Apocalypse of Abraham: A God on Fire

Apocalypse of Abraham 5:1-17, translated by H. G. Lunt, in The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, edited by James H. Charlesworth, vol. 1 (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1983).

But having pondered my father’s anger, I went out. And afterward when I had gone out, he called me, saying, “Abraham!” And I said, “Here I am.” And he said, “Up, gather wood chips, for I was making gods from fir before you came, and prepare with them food for my midday meal.” And it came to pass, when I was choosing the wooden chips, I found among them a small god which would fit…in my left hand. And on its forehead was written: god Barisat. And it came to pass when I put the chips on the fire in order to prepare the food for my father, and going out to inquire about the food, I put Barisat near the enkindling fire, saying to him threateningly, “Barisat, watch that the fire does not go out before I come back! If the fire goes out, blow on it so it flares up.” I went out and I made my counsel. When I returned, I found Barisat fallen on his back, his feet enveloped by fire and burning fiercely. And it came to pass when I saw it, I laughed (and) said to myself, “Barisat, truly you know how to light a fire and cook food!” And it came to pass while saying this in my laughter, I saw (that) he burned up slowly from the fire and became ashes. I carried the food to my father to eat. I gave him wine and milk, and he drank and enjoyed himself and he blessed Marumath his god. And I said to him, “Father Terah, do not bless Marumath your god, do not praise him! Praise rather Barisat, your god, because, as though loving you, he threw himself into the fire in order to cook your food.” And he said to me, “Then where is he now?” And I said, “He has burned in the fierceness of the fire and become dust.” And he said, “Great is the power of Barisat! I will make another today, and tomorrow he will prepare my food.”