First of all, through the following picture, understand the relationship and historical origin of Judaism, Islam and ** religion.
As the ancestors of the Jewish people, the Hebrews have had a profound impact on world history through their history, culture, and religious beliefs. In exploring the origins of the history of the Hebrews, we have to go back to a key figure – Abraham. The story of him in Genesis not only depicts a profound religious experience, but also contains a wealth of historical and cultural information. This chapter not only marks the beginning of the history of the Hebrews, but also provides important clues to the common basis for understanding the three major monotheistic religions in the world today.
From your to Canaan: A Sacred Journey (around 2000 BC).The story of the Hebrews begins around 2000 BC when their ancestor Abraham, originally named Abram, was born in the city of your in ancient Mesopotamia, the center of an ancient civilization. According to the book of Genesis, Abraham left his hometown of your in Mesopotamia with his family and retinue under divine guidance and migrated to the land of Canaan, the area of present-day Israel and Palestine. This migration was not only a geographical shift, but also marked the birth of a new faith and culture. This calling is seen as a test of faith and a heraldation of the beginning of a new sacred covenant.
The Test of Faith and the Divine CovenantIn the land of Canaan, Abraham established an important covenant with God, who promised to give his descendants countless star-like lands. This covenant not only established the special status of Abraham and his descendants, but also foreshadowed the formation and development of the future Hebrew nation.
Throughout his life, Abraham faced many tests of faith, the most famous of which is the story of God commanding him to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. This event, later known as the "sacrifice of Isaac," became an important symbol of faith, obedience, and salvation in Judaism, **, and Islam.
The story of "Isaac's sacrifice" in the Old Testament is told in detail mainly in Genesis 22.
The story begins with God's test of Abraham, who says to Abraham, "Abraham! Abraham replied, "Here I am." God commanded Abraham to take his only son, Isaac, to a mountain in the land of Moriah to offer a burnt offering. It is important to note that Isaac was Abraham's son in his later years, and was the embodiment of God's promises to him, so this command was a great test for Abraham.
Abraham obeyed Isaac's command to bring him to the mountain that God had ordained. Early the next morning, he had prepared all the necessary items, took his two servants and his son Isaac, cut the wood for the burnt offering, and set out for the place God had indicated. On the third day, when Abraham saw the place from afar, he said to his servant, "You and the donkeys are waiting here, and the boy and I will go there and worship, and then we will come back to you." ”
Abraham put wood on the body of his son Isaac and took fire and a sword in his own hands. On the way to the altar, Isaac said to his father Abraham, "Father! Abraham replied, "Here I am, my son." Isaac said, "Behold, the fire and the wood are there, but the lamb for the burnt offering is there." Abraham replied, "My son, God will prepare the lamb for a burnt offering." They continued to walk together.
When he arrived at God's appointed place, Abraham built an altar, laid out the firewood, tied his son Isaac, and placed it on top of the firewood on the altar. When Abraham reached out for a sword to kill his son, the angel of God cried out to him from heaven, saying, "Abraham! Abraham! He replied, "Here I am." The angel said, "Do not lay any hands on the child, and do not harm him." Now I know that you fear God, because you have not left your son, your only son, from me. ”
When Abraham looked up, he saw a ram with its horns in the bush, and he took the ram and offered it for a burnt offering in his son's place. Abraham called the place "Jehovah Jireh," which means "on the mountain of the Lord, the Lord will prepare."
Isaac and Jacob (between 1900 and 1800 B.C.E.): Abraham's son Isaac and grandson Jacob (later known as Israel) continued this lineage, with Jacob's twelve sons becoming the ancestors of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Joseph and Egypt (c. 1700 BCE): One of Jacob's sons, Joseph, was sold to Egypt because he was jealous of his brothers. Later, Joseph became an important ** in Egypt and saved his family and all of Egypt during the famine.
Moses and the Exodus- Slavery and emancipation (around 1500 BC): Over time, the Hebrews became slaves in Egypt. The book of Exodus describes Moses being chosen by God to lead the Hebrews out of slavery in Egypt and begin his famous journey out of Egypt.
Code of Mount Sinai (around 1500 BC): At Mount Sinai, Moses received the Ten Commandments and other laws that became the cornerstone of the social and religious life of the Hebrews.
Wandering in the wilderness (between 1500 and 1400 BC): The Hebrews then wandered in the wilderness for forty years, an important period in which they developed their unique identities and beliefs.
Establishment of the state (1050 BC to 930 BC).After a long period of nomadic life, slavery in Egypt, and a long wandering in the wilderness, the Hebrews established their own kingdom, the United Kingdom of Israel (Hebrew: 1050 BC – 930 BCE), around the 10th century BC. Initially a unified kingdom under King Saul, it subsequently reached its peak under the reigns of King David and King Solomon. The First Temple, built during the reign of King Solomon, became the center of spiritual and religious life for the Hebrews.
King Solomon's first temple was built on Mount Moriah (also known as the Temple Mount) in Jerusalem. The temple was built after the death of David, the second king of the Kingdom of Israel, and was succeeded by his son Solomon and built during his reign (973 BC to 930 BC). It took Solomon about seven years to build this glorious temple, which is known as the "First Temple" in Jewish history. The temple was destroyed by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II in 586 BC, the year after the Persian Empire overthrew the Neo-Babylonian kingdom in 539 BC. Later, the Jews returned to Jerusalem in 537 BC and tried unsuccessfully to rebuild the temple. Modern-day Jews have attempted to rebuild the "Second Temple" in the Old City of Jerusalem, in its traditional location, despite international controversy.
** with Exile (930 BC).The glorious kingdom did not last long, and after the death of King Solomon, the kingdom soon became the kingdom of Israel in the north and the kingdom of Judah in the south. Both kingdoms were eventually conquered by foreign nations, and the Hebrews went through many exiles and returns. The most famous of these are:
Babylonian exile: In 586 BC, the southern kingdom of Judah was conquered by Babylon, Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed, and the Hebrews were taken to Babylon for exile. This experience deepened the Hebrews' identification with their faith and identity.
Reconquest and reconstruction: In 538 BCE, after the conquest of Babylon by the Persian king Cyrus the Great, the Hebrews were allowed to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple.
Modern evolutionAfter thousands of years of wandering and diaspora, the descendants of the Hebrews – the Jews – resettled their ancient homeland in the 20th century, establishing the modern state of Israel. This process has been accompanied by enormous challenges and conflicts, but it has also witnessed the resilience and revival of the Jewish people.
The story of Abraham is recorded in Judaism, Islam, and Islam, and although the details vary, he is regarded as an important patriarch and model of faith in all three religions. In Islam, Abraham (Ibrahim) is considered a "friend" of all prophets.