ABRAHAM TO MOSES, 101
and then the Greek Athar was easily converted into the Arabic Azar. 1 The reason which is given by some Arabic commentators 2 is ridiculous. They maintain that Azar is like Yazzar, 3 and that this means: 4 "0, perverted one, 0, erring one ; " and Abraham is supposed to have thus addressed his idolatrous father. 5 We now pass on to the more mature married life of Abraham and come to his meeting with the angels, 6 whom he receives as guests. 7 Abraham took them for Arabs, was much surprised that they did not eat and stepped back in fear, whereupon they announced to him that he would have a son and told him also of the coming destruction of Sodom. In one passage of the Talmud 8 we read : " They appeared to him nothing else but Arabs;" and in another passage 9 it is said
1 According to the T&rikh Muntakhab, Azar was the father of Tharah (D'Herbelot Bib. Orient, under Abraham, page 11).
2 Tide Maraco. on the passage. 3 ^ * JU> \> g^ l>
5 But later Arabs know the right name fy\3 , too, though strange to say whenever they speak of Abraham they use the name $, but when on other occasions they mention Abraham's father, they call him by the other name. Thus Elpherar on Sura VII. 78 : j\y ^ 0\tVe> ^ LJ ^fi>^\ ^^ 0*\ The last 0$\ here refers again to Lofc, (which is shown by the manner of writing ^\ with an alif ) just as later Abraham is called the *e , uncle of Lot. Also on Sura XXI. 71. Elpherar has the following : UgS 0\; s***^ y^ y*> 0^ ) fcj^' & 0^ 04
Attention is more rarely called to the fact that both names are the same. See Elpherar on Sura XXXI. 11 where in giving the genealogy ofLuqm&n. Hesaysjj^yij tfi. See also Abulfeda Hist. Anteisldmica, pp. 18 and 20,
6 Sura XI. 72. ULj , on which Elpherar remarks : &W\ J~,j5U ^ " By messengers he means Angels."
7 Genesis, xviii. Suras XI. 72-79, XV. 51-61, XXIX. 30-82, LI. 24-38.
8 Qiddushin 52. d^^y 1 ? Sv> f? *iQFp, ^b
9 BabaMezia,86. 2.
