According to tradition, when the time came for Abraham to leave this world, God didn't send just any messenger. He summoned the Angel of Death himself. But God, in His infinite compassion, knew that Abraham, a man of unwavering faith and kindness, deserved a peaceful transition. So, God instructed the Angel of Death to "hide your ferocity, cover your decay, and put on your youthful beauty… take him with soft speech." (Tree of Souls, Schwartz, Myths of Isaac 345).
Imagine the scene: Abraham is sitting at the entrance to his tent in Mamre, when a sweet odor wafts towards him. He looks up and sees the Angel of Death approaching, not as a terrifying specter, but in "great glory," radiant and beautiful.
The Angel of Death kneels before Abraham, saying, "Most righteous Abraham, I am the bitter cup of death." Abraham, however, is taken aback. "No," he replies, "you have the glory and beauty of an angel." The Angel insists, "I am telling you the truth. I have come for your holy soul."
But Abraham, as you might expect, wasn't quite ready to go. He refuses, going into his house, with the Angel of Death following close behind. The Angel declares, "I will not depart until I take your spirit."
Now, Abraham, ever the negotiator, makes a request: "I beg you, heed me and show me your ferocity." The Angel of Death hesitates. "You could not bear to behold it, righteous Abraham." But Abraham, confident in his connection to the Divine, insists, "Yes, I can, because the power of God is with me."
And so, the Angel of Death transforms. He sheds his youthful beauty and dons his "robe of tyranny," becoming gloomy and ferocious. He reveals to Abraham "seven fiery heads of dragons and other faces, most horrible, each one fiercer than the other, including the face of a lion, the face of a homed serpent, and that of a cobra." (Tree of Souls, Schwartz, Myths of Isaac 345). Can you picture the sheer terror of such a sight?
Overwhelmed, Abraham pleads, "I beg you, Death, hide your ferocity and put on the form of youthful beauty that you had before." The Angel of Death complies, and Abraham retreats to his room, lying down to rest.
The Angel of Death then approaches him with a final, deceptive gesture: "Come, kiss my right hand, and may life and strength come to you." But this was a ruse. When Abraham kissed the Angel's hand, his soul cleaved to it, drawn from his body.
But even in this moment of transition, there's a sense of grace. The angel Michael, accompanied by a multitude of angels, appears. They gently carry Abraham's precious soul away, cradled in "divinely woven linen." (Tree of Souls, Schwartz, Myths of Isaac 345).
What does this story tell us? Perhaps it's about the inevitability of death, even for the most righteous among us. Or maybe it's about the importance of facing our mortality with courage, knowing that even in death, there can be beauty and peace. It certainly highlights Abraham's unique relationship with God, allowing him to even briefly glimpse the true face of death itself. And ultimately, it reminds us that even in the face of loss, there is always the promise of divine comfort and eternal life.