Difference between revisions of "Evidences that support the Book of Abraham"

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1 Question: What evidence does the Book of Abraham demonstrate to support its own antiquity?
- 1.1 The stories and worldviews we find in the translated text of our Book of Abraham coincide nicely with what we find from ancient Abrahamic lore
2 Gospel Topics on LDS.org, "Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham"
- 2.1 Click here to view the complete article
3 Kerry Muhlestein and John Gee, "An Egyptian Context for the Sacrifice of Abraham"
- 3.1 Click here to view the complete article

Question: What evidence does the Book of Abraham demonstrate to support its own antiquity?

The stories and worldviews we find in the translated text of our Book of Abraham coincide nicely with what we find from ancient Abrahamic lore

The stories and worldviews we find in the translated text of our Book of Abraham coincide nicely with what we find from ancient Abrahamic lore. Joseph Smith demonstrated extensive knowledge of these areas, which he then integrated into a theologically rich whole. He could only have received this information through revelation, since there were no resources available to him on many of these traditions. Following is a listing of the traditions along with some of the Abrahamic lore that supports the tradition

Abraham's fathers worshipped idols (Abraham 1:5-6)

Abel and the Other Pieces, p.
Abel and Other Pieces, p. 287
Abü al-Fida' 2, pp. 433—34
Al—Kisä’i 68—72, p. 388
Al-Mas‘u‘di, Meadows 4:2, p. 352
Al-Nisa‘bu‘ri 14:13; 16:4, pp. 400, 402
Al—Rabghu‘zi 28, p. 440
Al-_Tabar1' 220; 252—70:41, pp. 334, 343
Al-T‘arafi 1, 53—55, pp. 370, 374—75
Anonymous Christian Chronicle 10, pp. 228—29
Armenian Paraphrase of Genesis: after Genesis 11:30, version A, pp. 284—85
Bar Hebraeus 2, p. 274
Book of[usher 9:6, 19; 11:45—46, pp. 138,

139, 142

Book ofthe Bee 23, p. 272
Book ofthe Cave ofTreasures 23a.1, pp. 189—90
Book ofthe Rolls 118b, pp. 207—8
Catena Severi 1, p. 241
Conflict ofAdam and Eve III, 24:1—7, pp. 220—21
Damascus Document, p. 30
Epiphanius, Panarion 1.1:
Anac. 1.3.1;
Proem 2.3.4, pp. 197, 198
Hellenistic Synagogal Prayers 12:61—62, p. 72
.L‘U 5378 7° Traditions about the Early Lfie ofAbraham
Ibn al-Tayyib 7:1—2, p. 253 '
Ibn Kathir 11, p. 455

*Ishäq ibn Bishr 161B:3, p. 312 John Chrysostom, p. 193

Jubilees 11:4, 7, 16, pp. 14, 15
Judith 5:7, p. 4
Kebra Nagast 1, p. 277
Mahbu’b of Menbidj (Agapius) 2, pp. 247—48
Michael Glycas 1, p. 265
Michael the Syrian 2.3.3, 2.5, p. 262
Midrush Rubbuh Numbers 2:12, p. 107
Qiqel and Yahya 2, pp. 488—89 Qu1°an 21:53; 26:70—76, pp. 293, 295
Symeon Logothetes 2, pp. 250—51
Syrzu'c Commentary on Genesis 7, p. 243
Targum Neofiti 1 Genesis 20:13, p. 69
See also Pirqe de Rabbi Eliezer 26, pp. 45—46

Idols were made of wood and stone (Abraham 1:11)

Anonymous Christian Chrom‘cle 10, pp. 228—29
Apocalypse ofAbraham 1:2; 25:1, pp. 52, 59
Book ofJasher 9:6—8, 19; 11:32, 42—45, 47,

pp. 138—39, 141, 142

Book of the Cave of Treasures 23a.2, p. 190
Book of the Rolls 119a, p. 208
Chronicles ofJerahmeel 34:10, p. 132
Conflict ofAdam and Eve III, 24:1, p. 220
Epiphanius, Panarion 1.1: Anac. 1.3.3;
Proem 2.3.5, pp. 197, 198
Hecataeus, p. 3
Kebru Nugust 12—13, pp. 277—78
Qiqel and Yahya 2, pp. 488—89

Terah, Abraham’s father, worshiped idols (Abraham 1:16—17, 27)

Abu‘ al—Fidä 2, pp. 433-—34
Al-Bukhäri 569, pp. 327—28
Al-Kisa'ü' 9, 41, pp. 382, 385
Al—Nisa‘bu‘ri 14:1; 15:2—3, pp. 397, 400—401
Al-Rabghu’zi 12, 17, 20, pp. 437—39
Al-Tabari 224—25; 252-70:11, 18, 41;
346—47:1,pp. 334, 336—38, 343, 349
Al-T_arafi 27—29, p. 372
Al-Tha‘labi 2:3, p. 361
Al-Ya‘qu’bi 2, p. 330

*Apocalypse of Abraham 1:1; 25:1; 26:1, pp. 52, 59, 60

Augustm'e, City of God 16.12, pp. 200—201
Book ofIasher 9:7; 11:20-22, 29, 32—33, 42—48,

53, pp. 138, 140—42

Cutenu Severi 5, p. 241
Chronicles ofJerahmeel 33:1, 5, pp. 129, 130
Conflict of Adam and Eve III, 24:9; IV, 1:2,

pp. 221, 222

Epiphanius, Panarion 1.1:
Anac. 1.3.3;
Proem 2.3.5, pp. 197, 198

*Falasha Story 3, p. 486

George Hamartolos, pp. 237—38
George Syncellus 1, 5, pp. 224, 225

*Ibn al—Athir 6, pp. 423—24

Ibn Isha‘q 7, p. 305

*Ibn Kathir 13, 16, pp. 455—56

Isha'q ibn Bishr 165B27—8, p. 318
Jacob of Edessa 4, p. 212
John Malalas, p. 206 Jubilees 11:16, p. 15
Ka‘b al-Ahba‘r 10, p. 300
Mz'drush Rubbuh Genesis 38:13, p. 91;Numbers 19:1; 29:33, p. 111
Pesiktu Rubbuti 33:3a—b, pp. 80—81
Qur’an 6:74; 19:42; 26:86; 60:4, pp. 292, 293,

295, 296

Revelation ofMoses, p. 180
Story ofAbraham . . . with Nimrod 14, p. 168
Symeon Logothetes 2, pp. 250—51
Tunnu debe Eliyahu 2, 5, pp. 74—75
Turgum Neofiti 1 Deuteronomy 6:4, p. 70
Zohar: Genesis 78b, pp. 157—58

Terah, after repenting, returned to his idols (Abraham 2:5)

Abü al-Fida' 2, pp. 433—34
Al—Kisä’i 72, p. 388
Al-T‘aban‘ 252—70241; 325—2621, pp. 343, 349
Apocalypse of Abraham 26:3, p. 60
Book of Jasher 12:68, p. 149
Chronicles of Jerahmeel 35:1, p. 133
Ibn al-Tayyib 7:6, pp. 254-55
Qur'an 60:4, p. 296
Tanna debe Eliyahu 8, pg.
Zohar: Genesis 77b, 78b, pp. 155-56, 157-58

Abraham connected to Egyptian Idols (Abraham 1:6-7, 13,17,20,29; 2:13; 3:20; Facisimle 1, figures 4-9)

Bar Hebraeus 4, pp. 274-75
Kebra Nagast 82, pp. 279-80
Michael Glycas 1, p. 265

Children were sacrificed (Abraham 1:7-8, 10-11)

Al-Baida‘wi 2:4, 8, p. 428
Al-Biru’ni 2, p. 369
Al-Kisa"1' 32, 41, 43, 98, pp. 384, 385, 386, 390
Al-Maqdisi 48, p. 355
Al-Mas‘u‘di, Meadows 3:1, pp. 351—52
Al-Nisa'bu'ri 14:2, p. 397
Al-Rabghu‘zi 11, p. 436
Al-Tabari 204-521; 206, pp. 332—33
Al-Tha‘labi 1:2—3, pp. 358—59
Anonymous Christian Chronicle 10, pp. 228—29
Apocalypse of Abraham 2522—3, p. 60
Bakhayla Mikä’eAl (Zo‘srrn‘a‘s) 16b.2, p. 282
Book of [usher 8:34, p. 138
Book ofthe Cave of Treasures 23b.2‚ pp. 190—91
Book ofthe Rolls 120a, pp. 208-9
Conflict of Adam and Eve III, 24:15—17; 25:1, 8, pp. 221—22
Falasha Story 3, p. 486
Ibn al-Athir 3, p. 422
Ibn Ishäq 3, p. 304
Isha'q ibn Bishr 1628:6; 163A:6‚' 166A:1;
166B210—11; 167A:8—9, pp. 313, 314, 319, 320, 321
Kebra Nagast 12, p. 277
Petrus Comestor, pp. 267-68

*Philo of Alexandria, De Abrahamo 188, p. 41

Pseudo-Philo 4:16, p. 21
Other Musllm' Traditions: ProphetAbraham 3, pp. 459—60 Story ofAbraham . . . with Nimrod 3, 5, p. 165

Those who would not worship idols were killed (Abraham 1:11)

Al-Kisa"1' 85—87, 98, pp. 389, 390
Alcuin, Interrogationes et responsiones in Genesim 152, p. 217
Anonymous Christian Chronicle 6, 27,

pp. 228, 230—31

Asatir 5:27, p. 469
Bede, Commentarium in Pentateuchem, p. 214 Bede (7.),
Quaestiones super Genesim, pp. 214—15

*Commentarium in Genesim, p. 205

Expositio super septem vz’siones, commentm'g on Rev. 6:4, p. 218
Falasha Story 4, pp. 486—87
Freculphus Lexoviensis, pp. 234—35
Jerome, Quaestiones Hebraicrze in Genesim 11:28, pp. 194—96
Midrash Rabbah Genesis 44:7, p. 98
Other Mushm' Traditions: Prophet Abraham 7,

p. 461

Rabanus Maurus, Commentaria in Genesim, pp. 232—33 Rupertus Tuitensrs‘,
Commentarium in Ioannem 4, pp. 257—58

Abraham was brought to be killed or sacri-ficed because he would not worship idols (Abraham 1:7, 12, 15; Facsimle 1, figure 3)

Abu' al-Fida' 2, pp. 433-44
Al-Baida‘wi 4:8, p. 431
Al-Bukha‘n’ 579, p. 329
Al-Kisä’i 135, p. 393

*Al-Maqdisi 53-54, pp. 355—56

Al-Mas‘u‘di, Meadows 4:2, p. 352; News 1,

p. 353

Al-Nisäbu'ri 18:2; 19:2, pp. 404, 405—6
Al-Rabghuz‘i 31—43, 47, pp. 441—44, 445-46 Al-Tabari 252—70:4, 27—37; 316-17:1—2;

318—2421—2; 346—47zl—2, pp. 335, 340—42, 345, 346, 349—50

Al-Tarafi 88—93, pp. 377—78
Al-Tha‘labi 2:10, 12, pp. 364—65, 366
Al-Ya‘qübi 3, p. 331
Al-Zamakhshari 2:578, pp. 412—13
Alcum', Interrogationes et responsiones in Genesim 152, p. 217
Angelomus Luxoviensis, Commentarium in Genesim, pp. 239—40
Anonymous Christian Chronicle 6, p. 228

*Asatz'r 5:27, p. 469

Augustine, City of God 16.15;
Quaestiones in Heptateuchum, pp. 202—3, 204
Babylonian Talmud ‘Erubin 53a, pp. 119—20;
Pesahz'm 118a, p. 120;
Sunhedrz'n 93a, pp. 121—22;
A‘bodah Zarah 3a, p. 122

*Book of [usher 12:6, 23, pp. 144, 145

Bede, Hexaemeron 3—4, pp. 213—14 Bede (.7),
Quaestiones super Genesz'm, 214—15
Catena Severi 8, p. 242
Chronicles of Ierahmeel 33:4—5; 34:12, pp. 130, 132

*Commentarium in Genesim, p. 205

De computo, p. 226
Expositio super septem vz'siones, commenting on Rev. 1:13, p. 218
Falasha Story 4, pp. 486—87
Freculphus Lexoviensis, pp. 234—35
Glossa ordz'naria, p. 236
Herveus Burgidolensis, p. 260
Hugh of St. Victor, p. 259

*Ibn al-Athir 10, p. 425
*Ibn al-Jawzi 2, pp. 419—20

Ibn Isha‘q 13, p. 307
Ibn Kathir 26, p. 457

*Ioannes Zonaras, p. 261

Isha‘q ibn Bishr 168A:17; 1683:5—6, p. 323
Jacob of Edessa 8, p. 212
Jerome, Quaestiones Hebraicae in Genesim, commentm'g on Genesis 11:28; 12:4, pp. 194—96 Judith 8:27, p. 5
Ka‘b al-Ahba‘r 11, p. 300
Mz'drash Rabbah Genesis 34:9; 38:13; 39:3; 42:3, 7; 44:4, 7; 48:1, pp. 90, 91, 92, 96, 97, 98, 100; Exodus 44:5; 49:2, p. 104;

Leviticus 11:7; 36:4, pp. 105, 106—7;

Numbers 2:12; 12:8, pp. 107, 110; Deuteronomy 9:4, p. 112;

Ruth Proem 7:1, p. 112;
Ecclesiastes 4:81, p. 114;
Esther Proem 11; 6:2, pp. 114, 115;

Song of Songs 1:13.1; 225.1; 326.2; 3:11.1; 8:8.2, pp. 115, 116—17, 118

Nicophorus Gregoras, p. 276

*Other Mushm' Traditions: Yusuf, p. 463
*Pesikta Rabbati 33:4a, p. 81 Petrus Comestor, pp. 267—68
*Pseudo-Philo 6:16, p. 24

Qiqel and Yahya 11, p. 489
Qur’an 21:68; 37:97, pp. 294, 296
Rabanus Maurus, pp. 232—33
Rashi, regardm'g Genesis 11:28, p. 125
Ra'wandi 3, 8, 10, pp. 415, 416, 417

*Rupertus Tuitensis, Commentarium in Ioamzem 4, pp. 257—58

Story ofAbraham . . . with Nimrod 25, 29, pp. 172, 173

*Study (Midrash) ofAbraham Our Father 3, p. 179

Tanna debe Eliyahu 1—3, 6, pp. 74—75, 76
Targum Ionatlzrm Genesis 11:28; 14:1; 16:5,

pp. 66, 67

Targum Rishon of Esther 5:14, p. 71
Zohar: Genesis 77b, pp. 155—56; Leviticus

57a, pp. 162—63

Terah was behind the attempt to kill Abraham (Abraham 1:7, 30)

Al-Nisa'bu‘ri 15:4, p. 401

*Book of Iasher 11:51, p. 143

Falasha Story 3, p. 486
lsha‘q ibn Bishr 163828, p. 315
Qur’an 19:46; 26:86; 60:4, pp. 293, 295, 296
Rashi, regardm'g Genesis 11:28, p. 125
Story ofAbraham . . . with Nimrod 8, pp. 166—67

Abraham was fastened or bound (Abraham 1:15; Facsimile 1, figure 2)

Al-Baida‘wi 4:4, 7, pp. 430, 431
Al-Nisa'bu‘ri 18:2; 19:2, pp. 404, 405—6
Al-Rabghu‘zi 33—34, p. 442 Al-T_araf1' 109, p. 379
Al-Tha‘labi 2:10—11, pp. 364—66
Al-Zamakhshari 2:578, pp. 412—13
Book of [usher 12:23, p. 145
Chronicles of Ierahmeel 33:4, p. 130
Ibn Kathir 25, p. 457
Isha‘q ibn Bishr 168A:14; 168B26, pp. 322, 323
Philo the Epic Poet, p. 6

*Ra'wandi 10, p. 417

Story _ofAbraham . . . with Nimrod 29, p. 173
Study (Mz'drnsh) of Abraham OurFather 3, p. 179

*Tamza debe Eliyahu 4, p. 75

When his life was in danger, Abraham prayed (Abraham 1:15)

Al-Baidäwi 4:7, p. 431

*Al-Kisä’i 138, p. 393

Al-T_abari 252—70:31, p. 341
Al—Tarafi 90—93, pp. 377—78
Al—Tha‘labi 2:10—11, pp. 364—66
Ibn al-Jawzi 2, pp. 419—20

*Ibn Kathir 26, p. 457

Philo the Epic Poet, p. 6
Ra‘wand1‘4—5, pp. 415—16
Story ofAbraham . . . with Nimrod 11, 29, pp. 167, 173 Contrast al—Rabghu‘zi 39, pp. 443—44

An angel came to rescue Abraham (Abraham 1:15; 2:13; Facsimile 1, figure 1)

AI-Baidäwi 4:8, 11, pp. 431—32
Al-Kisa"i 52, 88, 138—39, 142, pp. 387, 389, 393, 394

Index A: Thematic 0 541

Al-Rabghu‘zi 35, 38, 42, pp. 443, 444
Al-Tabari 252—7031, 33—34, pp. 341-42
Al-Tarafi 93—96, p. 378
Al-Tha‘labi 2:10, pp. 364—65
Al-Zamakhshari 2:578, pp. 412—13
Babylonian Talmud Pesahim 118a, p. 120
Chronicles of Iorahmecl 34:13; 35:3, pp. 133, 134
Falasha Story 4, pp. 486—87

*Ibn al—Athir 10—11, pp. 425—26

Ibn al-Iawzi 2, pp. 419—20
Ibn Isha’q 13—14, pp. 307—8
Ibn Kathir 27—30, p. 457
Isha’q ibn Bishr 168B23—4, 8, 11, p. 323
Ka‘b al-Ahbär 13, p. 301
Midrash Rabbah Genesis 44:13, p 99; Exodus 18:5, p. 103; Song of Songs 1:12.1; 3:11.1, pp. 116-17
Other Mushm' Traditions: Prophet Abraham 6, p. 461
Ra‘wandi 4, 6, pp. 415, 416
Story of Abraham . . . with Nimrod 32, p. 174
Study (Mz'drash) ofAbraham Our Father 4, p. 179

God rescued Abraham from death (Abraham 1: 16; 3:20)

Al-Kisa"i 139—41, p. 393
Al—Maqdisi 53—54, pp. 355—56
Al-Mas‘u‘di, Meadows 4:2, p. 352;
News 1, p. 353
Al-Nisa‘bu‘ri 18:3, p. 404
Al-Rabghu'zi 49, p. 446
Al-T,araf1' 112, p. 379
Al-Ya‘qu'bi 3, p. 331
Alcum’, Interrogationes et responsz'ones in Genesim, p. 217
Angelomus Luxoviensis, Commentarium in Genesim on Genesis 12:4, pp. 239—40
Asatir 5:27, p. 469
Babylonian Talmud Pesohim 118a, p. 120
Bede, Hexaemeron 3, 4, pp. 213-14
Bede (7.), Quaestiones super Genesim, pp. 214—15
Book of [asher 12:24, 38, pp. 145, 146
Chronicles of Ierahmeel 33:6; 34:13, pp. 130, 133
Commentarium in Genesim, p. 205
Ethiopic Story of loseph, p. 281
Asatir 5:16; 6:11, 24, pp. 467, 472, 473—74 (continued)
Bar Hebraeus 1, 7, pp. 274, 275
Freculphus Lexoviensis, pp. 234—35
Book oflas/1er 11:33—36, p. 141
Glossa ordiuarla', p. 236
Book of the Bee 23, 30, pp. 272, 273
Isha‘q ibn Bishr 1688:6—7, p. 323
Jerome, Commentarium in Isaiam;
Quaestiones Hebraicae in Genesim on Genesis 11:28; 12:4;
Vulgate Ezra, pp. 194—96
Midrash Rabbah Genesis 63:2, p. 102; Exodus15:12; 18:5; 23:4, p. 103; Numbers 12:8, p. 110; Deuteronomy 2:27, p. 111; Song of Songs 3:11.1, p. 117
Pesikta Rabbati 33:4a, p. 81
Phflo the Epic Poet, p. 6

*Pirqe de Rabbi Eliezer 26, pp. 45-46
*Pseudo-Philo 6:9; 23:5; 32:1, pp. 22, 24—25

Rabanus Maurus, pp. 232—33
Ra‘Wandi 4, 8, pp. 415, 416
Rupertus Tujtensis, Commentarium in ]oannem 4, pp. 257—58
Story ofAbraham 8, p. 177
Story ofAbraham . . . with Nimrod 11, 32, p. 167, 174
Study (Midrash) ofAbraham Our Father 4, p. 179
Targum Jonathan Genesis 15:7, p. 67
Targum Neofiti 1 Genesis 15:7, p. 69
Book of the Cave of Treasures 23b.1; 24a.1, pp. 190, 191

*Book of the Rolls 119b, 120a, pp. 208—9 Catena Severi 6—7, p. 242

Chronicles ofJerahmeel 34:9, 11, p. 132
Conflict ofAdam and Eve III, 24:8; 25:2, p. 221
Falasha Story 3, p. 486
George Hamartolos, pp. 237—38
George Syncellus 3, 5, pp. 224, 225

*Ibn al-Athir 3, 6, pp. 422, 423—24

Ibn Isha‘q 2, 7, pp. 304, 305

*Ibn Kathir 17, 19, p. 456

Isha‘q ibn Bishr 165B:11,' 166A:13—14, 17,

pp. 318, 319

Jacob of Edessa 6—7, p. 212
John Malalas, p. 206
Jubilees 12:12, p. 17
Kebra Nagast 13, pp. 277—78
Michael the Syrian 2.3.4, 2.6.6, 3.1.1, pp. 262, 263
Other Mushm' Traditions: Prophet Abraham 5, pp. 460—61
Philaster of Brescia, p. 199

The altar (furnace) and the idols were destroyed (Abraham 1:20)

Pseudo-Philo 6:18, p. 24
Qur’an 21:57—58, p. 294
Rashi, regardm'g Genesis 11:28, p. 125
Al-Birüni 2, p. 369
Räwandi 10, p. 417
Al-Kisa"1‘ 41, 129, pp. 385, 392
Study (Midrash) of Abraham Our Father 1, p. 178
Al-Mas‘u‘di, News 1, p. 353
Story of Abraham 5, p. 176
Al-Nisa‘bu'ri 17:2, p. 402
Story ofAbraham . . . with Nimrod 23, p. 171
Al—Rabghüzi 6, 22, 43, 66, pp. 436, 439—40, 450
Symeon Logothetes 2, pp. 250—51
Al-T_abar1‘ 252—7026, 19—20; 318—2426, 9,

pp. 335—36, 338—39, 347—48

The priest (or leader) was smitten and died Abraham 1:20, 29

Al-T_araf1‘ 60, 70, pp. 375, 376
Al-Tha‘labi 2:3, 6, pp. 361, 362—63
Al-Kisa‘h‘ 42, 159, pp. 385, 395
Al-Ya‘qu'bi 3, p. 331
Al-Mas‘u'di, News 1, p. 353
Al-Zamakhshari 2:576, p. 412
Al-Nisa‘bu‘ri 19:2, pp. 405—6
Anonymous Christian Chrom'cle 8, 23,
Al-Rabghu‘zi 60, p. 448 pp. 228, 230
Al-Tabari 252—7029; 318-2422, pp. 340, 342
Apocalypse ofAbraham 8:6, p. 57
Al-„Tarafi 99, p. 378
Bar Hebraeus 1, 7, pp. 274, 275
Catena Severi 6—7, p. 242
George Hamartolos, pp. 237—38

*George Syncellus 3, 5, pp. 224, 225

Jacob of Edessa 6—7, p. 212

*Iubilees 12:14; 22:22, pp. 17, 20

Michael the Syrian 2.3.4, 2.6.6, pp. 262, 263
Other Mushm' Traditions: ProphetAbraham 5, 9, pp. 473—74
Pseudo-Philo 6:9, 17 pp. 22, 24
Qur’an 37:98, p. 296
Ra'wandi 6, p. 416
Story ofAbraham . . . with Nimrod 28, p. 173
Symeon Logothetes 2, pp. 250-51

Abraham was heir to the priesthood of his fathers (Abraham 1:2-3, 18)

Ibn al-Tayyib 7:6, pp. 254—55
Midrash Rabbah Leviticus 25:6, p. 105; Numbers 4:8, p. 109

*Mishnah Aboth 5:2, p. 62

Abraham held the priesthood (Abraham 1:2; 2:9, 11; Facsimile 2, figure 3; Facsimile 3, figure 1)

Al-Nisa'bu'ri 18:4, p. 404
Babylonian Talmud Nedarz'm 32b, pp. 120—21
Georgius Cedrenus 1, pp. 269—70
Kebra Nagast 105, p. 280
Midrash Rabbah Genesis 46:5; 55:6, pp. 100, 101; Leviticus 25:6, p. 105; Numbers 4:8; 10:1, p. 109; Song of Songs 5215.1, p. 117

*Pesz‘kta Rabbati 40:6a, p. 81
*Philo of Alexandria, De Abrahamo 98, p. 41

Abraham was linked to Noah (Abraham 1:19; Facsimile 2, figure 3)

Al-Kisa"1' 46, p. 386
Al-,Tabari 252—70z6, pp. 335—36
Augustin'e, City of God 16.12, p. 200
Book of Iasher 9:5—6, 10—11, 19; 12:61, pp. 138, 139, 148
Book of the Bee 30, p. 273

*Ibn al-Tayyib 7:3, p. 253

Iubilees 21:10, p. 19
Qur’an 37:83, p. 296

===Believes are the seed of Abraham and are blessed through him (Abraham 2:10-11)

Armenian Paraphrase of Genesis: after Genesis 11:30, versions A and B, pp. 284-85
Midrash Rabbah Genesis 14:6, pp. 89—90
Qur’an 14:36, p. 293

Abraham sought God earnestly (Abraham 2:12)

Al-Kisa‘fi' 51, pp. 386—87

*Al-Mas‘u‘di, Meadows 4:1, p. 352

Al-Rabghu'zi 16, p. 438
Al-T_abari 252—7028—10, p. 336
Al-Tha‘labi 2:10, pp. 364—65
Apocalypse of Abraham 7:12; 8:3, pp. 56, 57
Armenian Paraphrase of Genesis: after Genesis 11:30, versions A and B, pp. 284—85 Augustine, City of God 10.32, p. 200
Book ofIasher 11:14, p. 140
Clementine Recognitions 33, p. 186
Falasha Story 2, pp. 485—86
George Hamartolos, pp. 237—38
Gregory of Nyssa, pp. 187—88
Ibn Isha‘q 5—6, pp. 304—5
[ubilees 11:17, p. 15
Kebra Nagast 14, pp. 278—79
Medieval Testament ofNaphtali 10:2, p. 128
Michael the Syrian 2.6.2, p. 263
Other Muslim Traditions: Prophet Abraham 5, pp. 460—61
Pcsikta Rabbati 3323a, p. 80
Philo of Alexandria, De Abrahamo 68, p. 39
Pirqe dc Rabbi Eliewr 26, pp. 45—46
Zohar: Genesis 76b, 86a, pp. 155, 160—61

Abraham made converts in Haran (Abraham 2:15)

’Abot de Rabbi Nathan 12, version A, pp. 63—64,
Abu‘ al-Fida' 3, p. 434
AI-Kisa"1' 85, 121, 160, pp. 389, 391—92, 395
Al—Nisa‘bu‘ri 22:1, p. 410
Al-Rabghuz‘i 30, 61, 68—69, pp. 441, 449,

451—52

Al-Iabari 252—70:41, p. 343
Al-Tha‘labi 3:1, p. 367
Book of lasher 12:41—43; 13:2, 10, 21, 24, pp. 147,

149, 150, 151

Chronicles of [erahmeel 34:13, p. 133
Midrash Rabbah Genesis 39:14, 16; 48:2; 84:4, pp. 93—94, 100, 102; Numbers 14:11, p. 110; Esther 6:2, p. 115; Song of Songs 1.33, p. 115
Other Mushm' Traditions: Prophet Abraham 11, p. 463
Pesikta Rabbati 43:6, p. 83
Qur’an 14:36, p. 293
Rashi, regardm'g Genesis 12:5, p. 126
Story ofAbraham . . . with Nimrod 33, p. 174
Study (Midrash) ofAbraham Our Father 5, p. 179
Targum lonathan Genesis 12:5, p. 66
Targum Neofitz' 1 Genesis 12:5, p. 69
Targum anelos Genesis 12:5, p. 73
Zohar: Genesis 78b, 79a—b, 86b, 88b, pp. 157—58, 161; Exodus 129a, 147b, p. 162 Compare Sefer Yetzirah Gra-Ari 6:7, pp. 86—87

Abraham possessed the Urim and Thummim, by means of which he received revelation from God (Abraham 3:1,4)

Babylonian Talmud Baba Bathra 16b, p. 123
Bahir 190, 192, pp. 50—51
Compare George Hamartolos, pp. 237—38

====Abraham was knowledgable about astronomy, which he learned from ancient records and from God (Abraham 1:31, 3:1-18; Facsimile 2 and 3)

4 Ezra 3:14, p. 61
AI—Baidäwi 2:2, 13—14, 18, 20—21, pp. 427, 429—30
Al—Kisa"1‘ 51, pp. 386-87
Al—Maqdisi 53—54, pp. 355—56
Al-Nisa‘bu‘ri 1419—10, p. 399
Al-Rabghu’zi 4, 16, pp. 436, 438
A1—T_abari 252—7028—9, 16—17; 316—1721—5, pp. 336, 338, 345 A1—T.araf1‘ 31—32, 42—43, 52, pp. 373, 374
Al-Tha‘labi 2:1-2, pp. 360—61
Al-Ya‘qu'bi 1, p. 330
Alcuin, Epistola 83, p. 216
Anonymous Christian Chronicle 7, p. 228
Apocalypse of Abraham 19:3—9, p. 57
Armenian Paraphrase of Genesis: after Genesis 11:30, versions A and B, pp. 284—85 Babylonian Talmud Shabbath 156a—b, p. 119;
Yoma 28b, p. 120
Book ofIasher 9:17—18, p. 139
Book of the Cave of Treasures 25a.1, p. 192
Book of the Rolls 122a, pp. 209—10
Chronicles of[erahmeel 35:4, p. 134
Clementine Recognitions 32, pp. 185—86
De computo, p. 226
Eupolemus 3—4, p. 8
Falasha Story 2, pp. 485—86
Fimu'cus Matemus, Mathesis 4 Proem 5; 4.17.2, 5; 4.18.1; 8.35—84.14, pp. 478-84
George Hamartolos, pp. 237—38
George Syncellus 4, pp. 225
Gregory of Nyssa, pp. 187—88
Ibn al—Athir 4—5, pp. 422—23
Ibn a1~]awzi 1, pp. 418—19
Ibn Isha‘q 4—5, 7, pp. 304—5
lsha'q ibn Bishr 164A:13, 17; 164821—4, p. 316
Josephus, Antiquities of the Iews 1.7.1—2; 1.8.2, pp. 47-48, 49
luliilees 11:8; 12:17, pp. 15, 17
Midrash Rabbah Genesis 44:12; 48:6; 53:4, pp. 99, 100, 101; Exodus 38:6, p. 104; Numbers 2:12, 14, pp. 107—8
Orphica 27—29, pp. 12—13
Other Muslim Traditions: Turkish 5, p. 459
Pesikta Rabbati 11:4a; 43:1, pp. 78, 82
Philo of Alexandria, De Mutatione Nominum 67, 72, p. 36; De Sonmiis 53—54, p. 37; Quaestiones et Solutiones in Genesin 3.42—43, pp. 42—43
Pseudo-Philo 18:5, p. 24
Qiqel and Yahya 1, 7, pp. 488, 489
Qur’an 6:75, p. 292
Räwandi 2, p. 415
Sefer Yetzirah Gra-Ari 6:7; Short 6:4; Long 6:8,

pp. 86—87

Sibylline Oracles 3218—28, p. 11
Symeon Logothetes 1—2, pp. 249—50 Vettius Valens, Anthologiae 2.29.1-6,

pp. 476—77

Zohar: Genesis 80a, 86a, pp. 158, 160—61 Contrast Zohar: Numbers 148a, p. 163

Abraham taught astronomy to the Egyptians (Abraham Facsimile 3)

Anonymous Work, p. 10
Artapanus, p. 7
Eupolemus 8, p. 8—9
George Syncellus 5, pp. 225

Index A: Thematic 0 545

Ioannes Zonaras, p. 261
Josephus, Antiquities ofthe Jews 1.8.2, p. 49
Zohar: Genesis 83a, p. 160
Contrast Chronicles of lerahmeel 35:4, p. 134;
Mahbu‘b of Menbidj (Agapius) 4, p. 248

Earth has four quarters (Abraham Fac-simile 2, figure 6)

Book oflasher 8:2, 10; 12:9, pp. 135, 136, 144
Chronicles ofIerahmeel 34:1, pp. 130—31
Story ofAbraham 1, p. 175
Zohar: Genesis 78a, pp. 156-57

Abraham knew about the creation (Abraham 1:31; 4-5)

Al—Nisäbu’ri 14:10, p. 399
A1-T_araf1' 53—54, pp. 374—75
Al-Tha‘labi 2:1, pp. 360—61
Apocalypse ofAbraham 7:10—11; 19:9; 21:1—6,

pp. 56, 57, 58

Chronicles ofIerahmeel 34:3, p. 131
Clementine Recognitions 33, p. 186
Ibn Isha‘q 4, p. 304
Ioannes Zonaras, p. 261

*lubilees 12:19, p. 17

There was advance planning for the creation (Abraham 4:31-55; Moses 3:4-5)

Apocalypse ofAbraham 22:2, p. 59

The elements of the earth obeyed God (Abraham 4:9-12, 18, 21, 24-25, 31)

Apocalypse ofAbraham 19:9, p. 57

Abraham saw the premortal spirits (Abraham 3:21-24)

Al-Kisä’i 28, p. 384
A1-T.abar1‘ 216, p. 333
Al-T,araf1‘ 32, p. 373
Apocalypse ofAbraham 19:6—7; 21:7—22:5, pp. 57,

58—59

Book ofIasher 12:38, p. 146
Clementine Recognitions 33, p. 186
Firmicus Maternus, Mathesis 4.18.1, p. 479
Medieval Testament of Naphtali 9:5, p. 127
Midrash Rabbah Genesis 14:6, pp. 89—90; Ecclesiastes 3:112, p. 113
Philo of Alexandria, De Cherubim 4, p. 35
Scfer Yetzirah Long 6:8;
Saadia 8:5, pp. 87—88
Symeon Logothetes 2, pp. 250-51
Vettius Valens,
Anthologla‘e 2.29.1—6, pp. 476—77

The Lord instructed Abraham to say that Sarah was his sister (Abraham 2:22—25)

Bakhayla M1k“a"él (Zo‘srm‘a‘s) 17b.1, p. 283
Genesis Apocryphon XIX, 14-21, pp. 26—27
Isha‘q ibn Bishr 169B:17—170A:1, p. 325
Zohar: Genesis 81b, 82a, p. 159
Contrast Zohar: Genesis 82a, p. 159; see al-Tarafi 115, pp. 379—80

Abraham possessed records from the fathers (Abraham 1:28, 31)

Al—Mas‘u’di, p. 353
Meadows 4:5, p. 353;
News 2,p. 353
Al-T_abari 350, p: 350
Al-Tha‘labi 1:2, p. 358
Book of Noah, versions B and C, p. 124
Eupolemus 8, pp. 8—9
Genesis Apocryphon XIX, 25, p. 27
Ibn al-T,ayyib 7:3, p. 253
jubilees 11:16; 12:27; 21:10, pp. 15, 18, 19
Midmsh Rabbah 39:10, p. 93
Zohar: Genesis 55b, p. 154

Abraham left a record of his own Abraham 1:31)

Babylonian Talmud A‘bodah Zarah 14b, 25a, pp. 122, 123
Firmicus Maternus, Mathesis 4 Proem 5; 4.17.5; 4.18.1; 8.3.5, pp. 478, 479
Iubilees 39:6, p. 20
Qur’an 87:19—20, p. 297
Sefer Yetzirah Gra-Ari 6:7;
Short 6:4;
Long 6:8, pp. 86—87
Vettius Valens, Anthologiae 2.28.3, p. 476

The founding of Egypt (Abraham 1:21-27)

Al-Kisä’i 59—60, p. 387
Al-Mas‘u‘di, Meadows 3:1, pp. 351—52
Al-Rabghu’zi 9, p. 436
Al—T_abar1' 215; 216; 252—7025, 42, pp. 333, 335,

343

Al-Tha‘labi 1:1; 3:1, pp. 357—58, 367
Anonymous Christian Chronicle 16, p. 229
Armenian Question, p. 286
Artapanus, p. 7
Book ofthe Cave of Treasures 22b2, p. 189
Book of the Rolls 118b, pp. 207—8
Conflict ofAdam und Eve III, 23:4—8, pp. 219—20
Genesis Apocryphon XIX, 13, p. 26
Ibn al-T_ayyib 6:2, p. 253
Mahbüb of Menbidj (Agapius) 3, p. 248
Other Muslim Traditions: Turkish 1, p. 458
Targum Ionathan Genesis 1621, 5, p. 67
Zohar: Genesis 73a, pp. 154—55 Contrast Abu' al—Fida‘ 3, p. 433;
al-T‚abari 325—26:1, p. 349

Pharoah was a descendant of Ham but also of Canaan (Abraham 1:21-22, 24-25, 27)

Al-Baida’wi 2:1, p. 427
Al-Tarafi 4, 35, pp. 371, 373
Al-Tha‘labi 1:1, pp. 357—58
Eupolemus 9, p. 9
Jubilees 22:20-21, p. 20
Peskita Rabbati 21:22, p. 80
Story ofAbraham . . . with Nimrod 7, p. 166

The first pharaoh, a good man, was blessed by Noah (Abraham 1:26)

Ibn al-Tayyib 6:1-2, pp. 252-53
Other Muslim Traditions: Turkish 1-2, pp. 458-59

Abraham was allowed to sit on a king's throne (Abraham Facsimile 3, figure 1)

Al-Kisa'i 170, p. 396
Al-Rabhguzi 64-65, 69, pp. 449-50, 451-52
Babylonian Talmud Sanhedrin 108b, p. 122
Book of Jasher 15:22, p. 153
Midrash Rabbah Genesis 42:5, 55:6, pp. 97,101; Deuteronomy 2:33, p. 112; Ecclesiastes 4:14.1, p. 114
Tanna debe Eliyahu 8-9, p. 76

There was a famine in Abraham's homeland (Abraham 1:29-30; 2:1, 5)

Al-Kisa"1‘ 120, p. 391
Al-Rabghu'zi 29, 44, pp. 441, 445
Anonymous Christian Chronicle 26, p. 230
Bar Hebraeus 6, p. 275
Catena Severi 2, p. 241
Jacob of Edessa 2, p. 211

*Iubilees 11:11—13, p. 15

Michael the Syrian 2.6.2, p. 263
Midrash Rabbah Genesis 25:3; 40:3; 64:2,

pp. 90, 94, 102

Other Musllm' Traditions: Turkish 4, p. 459
Philo of Alexandria, De Abrahamo 91, p. 40

Abraham prayed that God would end the famine in Chaldea (Abraham 2:17)

Al-Kisa"1' 121, pp. 391—92
Al-Rabghu‘zi 44, p. 445
Catena Severi 3—4, p. 241
Jacob of Edessa 3, pp. 211—12
Iubilees 11:18—24, pp. 15—16

Haran died in the famine (Abraham 2:1)

Al-Rabghu’zi 21, 47, pp. 439, 445—46

Abraham was sixty-two years of age when he left Haran, not seventy five as Genesis says (Abraham 2:14)

Al-Mas‘u‘di, News 2, p. 353
Babylonian Talmud A‘bodalz Zarah 9a, p. 122
Genesis Commentary: 4QcommGen A, p. 31
Georgius Cedrenus 3, p. 270
Pesikta Rabbati 42:3a, pp. 81—82
Sa‘id ibn Batriq (Eutychius) 3, p. 246
Contrast Isha‘q ibn Bishr 169A216, p. 324

Abraham became like God (Doctrine and Covenants 132: 29, 37, 49)

Armenian Paraphrase of Genesis: after Genesis 11:30, version A, pp. 284—85
Midmsh Rabbah Genesis 43:7; 44:4, pp. 97—98; Numbers 14:2, p. 110; Song of Songs 1:3.3, pp. 115-16

Gospel Topics on LDS.org, "Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham"

Gospel Topics on LDS.org, (8 July 2014)

The book of Abraham is consistent with various details found in nonbiblical stories about Abraham that circulated in the ancient world around the time the papyri were likely created. In the book of Abraham, God teaches Abraham about the sun, the moon, and the stars. “I show these things unto thee before ye go into Egypt,” the Lord says, “that ye may declare all these words.” Ancient texts repeatedly refer to Abraham instructing the Egyptians in knowledge of the heavens. For example, Eupolemus, who lived under Egyptian rule in the second century B.C.E., wrote that Abraham taught astronomy and other sciences to the Egyptian priests. A third-century papyrus from an Egyptian temple library connects Abraham with an illustration similar to facsimile 1 in the book of Abraham.44 A later Egyptian text, discovered in the 20th century, tells how the Pharaoh tried to sacrifice Abraham, only to be foiled when Abraham was delivered by an angel. Later, according to this text, Abraham taught members of the Pharaoh’s court through astronomy.45 All these details are found in the book of Abraham.

Other details in the book of Abraham are found in ancient traditions located across the Near East. These include Terah, Abraham’s father, being an idolator; a famine striking Abraham’s homeland; Abraham’s familiarity with Egyptian idols; and Abraham’s being 62 years old when he left Haran, not 75 as the biblical account states. Some of these extrabiblical elements were available in apocryphal books or biblical commentaries in Joseph Smith’s lifetime, but others were confined to nonbiblical traditions inaccessible or unknown to 19th-century Americans.

Click here to view the complete article

Kerry Muhlestein and John Gee, "An Egyptian Context for the Sacrifice of Abraham"

Kerry Muhlestein and John Gee, Journal of the Book of Mormon and Other Restoration Scripture, (2010)

The existence of human sacrifice in ancient Egypt has been variously debated and denied. While Egyptologists generally admit that the practice existed in the formative periods of Egyptian society, opinions among Egyptologists for later time periods range from claiming that "there is no certain evidence for the practice of human sacrifice . . . from the Old Kingdom onwards" to asserting that there is "indisputable evidence for the practice of human sacrifice in classical ancient Egypt." However difficult it may be for modern societies to accept that a practice we detest, such as human sacrifice, occurred in past civilizations we admire, further research and discoveries necessitate a reassessment of the possibility of this practice within Egyptian culture. While there is not a universally accepted definition of human sacrifice, for the purposes of this paper we will define human sacrifice as the slaying of a person in a ritual context.

Click here to view the complete article

Of interest in this publication is the citation of Dr. Robert Ritner (the most vocal critic of the Book of Abraham) in support of human sacrifice in ancient Egypt.

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Difference between revisions of "Evidences that support the Book of Abraham"

Revision as of 18:51, 21 August 2018

Contents

Question: What evidence does the Book of Abraham demonstrate to support its own antiquity?

The stories and worldviews we find in the translated text of our Book of Abraham coincide nicely with what we find from ancient Abrahamic lore

Abraham's fathers worshipped idols (Abraham 1:5-6)

Idols were made of wood and stone (Abraham 1:11)

Terah, Abraham’s father, worshiped idols (Abraham 1:16—17, 27)

Terah, after repenting, returned to his idols (Abraham 2:5)

Abraham connected to Egyptian Idols (Abraham 1:6-7, 13,17,20,29; 2:13; 3:20; Facisimle 1, figures 4-9)

Children were sacrificed (Abraham 1:7-8, 10-11)

Those who would not worship idols were killed (Abraham 1:11)

Abraham was brought to be killed or sacri-ficed because he would not worship idols (Abraham 1:7, 12, 15; Facsimle 1, figure 3)

Terah was behind the attempt to kill Abraham (Abraham 1:7, 30)

Abraham was fastened or bound (Abraham 1:15; Facsimile 1, figure 2)

When his life was in danger, Abraham prayed (Abraham 1:15)

An angel came to rescue Abraham (Abraham 1:15; 2:13; Facsimile 1, figure 1)

God rescued Abraham from death (Abraham 1: 16; 3:20)

The altar (furnace) and the idols were destroyed (Abraham 1:20)

The priest (or leader) was smitten and died Abraham 1:20, 29

Abraham was heir to the priesthood of his fathers (Abraham 1:2-3, 18)

Abraham held the priesthood (Abraham 1:2; 2:9, 11; Facsimile 2, figure 3; Facsimile 3, figure 1)

Abraham was linked to Noah (Abraham 1:19; Facsimile 2, figure 3)

Abraham sought God earnestly (Abraham 2:12)

Abraham made converts in Haran (Abraham 2:15)

Abraham possessed the Urim and Thummim, by means of which he received revelation from God (Abraham 3:1,4)

Abraham taught astronomy to the Egyptians (Abraham Facsimile 3)

Earth has four quarters (Abraham Fac-simile 2, figure 6)

Abraham knew about the creation (Abraham 1:31; 4-5)

There was advance planning for the creation (Abraham 4:31-55; Moses 3:4-5)

The elements of the earth obeyed God (Abraham 4:9-12, 18, 21, 24-25, 31)

Abraham saw the premortal spirits (Abraham 3:21-24)

The Lord instructed Abraham to say that Sarah was his sister (Abraham 2:22—25)

Abraham possessed records from the fathers (Abraham 1:28, 31)

Abraham left a record of his own Abraham 1:31)

The founding of Egypt (Abraham 1:21-27)

Pharoah was a descendant of Ham but also of Canaan (Abraham 1:21-22, 24-25, 27)

The first pharaoh, a good man, was blessed by Noah (Abraham 1:26)

Abraham was allowed to sit on a king's throne (Abraham Facsimile 3, figure 1)

There was a famine in Abraham's homeland (Abraham 1:29-30; 2:1, 5)

Abraham prayed that God would end the famine in Chaldea (Abraham 2:17)

Haran died in the famine (Abraham 2:1)

Abraham was sixty-two years of age when he left Haran, not seventy five as Genesis says (Abraham 2:14)

Abraham became like God (Doctrine and Covenants 132: 29, 37, 49)

Gospel Topics on LDS.org, "Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham"

Click here to view the complete article

Kerry Muhlestein and John Gee, "An Egyptian Context for the Sacrifice of Abraham"

Click here to view the complete article

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