Apocalypse of Abraham

Ancient Jewish manuscript dating to 70–150 AD

The Apocalypse of Abraham is an apocalyptic Jewish pseudepigrapha (a text whose claimed authorship is uncertain) based on biblical Abraham narratives. It was probably composed in the first or second century, between 70–150 CE. It has survived only in Old Slavonic recensions. It is not regarded as scripture by Jews or Christians, but it was a scripture for the now extinct Bogomil sect.

The text of the Apocalypse of Abraham has been preserved only in Slavonic; it occurs in the Tolkovaja Paleja (or Explanatory Paleja, a Medieval compendium of various ancient Jewish texts and comments that also preserved the Ladder of Jacob). The original language of this text was almost certainly Hebrew: it was translated into Slavonic either directly from Hebrew or from a lost intermediate Greek translation. The whole text survives in six manuscripts usually gathered in two families: the main manuscript of the first family is referred to as S edited by Tixonravov in 1863, while the main manuscripts of the other family, which preserve the text integrated in other material of the Tolkovaja Paleja, are referred to as A, B and K.

The first English translation was produced by E. H. Anderson and R. T. Haag, and appeared in 1898 in the Latter day Saint magazine Improvement Era, under the title The Book of the Revelation of Abraham. Another notable English translation was produced by G. H. Box and J. I. Landsman some twenty years later.

The Apocalypse of Abraham is typically dated between 70 and 150. The text must post date 70 due to its knowledge of the destruction of the temple in 70 AD most prominently in the twenty seventh chapter. Relative to other literature, the Apocalypse appears to postdate the Book of Jubilees, but it is also known to the author and was quoted by the author of the Clementine Recognitions i. 32–33, a text composed in the mid fourth century and acting as the earliest extant source that can be reliably said to have known of the Apocalypse. For this reason and in comparison with other apocalyptic texts, the text in its current form is usually considered to be written before 150 (or generally, the middle of the second century). Within the usually accepted range of 70–150 AD, several scholars have posited dates that come soon after the destruction of the temple. The text contains some suspected interpolations of Bogomil origin, principally 20:5.7, 22:5, 9:7, and 23:4 10 according to Rubinkiewicz, though this position has been disputed by Sacchi.

The first eight chapters of the book are introductory in nature. Abraham's younger life is set out. This contains an account of Abraham's conversion from polytheism to monotheism, quite apart from the apocalypse which follows. The work is notable for its didactic presentation of the ills of idolatry. The text opens with a description of Abraham helping his father Terah, who is a maker of idols. Abraham's doubts about idol worship are awakened by accidents that break the stone image of Merumath, and five other idols, that Abraham was supposed to sell. Pondering over this, he remonstrates with his father concerning such idols, inciting Terah's anger. Abraham tests further the powers of the idols by placing a wooden statue of Barisat near the fire, and telling the idol to take care of the fire. On returning, he finds Barisat burnt. He again strongly explains to his father the uselessness of such idols, but without results (chapters 1–6). The fire, the water, the earth, and the heavenly bodies are shown to be more worthy than the idols, although each one of these elements is subject to another force, so none of them can claim to be God (chapter 7, perhaps a later addition). Abraham is still considering his father's answer, when he hears a voice from heaven asking him to leave his father's house. He has scarcely left when a fire descends and burns Terah's house (chapter 8).

Yahoel (or Iaoel) in the Apocalypse of Abraham is the mighty angel sent to guide Abraham. Yahoel introduces himself as a being possessed of the power of the Ineffable Name "whose name is like unto that of God Himself". As the angel nearer to God, or perhaps as a manifestation of the power of God himself, Yahoel is said to be also the heavenly choirmaster, the one who teaches the angels their hymn, who has the control over "the threats and attacks of the reptiles", the angel with the chief task of protecting and watching over Israel. These functions were traditionally ascribed to Michael and mark the gradual transformation of Michael, originally the guardian angel of Israel, into Meṭaṭron. Yahoel's body is depicted as being like sapphire, his face like chrysolite, his hair like snow, his turban like the appearance of the rainbow, and his garments as purple, with a golden sceptre is in his right hand. Iaoel and Yahoel have been used also as alternate names for Metatron.

In the Apocalypse of Abraham, Azazel is portrayed as an unclean bird which comes down upon the sacrifice which Abraham, the Biblical patriarch, has prepared. This is in reference to Genesis 15:11, "Birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away". And the unclean bird spoke to me and said, "What are you doing, Abraham, on the holy heights, where no one eats or drinks, nor is there upon them food for men. But these all will be consumed by fire and ascend to the height, they will destroy you." And it came to pass when I saw the bird speaking I said this to the angel: "What is this, my lord?" And he said, "This is disgrace, this is Azazel!" And he said to him, "Shame on you Azazel! For Abraham's portion is in heaven, and yours is on earth, for you have selected here, (and) become enamored of the dwelling place of your blemish. Therefore the Eternal Ruler, the Mighty One, has given you a dwelling on earth. Through you the all evil spirit [is] a liar, and through you (are) wrath and trials on the generations of men who live impiously." – Apocalypse of Abraham 13:4–9

The Apocalypse of Abraham also associates Azazel with Hell. Abraham says to him, "May you be the firebrand of the furnace of the earth! Go, Azazel, into the untrodden parts of the earth. For your heritage is over those who are with you" (14:5–6). There is also the idea that God's heritage (the created world) is largely under the dominion of evil. It is "shared with Azazel" (20:5). Azazel is also identified with the serpent which tempted Eve. His form is described as a dragon with "hands and feet like a man's, on his back six wings on the right and six on the left." (23:7)

The Apocalypse of Abraham is concerned with the future of the Jewish nation, Israel. In Chapter 29, an ambiguous character known simply as "a man" appears. In later Christian interpretation, he is usually equated with an Antichrist, the "man of sin". The text tells us that some worship this man, while others revile him. He is worshiped even by Azazel. Apparently, the man has the task of offering some kind of remission for the heathens in the end of days. According to Jacob Licht (Professor of Biblical Studies, Tel Aviv University), this work is a Jewish text, although not one that represents mainstream rabbinic Jewish thought. Licht writes:

The most obvious and perhaps the correct explanation of this passage is to declare it a late Christian interpolation, yet "the man" does not fit the medieval Christian concept of Jesus. His function is not clearly messianic. This problematic passage therefore may have originated in some Judeo Christian sect, which saw Jesus as precursor of the Messiah, or it may be Jewish, badly rewritten by an early Christian editor. Perhaps it reflects a Jewish view of Jesus as an apostle to the heathen, an explanation which would make it unique, and indeed startling.

The Apocalypse has a large number of close parallels with traditions that appear in the rabbinic literature. Although it is not clear if direct influence is present, it is considered that the rabbinic authors and the Apocalypse were operating in a shared interpretive framework/culture.

The Bogomil sect in Bulgaria made use of Slavonic texts of the Apocalypse of Abraham, the Secrets of Enoch and the Ascension of Isaiah.

In August 1898, the first portion of an English translation of the Apocalypse of Abraham (which had been made from an earlier German translation) was published, under the title The Book of the Revelation of Abraham, in the LDS Church periodical Improvement Era. The editor's note highlighted parallels with the Mormon Book of Abraham (canonised as part of the Pearl of Great Price), including the idolatry of Terah and the premortal existence of spirits. The remainder of the translation was published the following month. Subsequent work by Mormon apologists has also drawn attention to parallels which the Apocalypse of Abraham shows with the Visions of Moses account canonised by the LDS Church as chapter 1 of the Selections from the Book of Moses within the aforementioned Pearl of Great Price, although such arguments have come under criticism for presenting resemblance to works of pseudepigrapha as evidence in favour of a text's authenticity.