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'''Abraham''' ('''אַבְרָהָם''' "Father/Leader of many," [[Hebrew]] '''Avraham''', [[Arabic language|Arabic]] '''ابراهيم''' '''Ibrāhīm''') was the original [[patriarch]] of [[Judaism]], recognized as the "father of faith" by [[Christianity]], and an extremely important [[prophet]] in [[Islam]]. The story of his life is told in the [[Book of Genesis]] and in the [[Qur'an]].
 
'''Abraham''' ('''אַבְרָהָם''' "Father/Leader of many," [[Hebrew]] '''Avraham''', [[Arabic language|Arabic]] '''ابراهيم''' '''Ibrāhīm''') was the original [[patriarch]] of [[Judaism]], recognized as the "father of faith" by [[Christianity]], and an extremely important [[prophet]] in [[Islam]]. The story of his life is told in the [[Book of Genesis]] and in the [[Qur'an]].
  
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are sometimes referred to as the "[[Abrahamic religion]]s" because of the role Abraham plays in their holy books and beliefs. In the [[Hebrew Bible]] and the Qur'an, Abraham is described as a patriarch and prophet blessed by God, as well as the father of the [[Israelites]] through his son [[Isaac]]. The Qur'an claims Abraham's son [[Ishmael]] to be the father of the [[Arab]]s. In Islam, Abraham is considered to be one of the most important prophets sent by [[Allah]]. In Christian belief, Abraham is a model of faith, and his intention to obey God by offering up Isaac is seen as a foreshadowing of God's offering of his son, [[Jesus]]. In [[talk:Abraham|Unificationism]] Abraham is seen as the central figure in the establishment of the "foundation of faith," and his course is analyzed in considerable detail.
+
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are sometimes referred to as the "[[Abrahamic religion]]s" because of the role Abraham plays in their holy books and beliefs. In the [[Hebrew Bible]] and the Qur'an, Abraham is described as a patriarch and prophet blessed by God, as well as the father of the [[Israelites]] through his son [[Isaac]]. The Qur'an claims Abraham's son [[Ishmael]] to be the father of the [[Arab]]s. In Islam, Abraham is considered to be one of the most important prophets sent by [[Allah]]. In Christian belief, Abraham is a model of faith, and his intention to obey God by offering up Isaac is seen as a foreshadowing of God's offering of his son, [[Jesus]]. In Unification teaching, Abraham is seen as the central figure in the establishment of the "foundation of faith," and his course is analyzed in considerable detail.
  
 
His original name was '''Abram''' ('''אַבְרָם'''—'''Avram'''—"Exalted father/leader"), which was changed to Abraham in later life at God's command. The [[historicity]] of Abraham is debated by modern scholarship and it is difficult to provide definite dates form. A general estimate would be that her probably lived between 2166 and 1991 B.C.E.  
 
His original name was '''Abram''' ('''אַבְרָם'''—'''Avram'''—"Exalted father/leader"), which was changed to Abraham in later life at God's command. The [[historicity]] of Abraham is debated by modern scholarship and it is difficult to provide definite dates form. A general estimate would be that her probably lived between 2166 and 1991 B.C.E.  

Revision as of 20:58, 28 May 2007

File:Abraham-stars.jpg
God said to Abraham: "Look up at the heavens and count the stars-—if indeed you can count them...So shall your offspring be." (Gen. 15:5)

Abraham (אַבְרָהָם "Father/Leader of many," Hebrew Avraham, Arabic ابراهيم Ibrāhīm) was the original patriarch of Judaism, recognized as the "father of faith" by Christianity, and an extremely important prophet in Islam. The story of his life is told in the Book of Genesis and in the Qur'an.

Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are sometimes referred to as the "Abrahamic religions" because of the role Abraham plays in their holy books and beliefs. In the Hebrew Bible and the Qur'an, Abraham is described as a patriarch and prophet blessed by God, as well as the father of the Israelites through his son Isaac. The Qur'an claims Abraham's son Ishmael to be the father of the Arabs. In Islam, Abraham is considered to be one of the most important prophets sent by Allah. In Christian belief, Abraham is a model of faith, and his intention to obey God by offering up Isaac is seen as a foreshadowing of God's offering of his son, Jesus. In Unification teaching, Abraham is seen as the central figure in the establishment of the "foundation of faith," and his course is analyzed in considerable detail.

His original name was Abram (אַבְרָםAvram—"Exalted father/leader"), which was changed to Abraham in later life at God's command. The historicity of Abraham is debated by modern scholarship and it is difficult to provide definite dates form. A general estimate would be that her probably lived between 2166 and 1991 B.C.E.


Biblical account

Map showing Abram's birthplace of Ur, near the mouth of the Euphrates.

According to the Book of Genesis Abraham's father Terah came from Ur of the Chaldees—usually identified with an ancient city in southern Mesopotamia.[1] Terah migrated with his family to Haran, apparently the classical Carrhae, on a branch of the Habor River.

From there, God called Abram to go to "the land I will show you," and promised to bless him and make him (though hitherto childless) a great nation. Abram and his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, together with the slaves and other followers, dutifully departed for Canaan.

Arrival in Canaan

Abram journeyed to Shechem, and at the sacred tree there (compare Gen. 25:4, Joshua 24:26, Judges 9:6) received a new promise that the land would be given to his descendants. Having built an altar to commemorate God's appearance to him, he removed to a spot between Bethel and Ai, where he built another altar and called upon the name of Yahweh (Gen. 12:1-9).[2] After this, he moved south, to the Negev.

File:Abraham-Lot.jpg
Lot parts ways with Abraham.

Driven by a famine to take refuge in Egypt (12:10), Abram feared lest his wife's beauty should arouse the evil designs of the Egyptians and thus endanger his own safety. He therefore instructed Sarai to act as his sister. The Pharaoh then took her into the royal harem and showed his gratitude to Abram with gifts herds and servants. Later, Yahweh "plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues." The king then realized that Sarai was Abram's wife and sent them from his land greatly enriched.

Lot leaves for Sodom

Abram then returned to the Negev, and wandered with his herds until settling again Bethel and Ai. There he stayed for several years, until strife arose between his herdsmen and those of Lot. Abram proposed to Lot that they should separate, and allowed his nephew the first choice of land. Lot preferred the fertile land lying east of the Jordan River, while Abram, after receiving another promise from Yahweh, moved south to the oaks of Mamre in Hebron and building yet another altar.[3]

After about eight years, a war developed among the kings of the region's several cities. When Sodom fell, Lot was taken captive. Abram heard of Lot's ill-fortune and came to his rescue with a force of 318 armed men. He liberated Lot and the other captives from Sodom and recovered the spoils taken by Lot's captors.

File:Abram-melchizedek.jpg
Melchizedek blesses Abram in the name of Elyon El, "God Most High."

After this victory, Abram received the thanks of the king of Sodom and was honored with a sacramental meal of bread and wine by the mysterious Melchizedek, king of Salem (Jerusalem), identified as a "priest of God Most High,"[4] In exchange, Abram offered Melchizedek a tenth "of everything." (14:20)

Abram's symbolic offering

Abram then received another revelation from Yahweh, who promised that his descendants will be as numerous as "the stars of heaven." Abram responded faithfully to this promise, but balked when God told him that he would also take possession of the land of Canaan. "How can I know that I will gain possession of it?" he demands.

God instructed him to offer a sacrifice consisting of "a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon." Abraham prepared this offering, cutting the animals in half, but not the birds. Birds of prey descended on the sacrifice, and Abram had to drive them away. Then a "dread darkness" fell on him, and he fell asleep. God appeared to him again with dire news:

Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years...In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here. (15:13-16)

The birth of Ishmael

File:Sarah-Hagar.jpg
Sarah offers Hagar to Abraham.

As Sarai was infertile, God's promise that Abram's seed would inherit the land seemed incapable of fulfillment. His only heir was his servant Eliezer of Damascus, who was over his household (15:2). In accordance with Mesopotamian custom, Sarai gave to Abram her Egyptian handmaid Hagar as a second wife. When Hagar became pregnant, she presumed upon her position to the extent that Sarai, unable to endure the reproach of barrenness, abused Hagar and forced her to flee (16:1-14). However an angel appeared to Hagar and commanded her to return and submit to Sarai, promising Hagar that her descendants will be too numerous to count. Her son Ishmael thus was Abram's firstborn.

The name Abraham was given to Abram (and the name Sarah to Sarai) at the same time as the covenant of circumcision (chapter 17) when Abram was 99 years old. At this time Abraham was promised not only many descendants, but descendants through Sarah specifically. God's covenant with Abraham was to be fulfilled through Isaac, though God promised that Ishmael, too would be blessed to become a great nation.

In Genesis 18, Abraham and Sarah provide hospitality for three visitors who turn out to be "Yahweh." Their promise of a son to Sarah made Abraham "laugh," which would later figure in the naming of the son of promise, Isaac. Sarah herself also "laughed" at the idea (18:1-15). Informed of God's plan to destroy the great city of Sodom, Abraham pleaded with God (in the form of three visitors) not to destroy the city, where Lot currently lived. God agreed that he would not destroy the city if there were 50 righteous people in it. Abraham bargained God down to 45, then 30, 20, even ten righteous people. Unfortunately, not even ten righteous men were found. Although Lot and his daughters escaped, both Sodom and its sister city, Gomorrah, were obliterated.

In Genesis 20, Abraham and Sarah again pose as brother and sister, this time in the Philistine city of Gerar.[5]The storyline is almost identical to that of Gen. 12.[6] Here the king is warned in a dream that Sarah is actually Abraham's wife after God had caused the women of the city to cease bearing children. The text makes it clear that the king, Abimelech did not have sexual relations with Sarah.

After this episode, Sarah finally became pregnant and gave birth to Isaac, causing her once again to "laugh." Trouble arose, however, when Hagar's son Ishmael, now a teenager, acted inappropriately toward the much younger Isaac at a feast held to celebrate Isaac's weaning. Sarah demanded that Abraham banish both Hagar and Ishmael, and God commanded Abraham to follow her advice. The handmaid and her son were consequently exiled to the wilderness, where they nearly died of thirst before being rescued by God. Soon, Abimelech of Gerar reappeared and made a treaty with Abraham at Beersheba.

The offering of Isaac

"Abraham Sacrificing Isaac" by Laurent de LaHire, 1650

Some time after the birth of Isaac, Abraham was commanded by God to offer his son up as a burnt sacrifice in the land of Moriah. Abraham made all the necessary preparations, even going so far as to build a pyre, bind Isaac, and raise the knife to slay his son before burning him. He was prevented at the last minute by the Angel of the Lord, who said:

"Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." (22:12)

Instead of offering Isaac, Abraham then sacrificed a ram which he found on the spot. As a reward for his obedience he received another promise of a numerous seed and abundant prosperity. Then he returned to Beersheba.[7]

Sarah died at age 127 at Hebron, where Abraham reportedly purchased the Cave of Machpelah near Mamre from Hittite landowners. The spot became a family burial site and today is known as the Cave of the Patriarchs.

Later life

After Sarah's death, Abraham commissioned his servant Eleazar to find a wife for Isaac among Abraham's relatives in Haran. Eleazar returned with the lovely Rebekah, who turned out to be a perfect match for Isaac. "So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death." (24:67)

Although a very old man, Abraham now took another wife for himself, Keturah. She bore him six sons, to whom he bequeathed lands while he still lived. These sons are traditionally believed to be the progenitors of several tribes living on the outskirts of Canaan, including the Midianites. The text also refers to other "concubines" who bore him sons. Upon his death, however, "Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac." He reportedly died at the ripe old age of 175. Isaac and Ishmael were re-united for his funeral and buried him next to Sarah at the cave of Machpelah. (25)

Legacy in Judaism

Abraham and Isaac.

Abraham is considered the father of the Jewish nation, as its first patriarch, having fathered (Isaac), who in turn fathered Jacob, the father of the Twelve Tribes. The God of the Israelites is therefore called the God of "Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." Rabbinical tradition is rich with marvelous tales and spiritual insights about Abraham.

God "tested" Abraham with ten tests, the greatest being his willingness to sacrifice Isaac. God promised the land of Israel to Abraham's children, and this constituted the first claim of the Jews to Israel. Jewish tradition ascribes a special trait to each patriarch. Abraham's was kindness. Because of this, Judaism considers kindness to be an inherent Jewish trait.

Rabbinical tradition also speaks of the origins of Abraham's monotheism. His father Terah reportedly owned a store that sold idols. Abraham, at the age of three, started to question their authenticity. This culminated in Abraham destroying some of these idols. Abraham was then brought to the king, Nimrod and sentenced to death. (Gen. Rabbah 38). along with his brother Haran, unless they recanted their position. Abraham was then thrown into a fire. According to the Book of Jubilees, when Abraham exited unscathed, his brother Haran also refused to recant, and was also thrown into the fire. However, because Haran did not truly believe, he died.

In the land of Haran, Abraham was commissioned by God to spread the truth, and he and Sarah made many converts, some of whom came with him to Canaan. Abraham also reportedly started a school for teaching his beliefs in God, and some say he wrote the kabbalist work, the Sefer Yetzirah. Other works attributed to Abraham include the Apocalypse of Abraham and the Testament of Abraham, both of which are thought to date from the first century CE.

A number of Arabic legends of Abraham related to Islam have also worked their way into Jewish tradition.

Abraham in Christianity

In the New Testament Abraham is mentioned prominently as a man of faith. Jesus mentions him several times, as does the Epistle to the Hebrews; and the apostle Paul uses him as an example of true faith (Galatians 3).

Jesus cites Abraham many times. For example:

  • Matthew 8:11—I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
  • Mark 12:26-27—Have you (Sadducees) not read in the book of Moses, in the burning bush passage, how God spoke to him, saying, "I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?" He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living.
  • Luke 16:22-24—The rich man also died and was buried. 2 In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away... So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'
  • Luke 19:8-9—Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.
  • John 8:40—"If you were Abraham's children," said Jesus, "then you would do the things Abraham did.

The Apostle Paul also refers to Abraham's faith many times. For example:

  • What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." (Romans 4:3)
  • If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:29)

And the Epistle to the Hebrews states:

  • By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, "In Isaac your seed shall be called," concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead. (Hebrews 11:17-19)

Christian tradition regarding the sacrifice of Isaac, sees Abraham standing in the position of God, and Abraham's willingness to offer up Isaac is a foreshadowing of God's offering of his Son, Jesus for the sins of mankind (Gen. 22:1-14; Heb. 11:17-19).

The Roman Catholic Church calls Abraham "our father in Faith," in the Eucharistic prayer, recited during Mass.

Abraham in Islam

Abraham (called Ibrahim) is very important to Islam, both in his own right as prophet and as the father of the prophet Ismail (Ishmael). Abraham is considered one of the most important prophets of Islam, and is commonly termed Khalil Ullah, Friend of God. While most Muslims believe that Adam was the first Muslim, they universally agree that Abraham was a model of faith and a great prophet of Allah.

File:Kaaba1.jpg
Pilgrims gather at the Kaaba in Mecca.

The direction in which Muslims face when praying is toward the the Kaaba, a structure Ibrahim reportedly rebuilt with his son Ismael in Mecca. (In Islam Abraham continues to have a close relationship with Ishmael and Hagar after their banishment at the insistence of Sarah.)

Many Muslims recite daily prayers that ask God to bless both Abraham and Muhammad. In the Masjid al Haram in Mecca, there is an area known as the "station of Ibrahim" (Maqam Ibrahim مقام), which is thought to bear an impression of Abraham's footprints.

There are numerous references to Abraham in the Qur'an. Abraham is the spiritual father of all the believers. According to the Qur'an, Abraham reached the conclusion that anything subject to disappearance could not be worthy of worship, and thus became a monotheist (Quran 6:76-83). As in Jewish belief, Abraham's father (named Azar in Islam) was an idol-maker, and Abraham broke his idols, calling on his community to worship God instead. They then cast him into a fire, which miraculously failed to burn him (Quran 37:83-98). The well-known but non-canonical Qisas al-Anbiya (Ibn Kathir) records considerably more detail about his life, which is commonly referred to in Islamic accounts of his life.

Traditionally, most Muslims believe that it was Ishmael rather than Isaac whom Abraham was told to sacrifice. In support of this, Muslims note that the text of Genesis, despite specifying Isaac, states that Abraham was told to sacrifice his "only son" to God. Since Isaac was Abraham's second son, Muslims believe that the original text must have named Ishmael rather than Isaac as the intended sacrifice. The Qur'an itself, however, does not specify that Ishmael was offered, saying only that it was his "only son" (Quran 37:99-111). Abraham's son Isaac (Ishaq in Islam) is also considered a prophet in Islam.

Muslims also note that nowhere in the Qur'an does God say that it was He who told Abraham to sacrifice his son. Many Muslims affirm that God would not order Abraham to commit what he prohibited—human sacrifice—even as a test. Abraham, however, thought the command, given in a dream, was from God. When the devil taunted them before sacrifice, Ibrahim and Ismael threw stones at the devil. This act is commemorated in the jumrah, one of rites of the Hajj where the faithful throw stones at the symbol of the devil. It also symbolizes the rejection of evil ways in one's life.

While denying that God directly commanded Isaac's sacrifice, the entire episode is nevertheless regarded as a trial from God. It is celebrated by Muslims on the day of Eid ul-Adha.

Abraham in philosophy

Abraham, as a man communicating with God, inspired philosophers, especially the existentialists, such as Kierkegaard and Sartre. Kierkegaard was particularly drawn to the issue of Abraham's offering of Isaac. God reportedly asks Abraham to sacrifice his only son. But does Abraham know that the voice he hears is really the voice of his God and not of someone else, or even the product of a mental condition? And even if it is God's voice, should such a command be obeyed?

Kierkegaard concluded that God is to be obeyed and that such tests from God require a "leap of faith." Sartre, on the other hand, concluded that it is to us humans to decide how to interpret life's challenges. We stand alone in our freedom, fully responsible for our own actions, which is the core of existentialism.

Abraham and his descendants

As the father of Isaac and Ishmael, Abraham is ultimately the common ancestor of the Israelites and many of their neighbors. Isaac's son Esau is the father of the Edomites. Ishmael's twelve sons became prominent Arab princes. Moreover, Abraham's nephew Lot is portrayed as the father of the Moabites and Ammonites.

However, historians find little non-scriptural evidence for Abraham's connection to the Arabs, and the historicity of biblical accounts is questioned by academics (see The Bible and history). The earliest non-biblical record of the connection of Ishmael to the Arabs is by the Jewish historian Josephus, who approximately 2000 years after such events, asserted that Ishmael was the father of the "Arab nation" [1].

Historical criticism

File:Map-Abraham.JPG
Map shows significant Abraham sites circled in yellow. (Click to enlarge.)

Theories abound concerning the "historical" Abraham as well as his legendary character and mythical significance. The discovery of the name Abi-ramu (Abram) on Babylonian contracts from about 2000 B.C.E. shows at least that the story of Abram's "Chaldean" origins is plausible. The fact that there were Amorites in Babylonia during the same period likewise is consistent with the idea of migrating bands moving from Babylon to Canaan.

The Book of Genesis is widely believed to be based a compiliation of sources, which accounts for such phenomena as the doubling of certain stories (Sarah's entering the harem of the king of Egypt and later the king of Gerar, for example), the use of Yahweh for God's name in some passages and El, Elohim, El-Shaddai, etc. in others. Scholars postulate a northern source source, "E" for the "Elohist" verses and a southern source, "J" for the Yahwist verses. Also evident is a priestly source, "P," that is particularly concerned with religious law and ritual, as well as a later Deuteronomic editor "D" who superimposed the religious view of the sixth century B.C.E. onto more primitive traditions. (See documentary hypothesis.)

Some theorists suggest that Abraham was once a more localized tribal patriarch who later emerged as the larger-than-life central figure of the Israelite origin story. From the character of the literary evidence and the locale of the stories it is believed by many scholars that Abraham was primarily associated with Hebron and its environs. The story of the many widespread altars he reportedly established served to connect local religious shrines to the overall Israelite origin legend.[8] The double name Abram/Abraham has suggested that two independent traditions—apart from the aforementioned J/E traditions— may have been combined in the narrative, which also would explain the name change from Sarai to Sarah.

Notes

  1. However, Josephus, Islamic tradition and Jewish authorities such Maimonides all concur that Ur was in Northern Mesopotamia (Identified with Urartu, Urfa, and Kutha respectively). This is in keeping with the local tradition that Abraham was born in Urfa; or with the nearby Urkesh, which others identify with "Ur of the Chaldees".
  2. According to the documentary hypothesis several sources are woven together in this story. Abram calls upon God's true name only in the "J" verses of Genesis, while in the "E" verses he used the word Elohim, El-Shaddai, etc. to refer to God.
  3. Scholars believe the references to various altars established by the patriarchs provide origin stories for later sacred altars used by the Israelites. Ironically these altars were declared illegitimate by later biblical writers who insisted that sacrifices could only be offered at the Temple of Jerusalem.
  4. Elyon El, see article on El for more information.
  5. Archaeologists believe the reference to Gerar as a Philistine city here is an anachronism, as the Philistines did not arrive in the area until much later.
  6. This leads many modern scholars to believe the two accounts actually describe the same original story, from two different sources. The story in Gen. 12 is from J (calling God "Yahweh"), while the story from Gen. 20 is from E (calling God "Elohim.")
  7. The binding of Isaac is one of the most challenging, and ethically troublesome, parts of the Bible. See Isaac for more details.
  8. A more contemporary example of this phenomenon is the American tradition of "George Washington slept here" inns throughout the northeastern United States.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Abright, William F. The Archeology of Palestine. Peter Smith Pub Inc; 2nd edition, 1985 ISBN 0844600032
  • Bright, John. A History of Israel. Westminster John Knox Press; 4th edition, 2000 ISBN 0664220681
  • De Vaux, Roland. Ancient Israel: Its Life and Institutions. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1997. ISBN 978-0802842787
  • Dever, William G., Who Were the Early Israelites? William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, MI, 2003. ISBN 0802809758
  • Feller, Bruce. Abraham: A Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths. Harper Perennial, 2005. ISBN 978-0060838669
  • Gellman, Jerome. Abraham! Abraham: Kierkegaard and the Hasidim on the Binding of Isaac. Ashgate Publishing, 2003. ISBN 978-0754616795
  • Heap, Norman. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob: Servants and Prophets of God. Family History Pubns, 1999. ISBN 978-0945905028
  • Rosenberg, David. Abraham: The First Historical Biography. Basic Books; New Ed edition, 2007. ISBN 978-0465070954
  • Wilson, Marvin R. Our Father Abraham: Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1989. ISBN 978-0802804235

External links

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