~~~ A Brief History of the Patriarchs ~~~
Who were the Patriarchs?

The ancestors of the Israelites: Abraham, his son Isaac, and Isaac's son Jacob, father of the 12 tribes of Israel.

What was their occupation? They were nomadic people, living in tents, tending large flocks of domesticated animals, assisted by male and female servants.

What was the covenant The Lord made with Abraham?

  1. "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you. All peoples of earth will be blessed through you" Genesis 12:2,3
  2. "I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land [Canaan] to take possession of it." Genesis 15:7
  3. "Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant."
    Genesis 17:19

Abraham's response: "How is this possible since I am childless?" Sarah, Abraham's wife, was apparently unable to conceive. Genesis 11:30 Nevertheless, The Lord promised he would have "...a son who is your own flesh and blood..." Genesis 15:4

this account stretches credulity considering Abraham (100) and Sarah's ages when the promise of a son came to fruition. Also today, when we hear of anyone who claims to communicate with any supernatural being, we question their sanity. Every person will have to judge according to what they believe. My purpose is merely to present the Biblical foundation for the origin of the Jewish people and the nation of Israel.
The Genesis Chronology:

Most scholars agree the author is none other than Moses. It's accuracy depends greatly upon the existence of supporting evidence. In this case there is archeological evidence to back up these accounts.

  • Abram born in Ur of the Chaldees, a city of Sumeria (modern-day Iraq). Genesis 11:27
  • Abram relocates to Haran in the Paddan-Aram region (modern-day Turkey). Genesis 11:31
  • The Lord (Yahweh) calls Abram to leave Haran "to the land I will show you." Genesis 12:1
  • The Lord makes a covenant with Abram. Genesis 12:2,3
  • Abram arrives in Canaan (modern-day Israel). Genesis 12:6
  • Abram sojourns by faith throughout the promised land. Genesis 13:14-17
  • The Lord renews the covenant with Abram. Genesis 15:1-4
  • The Lord changes Abram's name to Abraham (father of many). Genesis 17:5
  • Isaac is born to Abraham (100 years old) and Sarah (90 years old). Genesis 21:1-5
  • Isaac takes a wife, Rebekah, from Paddan-Aram, the land of Abraham's countrymen. Genesis 24
  • Jacob, twin brother of Esau, is born to Isaac and Rebekah. Genesis 25:24-26
  • Isaac instructs Jacob to take a wife from Paddan-Aram, the land of his ancestors. Genesis 28:1-5
  • The Lord renews the covenant made with Abraham to Jacob and his descendants. Genesis 28:13-15
  • Jacob arrives in Paddan-Aram. He is tricked into taking two wives, Leah and her younger sister, Rachel. Genesis 29:16-30
  • Jacob returns to Canaan after living in Paddan-Aram for 20 years. Genesis 31:3
  • The Lord changes Jacob's name to Israel. Genesis 32:28
  • Israel has 12 sons by Leah and Rachel, and their two handmaidens. Genesis 35:22-26
  • Joseph, Israel's 11th son, is sold into slavery to Egypt. Genesis 39:28
  • Joseph rises from slavery and put in charge of all Egypt by the Pharaoh. Genesis 41:41
  • The Lord instructs Israel to go down to Egypt on account of a famine. Genesis 46:1-4
  • The descendants of Israel eventually become slaves in Egypt until the time of Moses as recorded in the book of Exodus.