With the spread of mankind corruption increased. While Noah was still
alive, the descendants of Shem, Ham, and Japheth appointed princes over
each of the three groups—Nimrod for the descendants of Ham, Joktan for
the descendants of Shem, and Phenech for the descendants of Japheth.
Ten years before Noah's death, the number of those subject to the three
princes amounted to millions. When this great concourse of men came to
Babylonia upon their journeyings, they said to one another: "Behold,
the time is coming when, at the end of days, neighbor will be separated
from neighbor, and brother from brother, and one will carry on war
against the other. Go to, let us build us a city, and a tower, whose
top may reach unto heaven, and let us make us a great name upon the
earth. And now let us make bricks, and each one write his name upon his
brick." All agreed to this proposal, with the exception of twelve pious
men, Abraham among them. They refused to join the others. They were
seized by the people, and brought before the three princes, to whom
they gave the following reason for their refusal: "We will not make
bricks, nor remain with you, for we know but one God, and Him we serve;
even if you burn us in the fire together with the bricks, we will not
walk in your ways." Nimrod and Phenech flew into such a passion over
the twelve men that they resolved to throw them into the fire. Joktan,
however, besides being a God-fearing man, was of close kin to the men
on trial, and he essayed to save them. He proposed to his two
colleagues to grant them a seven days' respite. His plan was accepted,
such deference being paid him as the primate among the three. The
twelve were incarcerated in the house of Joktan. In the night he
charged fifty of his attendants to mount the prisoners upon mules and
take them to the mountains. Thus they would escape the threatened
punishment. Joktan provided them with food for a month. He was sure
that in the meantime either a change of sentiment would come about, and
the people desist from their purpose, or God would help the fugitives.
Eleven of the prisoners assented to the plan with gratitude. Abraham
alone rejected it, saying: "Behold, to-day we flee to the mountains to
escape from the fire, but if wild beasts rush out from the mountains
and devour us, or if food is lacking, so that we die by famine, we
shall be found fleeing before the people of the land and dying in our
sins. Now, as the Lord liveth, in whom I trust, I will not depart from
this place wherein they have imprisoned me, and if I am to die through
my sins, then will I die by the will of God, according to His desire."
In vain Joktan endeavored to persuade Abraham to flee. He persisted in
his refusal. He remained behind alone in the prison house, while the
other eleven made their escape. At the expiration of the set term, when
the people returned and demanded the death of the twelve captives,
Joktan could produce only Abraham. His excuse was that the rest had
broken loose during the night. The people were about to throw
themselves upon Abraham and cast him into the lime kiln. Suddenly an
earthquake was felt, the fire darted from the furnace, and all who were
standing round about, eighty four thousand of the people, were
consumed, while Abraham remained untouched. Thereupon he repaired to
his eleven friends in the mountains, and told them of the miracle that
had befallen for his sake. They all returned with him, and, unmolested
by the people, they gave praise and thanks to God.[76]