Very little is told in Chumash of Abraham's early life. Except for a few which are hinted in the Torah. The full story along with many important events in Abraham's early life was only passed on by word of mouth, from generation to generation, until the details were finally recorded by the Sages of the Talmud in various Midrashim. We bring you here a few excerpted from Abrahams early life by Nissan Mindel.
Abraham (who was first called Abram) was born in the year 1948 after Creation (1813 BCE) to an idol worshipper named Terach. Abraham had a close brush with death on the very night of his birth. For Nimrod's stargazers told the king that Terah's newly-bom son would one day be a danger to his throne. Nimrod ordered Terah to send him the baby, to be put to death. Terah, however, outwitted the king.
The baby Abraham, with his mother and nurse, were hidden in a cave for ten years.
At the age of ten, Abraham decided to leave the cave and to go to old Noah and Shem, of whom his mother had told him many wonderful stories. Unknown to anybody, Abraham made his way from the low country to the mountainous region of Ararat in the land of Kedem, where Noah and his family lived. He was made welcome by old Noah and Shem, who taught him all they knew about G-d and the ways of G-d.
Abraham stayed there for nearly 39 years, until the year 1997. It was at the end of this period, when he was 48 years old, while still at Noah's house, that Abraham heard about the world-shattering event of the Tower of Babel, which took place in the land of Shinear, where Nimrod reigned supreme. Nimrod and his people wanted to build a tower that would reach up to heaven, so that they might establish their reign upon the heaven as well as on the earth. It was the height of arrogance and defiance of men against G-d, and it led to confusion and to their dispersal and division into seventy tongues and nations. Abraham decided that it was high time for him to go out and teach them the truth about G-d, and about the falsehood and worthlessness of the idols. He knew that in defying Nimrod, and even his own father, he would be risking his life, for Nimrod had proclaimed himself god and demanded that all the people worship him.
At the age of fifty (in the year 1998) Abraham returned to his father's house in Babylon.
Terah was a high priest of the idol worshippers. He had twelve chief gods, one for each month of the year, and other idols. In fact, there was a workshop in Terah's house, where idols of wood, stone, silver and gold were made. People came to offer sacrifices to these idols, or to buy them, and Terah had a thriving business. Terah appointed Abraham to be the salesman and take charge of the business. Abraham however smashed all the idols instead in a most interesting way.
Abraham's activities, in words and deeds, aroused Nimrod's anger. Both Abraham and his father were ordered to appear before the king. Here the king's stargazers at once recognized Abraham as the one about whom they had warned the king. Nimrod ordered that Abraham be thrown into a burning furnace.
When Abraham came out unharmed, he was acclaimed by all the people, and they were ready to worship him. But Abraham warned them to worship G-d instead, who had saved him from the burning furnace, and that he himself was just a human being whom G-d chose to save. Nimrod greatly feared Abraham and gave him many precious gifts, among them Eliezer, a member of the king's household, who became Abraham's trusted servant.
Two years later, Nimrod had a strange dream and once again his counsellors interpreted it to mean that as long as Abraham lived, his kingdom would be in danger. Nimrod, decided to try again to kill him. Fortunately, Eliezer learned of the plot and informed Abraham in good time. Abraham, with his band of followers, numbering over 300, fled to Noah. About a month later, his father Terah came to visit him there. Abraham persuaded him to give up his idolatry. So Terah gave up his high position at Nimrod's court, and decided to journey with Abraham to the land of Canaan, where they would be free to worship G-d, out of the reach of Nimrod.
When Abraham was 55 years old, G-d appeared to Abraham and told him to take his wife and household and go on to Canaan. This Abraham did, and be stayed there 15 years. At this time, when Abraham was 70 years old, G-d made a covenant with him, and soon afterwards Abraham returned to Charan, where he stayed for five years. Then, once again G-d appeared to Abraham and told him to leave his father's home and native land for good, and go to the land of Canaan. This time, Lot his nephew (and brother-in-law) accompanied him. Terah died in Charan, and Nahor remained there with his family.
Thus, at the age of 75, Abraham came to dwell in the land of Canaan, the land which G-d had promised him to be the chosen land for his children as an everlasting inheritance.
