The Testament of Abraham

And the voice of the Lord also said to the Archistrategos, "Michael, Michael, my minister, turn Abraham back to his house, because behold, his end is near and the measure of his life is completed, so that he may make arrangements concerning all things, and then take him and bring him up to me."

And the Archistrategos, turning the chariot and the cloud, brought Abraham to his house.

And when he went into his chamber, he sat on his bed.

And Sarah his wife came and embraced the feet of the bodiless one and, supplicating, said, "I thank you, my Lord, that you have brought my lord Abraham; for behold, we thought he had been taken up from us."

And Isaac his son also came and embraced his neck. Likewise, all his male and female servants surrounded Abraham in a circle and embraced him, glorifying God.

But the bodiless one said to him, “Listen, righteous Abraham. Behold, your wife Sarah, behold also your beloved son Isaac, behold also all your male and female servants around you.

Make an arrangement concerning all that you possess, because the day has drawn near on which you are about to depart from the body and come yet again to the Lord.”

But Abraham said, “Did the Lord say it, or are you saying these things of your own accord?”

But the chief commander said, “Listen, righteous Abraham. The Master commanded, and I am speaking to you.”

But Abraham said, “I will not follow you.”

When the chief commander heard this word, he immediately went out from the presence of Abraham and ascended to the heavens and stood before the Most High God and said,

“Lord Almighty, behold, I have heeded your friend Abraham in all that he said to you and I fulfilled his request, and I showed him your power and all the earth and sea under heaven, I showed him judgment and retribution by means of a cloud and chariots, and again he says, ‘I will not follow you.’ ”

And the Most High said to the angel, “Even if my friend Abraham again says thus, ‘I will not follow you’?”

But the archangel said, “Lord Almighty, he speaks thus; and I refrain from touching him, because from the beginning he happens to be your friend and he did all things pleasing before you.

And there is no man like him on the earth, not even Job, that marvelous man; and because of this I refrain from touching him. Therefore, command, immortal King, what word shall come to pass.”