One fascinating source for these expanded narratives is the Book of Jasher, a work of Jewish folklore and legend. Now, it's important to note that this isn't the Sefer haYashar (סֵפֶר הַיָּשָׁר) mentioned in the Bible itself (Joshua 10:13 and (2 Samuel 1:1)8). Instead, it's a much later work, likely medieval, that draws upon and expands biblical narratives. And Chapter 8 tells a truly captivating tale surrounding the birth of Abraham.
The Book of Jasher recounts that on the very night Abram (later Abraham) was born, a grand feast was held at Terah's house. Terah, as you may know, was Abram's father. But this wasn't just a family affair. The servants of Nimrod—yes, that Nimrod, the mighty hunter and king—were there, along with all of Nimrod's wise men and conjurors! Quite the guest list. They ate, they drank, they rejoiced. But as the night deepened, something extraordinary happened.
As the wise men and conjurors left Terah's house, they looked up at the heavens. And what did they behold? According to the Book of Jasher, a massive star appeared in the east, streaking across the sky. But here's the kicker: it swallowed up four other stars, one from each corner of the heavens! Imagine seeing that!
Understandably, the wise men were astonished. But these weren't just casual stargazers. They were sages, skilled in interpreting celestial signs. They put their heads together and, according to the text, understood the meaning of this cosmic event. This star, they declared, signified the child born to Terah that very night. This child would grow to be powerful, fruitful, and would possess the entire earth, he and his descendants forever. Moreover, this child and his offspring would slay great kings and inherit their lands. A pretty weighty prediction, wouldn't you say?
So, what did they do with this earth-shattering prophecy? They knew they couldn't keep it a secret from Nimrod. If the king found out later that they had concealed such a significant omen, they feared severe punishment. So, they went to Nimrod and told him everything. They described the star, its trajectory, and their interpretation: that Terah's newborn son would become a powerful ruler, overthrowing kings and seizing their lands.
Naturally, Nimrod wasn't thrilled. The wise men suggested a preemptive strike: "Give his father value for this child," they urged, "we will slay him before he shall grow up." In other words, buy the baby from Terah and kill him to eliminate the threat.
Nimrod liked the sound of that. He summoned Terah and demanded the child, promising to fill Terah's house with silver and gold in exchange. Talk about a terrible bargain!
But Terah was cunning. He pretended to agree but asked for a moment to share something with the king first, a story to get his advice. He told Nimrod of a man who wanted to trade him silver, gold, straw and animal feed for the king's beautiful, prized horse. Terah then feigned seeking the king's wisdom, asking if he should make the trade.
Nimrod was incensed! "Art thou so silly, ignorant, or deficient in understanding, to do this thing, to give thy beautiful horse for silver and gold or even for straw and provender?" The king's reaction was exactly what Terah was hoping for.
Terah then cleverly turned the king's words back on him: "Like unto this has the king spoken to his servant... what shall I do with silver and gold after the death of my son? who shall inherit me?" Ouch!
Nimrod was furious, but Terah, seeing the king's anger, played his final card. He offered Nimrod anything he wanted, even his son, saying all he had was the king's. He then begged for three days to consider the matter, a request Nimrod granted.
During those three days, Terah concocted a plan. When Nimrod sent for the child, Terah substituted a baby born to one of his servants that very day! Terah brought this child to Nimrod, received the payment, and watched in horror as Nimrod, believing it was Abram, dashed the baby's head against the ground.
The Book of Jasher tells us that "the Lord was with Terah in this matter, that Nimrod might not cause Abram's death." It was, the text says, "the will of Providence" that Abram should live.
After this deception, Terah secretly hid Abram, along with his mother and nurse, in a cave, providing them with monthly provisions. Abram remained hidden for ten years. Nimrod and his advisors believed they had killed the prophesied child, never knowing the truth.
What are we to make of this story? It's a thrilling tale of intrigue, deception, and divine intervention. It highlights the lengths to which people will go to protect their power, and the resourcefulness of those who resist tyranny. It also underscores a key theme in Jewish tradition: that God works in mysterious ways, often using human agency to fulfill divine purposes. The Book of Jasher, in this chapter, gives us a glimpse into the anxieties and hopes surrounding the birth of one of the most important figures in Jewish history, and how those anxieties played out in a world filled with magic, prophecy, and political intrigue.
Sacred-texts Apocrypha Index Previous Next Book of Jasher, Chapter 8 1 And it was in the night that Abram was born, that all the servants of Terah, and all the wise men of Nimrod, and his conjurors came and ate and drank in the house of Terah, and they rejoiced with him on that night. 2 And when all the wise men and conjurors went out from the house of Terah, they lifted up their eyes toward heaven that night to look at the stars, and they saw, and behold one very large star came from the east and ran in the heavens, and he swallowed up the four stars from the four sides of the heavens. 3 And all the wise men of the king and his conjurors were astonished at the sight, and the sages understood this matter, and they knew its import. 4 And they said to each other, This only betokens the child that has been born to Terah this night, who will grow up and be fruitful, and multiply, and possess all the earth, he and his children for ever, and he and his seed will slay great kings, and inherit their lands. 5 And the wise men and conjurors went home that night, and in the morning all these wise men and conjurors rose up early, and assembled in an appointed house. 6 And they spoke and said to each other, Behold the sight that we saw last night is hidden from the king, it has not been made known to him. 7 And should this thing get known to the king in the latter days, he will say to us, Why have you concealed this matter from me, and then we shall all suffer death; therefore, now let us go and tell the king the sight which we saw, and the interpretation thereof, and we shall then remain clear. 8 And they did so, and they all went to the king and bowed down to him to the ground, and they said, May the king live, may the king live. 9 We heard that a son was born to Terah the son of Nahor, the prince of thy host, and we yesternight came to his house, and we ate and drank and rejoiced with him that night. 10 And when thy servants went out from the house of Terah, to go to our respective homes to abide there for the night, we lifted up our eyes to heaven, and we saw a great star coming from the east, and the same star ran with great speed, and swallowed up four great stars, from the four sides of the heavens. 11 And thy servants were astonished at the sight which we saw, and were greatly terrified, and we made our judgment upon the sight, and knew by our wisdom the proper interpretation thereof, that this thing applies to the child that is born to Terah, who will grow up and multiply greatly, and become powerful, and kill all the kings of the earth, and inherit all their lands, he and his seed forever. 12 And now our lord and king, behold we have truly acquainted thee with what we have seen concerning this child. 13 If it seemeth good to the king to give his father value for this child, we will slay him before he shall grow up and increase in the land, and his evil increase against us, that we and our children perish through his evil. 14 And the king heard their words and they seemed good in his sight, and he sent and called for Terah, and Terah came before the king. 15 And the king said to Terah, I have been told that a son was yesternight born to thee, and after this manner was observed in the heavens at his birth. 16 And now therefore give me the child, that we may slay him before his evil springs up against us, and I will give thee for his value, thy house full of silver and gold. 17 And Terah answered the king and said to him: My Lord and king, I have heard thy words, and thy servant shall do all that his king desireth. 18 But my lord and king, I will tell thee what happened to me yesternight, that I may see what advice the king will give his servant, and then I will answer the king upon what he has just spoken; and the king said, Speak. 19 And Terah said to the king, Ayon, son of Mored, came to me yesternight, saying, 20 Give unto me the great and beautiful horse that the king gave thee, and I will give thee silver and gold, and straw and provender for its value; and I said to him, Wait till I see the king concerning thy words, and behold whatever the king saith, that will I do. 21 And now my lord and king, behold I have made this thing known to thee, and the advice which my king will give unto his servant, that will I follow. 22 And the king heard the words of Terah, and his anger was kindled and he considered him in the light of a fool. 23 And the king answered Terah, and he said to him, Art thou so silly, ignorant, or deficient in understanding, to do this thing, to give thy beautiful horse for silver and gold or even for straw and provender? 24 Art thou so short of silver and gold, that thou shouldst do this thing, because thou canst not obtain straw and provender to feed thy horse? and what is silver and gold to thee, or straw and provender, that thou shouldst give away that fine horse which I gave thee, like which there is none to be had on the whole earth? 25 And the king left off speaking, and Terah answered the king, saying, Like unto this has the king spoken to his servant; 26 I beseech thee, my lord and king, what is this which thou didst say unto me, saying, Give thy son that we may slay him, and I will give thee silver and gold for his value; what shall I do with silver and gold after the death of my son? who shall inherit me? surely then at my death, the silver and gold will return to my king who gave it. 27 And when the king heard the words of Terah, and the parable which he brought concerning the king, it grieved him greatly and he was vexed at this thing, and his anger burned within him. 28 And Terah saw that the anger of the king was kindled against him, and he answered the king, saying, All that I have is in the king's power; whatever the king desireth to do to his servant, that let him do, yea, even my son, he is in the king's power, without value in exchange, he and his two brothers that are older than he. 29 And the king said to Terah, No, but I will purchase thy younger son for a price. 30 And Terah answered the king, saying, I beseech thee my lord and king to let thy servant speak a word before thee, and let the king hear the word of his servant, and Terah said, Let my king give me three days' time till I consider this matter within myself, and consult with my family concerning the words of my king; and he pressed the king greatly to agree to this. 31 And the king hearkened to Terah, and he did so and he gave him three days' time, and Terah went out from the king's presence, and he came home to his family and spoke to them all the words of the king; and the people were greatly afraid. 32 And it was in the third day that the king sent to Terah, saying, Send me thy son for a price as I spoke to thee; and shouldst thou not do this, I will send and slay all thou hast in thy house, so that thou shalt not even have a dog remaining. 33 And Terah hastened, (as the thing was urgent from the king), and he took a child from one of his servants, which his handmaid had born to him that day, and Terah brought the child to the king and received value for him. 34 And the Lord was with Terah in this matter, that Nimrod might not cause Abram's death, and the king took the child from Terah and with all his might dashed his head to the ground, for he thought it had been Abram; and this was concealed from him from that day, and it was forgotten by the king, as it was the will of Providence not to suffer Abram's death. 35 And Terah took Abram his son secretly, together with his mother and nurse, and he concealed them in a cave, and he brought them their provisions monthly. 36 And the Lord was with Abram in the cave and he grew up, and Abram was in the cave ten years, and the king and his princes, soothsayers and sages, thought that the king had killed Abram. 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