1Now it came to pass when the time had come for our beloved father Jacob the patriarch, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, to go forth from the body (and the God-loving Jacob was well on in years), the Lord sent Michael the archangel to him.
2And he said to him, "Israel, my beloved, you righteous root, write your words of instruction for your sons, and draw up your testament for them, and concern yourself about those of your household, for the time has come for you to go to your fathers and rejoice with them for ever."
3And when the God-loving Jacob heard this from the angel, he answered and said to him, "My lord" — for it was his daily custom to talk to angels. He said to him, "May the will of the Lord be done."