To reconcile both accounts of Abraham's journey towards Canaan and properly understand the special significance of Genesis 12, we must have a better appreciation for who Abraham was and the environment he came from.
1 And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God. 2 And Joshua said unto all the people: 'Thus said the LORD, the God of Israel: Your fathers dwelt of old time beyond the River, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nahor; and they served other gods. 3 And I took your father Abraham from beyond the River, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.
Joshua 24
Based on this passage in Joshua, the 'Midrash' recounts a story of Abraham as a young boy growing up in the house of Terah:
Abraham was a small child in Ur of the Chaldeans surrounded by pagan worship. His own father, Terah, owned a shop selling idols to the residents of Ur. But even as a young boy, Abraham already questioned the wisdom and validity of pagan worship. One day, Terah leaves Abraham in charge of the idol store. Abraham lifts a large stick and begins smashing all of the idols and then places his stick in the hands of the largest idol. When Terah returns and sees all of his merchandise in ruins, he furiously turns to his son and cries out, "Abraham, what did you do?!" Pointing to the largest idol, Abraham responds, "I didn't do anything, this idol smashed all of the others." Terah's anger flared even more, "Are you mad? You know that idol has no power to harm any of the other statues!" At which point, Abraham turns innocently to his father and asks, "Then why do you pray to him?" |
