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The identification of Abraham as a Jew is a difficult one because the label of "Jew" did not develop until after the split between the two nations (Israel and Judah) and certainly didn't apply even conceptually until the receiving of the Mosaic code. Abraham's claim to the label relates to his choice of monotheism (and, rabbinically, to his adherence to laws which had yet to be given formally).
If one relies on that last aspect, the rabbinic notion that Abraham bound himself to the laws which would, eventually, define Judaism, then one must also rely on the rabbinic notion that membership in that group, with those laws, would also be a function of the "religion" of the mother. In Isaac's case, that would be Sarah, who chose to bind herself to those same laws, and would exclude Ishmael because his mother was Hagar, who remained an outsider in terms of belief.
The identification of Abraham as a Jew is a difficult one because the label of "Jew" did not develop until after the split between the two nations (Israel and Judah) and certainly didn't apply even conceptually until the receiving of the Mosaic code. Abraham's claim to the label relates to his choice of monotheism (and, rabbinically, to his adherence to laws which had yet to be given formally).
If one relies on that last aspect, the rabbinic notion that Abraham bound himself to the laws which would, eventually, define Judaism, then one must also rely on the rabbinic notion that membership in that group, with those laws, would also be a function of the "religion" of the mother. In Isaac's case, that would be Sarah, who chose to bind herself to those same laws, and would exclude Ishmael because his mother was Hagar, who remained an outsider in terms of belief.
Didn't Hashem tell Avraham that his descendants would occupy the Land of Israel?...And aren't the sons of Ishmael also descendants of Avraham?...
Didn't Hashem tell Avraham that his descendants would occupy the Land of Israel?...And aren't the sons of Ishmael also descendants of Avraham?...
The promise was made in Gen 12:7 then repeated after Abram parted from Lot (13:14) to stress that the promise was not including Lot.
Then the promise to make nations in the future is stated in 17:6, after Yishma'el was already alive so it cannot be referring to him. Then after the binding of Yitzchak, when Yishma'el was already out of the picture, God reiterates the blessings that will go to the one considered Abraham's ONLY son (22:16). This is reminded to Yitzchak in 26:24. Yitzchak then transferred the blessings of Abraham to Yaakov in 28:4, including the land, excluding Esav.
The promise was made in Gen 12:7 then repeated after Abram parted from Lot (13:14) to stress that the promise was not including Lot.
Then the promise to make nations in the future is stated in 17:6, after Yishma'el was already alive so it cannot be referring to him. Then after the binding of Yitzchak, when Yishma'el was already out of the picture, God reiterates the blessings that will go to the one considered Abraham's ONLY son (22:16). This is reminded to Yitzchak in 26:24. Yitzchak then transferred the blessings of Abraham to Yaakov in 28:4, including the land, excluding Esav.
Ahhh...Thanks, RAV, I didn’t see that, but I do now and it makes sense...
The identification of Abraham as a Jew is a difficult one because the label of "Jew" did not develop until after the split between the two nations (Israel and Judah) and certainly didn't apply even conceptually until the receiving of the Mosaic code. Abraham's claim to the label relates to his choice of monotheism (and, rabbinically, to his adherence to laws which had yet to be given formally).
If one relies on that last aspect, the rabbinic notion that Abraham bound himself to the laws which would, eventually, define Judaism, then one must also rely on the rabbinic notion that membership in that group, with those laws, would also be a function of the "religion" of the mother. In Isaac's case, that would be Sarah, who chose to bind herself to those same laws, and would exclude Ishmael because his mother was Hagar, who remained an outsider in terms of belief.
- What 'Laws' did Abraham & Sarah bind themselves to?
- And how many gods did Ishmael believe?
- Where is the great nation of Ishmael which God made of him? - Gen.17:20
Last edited by RevelationWriter; 04-06-2018 at 08:54 AM..
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