how many sons for Abraham.
This verse says only ONE son.
GE 22:12 "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he(God) 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."
I have read it in context also. Before and after this verse.
GE 22:15 The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, "I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your ONLY son
Its actually makeing a point of it.
Did he have only ONE son or two?? (Ishmael the oldest)
If you are muslim, feel free to answer, I would like your view also, that would be great.
And before anyone says "in there laws the only one considered son was not born from a maidservant" or something like that... here is another verse, clearly calling Ishmael, Abrahams son.
GE 25:12 This is the account of Abraham's SON Ishmael, whom Sarah's maidservant, Hagar the Egyptian, bore to Abraham
thx
2006-08-20 01:15:13 · 23 answers · asked by CJunk 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Bible version is NIV
2006-08-20 01:17:38 · update #1
I agree with Akman at the moment
2006-08-20 01:27:13 · update #2
So many of you dont seem to understand what "your ONLY son" means?!!... ONLY son, ONLY son,
I want a decent explanation for the refering to isaac as the ONLY son, when clearly he had Ishmael by this time.
2006-08-20 02:02:07 · update #3
A good question showing your interest to know the truth, the pure truth, and here's the truth you look for,
According to Islam, Abraham has two sons, Ishmael being the oldest, and as the Koran wasn't distorted over about 1400 years and it will remain undistorted till the end of days, it has no contradiction neither in the same copy nor between different copies from all over the world, you can compare as many copies as you can, and you'll find no single contradiction between any of them (THIS CAN BE CONSIDERED AS A CHALLENGE FOR EVERY ONE) .
As to the Bible or the Torah (Old Testament), they were distorted many times since they were given to Jesus Christ and Mousa (Peace Be Upon Them) .
I'm really sorry to tell this and didn't want to be offensive but it's the pure truth .
2006-08-20 02:10:10 · answer #1 · answered by Green visitor is back :D 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Abraham has more than 2 sons: Genesis 25: 2 listed 6 more. However Issac is the ONLY one through whom God's promise to Abraham will be fulfilled. And God has made this very clear to Abraham at Ge21:12-13.
2006-08-20 08:44:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
well it looks like you are really trying to understand the bible . Rashi (the most respected bible commentator) also poses this question. In fact when G-d told Abraham he was going to have a child in his old age with his wife Sarah she laughed because she didn't menstruate and Abraham was so old. When Sarah brought Hagar into the tent she thought Hagar would bear a child and Sarah would be the mother (hence surrogate mother concept) after Sarah gave birth to Yitzhak and she saw how Abraham's first son treated her son Sarah told Abraham to get rid of Hagar and the child so there would be no confusion as to who was considered the legitimate child (and henceforth continue the lineage)
This is not the only time in the bible where the first born child is not considered as holding the title of continuation of the fore fathers (Esau and Jacob) and Ephraim and Menashe
G-d is trying to point out to us that even though you may consider yourself as deserving like inheritance laws - truly the only the worthy will inherit what is their due
2006-08-20 08:44:38 · answer #3 · answered by prettymama 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You said that you found ONE?
Ok, that means that you have just started to read the bible.
when you'll finish reading, start studying it.... and you are gonna find "MANY".
After finishing all....start making comparisons of what bulllsh*** there is in there...how many Good things and how many crap.
Then get the "Good things" and make a comparison, which one of these is kept and practised by the "Good Christians" or by the God's representatives.
After doing all this process, I doubt that you still want to call yourself "Christian". He gave a teaching. He didn't make religions to fight who is the best.
I bet that if He should come back on Earth, the Christians should be the first to crucify Him.
He had mentioned it already."23At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. 24For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible. 25See, I have told you ahead of time. (Mathew 24)
2006-08-20 08:42:33 · answer #4 · answered by UncleGeorge 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You are being confused. Not by the bible but by the emperor Justine, Who by the way was also a Pope who went to a meeting and removed books and pages from the Bible and he was the caused of the Bible being mis-numbered. And then the Catholic Church Added more changes to the wording to suit their needs. So it is no wonder that you have conflicting stories in the Bible that are confusing. But the king James original bible was the most correct Bible to read. I have a copy of that Bible and I will give you the date of that Bible at a later date. Also the Coptic Bible is something that you should read And the Original Greek Bible..............
2006-08-20 08:39:59 · answer #5 · answered by kilroymaster 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I always saw it that Issac was the one who was going to inherit. Ishmael was indeed his son, but a son conceived basically because Sarah doubted God. Issac is the son the Lord gave to Abraham and Sarah divinely, and therefore, the 'important' one.
2006-08-20 08:23:27 · answer #6 · answered by Arlene06 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They represent the two different sides of following God.
Ishmael was a son born of the flesh. -- represents man trying to do things for himself and of course we are never able to be good enough.
Isaac was the promised heir to Abraham. (The only son God intended for him to have) -- Represents the goodness of God. His grace to overcome even it what seems impossible.
Ishmael was not according to God's plan. Isaac was,
God did not turn His back on Ishmael - He promised to make him a great nation. As we see today he is.
Question-- How many men today recognize their illegitimate offspring as their children and heirs? Would you leave your inheritance to a child by your wife or to a child by someone you had no real relationship with? Answer truthfully.
2006-08-20 08:31:44 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Abraham did have many sons indeed. The reference to the one son is intended to highlight Isaac's singularity because he was born to Abraham's official wife, Sarah. Abraham's blessings (in todays' language: monetary legacy, name and fame) rested on Isaac.
Quite distressing a story now that whether we like it or not we hae to engage Muslims in dialogue.
2006-08-20 08:21:06 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The LORD promised Abraham that he would have a Son. Isaac was the only one that was recognised by the LORD as the one with the "Blessing".
Ishmael was to be a leader in himself, over many nations, as promised...(And thats what this whole conflict is about anyways, who got the blessing!).
The Arabs believe that Ishmael got it, and the Jewish and Christians believe that Isaac got it...
We know that Isaac must of had it because JESUS CHRIST was from his lineage!
I wish you well..
Jesse
2006-08-20 08:27:11 · answer #9 · answered by x 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Muslims believe Ismail was the first son and at the time only son and he was the one being offered for sacrifice - hence at the time the verse must have been true - Abraham did indeed offer his only (at the time) son
The fact that he later had Isaac (chrisitans would beleive that ismail came second) is neither here nor there - the verse is true
2006-08-20 08:27:27 · answer #10 · answered by dr_fantastic_1 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋