The Wooden God Barisat Burns in the Cooking Fire

Abraham left the room to cool his father's anger. But Terah called after him: "Abraham!" "Here I am." "Gather the wood splinters from the gods I carved before you came, and prepare my midday meal."

Abraham collected the splinters. And there, buried under the wood chips, he found a small idol that had been lying among the scraps. On its forehead was carved: GOD BARISAT. The name meant "son of fire."

Abraham said nothing to his father about the find. He laid the splinters in the fire to cook the meal. Then, before leaving to attend to something else, he set Barisat in front of the flames and spoke to the wooden god with mock seriousness:

"Pay careful attention, Barisat. Do not let the fire die down before I return. If it goes out, blow on it until it burns again."

When Abraham returned, Barisat had fallen backward into the fire. His feet were surrounded by flame, horribly burnt. Abraham burst out laughing. "Truly, Barisat! You can kindle fire and cook food!" As he watched, still laughing, the wooden god was gradually consumed, reduced to ashes.

Abraham served the meal to his father. Terah ate, drank wine and milk, and blessed his god Merumath.

"Father, do not bless Merumath. Bless Barisat instead! He loved you so much that he threw himself into the fire to cook your food."

"Where is Barisat now?" Terah asked.

"Burnt to ashes. Reduced to dust."

Terah's answer was staggering: "Great is the power of Barisat! I will make another one today, and tomorrow he will prepare my food."

A god whose name means "son of fire," devoured by that very element. And a father so deep in delusion that he planned to carve another one by morning.

I, however, having thought over my father’s anger, went out; [and after I had gone out ]16 my father17 cried, saying: “Abraham!” An d I said: “Here am I.” And he said: “Take and collect the splinters of the wood out of which I made gods of pine-wood before thou camest; and make ready for me the food of the mid-day meal.”18 And it came to pass, when I collected the splinters of wood, I found under them a little god which had been lying among the brush-wood on my left, and on his forehead was written: GOD BARISAT.19 And20 I did not

Cf. Wisdom xiii. 10 (“a useless stone, the work o f an an ci en t hand”); K reads: and set upon him the stone head of another god. Cf. Wisdom xiii. 16 (“knowing th at it is unable to help itself”). =? although (Heb. ’aph kî; Rabbinic ’aph ‘al pi). According to the Mish n a ‘Abôd ~ z~n ~ iii. 3 it was the duty of Jews to destroy an idol by sinking it in the waters of the Dead Sea, from which it could n ever emerge. Omitted by K. Cf. Wisdom xiii. 17 f. (th e whole chapter should be compared in th is context). S omits. Lit. to my gods: read? of (by) my god (Bonwetsch). Text of S here corrupt. A, help. K, powerless. Cf. note2 in previous chapter. For the thought cf. Heb. vii. 7. Lit. transaction. K, this. S omits. S, he. Cf. Is. xliv. 15, Wisdom xiii. 12 f. Barisat = probably bar ’isht~, “son of the fire.” A K, + it came to pass, when I found him, I kept him and.

inform my father that I had found the wooden god Barisat under the chips. And it came to pass, when I had laid the splinters in the fire, in order that I might make ready food for my father—on going out to ask a question regarding the food, I placed Barisat before the kindled fire,1 saying threateningly to him: “Pay careful attention, Barisat, [that]2 the fire do not die down until I come; if, however, it dieth down, blow on it that it may burn up again.” And I went out and accomplished my purpose.3 And on returning I found Barisat fallen backwards, and4 his feet surrounded by fire and horribly burnt.5 I burst into a fit of laughter, and I said to myself: “Truly, O Barisat, thou canst kindle the fire and cook food!” And it came to p ass, while I spake (thus) in my laughter6 he (i.e. Barisat) was gradually burnt up by the fire and reduced7 to ashes. And I brought the food to my father, and he did eat. And I gave him wine and milk,8 and he was gladdened and blessed his god Merumath. And I said to him: “O father Terah, bless not thy god Merumath, and praise him not, but rather praise thy god Barisat because, loving thee more, he hath cast himself into the fire to cook thy food!” An d he said to me: “And where is he now?” [ And I said: ]9 “He is burnt to ashes in the violence of the fire and is reduced to dust.” And he said: “Great is the power of Barisat! I (will) make another to-day, and to-morrow he will prepare10 my food.”