The Beginning of the Jewish Patriarchs
The people of Israel were nomadic and travelled through the Mesopotamia region throughout 3000 B.C. but little is known about the patriarchs of the Israeli people. Then in 1850 B.C. Abram was called upon God to leave his home in Mesopotamia. God created a covenant with Abram and changed his name to Abraham, promising him many descendants and more land for his people or more commonly known as the Promised Land.
Abraham was the first patriarch of Israel, the second was Isaac, son of Abraham and his wife Sarah and the third was Jacob, the son of Isaac and Sarah, whose name was later changed to Israel.
Jacob, or Israel, had twelve sons: Benjamin, Joseph, Naphtali, Asher, Gad, Dan, Issachar, Zebulun, Judah, Levi, Simeon and Reuben. Joseph is the most well-known son who was sold into slavery by his brothers and who became a vital overseer of Egypt. Jacob’s twelve sons were the patriarchs of the twelve tribes of Israel. Their descendants were referred to as Hebrews. Then around 1700 BC the Hebrews established in Egypt. Until 400 years later when Moses came into the world.
Abraham was the first patriarch of Israel, the second was Isaac, son of Abraham and his wife Sarah and the third was Jacob, the son of Isaac and Sarah, whose name was later changed to Israel.
Jacob, or Israel, had twelve sons: Benjamin, Joseph, Naphtali, Asher, Gad, Dan, Issachar, Zebulun, Judah, Levi, Simeon and Reuben. Joseph is the most well-known son who was sold into slavery by his brothers and who became a vital overseer of Egypt. Jacob’s twelve sons were the patriarchs of the twelve tribes of Israel. Their descendants were referred to as Hebrews. Then around 1700 BC the Hebrews established in Egypt. Until 400 years later when Moses came into the world.
Although writing existed, only a handful of people could read or write, so The Holy Spirit guided oral tradition so that the people never lose their memories of how this new God discovered by Abraham was practiced. The Hebrews continued to hand on their memories through the returning to the holy places where God had been experienced through worship and rituals.
Some of the holy places the Hebrews returned to included Shechem, Mamre, Betheland and Peniel.. Such places came to be called sanctuaries because they kept alive the tales of what happened in those holy places. As part of their worship the Hebrews celebrated ritual feasts to honour the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and to recall the experiences of the patriarchs. Such feasts included the ransom of animals.
The Hebrews also celebrated a special ritual connecting circumcision. Circumcision was a sign, ordered by God, that every male Hebrew to carry from the eighth day after his birth. Through this custom the Hebrews would remember that, as Abraham’s children, they had a special bond with God.
Some of the holy places the Hebrews returned to included Shechem, Mamre, Betheland and Peniel.. Such places came to be called sanctuaries because they kept alive the tales of what happened in those holy places. As part of their worship the Hebrews celebrated ritual feasts to honour the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and to recall the experiences of the patriarchs. Such feasts included the ransom of animals.
The Hebrews also celebrated a special ritual connecting circumcision. Circumcision was a sign, ordered by God, that every male Hebrew to carry from the eighth day after his birth. Through this custom the Hebrews would remember that, as Abraham’s children, they had a special bond with God.