Abraham- A Jewish Leader
In the Jewish Bible, Abraham was born around 1813 B.C.E. in Ur, Babylonia. Even as a child, he sought for the truth. He always questioned his father’s faith. His father, Terach was an idol merchant. Eventually Abraham had come to believe that the universe had a single Creator. Throughout his life, he taught his beliefs. Though historians can’t prove if he did exist, Abraham still became a big part of history.
One day God called to Abraham, promising that if he left his family and home, a great nation would be born and he would be blessed. Abraham kept his promise and ventured to Shechem. When Abraham arrived at the sacred tree, God promised him that the land would be given to his decedents. After this promise, Abraham had then built an altar. He had also built another altar between Bethel and Ai. Abraham had lived there for some time when a dispute between his herdsmen and his nephew Lot’s herdsmen occurred. Abraham decided the herds should separate, but he allowed Lot to choose first. After receiving yet another promise from God, Abraham moved to Mamre in Hebron. Abraham had built another altar there.
Abraham was driven by famine and had to take refuge in Egypt. In fear of his own safety he makes his wife Sarai his alleged sister. The Pharaoh placed her in the royal harem and left Abraham with many servants and herds. When God plagued the Pharaoh and his house though, Abraham was escorted away. Abraham worried that God’s promise wouldn’t be able to be fulfilled due to Sarai’s infertility, so Sarai gave Abraham her handmaid Hagar, who bore a child named Ishmael. Later on both Hagar and Ishmael were driven out by Sarai and Abraham. God then promised that Abraham would receive many descendents only through Sarai. This idea made both Sarai and Abraham “laugh”, and when the child was born, he was named Isaac.
A while after the birth of Isaac, God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son in the land of Moriah. As Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac, an angel stopped him. Instead, Abraham had sacrificed a ram. For his obedience, Abraham received another promise of abundant prosperity. Sarah had died at an old age, and was buried near Hebron, in the cave of Machpelah. Eventually, Abraham was also buried there.
In Islam, Abraham is the ancestor of all Arabs. Other than the records in the Genesis, there is no way to prove if he was a historical figure. Historians have many ideas about Abraham. The name change from Abram to Abraham, some historians suggest, may mean two personages were used. Many historians try to find facts to prove or disprove Abraham’s historical existence. Abraham’s life though, historical or not, has indeed made its mark in history.
Essay By: Alexandra E
One day God called to Abraham, promising that if he left his family and home, a great nation would be born and he would be blessed. Abraham kept his promise and ventured to Shechem. When Abraham arrived at the sacred tree, God promised him that the land would be given to his decedents. After this promise, Abraham had then built an altar. He had also built another altar between Bethel and Ai. Abraham had lived there for some time when a dispute between his herdsmen and his nephew Lot’s herdsmen occurred. Abraham decided the herds should separate, but he allowed Lot to choose first. After receiving yet another promise from God, Abraham moved to Mamre in Hebron. Abraham had built another altar there.
Abraham was driven by famine and had to take refuge in Egypt. In fear of his own safety he makes his wife Sarai his alleged sister. The Pharaoh placed her in the royal harem and left Abraham with many servants and herds. When God plagued the Pharaoh and his house though, Abraham was escorted away. Abraham worried that God’s promise wouldn’t be able to be fulfilled due to Sarai’s infertility, so Sarai gave Abraham her handmaid Hagar, who bore a child named Ishmael. Later on both Hagar and Ishmael were driven out by Sarai and Abraham. God then promised that Abraham would receive many descendents only through Sarai. This idea made both Sarai and Abraham “laugh”, and when the child was born, he was named Isaac.
A while after the birth of Isaac, God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son in the land of Moriah. As Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac, an angel stopped him. Instead, Abraham had sacrificed a ram. For his obedience, Abraham received another promise of abundant prosperity. Sarah had died at an old age, and was buried near Hebron, in the cave of Machpelah. Eventually, Abraham was also buried there.
In Islam, Abraham is the ancestor of all Arabs. Other than the records in the Genesis, there is no way to prove if he was a historical figure. Historians have many ideas about Abraham. The name change from Abram to Abraham, some historians suggest, may mean two personages were used. Many historians try to find facts to prove or disprove Abraham’s historical existence. Abraham’s life though, historical or not, has indeed made its mark in history.
Essay By: Alexandra E
