Apocalypse of Abraham - Content

Content

Its title does not fully explain its contents, for about one-third of it might more appropriately be called The Legend of Abraham, as this contains an account of Abraham's conversion from polytheism to henotheism quite apart from the apocalypse which follows. The work is notable for its presentation of Judaism and non-Judaism as being diametrically opposed, and its strong iconoclasm.

• The text opens with a description of Abraham helping his father Terah who is a maker of idols. Abraham's doubts about idol-worship are awakened by accidents that break the stone image of Merumath and five other idols, that Abraham was supposed to sell. Pondering over this, he objects to his father against such idols, thus causing Terah’s anger. He tests further the powers of the idols by placing a wooden statue of Barisat near the fire, and telling the idol to take care of fire. On returning he finds Barisat burnt. He again strongly explains to his father the uselessness of such idols, but without results (Chapters 1-6).
• The fire, the water, the earth, and the heavenly bodies are shown to be more worthy than the idols, although each one of these elements is subject to another force, so none of them can claim to be God (Chapter 7, probably a later addition).
• Abraham is still considering his father's answer when he hears a voice from heaven asking him to leave his father’s house. He has scarcely left the house when a fire descends and burns Terah’s house (Chapter 8).

The apocalyptic section begins with Abraham's sacrifice to God, expanding and modifying the Biblical narrative of Genesis 15:8-17:

• The voice of God orders Abraham to prepare a sacrifice on the high mountain (Mount Horeb) where he will receive a revelation. Abraham is asked to have a forty days preparation for such event. The angel Yahoel is sent to Abraham, terrified at the experience, to guide him and to teach him how to perform the sacrifice. Yahoel introduces himself as a being "whose name is like unto that of God Himself" followed by a long introduction of his duties. (Chapters 9-11)
• On Mount Horeb, under the guidance of Yahoel, and assisted by many other angels, Abraham offers up his sacrifice, but not without being disturbed by Azazel, the fallen archangel and seducer of mankind, who, in the form of an unclean bird, swoops down upon the carcasses, and, speaking with a human voice, tries to persuade Abraham to leave the holy place. Abraham is not seduced and Yahoel fights off Azazel. Yahoel then adds that the celestial garments, originally set aside for Azazel, now belong to Abraham. (Chapters 11-14)

The third part of the Apocalypse of Abraham narrates the ascension of Abraham to heaven:

• Abraham and Yahoel, borne by a dove, ascend to the heavens: they see a great light and a great crowd in the likeness of men that were changing in aspect, running, prostrating and crying aloud, and a fire came toward them. They kneel down and worship the fire and a divine voice was heard as the sound of rushing waters. Yahoel teaches Abraham a hymn of praise to be sung, by which they ask the Lord to accept their prayer and the sacrifice made the Lord himself. When they reach the seventh heaven Abraham sees a classic example of Merkabah: the throne of God (but he does not see God), the four Living Beings with aspect of man, lion, ox, and eagle, and the many-eyed wheels. Yahoel has the task of mitigating the rivalry among Living Beings. (Chapters 15-18)
• Abraham is shown by God everything that exists in the heavens: the angels, the celestial bodies, also the earth, and everything that is moving upon it. He sees also the Leviathan and its possessions in the nethermost waters, the rivers and their origin, and the Garden of Eden. He realizes it is the whole creation as designed by God before God decreed it to exist. (Chapters 19-22)
• He sees the scene of the Fall: Adam and Eve as huge figures who are led to commit (sexual) sin by Azazel through his causing them to eat from the forbidden fruit (here said to be a grape from the vine). God informs Abraham that, notwithstanding "the pollution of the serpent", the man may choose to abstain from sins. Four main sins are listed: fornication, theft, homosexuality and desire. (Chapters 23-24)
• Abraham then sees a scene of idolatry with boys being slaughtered, and God explains that it is his Temple and his priesthood full of his anger against the people who came out from Abraham. A vision of the destruction of the Temple follows and Abraham is explained that this is due to the sin of idolatry on the part of his seed, but the coming of men who will take care of his seed is predicted. (Chapters 25-27)
• Answering how long the judgment lasts, God reveals a description of the last times: the Age is said to be divided in twelve parts; a character known simply as “a man” will appear from the pagan side, worshiped by many pagans, Jews and by Azazel and insulted and beaten by other Jews; ten plagues will occur and finally, at the sound of the trumpet, the Chosen One (the Messiah) is sent to fight the enemies, and the judgment will pass upon the heathen and the wicked. The book is closed by a short promise of the chosen people’s deliverance from oppression. (Chapters 28-32)