Let widows then be appointed ; she who is not less than fifty years of
f. 49 a age and over, in order that by reason of her years she may be removed
in! i. from the thought of having another husband. If you appoint one who is
a girl to the place of a widow, and she doth not support her widowhood
because of her youth, she will take a husband, and bring disgrace upon the
glory of widowhood. She will give account to God, first for having had
two husbands, and next for having promised to God to be a widow ; she
has received as a widow and did not remain in widowhood. If there be
the widow of a young man who was for a short time with her husband,
and he died, 'or for any other reason which she receives and there be no
separation1, and she remain alone by herself, being in the honour of
widowhood, she will be blessed by God, because she has resembled that
widow who was in Zareptah of Sidon, with whom the holy messenger, the
Prophet of God, found rest, or she will be as Anna, who celebrated the
coming of the Christ, and there was a testimony to her, and for her
goodness she receives honour from man on the earth, and inherits glory
m ii°n from God in Heaven. Let not then young widows be appointed to the