Book of Jasher, Chapter 8 — The Star at Abram's Birth; Nimrod Seeks the Child's Life; Abram Hidden in a Cave
1And it was in the night that Abram was born, that all the servants of Terah, and all the wise men of Nimrod and his conjurers, came and ate and drank in the house of Terah, and they rejoiced with him that night.
2And when all the wise men and conjurers went out from the house of Terah, they lifted up their eyes toward heaven that night to look at the stars; and they saw, and behold, one very large star came from the east and ran across the heavens, and it swallowed up four stars from the four sides of the heavens.
3And all the wise men of the king and his conjurers were astonished at the sight; and the sages understood this matter, and they knew what it meant.
4And they said to one another, This can only signify the child who has been born to Terah this night, who will grow up and be fruitful and multiply, and possess all the earth — he and his children forever; and he and his seed will slay great kings and inherit their lands.
5And the wise men and conjurers went home that night; and in the morning all these wise men and conjurers rose early, and assembled in an appointed house.
6And they spoke and said to one another, Behold, the sight we saw last night is hidden from the king; it has not been made known to him.
7And if this thing should become known to the king in later days, he will say to us, Why did you conceal this matter from me? — and then we shall all be put to death. Therefore let us now go and tell the king the sight we saw, and its interpretation, and we shall then be clear.
8And they did so; and they all went to the king and bowed down to him to the ground, and they said, Long live the king! Long live the king!
9We heard that a son was born to Terah the son of Nahor, the prince of your host; and last night we came to his house, and we ate and drank and rejoiced with him that night.
10And when your servants went out from the house of Terah, to go each to our own home to spend the night, we lifted up our eyes to heaven, and we saw a great star coming from the east; and the same star ran with great speed, and swallowed up four great stars from the four sides of the heavens.
11And your servants were astonished at the sight we saw, and were greatly terrified; and we made our judgment upon the sight, and knew by our wisdom its true interpretation — that this thing applies to the child born to Terah, who will grow up and multiply greatly and become powerful, and kill all the kings of the earth, and inherit all their lands — he and his seed forever.
12And now, our lord and king, behold, we have faithfully made known to you what we have seen concerning this child.
13If it seems good to the king to pay his father the child's value, we will slay him before he grows up and increases in the land, and his evil increases against us, so that we and our children perish through his evil.
14And the king heard their words, and they seemed good in his sight; and he sent and called for Terah, and Terah came before the king.
15And the king said to Terah, I have been told that a son was born to you last night, and after this manner was it observed in the heavens at his birth.
16Now therefore, give me the child, that we may slay him before his evil springs up against us; and I will give you his value — your house full of silver and gold.
17And Terah answered the king and said to him, My lord and king, I have heard your words, and your servant will do all that his king desires.
18But, my lord and king, let me tell you what happened to me last night, that I may see what advice the king gives his servant — and then I will answer the king concerning what he has just said. And the king said, Speak.
19And Terah said to the king, Ayon, son of Mored, came to me last night, saying,
20Give me the great and beautiful horse that the king gave you, and I will give you silver and gold, and straw and fodder, for its value. And I said to him, Wait until I see the king about your words; and behold, whatever the king says, that I will do.
21And now, my lord and king, behold, I have made this thing known to you; and the advice my king gives his servant, that I will follow.
22And the king heard the words of Terah, and his anger was kindled, and he considered him a fool.
23And the king answered Terah, and said to him, Are you so silly, so ignorant, so lacking in understanding, as to do this thing — to give your beautiful horse for silver and gold, or even for straw and fodder?
24Are you so short of silver and gold that you would do such a thing, because you cannot obtain straw and fodder to feed your horse? And what is silver and gold to you, or straw and fodder, that you should give away that fine horse I gave you, the like of which is not to be found in the whole earth?
25And the king finished speaking; and Terah answered the king, saying, Just so has the king spoken to his servant!
26I beg you, my lord and king — what is this that you said to me: Give your son, that we may slay him, and I will give you silver and gold for his value? What shall I do with silver and gold after the death of my son? Who shall inherit from me? Surely at my death the silver and gold would return to my king who gave it.
27And when the king heard the words of Terah, and the parable he had made concerning the king, it grieved him greatly, and he was vexed at this thing, and his anger burned within him.
28And Terah saw that the anger of the king was kindled against him, and he answered the king, saying, All that I have is in the king's power; whatever the king desires to do to his servant, let him do it — yes, even my son: he is in the king's power, without payment in exchange, he and his two brothers who are older than he.
29And the king said to Terah, No — I will purchase your younger son for a price.
30And Terah answered the king, saying, I beg you, my lord and king, let your servant speak a word before you, and let the king hear the word of his servant. And Terah said, Let my king give me three days' time, until I consider this matter within myself, and consult with my family concerning the words of my king. And he pressed the king greatly to agree to this.
31And the king listened to Terah, and he did so — he gave him three days' time; and Terah went out from the king's presence, and came home to his family, and told them all the words of the king; and the people were greatly afraid.
32And it was on the third day that the king sent to Terah, saying, Send me your son for a price, as I told you; and if you do not do this, I will send and kill everything you have in your house, so that not even a dog will remain to you.
33And Terah hurried (for the king's demand was urgent), and he took a child from one of his servants, which his handmaid had borne to him that day; and Terah brought the child to the king, and received payment for him.
34And the Lord was with Terah in this matter, so that Nimrod would not cause Abram's death; and the king took the child from Terah, and with all his might dashed its head to the ground — for he thought it was Abram. And this was concealed from him from that day; and it was forgotten by the king, for it was the will of Providence not to allow Abram's death.
35And Terah took Abram his son secretly, together with his mother and his nurse, and he concealed them in a cave, and he brought them their provisions monthly.
36And the Lord was with Abram in the cave, and he grew up; and Abram was in the cave ten years; and the king and his princes, soothsayers and sages, thought that the king had killed Abram.