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