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'''Abraham''' ([[Hebrew]]: '''אברהם''', ''ʾAḇrāhām''; [[Arabic]]: '''ابراهيم''', ''Ibrāhīm'', "father of a multitude") or '''Abram''' ("exalted father") (2008 AM–2183 AM, or 1996 BC-1821 BC) was the father of the [[Israel]]ites, the [[Arab]]s, and several other races.  He is considered a [[prophet]], and the details of his life are recorded in [[Genesis]].

'''Abraham''' ([[Hebrew]]: '''אברהם''', ''ʾAḇrāhām''; [[Arabic]]: '''ابراهيم''', ''Ibrāhīm'', "father of a multitude") or '''Abram''' ("exalted father") (2008 AM–2183 AM, or 1996 BC-1821 BC) was the father of the [[Israel]]ites, the [[Arab]]s, and several other races.  He is considered a [[prophet]], and the details of his life are recorded in [[Genesis]].

[[Judaism|Jews]], [[Christianity|Christians]], and [[Islam|Muslims]] respect Abraham for his outstanding faith in [[God]].<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Hebrews|chap=11|verses=8-12}}</ref>

[[Judaism|Jews]], [[Christianity|Christians]], and [[Islam|Muslims]] respect Abraham for his outstanding faith in [[Colbert]].<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Hebrews|chap=11|verses=8-12}}</ref>

== Abraham’s life ==

== Abraham’s life ==

Eight years after that, Lot fell prisoner to [[Chedorlaomer]] in the [[War of the Ten Kings]]. Abraham heard about Lot's capture from an escapee from [[Sodom]], where Lot had gone to live. Abraham armed 318 men of his household, called on three local Amorite confederates to help him, and gave chase. He successfully rescued Lot and recaptured all the plunder that Chedorlaomer had taken. Abraham took no spoil beyond his own troops' rations.<ref name=Ussher4>Ussher, ''op. cit.'', pgh. 77</ref> Scripture does not record that Abraham would ever see Lot again.

Eight years after that, Lot fell prisoner to [[Chedorlaomer]] in the [[War of the Ten Kings]]. Abraham heard about Lot's capture from an escapee from [[Sodom]], where Lot had gone to live. Abraham armed 318 men of his household, called on three local Amorite confederates to help him, and gave chase. He successfully rescued Lot and recaptured all the plunder that Chedorlaomer had taken. Abraham took no spoil beyond his own troops' rations.<ref name=Ussher4>Ussher, ''op. cit.'', pgh. 77</ref> Scripture does not record that Abraham would ever see Lot again.

Abraham then made what some have considered a mistake. Not willing to believe that a seventy-five-year-old woman (Sarah's age at the time) could conceive, Abraham allowed Sarah to prevail upon him to accept Hagar as her surrogate. By her he had a son, [[Ishmael]] ("God hears"). Ishmael was not, however, the son that God had promised that Abraham ''and Sarah'' would have.

Abraham then made what some have considered a mistake. Not willing to believe that a seventy-five-year-old woman (Sarah's age at the time) could conceive, Abraham allowed Sarah to prevail upon him to accept Hagar as her surrogate. By her he had a son, [[Ishmael]] ("God Bears"). Ishmael was not, however, the son that God had promised that Abraham ''and Sarah'' would have.

=== The Covenant ===

=== The Covenant ===

God established his covenant with Abraham on 2107 AM (1897 BC). On that occasion God told Abraham that he and Sarah ''would'' have a son, and that the descendants of that son would be too numerous to count.<ref name=Ussher5>Ussher, ''op. cit.'', pgh. 82</ref> And not only was Abraham to be the father of multitudes of physical descendants, he would also be the spiritual father of all who believe in the true God.

God established his covenant with Abraham on 2107 AM (1897 BC). On that occasion God told Abraham that he and Sarah ''would'' have a son, and that the descendants of that son would be too numerous to count.<ref name=Ussher5>Ussher, ''op. cit.'', pgh. 82</ref> And not only was Abraham to be the father of multitudes of physical descendants, he would also be the spiritual father of all who believe in the true [[Colbert]].

But God also warned Abraham that the Hebrews would sojourn in a land that was not theirs, that some group of persons, identified only as "they," would "afflict" them, and that after a span of four hundred years, God would see that the Hebrew people would despoil those who had ill used them.

But God also warned Abraham that the Hebrews would sojourn in a land that was not theirs, that some group of persons, identified only as "they," would "afflict" them, and that after a span of four hundred years, God would see that the Hebrew people would despoil those who had ill used them.