From Adam and Eve to Abrahamic Religions
Note = This essay provides a brief and non-linear overview of significant events, relying on existing data. It is not a definitive analysis and might lack exhaustive details. For a thorough understanding, readers are encouraged to refer to more comprehensive sources on the topic.
Synopsis
- Introduction
- Adam and Eve
- Noah and Flood
- The Tower of Babel
- The Story of Abraham
- The Story of Sarah-Hagar
- The Story of Jacob
- The Sale of Joseph
- Joseph in Prison
- Jacob's Family in Egypt
- The Israelites Become Enslaved
- The Burning Bush
- Moses' Journey to Deliverance
- Joshua's Reign
- Kingdom and Split
- Judaism, Christianity and Islam
- Conclusion
- Reference
Introduction
We will see a summary of theological stories such as the origin of Adam and Eve, Noah's ark, the tower of Babel, the stories of Abraham, Sarah-Hagar, Jacob, the sale of Joseph, the imprisonment of Joseph, the slavery of the Israelites, the liberation of Moses, the journey to the promised land, and the reign of Joshua, and the division of the tribes. The essay seeks to simplify theological stories, acknowledging the various individual interpretations, with the primary aim of avoiding any harm to sentiments or emotions.
Adam and Eve
After creating the world, the God (namely Jehovah or Yahweh or Elohim) fashioned lands, seas, rivers, gardens, and animals. The God then formed a human body from the dust of the ground, breathed life into its nostrils, and named the living being Adam. In the Garden of Eden, all the animals were paired, but Adam was alone. The God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, took one of his ribs, and created a female companion named Eve.
The God instructed them that they could freely partake of all the fruits in the garden except those from one specific tree called as 'Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil', warning of dire consequences if they disobeyed. Some traditions identify the forbidden fruit as an apple. One day, Satan appeared in the garden in the guise of a serpent, tempting Eve to defy the God's command. The serpent deceived her with the promise that eating the forbidden fruit would make her like the God. Believing this falsehood, Eve ate the fruit and persuaded Adam to do the same.
In response, God cursed the serpent to crawl on its belly and eat dust. He pronounced consequences for Adam, who would now have to work in order to live, and for Eve, who would experience pain in childbirth. Expelled from the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve faced a life of toil and sorrow. Angels with flaming swords guarded the entrance. Subsequently, driven by lust and desire, Adam and Eve engaged in intimate relations, leading to the birth of three sons: Cain, Abel, and Seth. Cain, harboring jealousy, murdered his brother Abel in the field due to the God's favor toward Abel. The consequences of Adam and Eve's disobedience continued as they aged, gave birth to descendants, witnessed the rise of giants, and ultimately succumbed to mortality.
Noah and Flood
Noah is the tenth generation from Adam and Eve, who are considered the first generation. His family included eight people: his wife Naamah, and his three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, along with their three daughters-in-law.
One day, the God informed Noah, 'I am going to destroy the world with a great flood, but I will save you and your family. Build a watertight ark and gather some animals. Only those in the ark will be spared; everyone else will perish'. Upon completing the ark, Noah's family and selected animals entered it, waiting as the God closed the ark's door. As the ark began to move on the water, the great flood engulfed the earth, bringing an end to all life outside the ark. Eventually, the God halted the ark in a dry place and instructed Noah, 'Bring your family and the animals out of the ark; the world will no longer face destruction by flood'.
The Tower of Babel Story
After the receding of the flood, God intended for people to spread across the renewed earth. Later, Nimrod, the hunter and Noah's great-grandson, who emerged as a powerful leader, persuaded the people to gather in Shinar. He proposed building a city with a towering structure, aiming to reach heaven and attain great fame through its construction.
The God, disapproving of this endeavour, decided to thwart the people's plans. Suddenly, he caused those who had once shared a common language to speak in different tongues, rendering their communication incomprehensible to one another. This extraordinary event led to the naming of the place as Babylon, signifying confusion. Eventually, groups of people, now speaking different languages, left Babylon and dispersed to various parts of the earth.
The Story of Abraham
Abraham, the 20th generation from Adam and the 10th generation from Noah, was born in the city of Ur, in a region known as Mesopotamia. His wife was named Sarah. One day, the God instructed Abraham to leave Ur and go to a city that would be revealed to him. In response, Abraham, along with his wife Sarah, father Terah, and nephew Lot, left for the city of Canaan and paused a while in Harran.
While staying there, Terah, Abraham's father, passed away, and they continued their journey to the city of Canaan. It was there that the God promised Abraham, 'I will give this land to your descendants'. Facing a severe famine in Canaan, Abraham and Sarah went to Egypt for survival. Concerned about Sarah's beauty, Abraham feared for life and introduced her as his sister. Pharaoh, the Egyptian King, was captivated by Sarah and took her to the Palace. Witnessing Sarah's suffering, the God afflicted Pharaoh and his family with plagues. Upon discovering the truth through divine interventions, Pharaoh confronted Abraham, saying, 'Why didn't you tell me that Sarah is your wife? I thought she is your sister and so took her to my Palace without knowing that. Please leave the city of Egypt now'. As compensation, Pharaoh bestowed various riches upon them, and they were sent out of the country.
With their newfound wealth, Abraham, Sarah, and Lot returned to the Negev. Due to disputes over grazing cattle, Abraham and Lot eventually separated. Lot settled in the city of Jordan, while Abraham returned to Canaan. In another divine encounter, the God assured Abraham, 'I will give you and your descendants all the land that can be seen in the four directions'. Despite this promise, Abraham lamented the absence of children. In response, the God instructed him to sacrifice a cow, a goat, and a dove, foretelling that his descendants would endure 400 years of slavery in another city before returning to Canaan with abundant riches.
The Story of Sarah-Hagar
Haunted by the fear of a childless future, despite God's promise of hope, Sarah cried out to her husband and prayed, "I am childless! Please grant me a child, even if it means through an Egyptian maid named Hagar." Initially, Abraham refused, anticipating potential problems. However, due to Sarah's persistent insistence, Abraham eventually acquiesced to her request, and they conceived a child with Hagar.
When Hagar became pregnant, conflicts raised between Sarah and Hagar. In retaliation, Sarah, in her resentment, made the pregnant Hagar do hard work. Sarah's cruelty escalated, prompting Hagar to run away. In the desert, the God asked Hagar, "Why are you running?". She explained the situation, and the God instructed her to return, naming her unborn son Ishmael. The God promised that through Ishmael's descendants, a new clan would be introduced and multiplied like the stars. Hagar returned as instructed and gave birth to Abraham's first son, Ishmael. Meanwhile, in accordance with the God's plan, Sarah also became pregnant and gave birth to Abraham's second son, Isaac.
Abraham now had two wives, Sarah and Hagar, and two sons, Isaac and Ishmael. Displeased with the interactions between Isaac and Ishmael, Sarah urged Abraham to expel Hagar and Ishmael from the house. Complying with Sarah's request, Abraham asked Hagar to leave with Ishmael. They both departed and wandered in the desert of Beersheba.
Meanwhile, while common tradition accepts that Abraham had two wives, Sarah and Hagar, some theological accounts tell us that after the death of his first wife, Sarah, Abraham married Keturah, with whom he had six sons. Further research may provide more details on this.
The Story of Jacob
Abraham arranged for his son Isaac to marry Rebekah, the daughter of Laban and granddaughter of Bethuel from Harran. The union between Isaac and Rebekah resulted in the birth of twins, Esau and Jacob. Over time, a complex dynamic unfolded within the family. Esau, the elder twin, harboured resentment toward Jacob, feeling that his parents and relatives favored his younger brother.
This animosity deepened as Esau, seeking solace in Canaan, married two women, Adah and Judith. Unfortunately, instead of finding comfort, these unions intensified Esau's animosity towards Jacob. The influence of his wives, Adah and Judith, played a significant role in fueling Esau's growing hatred for his younger brother.
Jacob traveled to Harran seeking a wife from within his family lineage. There, he met and fell in love with Rachel, Laban's younger daughter. Laban agreed to their marriage in exchange for seven years of Jacob's labor. However, on the wedding night, due to customary veiling and trickery by Laban, Jacob unknowingly married Leah, the elder daughter, instead. Deceived and heartbroken, he still agreed to work another seven years to marry Rachel, demonstrating his unwavering love. Finally, after fulfilling his service, Laban allowed him to marry Rachel.
In addition to his marriages, Jacob also formed relationships with two maidservants, Bilhah and Zilpah. Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Dinah, Joseph, and Benjamin—twelve sons and one daughter—were born to Jacob through different wives. The twelve sons of Jacob later became the twelve tribes of Israel. Jacob's wives included Leah and Rachel, along with concubines Bilhah and Zilpah, and their children together formed the foundation of the nation of Israel.
However, the descendants of Jacob's only daughter, Dinah, were not recognized as a separate tribe. A distressing incident occurred when the prince of the Shechem region forcibly had a sexual encounter with Dinah. In retaliation, Dinah's brothers, Simeon and Levi, killed all the males in the Shechem city upon learning about this act of cruelty. These events caused deep distress to Jacob. Also Dinah's story highlights the violence against women, and the oppression of women in the past and present society.
The Sale of Joseph
The brothers harboured intense resentment towards Joseph due to their father Jacob's special love for him among the twelve sons. This animosity heightened when Joseph shared a dream where his brothers were bowing down and worshiping him.
Driven by jealousy over his dreams and their father's favouritism, Joseph's brothers contemplated killing him. Reuben, horrified by the thought of bloodshed, proposed throwing him into an empty well, intending to rescue him later. However, when their plan failed, Judah, desperate to avoid direct harm, suggested selling him to passing Ishmaelite merchants instead. Brothers ultimately sold Joseph for twenty pieces of silver, sending him on a path that would both lead to suffering and eventually, redemption.
To cover their tracks, they lied to their father Jacob, presenting Joseph's coat stained with animal blood. This deceitful act led Jacob to believe that a wild beast had killed his son. Subsequently, the Ishmaelite merchant sold Joseph to Potiphar, an employee of Pharaoh, the Egyptian King. Joseph found himself in servitude, working diligently for Potiphar.
However, his troubles escalated when Potiphar's wife, seeking revenge for Joseph's rejection of her advances, falsely accused him of attempting to rape her. This fabricated accusation resulted in Joseph being unjustly thrown into jail.
Joseph in Prison
The prison officer assigned Joseph the responsibility of overseeing the other prisoners. One day, the baker and the cup-bearer asked Joseph to share his dreams about them. Followingly, Joseph informed the baker that Pharaoh would cut off his head in three days upon release, and he told the cup-bearer that in three days, he would resume serving Pharaoh.
Joseph urged the cup-bearer to mention him to Pharaoh and seek his release. However, after three days, Pharaoh executed the freed baker, and the cup-bearer, upon returning to his duties, failed to mention Joseph to Pharaoh. When Pharaoh later sought the interpretation of his dreams, the cup-bearer finally remembered Joseph and said to Pharaoh, 'Joseph can interpret dreams; he is in prison'. Consequently, Pharaoh ordered Joseph to be brought out of prison.
Jacob's Family in Egypt
Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'In the first dream, I saw seven lean cows devouring seven fat cows. In the second dream, I saw seven dry sheaves of grain beginning to devour seven rich sheaves of grain'. Joseph explained to Pharaoh, 'Both dreams represent the same action. The seven fat cows and the seven sheaves of rich grain symbolise the seven years of plenty, while the seven lean cows and the seven dry sheaves of grain represent the subsequent seven years of famine. By storing the surplus food during the years of plenty, we can meet the needs during the years of famine'.
Impressed, Pharaoh entrusted Joseph with the responsibility of storing food. When famine struck, even the city of Canaan faced a food shortage. Jacob, in response, sent his sons to Egypt. Upon recognising his brothers, Joseph revealed himself, unable to contain his emotions. 'I am Joseph! Is Father well?' he asked. Overjoyed, Joseph reassured his brothers, 'Don't you regret selling me here because the God has sent me before you for a good reason to save lives and protect our family. Go and tell our father the details and come to live with him here'.
Jacob, upon hearing this news, was happy and settled in Egypt with his family. He was delighted to be reunited with his son Joseph. The family that remained in Egypt came to be known as the Israelites. Joseph's father, Jacob, adopted Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, to protect the future lineage, fulfil the divine promise, and maintain family harmony. It ultimately shaped the structure and future of the Israelite tribes.
The Israelites Become Enslaved
The Israelites initially found favor in the eyes of the Egyptian King during Jacob's time. However, after the death of Jacob and the ascension of a new Pharaoh, the attitude towards the Israelites changed. The new Pharaoh, displeased with the growing numbers of the Israelites, subjected them to slavery. Despite their enslaved status, the Israelites continued to multiply, causing fear among the Egyptians.
In an attempt to control their population, Pharaoh issued a decree to kill male Israelite infants. Jochebed, the daughter of Levi (one of Jacob's sons), took desperate measures to save his baby. Placing him in a basket, she set it among the reeds by the Nile, hoping to evade the Egyptians. Pharaoh's daughter discovered the baby while bathing and, moved by compassion, decided to adopt the baby. She named him Moses. Moses sister, Miriam, cleverly approached the princess and offered to find a nurse for the child. Miriam then brought Moses own mother, Jochebed, to care for him as a servant in Pharaoh's house.
As Moses grew, he became aware of his Israelite heritage and the plight of his people. Witnessing an Egyptian mistreating an Israelite, Moses intervened, leading to the Pharaoh's ire. Upon learning that the Pharaoh sought his life, Moses fled Egypt at the age of 40 and sought refuge in the city of Midian. There, he married Zipporah, the daughter of a shepherd and priest named Jethro. Moses tended sheep for 40 years and reached the age of 80 in Midian.
The Burning Bush
Moses ascended the mountain, leading his father-in-law Jethro's flock of sheep on Mount Horeb, though the exact location remains debatable. There, to his amazement, he came across a burning bush that, despite the flames, remained unconsumed. As Moses approached, a voice emanated from the bush, declaring, 'I am here to liberate the Israelites from Egyptian slavery through you, leading them to the city of Canaan'.
Overwhelmed by the responsibility entrusted to him, Moses expressed concern, 'When I tell the Israelites of their impending freedom, they will undoubtedly question the the one who sent me, who shall I say has sent me?'. In response, the voice of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, assured Moses of divine support. Doubting the Israelites' faith in this divine mission, Moses sought to reaffirm it. The voice instructed him to show a miraculous sign.
Followingly, Moses placed his staff on the ground, and, to his astonishment, it transformed into a serpent. Witnessing this supernatural event, Moses gained confidence in his role as the messenger. In the wake of this extraordinary encounter, Moses informed his father-in-law, Jethro, that he needed to visit his relatives in Egypt. With a newfound sense of purpose, Moses set out for Egypt.
Moses' Journey to Deliverance
Emboldened by the burning bush incident, Moses confronted Pharaoh, asking for the freedom of the enslaved Israelites. Pharaoh, fueled by the arrogance of power, stubbornly refused to release the Israelites, triggering a series of devastating plagues in Egypt as a manifestation of the God's wrath. After witnessing the death of his firstborn during the final plague, Pharaoh finally relented, allowing the Israelites to leave Egypt. This marked the beginning of the Israelites journey to the Promised Land.
After leaving Egypt, the Israelites reached the Red Sea. Pharaoh, seeking to reassert his authority, sent an Egyptian army after the Israelites. The Israelites found themselves trapped between the pursuing Egyptian army and the Red Sea. In a pivotal moment, Moses raised his rod, and the God, in response, parted the Red Sea waters, allowing the Israelites to cross safely. Once they reached the other side, Moses lowered his staff, and the Red Sea waters closed, drowning the Egyptians.
After this remarkable escape, the Israelites, guided by Moses, reached Mount Sinai. There, Moses spent 40 days and nights receiving the Ten Commandments from the God. Subsequently, Moses led the Israelites through the desert for forty years, facing challenges such as hunger, thirst, and enemies. At Meribah, when confronted with a water shortage, the God instructed Moses to speak to a rock. However, in desperation, Moses struck the rock with a staff. Consequently, Moses was forbidden from entering the Promised Land as a punishment from the God. Finally, on Mount Nebo, Moses stood at a distance and saw the Promised Land of Canaan. It was there that he continued leading his people until his death at the age of 120.
Joshua's Reign
Among the descendants of Ephraim, Joshua emerged as the chosen successor to the late Moses. Joshua, a formidable warrior, led the Israelites in the conquest of Canaan following their Exodus from Egypt. He strategically raided across the Jordan River, employing spies to assess the enemy's morale in Canaan. Following the successful capture of the main city of Jericho, he extended his conquest to other cities in both the northern and southern regions, eventually bringing all of Palestine under Israeli control.
Joshua then allocated the conquered lands among the twelve tribes of Israel. Joshua, having lived to the age of 110, imparted his final exhortation to the Israelites, urging them to remain faithful to the God of the covenant. After Joshua's death, the Israelites experienced a fascinating period of political and religious upheaval, transitioning through various forms of administration, including judges, prophets, priests, and eventually Kings.
Kingdom and Split
Saul was crowned the first King by the prophet Samuel. Initially, Saul established the capital at Gibeah. After Saul's reign, King David conquered Jerusalem from the Jebusites and established it as Israel's capital. Later, King Solomon became the ruler of the region. After King Solomon's death, the tribes split into two Kingdoms: the family of Judah, referred to as the Southern Kingdom, consisting of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin; and the family of Israel, known as the Northern Kingdom, comprising the remaining ten tribes. Following the Assyrian conquest of the Northern Kingdom in 722 BCE, those ten tribes disappeared from historical records.
Today, many Palestinians identify themselves as Arabs of mixed ancestry. They do not connect their identity with the tribal Jewish group of the family of Judah or Israel. Some identify as descendants of the Jebusite race or as a lost tribe. Overall, the Israeli-Palestinian problem involves theological, political, historical and social factors.
Judaism, Christianity and Islam
According to Judaism traditions, Abraham formed a special covenant with the God, Isaac continued the lineage, and the twelve sons of Jacob went on to form the twelve tribes of Israel, establishing a heritage. Following this lineage, Moses led the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery, received the Law (Torah) including the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai through a covenant. The principles outlined in the Torah are fundamental to Judaism.
According to Christian traditions, Abraham's unwavering faith shone through when he obeyed the God's command to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Jacob, his grandson, played a pivotal role in continuing the family line. King David, a powerful ruler, secured the genealogical connection, ensuring the lineage's significance. Amidst challenging times and the scattering of the people from homeland to Babylon, prophets sustained hope for a special saviour. Finally, in a small town, Joseph and Mary, a descendant of David, were filled with joy as they witnessed the fulfilment of their hope with the arrival of Jesus. Through his life and teachings, Jesus laid the foundations of Christianity, which were later documented in the Bible.
According to Islam traditions, Abraham's wife Hagar was not sent away but fled because of Sarah's cruelty. When Hagar and Ishmael wandered in the desert thirsting for water, the angel Gabriel intervened and quenched their thirst by showing them the well of Zamzam. Ismail grew up and married a local woman, and together they established a community around the well of Zamzam. Over time, this community grew into the city of Mecca, which is revered as Islam's holiest city. The lineage of Ishmael welcomed their prophet, Muhammad who laid the foundations of Islam upon Quran.
From the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden to the leadership tales of figures like Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses, the narratives form the foundation of the Abrahamic religions. Themes of faith, obedience, redemption, and the protection of the Promised Land resonate across generations, including in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Reference
The Three Abrahamic Religions
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