The Testament of Abraham

Then the Archangel went down to Abraham’s house and sat with him at the table, while Isaac served them.

When the meal was finished, Abraham offered the customary prayer, and the Archangel prayed with him, and each rested on his bed.

But Isaac said to his father, “Father, I also wanted to rest with you in this dining room, so that I too might hear your conversations. For I love to hear the distinct speech of this most virtuous man.”

But Abraham said, “No, child, but go to your own dining room and rest on your bed, so that we may not be a burden to this man.”

Then Isaac, having received a blessing from them, and having blessed them, went to his own dining room and lay down on his bed.

But God cast the memory of death into Isaac’s heart as if in dreams.

And about the third hour of the night, Isaac, waking up, rose from his bed and came running to the dining room where his father was sleeping with the Archangel.

So Isaac, reaching the door, cried out, saying, “Father Abraham, rise and open for me quickly, so that I may enter and embrace your neck and kiss you before they take you from me.”

So Abraham arose and opened for him. And Isaac, having entered, embraced his neck and began to weep with a loud voice.

So Abraham, moved in his inner being, also wept with him with a loud voice. And when the Archangel saw them weeping, he also wept.

But Sarah, being in her tent, heard their weeping and came running to them, and found them embracing and weeping.

And Sarah said with weeping, “My lord Abraham, what is this that you are weeping? Tell me, my lord,

Has this brother who visited us today brought you news about your nephew Lot, that he has died, and because of this you mourn so?”

But the Archangel answered and said to her, “No, sister Sarah, it is not as you say. But your son Isaac, as it seems to me, saw a dream, and came to us weeping, and when we saw him, our inner beings were moved, and we wept.”