A., who by rea.son of his childlessness cannot entertain hopes of the fultilmetit of the divine promise, n'ceives in a sjiecial vision assurance of
Cfinrtft Sm'hnrr'i Snit.*
14
ABRAHAM
ABRAHAM
the great future of the race that shall spring from liim. By the gracious condescension of the Almighty, a covenant is nuuie by sacrifice between the patriarch and God ; and during the night, when a deep sleep has fallen upon A., he learns the future destiny of his descenilants, and the vision is ratified l)y an outward symbol (15<'»i'- '--''). Sarai, who has no hope of having children, per- suades A. to take Hagar, her Egyp. maidservant, as a concubine. Hagar, finding herself with child, is insolent towards Sarai, who thereupon treats her so harshly that Hagar flees into the desert. She is there stopped by an angel, and sent back, comforted by the promise respecting the child that is to be born. This is Ishmael (10). But Islimael is not the promised son. Thirteen more years elapse before God appears again to A., and again promises that his descendants will be a mighty nation. In pledge of the fulfilment of his word, he changes Abram's name to Abraham, Sarai's to Sarah, and ordains that the rite of circumcision shall be the sign of the covenant between God and the house of Abraham, 'i'be promise that Sarah shall have a son, and the com- mand to call his name Isaac, prepare us for the long- expected consummation (17). But it is not to be yet. Another great scene intervenes, to try, as it were, the patriarch's faith, and make proof of the character of the father of the Heb. race. J", accom- panied by two angels, appears in human form to A. as he sits before his tent by the oaks of Mature. A.'s offer of hospitality is accepted ; and as the three strangers partake of the meal, the one who is J" promises to A. a son by Sarah, who overhears, and laughs incredulously (18'-'*). The two angels proceed to Sodom and Gomorrah ; J" remains with A., and discloses to him tlie approaching destruc- tion of 'the cities of the plain.' A. pathetically intercedes, and obtains the assurance that if but ten righteous be found in the city it should be spared for their sake (18"'-^^). J" leaves A. ; and then ensues the description of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the vividness of which is enhanced by the brief reference to A., who in the morning looks forth from the hill country of Hebron, where he had stood during his colloquy with ,J", and sees thence the reek of the smoke rising as from a furnace (10^). Strangely out of place though it seems, we find interpo.sed at this point the story how A. Journeyed to the South-land or Negeb, and dwelt in the territory of Gerar, where Abimelech was king, and how A. once more fears for his life on account of Sarah's beauty, repre- sents her to be his sister, and temporarily loses her, when she is taken to Abimelech's harem. As in the Egyp. story, Sarah is kept from harm by a special visitation ; Abimelech is warned by God, releases Sarah, and rebukes A. (20).
At length the long-promised son is born to A. of Sarah ; he is circumcised the 8lh day, and receives the name of I.saac (21'-'). Sarah takes offence at the sight of Ishmael playing with Isaac ; and A. is instructed by God to yield to Sarah's demand, and dismiss both Hagar and Ishmael from his tent (21*). A.'s prosperity and success induce Abimelech to seek alliance with the patriarch. A covenant between them is struck ; the well, which Abi- melech's servants had taken by force from A., is restored to him, and receives the name of Beer- Sheba. A. dwells for some time in Phil, territory, encamped in the vicinity of the well (21'---*').
Some years later, when Isaac has grown to be a lad, comes the last trial of A.'s faith. God orders him to sacrifice his only son upon a lofty hill, distant three days' journey from his place of encampment. He does not hesitate. All is done in perfect obedience ; the knife is raised to slay Isaac, wlien a voice from heaven is heard. God
wishes not a hair of the lad's head to suffer ; He is satisfied with this proof of the patriarch's ab.solute trust in God, his readiness to sacrifice that which was most precious in his eyes. A ram is sacrificed in the stead of Isaac ; and the holy covenant between .J" and A. is ratified anew (22'-'^).
Then Sarah dies; and A., whose seed is to possess the whole land, has to purchase a Imrial- place. 'J'he field and cave of Miichpelah at Hebron is the portion of ground which he buys with all due formality from Ephron the Hitlile; and there he buries Sarah (23).
Feeling his days drawing to a close, A. causes his steward to swear not to let Isaac take to wife one of the daughters of the land, and .sends him to Harau, where he finds Rebekah, and brings her back to be Isaac's wife (24).
It is strange next to read that A. takes Keturah to be his wife, and becomes the father of six sons, the patriarchs of Arabian tribes (25'-*). But at the age of 175 he dies, and is buried in the cave of Machpelah (25"-").