Abraham

Abraham (Abram) (3rd or 2nd century BC), founder of the Jewish nation, b. Ur, Chaldea.

The story of Abram, as he was first called, is told in the Bible in the Book of Genesis.

His family moved from Ur to Haran in the north of Mesopotamia (now part of Turkey). Then Abram's father, Terah, died and God told him to move to the land of Canaan (present-day Israel).

God told Abram he would be the 'father of a nation' and he changed his name to Abraham, which means 'father of many'. Abraham's tribe became known as Hebrews. The name means 'people from across the river'.

The Hebrews crossed the River Euphrates to reach Canaan. (Later the Hebrews were called Jews because they lived in Jerusalem and Judea.)

In j. L. KLINK Bible for Children Vol 1