Out of the hosts of Par‘si‘e, who were of the people of Shem, who existed since the days of the flood, came Abram, a man chosen by God, in the arc of Spe-ta, for the deliverance of the Faithists of Arabin‘ya. God said: Because they have not raised up one out of the sons of Ham, your name shall become Abra-Ham, and it shall be testimony in thousands of years, of my records in the libraries of heaven.
And it came to pass that forgers and deceivers, not having the fear of Jehovih before them, falsely gave the interpretation of the meaning of the words Abra and Ham, not knowing (in thousands of years) that in so small a matter He would display the truth and glory of His revealed word. ||
God led Abram away from He-sa, his native place, where he was a maker of baskets, and took him to the ancient land of Ham, which had been destroyed by druks, before the flood, as the name signifies; after which God surnamed him Abraham, and made him chief rab‘bah over the Faithists of Arabin‘ya.
These, then, are the generations of the line (of light) from whom Abram came, that is to say: of Shem and the seventy tribes, first going forth beyond the mountains of Owatchab-habal, Tur who settled in Par‘si‘e, and his descendants Raf-bak, and his descendants Goe, and his descendants Wawa, and his descendants Sadr.
In Sadr the line was lost; but through his daughter Bar-bar, regained through the I‘hins in the land of Goats, where the Listians lived, having fled from the tyranny of the kings of Oas.
From Bar-bar was descended Egount, from him Dir, from him Wow-sha, from him He-lial, from him Rac-ca. And here the line ran by the female heirs, beginning in Rac-ca‘s daughter, Hess, from whom was descended Gil-gil, from whom was descended Thussa, from whom was descended She, from whom was descended seven generations in su‘is; and it was lost in We-ta-koo, but regained again through I‘hin seed, and appeared in Re-both, and again su‘is extended through these generations: Arfaxad, Sala, Eber, Pe-leg, Roo, Sa-rug, Na-hor and Terah; but in Terah the line was lost, but regained by I‘hin seed, from whom sprang Geth, from whom sprang Choe, from whom sprang Gus, from whom sprang Ra-bak, from whom sprang Ya-shem, and by I‘hin seed sprang Ti-lot, and by I‘hin seed Shi-ar, and by I‘hin seed Shir-ra, from whom descended Na-hor the second, from whom sprang Abram.
Abram was of pure blood, and an I‘huan; and the light of su‘is had been with his forefathers and foremothers since the flood, and he was large and red, like new copper, and had black hair and long beard, fierce to look upon; but his soul was gentle as a woman‘s.
Abram could see without eyes and hear without ears, knowing things by the light of God which dwelt in him. For which reason, God chose Abram to gather together the Faithists in Arabin‘ya and the adjacent countries, even as he had appointed Po in Jaffeth.
In those days, there were great kings and men of great learning, who had books of learning and instruments for measuring things far and near.
And Abram knew these things, for he had been a servant in a king‘s family where learned men and women congregated. And so, knowing the power of God was upon him, he ran away in his youth, and lived among the Listians, who made baskets and trinkets in the forests, which they sold to the kings‘ peoples.
God spoke to Abram, saying: Do not concern yourself regarding men of learning; nor long for the learning in books. The day will come when they will be forgotten, but your words and your labors will overspread the world.
And God lived with Abram, teaching him and working miracles through him. And it came to pass that the Listians in their rambles, selling wares, told the slaves of the kings about the wonders of Abram.
And the slaves fled from bondage and went into the wilderness in search of Abram. And when they came before him, he spoke to them, day by day, as they came, saying:
Why have you come? I did not call you! And when they could not answer, Abram said to them: God brought you. Man of himself does nothing. Search, then, the records of your generations; for you are descended from the Faithists of old.
And they searched and found that every one of those who had come, was descended from before the time of Zarathustra.
When the number of those who had come to Abram, in She-a-do-wan, reached four thousand five hundred souls, God spoke to Abram, saying: Come now, I will lead you and your people into another country.
So Abram led them away, and they came into Lower Howd-Lutz. And it came to pass that in the year after they departed out of She-a-do-wan a famine came upon the land, and the enemies of God were cut off, and could not pursue Abram and his people.
It was after this that Abram was called Abraham, and he built altars of worship and altars of sacrifice, according to the commandments of God.
Now it came to pass in the early days of Abraham, he told his brothers that the light and power of God were with him; and, though others believed in Abraham, yet Lot, Abram‘s brother, and Lot, Abram‘s nephew, did not believe in Abraham, saying of him: He was born naturally, and is wise because of his own judgment.
God said to Abraham: Behold, it is an easy matter to commune with spirits, but to judge righteously regarding them is not so easy. For which reason you and your wife, and one hundred picked men, shall go and visit Sodom and Gomorrah in the valley of Siddim.
And Abraham and his people went as commanded by God, and visited the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah; and God spoke privately to Abraham, saying: I will destroy these cities, for they are like hells for evil spirits; but Lot (the elder and younger) shall escape for your sake.
And when they came to Sodom, behold, angels walked among the people, and the people knew they were angels, but were indifferent regarding them. And there were laws made by Bera, king of Sodom, regarding the behavior between angels and men.
And Abraham, being pressed by the presence of God, said to his people: Behold, there are angels that love to dwell in lust, and to partake with mortals; to eat with them, to lie down with them, and to partake in all ungodly pleasures.
God, through his angels, rained down fire and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah, and they were burnt and destroyed. Lot, the elder, escaped, and went and lived in a cave.
Now after Abraham and his people had returned to Jireh, his camp, and it was night, God said to Abraham: Be steadfast, and show your people so that they may understand my words.
And while they were still praying before the altar, God withdrew from Abraham, and allowed the evil angels, who had followed them from Sodom and Gomorrah, to draw near the altar. And one of the angels clothed himself in a great light, and, adorned with sparkling gems and a crown, he appeared, so all the multitude of people could look upon him.
Abraham said: Who are you? And the spirit said: I am your God, ruler of heaven and earth! Abraham said: I am your servant; what may I do for you? And the spirit said: You shall take your only son, Isaac, and your hosts who were with you at Sodom and Gomorrah, and go with me where I will lead you, for I have a great work for you.
Abraham said: I will do whatever you put upon me to do.
So in the morning Abraham and his son Isaac, and the hosts who had been with Abraham to Sodom and Gomorrah, assembled together. And Abraham spoke, saying: Where to, O God?
The spirit answered, saying: Take sticks and a firebrand (torch) and come to the summit of the hill over there, for you shall restore the rites of burnt offerings. || Abraham told the people what God had said, so they began, and Isaac carried the bundle of willows, such as basket-makers use, saying: This will light the large pieces; but what will you burn for an offering, O father? And Abraham said: God will provide.
And when they ascended to the place, Abraham gathered logs and heaped them up, and Isaac placed the willows.
Then the spirit spoke, saying: What shall a man love above all things in the world? And Abraham said: God. And the spirit said: For which reason you shall offer your only son, Isaac, as a burnt offering. And it shall be testimony before your people that you will obey God even to the sacrifice of your own flesh and kin.
Abraham said: Show me that you are God, so that I may not err; for I have been commanded not to kill.
And the spirit departed away from Abraham, perceiving that he knew the higher law. And Isaac was grieved at heart, for he desired to witness what a sacrifice was. And the people, seeing a ram near at hand, went and caught it, and slaughtered it, and sprinkled the blood on the sacrifice, and they lit the fire, roasted the flesh, then took it and gave it to the poor.
Abraham said: This testimony I declare to you, regarding which, your own brethren are witnesses, that even the chosen of God can be deceived by evil angels; for they can take any name and form; and, having no fear of God before them, declare falsehood for truth and darkness for light.
And also, as you have seen, the evilest of cities, even as well as the purest, may be the abiding place of angels.
For which reason you shall not seek signs and miracles, for these may be from evil spirits, even though they show their bodies or converse learnedly. It is not in the power of man to know by words and signs, or by oaths or promises, what is truth.
But the Father has created one thing besides, which is His Own Light. For which reason be believing toward men and angels; and when they teach you according to Jehovih, which is life to all, and happiness to all, without sacrifice to any, they are holy.
If man or angel says: Visit the sick, and administer to the distressed, || follow his advice, for it is of the Father.
But if man or angel says: Do this, and you shall have profit, or glory, or applause, || do not obey him, for he advises for yourself and not for the brotherhood of man. He is not of God.
For spirits will come disguised as your fathers and mothers who are dead, professing love and profit to you. Do not believe them, except when they teach you to sacrifice self for the good of others.
The wicked in heart, having profited in herds, and in gold and silver, say: Behold, God has blessed me! But I say to you, they are cursed, and not of God. Has he gathered you together here because you were rich? You were slaves, and in poverty; sick, and in bondage. And he came and delivered you. Be like him, and he will abide with you.
If a man comes to you, saying: Behold, this is my coat; give it to me! You shall say: Prove yourself as to who you are. But if a man comes to you, saying: Your herd has gone astray; you shall not say to him: Prove yourself as to who you are. But go, and see after your herd.
If a spirit says: Behold, I am your father, say to him: It is well; what do you want? And when he answers you, consider if his words are of God, which are for the glory of the Creator. And if his words are not of God, you shall challenge him to prove himself.
As God is captain of heaven and earth to all righteous souls, so is there a satan who is captain over evil spirits.
And to the extent that the kings‘ peoples do not have faith in the Father, so do their souls fall prey to satan and his hosts.
When Lot the younger escaped out of Sodom, he stopped in a small city called Ben-ah, and stayed there while Sodom and Gomorrah were being consumed with fire; and because he was saved, he called the place Zoar, because he was a worshipper of the doctrines of Zarathustra, who was called in the Fonecean language Zoa-raastra. And the place was called Zoar for more than a thousand years.
When Lot departed out of Zoar, two tribes went with him; and there were born of the house of Lot, offspring to the two tribes who accompanied him, and these became the nations later known as Moabites and Ammonites, who were of the Foneceans, as their names show, and they followed the doctrines of Zarathustra. ||
In former years God appeared to Abraham in a dream and said to him: You shall be a father to many peoples.
When Abraham awoke he told Sarai, his wife, and she, being barren, was troubled and she prayed to God for Abraham‘s sake.
Now it came to pass that Hagar, Sarai‘s maid, had a son, and named him Ishmael; and Sarai, jealous of Hagar, abused her during pregnancy. And the Lord spoke to Abraham, saying: Because of the hatred between your women, Hagar‘s son will be like a wild man; his hand shall be against every man, and every man shall be against him.
Abraham said: How did this come about, O God? And God said: I told you that you would be a father of many peoples, and you told Sarai, your wife. Now Sarai has become vain in her desires for offspring, and, in her eagerness, she opened the door of your house to satan, and so this matter is upon you.
Go, therefore, my son, and reconcile your women. And Abraham told Sarai what God had said. And Sarai inquired of Abraham, saying: Before God, tell me, is Ishmael your son? And God shall judge between us. Abraham said:
Teach me, O God, to answer Sarai, so I may reconcile them. And God said: Behold, your Creator is the Father of all the living.
And when Abraham told Sarai God‘s words, she cried in sorrow and repentance, saying: You are wise, O God! For what matter is it to me, since I know that Ishmael is your son, and Hagar is your daughter?
And Sarai went to Hagar and said: O my sister, I have sinned before the Lord, my God. I saw your son, and knew God gave him, but I turned against my own soul, and did not love your treasure.
Hagar said: Did your God say that Abraham was father to my child? And Sarai said: No, O Hagar. Hagar said: Neither did I say your husband was Ishmael‘s father.
So they were reconciled, and by right of the beginning of Abraham‘s nations, Ishmael was Abraham‘s son before God, but not in the flesh.
Sarai had a son, and he was called Isaac, because he was born to Sarai after she had passed the time of childbearing.
And when Hagar saw that Sarai bore a son, Hagar became jealous for Ishmael‘s sake, and she wept before Abraham. Hagar said:
I am a South Arabin‘yan woman, and I left my people for you. Behold, I am not favored by your God. Abraham said: Have I not been like a father to you and your son? Truly, when all people reviled you because you had a child in maidenhood, laying it on me, I did not deny you, nor justified myself before the kings‘ people, suffering these things for God‘s sake, and yours, and your child‘s.
Do not complain, then, against my house, my wife, or my son, Isaac; all things are of the Creator. And so Hagar was pacified for a season, but then returned to grief and jealousy, and finally resolved to depart away from Abraham‘s house.
Then Abraham said to Hagar: The matter lies with you. If you go, I will give you, according to the custom of the Arabin‘yans, a jug with water, and bread and blankets.
So Hagar persisted, and Abraham provided her, and she departed, taking Ishmael with her, and she went into Par-an and dwelt there.
In those days Arabin‘ya was divided into many kingdoms, some having one city and some two, and some as many as six cities. And they were constantly at war one with another, and the victors always changed the names of the kingdoms. The largest and most powerful always called itself the Sun
Men and women of learning dwelt in the Sun Kingdom, and they had tablets and books, and maps relating to heaven and earth, all of which were kept in a library; and in the summit of this same building was an oracle for consulting with the spirits, called Lords of heaven.
For which purpose, a man or woman, whose head had been flattened in infancy, sat by a table covered with sand, upon which the spirits wrote with the finger. And this person communing with the spirits was called Æ‘jin (AE‘jin) in the South Arabin‘yan language, and was next to the Sun King in rank. Now, no matter what wars took place, the library, the temple of the oracle and the Æ‘jin were sacred, and never suffered harm even between enemies.
The kings kept scribes whose business it was to write and translate, and to keep the records of the kingdom. Besides these, there were gatherers of news, who held the second rank of scribes.
Now when Abraham and his people came into Arabin‘ya, especially into that part later called Egupt, the matter was entered in the records of the different kingdoms, with special reference to Abraham professing to hear the voice of God, for he did not have a flat head, and moreover, had good judgment of his own, quite unlike the Æ‘jins in the temples.
But because Abraham gave no counsel regarding war or earthly gain, he was not favored by any of the kings, and allowed to go his way unmolested.
When Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed, the kings‘ people heaped the blame on Abraham‘s head, and enemies rose up against Abraham in those regions.
And they also accused him of attempting to burn his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice to his God, after the manner of the heathen of old.
And they accused Abraham of being the father of Ishmael, by his servant-maid, and of driving Hagar and Ishmael away to Par-an after he tired of her.
And these accusations, and many more of equal wickedness, were heard of by the news gatherers, the scribes, and they wrote them down, not knowing in truth what they were doing before God (recording lies as historical facts); and so, their records were entered in the libraries of the kings of Arabin‘ya, especially in that land later known as Egupt.
Abraham perceived these matters, and he wept before God, saying: Alas, O God, if only I had great learning and could write my record truthfully before men! God answered him, saying:
Your faith being in Jehovih, it is well with you. In thousands of years, one Ezra shall send his scribes into these countries to gather news, even as the kings of this day do. And his scribes shall translate from these records, with all their errors and falsehoods, and Ezra shall publish the matter as the history of THE DELIVERANCE.
Abraham hearing this from God, bowed down his head and wept, saying: Your will be done! And God comforted him, saying: I am the Light and the Life!
Abraham inquired of God concerning the king‘s peoples and the Faithists. And God said: Whomever I lead to you shall be yours; from this time forward you shall be father to all men, women and children that are yours. And they shall be your family. But all other peoples shall not be yours; neither shall you be a father nor prophet to them. You shall not make laws for the kings‘ peoples, nor laws between your people and them. You shall be of your own people, and for your own people, forever.
Neither shall your people have anything in common with the kings‘ peoples, nor with any other people under the sun. Nor shall you enter into treaties or alliances in any way whatsoever. Both your labor and the labor of your people are for Jehovih, through the Lord your God.
But regarding the intercourse between yours and the kings‘ peoples, be circumspect to give full value, to the fraction, in buying and selling. Neither permit my chosen to accept presents, nor otherwise become obligated to other peoples; for it is the law of your God. For above all things, it shall not be said by the kings‘ peoples: Behold, I made them!
For I say to you, neither kings nor rich men make the people of your God.
Whoever would give you gifts, let him quit his people and come and dwell with my people in person and spirit. I cannot be put off with money and with gifts, like a peevish child or a wanton woman.
Shall a man say: Here are gifts for your God, he is a good enough God! But as for my soul it is too good to give to you or your God.
Nor shall you permit your people to marry with the kings‘ peoples, for the same reason. But whoever desires to marry my daughters, let him first come and dwell with my people, proving that he has forsaken all the idolatrous Gods for Jehovih‘s sake. It shall be the same with your sons; if they desire strange damsels for wives, they shall first bring them to dwell one year among my chosen.
Abraham inquired concerning government. And God said to Abraham: To teach people to dwell together in peace, order, harmony and love; being disciplined to these, what more is required? Government belongs to the kings‘ peoples.
Abraham said: O God, teach me more regarding these matters; for I am like one in a dark cellar groping about. Behold, my people are unlearned!
God said: Who is learned? I say to you, he who knows the stars, rocks, mountains, valleys, and all that is living and dead, and the languages of the ancients, but does not know the Creator, is unlearned. But he who knows the Creator is learned indeed.
It is better that your people dwell in tents and under trees; and their children roll on the ground, and do not die, but grow strong in person and in spirit for the glory of the Creator, than to dwell like the kings‘ peoples, in magnificent cities, and in lust and death. To your God, your people are a most learned people.
Abraham inquired of the Lord concerning servitude. And God answered him, saying: There is only one Master, even Jehovih; your people shall be His servants only. But all people have loves; a damsel says to her lover: I will be your servant, and he marries her. A man says to another: Your judgment is greater than mine; I will be your servant. And the man takes him in love to work for him.
Therefore, for convenience‘ sake, you may say, master and servant. Nevertheless, my chosen shall not, in fact, have either masters or servants; for the one shall not have authority over the other, except by love and free consent.
Abraham asked concerning the products of labor. God said to Abraham: What I have said regarding servants and masters also applies to the productions that come out of the earth: Nothing belongs to any man, for all things are Mine, says the Creator.
Nevertheless, for convenience‘ sake, you may say: This is his product, or that belongs to another. But still he holds it only by his Creator‘s consent.
Let all men render to the Creator his creations, for they are Jehovih‘s. After that, Abraham said: Some men grow flax, some wool, and some corn; but the seasons do not bring forth alike to all. Others spin and weave; and others make butter and cheese. And yet this also happens: One man is strong, another weak; one rises with the sun and toils all day; another sits on the bank, fishing.
Now when the products are brought in, lo and behold, there are no two that are equal.
And God said: Every man‘s matter is between him and his Creator. According to diligence and industry He rewards them in the end. He who perceives this, knows his heavenly Father; he who does not perceive it, dwells in darkness.
Abraham said: Shall the lazy be rebuked, and those that shirk be upbraided?
And God said: No. Let all your people bring their products and cast them before you, saying: This is my sacrifice to Jehovih; you distribute it. And if some do not bring anything, neither rebuke them nor pity them; they are the sons and daughters of your God. And if some decorate themselves with fine raiment, or jewels, do not censure them; your God searches their hearts.
Abraham asked concerning lands. God said: Consider the way of your God. Did I go to the king and to the rich man and say: Give me your sons and daughters? No, but I went to those who were despised by the king and the rich, and I said: Come! And they came.
And when you came here, did I say: Take the king‘s lands, or the rich man‘s? No, but I led you to that which was neglected and waste in the eyes of the kings‘ peoples, and I said: This is your inheritance.
It is sufficient for you and your people to buy burying-places for the dead, which shall not be disturbed. But neither buy nor sell any other lands.
And after your people have improved a place, and a king comes against you, saying: I will have this land either by purchase or by battle, you shall say: No, neither by purchase nor by battle, shall you inherit that which is Jehovih‘s. But if you desire the land, then I will give it to you without money and without battle.
And it shall come to pass that my chosen shall be driven from place to place, where I will lead them; and they shall make the waste lands bloom like gardens, and the deserts yield ample harvests; for they shall dig wells, and till the soil, and prove to the nations of the earth the glory of my works.
And they shall be cut down, driven away and scattered, but I will come and gather them together. Their places shall be inherited by idolaters and worshippers of strange Gods, who will build mighty temples. But my people shall not build that
But when I have taken them across all the earth, and they are scattered like dust before the wind, and no man can say: Here is a nation of the children of Abraham, lo, I will raise up my voice for them, even I, the God of heaven and earth. And in that day the idolaters and worshippers of strange Gods will be on the wane; their temples of stone and mortar will still be standing.
When Abraham‘s wife was getting old, her ears were opened to hear the voice of God. And God said to her:
Concerning your son, Isaac, hear your God, who is also the God of Abraham: My labors are not for a day, nor without judgment.
Behold, in the land of Es-seth, the place of your husband in his youth, I have built for many generations concerning the seed of my people. For which reason your son, Isaac, shall take a wife who shall inherit my voice.
Before the time of your husband‘s father‘s father, I sent my angel from heaven, saying: Go and raise me up an heir to hear my voice, for I will dwell for a season with the children of men.
And my angel fulfilled his part, and I have come and talked with you and your husband face to face. And I can talk to your son, Isaac, in the same manner and he can hear me also. And Isaac shall raise up heirs to my voice through his wife, to whom he is not yet known.
Sarai told Abraham what God had said to her; and so Abraham and Sarai went to the altar that Abraham had built, and they prayed alone; and God came and spoke, saying: What is your request?
And Abraham said: Concerning our son Isaac‘s wife? And God said: Because of the blessing of Sarai, your wife, who has been upright all her days, I will give her comfort in her old age.
Send your servant to the land of your fathers, and I will send my angel with your servant, and he shall come to a maiden who shall be Isaac‘s wife. So, Abraham called his servant, who was overseer over his goods, and he said to him: Equip yourself with camels, asses, and servants; and with jewels I will give you, go to Syria, the land of my fathers, and bring a damsel here, who shall be Isaac‘s wife.
The overseer said to Abraham: Alas me! How shall your servant choose a wife for your son? Or, if choosing, how shall he induce her to come so far? Abraham said: That which God has commanded of me, I have told you, except that God says: My angel shall go with your servant, and he shall not err.
So the servant of Abraham, in fear and trembling, equipped himself with ten camels, twenty asses and thirty servants, taking presents and goods, and departed. The journey took twenty-two days, and all the while the overseer reasoned upon what he should say, for he had misgivings that he was on a fool‘s errand.
Nevertheless, he prayed to God that he would do his own part wisely. So when he came near Abraham‘s father‘s people, the angel of God spoke in his heart, saying: The damsel that comes with a pitcher on her head shall be Isaac‘s wife. Say to her: Will you give me a drink? And she will say: I will give you a drink, and also draw water for your servants and camels.
And the overseer looked, but saw no damsel, and he wondered; but presently he saw many damsels, one of whom had a pitcher on her head; and his heart failed him till she came near, and he said: Give me a drink? And she gave him a drink and said to him: You are a stranger; if you will allow, I will water your camels and give drink to your servants.
And so she gave as she said; and when she had finished, the overseer said to her: Who are you? And she answered him, and he perceived she was Isaac‘s niece by Abraham‘s father‘s second wife, but of no blood kin. And then she asked the overseer who he was and where he came from; and he told her he came from Abraham, whose servant he was. So she invited him to her people‘s houses, and she ran ahead with joy to tell who had come so far, bringing word from Abraham.
Now when the camels and asses had been fed, and straw spread for the travelers to lie upon, and when repast was spread for them to eat, the overseer rose up, perceiving the way of God, and he said: Till I have spoken, do not eat, but hear the words of God. So he related the object of his visit as commanded by God, and in reference to the angel of God, and the words that came to him.
And when he had finished, the power of God came upon the damsel, whose name was Rebecca, and she rose up and spoke, saying: Isaac shall be my husband, and I shall be his wife, for I know this matter is of God!
So it came to pass after some days, that Rebecca departed from her people, and by her faith in God came to Abraham‘s home, and Isaac took her to wife, and Sarai rejoiced before God because of the light of his kingdom through Abraham‘s heirs.
And God said to Abraham: Divide your people into families of tens, and families of hundreds, and families of thousands, and give to each family one rab‘bah, and yet to all of them together one chief rab‘bah. And make your will, and appoint your son Isaac and his heirs by his wife Rebecca to be your successors, so that my voice may remain with my chosen.
And Abraham made his will and did all things as God commanded; and he further made the rab‘bahs officers in the rites of Emethachavah, and communicated the sacred name of the Creator (Jehovih) to them, as well as the plans of the upper and lower heavens, the dominion of God and the dominion of satan, all of which were kept in secret through the rab‘bahs.
God said: Behold, there is a time to clear up all things, present and past: Were Abraham father to Hagar‘s son, Ishmael, and had he been true to the law of sacrifice among the heathen, then, Ishmael, being first-born, would have been chosen for the burnt offering.
In which matter the Ezra Bible is shown to be false before Jehovih, in regard to Abraham, Ishmael and Isaac, and the burnt offering also.