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[Explanatory note: The following text is a translation of a recently discovered manuscript fragment that appears to date from the third century BCE.  Its form and content suggest that the authors intended to reach an audience that was familiar with canonical texts, using the Masoretic style, but espousing heterodox concepts.  The manuscripts were found in a cave, actually a dungeon, off Kaplan Street in Tel Aviv and the translation is by Professor Yair Golan-Lapid.]

And it came to pass that Yitro, having returned to Midian, heard that the Israelites would not be proceeding directly to Canaan, but would instead be sojourning forty years in the desert.  Verily he missed his grandchildren, whom he had delivered to their father, and he decided once again to visit the camp.

And he sent a messenger to Moshe, “I am thy father-in-law Yitro, come once again to visit.”

And Moshe replied,  “If thou cometh yet again without my mother-in-law, thou art indeed still welcome,” and Moshe went forth to greet Yitro, accompanied by a number of armed correction officers.

“Who are these men?” asked Yitro, and Moshe responded, “Verily these are the guards who accompany me everywhere since the judges whom thou suggested that I appoint have placed me under house arrest.”  “But surely, my advice was that those judges should only deal with minor matters, and all serious matters requiring consultation with God should be brought before thee.”

“Yes,” said Moshe, “But, verily, as I speaketh, the judges whom thou didst advise me to appoint held that consultation with God was an Establishment of Religion and a violation of separation of powers under our constitution.”  “But thou hast no........

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