Brewer's: Abraham

His parents.

According to Mohammedan mythology, the parents of Abraham were Prince Azar and his wife, Adna.

His infancy.

As King Nimrod had been told that one shortly to be born would dethrone him, he commanded the death of all such; so Adna retired to a cave where Abraham was born. He was nourished by sucking two of her fingers, one of which supplied milk and the other honey.

His boyhood.

At the age of fifteen months he was equal in size to a lad of fifteen, and very wise; so his father introduced him to the court of King Nimrod. —Herbelot: Bibliothèque Orientale.

His offering.

According to Mohammedan tradition, the mountain on which Abraham offered up his son was Arfaday; but is more generally thought to have been Moriah.

His death.

The Ghebers say that Abraham was thrown into the fire by Nimrod's order, but the flame turned into a bed of roses, on which the child Abraham went to sleep. —Tavernier.

Sweet and welcome as the bed For their own infant prophet spread, When pitying Heaven to roses turned The death-flames that beneath him burned.

—T. Moore: Fire Worshippers.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Related Content