Chapter 8 ⇦⇨

A sign in the Heavens appears at the Birth of Abram—Abram shall be fruitful and multiply—He and his seed shall possess the earth—Soothsayers take the meaning of this sign before the king—He demands the life of Abram—Terah brings a child in the stead of Abram to be slain of the king—Abram lives in a cave to escape the king's notice.

1 And it came to pass on the night in which Abram was born, that all the servants of Terah and all the wise men of Nimrod, and his soothsayers, came and did eat and drink in the house of Terah; and they rejoiced with him that night.

2 And when all the wise men and soothsayers had gone forth from the house of Terah, they lifted up their eyes unto heaven to behold the stars; and they saw, and behold, one very great star came from the east and traversed the heavens, and it swallowed up four stars which were in the four quarters of the firmament.

3 And all the wise men of the king and his soothsayers were sore amazed at the sight; and the sages perceived the matter, and they knew its meaning.

4 Then they spake one to another, saying, Surely this only signifieth the child that is born unto Terah this night, who shall grow up, be fruitful and multiply, and possess all the earth, he and his seed for ever; and he and his offspring shall slay mighty kings and inherit their lands.

5 And the wise men and soothsayers returned home that night; but in the morning all of them rose early, and assembled in an appointed place.

6 And they said one to another, Behold, the sign which we beheld last night is hid from the king; it hath not been made known unto him.

7 And should this thing come to the knowledge of the king hereafter, he will say unto us, Wherefore have ye concealed this matter from me? and then shall we all perish; wherefore now let us go and reveal unto the king the sign which we saw, and the interpretation thereof, and so shall we be innocent.

8 And they did so: they came before the king and bowed themselves to the earth, saying, May the king live, may the king live.

9 We have heard that a son was born unto Terah the son of Nahor, prince of thy host; and yesternight we came unto his house, and did eat and drink and rejoice with him.

10 And when thy servants went forth from the house of Terah to go unto our own abodes for the night, we lifted up our eyes unto heaven, and saw a great star coming from the east; and the same star did run with great speed, and swallowed up four great stars from the four corners of the heavens.

11 And thy servants were greatly astonished at the sight which we saw, and were sore afraid; yet we judged the matter, and by our wisdom knew its true meaning: that this thing pertaineth unto the child born unto Terah, who shall grow, multiply, and become mighty, and slay all the kings of the earth, and possess all their lands, he and his seed for ever.

12 Now therefore, O our lord and king, behold, we have made thee privy to that which we have seen concerning this child.

13 If it seem good unto the king to give this child value, we will slay him before he groweth up and waxeth strong in the land, lest his might prevail against us and we and our children perish by his hand.

14 And the king heard their words, and they pleased him; and he sent and called for Terah, and Terah came before the king.

15 And the king said unto Terah, I have been informed that a son was born unto thee yesternight, and such a sign was seen in the heavens at his birth.

16 Now therefore give me the child, that we may slay him before his evil arise against us; and I will give unto thee, for his ransom, thy house full of silver and gold.

17 Then Terah answered the king, saying, My lord and king, I have heard thy words, and thy servant will do whatsoever his king shall command.

18 But, my lord and king, let me tell thee what befell me yesternight, that I may hear what counsel my king will give unto his servant; then will I answer the king concerning that which he hath spoken. And the king said, Speak on.

19 And Terah said unto the king, Ayon, the son of Mored, came to me yesternight, saying, Give me the great and beautiful horse which the king hath given thee, and I will give thee silver and gold, and straw and provender for its price; and I said unto him, Wait until I see the king concerning thy words; and whatsoever the king shall say, that will I do.

20 Now therefore, my lord and king, behold, I have made this matter known unto thee; and the counsel which my king shall give his servant, that will I follow.

21 Then the king heard the words of Terah, and his anger was kindled within him, and he regarded Terah as one without understanding.

22 And the king answered Terah, saying, Art thou so foolish and ignorant, or so void of sense, as to give away this fair horse for silver and gold, or even for straw and provender?

23 Art thou in need of silver and gold, that thou wouldst do this, because thou canst not procure straw and provender to feed thy horse? And what are silver and gold unto thee, or straw and provender, that thou wouldst give away such a horse as none other is to be found upon all the earth?

24 Then the king ceased speaking; and Terah answered the king, saying, Even so hath the king spoken unto his servant.

25 I beseech thee, my lord and king, what meaneth this which thou hast said unto me, saying, Give thy son, that we may slay him, and I will give unto thee silver and gold for his ransom? What shall I do with silver and gold after the death of my son? Who shall inherit me? Verily at my death these silver and gold shall return unto my king who gave it.

26 And when the king heard the words of Terah and the parable which he spake concerning the king, he was grieved exceedingly, and his wrath burned within him.

27 Then Terah perceived that the anger of the king was kindled against him, and he said unto the king, All that I have is in the king’s power; whatsoever the king desireth to do unto his servant, that let him do, yea, even my son, for he and his two brethren that are older than he are in the king’s power, without price.

28 And the king said unto Terah, Nay, but I will purchase thy younger son for a price.

29 Then Terah answered the king, saying, I beseech thee, my lord and king, let thy servant speak a word before thee, and let the king hear the word of his servant; Terah said, Let my king give me three days’ time, that I may consider this matter within mine heart and counsel with my family concerning the words of my king. And he pressed the king sore to grant this.

30 And the king hearkened unto Terah, and he did so; and he gave him three days’ time; and Terah departed from the king’s presence, and came unto his house, and spake all the words of the king unto his family; and they were sore afraid.

31 And it came to pass on the third day that the king sent unto Terah, saying, Send me thy son for a price, even as I told thee; and if thou do not, I will send and slay all that thou hast, so that not even a dog shall be left alive.

32 Then Terah hasted, for the thing was urgent from the king; and he took a child of one of his servants, whom His handmaid had brought forth that day, and Terah brought the child unto the king and received silver and gold for him.

33 And the Lord was with Terah in this matter, that Nimrod should not slay Abram; and the king took the child from Terah, and with all his might dashed his head against the ground, for he supposed it to be Abram: thus was it concealed from him from that day, and forgotten by the king, according to the will of Providence, that Abram might not die.

34 Then Terah took Abram his son privily, with his mother and nurse, and hid them in a cave, and brought them provision from month to month.

35 And the Lord was with Abram in the cave, and he grew; and Abram remained in the cave ten years, and the king and his princes, and his soothsayers and wise men, supposed that the king had slain Abram.

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