Original subtitles

There was a time long, long, long ago...

...when all men on earth spoke the same language.

They came to a land called Shinar, and they said to each other:

''Let us build a tower tall enough to rise above the clouds...

...and touch God's heaven so we will be famous throughout the earth.''

So they worked and worked and worked, piling brick upon brick upon brick...

...until God saw their arrogance...

...and he was very angry.

So he made it so that they forgot their common language...

...and began to speak in so many different tongues...

...that they couldn't understand each other anymore:

So confusion rose all around.

The tower was left halfway built...

...and God scattered them across the face of the earth.

All of them separated by their different languages.

Abram.

Abram. Lot and his people, they've been taken.

Get Mambre and his brothers. Quickly.

This king thinks he's...

...outrun the war.

He's posted no sentries.

It�s a cold night. They keep their faces towards the fire.

Circle to the hills in the north.

Eshcol to the west. Aner to the east.

Be in place when the stars of the Scorpion are above us.

On my signal, we all attack at once.

How many are there, do you suppose?

Too many. But they don't know our number.

And there's no moonlight to betray us.

When your warriors attack, each man make the noise of five.

We will make the noise of 1 0.

Serug.

Come on, men! Follow! Come on, men!

My nephew's not here.

Eliezer.

Gather what food you can. Feed these people.

Talk to them. Perhaps they might have news of the other kings.

No!

Mistress.

He's dead! l saw him. Abram. He's dead!

No. No. It was only a dream. A bad dream.

No, he's dead! Through his heart....

This fever burns your sleep.

No, l know the meaning of this sweat. It�s not fever. I�m not a woman anymore.

-He's not dead. -Yes, yes.

-It�s only dreams and fever. -He's dead.

-Abram is not dead. Look at me. -No, fool, look at me!

I�m empty. Old. Dry.

Abram is dead...

...and his seed's dead with him!

Two of our men saw Lot and his family.

They're still alive.

Oh, God. Are Mambre and his men in position?

Not yet. They'll give us a signal.

I�m afraid this time we are facing a greater danger.

These two kings are much stronger.

Eliezer.

Last night, a lance came close enough to me to taste death.

Years ago, my God promised me that l would father a great nation.

But his promise is still only a promise.

And now it is harvest time for death...

...and if it should take me, l have no son to inherit the tribe.

No one to protect Sarai. No one....

Nothing.

l have made a decision that you will inherit.

Abram. Abram.

l want your word...

...that you will use all your wisdom to guide my people...

...and your life to protect Sarai.

Abram, l give you my word, l will.

Kill! Kill!

No mercy! Kill them!

Serug, wait.

Let him go.

-Who are you? -Abram.

This man is my nephew.

So you want this?

And his people.

-Is that all? -No.

His goods, his animals and all the prisoners you've taken.

What do l get in return?

Your life.

l could take yours now.

Oh, yes, you could. Then we would be even.

It�s an interesting offer...

...but only as honest as the man who makes it.

Let them go. All of them.

Enough blood has been spilt.

We have got what we came for.

It will end here.

-Move on! -Get up!

Now I�ve got a stallion!

l don't think that your children should witness any of this.

Uncle Abram's right. Take the girls back to the tent.

Goodbye, Abram. Goodbye and thank you.

Praise be to Abram, conqueror of our enemies.

l, Bera, King of Sodom...

...declare that because of your courage and valor...

...you shall receive the riches and spoils of the battlefield.

A king's reward...

...to a brave man.

l want none of it.

l fought only to free my nephew.

-None of it? -None of it.

l swore to the Lord God most high...

...creator of heaven and earth...

...that l would not take a string, a sandal-thong...

...or any of the spoils of my victories.

They are yours.

Serug.

Leave the animals with the spoils.

Abram, aren't you forgetting something?

My people, the prisoners you freed.

The people l freed are just that:

Free.

Free to go where they choose.

Uncle, try to understand, we have a life here in Sodom.

We work hard, we earn well. l can't leave now.

You, too, are free to choose.

Take care of your family.

They're back! They're back!

l thought you were dead.

l would not desert you by dying. l will never fail you.

But I�ve failed you. I�ve not given you a son, and now it's too late.

-The Lord has failed us. -No. He has not failed us.

He kept his promises.

He's given us great victories with very few losses.

And l love you more than life itself.

My Lord God.

My Lord God, l--

l am afraid.

l am alone.

Tell me--

Tell me what you want of me.

Speak to me. l beg you. Speak to me.

Fear not, for I am your shield.

Your reward shall be great.

Oh, my Lord God.

Why do you reward me? Why me?

l have no child...

...no son.

l am alone, and l will die alone.

Why do you bless me...

...with your gifts?

The heir to all you have given me...

...will be...

...Eliezer of Damascus.

He will inherit.

Abram. Not Eliezer.

He will not be your heir.

Go to your altar, prepare a sacrifice and look toward heaven.

Number the stars.

So shall your descendants be.

I am the Lord who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans...

...to give you and your descendants this land to possess.

But how, O Lord?

Without a son, how can l have descendants?

Abram, I make this covenant with you:

A son of your own flesh shall be your heir.

Blessed be Abram by the Lord most high...

...maker of heaven and earth. And blessed be the Lord most high...

...who has delivered your enemies into your hands.

l come to you in the Lord's name.

l am Melchizedek.

King and the Lord's high priest of Salem.

I�ve brought you bread and wine.

l am grateful to you for your words.

The Lord most high?

-Creator of--? -Heaven and earth.

-Yes, and l-- -Worship him.

Yes.

And you know him.

l....

l have heard his voice...

-...and he has-- -Given you these victories.

Victories, yes.

l praise the Lord for that.

-But these victories-- -Are bitter.

It�s not by force alone that man finds his reward.

You have also won great wealth...

...but you, Abram, have turned your back on it...

-...for it means-- -Nothing.

Nothing. Nothing compared to the vision he has opened to us.

A vision beyond our time.

You have found a home in this land and defended it.

The Lord be blessed.

You've met a man who understands you.

My good Lord sent him to me.

Come. Come.

Mistress, how may we help you?

Leave us, please.

Sit.

l need to ask a favor of you.

Of me, mistress? I�m your servant. Anything you ask l must do.

l want this to be your choice...

...so there's no strife between us.

You are Egyptian and may not understand the ways of my people.

lf you agree, it is to this:

Each night, you will come to my tent and lay with my husband.

You will do this until you are with child, and only until then.

When you give birth, you will do so sitting on my knees.

In this way, the child will be mine...

...and only mine under the law.

Mistress.

l see no other way.

The Lord has prevented me from bearing children.

Take my servant...

...that you and l might obtain a child by her.

Could you leave us alone? Please?

''l will give you a son...

...of your own flesh.''

Isn't it wonderful?

More births this year than ever before.

And one more in the winter.

Hagar is with child.

l will have a son.

-And what if it's a daughter? -It will be a son...

...as the Lord promised.

And we will raise him to be strong and wise.

l will give you your son.

Yes. Yes.

This smells strange.

Just a pinch of herbs and lamb tastes.

Where did you find this?

In places only an Egyptian knows.

-What is that? -I�m cooking something for Abram.

l do the cooking for my husband.

As l recall, this was the Pharaoh's favorite.

You enjoyed it with him many times, didn't you?

Bury it.

What are you doing?

What is that?

A cradle. For the child.

Made like that?

A basket? But the reeds will tear his skin off.

I�ve lined it soft as a sparrow's nest.

I�ll find one from the city made with fragrant cedar and Egyptian linen...

...perfumed with crushed flowers.

l wouldn't raise a child in a thing like that.

Well, have no fear, he is mine to raise.

And it won't be in a perfumed box.

It will be according to our traditions.

This woman behaves as though she were the mistress and l the servant.

May the wrong done to me be done to you.

l gave my servant to your embrace...

...and since the day she conceived, she's looked on me with contempt.

May the Lord be the judge between you and me.

Has an agreement not been made between you?

Then between you, you must resolve it.

However, she is your servant, and you're entitled to do with her as you wish...

...but in accordance to our law, an agreement must not be broken.

It is right that she respect not only our agreement...

...but also the ways of our people.

You may go back to work.

Hagar!

Hagar!

Hag--

Serug, get some men. Quickly.

Eliezer.

Hagar!

Hagar!

Hagar.

You know my name.

Where have you come from, and where are you going?

I�m fleeing from my mistress.

You are with child and will bear a son...

...and the Lord will so greatly multiply your descendants...

...that they cannot be numbered.

Your son shall be a man the world cannot break, wild and unconquered...

...his hand against every man, and every man's hand against him.

He shall rule in front of his brothers.

You shall call your son Ishmael...

...meaning ''God listens.''

Return to your mistress, Hagar, and submit to her.

Try further down the valley.

-Don't worry, Abram, we'll find her. -Nothing?

Nothing.

Nothing, nothing.

Hooray! She's back.

We were so worried.

Are you all right?

Oh, thank God.

l have seen an angel of the Lord.

l shall have a son.

And his name shall be Ishmael.

You're doing well. One more time. You're very close.

That's it. That's it. You're doing it.

It�s coming. You know it's--

Okay. Push, push.

Push. All right. Lean on me. I�ll do it for you.

On your knees, as agreed, but this is mine to do, alone.

Abram.

Abram.

Oh, yes.

My son...

...my son. Ishmael.

Ishmael. Yes.

My son, my son.

Ishmael.

Ishmael, you must sacrifice something of great value to yourself.

Something that you love, something that you would risk your life for...

...as you would this ram.

He is a handsome animal who could father many sheep that would add to your wealth.

But you will offer the life of this creature to God as a sign.

As a sign that shows the Lord that you put nothing of this world above him...

...the Lord God most high. Do you understand?

-Yes. -Now...

...the ritual must be carried out properly.

The creature that you sacrifice must lie quietly, accepting the sacrifice.

Now.

You must bind him.

Good boy.

Now....

Talk to him, son. Touch him.

He is afraid, and he must not show his fear. Talk to him.

There. Good.

Now we will place him on the altar.

Now take his life. Quickly.

Now, son...

...you have hunted and killed many animals.

But this is different.

Yes.

And in your heart, it must feel very different.

Do it.

Now we will give thanks.

O my Lord, l give thanks.

l give thanks, O my Lord.

And which you give me anew each morning that l awake.

And which you give me anew each morning l awake.

And, my Lord...

...l thank thee for my son, Ishmael...

...who is brave and strong and will one day lead our people into the future.

May you always be with him.

Now we gather wood, and we'll burn the offering.

Abram.

I am your God.

And I will make my covenant between me and you.

No longer shall your name be Abram, ''Man of Greatness ''...

...but Abraham, ''Father of Nations ''...

...for I will make you the father of multitudes.

Kings shall come from you.

As for Sarai, your wife...

...you shall no longer call her Sarai, ''a princess ''...

...but Sarah, ''a queen ''...

...and she shall be the ''Mother of Nations. ''

Kings shall come from her...

...for I will give you a son by her.

Lord.

Lord.

A man of my age?

How can l have a child?

And how can Sarai?

Sarah shall bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac.

Isaac.

Isaac.

As for you...

...this is my covenant, which you and your descendants shall keep.

Every male among you shall be circumcised in the flesh of the foreskin.

And this shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you.

So shall my covenant be in your flesh everlasting.

And I will give to your descendents the land of Canaan...

...for everlasting possession.

We have guests. Bring some water.

Welcome.

Welcome to my home.

Rest yourselves a while.

Let water be brought to wash your feet and food that you may warm your heart.

l thank you, Abraham, for your hospitality.

Where is your wife, Sarah?

Sarah. She's....

She's in...

...in the tent.

Abraham.

O my Lord...

...if l have found favor in your heart...

...and...

...and in your sight...

...do not pass...

...your servant by.

Stay with me.

Let a bit of bread be brought that you may refresh yourself.

Do as you have said.

Bake bread. Prepare the....

Prepare the best food we have.

l will stay a while...

...then return to you in one year.

And Sarah, your wife...

...shall have a son.

Sarah.

Is there anything the Lord cannot do?

Do you think you are too old to bear a child?

Then why did you laugh?

l did not laugh.

Oh, but you did laugh.

You will bear Abraham a son.

And you will call him Isaac, meaning ''laughter.''

Lord.

-Ishmael. -Do not worry about Ishmael.

Behold, l have blessed him and will make him fruitful...

...and will multiply him exceedingly.

Twelve princes shall he beget.

And l will make him a great nation.

My Lord, will you not stay a while longer?

l shall not hide from my friend Abraham, the Father of Nations, what I�m about to do.

The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great.

The sins of which they are accused, very grave.

And l will go there to see if they, indeed...

...have done according to these outcries.

My Lord. Will you destroy...

...the righteous with the wicked?

My Lord, suppose 50 righteous are within the city...

...will you not spare the whole city for the 50 righteous who are in it?

Far be it from the Lord to do such a thing to slay the righteous with the wicked.

If I find at Sodom 50 righteous, I will spare the whole city for their sake.

My Lord, l who am but dust and ashes should dare not ask...

...but suppose five of the 50 are lacking?

Will you destroy the whole city for the lack of five?

I will not destroy it if I find 45 there.

O Lord, be not angry. Suppose 40 are found there?

For the sake of 40, I will not do it.

-Suppose 30? -I will not do it if I find 30.

Twenty?

For the sake of 20, I will not destroy it.

My Lord.

My Lord, l--

May l speak again just this once?

Suppose 1 0?

For 1 0, I will not destroy it.

What of those...

...that are without guilt?

My Lord.

My Lord.

My Lord.

Here. Over here.

Hello.

Where have you just come from?

-Here we are. -Come and see me.

Oh, stop that.

You are strangers here.

Welcome to our city. l am at your service.

Why don't you come to my house and stay for the night and wash your feet.

Yes, do. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.

We thank you, but we will spend the night in the street.

No. l beg you, my friends. Not in these streets. Come with us.

Come on, they're in Lot's house.

He cooks much better than l do.

We want your beautiful friends. Lot!

Where are the men who came to you tonight?

Bring them out. We want them to join us.

Lot, don't keep them all to yourself.

Lot?

-Lot. -These men are my guests.

Under my roof, my protection and my hospitality.

That's all right. We'll show them both the hospitality of Sodom.

l beg you, my friends, don't do this. Please.

l beg you, please don't do this, my friends. This is not the sort of thing--

Friend. Friend?

You think we are your friends?

You think you can buy our friendship?

Take me. Don't take them, take--

What did you say?

Take me. Don't take them. Take me.

Now, there's an interesting offer. Take you?

Protecting a guest is a sacred duty.

You can take me, you can take my daughters, but you can't take my guests.

Happy night.

We can take them all.

My eyes. My eyes! l can't see.

l can't see. I�m blind.

Quickly. Do not stop and do not look back.

-Do not stop. Flee to the hills. -Hurry.

Remember, do not look back or you will be consumed.

Quickly. Quickly.

Keep moving. Follow me and don't look back.

Into this cave. Quickly.

God will give you what he's promised.

Suppose he gives me a son and he takes Sarah?

Would you--?

-Would you go to her, please? -Why?

Why?

She's--

She's labored night, day...

...and the midwives won't tell me anything. She could be in danger.

-Please comfort her. -She'd take little comfort from me.

It�s in God's hands. Leave it there.

Abraham, tell me.

Have you found Ishmael to be an acceptable, deserving son?

Ishmael?

Acceptable? Deserving? O my God, he is a joy.

Why, then, for the 1 0 years since his birth have you and l hardly passed a word?

Why have you never offered me a word of gratitude?

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Would you forgive me?

But now you speak. Only now, when you want my help.

Your wife has servants enough.

And you see, they've done their job.

Go to her, Abraham.

And his name...

...will be Isaac!

Isaac! Isaac! Isaac!

Ishmael. Ishmael.

Ishmael.

Ishmael, take him now.

Ishmael, get him quick.

The winner, Ishmael!

Serug, l challenge you to a joust.

You're feeling brave tonight, eh?

Mother. Mother, did you see what Ishmael did? Did you see it?

Yes, Isaac. l saw. He's very strong.

Come on.

Ishmael continues to amaze me with his skill and cunning.

He's become a natural leader.

Now let's see if Serug can teach him some manners with his staff.

-Wait. This isn't fair. -Why not?

Isaac, come here. l need your help.

Hold on to my hair and watch Serug. Don't let him trick me.

Now it's even. Two against one.

Well done.

Now let's see what you can do with the bow and without any help.

l love you both.

Father.

Ishmael is taking the herds to the upper pasture tomorrow. May l go with him?

Of course.

It�s wonderful. It�s wonderful.

The children.

God, l love those children.

-Where is Isaac? -Isaac? He's with Ishmael.

What is it, Sarah?

I�ve seen something terrible tonight.

You're worried?

About what?

The future.

The future?

The future.

The future.

The future?

-Whose? -My son's.

l don't want Isaac going into the mountains alone.

He won't be going alone. He'll be going with Ishmael.

l know.

Ishmael teaches Isaac something new every day.

When he comes back, he'll know as much about the herds as the best of our herdsmen.

And if he doesn't come back?

Why wouldn't he come back?

Ishmael would do what Hagar tells him to do.

And Hagar would do anything to put her son in our son's place.

The son that God gave us.

Sarah, Sarah.

You two have made no secret of your feelings towards each other.

That is ancient business.

Every man in the tribe is now ready to follow Ishmael into the teeth of death.

He's so much older than Isaac. He's headstrong, fearless.

And then l looked at his mother.

Oh, husband.

Such dreadful ambition burns in Hagar's eyes.

Sarah. Sarah.

In time, and not much of that, God will take us.

lf we leave Isaac and Ishmael behind, who...?

Who will inherit? Which of those two will lead?

Isaac is God's choice. He is the choice of God.

-And he loves his brother. -Oh, yes, he does.

So much so that if Ishmael asked, Isaac would happily give away his birthright...

...to please Ishmael, to follow Ishmael, to worship Ishmael.

Isaac is God's choice.

That is God's promise.

Tell me...

...without us...

...do you think little Isaac could stand up to Ishmael and his mother?

How will God ensure it will be Isaac?

Will he strike Hagar and Ishmael dead?

You love both of your sons so much...

...you don't see it.

l love them too.

But we created this problem.

And now God's put it in our hands to solve.

No, no.

l...

...created the problem.

l did not have sufficient faith in the words of God.

Now the problem...

...is ours to solve.

But how?

How?

Send them away.

What?

Oh, yes. Yes.

Yes, yes, send them away. Send them away!

For the protection of our son.

Send them away?

l believe...

...the words you spoke...

...were not yours alone...

...but God's will.

Mother and son will be gone in the morning.

Go with God.

Don't worry about us, Father. l know how to survive.

Yes.

You learned well.

Hagar, Hagar.

Remember the words of the Lord:

''Behold, l have blessed him.

And l will make him...

...a great nation.''

What is it, son?

Ishmael?

You miss him?

Me too.

You're worried about him?

Me too.

Shall we ask God for his help?

Yes, Father.

Pick a lamb you love...

...as you love Ishmael, and we will offer its life for your brother's safety.

Will you choose or will l?

l will.

Must it be...

...one l love?

Yes.

Must it be...

...the one l love the most?

As a sign of your faith.

Not today.

Not today, my son. Not today.

God will provide for Ishmael.

God will provide.

Mother.

Hagar.

Fear not...

...for God has heard the cries of Ishmael.

Arise.

Lift up your son and hold him fast.

For God shall make of him a great nation.

All the stars, they huddle together and they take the shape of little animals.

The ram comes first.

Then after, comes the scorpion...

...the goat and the fish.

Now, knowing where the stars are...

...and where they go in their movement...

...helps us to journey at night.

Now, sometimes...

-...they can help us to win a battle. -Eliezer!

Did you know that the stars are like little animals in the night sky?

No wonder there are so many.

Get your bow and arrow. It�s time to practice.

Yes, sir.

He's got so much to learn...

...and l so little time to teach him.

But...

...his mind is wonderful.

He's so fast in understanding, and his memory so quick to grasp, to hold.

-Yes, Abraham. -No matter what l do.

-There's something that needs your interest. -Look how well he's learning to ride.

I�ve never seen a child or indeed a man with such a mastery over animals.

One word, one whisper, and they do anything he asks.

-He rides very well, but if l could-- -It�s more than a skill.

Isaac has a gift. He was born with it, l believe.

A power over beasts that's magical.

-Higher with the bow. -Abraham, may l interrupt you?

-Yes, yes, yes. What is it? -Serug's boy is 8 days old now.

They're waiting for you to do the circumcision.

Yes, yes, well....

-It�s a simple thing. You do it. -But it's not my place.

Good shot. Good shot.

Well, then, the father, they've seen me do it a hundred times.

But it's Serug.

He wants you.

When will they understand?

Can't you see I�m busy?

Every day they're growing more like children.

And you more and more like a stranger.

Sarah's been talking to you.

-Yes. -l thought so.

Well, l will tell you what l told her.

Isaac will lead our people.

And soon.

Soon, l think.

He is my only son now.

And l want every day l have to prepare him.

And nothing is more important than that. Do you understand?

Nothing.

Yes.

Eliezer.

l will not disappoint my god again.

Again?

There were times in the past when l believed that he had abandoned me.

But it was l...

...who had abandoned him.

And l will not disappoint him again.

Isaac, come.

Come with the bow.

Come, let me show you. Let me show you how to string the bow.

Abraham.

Here l am, Lord.

Take your son Isaac...

...and go to the land of Moriah.

To a mountain there, which I will show you.

And offer him as a burnt sacrifice.

Lord?

Offer him as a burnt sacrifice.

Lord, Lord....

Offer him...

...as a burnt sacrifice?

My Lord.

My Lord.

Offer Isaac...

...as a burnt sacrifice?

Why, Lord?

O my Lord!

Why?

Why?!

You will stay here.

My son and l will go up and worship.

And then we will....

We will come back...

...down to you.

Father, there are no sheep up this high.

-Did you bring the flint to make a fire? -Yes.

We have wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?

God will provide the lamb.

Hold out your arms, Isaac.

Tie me tightly, Father.

O God...

...give me the strength...

...to do what l must.

Abraham.

Do not harm your child.

For now l know that you fear God.

Seeing that you've not withheld your son...

...your beloved son.

My son! My son.

My son. My son.

I will bless you...

...and I will multiply your descendants as the sand which is upon the seashore...

...as the stars of the heavens above.

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