Adam, feeling himself about to die, sent Seth to Paradise to beg for some of the oil of mercy,1 which, however, the Archangel Michael refused to give him, but, instead, presented him with three seeds of the tree of life.2 On his return, he found Adam dead, and, being unable to administer these seeds to his father in any other manner, he put them under his tongue, and then buried him.3 Presently these seeds germinated and shot through the ground, and are traditionally said to have been a cedar, a cypress, and a pine.4 They grew until Moses had led the Israelites out of Egypt, when he found them in the Valley of Hebron, and he recognized them as typifying the Trinity. He removed them, and they were his constant companions.5 With them he smote the rock, and the waters gushed out,6 and the bitter waters of Marah became sweet.7, 8
He then planted them in the land of Moab,9 and there they remained, until an angelic vision appeared unto David, and commanded him to go, and take them up, and bring them to Jerusalem.10 On his return the three rods worked miracles, healing the sick,11 and the leprous, with a touch;12 nay, more, on being applied to three black men, they instantly became white.13