2006-09-09 11:54:43 · 13 answers · asked by Paul R 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Teaching
Abraham is one of the best-known people of the Bible. He's a key figure in the history of both the Jewish and Arab people. He was the great-grandfather of Judah, whose descendants became known as the Jews, and he was also the father of Ishmael, from whom many of the Arab people are descended. Abraham was a Hebrew, and although the ancestor of both, Abraham himself was neither Jew nor Arab.
From the Scriptural genealogical record comes some of the most well-known terms relating to Israelite people: Semite and Semitic originate from Noah's son Shem, and Hebrew is derived from Eber, the ancestor of Abraham. According to Bible History
2006-09-09 12:04:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Abraham was not a Jew.
He had two sons. As you can read in the Old Testament if you wish to, Ishmael was his first son, born to his second wife, Hagar. Ishmael is the ancestor of the Arabs.
Abraham's second son, as you can also learn from the Bible, was Isaac.
Isaac was Abraham's first wife Sara's son.
Isaac is the grandfather of Jacob who is also called Israel.
Jacob/Israel had twelve sons. Each of them became the ancestor of one of the Twelve Tribes of Israel.
Some time round about when the Tribes of Israel were freed from the Babylonian captivity, they started to be identified as "Jews". This may be because the Tribe of Judah seems to have taken control of the other tribes for a time, on their return from captivity under the influence and encouragement of the Scribe Ezra whose book you can read in the Old Testament of the Bible.
So Abraham was not a Jew and any Christian, Muslim or Jew who says he was, is mistaken.
2006-09-10 04:22:39 · answer #2 · answered by mutaali t 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Abraham was the father of both Issac and Ishmael, who were the founders of formal Judaism and Islam. Abraham was basically Hebrew, but the people became united and the religion became more formalized under Issac.
2006-09-09 12:02:15 · answer #3 · answered by badkitty1969 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He was THE Jew. The father of nations. The first Jew, the one where it all started.
Unless you are talking about Abraham Lincoln, and then the answer is no.
2006-09-09 11:57:57 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I wouldn't have thought so, the Jewish religion was not formalised until Moses (or a group of people) wrote the books of history and law (i think the first five books). Although he is described as the father of the Jews I don't think he would not have called himself a Jew.
2006-09-09 11:58:41 · answer #5 · answered by happytequila@btinternet.com 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Abramham was of Arab origin,but distaste the religion of his father becos it does not work!Abramham was the father of Isaac,then Isaac fathered JACOB THE FIRST JEW,WHO IS THE FATHER OFTHE TWELVE -WHO FORMED THE GENERATION JEWS.SO ABRAHAM IS NOT A JEW.
2006-09-09 12:29:30 · answer #6 · answered by Hephzibah I 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes.
2006-09-09 11:59:10 · answer #7 · answered by chance 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Suspect so.
Isaac was the first to be circumcised though...
2006-09-09 12:12:47 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
He was a character in a "fairy tale".
2006-09-09 22:12:20 · answer #9 · answered by MrZ 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes he was
2006-09-09 12:24:09 · answer #10 · answered by SammyD 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋