the warriors in this country."

Then Abraham gave pledges to Abimeleh that he would
[do] thus.




XXXV.


After this the holy son of Thare, chief of the Ebrews,
was a dweller in the Filistine nation for a long time, 2835
alone amid strangers. The Lord of the Angels showed
him a dwelling-place which the men dwelling in the city
called the land of Bersaba. There the pious man built
a high hall, constructed a place of shelter and planted 2840
a grove, erected an altar and on the sacrificial stone
made an offering, an oblation, at once, to his Master
who had given him a prosperous life under the sky.

Then the powerful King began to try this hero, 2845
tested stringently what the noble one's fortitude was,
and spoke to him in stern words with his voice:

"Go forth now speedily, Abraham, hasten thy steps, 2850
and take with thee thine own child. Thou shalt thyself
offer up Isaac to me, thy son as a sacrifice. After thou
ascendest on foot the steep dune, the bordering circle of
that high land which I shall show thee from here, there 2855