JEWISH INFORMATION AND HISTORY
JEWS
INFORMATION DESK
JEWISH INFORMATION AND HISTORY
THE
HISTORY OF ISRAEL:
BEGINNING WITH ABRAHAM TO THE PRESENT
(Subjects in this Section)
1-NOAH
TO ABRAHAM, ISHMAEL, AND ISAAC 
Noah begat Shem; and Shem begat Arphaxad; and Arphaxad begat Salah; and Salah begat Eber; and Eber begat Peleg; and Peleg begat Reu; and Reu begat Serug; and Serug begat Nahor; and Nahor begat Terah; and Terah begat Abram; and Abram begat Ishmael by the bondwoman, called Hagar. Abram's name was changed by God to Abraham. Abraham begat Isaac by his wife, Sarah, the freewoman.
Deut 7:6-8-FOR THOU ART AN HOLY PEOPLE UNTO THE LORD THY GOD: THE LORD THY GOD HATH CHOSEN THEE TO BE A SPECIAL PEOPLE UNTO HIMSELF, ABOVE ALL PEOPLE THAT ARE UPON THE FACE OF THE EARTH. THE LORD DID NOT SET HIS LOVE UPON YOU, NOR CHOOSE YOU, BECAUSE YE WERE MORE IN NUMBER THAN ANY PEOPLE; FOR YE WERE THE FEWEST OF ALL PEOPLE: BUT BECAUSE THE LORD LOVED YOU, AND BECAUSE HE WOULD KEEP THE OATH WHICH HE HAD SWORN UNTO YOUR FATHERS, HATH THE LORD BROUGHT YOU OUT WITH A MIGHTY HAND, AND REDEEMED YOU OUT OF THE HOUSE OF BONDMEN, FROM THE HAND OF PHARAOH KING OF EGYPT.
3-NOAH
TO JACOB AND HIS SONS
(SUMMARY)
From the lineage of Noah and Shem, came Abram. From Abram (Abraham) came Ishmael
and Isaac. Ishmael was born of the bond woman, and Isaac was born of the free
woman. These two half brothers were at odds with each other. It was originally
expected that Ishmael would be Abram's heir; however, GOD SAID...IN ISAAC SHALL
THY SEED BE CALLED-Gen 21:12. Many of the Arabs today are descendants of Ishmael.
They believe the land of Israel should belong to them as they are the offspring
of the firstborn of Abram. But God said the heir would be the offspring of Isaac.
Thus, there is what appears to be an unsolvable problem in the Middle East.
This same feud between Ishmael and Isaac goes on today. This forms the basis
for much of the Bible prophecy that is yet to happen. God's covenant is with
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and their seed.
Sodom and Gomorrah, in which
ten just men could not be found, was destroyed-ref Gen 18:32; 19:22-25.
Abraham begat Isaac. Isaac
begat Jacob, whose name was changed by God to Israel-ref Gen 35:10. From Jacob
came twelve sons, which would become the twelve tribes of Israel-ref Gen 35:22-26.
Israel went to Egypt.
4-ABRAHAM,
ISHMAEL, AND ISAAC: HOW THEY RELATE TO TODAY;
HOW GOD SET THE STAGE FOR WHAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN;
THE UNSOLVABLE PROBLEM
The unsolvable problem: this is what exists in the Middle East since Israel's
rebirth. You may wonder what is meant by this statement. It is referring to
the intense hatred of the Arabs toward the Jews. The Arabs claim the land that
Israel now occupies is theirs. They believe that God promised it to them through
Abraham. The Jews also claim this land. They believe that God promised them
the land they now have, plus more, through Abraham. As long as the Jews control
this land, there will be wars and unrest until one side is destroyed. Let us
look at God's Word to see how this unsolvable problem came about.
AND TERAH TOOK ABRAM HIS SON,
AND LOT THE SON OF HARAN HIS SON'S SON, AND SARAI HIS DAUGHTER IN LAW, HIS SON
ABRAM'S WIFE; AND THEY WENT FORTH WITH THEM FROM UR OF THE CHALDEES, TO GO INTO
THE LAND OF CANAAN; AND THEY CAME UNTO HARAN, AND DWELT THERE. AND THE DAYS
OF TERAH WERE TWO HUNDRED AND FIVE YEARS: AND TERAH DIED IN HARAN-Gen 11:31,32.
NOW THE LORD HAD SAID UNTO
ABRAM, GET THEE OUT OF THY COUNTRY, AND FROM THY KINDRED, AND FROM THY FATHER'S
HOUSE, UNTO A LAND THAT I WILL SHOW THEE: AND I WILL MAKE OF THEE A GREAT NATION,
AND I WILL BLESS THEE, AND MAKE THY NAME GREAT; AND THOU SHALT BE A BLESSING:
AND I WILL BLESS THEM THAT BLESS THEE, AND CURSE HIM THAT CURSETH THEE: AND
IN THEE SHALL ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH BE BLESSED-Gen 12:1-3. AND ABRAM
PASSED THROUGH THE LAND...AND THE LORD APPEARED UNTO ABRAM, AND SAID, UNTO
THY SEED WILL I GIVE THIS LAND-Gen 12:6,7. NOW SARAI ABRAM'S WIFE BARE
HIM NO CHILDREN: AND SHE HAD AN HANDMAID, AN EGYPTIAN, WHOSE NAME WAS HAGAR.
AND SARAI SAID UNTO ABRAM, BEHOLD NOW, THE LORD HATH RESTRAINED ME FROM BEARING:
I PRAY THEE, GO IN UNTO MY MAID; IT MAY BE THAT I MAY OBTAIN CHILDREN BY HER-Gen
16:1,2. AND HE WENT IN UNTO HAGAR, AND SHE CONCEIVED: AND WHEN SHE SAW THAT
SHE HAD CONCEIVED, HER MISTRESS (Sarai) WAS DESPISED IN HER (Hagar’s)
EYES-Gen 16:4. But from that day, there was friction between the handmaid, Hagar,
and Sarai, Abram's wife. AND SARAI SAID UNTO ABRAM, MY WRONG BE UPON THEE: I
HAVE GIVEN MY MAID INTO THY BOSOM; AND WHEN SHE SAW THAT SHE HAD CONCEIVED,
I WAS DESPISED IN HER EYES-Gen 16:5. THEN SARAI MISTREATED HAGAR-Gen
16:6 NIV. AND THE ANGEL OF THE LORD SAID UNTO HER (Hagar), I WILL MULTIPLY THY
SEED EXCEEDINGLY...THOU ART WITH CHILD, AND SHALT BEAR A SON, AND SHALT CALL
HIS NAME ISHMAEL...AND HE WILL BE A WILD MAN-Gen 16:10-12. HE WILL BE A WILD
DONKEY OF A MAN; HIS HAND WILL BE AGAINST EVERYONE AND EVERYONE’S HAND AGAINST
HIM, AND HE WILL LIVE IN HOSTILITY TOWARD ALL HIS BROTHERS-Gen 16:12 NIV.
AND HAGAR BARE ABRAM A SON:
AND ABRAM CALLED HIS SON'S NAME, WHICH HAGAR BARE, ISHMAEL. AND ABRAM WAS FOURSCORE
AND SIX YEARS OLD (86 years old), WHEN HAGAR BARE ISHMAEL TO ABRAM-Gen 16:15,16.
Ishmael became the father of many of the Arabs. Because Ishmael was the firstborn
of Abram, the Arabs claim that the land promised to Abraham (the land of Israel)
belongs to them. Nothing can change this.
AND WHEN ABRAM WAS NINETY YEARS
OLD AND NINE (99), THE LORD APPEARED TO ABRAM, AND SAID UNTO HIM, I AM THE ALMIGHTY
GOD; WALK BEFORE ME, AND BE THOU PERFECT-Gen 17:1. NEITHER SHALL THY NAME ANY
MORE BE CALLED ABRAM, BUT THY NAME SHALL BE ABRAHAM; FOR A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS
HAVE I MADE THEE-Gen 17:5. AS FOR SARAI THY WIFE, THOU SHALT NOT CALL HER NAME
SARAI, BUT SARAH SHALL HER NAME BE. AND I WILL BLESS HER, AND GIVE THEE A SON
ALSO OF HER...AND SHE SHALL BE A MOTHER OF NATIONS; KINGS OF PEOPLE SHALL BE
OF HER. THEN ABRAHAM FELL UPON HIS FACE, AND LAUGHED, AND SAID IN HIS HEART,
SHALL A CHILD BE BORN UNTO HIM THAT IS AN HUNDRED YEARS OLD? AND SHALL SARAH,
THAT IS NINETY YEARS OLD, BEAR? AND GOD SAID, SARAH THY WIFE SHALL BEAR THEE
A SON INDEED; AND THOU SHALT CALL HIS NAME ISAAC: AND I WILL ESTABLISH MY COVENANT
WITH HIM FOR AN EVERLASTING COVENANT, AND WITH HIS SEED AFTER HIM. AND AS FOR
ISHMAEL, I HAVE HEARD THEE: BEHOLD, I HAVE BLESSED HIM, AND WILL MAKE HIM FRUITFUL,
AND WILL MULTIPLY HIM EXCEEDINGLY; TWELVE PRINCES SHALL HE BEGAT, AND I WILL
MAKE HIM A GREAT NATION. BUT MY COVENANT WILL I ESTABLISH WITH ISAAC-Gen 17:15-17,19-21.
FOR SARAH CONCEIVED, AND BARE
ABRAHAM A SON IN HIS OLD AGE...AND ABRAHAM CALLED THE NAME OF HIS SON THAT WAS
BORN UNTO HIM, WHOM SARAH BARE TO HIM, ISAAC. AND SARAH SAW THE SON OF HAGAR
THE EGYPTIAN, WHICH SHE HAD BORN UNTO ABRAHAM, MOCKING. WHEREFORE SHE
(Sarah) SAID UNTO ABRAHAM, CAST OUT THIS BONDWOMAN AND HER SON: FOR THE
SON OF THIS BONDWOMAN SHALL NOT BE HEIR WITH MY SON, EVEN WITH ISAAC-Gen 21:2,3,9,10.
AND GOD SAID UNTO ABRAHAM...HEARKEN UNTO HER VOICE (Sarah's); FOR IN ISAAC SHALL
THY SEED BE CALLED-Gen 21:12. ABRAHAM...SENT HER (Hagar) OFF WITH THE BOY-Gen
21:14 NIV. Abraham gave her some food and water. Thus, an unsolvable problem
came into being. The Arabs claim, because Ishmael was the firstborn of Abram,
the Promised Land is theirs. The Jews believe that the Promised Land is theirs,
as God's covenant was not with Ishmael but with Isaac.
NOW WE, BRETHREN, AS ISAAC
WAS, ARE THE CHILDREN OF PROMISE (but the Arabs believe they are the children
of the promise). BUT AS THEN HE THAT WAS BORN AFTER THE FLESH PERSECUTED HIM
THAT WAS BORN AFTER THE SPIRIT, EVEN SO IT IS NOW. NEVERTHELESS WHAT SAITH THE
SCRIPTURE? CAST OUT THE BONDWOMAN AND HER SON: FOR THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN
SHALL NOT BE HEIR WITH THE SON OF THE FREEWOMAN-Gal 4:28-30. Ishmael, born of
the bondwoman, represents the Law. Isaac, born of the freewoman, represents
grace. Law persecutes grace.
Note: Hagar, the bondwoman, bore a son by Abram named, Ishmael,
who was expected to be the heir.
Hagar despised Sarai.
Sarai mistreated Hagar.
Sarah bore a son named Isaac,
who became Abraham’s heir.
Ishmael mocked.
Sarah wanted Hagar and Ishmael
cast out.
Abraham sent Hagar and Ishmael
away at God’s direction.
Hagar received only food and
water.
The stage was set nearly 4000
years ago by God. A war that will destroy one-fourth of the world's population
is about to take place. This war is outlined in
Ezekiel 38 and other parts of the Bible. Russia, along with other
allies, including some of the Arab nations, will soon invade Israel. The stage
for what will happen soon was set long ago with Ishmael and Isaac. The descendants
of Abram and Ishmael (which include some of the Arabs) and the descendants of
Abraham and Isaac (the Jews) will soon clash one last time. Bad feelings have
always existed between the two, for nearly 4000 years. It may be said that this
is the longest running feud in the history of the world. It appears that this
seemingly everlasting struggle between the seed of Ishmael and the seed of Isaac
cannot cease, until one or the other is destroyed. No amount of diplomacy can
change the conflict that God has set up. This coming war will take place during
the Tribulation.
5-ABRAM
TOLD TO WALK
THROUGH THE PROMISED
LAND
NOW THE LORD HAD SAID UNTO ABRAM, GET THEE OUT OF THY COUNTRY, AND FROM THY
KINDRED, AND FROM THY FATHER'S HOUSE, UNTO A LAND THAT I WILL SHOW THEE-Gen
12:1. Note the sacrifices God expected Abram to make.
l. Get thee out of thy country.
2. Get out from thy kindred.
3. Get out from thy father's
house.
He had to go by faith because
he did not know where he was going, but only that he was going to a land, which
the Lord had promised to show him. SO ABRAM DEPARTED, AS THE LORD HAD SPOKEN
UNTO HIM-Gen 12:4. Abraham obeyed. Here is another example of faith; as it is
written, BY FAITH ABRAHAM, WHEN HE WAS CALLED TO GO OUT INTO A
PLACE WHICH HE SHOULD AFTER RECEIVE FOR AN INHERITANCE, OBEYED; AND HE WENT
OUT, NOT KNOWING WHITHER HE WENT-Heb 11:8. Part of the land that Abram was to
walk through would later become the land of Israel. The entire land in which
he walked, extending to the Euphrates River, will become Israel’s during the
Millennium.
After
Lot had separated from Abram, God said to Abram, LIFT UP NOW THINE EYES, AND
LOOK FROM THE PLACE WHERE THOU ART NORTHWARD, AND SOUTHWARD, AND EASTWARD,
AND WESTWARD: FOR ALL THE LAND WHICH THOU SEEST, TO THEE WILL I GIVE IT, AND
TO THY SEED FOR EVER-Gen 13:14,15.
ARISE, WALK THROUGH THE LAND
IN THE LENGTH OF IT AND IN THE BREADTH OF IT-Gen 13:17.
6-A
NOTE OF INTEREST:
FAITH, OBEDIENCE, AND FAITHFULNESS;
THE
FAITH OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB
KNOW YE THEREFORE THAT THEY WHICH ARE OF FAITH, THE SAME ARE THE CHILDREN OF
ABRAHAM-Gal 3:7. As children of faith in Jesus Christ, who are counted as children
of Abraham, we have need to further understand the faith of Abraham.
As we read, consider the words
"faith, obedience, and faithfulness," and may we each examine our
own faith, obedience, and faithfulness by God's Word.
BUT WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE
TO PLEASE HIM (God): FOR HE THAT COMETH TO GOD MUST BELIEVE THAT HE IS, AND
THAT HE IS A REWARDER OF THEM THAT DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM-Heb 11:6.
ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD,
AND IT WAS COUNTED UNTO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS-Ro 4:3. ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD-Gal
3:6. AND HE (Abram) BELIEVED IN THE LORD; AND HE COUNTED IT TO HIM FOR
RIGHTEOUSNESS-Gen 15:6.
FAITH
WAS RECKONED TO ABRAHAM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS-Ro 4:9.
BY FAITH
ABRAHAM, WHEN HE WAS CALLED TO GO OUT INTO A PLACE WHICH HE SHOULD AFTER RECEIVE
FOR AN INHERITANCE, OBEYED; AND HE WENT OUT, NOT KNOWING
WHITHER HE WENT.
BY FAITH
HE SOJOURNED IN THE LAND OF PROMISE, AS IN A STRANGE COUNTRY, DWELLING IN TABERNACLES
WITH ISAAC AND JACOB, THE HEIRS WITH HIM OF THE SAME PROMISE-Heb 11:8,9.
THROUGH FAITH
ALSO SARAH HERSELF RECEIVED STRENGTH TO CONCEIVE SEED, AND WAS DELIVERED OF
A CHILD WHEN SHE WAS PAST AGE, BECAUSE SHE JUDGED HIM FAITHFUL WHO HAD PROMISED-Heb
11:11.
AND (Abraham) BEING NOT WEAK
IN FAITH, HE CONSIDERED NOT HIS OWN BODY NOW DEAD, WHEN HE WAS ABOUT
AN HUNDRED YEARS OLD, NEITHER YET THE DEADNESS OF SARAH'S WOMB: HE STAGGERED
NOT AT THE PROMISE OF GOD THROUGH UNBELIEF; BUT WAS STRONG IN FAITH,
GIVING GLORY TO GOD; AND BEING FULLY PERSUADED THAT, WHAT HE (God) HAD
PROMISED, HE WAS ABLE ALSO TO PERFORM. AND THEREFORE IT WAS IMPUTED TO HIM FOR
RIGHTEOUSNESS-Ro 4:19-22.
THESE ALL DIED IN FAITH,
NOT HAVING RECEIVED THE PROMISES, BUT HAVING SEEN THEM AFAR OFF, AND WERE PERSUADED
OF THEM, AND EMBRACED THEM, AND CONFESSED THAT THEY WERE STRANGERS AND PILGRIMS
ON THE EARTH. FOR THEY THAT SAY SUCH THINGS DECLARE PLAINLY THAT THEY SEEK A
COUNTRY. AND TRULY, IF THEY HAD BEEN MINDFUL (or thinking) OF THAT COUNTRY FROM
WHENCE THEY CAME OUT, THEY MIGHT HAVE HAD OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE RETURNED. (In
other words, don't look back.) BUT NOW THEY DESIRE A BETTER COUNTRY, THAT IS,
AN HEAVENLY: WHEREFORE GOD IS NOT ASHAMED TO BE CALLED THEIR GOD: FOR HE HATH
PREPARED FOR THEM A CITY-Heb 11:13-16.
BY FAITH
ABRAHAM, WHEN HE WAS TRIED, OFFERED UP ISAAC: AND HE THAT HAD RECEIVED THE PROMISES
OFFERED UP HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, OF WHOM IT WAS SAID, THAT IN ISAAC SHALL THY
SEED BE CALLED-Heb 11:17,18.
(By faith) Abraham accounted
THAT GOD WAS ABLE TO RAISE HIM (Isaac) UP, EVEN FROM THE DEAD-ref Heb 11:19.
BUT WILT THOU KNOW, O VAIN
MAN, THAT FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD? WAS NOT ABRAHAM OUR FATHER JUSTIFIED
BY WORKS, WHEN HE HAD OFFERED ISAAC HIS SON UPON THE ALTAR? SEEST THOU HOW FAITH
WROUGHT WITH HIS WORKS (or faith and his actions were working together-NIV),
AND BY WORKS WAS FAITH MADE PERFECT? AND THE SCRIPTURE WAS FULFILLED
WHICH SAITH, ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS IMPUTED UNTO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS:
AND HE WAS CALLED THE FRIEND OF GOD-Ja 2:20-23.
(By faith) Abraham bought THE
FIELD OF EPHRON...AND THE CAVE...AND…BURIED SARAH HIS WIFE IN THE CAVE OF…MACHPELAH-ref
Gen 23.
BY FAITH
ISAAC BLESSED JACOB AND ESAU CONCERNING THINGS TO COME.
BY FAITH
JACOB, WHEN HE WAS A DYING, BLESSED BOTH THE SONS OF JOSEPH; AND WORSHIPED,
LEANING UPON THE TOP OF HIS STAFF.
BY FAITH
JOSEPH, WHEN HE DIED, MADE MENTION OF THE DEPARTING OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL;
AND GAVE COMMANDMENT CONCERNING HIS BONES-Heb 11:20-22. (OF WHOM [or of them]
THE WORLD WAS NOT WORTHY:) THEY WANDERED IN DESERTS, AND IN MOUNTAINS, AND IN
DENS AND CAVES OF THE EARTH. AND THESE ALL, HAVING OBTAINED A GOOD REPORT THROUGH
FAITH, RECEIVED NOT THE PROMISE-Heb 11:38,39.
We are to WALK IN THE
STEPS OF THAT FAITH <