What Is The Book of Ahikar?
This is an original retelling (paraphrase) of the Wisdom of Ahikar, originally posted on Steemit.com about four years ago. This is updated and reposted content for a new audience and for a new platform (HIVE).
The Wisdom of Ahikar is one of the most ancient sources of human thought and wisdom. There are elements of this story within the scriptures, both the Torah and the Gospels and Epistles.
The date of this story has been a subject of lively discussion. Scholars finally put it down about the First Century when they were proved in error by the original story turning up in an Aramaic papyrus of 500 B. C. among the ruins of Elephantine.
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
Part Seven
Part Eight
Part Nine
Part Ten
Part Eleven
Part Twelve
Part Thirteen
Part Fourteen
The book of Ahikar is not in the Biblical canon, but has some credentials that lend it some biblical authority. The story of Ahikar fits within the Biblical story of the Assyrian conquest of Israel. One story, preserved in the Catholic canon, is the Book of Tobit. This man Tobit was of the tribe of Naphtali, a Hebrew
This book tells the story of Tobit, son of Tobiel, son of Hananiel, son of Aduel, son of Gabael, son of Raphael, son of Raguel, of the family of Asiel and the tribe of Naphtali. Tobit 1:1
The book of Tobit mentions Ahikar and his son Nadan by name and even includes elements of this story. Clearly the author of Tobit was familiar with the story of Ahikar, since the text of Tobit lists Ahikar as being the nephew of Tobit.
Ahikar the son of my brother Anael, was appointed chancellor of the exchequer for the kingdom and given the main ordering of affairs. Ahikar then interceded for me and I was allowed to return to Nineveh, since Ahikar had been chief cupbearer, keeper of the signet, administrator and treasurer under Sennacherib king of Assyria, and Esarhaddon had kept him in office. He was a relation of mine; he was my nephew. Tobit 1:21-22
The book of Tobit can be read here.
The book of Ahikar can be read here.
Previously in the Story of Ahikar
Ahikar is about to be killed by Abu Samek the swordsman, but through the wisdom of Ahikar and with the favor of the Most High, he is able to escape certain doom. Abu Samek spares Ahikar and he is hidden in a secret compartment in his garden. His wife give him supplies to live each week. What is to become of Ahikar? Will the king repent of having killed Ahikar? Let's find out!
Here resumes the story of Ahikar.
And the report of how Ahikar the Sage had been killed and was dead was reported and repeated and spread abroad in every place and all the people of that city mourned for him. They wept and said:
"Alas for you, Oh Ahikar! And alas for your wisdom and learning and your courtesy! How sad about you and about your knowledge! Where can another like you be found? Where can there be a man so intelligent, so learned, so skilled in ruling as to resemble you that he may fill your place?"
And the king repented about Ahikar, yet his repentance did nothing for him. Then he called for Nadan and said to him:
"Go and take your friends with you and make a mourning and a weeping for your uncle Ahikar and lament for him as is the custom, doing honor to his memory."
But when Nadan, the foolish, the ignorant, the hardhearted, went to the house of his uncle, he neither wept nor sorrowed nor wailed, but assembled heartless and dissolute people and set about eating and drinking. Nadan began to seize the maidservants and the servants belonging to Ahikar and bound them and tortured them and struck them with severe strikings. And Nadan did not respect the wife of his uncle, who had brought him up like her own boy, but wanted her to fall into sin with him.
And Ahikar had been cast into the hiding-place and he heard the weeping of his servants and his neighbors.
And Ahikar praised the Most High God, the merciful one, and gave thanks and he always prayed and besought the Most high God.
And the swordsman came to Ahikar from time to time while he was in the middle of the hiding place and Ahikar came and entreated him. He comforted and wished him deliverance.
This concludes this portion of the Story of Ahikar.
Nadan the Wicked Nephew of Ahikar
Nadan is completely unrepentant. Rather than lament the death of his uncle, he celebrates it like a victory. Will Nadan discover that his uncle is still alive? Will Ahikar stand before the king? Let's find out in the next installment.
Let us bless the Name of the Most High in fear and reverence, that He may receive glory among the nations.
Bless the Most High!
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