The Testament of Abraham

And Abraham said to Isaac his son, “Go, my beloved son, to the chamber of the dining room and adorn it.”

“And spread for us there two couches, one for me and one for this man who has become our guest today. And prepare for us there a stool and a lampstand and a table with an abundance of every good thing. Adorn the dwelling, child, and spread out fine linen and purple and byssus. Burn every precious and glorious incense, and bringing fragrant herbs from Paradise, fill our house.

Light seven oil lamps so that we may rejoice, because this man who has become our guest today is more glorious than kings and rulers, for his appearance surpasses all the sons of men.”

And Isaac prepared everything well. And Abraham, taking the Archangel Michael, went up into the chamber of the dining room, and they both sat down on the couches, and between them was set a table with an abundance of every good thing.

So the Commander, having arisen, went outside, as if needing to relieve himself, and he ascended to heaven in the blink of an eye and stood before God, and said to him,

“Master, Lord, let your power know that I cannot announce the message of death to that righteous man, for I have not seen a man on earth like him—merciful, hospitable, righteous, truthful, God-fearing, abstaining from every evil deed. And now know, Lord, that I cannot announce the message of death.”

But the Lord said, “Go down, Archangel Michael, to my friend Abraham, and whatever he tells you, do it. And whatever he eats, you also eat with him. But I will put my Holy Spirit upon his son Isaac,

and I will cast the memory of his death into Isaac’s heart, so that he himself may also see his father’s death in a dream, and Isaac will declare the vision, and you will interpret it; and he himself will know his end.”

And the Archangel said, “Lord, all the heavenly spirits are incorporeal, and they neither eat nor drink. Yet this man has set a table before me with an abundance of all earthly and perishable good things. And now, Lord, what shall I do? How shall I conceal myself from him, sitting at one table with him?”

But the Lord said, “Go down to him, and do not worry about this. For when you sit with him, I will send upon you an all-consuming spirit, and it will consume from your hands and through your mouth everything on the table. And rejoice with him in everything.

Only interpret the matters of the vision well, so that Abraham may know the sickle of death, and the uncertain end of life, and so that he may make arrangements concerning all his possessions, because I have blessed him more than the sand of the sea and like the stars of heaven.”