The Jewish outlook., 1905-08-11
Agadoth Of Israel
(Translated for the Jewish Outlook by Rabbi
Elias Margolfs.)
xxIx.-In the Fiery Furnace

kingdom, his counseors and soothsayers
came unto him. and he said unto them:
"Abram, the son of Terah, has broken to
pieces his fathers idols and has influenced
my servants to cease wOrshiping the idols.
| have been informed of these evil actions.
and commanded him to come be. ore me. l
ordered him bow down unto fire, but he
refused, and he Knocked me and put me to
shame And now tell me, pray, according
to what manner shall we treat this man."
The officers, cOunselors and soothsayers an
swered him thus: There is out one pun
ishment; that he be burned! And now let
the king give orders that the furnace be
kindled for three days and nights, and tnen
we will cast the son of Terah into the midst
of the furnace, and he VIII be burned The
king ordered these things to be DONE Three
days passed and they brought Abram to the
furnace, and all the servants of Nimrod, his
officers and judges and soothsayers, women
and children, very great number even as
the sand upon the sea shore, were assem-
bled to witness the burning of Abram. AS
Abram passed by the SOOthSayerS they rec
ognized him and said: "Benofd, this is the
man on the day of whose birth the great
star appeared" The kings servants seized
Abram, bound his hands and feet, carried
him and cast him into the furnace. At that
very moment the angel Gabriel flew to God
and said: Pray, o Lord, allow me to enter
the furnace, that may quench the fire and
rescue Abram, who loves Thee" And God
said: There is none like unto me in
Therefore will | rescue him from DEATH"
And to Gabriel God said: Because t..ls
good intention was in thy heart l will allow
thee to rescue from fire three other right
eOuS men,. Righteousness came and petit
TONED the Lord: Pray save Abram from
death. for there is man beside him in
all the earth who practices righteousness
and if he will die who will make use of me?"
And God sent forth His fiat and it quenched
the great fire. The flames were turned to
trees, which produced leaves, blossoms and
fruit pleasant to behold and good to eat
These fruit trees stood in rows and they
presented the appearance of a fertile garden
Abram walked about in the furnace three
days and three nights singing songs of
praise and praying to God in this manner:
Pray, o Lord, have mercy upon all the men
who desire my misfortune Create for them
pure heart and open eyes, so that they
may do that which is good and righteous in
Thine eyes"
When Abram cast into the furnace
the servants of Nimrod said: Behold,
have heard Haran, the son of Terah, de-
clare before the entire assembly that if
Abram be burnt, and his God does not rescue
him, he would believe in King Nmrod and
obey his commands; but if the fire would not
touch Abram he would know that his was a
mighty God, would forsake King Nimrod
and cling to the God of Abram." When
Nimrod heard this he gave orders that Ha-
ran come before him. And Nmrod said:
Tell me, which of the Gods do you fear
now And Haran answered.: Il fear the
God of Abram, for he is holy and mighty"
And Nimrod ordered and they cast Haran
into the fire and he was burned.
At this time the servants of Nimrod came
to Terah and taunted him thus: Behold