Aggada -- Translations into English; Bible. Old Testament -- Legends; Jewish legends; Midrash -- Translations into English
Terah's resolve to quit his native land for the sake of Abraham and
take up his abode in strange parts, and his impulse to do it before
even the Divine call visited Abraham himself—this the Lord accounted a
great merit unto Terah, and he was permitted to see his son Abraham
rule as king over the whole world. For when the miracle happened, and
Isaac was born unto his aged parents, the whole world repaired to
Abraham and Sarah, and demanded to know what they had done that so
great a thing should be accomplished for them. Abraham told them all
that had happened between Nimrod and himself, how he had been ready to
be burnt for the glory of God, and how the Lord had rescued him from
the flames. In token of their admiration for Abraham and his teachings,
they appointed him to be their king, and in commemoration of Isaac's
wondrous birth, the money coined by Abraham bore the figures of an aged
husband and wife on the obverse side, and of a young man and his wife
on the reverse side, for Abraham and Sarah both were rejuvenated at the
birth of Isaac, Abraham's white hair turned black, and the lines in
Sarah's face were smoothed out.
For many years Terah continued to live a witness of his son's glory,
for his death did not occur until Isaac was a youth of thirty-five.[46]
And a still greater reward waited upon his good deed. God accepted his
repentance, and when he departed this life, he entered into Paradise,
and not into hell, though he had passed the larger number of his days
in sin. Indeed, it had been his fault that Abraham came near losing his
life at the hands of Nimrod.[47]
THE STAR IN THE EAST
Terah had been a high official at the court of Nimrod, and he was held
in great consideration by the king and his suite. A son was born unto
him whom he called Abram, because the king had raised him to an exalted
place. In the night of Abraham's birth, the astrologers and the wise
men of Nimrod came to the house of Terah, and ate and drank, and
rejoiced with him that night. When they left the house, they lifted up
their eyes toward heaven to look at the stars, and they saw, and,
behold, one great star came from the east and ran athwart the heavens
and swallowed up the four stars at the four corners. They all were
astonished at the sight, but they understood this matter, and knew its
import. They said to one another: "This only betokens that the child
that hath been born unto Terah this night will grow up and be fruitful,
and he will multiply and possess all the earth, he and his children
forever, and he and his seed will slay great kings and inherit their
lands."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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