Terah, son of Nahor

Pronunciation: TEHR-uh [son of] NAY-hor

Occurrences: 31

First Reference: Beginnings 25:6

Now there lived in Babel Terah, the son of Nahor, and he was captain of all the king’s mighty men. Now Terah followed in the ways of Nimrod and he worshipped gods made of wood and stone.

See: Abram, Babel, Nimrod

Summary: Terah, son of Nahor, was the father of Abram (later deemed Abraham), and served in the city of Babel as the captain of King Nimrod’s armed guard (B:25:6). Terah was an ardent follower of the state sponsored idol worship enforced throughout the land by Nimrod (B:25:1-9). When Abram called into question the ten gods of the land, as represented by idols of wood and stone, Nimrod was greatly offended and had his son arrested and brought before the king, in accordance with the law (B:25:10-51). After being interrogated and found guilty by the king, Abram was sentenced to imprisonment and death (B:25:52-67).

In a miraculous turn of events, Abraham was eventually set free as a result of healing Nimrod’s wife, Veshanu. However, fearing the God of Abraham would shame him before the people, Nimrod banished Abraham from the land and commanded Terah to follow his son and kill him. Yet, when Terah caught up to Abraham and Sarah, he did not kill his son, but dwelt with him peacefully in the land of Haran, learning from Abraham regarding the true nature of God (B:26:1-74). Terah died when he was 205 years old (B:27:1-4).

Notes/References:

Tempter

Teraphim