The prologue to the story is the visit of three angels to Abraham, who asked him what he charged for meals. The price was only that the visitor 'invoke the name of God before beginning and praise it when you finish.'
But one day the patriarch entertained an old man who would pray neither before eating nor after, explaining to Abraham that he was a fire worshipper. His indignant host thereupon denied him further hospitality, and the old man went his way.
But very soon the voice of the Lord came to Abraham, saying: 'I have suffered him these hundred years, although he dishonored me; and thou couldst not endure him one night, when he gave thee no trouble?' Overwhelmed with remorse, Abraham rushed out after his guest and brought him back in honor.
'Go thou and do likewise,' ends the story, 'and thy charity will be rewarded by the God of Abraham.'
Source: Hugh Nibley, Abraham in Egypt, p. 178
No comments:
Post a Comment