Abraham: "Yes, mother, the God of the heavens and the God of the earth,
He is also the God of Nimrod son of Canaan. Go, therefore, and carry
this message unto Nimrod."
The mother of Abraham returned to the city and told her husband Terah
how she had found their son. Terah, who was a prince and a magnate in
the house of the king, betook himself to the royal palace, and cast
himself down before the king upon his face. It was the rule that one
who prostrated himself before the king was not permitted to lift up his
head until the king bade him lift it up. Nimrod gave permission to
Terah to rise and state his request. Thereupon Terah related all that
had happened with his wife and his son. When Nimrod heard his tale,
abject fear seized upon him, and he asked his counsellors and princes
what to do with the lad. They answered, and said: "Our king and our
god! Wherefore art thou in fear by reason of a little child? There are
myriads upon myriads of princes in thy realm,[18] rulers of thousands,
rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens, and
overseers without number. Let the pettiest of the princes go and fetch
the boy and put him in prison." But the king interposed, "Have ye ever
seen a baby of twenty days walking with his feet, speaking with his
mouth, and proclaiming with his tongue that there is a God in heaven,
who is One, and none beside Him, who sees and is not seen?" All the
assembled princes were horror struck at these words.[19]
At this time Satan in human form appeared, clad in black silk garb, and
he cast himself down before the king. Nimrod said, "Raise thy head and
state thy request." Satan asked the king: "Why art thou terrified, and
why are ye all in fear on account of a little lad? I will counsel thee
what thou shalt do: Open thy arsenal and give weapons unto all the
princes, chiefs, and governors, and unto all the warriors, and send
them to fetch him unto thy service and to be under thy dominion."
This advice given by Satan the king accepted and followed. He sent a
great armed host to bring Abraham to him. When the boy saw the army
approach him, he was sore afraid, and amid tears he implored God for
help. In answer to his prayer, God sent the angel Gabriel to him, and
he said: "Be not afraid and disquieted, for God is with thee. He will
rescue thee out of the hands of all thine adversaries." God commanded
Gabriel to put thick, dark clouds between Abraham and his assailants.
Dismayed by the heavy clouds, they fled, returning to Nimrod, their
king, and they said to him, "Let us depart and leave this realm," and
the king gave money unto all his princes and his servants, and together
with the king they departed and journeyed to Babylon.[20]