both truths and falsehoods. Zera Yacob
Christians do not agree among themselves: the Frang tell thinks that everyone believes in “a God, creator of all things”,
us: “God’s doctrine is not with you, but with us;” we hold and says we all agree about this because it is revealed by
the same thing, and if we would listen to men, God’s reason. As will be obvious to modern readers, not everyone does
doctrine has reached only a very few people. We cannot (nor did all people ever) believe this. Does this mean that it isn’t
even ascertain to which of these few it goes. Is it not clear to reason after all? Well, that depends. To decide that, we
possible for God to entrust his word to men whenever it would have to talk about Zera Yacob’s specific argument more.
pleases him? God in his wisdom has not allowed them to But it is in fact quite possible for people to disagree even about
truths of pure reason. This is because the arguments are often
agree on what is false, lest it appears to them as the truth.
hard to follow (think of mathematics and logic, for example),
When all people agree on one thing, that thing appears to
and anyways we aren’t very disinterested inquirers, especially
be true; but it is not possible that all men agree on
when we’re arguing about matters of morality and religion. So see their lie broken down. But the creator laughs at them,
even if Zera Yacob is wrong when he says that everyone agrees the Lord of creation derides them. God knows the right
that there is a God who created all things, he could be right in way to act, but the sinner is caught in the snare set by
his argument that there is such a God.
himself. Hence a monk who holds the order of marriage
as impure will he caught in the snare of fornication and of
Why would God reveal himself to some people and hide himself
from others? This is an old and a hard question for believers. other carnal sins against nature and of grave sickness.
There are also different (not necessarily incompatible) ways one Those who despise riches will show their hypocrisy in the
might try to answer it. And the answers will depend in part on presence of kings and of wealthy persons in order to
the religion in question. For example, the Christian might point acquire these goods. Those who desert their relatives for
to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16–20): the sake of God lack temporal assistance in times of
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which difficulty and in their old age; they begin to blame God
Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, and men and to blaspheme. Likewise all those who violate
but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in
the law of the creator fall into the trap made by their own
heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make
hands. God permits error and evil among men because
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have our souls in this world live in a land of temptation, in
commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the which the chosen ones of God are put to the test, as the
age.” wise Solomon said: “God has put the virtuous to the test
Or, with Paul, we could say that God is God, and he can do what and proved them worthy to be with him; he has tested
he wants (Romans 9:20–26). There are other things one might say them like gold in a furnace, and accepted them as a
as well. A good exercise to leave the reader with! Finally, notice holocaust.” After our death, when we go back to our
that although Zera Yacob had criticized Christian moral creator, we shall see how God made all things in justice
teachings in the previous chapter, here he’s quite complimentary
and great wisdom and that all his ways are truthful and
about Christianity in its original form. This is not too surprising,
upright.
since his criticism of Christianity had mostly focussed on fasting
and monasticism, which are fairly peripheral features of
Christianity, and arguably are largely cultural accretions rather It is clear that our soul lives after the death of our flesh, for
than reflections of basic tenets. in this world our desire [for happiness] is not fulfilled:
those in need desire to possess, those who possess desire
more, and though man owned the whole world, he is not
satisfied and craves for more. This inclination of our
nature shows us that we are created not only for this life,
Chapter VII but also for the coming world; there the souls which have
I said to myself: “Why does God permit liars to mislead fulfilled the will of the creator will be perpetually satisfied
his people?” God has indeed given reason to all and and will not look for other things. Without this
everyone so that they may know truth and falsehood, and [inclination] the nature of man would be deficient and
the power to choose between the two as they will. Hence would not obtain that of which it has the greatest need.
if it is truth we want, let us seek it with our reason which Our soul has the power of having the concept of God and
God has given us so that with it we may see that which is of seeing him mentally; likewise it can conceive of
needed for us from among all the necessities of nature. We immortality. God did not give this power purposelessly;
cannot, however, reach truth through the doctrine of men, as he gave the power, so did he give the reality. In this
for all men are liars. If on the contrary we prefer world complete justice is not achieved: wicked people are
falsehood, the order of the creator and the natural law in possession of the goods of this world in a satisfying
imposed on the whole of nature do not perish thereby, but degree, the humble starve; some wicked men are happy,
we ourselves perish by our own error. some good men are sad, some evil men exult with joy;
some righteous men weep. Therefore after our death there
God sustains the world by his order which he himself has must needs be another life and another justice, a perfect
established and which man cannot destroy, because the one, in which retribution will be made to all according to
order of God is stronger than the order of men. Therefore their deeds, and those who have fulfilled the will of the
those who believe that monastic life is superior to creator revealed through the light of reason and have
marriage are they themselves drawn to marriage because observed the law of their nature will be rewarded. The
of [the might of] the order of the creator; those who law of nature is obvious, because our reason clearly
believe that fasting brings righteousness to their soul, eat propounds it, if we examine it. But men do not like such
when they feel hungry, and those who believe that he inquiries; they choose to believe in the words of men
who has given up his goods is perfect, are drawn to seek rather than to investigate the will of their creator.
them again on account of their usefulness, as many of our
monks have done. Likewise all liars would like to break COMMENT
the order of nature: but it is not possible that they do not The opening of this chapter is reminiscent of Romans 1:18–25:
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness one hand, never to despise, or be unthankful for, these earthly blessings,
and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress and on the other, never to mistake them for the something else of which
the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because they are only a kind of copy, or echo, or mirage.
God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his
eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since But the argument isn’t a good one, at least not after Darwin. It’s
the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are very natural that we would have restless desires, because going
without excuse, for although they knew God, they did not honor him as for more is generally safer than just settling for less. The more
God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and women you sleep with, the more children you can leave behind.
their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became And so on. Also, it would be absurd to imagine that all our
fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images desires might be satisfied after death. I’m sure the reader will be
resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping able to think of some desires of his own that he would not expect
things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to God to satisfy.
impurity, to the dishonouring of their bodies among
themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and But some people do feel, with Zera Yacob, that “after our death
worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is there must needs be another life and another justice, a perfect
blessed forever! one, in which retribution will be made to all according to their
deeds.” Some people think that if there were not, then life would
In my comment on chapter VI, I already talked about Zera be absurd. For example, William Lane Craig claims that if God
Yacob’s optimistic view of human reason. Again he is too does not exist and there is no immortality, then all the evil acts of men
optimistic here. Besides the limits on our time and intellect, we go unpunished and all the sacrifices of good men go unrewarded. But
are built to deceive ourselves, especially in moral matters, and who can live with such a view?
the truth will often elude us despite our best efforts. In this
chapter Zera Yacob also seems overly optimistic about our I’m not totally unsympathetic to this, but I’m not all that
natural inclinations. He argues here that our natural drives impressed by it, either. For one thing, even if the fact that the evil
reveal the folly of ascetecism, but even non-ascetics feel thrive and the good suffer is a paradox of moral life, it is only
temptation. Maybe it’s foolish not to marry if that is only going one among several (the most famous is moral luck), and it is not
to lead you to use prostitutes, but married men are also tempted clear to me that God or eternal life makes any difference to many
to stray, and that does not mean that monogamy is folly. (Well, of them. There just seem to be some paradoxes lurking in human
some cynics will say that it does mean that, but Zera Yacob thought generally, and in moral thought in particular. In fact
wouldn’t.) Life is hard, and even the upstanding face trials, as religion can introduce new puzzles: the problem of evil is at least
Zera Yacob himself here insists: “the chosen ones of God are put as difficult as the idea that there might not be perfect justice.
to the test.”

However, I’m perhaps being a bit unfair. Zera Yacob has already
argued against asceticism and various other things in earlier
chapters. So maybe in this chapter he’s just pointing to some Chapter VIII
consequences of going wrong in these areas. That would be The will of God is known by this short statement from our
perfectly fair.
reason that tells us: Worship God your creator and love all
Zera Yacob’s argument for life after death depends upon the
men as yourself. Moreover our reason says: Do not do
point that life is hard, even for the just: “It is clear that our soul unto others that which you do not like to be done to you,
lives after the death of our flesh, for in this world our desire is but do unto others as you would like others to do unto
not fulfilled.” This is a fairly famous argument now, because C. you. The decalogue of the Pentateuch expresses the will of
S. Lewis made it in Mere Christianity: the creator excepting [the precept] about the observance of
The longings which arise in us when we first fall in love, or first think the Sabbath, for our reason says nothing of the observance
of some foreign country, or first take up some subject that excites us, of the Sabbath. But the prohibitions of killing, stealing,
are longings which no marriage, no travel, no learning, can really lying, adultery: our reason teaches us these and similar
satisfy. I am not now speaking of what would be ordinarily called
ones. Likewise the six precepts of the Gospel are the will
unsuccessful marriages, or holidays, or learned careers. I am speaking
of the best possible ones. There was something we grasped at, in that
of the creator. For indeed we desire that men show mercy
first moment of longing, which just fades away in the reality. I think to us; it therefore is fitting that we ourselves show the
everyone knows what I mean. The wife may be a good wife, and the [same] mercy to the others, as much as it is within our
hotels and scenery may have been excellent, and chemistry may be a power. It is the will of God that we keep our life and
very interesting job: but something has evaded us.… The Christian existence in this world. It is by the will of the creator that
says, “Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those we come into and remain in this Life, and it is not right for
desires exists. A baby feels hunger well, there is such a thing as food. A us to leave it against his holy will. The creator himself
duckling wants to swim: well, there is such a thing as water. Men feel wills that we adorn our life with science and work; for
sexual desire: well, there is such a thing as sex. If I find in myself a
such an end did he give us reason and power. Manual
desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable
explanation is that I was made for another world. If none of my earthly
labour comes from the will of God because without it the
pleasures satisfy it, that does not prove that the universe is a fraud. necessities of our life cannot be fulfilled. Likewise
Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it, but only to marriage of one man with one woman and education of
arouse it, to suggest the real thing. If that is so, I must take care, on the children.
 And what about the Golden Rule? Jesus taught it, but I am not so
Moreover there are many other things which agree with sure about reason, and I would like more of an argument there.
our reason and are necessary for our life or for the Empathy and mutual aid are natural, certainly, but so are
vengeance and rivalry. There are lots of good rules that are not
existence of mankind. We ought to observe them, because
deliverances of pure reason, and I think observance of the
such is the will of our creator, and we ought to know that
Sabbath is another good example. Unlike murder and theft,
God does not create us perfect but creates us with such a observing the Sabbath is only required because God tells us to
reason as to know that we are to strive for perfection as do it. It’s like taking out the trash as a kid—you only have to do
long as we live in this world, and to be worthy for the it if your parents tell you to. Still, you do have to do it if they tell
reward that our creator has prepared for us in his you to, and likewise we’re supposed to observe the Sabbath, not
wisdom. It was possible for God to have created us perfect because we’re told to do so by reason, but because we’re told to
and to make us enjoy beatitude on earth; but he did not do so by God. Moreover, it’s good that he told us to do that. If
will to create us in this way; instead he created us with the everyone else works seven days a week, then it’s pretty hard to
take one day off yourself. But if God (or any other authority)
capacity of striving for perfection, and placed us in the
makes everyone take a day off, then great! Everyone gets a day
midst of the trials of this world so that we may become
off.
perfect and deserve the reward that our creator will give
us after our death; as long as we live in this world we The following is an interesting passage, because it raises a
ought to praise our creator and fulfil his will and be question about how Zera Yacob understands the relationship
patient until he draws us unto him, and beg from his between what we should do, what reason tells us, and what God
mercy that he will lessen our period of hardship and wills:
forgive our sins and faults which we committed through But the prohibitions of killing, stealing, lying, adultery: our reason
ignorance; and enable us to know the laws of our creator teaches us these and similar ones. Likewise the six precepts of the
Gospel are the will of the creator. For indeed we desire that men show
and to keep them.
mercy to us; it therefore is fitting that we ourselves show the [same]
mercy to the others, as much as it is within our power. It is the will of
Now as to prayer, we always stand in need of it because God that we keep our life and existence in this world. It is by the will of
[our] rational nature requires it. The soul endowed with the creator that we come into and remain in this Life, and it is not right
intelligence that is aware that there is a God who knows for us to leave it against his holy will.
all, conserves all, rules all, is drawn to him so that it prays
to him and asks him to grant things good and to be freed Zera Yacob evidently thinks that whatever reason reveals to be
from evil and sheltered under the hand of him who is right, God wills—perhaps because reason simply reveals the will
almighty and for whom nothing is impossible, God great of God? In the last chapter, Zera Yacob referred to “the will of
the creator revealed through the light of reason,” and see also
and sublime who sees all that is [above and] beneath him,
the first sentence of the present chapter. The last sentence of this
holds all, teaches all, guides all, our Father, our creator,
quote may suggest that, ultimately, we should do things
our Protector, the reward for our souls, merciful, kind, precisely because God wills that we do them; indeed just below
who knows each of our misfortunes, takes pleasure in our Zera Yacob says that “We ought to observe [things which agree
patience, creates us for life and not for destruction, as the with our reason], because such is the will of our creator.” As
wise Solomon said: “You, Lord, teach all things, because Plato observed in the Euthyphro, there must be some reason why
you can do all things and overlook men’s sins so that they God commands one thing rather than another, so it cannot
can repent. You love all that exists, you hold nothing of simply be that we should do things merely because God says so.
what you have made in abhorrence, you are indulgent On the other hand, and as I pointed out just above, God, like a
parent, can make certain things obligatory in virtue of his
and merciful to all” [Wisdom 11:23–25]. God created us
authority. Maybe that’s all Zera Yacob is getting at in the last line
intelligent so that we may meditate on his greatness,
above: it is wrong to abandon the life your creator gave you in
praise him and pray to him in order to obtain the needs of the same way that you could be said to wrong your parents by
our body and soul. Our reason which our creator has put committing suicide. But on the whole it is a shame that Zera
in the heart of man teaches all these things to us. How can Yacob does not say more about what we would now call moral
they be useless and false? epistemology and metaethics; probably we must just accept that
he has not really worked out a theory on such matters.
COMMENT
is “worship God your creator and love all men as yourself” Regarding manual labour, we may note that in Ethiopia, as in
really a precept of reason? Zera Yacob offered an argument for many ancient and medieval societies, manual labour and
the existence of God back in chapter III. And in chapter IV he technical trades were looked down on.
briefly addressed the further matter of worship:
He is intelligent who understands all, for he created us as intelligent In the second paragraph, Zera Yacob offers a brief theodicy (a
from the abundance of his intelligence; and we ought to worship him, “justification of the ways of God to man,” in Milton’s words).
for he is the master of all things. If we pray to him, he will listen to us; God could have made us perfect, but did not do so because he
for he is almighty. wanted us to perfect ourselves and deserve our blessedness. As
usual, Zera Yacob doesn’t develop the idea in detail, but in
contemporary philosophy of religion, this is known as a “soul-
making theodicy.”
Chapter IX
Everyday I recited the Psalter of David with a heart
I know that God answers our prayers in another way, if dilated [with joy;] and this prayer helps me considerably
we pray to him with our whole hearts, with love, faith and and raises my thoughts to God. And when in the Psalter
patience: during my childhood I was a sinner for many of David I encounter things that do not agree with my
years, I neither thought of the work of God nor prayed to thought, I interpret them and I try to make them agree
him; I made many sinful acts that rational nature forbids; with my science and all is well. While praying in this
because of my sins I fell into a trap from which man manner, my trust in God grew stronger. And I said: “God,
cannot free himself [by himself;] I began to be despondent hear my prayer, do not hide from my petition. Save me
and the terror of death overcame me. At that time I turned from the violence of men. For your part, Lord, do not
to God and I began to pray to him that he free me, for he withhold your kindness from me! May your love and
knows all the ways of salvation. I said to God: “I faithfulness constantly preserve me. I invoke you, O Lord;
repudiate my sin and I search for your will, O Lord, that I do not let me be disgraced. So I shall always sing of your
may accomplish it. But now forgive me my sin and free name, that day after day you will fulfill my desire. Turn to
me.” I prayed for many days with all my heart; God heard me and pity me. Give me your strength, your saving help,
me and saved me completely; I for my part praised him to me your servant, this son of a pious mother, give me
and wholeheartedly turned to him. And I said Psalm one proof of your goodness. For the sake of your name,
CXIV [116:1]: “I love! For God listens to my entreaty.” I guide me, lead me! Rescue me from my persecutors, for
thought that this psalm was written for me. I then said: the goodness you show me. Let dawn bring proof of your
“No, I shall not die, I shall live to recite the deeds of God.” love, for one who relies on you. Protect me and lead me
into the land, do not let me fall into the hands of my
There are people who constantly accused me in the enemies. Let me hear [your] joy and exultation; do take
presence of the king and said: “This man is your enemy, away my hope. Counter their curses with your blessing,
and the enemy of the Frang;” and I knew that the king’s and let them know that you have done it.” I was praying
wrath was inflamed against me. One day the king’s day and night with all my heart this and other similar
messenger came to me, and said: “Come quickly to me; prayers.
thus spoke the king.” I was very much frightened, but I
could not flee, because the king’s men were guarding me. COMMENT
I prayed the whole night with a grieved heart; in the This chapter is more autobiography and testimony than
morning I rose and went up to the king. But God had philosophy, but I have a few remarks nevertheless.
made his heart soft, he received me well and mentioned “What I wrote in this book is very little; but in my cave I have
nothing of the things I was afraid of. He only questioned meditated on many other such things.” I always think this
me on many points concerning the doctrine and the passage is so tragic—if only Zera Yacob had written more!
[sacred] Books and he said to me: “You are a learned man,
The final paragraph contains a whole series of quotations or
you should love the Frang, because they are very learned.”
paraphrases from the Psalms: 55:1; 40:11; 31:17; 61:8; 86:16–17;
I answered: “Yes, they truly are;” for I was afraid and the 31:4; 142:6–7; 143:8; 109:27–8. Looking at the sources, I’m
Frang are really learned. After this the king gave me five reminded of Paul’s manner of quoting in his letters: the quotes
measures of gold, and sent me away peacefully. After are not exact, and are drawn from various places and then joined
leaving [the king,] as I was still marvelling [at my fate,] I or fused together. In other words, Zera Yacob, like Paul, is
thanked God who had treated me so well. When Walda drawing at will on his profound knowledge of scripture rather
Yohannes accused me, I ran away, but I did not pray as than looking things up. (But I should say that it’s hard for me to
before that [God] rescue me from the peril, because I was judge the accuracy of Zera Yacob’s quotations very well, since
some of the apparent discrepancies may have to do with
able to flee; man ought to do everything possible without
translation or variations in manuscripts.) It is particularly clear
tempting God needlessly. Now I praise Him; because I
in this chapter that, although he is not a Christian, Zera Yacob is
fled and am now living in a cave, I find ample a devout man.
opportunity to turn myself wholly to my creator; I am able
to think of those things which eluded me previously and
to know the truth that gives great joy to my soul. And I
say to God: “I deserved the affliction which made me Chapter X
know your judgement.” I have learnt more while living
alone in a cave than when I was living with scholars. The prayers I said in the morning and in the evening were
What I wrote in this book is very little; but in my cave I usually as follows: “O my creator and guardian! I worship
have meditated on many other such things. I praise God you and I love you with all my heart, and I praise you for
for the wisdom he gave me and the knowledge of the the kindness you have shown me this night”—in the
mysteries of creation; my soul is drawn by him and evening I would say “this day,”—”Protect me for the
despises everything except the meditation of God’s work coming day”—in the evening I would say: “during this
and of his wisdom. night.”—”Make me wise this day and all the days of my
life, that I may know your will and accomplish it; forgive the stars which, because of their remoteness, appear so
me my sin. Give me each day what I need to satisfy the small; clouds give out showers of rain to make plants
necessities of life, always strengthen me in your own green. All things are great and admirable, and all are
strength, O my Lord, through your mercy, power and created with great wisdom.
greatness, save me from poverty, from the hands and the
tongue of men, from bodily sickness and sorrow of the Thus did I remain for two years admiring and praising the
soul.” In addition I was praying Psalm XXX: “In you I take creator. I thought within myself: “The work of God is
shelter.” I meditated further and said to myself: “I ought splendid and the thought of him whose wisdom is
to work to the best of my ability for the things necessary ineffable is deep indeed. How then can man who is small
for my life—prayer alone is not enough. Though I am not and poor lie by saying, ‘I am sent by God to reveal to men
skilled, I shall undertake work relying on the power of his wisdom and his justice?’ But man reveals to us nothing
God; my work without your blessing, O Lord, is of small but vain and contemptible things, or things whose nature
importance. You bless my thoughts, my work and my life; is by far inferior to the reason that the creator gave us that
give me goods and happiness in the measure that you we may understand his greatness.” And I said: “I am little
know and will. Change the heart of men who live with me and poor in your sight, O Lord; make me understand
that they behave well with me; for everything is fulfilled what I should know about you, that I may admire your
by your blessed will; in my old age stay close to me with greatness and praise you every day with a new praise.”
your goodness.”

I know that our heart is always in the hand of God; it is

possible for God to make us happy and content if we are Chapter XI
in difficulties, poverty and sickness; again it is possible for
When King Susenyos died in MDCXXV A.D., his son
him to make us miserable even if we live in wealth and all
Fasiladas reigned in his place; at first he liked the Frang as
the luxuries of this world. Hence we see every day poor
his father did, but he did not persecute the Copts, in order
and wretched people enjoying the bliss of their heart; but that there be peace all over Ethiopia. During this time I
the rich and the kings are sad and depressed in their came out from my cave and set out for the country of the
riches, because of their limited desire. Sadness springs in
Amhara; then I passed to the country called Byegamder
our heart, without our willing it and without our
where to all the enemies of the Frang I appeared as one of
knowledge of the cause of its beginning. We need to pray
the monks who was ousted during Susenyos’ period.
God that he grant us joy and felicity and keep us happy Because of this, they liked me and provided me with food
on earth. God makes his light to dawn for the just and his
and clothing.
joy dawn for upright hearts; he knows and governs all the
ways of our heart; he can make us happy when we are in
In this manner, I was moving from region to region, never
trouble, and when we are happy. For happiness and wanting to return to Aksurn, for I knew the wickedness of
sorrow do not come to us as it pleases men, but as God
its priests. Remembering that man’s path is made firm by
grants it to us. And I said: “My lord and my creator, give
God, I said; “Direct me, O Lord, in the way I should go
me joy and felicity, and keep me happy as long as I am on
and to the land I shall dwell in.” I intended to cross [River
earth; after my death draw me to you and satisfy me Abbay] and to stay in the land [known as] Gwazzam, but
fully.” God led me to a place I had not thought of.
With these words was I praying day and night: I was
One day I arrived at Enferaz and went to a rich person by
admiring the beauty of God’s creatures according to their the name of Habtu, whose [name] is [the same as] Habtu
orders, the domestic animals and the wild beasts. They are Egziabher; I spent a day with him. The next day I asked
drawn by the nature of their creation towards the
him to give me paper and ink to write a letter to my
preservation of their life and the propagation of their
relatives in Aksum. He asked me: “Are you an expert at
species. Moreover trees in the fields and plants which are
writing?” I answered: “Yes, I am.” He then said: “Stay
created with great wisdom grow, bloom, flourish, produce with me for a few days and copy for me the Psalter of
the fruit of their respective seed according to their orders
David; I will pay you for this.” I agreed and heartily
and without error; they seem to be animated. Mountains,
thanked God for showing me the way by which I could
valleys, rivers, springs, all your works praise your name,
live from the fruits of my work. I hated to go back to my
O Lord; highly praised is your name on earth and in previous profession, for I did not wish to teach falsehood,
heaven. Great are the works of your hands! Behold the [knowing] that if I thought the truth, people would not
sun, source of light and source of the light of the world,
listen to me, but would hate me, accuse me and persecute
and the moon and the stars which you made and which
me. But I preferred to live with all men in peace and
do not deviate from the paths you prescribed for them; friendship; I wanted and preferred to feed on the fruit of
who can know the number, the distance and the size of my work, ignored by men and secluded with the wisdom
God had taught me, rather than to live richly in the house
of sinners.

A short time later, ink and paper were ready and I wrote a
Book of the Psalms of David. My master Habtu and all
who saw my writing were in admiration, for it was
beautiful. As wages, my master Habtu gave me a fine suit
of clothes; later on the son of this Habtu, whose name was
Walda Mikayel, told me: “Write for me as you did for my
father.” I did so and he gave me a cow and two goats.
After this many persons came to me and asked me to
write the Book of David and other books and letters; there
was no other writer except me in this region; they
provided me with clothing, salt, cereals, and other similar
things.

My master Habtu had two young sons: the name of one

was Walda Gabryel, who was called Tasamma, the name
of the other was Walda Heywat, who was called Metku.
Their father Habtu said to me: “Teach them to read the
psalms; I shall supply you with boarding: what you earn
by writing will be yours.” I said: “O my father! I shall do
all that you have ordered me to do. I only ask that you be
as a father, a mother and kinsfolk to me; for I have no
relatives.”

COMMENT
Zera Yacob’s Treatise was, again, Ethiopia’s first autobiography
as well her first philosophical text. For now I’ll just note the
introduction of Walda Heywat the final paragraph. After just a
few more chapters, we’ll see how Walda Heywat would
continue Zera Yacob’s work.

(source: https://ethiopianphilosophy.wordpress.com/about/)