Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews (English) (XML Header) [genre: prose] [word count] [lemma count] [Joseph. AJ]. | ||
<<Joseph. AJ 1.222 | Joseph. AJ 1.238 (Greek) | >>Joseph. AJ 1.252 |
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 note
and that those patriarchs should leave behind them an everlasting name;
that they should obtain the possession of the land of
NOW Sarah died a little while after, having lived one hundred and twenty-seven
years. They buried her in
ABRAHAM after this married Keturah, by whom six sons were born to him,
men of courage, and of sagacious minds: Zambran, and Jazar, and
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
Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews (English) (XML Header) [genre: prose] [word count] [lemma count] [Joseph. AJ]. | ||
<<Joseph. AJ 1.222 | Joseph. AJ 1.238 (Greek) | >>Joseph. AJ 1.252 |