Avraham: Life, Journey, and Legacy of the First Patriarch in the Bible

Avram was born in Ur Kasdim (the region of Babylonia) at a time when idolatry dominated the culture. His father was Terach, and his brothers were Nachor and Haran. Avram married Sarai, a woman of exceptional beauty who was, at that time, childless.

After Haran’s death, Terach set out with his family toward the land of Canaan, but they stopped in Charan (modern Syria–Turkey) and settled there until his death. In Charan, Avram received his first prophetic revelation, in which God instructed him to complete the journey his father began — to go to the land of Canaan, and granted him the promises of greatness, blessing, and descendants who would grow into an entire nation.

Journey to Canaan and Descent to Egypt

At 75 years old, Avram left Charan for Canaan together with Sarai, his nephew Lot, and the members of his household. Upon arriving in Canaan, he traveled through the land, built altars to God, and attempted to settle there. But a severe famine forced him to go down to Egypt, where the Nile provided abundant water.

Before entering Egypt, Avram asked Sarai to say she was his sister, fearing that the Egyptians would kill him to take her if they knew she was his wife. Sarai’s great beauty attracted the attention of Pharaoh’s officials, who praised her to Pharaoh; she was taken to Pharaoh’s palace, and believing Avram was her brother, Pharaoh lavished him with wealth.

God then afflicted Pharaoh and his household with severe plagues. Realizing that he had taken another man’s wife, Pharaoh returned Sarai to Avram and ordered them to leave Egypt. Avram returned to Canaan wealthy in livestock, silver, and gold.

Separation from Lot

Back in Canaan, Avram settled between Beit-El and Ai. But the land could not support both his flocks and Lot’s, and quarrels erupted between their shepherds. To preserve peace, Avram suggested they separate. Lot chose to live in Sodom, whose inhabitants were “wicked and sinful before God,” while Avram remained in Canaan, relocating to the Oaks of Mamre (Hebron).

The War of the Kings and the Rescue of Lot

A great regional war broke out, and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah were defeated. Their cities were plundered, and their residents — including Lot, were taken captive. A survivor who escaped informed Avram.

Avram immediately assembled a trained fighting force of hundreds of men, pursued Lot’s captors, defeated them through tactical warfare, and rescued Lot along with the other captives and their belongings.

His victory spread far and wide. When Avram returned, the kings of the region, including the king of Sodom and Malki-Tzedek, king of Shalem, came out to greet him.

The Covenant and the Promise of Descendants

After these events, God appeared again to Avram, promising him old age, peace, and that his numerous descendants would ultimately inherit the land — after first undergoing centuries of servitude in a foreign land.

Sarai, Hagar, and the Birth of Yishmael

Avram and Sarai had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar. Seeing her own barrenness, Sarai suggested that Avram marry Hagar so that a child might be born to him. Avram agreed, and after they united, Hagar conceived.

Feeling elevated by her new status, Hagar began to treat Sarai with disrespect. Hurt and humiliated, Sarai complained to Avram, who gave her full authority over Hagar. Sarai then afflicted her, causing Hagar to flee. In the desert, an angel of God appeared to Hagar, instructing her to return and telling her she would bear a son named Yishmael, who would father a great nation.

Hagar gave birth to Yishmael when Avram was 86 years old.

The Covenant of Circumcision and the Promise of Yitzchak

Thirteen years later, God appeared again to Avram, promising him countless descendants and an everlasting covenant, symbolized by the commandment of circumcision. God changed his name from Avram to Avraham, and Sarai’s name to Sarah, and promised that she would bear a son named Yitzchak, with whom the covenant would continue.

Avraham immediately circumcised himself, Yishmael, and all the males of his household.

The Visit of the Angels and the Destruction of Sodom

While Avraham sat at his tent in Mamre, three mysterious men appeared. He welcomed them warmly, providing food and hospitality. They revealed themselves as messengers of God and announced that within a year Sarah would bear a son.

From there, the angels continued toward Sodom. God informed Avraham of His intention to judge the city for its wickedness. Avraham pleaded passionately on behalf of the city, arguing that it should be spared if righteous people were found there. God agreed — but ultimately there were not even ten righteous individuals, and Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed. Lot alone was saved.

Avraham and Sarah in Gerar

After the destruction, Avraham moved to Gerar (near present-day Gaza). There, again fearing for his life, he introduced Sarah as his sister. Avimelech, the Philistine king, took Sarah into his household, but God warned him in a dream. Avimelech returned Sarah along with gifts and asked Avraham to pray for him, after which the women of his household conceived.

The Birth of Yitzchak

At the age of 100, Avraham witnessed the miraculous birth of his son Yitzchak to Sarah. He circumcised Yitzchak on the eighth day and later celebrated him with a great feast.

Yishmael’s Departure

As Yitzchak grew, Sarah feared that Yishmael’s behavior would negatively influence him. She told Avraham to send Hagar and Yishmael away. Though this pained him, God instructed him to listen to Sarah, assuring him that Yishmael too would become a great nation.

Hagar and Yishmael wandered in the desert and nearly perished from thirst before an angel revealed a nearby well. Yishmael survived, grew up as a skilled archer, and settled in the desert of Paran.

The Covenant with Avimelech and the Naming of Be’er Sheva

At that time, Avimelech’s servants seized a well that Avraham had dug. After confrontation and clarification, Avimelech acknowledged Avraham’s rights, and the two made a covenant. Avraham gave him seven ewe lambs as testimony to the well’s ownership. The place was named Be’er Sheva, “the Well of Seven” or “the Well of the Oath.”

The Binding of Yitzchak (Akeidat Yitzchak)

God then tested Avraham with the greatest of trials: the Binding of Yitzchak. God commanded Avraham to offer Yitzchak as a sacrifice. Avraham rose early and obeyed without hesitation. At the final moment, as Avraham raised the knife, an angel called out to stop him. Avraham had proven his faith. He sacrificed a ram in Yitzchak's place and received renewed blessings of abundant and blessed descendants.

Sarah’s Death and Burial

Ten years younger than Avraham, Sarah passed away at age 127— many years before him. Avraham mourned her and purchased the Cave of Machpelah at a high price as her burial place.

Finding a Wife for Yitzchak

After Sarah’s death, Avraham tasked his trusted servant with finding a suitable wife for Yitzchak from his own family’s homeland. The servant traveled to Aram Naharayim and found Rebecca, granddaughter of Nachor. Impressed by her kindness and character, he brought her back, and Isaac took her as his wife.

Avraham married again — to Keturah, who bore several children — but Yitzchak remained his primary heir.

Avraham’s Final Years and Passing

“These are the days of the years of Avraham’s life: 175 years.
And Avraham died in a good old age, old and satisfied, and was gathered to his people.”

Yitzchak and Yishmael buried him in the Cave of Machpelah, beside Sarah. After Avraham’s passing, God blessed Yitzchak his son.