knowing abraham had many children why did God say your only son Isaac
2007-02-20 08:43:26 · 13 answers · asked by loveChrist 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Actually, at this point, Abraham only had two sons, Isaac and Ismael. Some would say that God only recognized Isaac. HOwever I am not sure of that.
On the other hand, checking in my New King James Bible, I notice that when it quotes God as saying "your only son, Isaac", the word "son" is in italics. Now in that edition of the Bible, italics are used to show a word that is not actually in the original Hebre, but is used to fill a sentence or to make it understandable. But God actually said, "Take your son, your only Isaac...".
2007-02-20 08:50:32 · answer #1 · answered by Mr Ed 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Bible as we know it was compiled from a variety of different sources. Although these individual sources (which have been identified through textual criticism) tell many of the same tales, they often differ on the details. Thus we have two different versions of creation (Genesis 1:1-2:3 versus Genesis 2:4-25) , two radically different versions of the 10 commandments (Exodus 20:2-17 versus Exodus 34:14-36), 2 versions of the details concerning the flood (Gen 7:2–3 versus Gen 6:19–20)
This also explains discrepancies in the Abraham/Issac story. There is even a Jewish tradition (The Akedah) that in the oldest of texts, Abraham actually kills Isaac without God intervening, which is why in the present story Abraham comes down the mountain alone.
The Biblical apologist will make excuses for all these discrepancies and try to harmonize them, giving no regard to logic at all. The truth is that God did not dictate the Bible. That is why it is full of errors. (Unless, of course, you would rather believe that God had some incredible short term memory loss.)
2007-02-20 08:58:42 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Oh oh! p.c.. me! p.c.. me! i comprehend this one! Gen sixteen:15-sixteen: Abram has a son named Ishmael Gen 17:5: Abram gets a clean call: Abraham Gen 18: God can provide a son to Sarah, Abraham's spouse (Hagar is a concubine) Gen 21 - Isaac is born to Sarah and Abraham and Sarah has Hagar and Ishamael forged out. (don't be too harsh on Sarah, there have been actual protection concerns right here by using fact it wasn't uncommon for somebody in Ishmael's place to kill a youthful inheritor like Isaac.) This effectively ends Abraham's dating with the two Hagar and Ishmael, legally conversing. Gen 22 - Isaac is the only son. So the respond on your question is: a) "Abram" become the father of Ishmael and "Abraham" become of Isaac: thus "Abraham" had in easy terms one son b) Ishmael become the son of a concubine and not an inheritor c) Ishmael and Hagar were disowned with the help of and legally far off from the family contributors element be conscious: people who're answering that Ishmael become illegitimate and thus no longer an inheritor are incorrect. Ishamel become considered legally the son of Sarai (Sarah until eventually now God replaced her call) as according to Gen sixteen:2. Ishmael *might* have been an inheritor had no longer Isaac been born. besides, such solutions are imposing a twenty first century marriage properly-known onto unfavorable Abraham. Neither of his sons become illegitimate. A concubine become a spouse from the servant classification, no longer a "mistress."
2016-09-29 09:31:58 · answer #3 · answered by gizzi 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Isaac was the only son by Abraham's wife. Abraham had many sons and daughters by his slaves as was custom at that time.
2007-02-20 08:48:29 · answer #4 · answered by Mary W 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You really need to read the entire Bible instead of taking one passage out of context.
Sarah had Hagar, her slave, bear a child named Ishmael. Hagar was not the wife of Abraham so the Child Ishmael had no claim to inherit. The son inherits. The illegitimate child is cast out.
Sounds tough these days, but, this entire ideology about children born out of wedlock is still practiced in the middle east. Try reading about the culture of the middle east to understand why Ishmael was not a son of Abraham and only an illegitimate child.
I can understand how an ignorant "American" with no understanding of any culture but their own could misunderstand this scripture.
The passage has to be read understanding that the culture of the people involved was very different from the culture of the United States today.
2007-02-20 08:59:42 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
At the time there was Issac and Ishmael. Issac was the son that God had promised Abraham through Sarah. Ishmael was a product of Abraham trying to receive the promise of God on his own.
2007-02-20 08:50:23 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You need to keep reading:
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, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring [b] all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."
This is why people THINK there are errors in the Bible - THEY STOP READING IT!
2007-02-20 08:48:51 · answer #7 · answered by Gladiator 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Isaac was the only son at the time. Abraham had already kicked Ishmael out.
2007-02-20 08:48:14 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
He meant to say "- left".
2007-02-20 09:10:56 · answer #9 · answered by skepsis 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the authors of the bible were not that smart
the bible also says that his wife was his half sister
2007-02-20 08:46:59 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋