And as I was speaking these words to my father in the court of his house, there came from heaven the voice of a Mighty One speaking out of a cloud of fire, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And I said, “Behold, here am I!” And He said, “In the thought of thy heart thou seekest after the God of Gods and the Maker of all things:  I am He.  Depart from thy father Terah and go out of his house, lest thou be consumed in his wickedness.”  And I went out; and it came to pass, as I came to the door of the house, that there fell a noise of a great thundering, and the fire fell and burnt up my father Terah and his house and all that was therein.

This is the story of the beginning of the life of Abraham; and that which is told about the end of his life is as follows: 

Abraham had lived out the measure of his days.  He was now a hundred and seventy-five years old, and all the days of his life he had lived in kindness and meekness and uprightness:  and especially was he hospitable and courteous to strangers.  He dwelt by the cross-roads near the oak of Mamre, and entertained all the wayfarers who came that way, rich and poor, lame and sound, friends or strangers.  But at last to him, as to all other men, there came the bitter cup of death, which none can put away.  So when the time was come, the Most High called to him the archangel Michael and said to him, “Michael, prince of the host, go down to Abraham and speak to him concerning his death, that he may set his house in order:  for his possessions are great.  Announce to him therefore that he is to depart speedily out of the earthly life, and come to his Lord in peace and happiness.”

Michael therefore went forth from the presence of the Lord and went down to Abraham at the oak of Mamre, and found him in the fields hard by, watching his husbandmen ploughing with their oxen.  And Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw Michael coming towards him in the dress and fashion of a soldier—­for he was the captain of the Lord’s host—­very beautiful to look upon.  And Abraham rose and went to meet him, as was his custom with all strangers; and when they had saluted one another, Abraham asked Michael whence he came; and Michael answered, “I come from the Great City, and my errand is to fetch a certain friend of the Great King, whom He is inviting to come to Him.”  Then said Abraham, “My lord, come with me to my house.”  And when Michael consented, Abraham called one of his men and bade him fetch two quiet horses that he and the stranger might ride home on them.  But Michael refused, for he knew that no earthly horse could bear him; so he said, “Nay, but rather let us go on foot to your house.”