Kebra Nagast

T he going down of Abraham into Egypt CONCERNING THE GOING DOWN OF ABRAHAM INTO EGYPT And we could also inform you that when God had given unto Abraham glory and riches, he lacked a son. And Sarah and Abraham talked together on their bed, 82. and he said unto her, " Thou art barren," and she said " " and unto him, It is not I who am barren but thyself matter and to 10 discuss the continued they dispute tocame a famine in And there the land about it. gether of Canaan, and Abraham heard that there was some food ; in the land of Egypt, the country of Pharaoh. And when he had spent all his possessions in charity to the poor during the days of the famine, without providing for the morrow, the famine waxed strong in the land of " I Canaan, and he lacked food to eat. And he said, hath thanks unto that what He unto me God give given I have expended on my servants. But as for thee, my Sarah, come, let us go into the land of Egypt in order to save ourselves from death by famine." And " she said unto him, Thy will be done, O my lord, and if sister thou die I will die with thee, and if thou live I will live with thee it is not for me to gainsay thy word for ever." And then they rose up and set out on their ; journey. And when they drew nigh [to Egypt] Abraham said unto Sarah, " One thing I must ask of thee, and do thou what I ask of thee " and Sarah said, " Speak, my lord." And he said unto her, " I have heard that the habits of the Egyptians are lawless, and that they live in idolatry and fornication. And when they have seen thee they will plot evil against me, and slay me because of the for there is among goodliness of thy beautiful form them no one that can be compared unto thee. And now, in order that thou mayest save my life, do thou ' I say, if they happen to ask thee questions about me, am his sister,' so that thou mayest save my soul from ; ; 141