About 2000 BC (about 4,000 years ago)
Abraham was born with the name Abram in the Babylonian city of Ur (Iraq). Estimates as to the era in which Abraham lived can vary from 2100 BC to 1800 BC (sometime between 4,100 years ago and 3,800 years ago). Details about Abraham's life are provided in the Bible's book of Genesis, primarily in chapters 11 through 25.
The book of Genesis explains that Abraham was a faithful man, that he believed in the one true God. Abraham's faith was tested by God. For example, Abraham was asked to leave his country and go to a land that God would show him (the land of Canaan, which later became Israel):
1 Now Yahweh said to Abram, “Leave your country, and your relatives, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who treats you with contempt. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you.” 4 So Abram went, as Yahweh had told him. Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. (Genesis 12:1-4, WEB)
Abraham obeyed and left for the land of Canaan. God established a covenant with Abraham. That covenant involved the promise of a savior, the Messiah, who would be a descendant of Abraham. That promise was later passed down to Abraham's son, Isaac, and then to Isaac's son, Jacob, and then to Abraham's great grandson Judah. Later, it was passed down to King David, who was ancient Israel's greatest king.
Abraham’s firstborn son was Ishmael, who was born to an Egyptian woman named Hagar. Hagar was a maidservant to Sarah, who was Abraham's wife. Ishmael is widely regarded as the forefather to Arabs.
Abraham’s firstborn son with his wife, Sarah, was named Isaac. God chose Isaac to be the son who would inherit the promises that God had made to Abraham:
God said, “No, but Sarah, your wife, will bear you a son. You shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. (Genesis 17:19, WEB)
Abraham’s original name was Abram. The name, Abraham, according to a footnote in the NIV English translation of the Bible, means "Father of many nations". Abram is defined as "exalted father". The Lord changes Abram’s name to Abraham:
Your name will no more be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. (Genesis 17:5, WEB)
Next: The near-sacrifice of Abraham's son Isaac
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