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The Antiquities of the Jews

F >> Flavius Josephus >> The Antiquities of the Jews




2. Now Abraham thought that it was not right to disobey God in
any thing, but that he was obliged to serve him in every
circumstance of life, since all creatures that live enjoy their
life by his providence, and the kindness he bestows on them.
Accordingly he concealed this command of God, and his own
intentions about the slaughter of his son, from his wife, as also
from every one of his servants, otherwise he should have been
hindered from his obedience to God; and he took Isaac, together
with two of his servants, and laying what things were necessary
for a sacrifice upon an ass, he went away to the mountain. Now
the two servants went along with him two days; but on the third
day, as soon as he saw the mountain, he left those servants that
were with him till then in the plain, and, having his son alone
with him, he came to the mountain. It was that mountain upon
which king David afterwards built the temple. (28) Now they had
brought with them every thing necessary for a sacrifice,
excepting the animal that was to be offered only. Now Isaac was
twenty-five years old. And as he was building the altar, he asked
his father what he was about to offer, since there was no animal
there for an oblation : - to which it was answered, "That God
would provide himself an oblation, he being able to make a
plentiful provision for men out of what they have not, and to
deprive others of what they already have, when they put too much
trust therein; that therefore, if God pleased to be present and
propitious at this sacrifice, he would provide himself an
oblation."

3. As soon as the altar was prepared, and Abraham had laid on the
wood, and all things were entirely ready, he said to his son, "O
son, I poured out a vast number of prayers that I might have thee
for my son; when thou wast come into the world, there was nothing
that could contribute to thy support for which I was not greatly
solicitous, nor any thing wherein I thought myself happier than
to see thee grown up to man's estate, and that I might leave thee
at my death the successor to my dominion; but since it was by
God's will that I became thy father, and it is now his will that
I relinquish thee, bear this consecration to God with a generous
mind; for I resign thee up to God who has thought fit now to
require this testimony of honor to himself, on account of the
favors he hath conferred on me, in being to me a supporter and
defender. Accordingly thou, my son, wilt now die, not in any
common way of going out of the world, but sent to God, the Father
of all men, beforehand, by thy own father, in the nature of a
sacrifice. I suppose he thinks thee worthy to get clear of this
world neither by disease, neither by war, nor by any other severe
way, by which death usually comes upon men, but so that he will
receive thy soul with prayers and holy offices of religion, and
will place thee near to himself, and thou wilt there be to me a
succorer and supporter in my old age; on which account I
principally brought thee up, and thou wilt thereby procure me God
for my Comforter instead of thyself."

4. Now Isaac was of such a generous disposition as became the son
of such a father, and was pleased with this discourse; and said,
"That he was not worthy to be born at first, if he should reject
the determination of God and of his father, and should not resign
himself up readily to both their pleasures; since it would have
been unjust if he had not obeyed, even if his father alone had so
resolved." So he went immediately to the altar to be sacrificed.
And the deed had been done if God had not opposed it; for he
called loudly to Abraham by his name, and forbade him to slay his
son; and said, "It was not out of a desire of human blood that he
was commanded to slay his son, nor was he willing that he should
be taken away from him whom he had made his father, but to try
the temper of his mind, whether he would be obedient to such a
command. Since therefore he now was satisfied as to that his
alacrity, and the surprising readiness he showed in this his
piety, he was delighted in having bestowed such blessings upon
him; and that he would not be wanting in all sort of concern
about him, and in bestowing other children upon him; and that his
son should live to a very great age; that he should live a happy
life, and bequeath a large principality to his children, who
should be good and legitimate." He foretold also, that his family
should increase into many nations (29) and that those patriarchs
should leave behind them an everlasting name; that they should
obtain the possession of the land of Canaan, and be envied by all
men. When God had said this, he produced to them a ram, which did
not appear before, for the sacrifice. So Abraham and Isaac
receiving each other unexpectedly, and having obtained the
promises of such great blessings, embraced one another; and when
they had sacrificed, they returned to Sarah, and lived happily
together, God affording them his assistance in all things they
desired.
CHAPTER 14.

Concerning Sarah Abraham's Wife; And How She
Ended Her Days.

Now Sarah died a little while after, having lived one hundred and
twenty-seven years. They buried her in Hebron; the Canaanites
publicly allowing them a burying-place; which piece of ground
Abraham bought for four hundred shekels, of Ephron, an inhabitant
of Hebron. And both Abraham and his descendants built themselves
sepulchers in that place.

CHAPTER 15.

How The Nation Of The Troglodytes Were Derived From Abraham By
Keturah.

Abraham after this married Keturah, by whom six sons were born to
him, men of courage, and of sagacious minds: Zambran, and Jazar,
and Madan, and Madian, and Josabak, and Sous. Now the sons of
Sous were Sabathan and Dadan. The sons of Dadan were Latusim, and
Assur, and Luom. The sons of Madiau were Ephas, and Ophren, and
Anoch, and Ebidas, and Eldas. Now, for all these sons and
grandsons, Abraham contrived to settle them in colonies; and they
took possession of Troglodytis, and the country of Arabia the
Happy, as far as it reaches to the Red Sea. It is related of this
Ophren, that he made war against Libya, and took it, and that his
grandchildren, when they inhabited it, called it (from his name)
Africa. And indeed Alexander Polyhistor gives his attestation to
what I here say; who speaks thus: "Cleodemus the prophet, who was
also called Malchus, who wrote a History of the Jews, in
agreement with the History of Moses, their legislator, relates,
that there were many sons born to Abraham by Keturah: nay, he
names three of them, Apher, and Surim, and Japhran. That from
Surim was the land of Assyria denominated; and that from the
other two (Apher and Japbran) the country of Africa took its
name, because these men were auxiliaries to Hercules, when he
fought against Libya and Antaeus; and that Hercules married
Aphra's daughter, and of her he begat a son, Diodorus; and that
Sophon was his son, from whom that barbarous people called
Sophacians were denominated."

CHAPTER 16.

How Isaac Took Rebeka To Wife.

1. Now when Abraham, the father of Isaac, had resolved to take
Rebeka, who was grand-daughter to his brother Nahor, for a wife
to his son Isaac, who was then about forty years old, he sent the
ancientest of his servants to betroth her, after he had obliged
him to give him the strongest assurances of his fidelity; which
assurances were given after the manner following : - They put
each other's hands under each other's thighs; then they called
upon God as the witness of what was to be done. He also sent such
presents to those that were there as were in esteem, on account
that that they either rarely or never were seen in that country,
The servant got thither not under a considerable time; for it
requires much time to pass through Meopotamia, in which it is
tedious traveling, both in the winter for the depth of the clay,
and in summer for want of water; and, besides this, for the
robberies there committed, which are not to be avoided by
travelers but by caution beforehand. However, the servant came to
Haran; and when he was in the suburbs, he met a considerable
number of maidens going to the water; he therefore prayed to God
that Rebeka might be found among them, or her whom Abraham sent
him as his servant to espouse to his son, in case his will were
that this marriage should be consummated, and that she might be
made known to him by the sign, That while others denied him water
to drink, she might give it him.

2. With this intention he went to the well, and desired the
maidens to give him some water to drink: but while the others
refused, on pretense that they wanted it all at home, and could
spare none for him, one only of the company rebuked them for
their peevish behavior towards the stranger; and said, What is
there that you will ever communicate to anybody, who have not so
much as given the man some water? She then offered him water in
an obliging manner. And now he began to hope that his grand
affair would succeed; but desiring still to know the truth, he
commended her for her generosity and good nature, that she did
not scruple to afford a sufficiency of water to those that wanted
it, though it cost her some pains to draw it; and asked who were
her parents, and wished them joy of such a daughter. "And mayst
thou be espoused," said he, "to their satisfaction, into the
family of an agreeable husband, and bring him legitimate
children." Nor did she disdain to satisfy his inquiries, but told
him her family. "They," says she, "call me Rebeka; my father was
Bethuel, but he is dead; and Laban is my brother; and, together
with my mother, takes care of all our family affairs, and is the
guardian of my virginity." When the servant heard this, he was
very glad at what had happened, and at what was told him, as
perceiving that God had thus plainly directed his journey; and
producing his bracelets, and some other ornaments which it was
esteemed decent for virgins to wear, he gave them to the damsel,
by way of acknowledgment, and as a reward for her kindness in
giving him water to drink; saying, it was but just that she
should have them, because she was so much more obliging than any
of the rest. She desired also that he would come and lodge with
them, since the approach of the night gave him not time to
proceed farther. And producing his precious ornaments for women,
he said he desired to trust them to none more safely than to such
as she had shown herself to be; and that he believed he might
guess at the humanity of her mother and brother, that they would
not be displeased, from the virtue he found in her; for he would
not be burdensome, but would pay the hire for his entertainment,
and spend his own money. To which she replied, that he guessed
right as to the humanity of her parents; but complained that he
should think them so parsimonious as to take money, for that he
should have all on free cost. But she said she would first inform
her brother Laban, and, if he gave her leave, she would conduct
him in.

3. As soon then as this was over, she introduced the stranger;
and for the camels, the servants of Laban brought them in, and
took care of them; and he was himself brought in to supper by
Laban. And, after supper, he says to him, and to the mother of
the damsel, addressing himself to her, "Abraham is the son of
Terah, and a kinsman of yours; for Nahor, the grandfather of
these children, was the brother of Abraham, by both father and
mother; upon which account he hath sent me to you, being desirous
to take this damsel for his son to wife. He is his legitimate
son, and is brought up as his only heir. He could indeed have had
the most happy of all the women in that country for him, but he
would not have his son marry any of them; but, out of regard to
his own relations, he desired him to match here, whose affection
and inclination I would not have you despise; for it was by the
good pleasure of God that other accidents fell out in my journey,
and that thereby I lighted upon your daughter and your house; for
when I was near to the city, I saw a great many maidens coming to
a well, and I prayed that I might meet with this damsel, which
has come to pass accordingly. Do you therefore confirm that
marriage, whose espousals have been already made by a Divine
appearance; and show the respect you have for Abraham, who hath
sent me with so much solicitude, in giving your consent to the
marriage of this damsel." Upon this they understood it to be the
will of God, and greatly approved of the offer, and sent their
daughter, as was desired. Accordingly Isaac married her, the
inheritance being now come to him; for the children by Keturah
were gone to their own remote habitations.

CHAPTER 17.

Concerning The Death Of Abraham.

A Little while after this Abraham died. He was a man of
incomparable virtue, and honored by God in a manner agreeable to
his piety towards him. The whole time of his life was one hundred
seventy and five years, and he was buried in Hebron, with his
wife Sarah, by their sons Isaac and Ismael.

CHAPTER 18.

Concerning The Sons Of Isaac, Esau And Jacob; Of Their Nativity
And Education.

1. Now Isaac's wife proved with child, after the death of
Abraham; (30) and when her belly was greatly burdened, Isaac was
very anxious, and inquired of God; who answered, that Rebeka
should bear twins; and that two nations should take the names of
those sons; and that he who appeared the second should excel the
elder. Accordingly she, in a little time, as God had foretold,
bare twins; the elder of whom, from his head to his feet, was
very rough and hairy; but the younger took hold of his heel as
they were in the birth. Now the father loved the elder, who was
called Esau, a name agreeable to his roughness, for the Hebrews
call such a hairy roughness [Esau, (31) or] Seir; but Jacob the
younger was best beloved by his mother.

2. When there was a famine in the land, Isaac resolved to go into
Egypt, the land there being good; but he went to Gerar, as God
commanded him. Here Abimelech the king received him, because
Abraham had formerly lived with him, and had been his friend. And
as in the beginning he treated him exceeding kindly, so he was
hindered from continuing in the same disposition to the end, by
his envy at him; for when he saw that God was with Isaac, and
took such great care of him, he drove him away from him. But
Isaac, when he saw how envy had changed the temper of Abimelech
retired to a place called the Valley, not far from Gerar: and as
he was digging a well, the shepherds fell upon him, and began to
fight, in order to hinder the work; and because he did not desire
to contend, the shepherds seemed to get the him, so he still
retired, and dug another and when certain other shepherds of
Abimelech began to offer him violence, he left that also, still
retired, thus purchasing security to himself a rational and
prudent conduct. At length the gave him leave to dig a well
without disturbance. He named this well Rehoboth, which denotes a
large space; but of the former wells, one was called Escon, which
denotes strife, the other Sitenna, name signifies enmity.

3. It was now that Isaac's affairs increased, and in a
flourishing condition; and this his great riches. But Abimelech,
thinking in opposition to him, while their living made them
suspicious of each other, and retiring showing a secret enmity
also, he
afraid that his former friendship with Isaac would not secure
him, if Isaac should endeavor the injuries he had formerly
offered him; he therefore renewed his friendship with him,
Philoc, one of his generals. And when he had obtained every thing
he desired, by reason of Isaac's good nature, who preferred the
earlier friendship Abimelech had shown to himself and his father
to his later wrath against him, he returned home.

4. Now when Esau, one of the sons of Isaac, whom the father
principally loved, was now come to the age of forty years, he
married Adah, the daughter of Helon, and Aholibamah, the daughter
of Esebeon; which Helon and Esebeon were great lords among the
Canaanites: thereby taking upon himself the authority, and
pretending to have dominion over his own marriages, without so
much as asking the advice of his father; for had Isaac been the
arbitrator, he had not given him leave to marry thus, for he was
not pleased with contracting any alliance with the people of that
country; but not caring to be uneasy to his son by commanding him
to put away these wives, he resolved to be silent.

5. But when he was old, and could not see at all, he called Esau
to him, and told him, that besides his blindness, and the
disorder of his eyes, his very old age hindered him from his
worship of God [by sacrifice]; he bid him therefore to go out a
hunting, and when he had caught as much venison as he could, to
prepare him a supper (32) that after this he might make
supplication to God, to be to him a supporter and an assister
during the whole time of his life; saying, that it was uncertain
when he should die, and that he was desirous, by prayers for him,
to procure, beforehand, God to be merciful to him.

6. Accordingly, Esau went out a hunting. But Rebeka (33) thinking
it proper to have the supplication made for obtaining the favor
of God to Jacob, and that without the consent of Isaac, bid him
kill kids of the goats, and prepare a supper. So Jacob obeyed his
mother, according to all her instructions. Now when the supper
was got ready, he took a goat's skin, and put it about his arm,
that by reason of its hairy roughness, he might by his father be
believed to be Esau; for they being twins, and in all things else
alike, differed only in this thing. This was done out of his
fear, that before his father had made his supplications, he
should be caught in his evil practice, and lest he should, on the
contrary, provoke his father to curse him. So he brought in the
supper to his father. Isaac perceivest to be Esau." So suspecting
no deceit, he ate the supper, and betook himself to his prayers
and intercessions with God; and said, "O Lord of all ages, and
Creator of all substance; for it was thou that didst propose to
my father great plenty of good things, and hast vouchsafed to
bestow on me what I have; and hast promised to my posterity to be
their kind supporter, and to bestow on them still greater
blessings; do thou therefore confirm these thy promises, and do
not overlook me, because of my present weak condition, on account
of which I most earnestly pray to thee. Be gracious to this my
son; and preserve him and keep him from every thing that is evil.
Give him a happy life, and the possession of as many good things
as thy power is able to bestow. Make him terrible to his enemies,
and honorable and beloved among his friends."

7. Thus did Isaac pray to God, thinking his prayers had been made
for Esau. He had but just finished them, when Esau came in from
hunting. And when Isaac perceived his mistake, he was silent: but
Esau required that he might be made partaker of the like blessing
from his father that his brother had partook of; but his father
refused it, because all his prayers had been spent upon Jacob: so
Esau lamented the mistake. However, his father being grieved at
his weeping, said, that "he should excel in hunting and strength
of body, in arms, and all such sorts of work; and should obtain
glory for ever on those accounts, he and his posterity after him;
but still should serve his brother."

8. Now the mother delivered Jacob, when she was afraid that his
brother would inflict some punishment upon him because of the
mistake about the prayers of Isaac; for she persuaded her husband
to take a wife for Jacob out of Mesopotamia, of her own kindred,
Esau having married already Basemmath, the daughter of Ismael,
without his father's consent; for Isaac did not like the
Canaanites, so that he disapproved of Esau's former marriages,
which made him take Basemmath to wife, in order to please him;
and indeed he had a great affection for her.

CHAPTER 19.

Concerning Jacob's Flight Into Mesopotamia, By Reason Of The Fear
He Was In Of His Brother.

1. Now Jacob was sent by his mother to Mesopotamia, in order to
marry Laban her brother's daughter (which marriage was permitted
by Isaac, on account of his obsequiousness to the desires of his
wife); and he accordingly journeyed through the land of Canaan;
and because he hated the people of that country, he would not
lodge with any of them, but took up his lodging in the open air,
and laid his head on a heap of stones that he had gathered
together. At which time he saw in his sleep such a vision
standing by him: - he seemed to see a ladder that reached from
the earth unto heaven, and persons descending upon the ladder
that seemed more excellent than human; and at last God himself
stood above it, and was plainly visible to him, who, calling him
by his name, spake to him in these words: -

2. "O Jacob, it is not fit for thee, who art the son of a good
father, and grandson of one who had obtained a great reputation
for his eminent virtue, to be dejected at thy present
circumstances, but to hope for better times, for thou shalt have
great abundance of all good things, by my assistance: for I
brought Abraham hither, out of Mesopotamia, when he was driven
away by his kinsmen, and I made thy father a happy man, nor will
I bestow a lesser degree of happiness on thyself: be of good
courage, therefore, and under my conduct proceed on this thy
journey, for the marriage thou goest so zealously about shall be
consummated. And thou shalt have children of good characters, but
their multitude shall be innumerable; and they shall leave what
they have to a still more numerous posterity, to whom, and to
whose posterity, I give the dominion of all the land, and their
posterity shall fill the entire earth and sea, so far as the sun
beholds them: but do not thou fear any danger, nor be afraid of
the many labors thou must undergo, for by my providence I will
direct thee what thou art to do in the time present, and still
much more in the time to come."

3. Such were the predictions which God made to Jacob; whereupon
he became very joyful at what he had seen and heard; and he
poured oil on the stones, because on them the prediction of such
great benefits was made. He also vowed a vow, that he would offer
sacrifices upon them, if he lived and returned safe; and if he
came again in such a condition, he would give the tithe of what
he had gotten to God. He also judged the place to be honorable
and gave it the name of Bethel, which, in the Greek, is
interpreted, The House of God.

4. So he proceeded on his journey to Mesopotamia, and at length
came to Haran; and meeting with shepherds in the suburbs, with
boys grown up, and maidens sitting about a certain well, he staid
with them, as wanting water to drink; and beginning to discourse
with them, he asked them whether they knew such a one as Laban,
and whether he was still alive. Now they all said they knew him,
for he was not so inconsiderable a person as to be unknown to any
of them; and that his daughter fed her father's flock together
with them; and that indeed they wondered that she was not yet
come, for by her means thou mightest learn more exactly whatever
thou desirest to know about that family. While they were saying
this the damsel came, and the other shepherds that came down
along with her. Then they showed her Jacob, and told her that he
was a stranger, who came to inquire about her father's affairs.
But she, as pleased, after the custom of children, with Jacob's
coming, asked him who he was, and whence he came to them, and
what it was he lacked that he came thither. She also wished it
might be in their power to supply the wants he came about.

5. But Jacob was quite overcome, not so much by their kindred,
nor by that affection which might arise thence, as by his love to
the damsel, and his surprise at her beauty, which was so
flourishing, as few of the women of that age could vie with. He
said then, "There is a relation between thee and me, elder than
either thy or my birth, if thou be the daughter of Laban; for
Abraham was the son of Terah, as well as Haran and Nahor. Of the
last of whom (Nahor) Bethuel thy grandfather was the son. Isaac
my father was the son of Abraham and of Sarah, who was the
daughter of Haran. But there is a nearer and later cement of
mutual kindred which we bear to one another, for my mother Rebeka
was sister to Laban thy father, both by the same father and
mother; I therefore and thou are cousin-germans. And I am now
come to salute you, and to renew that affinity which is proper
between us." Upon this the damsel, at the mention of Rebeka, as
usually happens to young persons, wept, and that out of the
kindness she had for her father, and embraced Jacob, she having
learned an account of Rebeka from her father, and knew that her
parents loved to hear her named; and when she had saluted him,
she said that "he brought the most desirable and greatest
pleasures to her father, with all their family, who was always
mentioning his mother, and always thinking of her, and her alone;
and that this will make thee equal in his eyes to any
advantageous circumstances whatsoever." Then she bid him go to
her father, and follow her while she conducted him to him; and
not to deprive him of such a pleasure, by staying any longer away
from him.

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