September 26. Story of the Day: Abraham and Nimrod

This is a passage from the Jewish Encyclopedia article on Abraham (1906, online); see the Encyclopedia for the sources of the story. You can read more about the legends of both Abraham and Nimrod at Wikipedia also.

This story is classified as ATU 2031B. Abraham learns to worship God, where you will find also another Jewish legend plus a version of this story from the Koran.

Looking for more stories? Click here for previous Stories-of-the-Day.

ABRAHAM AND NIMROD

(Leipzig Machzor, circa 1300)

Terah was a manufacturer of idols and had them for sale. One day when Terah was absent and Abraham was left to take charge of the shop, an old, yet vigorous, man came in to buy an idol. Abraham handed him the one on top, and he gave him the price asked. "How old art thou?" Abraham asked.

"Seventy years," was the answer.

"Thou fool," continued Abraham, "how canst thou adore a god so much younger than thou? Thou wert born seventy years ago and this god was made yesterday."

The buyer threw away his idol and received his money back.

The other sons of Terah complained to their father that Abraham did not know how to sell the idols, and so Abraham was told to attend to the idols as priest.

One day a woman brought a meal-offering for the idols, and, as they would not eat, he exclaimed: "A mouth have they but speak not, eyes but see not, ears but hear not, hands but handle not. May their makers be like them, and all who trust in them," and he broke them to pieces and burned them.

Abraham was brought before Nimrod, who said: "Knowest thou not that I am god and ruler of the world? Why hast thou destroyed my images?"

Then Abraham said: "If thou art god and ruler of the world, why dost thou not cause the sun to rise in the west and set in the east? If thou art god and ruler of the world, tell me all that I have now at heart, and what I shall do in the future." Nimrod was dumfounded, and Abraham continued: "Thou art the son of Cush, a mortal like him. Thou couldst not save thy father from death, nor wilt thou thyself escape it."

Nimrod said: "Worship the fire!"

"Why not water that quenches the fire?" asked Abraham.

"Very well, worship the water!"

"Why not the clouds which swallow the water?"

"So be it; worship the clouds!"

Then Abraham said: "Rather let me adore the wind which blows the clouds about!"

"So be it; pray to the wind!"

"But," said Abraham, "man can stand up against the wind or shield himself behind the walls of his house."

"Then adore me!" said Nimrod.

Thereupon Nimrod ordered Abraham to be cast into a furnace. He had a pile of wood five yards in circumference set on fire, and Abraham was cast into it. But God Himself went down from heaven to rescue him. Wherefore the Lord appeared to him later, saying: "I am the Lord who brought thee out of the fire of the Chaldeans."

(lower: Abraham in fire)