Category:Terah (subject)
According to Jewish (Christian, and Islamic) traditions, Terah was the father of Abraham.
Overview
The Book of Genesis introduces Terah as a descendant of Shem. He lived in Ur of the Chaldees and had three sons, Abraham, Haran, and Nahor II.
Terah led his son Abraham when he left for the land of Canaan but stopped half-way at Haran, where he died. Similarly, the Acts of Apostles refers to Terah as the one who directed his family to leave Ur.
Other Second Temple Jewish traditions (Apocalypse of Abraham) present Terah as a wicked idolatrous priest who manufactured idols. This view would become predominant in Rabbinic Judaism. When Abraham smashed his father’s idols, it is said that Terah brought his unruly son before Nimrod, who threw him into a fiery furnace, yet Abraham miraculously escaped. However, some Jewish traditions suggest that Terah repented.
Islamic traditions also present Terah as an idolatrous evil person who opposed Abraham's mission and mention how Abraham miraculously escaped from the furnace of fire.
Terah in ancient sources
- See Terah (sources) -- survey of ancient sources
Terah in literature & the arts
- See Terah (arts) -- survey of fictional works
Terah in scholarship
The character of Terah does not appear frequently or prominently in fictional works. The most conspicuous exception is Abraham (1993 Sargent), film, which features Vittorio Gassman as Terah.
- See Terah (research) -- survey of scholarly works
External links
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