Abraham lived the measure of his life, nine hundred ninety-five years. And having lived all the years of his life in quietness and meekness and righteousness, the righteous man was very hospitable.
For he pitched his tent at the crossroads of the Oak of Mamre, and he received everyone, rich and poor, kings and rulers, crippled and infirm, friends and strangers, neighbors and passers-by. The devout, most holy, righteous, and hospitable Abraham received them equally.
But the common and unavoidable bitter cup of death also reached him, as well as the uncertain end of life.
Therefore, the Lord God called his archangel Michael and said to him, “Go down, Archistrategos Michael, to Abraham, and speak to him about death, so that he may make arrangements concerning his affairs.
For I have blessed him like the stars of the heaven, and like the sand by the seashore. And he is in great abundance of life and many possessions, and he is very rich. Moreover, he is righteous before everyone in all goodness, hospitable and loving until the end of his life.
So you, Archangel Michael, go to Abraham, my beloved friend, and announce to him about his death, and assure him that
‘You are about to depart at this time from this vain world, and you are about to migrate from the body and will come to your own Lord in good things.’”
And the Archistrategos, having departed from the presence of God, went down to Abraham at the Oak of Mamre, and he found the righteous Abraham in the field nearby, with pairs of plowing oxen attending him, along with the sons of Masek and twelve other servants. And behold, the Archistrategos was coming toward him.
And when Abraham saw the Archistrategos Michael coming from afar, like a most handsome soldier, Abraham arose and went to meet him, as was his custom, to go out to meet and receive all strangers.
And the Archistrategos greeted him first and said, “Hail, most honored father, righteous chosen soul of God, genuine friend of the Heavenly One.”
And Abraham said to the Archistrategos, “Hail, most honored soldier, radiant as the sun and most handsome beyond all the sons of men! Welcome have you come.”
“This is the favor I ask concerning your presence: From where has the youth of your age come? Teach me, your supplicant, from where and from what army and by what road has your beauty arrived?”
And the Archistrategos said, “I, righteous Abraham, come from the great city. I have been sent by the great King, bringing a message for his genuine friend, because the King also summons him.”
And Abraham said, “Come, my lord, go with me to my field.” And the Archistrategos said, “I will come.”
And when they went to the field of plowing, they sat down for conversation.
And Abraham said to his servants, the sons of Masek, “Go to the herd of horses and bring two gentle and tame horses, so that I and this stranger may mount them.”
And the Archistrategos said, “No, my lord Abraham, let them not bring horses, because I abstain from this, from ever sitting on a four-footed animal.
For was not my King rich in much merchandise, having authority over both men and all kinds of animals? But I abstain from this, from ever sitting on a four-footed animal.
Let us go, therefore, righteous soul, walking on foot to your house, being lifted up.” And Abraham said, “Amen, so be it.”
As they were going from the field to his house,
along that road stood a cypress tree.
And according to the command of God, the tree cried out with a human voice and said, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God who calls to him those who love him!”
But Abraham hid the mystery, supposing that the Archistrategos had not heard the voice of the tree.
And when they came near the house, they sat down in the courtyard. And Isaac, seeing the face of the angel, said to Sarah his mother, “My lady mother, behold the man sitting with my father Abraham is not a son from the race of those who dwell on the earth.”
And Isaac ran and bowed down to him and fell at the feet of the bodiless one. And the bodiless one blessed him and said, “The Lord God will grant you his promise which he promised to your father Abraham and to his seed, and he will grant you also the precious prayer of your father and your mother.”
And Abraham said to Isaac his son, “Child Isaac, draw water from the well and bring it to me in the basin, so that we may wash the feet of this stranger, for he has toiled coming to us from a long journey.”
And Isaac ran to the well and drew water in the basin and brought it to them.
And Abraham approached and washed the feet of the Archistrategos Michael. And Abraham’s heart was moved, and he wept over the stranger.
And Isaac, seeing his father weeping, also wept. And the Archistrategos, seeing them weeping, also wept with them.
And the Archistrategos’ tears fell into the water of the basin, and they became precious stones.
And Abraham, seeing the wonder and being amazed, secretly took the stones and hid the mystery, keeping it alone in his heart.