Clint A. Wilson

Important Events of the Hebrew Bible from Abraham to Israel

  Abstract This paper intends to show the establishment of the lineage of Christ from Abraham through Solomon. As they moved around in geographical locations.   Important Events of the Hebrew Bible from Abraham to Israel Abram comes on to the scene somewhere between 2000-1550 BCE in the Syria-Palestine region, a region that several Semitic people were beginning to settle. Abram eventually did depart from Ur of the Chaldeans, which was in the southern Mesopotamia area. Abram left with his extended family on this long journey to Haran located on the Euphrates in northwestern Mesopotamia, the location that Terah Abrams father died. Abrams name was now changed to Abraham and beginning to travel with nothing but faith to unknown lands ending in the land of Canaan. When Abraham reached Canaan, God made a promise to give him vast descendants and the land of Canaan as an inheritance.  At the age of 90 Sarah, Abraham's wife, bore a child named Isaac. Issac and wife Rebekah bore twin son, Jacob and Esau. Jacob being the younger of the two twins became the son of the promises giving to Abraham. Jacob’s name was changed to Israel and he had 12 sons.  Issac took Joseph as his favorite son, who was eventually betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery. Joseph was taken to Egypt to serve as a slave, but due to the blessing placed upon Abraham and now comes down on Joseph he was able to rise to a high political office. During a severe drought Joshephs brothers, the sons of Israel, traveled to Egypt in a quest for food and water. When they were encountered by no one less than Joseph the brother that they betrayed. Now the tides are changing and the hands of the brothers are in the hands of Joseph. Joseph chooses to help his brothers and provide food for them and saved their lives.  Israel and all his children later left Canaan and traveled to Goshen, located in the northeastern Delta of Egypt. The time Israel’s children resided in Egypt, they multiplied their numbers greatly. However, once the Hyksos rule of Egypt ended and a new king of Egypt came into power. He forced the Israelites into slavery. They were forced to build the cities and drive the economy. This enslavement continued for many years until Ramesses II (speculative) became the Pharaoh. This Pharaoh put out and order to kill all newborn Israelite boys in an effort to control the population growth. At this time Moses was born unto Amram and Jochebe the daughter of Levi, making Moses born into the tribe of Levi. After Moses was put into the river Nile so not to be found by the Pharaoh’s men he was rescued by Pharaoh’s daughter. Moses was raised and educated inside the royal walls.  Moses had been prepared and called by God to lead his Children, the Israelites out of the slavery of Egypt, took up his staff and led them to the Sinai Peninsula where a new covenant would be established. With God’s help in bringing down the plagues, Moses was able to lead the people, but their defiant nature rebelled against God and rejected his leadership and refused to enter into the promised land. God punished them by requiring them to wander forty years in the wilderness. Not until the last born of the rebellious generation died could they enter into the promised land. Joshua, who became Moses successor after his death led the people into the promised land, fulfilling the promises given to the patriarchs. Joshua led the nation Israel in the taking Canaan in battle and settled in the central highlands. The time is unknown, but at least two centuries. The governing of the nation was divided into 12 tribes one for each of the sons of Jacob. Then the people began demanding a king and God gave them Saul as their King.  Saul did not maintain relationships with God and fell out of fellowship, and eventually lost his place as the king of Israel. Samuel found David (a man after God’s own heart) after being instructed to do so, and anointed him as the next king of Israel. David was able to provide stability and unity to twelve tribes as well as economic and political freedom. Eventually David was able to leave a stable nation to his son Solomon. Soon after becoming king Solomon stumbled just as Saul had and turned his heart away from God. Soon after Solomon had died, the kingdom split into two weaker nations, consisting of Israel in the north and Judah in the south. The kingdom of Judah continues with Davidic leadership for around 350 years while Israel fell into a nation of disarray with no stability.  The importance of this lineage and time line, shows how God delivered his people and put the royal blood line into power. Jesus Christ being a direct descendant of David, fulfilled the covenant of God to his people.