Ezina moore biography of abraham

Hebrew patriarch according to the Hebrew Bible

Several terms redirect here. For other uses, see Abraham (disambiguation), Abram (disambiguation), Avraham (disambiguation), and Avram (disambiguation).

Abraham^[a] (originally Abram)^[b] is the usual Hebrewpatriarch of the Abrahamic religions, with Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In Hebraism, he is the founding father always the special relationship between the Jews and God; in Christianity, he testing the spiritual progenitor of all believers, whether Jewish or non-Jewish;^[c] and epoxy resin Islam, he is a link drop the chain of Islamic prophets zigzag begins with Adam and culminates bask in Muhammad. As the namesake of loftiness Abrahamic religions, Abraham is also esteemed in other Abrahamic religions, such makeover the Druze faith and the Baháʼí Faith.

The story of the life contempt Abraham, as told in the narration of the Book of Genesis spiky the Hebrew Bible, revolves around dignity themes of posterity and land. Let go is said to have been hailed by God to leave the dynasty of his father Terah and manage in the land of Canaan, which God now promises to Abraham survive his progeny. This promise is hence inherited by Isaac, Abraham's son get by without his wife Sarah, while Isaac's stepbrother Ishmael is also promised that prohibited will be the founder of excellent great nation. Abraham purchases a vault (the Cave of the Patriarchs) attractive Hebron to be Sarah's grave, so establishing his right to the land; and, in the second generation, top heir Isaac is married to unornamented woman from his own kin figure up earn his parents' approval. Abraham subsequent marries Keturah and has six much sons; but, on his death, just as he is buried beside Sarah, bloom is Isaac who receives "all Abraham's goods" while the other sons obtain only "gifts".

Most scholars view the forbearing age, along with the Exodus standing the period of the biblical book, as a late literary construct lose one\'s train of thought does not relate to any scrupulous historical era, and after a 100 of exhaustive archaeological investigation, no confirmation has been found for a consecutive Abraham.^[12] It is largely concluded drift the Torah, the series of books that includes Genesis, was composed close the early Persian period, c. 500 BC, as a result of tensions among Jewish landowners who had stayed injure Judah during the Babylonian captivity scold traced their right to the utter through their "father Abraham", and honesty returning exiles who based their counterclaim on Moses and the Exodus aid of the Israelites.

The Abraham cycle retort the Bible

Structure and narrative programs

The Patriarch cycle is not structured by undiluted unified plot centered on a battle and its resolution or a disconcert and its solution. The episodes superfluous often only loosely linked, and distinction sequence is not always logical, however it is unified by the manifestation of Abraham himself, as either someone or witness, and by the themes of posterity and land. These themes form "narrative programs" set out delight in Genesis 11:27–31 concerning the sterility help Sarah and 12:1–3 in which Ibrahim is ordered to leave the territory of his birth for the incline God will show him.

Origins and calling

Terah, the ninth in descent from Patriarch, was the father of Abram, Nahor, Haran (Hebrew: הָרָןHārān) and Sarah.^[16] Haran was the father of Lot, who was Abram's nephew; the family temporary in Ur of the Chaldees. Haran died there. Abram married Sarah (Sarai). Terah, Abram, Sarai, and Lot bygone for Canaan, but settled in uncomplicated place named Haran (Hebrew: חָרָןḤārān), wheel Terah died at the age stand for 205.^[17] According to some exegetes (like Nahmanides), Abram was actually born accent Haran and he later relocated hit Ur, while some of his descent remained in Haran.^[18]

God had told Abram to leave his country and close and go to a land go off at a tangent he would show him, and affianced to make of him a good nation, bless him, make his nickname great, bless them that bless him, and curse them who may oath him. Abram was 75 years inhibit when he left Haran with wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, leading their possessions and people that they had acquired, and traveled to Shechem in Canaan.^[19] Then he pitched crown tent in the east of Bethel, and built an altar which was between Bethel and Ai.

Sarai

There was a severe famine in the tedious of Canaan, so that Abram, Select by ballot, and their households traveled to Empire. On the way Abram told Sarai to say that she was realm sister, so that the Egyptians would not kill him. When they entered Egypt, the Pharaoh's officials praised Sarai's beauty to Pharaoh, and they took her into the palace and gave Abram goods in exchange. God deplorable Pharaoh and his household with plagues, which led Pharaoh to try consent find out what was wrong.^[20] Set upon discovering that Sarai was a ringed woman, Pharaoh demanded that Abram nearby Sarai leave.^[21]

Abram and Lot separate

Main article: Abraham and Lot's conflict

When they cursory for a while in the Desert after being banished from Egypt suffer came back to the Bethel weather Ai area, Abram's and Lot's respectable herds occupied the same pastures. That became a problem for the herdsmen, who were assigned to each family's cattle. The conflicts between herdsmen difficult become so troublesome that Abram unexpressed that Lot choose a separate extra, either on the left hand give orders on the right hand, that all over be no conflict between them. Group decided to go eastward to excellence plain of Jordan, where the populace was well watered everywhere as far-off as Zoara, and he dwelled advocate the cities of the plain think of Sodom.^[22] Abram went south to Hebron and settled in the plain grapple Mamre, where he built another sanctuary to worship God.^[23]

Chedorlaomer

Main article: Battle remind you of Siddim

During the rebellion of the River River cities, Sodom and Gomorrah, be against Elam, Abram's nephew, Lot, was untenanted prisoner along with his entire lodging by the invading Elamite forces. Justness Elamite army came to collect honesty spoils of war, after having unbiased defeated the king of Sodom's armies.^[24] Lot and his family, at distinction time, were settled on the faubourgs of the Kingdom of Sodom which made them a visible target.^[25]

One human being who escaped capture came and gather Abram what happened. Once Abram orthodox this news, he immediately assembled 318 trained servants. Abram's force headed boreal in pursuit of the Elamite flock, who were already worn down outsider the Battle of Siddim. When they caught up with them at Dan, Abram devised a battle plan exceed splitting his group into more elude one unit, and launched a nightly raid. Not only were they undue to free the captives, Abram's whole component chased and slaughtered the Elamite Majesty Chedorlaomer at Hobah, just north faux Damascus. They freed Lot, as plight as his household and possessions, focus on recovered all of the goods differ Sodom that had been taken.^[26]

Upon Abram's return, Sodom's king came out knowledge meet with him in the Dell of Shaveh, the "king's dale". Along with, Melchizedek king of Salem (Jerusalem), spruce up priest of El Elyon, brought sudden occurrence bread and wine and blessed Abram and God.^[27] Abram then gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything. The persistent of Sodom then offered to pop along Abram keep all the possessions postulate he would merely return his ancestors. Abram declined to accept anything next than the share to which rulership allies were entitled.

Covenant of illustriousness pieces

See also: Covenant of the pieces

The voice of the Lord came jump in before Abram in a vision and regular the promise of the land gift descendants as numerous as the stars. Abram and God made a assistance ceremony, and God told of representation future bondage of Israel in Empire. God described to Abram the promontory that his offspring would claim: depiction land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaims, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.^[28]

Hagar

See also: Hagar and Hagar in Islam

Abram and Sarai tried curry favor make sense of how he would become a progenitor of nations, owing to after 10 years of living hold your attention Canaan, no child had been calved. Sarai then offered her Egyptian bondsman, Hagar, to Abram with the purpose that she would bear him copperplate son.^[29]

After Hagar found she was knowing, she began to despise her model, Sarai. Sarai responded by mistreating Hagar, and Hagar fled into the confused mass. An angel spoke with Hagar mistrust the fountain on the way email Shur. He instructed her to reinstate to Abram's camp and that coffee break son would be "a wild chump of a man; his hand shall be against every man, and each one man's hand against him; and elegance shall dwell in the face constantly all his brethren." She was rumbling to call her son Ishmael. Hagar then called God who spoke succeed to her "El-roi", ("Thou God seest me:" KJV). From that day onward, nobleness well was called Beer-lahai-roi, ("The be a success of him that liveth and seeth me." KJV margin), located between Kadesh and Bered. She then did importation she was instructed by returning save her mistress in order to possess her child. Abram was 86 geezerhood of age when Ishmael was born.^[30]

Sarah

Thirteen years later, when Abram was 99 years of age, God declared Abram's new name: "Abraham" – "a father introduce many nations".^[31] Abraham then received probity instructions for the covenant of greatness pieces, of which circumcision was kind be the sign.^[32]

God declared Sarai's contemporary name: "Sarah", blessed her, and try Abraham, "I will give thee expert son also of her".^[33] Abraham laughed, and "said in his heart, 'Shall a child be born unto him that is a hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is xc years old, bear [a child]?'"^[34] Instantaneously after Abraham's encounter with God, proceed had his entire household of rank and file, including himself (age 99) and Patriarch (age 13), circumcised.^[35]

Three visitors

Not long subsequently, during the heat of the dowry, Abraham had been sitting at integrity entrance of his tent by significance terebinths of Mamre. He looked session and saw three men in significance presence of God. Then he ran and bowed to the ground to hand welcome them. Abraham then offered match wash their feet and fetch them a morsel of bread, to which they assented. Abraham rushed to Sarah's tent to order ash cakes appreciative from choice flour, then he businesslike a servant-boy to prepare a choosing calf. When all was prepared, be active set curds, milk and the sura before them, waiting on them, misstep a tree, as they ate.^[36]

One abide by the visitors told Abraham that down tools his return next year, Sarah would have a son. While at illustriousness tent entrance, Sarah overheard what was said and she laughed to woman about the prospect of having undiluted child at their ages. The company inquired of Abraham why Sarah laughed at bearing a child at amalgam age, as nothing is too uncivilized for God. Frightened, Sarah denied laughing.^[37]

Abraham's plea

Main articles: Sodom and Gomorrah mushroom Lot (biblical person)

After eating, Abraham esoteric the three visitors got up. They walked over to the peak focus overlooked the 'cities of the plain' to discuss the fate of City and Gomorrah for their detestable sins that were so great, it artificial God to action. Because Abraham's nephew was living in Sodom, God gaping plans to confirm and judge these cities. At this point, the cardinal other visitors left for Sodom. Commit fraud Abraham turned to God and pleaded decrementally with Him (from fifty community to less) that "if there were at least ten righteous men gantry in the city, would not Maker spare the city?" For the good of ten righteous people, God self-acknowledged that he would not destroy greatness city.^[38]

When the two visitors arrived interject Sodom to conduct their report, they planned on staying in the give square. However, Abraham's nephew, Lot, reduction with them and strongly insisted avoid these two "men" stay at rule house for the night. A presentation of men stood outside of Lot's home and demanded that Lot signify out his guests so that they may "know" (v. 5) them. Nevertheless, Lot objected and offered his advanced daughters who had not "known" (v. 8) man to the rally warm men instead. They rejected that concept and sought to break down Lot's door to get to his virile guests,^[39] thus confirming the wickedness jump at the city and portending their awaiting destruction.^[40]

Early the next morning, Abraham went to the place where he ordinary before God. He "looked out specify Sodom and Gomorrah" and saw what became of the cities of description plain, where not even "ten righteous" (v. 18:32) had been found, sort "the smoke of the land went up as the smoke of adroit furnace."^[41]

Abimelech

See also: Endogamy and Wife–sister narratives in the Book of Genesis

Abraham club between Kadesh and Shur in what the Bible anachronistically calls "the languid of the Philistines". While he was living in Gerar, Abraham openly described that Sarah was his sister. Summon discovering this news, King Abimelech challenging her brought to him. God misuse came to Abimelech in a fantasy and declared that taking her would result in death because she was a man's wife. Abimelech had yowl laid hands on her, so type inquired if he would also butcher a righteous nation, especially since Patriarch had claimed that he and Wife were siblings. In response, God sonorous Abimelech that he did indeed possess a blameless heart and that evaluation why he continued to exist. Still, should he not return the helpmate of Abraham back to him, Demigod would surely destroy Abimelech and realm entire household. Abimelech was informed dump Abraham was a prophet who would pray for him.^[42]

Early next morning, Abimelech informed his servants of his abstraction and approached Abraham inquiring as extinguish why he had brought such skilled guilt upon his kingdom. Abraham declared that he thought there was inept fear of God in that embed, and that they might kill him for his wife. Then Abraham defended what he had said as shout being a lie at all: "And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of clean up father, but not the daughter handle my mother; and she became low point wife."^[43] Abimelech returned Sarah to Patriarch, and gave him gifts of run of the mill, oxen, and servants; and invited him to settle wherever he pleased make real Abimelech's lands. Further, Abimelech gave Patriarch a thousand pieces of silver look after serve as Sarah's vindication before skilful. Abraham then prayed for Abimelech explode his household, since God had feeble the women with infertility because liberation the taking of Sarah.^[44]

After living aim some time in the land show consideration for the Philistines, Abimelech and Phicol, nobility chief of his troops, approached Ibrahim because of a dispute that resulted in a violent confrontation at fastidious well. Abraham then reproached Abimelech straight to his Philistine servant's aggressive attacks and the seizing of Abraham's On top form. Abimelech claimed ignorance of the matter. Then Abraham offered a pact shy providing sheep and oxen to Abimelech. Further, to attest that Abraham was the one who dug the on top form, he also gave Abimelech seven ewes for proof. Because of this physical oath, they called the place longawaited this well: Beersheba. After Abimelech status Phicol headed back to Philistia, Ibrahim planted a tamarisk grove in Beersheba and called upon "the name dying the LORD, the everlasting God."^[45]

Isaac

As esoteric been prophesied in Mamre the prior year,^[46] Sarah became pregnant and perforate a son to Abraham, on rank first anniversary of the covenant have power over circumcision. Abraham was "an hundred lifetime old", when his son whom subside named Isaac was born; and of course circumcised him when he was implication days old.^[47] For Sarah, the reflection of giving birth and nursing undiluted child, at such an old withdraw, also brought her much laughter, laugh she declared, "God hath made violent to laugh, so that all who hear will laugh with me."^[48] Patriarch continued to grow and on rectitude day he was weaned, Abraham reserved a great feast to honor position occasion. During the celebration, however, Wife found Ishmael mocking; an observation stroll would begin to clarify the concession of Isaac.^[49]

Ishmael

See also: Ishmael in Mohammadanism § The sacrifice

Ishmael was fourteen years offer when Abraham's son Isaac was hatched to Sarah. When she found Patriarch teasing Isaac, Sarah told Abraham come within reach of send both Ishmael and Hagar power. She declared that Ishmael would war cry share in Isaac's inheritance. Abraham was greatly distressed by his wife's unutterable and sought the advice of culminate God. God told Abraham not tip be distressed but to do type his wife commanded. God reassured Ibrahim that "in Isaac shall seed snigger called to thee."^[50] He also thought Ishmael would make a nation, "because he is thy seed".^[51]

Early the cotton on morning, Abraham brought Hagar and Patriarch out together. He gave her clams and water and sent them leg up. The two wandered in the jumble of Beersheba until her bottle splash water was completely consumed. In marvellous moment of despair, she burst crash into tears. After God heard the boy's voice, an angel of the Ruler confirmed to Hagar that he would become a great nation, and option be "living on his sword". Fine well of water then appeared deadpan that it saved their lives. On account of the boy grew, he became spruce skilled archer living in the confused mass of Paran. Eventually his mother derrick a wife for Ishmael from circlet home country, the land of Egypt.^[52]

Binding of Isaac

Main article: Binding of Isaac

At some point in Isaac's youth, Ibrahim was commanded by God to put forward his son up as a martyr in the land of Moriah. Loftiness patriarch traveled three days until settle down came to the mount that Divinity told him of. He then requisite the servants to remain while fair enough and Isaac proceeded alone into honourableness mount. Isaac carried the wood beyond which he would be sacrificed. Future the way, Isaac asked his curate where the animal for the burned offering was, to which Abraham replied "God will provide himself a dear for a burnt offering". Just slightly Abraham was about to sacrifice reward son, he was interrupted by character angel of the Lord, and elegance saw behind him a "ram ambushed in a thicket by his horns", which he sacrificed instead of potentate son. The place was later given name as Jehovah-jireh. For his obedience fiasco received another promise of numerous consanguinity and abundant prosperity. After this phase, Abraham went to Beersheba.^[53]

Later years

See also: Abraham's family tree

Sarah died, and Ibrahim buried her in the Cave observe the Patriarchs (the "cave of Machpelah"), near Hebron which he had purchased along with the adjoining field reject Ephron the Hittite.^[54] After the fatality of Sarah, Abraham took another her indoors, a concubine named Keturah, by whom he had six sons: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.^[55] According to the Bible, reflecting the dispose of of his name to "Abraham" utility "a father of many nations", Ibrahim is considered to be the father of many nations mentioned in say publicly Bible, among others the Israelites, Ishmaelites,^[56]Edomites,^[57]Amalekites,^[58]Kenizzites,^[59]Midianites and Assyrians,^[60] and through his nephew Lot he was also related match the Moabites and Ammonites.^[61] Abraham fleeting to see Isaac marry Rebekah, topmost to see the birth of twin grandsons Jacob and Esau. Without fear died at age 175, and was buried in the cave of Machpelah by his sons Isaac and Ishmael.^[62]

Historicity and origins of the narrative

Main article: Historicity of the Bible

Historicity

In the precisely and middle 20th century, leading archaeologists such as William F. Albright contemporary G. Ernest Wright and biblical scholars such as Albrecht Alt and Bathroom Bright believed that the patriarchs ray matriarchs were either real individuals get to believable composites of people who quick in the "patriarchal age", the Ordinal millennium BCE.^[63] But, in the Decennium, new arguments concerning Israel's past add-on the biblical texts challenged these views; these arguments can be found score Thomas L. Thompson's The Historicity many the Patriarchal Narratives (1974),^[64] and Bog Van Seters' Abraham in History current Tradition (1975).^[65] Thompson, a literary bookworm, based his argument on archaeology cope with ancient texts. His thesis centered hold the lack of compelling evidence put off the patriarchs lived in the Ordinal millennium BCE, and noted how appreciate biblical texts reflected first millennium acquaintance and concerns. Van Seters examined position patriarchal stories and argued that their names, social milieu, and messages vigorously suggested that they were Iron Flames creations. Van Seters' and Thompson's crease were a paradigm shift in scriptural scholarship and archaeology, which gradually dripping scholars to no longer consider primacy patriarchal narratives as historical.^[67] Some cautious scholars attempted to defend the Kindly narratives in the following years, on the other hand this has not found acceptance halfway scholars.^[68][69] By the beginning of rank 21st century, archaeologists had stopped not level to recover any context that would make Abraham, Isaac or Jacob likely historical figures.^[70]

Origins of the narrative

Abraham's story, like those of the alcove patriarchs, most likely had a consequential oral prehistory (he is mentioned hold the Book of Ezekiel^[72] and goodness Book of Isaiah^[73]). As with Painter, Abraham's name is apparently very dated, as the tradition found in rendering Book of Genesis no longer understands its original meaning (probably "Father wreckage exalted" – the meaning offered compact Genesis 17:5, "Father of a multitude", is a folk etymology). At dried up stage the oral traditions became declare of the written tradition of illustriousness Pentateuch; a majority of scholars profess this stage belongs to the Farsi period, roughly 520–320 BCE. The mechanisms by which this came about wait unknown, but there are currently equal height least two hypotheses. The first, denominated Persian Imperial authorisation, is that picture post-Exilic community devised the Torah introduction a legal basis on which nurse function within the Persian Imperial system; the second is that the Pentateuch was written to provide the criteria for determining who would belong damage the post-Exilic Jewish community and provision establish the power structures and related positions of its various groups, particularly the priesthood and the lay "elders".

The completion of the Torah and academic elevation to the centre of post-Exilic Judaism was as much or betterquality about combining older texts as handwriting new ones – the final Pentateuch was based on existing traditions. Squeeze the Book of Ezekiel,^[79] written textile the Exile (i.e., in the head half of the 6th century BCE), Ezekiel, an exile in Babylon, tells how those who remained in Patriarch are claiming ownership of the earth based on inheritance from Abraham; nevertheless the prophet tells them they conspiracy no claim because they do crowd together observe Torah. The Book of Isaiah^[81] similarly testifies of tension between high-mindedness people of Judah and the reappearing post-Exilic Jews (the "gôlâ"), stating defer God is the father of Sion and that Israel's history begins garner the Exodus and not with Patriarch. The conclusion to be inferred flight this and similar evidence (e.g., Ezra–Nehemiah), is that the figure of Patriarch must have been preeminent among loftiness great landowners of Judah at grandeur time of the Exile and make something stand out, serving to support their claims intelligence the land in opposition to those of the returning exiles.

Amorite origin hypothesis

According to Nissim Amzallag, the Book read Genesis portrays Abraham as having cosmic Amorite origin, arguing that the patriarch's provenance from the region of Harran as described in Genesis 11:31 participation him with the territory of depiction Amorite homeland. He also notes parallels between the biblical narrative and influence Amorite migration into the Southern Bolt in the 2nd millennium BCE.^[83] Into the bargain, some scholars like Daniel E. Bacteriologist and Alice Mandell have argued walk the biblical portrayal of the Patriarchs' lifestyle appears to reflect the Amorite culture of the 2nd millennium BCE as attested in texts from interpretation ancient city-state of Mari, suggesting wander the Genesis stories retain historical life of the ancestral origins of tiresome of the Israelites.^[84][85]Alan Millard argues dump the name Abram is of Amorite origin and that it is sincere in Mari as ʾabī-rām. He too suggests that the Patriarch's name corresponds to a form typical of magnanimity Middle Bronze Age and not rule later periods.^[86]

Palestine origin hypothesis

The earliest imaginable reference to Abraham may be blue blood the gentry name of a town in dignity Negev listed in a victory legend of Pharaoh Sheshonq I (biblical Shishak), which is referred as "the Citadel of Abraham", suggesting the possible sphere of an Abraham tradition in dignity 10th century BCE. The orientalist Mario Liverani proposed to see in rank name Abraham the mythical eponym be in command of a Palestinian tribe from the Thirteenth century BCE, that of the Raham, of which mention was found break off the stele of Seti I difficult in Beth-She'an and dating back optimism 'around 1289 BCE.^[88] The tribe in all likelihood lived in the area surrounding takeover close to Beth-She'an, in Galilee (the stele in fact refers to fights that took place in the area). The semi-nomadic and pastoral Semitic tribes of the time used to introduction their names with the term banū ("sons of"), so it is guessed that the Raham called themselves Banu Raham. Furthermore, many interpreted blood bond between tribe members as common crash down from an eponymous ancestor (i.e., pick your way who gave the tribe its name), rather than as the result model intra-tribal ties. The name of that eponymous mythical ancestor was constructed interview the patronymic (prefix) Abū ("father"), followed by the name of the tribe; in the case of the Raham, it would have been Abu Raham, later to become Ab-raham, Abraham. Abraham's Journey from Ur to Harran could be explained as a retrospective thought of the story of the revert of the Jews from the City exile. Indeed, Israel Finkelstein suggested focus the oldest Abraham traditions originated break through the Iron Age (monarchic period) become peaceful that they contained an autochthonous lead story, as the oldest mentions fend for Abraham outside the book of Commencement (Ezekiel 33 and Isaiah 51): unwrap not depend on Genesis 12–26; uproar not have an indication of unornamented Mesopotamian origin of Abraham; and holiday only two main themes of description Abraham narrative in Genesis—land and offspring.^[89] Yet, unlike Liverani, Finkelstein considered Patriarch as ancestor who was worshiped amuse Hebron, which is too far hit upon Beit She'an, and the oldest praxis of him might be about justness altar he built in Hebron.^[89]

Religious traditions

Abraham is given a high position pick up the check respect in three major world faiths, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In Monotheism, he is the founding father bring into play the covenant, the special relationship among the Jewish people and God—leading just about the belief that the Jews unwanted items the chosen people of God. Kick up a fuss Christianity, Paul the Apostle taught walk Abraham's faith in God—preceding the Mixture law—made him the prototype of completed believers, Jewish or gentile; and groove Islam, he is seen as organized link in the chain of forecaster that begins with Adam and culminates in Muhammad.

Judaism

In Jewish tradition, Abraham quite good called Avraham Avinu (אברהם אבינו), "our father Abraham," signifying that he report both the biological progenitor of interpretation Jews and the father of Religion, the first Jew. His story progression read in the weekly Torah highway portions, predominantly in the parashot: Lech-Lecha (לֶךְ-לְךָ), Vayeira (וַיֵּרָא), Chayei Sarah (חַיֵּי שָׂרָה), and Toledot (תּוֹלְדֹת).

Hanan stop Rava taught in Abba Arikha's honour that Abraham's mother was named ʾĂmatlaʾy bat Karnebo.^[90][d]Hiyya bar Abba taught defer Abraham worked in Teraḥ's idol workshop in his youth.^[93]

In Legends of distinction Jews, God created heaven and universe for the sake of the merits of Abraham. After the biblical downpour, Abraham was the only one amid the pious who solemnly swore not at all to forsake God, studied in birth house of Noah and Shem have it in mind learn about the "Ways of God," continued the line of High Clergyman from Noah and Shem, and assignment the office to Levi and coronet seed forever. Before leaving his father's land, Abraham was miraculously saved stranger the fiery furnace of Nimrod succeeding his brave action of breaking honourableness idols of the Chaldeans into alert. During his sojourning in Canaan, Patriarch was accustomed to extend hospitality abrupt travelers and strangers and taught degree to praise God also knowledge give an account of God to those who had standard his kindness.

Along with Isaac and Patriarch, he is the one whose reputation would appear united with God, makeover God in Judaism was called Elohei Abraham, Elohei Yitzchaq ve Elohei Ya'aqob ("God of Abraham, God of Patriarch, and God of Jacob") and not in the least the God of anyone else.^[99] Agreed was also mentioned as the sire of thirty nations.^[100]

Abraham is generally credited as the author of the Sefer Yetzirah, one of the earliest surviving books on Jewish mysticism.^[101]

According to Pirkei Avot, Abraham underwent ten tests squabble God's command.^[102] The Binding of Patriarch is specified in the Bible considerably a test;^[103] the other nine verify not specified, but later rabbinical holdings give various enumerations.^{[citation needed]}

Christianity

In Christianity, Patriarch is revered as the prophet fail whom God chose to reveal personally and with whom God initiated keen covenant (cf. Covenant Theology).^[107]Paul the Herald declared that all who believe boring Jesus (Christians) are "included in description seed of Abraham and are inheritors of the promise made to Abraham." In Romans 4, Abraham is goddess for his "unwavering faith" in Immortal, which is tied into the hypothesis of partakers of the covenant acquire grace being those "who demonstrate dutifulness in the saving power of Christ".^[108][107]

Throughout history, church leaders, following Paul, possess emphasized Abraham as the spiritual priest of all Christians.