The Origins of Judaism
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, known to the Jews as the Patriarchs, are both the physical and spiritual ancestors of Judaism. They founded the religion now known as Judaism, and the descendants of Jacob are the Jewish people.
According to Jewish tradition, Abraham was born under the name Abram in the city of Ur in Babylonia. He was the son of Terach, an idol merchant, but from his early childhood, he questioned the faith of his father and sought the truth. He came to believe that the entire universe was the work of a single Creator, and he began to teach this belief to others.
Abram tried to convince his father, Terach, of the folly of idol worship. One day, when Abram was left alone to mind the store, he took a hammer and smashed all of the idols except the largest one. He placed the hammer in the hand of the largest idol. When his father returned and asked what happened, Abram said, "The idols got into a fight, and the big one smashed all the other ones." His father said, "Don't be ridiculous. These idols have no life or power. They can't do anything." Abram replied, "Then why do you worship them?"
Eventually, the one true Creator that Abram had worshipped called to him, and made him an offer: if Abram would leave his home and his family, then God would make him a great nation and bless him. Abram accepted this offer, and the covenant between God and the Jewish people was established.
The idea of the covenant is fundamental to traditional Judaism: Jews believe they have a contract with God, which involves rights and obligations on both sides. The terms of this covenant became more explicit over time, until the time of the Giving of the Torah. Abram was subjected to ten tests of faith to prove his worthiness for this covenant. Leaving his home was one of these trials.
Abram was concerned, because he had no children and he was growing old. Abram's beloved wife, Sarai, knew that she was past child-bearing years, so she offered her maid, Hagar, as a wife to Abram. According to tradition, Hagar was a daughter of Pharaoh, given to Abram during his travels in Egypt. She bore Abram a son, Ishmael, who, according to both Muslim and Jewish tradition, is the ancestor of the Arabs.
When Abram was 100 and Sarai 90, God promised Abram a son by Sarai. God changed Abram's name to Abraham (father of many), and Sarai's to Sarah (from "my princess" to "princess"). Sarah bore Abraham a son, Isaac, a name derived from the word "laughter," expressing Abraham's joy at having a son in his old age. Isaac was the ancestor of the Jewish people.
Isaac was the subject of the tenth and most difficult test of Abraham's faith: God commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering.
But this test is also an extraordinary demonstration of Isaac's own faith, because according to Jewish tradition, Isaac knew that he was to be sacrificed, yet he did not resist, and was united with his father in dedication. At the last moment, God sent an angel to stop the sacrifice. Judaism uses this story as evidence that God abhors human sacrifice.
Isaac later married Rebecca , who bore him fraternal twin sons: Jacob and Esau. Jacob married four women and fathered 12 sons. According to the Bible, after many years of working for his uncle and away from his family, Jacob returned to his homeland and sought reconciliation with his brother Esau. The night before he went to meet his brother, he sent his wives, sons, and belongings across the river, and was alone. That night, he wrestled with a man until the break of day. As the dawn broke, Jacob demanded a blessing from the man, and the "man" revealed himself as an angel. He blessed Jacob and gave him the name "Israel", meaning "the one who wrestled with God" or "the Champion of God." The Jewish people are generally referred to as the Children of Israel, signifying their descent from Jacob.
Jacob's twelve sons, including Joseph, are the ancestors of the tribes of Israel, and the ones for whom the tribes are named.
Joseph's older brothers were jealous of him, because he was the favorite of their father, and because he had visions that he would lead them all. They sold Joseph into slavery and convinced their father that Joseph was dead. But this was all part of God's plan: Joseph was brought into Egypt, where his ability to interpret visions earned him a place in the Pharaoh's court, paving the way for his family's later settlement in Egypt.
As centuries passed, the descendants of Israel became slaves in Egypt. They suffered greatly under the hand of later Pharaohs. But, according to the Scriptures, God brought the Children of Israel out of Egypt miraculously under the leadership of Moses.
God led them on a journey through the wilderness to Mount Sinai. Here, God revealed Himself to the Children of Israel and offered them a great covenant: if the people would hearken to God and observe His covenant, then they would be the most beloved of nations, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. God revealed the Torah to the Jews, both the written and oral Torah, and the entire nation responded, "Everything that the Lord has spoken, we will do!"