Abraham (Patriarch)

For other uses, see Abraham (disambiguation).

Abraham is known as the holy patriarch of the Abrahamic faiths.

## Legends

Abraham, as the first Hebrew patriarch, was promised the land of Canaan for himself and his numberless descendants. God had him travel from Haran to Caanan, where their covenant was made and Abraham was promised a son despite his old age, as well as the name "Abraham". God later demanded Abraham sacrifice this promised son, Isaac, to him, but at the last minute revealed a ram to be sacrificed instead. In return for this, God promised once again to make his descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven.

In the rabbinical tradition, Abraham is attributed with a number of texts. One of them, *On the Explanation of Dreams,* is said to have been studied by Joseph before he was sold by his brothers. His *Jelzirah* contains information on the dawn of the world, as well as astrology and other forms of magic, which predates the *Talmud*. He was also said to have been opposed to Chaldean astrology, and there are also stories in this tradition of him destroying the idols in his father's house for neither partaking in sacrificial offerings, nor answering prayers. This is supposedly what led to him becoming the spokesman of the Abrahamic god. The rabbinical tradition also claims he was a giant, discovered astronomy, invented improved forms of agriculture, and was also a magician. He is also said to have had a precious stone he wore around his neck which had the power to heal the sick.

According to Suidas and Isadore, he invented writing, but this was known to contradict legends of Adam, who was said to have done the same.

In some Islamic traditions, Abraham is said to have been a skilled astrologer particularly powerful with prodigies. There is also a story where King Nimrod of Babylon received a prophecy about a boy who would be born and eventually rise against him and destroy the idols, leading to the Babylonians slaughtering 70,000 baby boys born around that time. Abraham was born in a cave outside town and abandoned when he was ten days old. Gabriel found him and put Abraham's finger into his mouth, from which milk flowed. Ten days later his mother returned and found him strong, healthy, and praising God. There are then a number of stories of his iconoclasm within Babylonia, culminating in Nimrod having him imprisoned and later attempting to have him burned to death. Gabriel provided him with food for his year in prison, and God caused a spring to appear in one of the walls to provide water. He was then catapulted into a fire that was too hot for people to approach, and through his faith the fire was cooled and became a rose garden. This act caused those who witnessed it to start worshipping God.

The importance of Abraham in Islam was such that Muhammad claimed that Islam was not a new religion, but was a restoration of the religion of Abraham.

## Works

* *Jelzirah*, also known as the *Sepher*. Alternatively attributed to Adam and Akiba.
* *On the Explanation of Dreams*

## See Also

* Abandoned Children
* Akiba
* Cadmus
* Slaughter of the Innocents
* Tower of Babel

## Further Reading

* Legends of the Old Testament
* *Lalla Rookh,* by Thomas Moore

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.4
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Unknown. (1972). "Abraham", in Leach, M. (ed) *Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend*. 3rd ed. p.4-5