Ishmael and Isaac: The Sons of Abraham

Abraham, originally known as Abram, is the common patriarch of the three Abrahamic religions - Judaism, Christianity and Islam. In Judaism he is considered the founding father of the Covenant [or the special relationship between the Jewish people and God]; in Christianity, he is the prevalent prototype of all believers, Jewish or Gentile; and in Islam he is seen as a prevailing link in the chain of prophets that begins with Adam and culminates in Muhammad.  

When God changed a person's name and gave him a new name, it was usually to establish a new identity. God changed the name Abram [meaning "high father"] to “Abraham,” [meaning "father of a multitude"] (Genesis 17:5) and his wife's name from “Sarai,” [meaning “my princess,”] to “Sarah,” [meaning “mother of nations”] (Genesis 17:15–16).

According to the Jews, Christians, and Muslims, Ishmael was the firstborn son of Abraham and Sarah's handmaiden, Hagar. (Genesis 16:3-4). Most know the story of how Sarah grew impatient to bare the 'promised child' in her old age and insisted that Abraham take her Egyptian slave as a concubine to fulfill the Creator's promise to make Abraham a father of a great multitude. From the seed of this union would rise the modern Muslim nations.

In the Genesis account of the story:

"Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?" ~ Genesis 18:18

In the Qur'an, it states: 

"And remember that Abraham was tried by his Lord with certain commands, which he fulfilled: He said: "I will make thee an Imam to the Nations." He pleaded: "And also (Imams) from my offspring!" He answered: "But My Promise is not within the reach of evil-doers." (Surah Al-Baqara, 124)

The Book of Genesis and Islamic traditions consider Ishmael to be the ancestor of the Ishmaelites and patriarch of Qaydār. This is where the similarities stop between the Muslim, Jewish and Christian factions. According to Muslim tradition, many Islamic scholars portend the ancient Jews rewrote the holy scriptures of the Torah to state Isaac was the 'chosen' lineage to seal the Covenant with God, instead of Ishmael. Islam believes the Covenant was established exclusively with Ishmael, by way of his birthright as being the oldest son. 

In Judaism and Christianity, they disagree with the Islamic concept. They believe the sanctioned promise was given to Abraham and his wife, Sarah. In this aspect, Isaac also becomes a 'firstborn son'. From the seed of this union rose the modern Jewish nation. 

It is recorded in Genesis 17:19, the Covenant was established with Issac (Sarah's son), not Ishmael. But Abraham's oldest child was not forgotten by the Creator. In Genesis 17:20, God promised to make a great nation from Ishmael (Hagar's son) through 12 sons of his own. These sons, known as the 12 Tribes of Ishmael, include: Nebaioth, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.

Another argument concerning the Ishmael and Issac debate is the "sacrifice of Abraham's son". While the Jews contend that Isaac was the one offered up for sacrifice by Abraham, the Muslims argue that it was Ishmael. 

The Encyclopedia Judaica, Volume 9, under the heading "Ishmael", describes:

"It is related that a renowned traditionalist of Jewish origin of the Qurayza tribe, and other Jewish scholars that converted to Islam, told Caliph Omar Abd al-Azizi (717-20) the Jews were well informed that Ishmael was the one bound for sacrifice, but they [the Jews] concealed this fact out of jealousy."

The strongest case for Ishmael is in the Qur'an, which decrees that directly after the sacrifice narrative, Abraham is told of the coming of Isaac's birth; therefore, it must be Ishmael who was about to be sacrificed if Isaac had not yet been born.

Since its beginnings Islam’s finest scholars have debated which son Abraham was commanded to sacrifice, yet both Judaism and Christianity host no such discussion. The reason for this is simple, the Torah names Isaac multiple times, while the Qur'an keeps the boy’s identity a secret. In the absence of a name Muslim scholars sought answers from those who walked with Muhammad. Incredibly, 38 of the companions of Muhammad confirm the Jewish narrative and are recorded as saying it was Isaac, not Ishmael, who became the sacrifice. 

In the Torah (Genesis 22:1–18)

"After these events, God tested Abraham. “Abraham!” He said. “Yes?”, “Take your son, your only one, whom you love – Isaac, and go away to the Moriah area. Bring him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I will designate to you”.

In the Quran (Suwar 39:99-113)

"And [then] he said, “Indeed, I will go to [where I am ordered by] my Lord; He will guide me. My Lord, grant me [a child] from among the righteous”. So We gave him good tidings of a forbearing boy. And when he reached with him [the age of] exertion, he said, “O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you, so see what you think.”

So which view is authentic? Proving one opinion over the other is not as important as both views having a legitimate stance in both Jewish and Islamic traditions. And, modern Jews, Christians and Muslims may never come to terms with or agree upon the actual sacrifice and who was offered up to the Lord for a Covenant with their people. 

The only accepted and common narrative in the sacrifice story is that child sacrifice, which was a common practice during antiquity, was not an appropriate form of worshiping the Creator. Both the Jews and Muslims can agree on this.

Another thing Judaism and Christianity can agree upon is that both Ishmael and Isaac came to their father (Abraham) in his old age, right before his death. They stood united as brothers as they buried their father in the Cave of the Patriarchs [in modern-day Hebron, Palestine] (Genesis 25:8-9). For a moment in time, they presented one of the most fascinating stories of unity in the entire Bible/Tanakh.

Ishmael and his mother, Hagar, are said to be buried next to the Kaaba in Mecca (Saudi Arabia). According to the Genesis account, Ishmael died at the age of 137 (Genesis 25:17).

According to tradition, Isaac was buried in the Cave of the Patriarchs [in Canaan, present-day Hebron] at the age of 180. (Genesis 35:28-29)


Related Stories:

Abraham Sacrifices His Son
Chayei Sarah (5769) – On Judaism and Islam

What's in a Name?

Some scholars of biblical studies have noted the ten generations from Adam to Noah, and the meaning of their names seem to be hiding a celestial message of sorts. While other biblical commentators brush it off as 'nonsense', many theologians question the significance of the cryptic story that seems to unfold as you read the name meanings in chronological order. It is a rather remarkable theory. 

Name                                                                                                        Meaning of Name

Adam --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- man
Seth -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  appointed
Enosh -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  mortal
Kenan ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- sorrow
Mahalalel --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- blessed God
Jared -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- shall come down
Enoch ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- teaching
Methusalah -------------------------------------------------------------------- his death shall bring
Lamech -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  despairing
Noah ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- rest

In reading the name meanings, the following sentences of doom emerge, "Man appointed mortal sorrow. Blessed God shall come down teaching. His death shall bring despairing rest."  Or it certainly appears a dark message of doom is hidden in the name meanings? Categorically, it seems the cryptic words indeed held a dire warning for the Pre-Flood world. 

While not many scholars have made mention of the name meanings from Noah to Jesus, this article will touch upon that subject and will include the known wives of these famous men mentioned in the Bible. Will there be a parallel to the names and their meanings like the first ten generations [of mankind] suggested to imply?

The following timeline of the patriarchs and matriarchs are based on the genealogy found in Matthew 1:1-16, which most biblical scholars believe is the lineage of Joseph, Jesus' earthly father.

Name                                                                                                        Meaning of Name

Abram ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ high father 

[Abraham] ------------------------------------------------------------------------- many, multitude

      Sarai -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- my princess

     [Sarah] -----------------------------------------------------------  lady, princess, noblewoman

Isaac ----------------------------------------------------------------- he will laugh, he will rejoice

      Rebekeh -------------------------------------------------------------------------- join, tie, snare

Jacob -------------------------------------------------------------  holder of the heel or supplanter

[Israel] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- God contended

      Leah ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- weary 

Judah -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- praise

      Daughter of Shua ---------------------------------------------------------------- Crying, saving

Perez ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ breach, burst forth

      Tamar-------------------------------------------------------------------- date palm or palm tree

Hezron ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- court or enclosure

Ram -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  exalted

Amminadab --------------------------------------------- my people/kinsman is generous/noble

Nahshon ----------------------------------------------------------- that foretells, that conjectures 

       Rehab ------------------------------------------------------------------ to be wide or spacious

Boaz ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- swiftness 

       Ruth ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- friend

Obed ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- servant, worshipper

Jesse -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- gift

       Nitzevet (per the Talmud) ----------------------------------------------------- sound, healthy

David ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- beloved

       Bathsheba ----------------------------------------------------------------- daughter of the oath

Solomon --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- peace

       Naamah --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- pleasant

Rehoboam ------------------------------------------------------------------  he enlarges the people

       Maacah -------------------------------------------------------- pressed down, worn, fastened

Abijah -------------------------------------------------------------------------- my father is Yahweh

       Annas -------------------------------------------------------------- One who answers; humble

Asa --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- healer

       Azubah --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- desolation

Jehoshaphat --------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahweh has judged

Joram -----------------------------------------------------------------------------  Jehovah is exalted

Uzziah ------------------------------------------------------------------------- my power is Yahweh

       Jerusha --------------------------------------------------- banished, possession, inheritance

Jotham ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahweh is upright

Ahaz ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- has held

       Abijah ------------------------------------------------------------------- the Lord is my father

Hezekiah ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahweh strengthens

       Hephzibah -------------------------------------------------------------------- she is my delight

Manasseh -------------------------------------------------------------------------- causing to forget

       Meshullemeth ------------------------------------------------------- to be unbroken or whole

Amon -------------------------------------------------------------- secret; faithful; roaring stream

       Jedidah -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------  beloved

Josiah ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahweh supports

       Zebudah -------------------------------------------------------------------- endowed, endowing

Jeconiah -------------------------------------------------------------------- established by Yahweh

Shealtiel ------------------------------------------------------------------------- I have asked of God

Here it is suggested by some scholars that Shealtiel died childless; his brother, Pedaiah, married Shealtiel's widow, hence the biological father of Zerrubabel is [Pedaiah] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------  redemption of the Lord

Zerubbabel -------------------------------------------------------------------------- seed of Babylon

Abiud -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Father of praise

Eliakim -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- God rises 

Azor ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- resurrection of God 

Zadok ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  righteous

Achim --------------------------------------------------------------- he whom Jehovah has set up

Eliud ------------------------------------------------------- God is grandeur or God is my praise

Eleazar ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- God has helped

Matthan ------------------------------------------------------------------- gift, or hope, of the Lord

      Esther (per Sextus Julius Africanus) ----------------------------------------------------- star 

Jacob-------------------------------------------------------------- holder of the heel or supplanter

Joseph ------------------------------------------------------------- may Jehovah add/give increase

      Mary ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- wished-for child

Jesus (Yeshua) ----------------------------------------------------------------- to rescue; to deliver 

who is called Christ -------------------------------------------------------------- the anointed one 
and Emmanuel ------------------------------------------------------------------------- God with us  

"So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations." ~ Matthew 1:17

Remarkably, it appears as if another celestial message develops throughout the name meanings listed in the Post-Flood world of the ancient patriarchs and matriarchs. From Abram to Perez the following sentences materialize, "[The] high father of many multitudes will laugh, he will rejoice.  [He will be a] supplanter; God contended. [Give] praise, [let it] burst forth." Likewise from Sarai to Tamar, "[His wife is a] princess and noblewoman. [She will] join, tie and snare. [Making] weary; crying. [Let us] save [the] palm tree." Palm trees were mentioned several places within the Bible, and its branches are usually symbols of victory and overcoming hardship. Whether you read the male and female names separately or read them consecutively, a story definitely unfolds that presents promises, warnings and instruction. 

"the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord's people." Colossians 1:26 (NIV)

     

Birth Pains: The Beginning of Sorrows

"For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows." ~ Mark 13:8

It is quite certain the first part of this particular bible verse is coming to fruition as there is so much unrest around the world today. Especially in the Middle East where fighting has been going on for decades (2 Chronicles 15:5). Then there is the North Korean conflict that is worrying many leaders around the world. That Kim Yong Un is threatening to "push the nuclear button" has many dignitaries scrambling to find a peaceful solution. 

And ISIS is one the most dominant renegade factions in the world today, killing anyone who gets in their way, including women and children (Isaiah 59:8). Even countries, such as America, France and Argentina are trying to find solutions to the civil unrest that is uprising in their nations. 

The Christian Bible states that during the End Times there will be much turmoil in the world and Earth will be a testament to the events in the form of Mother Nature herself. We have wildfires spreading their destruction, earthquakes rumbling all around the globe, unprecentented hurricanes tearing up coastal cities and volcanoes that had lain dormant for hundreds of years coming to life. The prophets of the Old Testament were quite precise when talking about earthquakes during the End Times (Isaiah 24:18-20; Ezekiel 38:19,20; Joel 2:10(?); 3:16; Amos 9:5; Zechariah 14:4). The Roman Catholic priest, Padre Pio (who was born Francesco Forgione), was also quoted as stating that during the End Times the seasons would not know one another.

“You will know when that time is approaching because the seasons will change so the only way you will know the seasons is by the leaves on the trees.” ~ Padre Pio

This quote comes from a translation of a copy of a personal letter written by Padre Pio and addressed to the Commission of Heroldsbach appointed by the Vatican that testifies to the truth and reality of these revelations on the "Three Days of Darkness" given by the Lord Creator to Padre Pio, a Capuchin priest who bore the stigmata.  

"Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains." ~ Matthew 24:7-8 

In the last decade alone, famine has become a major concern around the globe like has never been seen before. (Jeremiah 8:13) According to a United Nations report conducted in 2017 there are over 20 million people suffering from famine, including an estimated 1.4 million children. 

While famine is being experienced in a number of nations around the world, the major countries that are being affected are northern Nigeria, Somalia, Yemen and South Sudan. Sadly, these famines are not being caused by natural disasters like crop failure or droughts, but rather are "man-made" -- the direct result of bloody wars and insurgencies that are raging in these countries. (Ezekiel 30:12)

Among holy scripture, one the most controversial and debated prophetic subjects is Matthew 24, which is also referred to as "The Olivet Discourse". The debate primarily revolves around the timing of the fullfillment of the prophecy. There are some scholars of religion that maintains the prophecies in the Apocalypse have already been fulfilled during the events that surrounded the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. 

Other theologians disagree and believe that Jesus was speaking about the "End Times", which was to happen in mankind's future, not during the dawning of a new epoch (changing from the B.C. era to the A.D. era). Then there are yet other biblical commentators that see some portions of the prophecy as having been fullfilled in 70 A.D. and other sections referring to the "End Times" that are to occur in the future. C.A. Carson, a brilliant biblical scholar, outlines the passage as follows:

vv. 4-14: General prophetic warnings for all of history.  

vv. 15-28: Prophecy concerning the events of 70 A.D. 

vv. 29-31: Prophecy concerning the second coming. 

vv. 32-35: Prophecy concerning the great tribulation. 

vv. 36-44: Timing here is unclear.

Most scholars and theologians of religion find Carson’s outline of the passage both confusing and confused, arguing Jesus meant the passage to be more literal than subjective. Yet this is what prophecy is made of - a race to unravel an understanding of the Creator's meaning of prophetic words. 

Related Topics:

Birth Pains are Increasing

Tracking the Birth Pangs

What the Bible Says About the Beginning of Birth Pains

What is the relationship between Jesus Christ and Santa Claus?

The following article was obtained from Quora.com and written by Jon Davis, American Southern Baptist.  

What is the relationship between Jesus Christ and Santa Claus?     

They are definitely related. 

So first let's talk Santa and why most people think he is just a big myth. One story I sadly remember is of my nephew. When he was three he informed us that Santa Claus wasn't real. His Neanderthal daddy told him that, (please read with a white trash accent) ”We don’t worship pagan symbols ’round here.” 

Well as the good uncle I sat my nephew down and reaffirmed to him that no, Santa Claus was not a pagan and he is indeed real.

At the very least he was indeed a real person. He actually did go by the name of Nicholas, his Greek name when he was a monk in the early Christian church around what is today Myra, Turkey. He lived in the 300′s and became famous for his great acts of charity. One story speaks of him giving dowries to three young, pious, impoverished girls so that they could be wed, and not go into other forms of lifestyle. Another speaks of him saving three wrongly prosecuted men from being put to death. For these and other reasons he was made a saint in the church. 

In his native home of Myra there is the first church dedicated to Saint Nicholas and many more have risen in Europe since the 7th century. Some historical accounts have him present at the Council of Nicaea which was convened to discuss the deity and co-eternality of Jesus as part of the Trinity–God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit being co-equal. 

It is reported that as Arius asserted the heretical teaching that Jesus was less than God the Father, Nicholas became so agitated that he crossed the room and slapped Arius across the face! Not exactly the Santa we have grown to know, but from this we can assert that the real St. Nick upon whom our modern Santa Claus is based was an ardent defender of the orthodox view of Jesus Christ as fully God and fully man. 

He is also considered the patron saint of children and many others, like sailors (odd combo). His uniform is also of Christian decent as it is an evolution of the canonical robes worn by later Christian cardinals.

Add to this there is also the very real incorporation of some pagan elements. In many renditions he is seen as being a naturalist, hermit or general merry man. We can see these some of the pagan gods like Bacchus, the Roman god who was basically the party god. The reindeer are also reminiscent of the Norse god Odin. 

As Christianity spread, it absorbed the ideas and heroes of the people and cultures that came with it. Ironically, the real Nicholas himself participated in the most important meeting to ensure that this sort of thing did not happen to our understanding of Jesus and God, which he did well.

How all this turned into a strange man essentially breaking into the homes of little children to give presents in return for good deeds and tasty treats and an odd name change I can only guess, but I can promise you that Santa Claus is real. So be good for goodness sake.

So the relationship is that St. Nicholas was a Christian monk who worshiped Jesus. They both practiced and taught the importance of charity and forgiveness. He believed in Jesus and fought vehemently for the early Christian church to better understand him, even though today he is one of the most misunderstood characters in all of history.

Thanks for reading!

For more answers like this, check out The Modern Christian by Jon Davis.

What is the true meaning of Christmas?

The following article was obtained from the Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry website and written by Matt Slick.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The true meaning of Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus who lived in Israel 2000 years ago and who died on the cross for our sins (1 Corinthians 15 1-4; 1 Peter 2:24). More specifically, when we use the word "meaning," we're talking about the purpose of his birth that Christmas is supposed to celebrate.  His purpose was to enter into the world and become one of us, that he might deliver us from our sins. Jesus is not just any man. He is God in flesh (John 1:1, 14; Colossians 2:9).  He is the second person of the Trinity who, by being born of the Virgin Mary, was made under the law (Galatians 4:4) and subject to the same temptations and limitations that we are. Christmas is the celebration of the historical event of where God entered into our world so that he might display the perfection and holiness of God and that through his work of living perfectly and also dying on the cross for our sins, that all who trust in him would be saved from the righteous judgment of God.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him," (John 3:16-17).

So, Christmas is supposed to be the time of year where we celebrate the birth of Christ. But, unfortunately, it's become a commercial holiday rather than a religious one. Is mostly known as a time for businesses to make money, for people to give gifts, for children to be excited, for parties, etc. The "reason for the season" is supposed to be Jesus, not gifts, not parties, and not watching "the big game."  Of course, having celebrations, attending parties, and watching the big game are not wrong. It's just that the meaning of Christmas is supposed to be a recognition of and appreciation of the birth of the one who loves us and died for in our place.

"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit," (Matthew 1:18).

"Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end," (Luke 1:26-33).

Jesus' birth place was prophesied in the Old Testament.

“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity," (Micah 5:1-2).

Jesus' being born of a virgin was prophesied in the Old Testament.

"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel," (Isaiah 7:14).

Jesus being God in flesh was prophesied in the Old Testament.

"For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace," (Isaiah 9:6).

"I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn," (Zechariah 12:10).

Jesus would be preceded by a great prophet was prophesied in the Old Testament.

A voice is calling, “Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God," (Isaiah 40:3).

Jesus is the reason for the season. Jesus gives meaning to Christmas. Jesus who was God in flesh, perfect, pure, holy, and who died on the cross and rose from the dead, is the one who gives the true meaning to Christmas.

Adam: Father of Mankind

Adam was purported to be the first historical man to live on planet Earth. According to biblical sources, he was created by an omnipotent God from the dust of the ground nearly 6,000 years ago. This is his story ...

The Jewish View

Adam was the first human being and the progenitor of the human race. The first chapter of Bereishit (Genesis) states that God made man in the sixth day of the Creation, fashioning him in His own image and giving him dominion over the rest of creation. The etymology of the word Adam connects it with Adamah, “ground or soil,” and with Adom, “red.” This suggests that Adam was formed from red soil or clay.  The second chapter of Bereishit  tells the creation of man in more detail. God created man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. He placed him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. God told the man that he could eat from every tree in the garden, except from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, under penalty of death. God brought all the animals and birds to Adam, who gave them their respective names, but Adam could not find among the animals a suitable helpmate. God then put the man to sleep, extracted one of his ribs, and fashioned with it the first woman, whom Adam called Eve because she would be the mother of all the living.

The man and the woman were naked and felt no shame until the serpent convinced the woman to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree. After Eve shared the fruit with Adam, the couple became aware of their nakedness. They covered themselves with fig leaves and hid from God in embarrassment. God asked Adam (Bereishit 3:11): “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat of the tree from which I had forbidden you to eat?”

Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent. As punishment for their transgression, God condemned the serpent to crawl on its belly and eat dust. He told the woman that she would suffer pain in childbirth, would crave for her husband, and be subject to him.

To the man, God said, “Because you did as your wife said and ate of the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ Cursed be the ground because of you; by toil shall you eat of it. All the days of your life: Thorns and thistles shall it sprout for you. But your food shall be the grasses of the field; by the sweat of your brow shall you get bread to eat, until you return to the ground–for from it you were taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return (Bereishit 3:17–19).”

God then made garments of skin and clothed Adam and Eve. To prevent them from eating the fruit of the tree of life, thus becoming immortal, God expelled them from the Garden of Eden. After being driven out of the Garden of Eden, Eve conceived and gave birth to Cain and, later, to Abel. After the death of Abel, who was murdered by his jealous brother, Eve gave birth to her third son, Seth when Adam was 130 years old.

There is no further mention of Eve in the Bible, and it is not known how old she was when she died. Though Adam lived on for many years, dying at the age of 930, the Bible gives no account of how he adapted himself to life outside the Garden of Eden, except to mention that he fathered sons and daughters.

Source: Reprinted from Who’s Who in the Jewish Bible (The Jewish Publication Society).

Two Natures in Adam

There are, however, two points of view regarding man's nature presented in the two Biblical stories of man's creation; and they are brought out more forcibly in the Haggadah. "Both worlds, heaven and earth, were to have a share in man's creation; hence the host of angels were consulted by the Lord when He said, 'Let us make man'" (Genesis i. 26, Genesis Rabba viii.). His body reached from earth to heaven [or from one end of the world to the other] before sin caused him to sink" (Ḥag. 12a, Talmud tractate Sanhedrin 38b).[2] "He was of extreme beauty and sunlike brightness" (B. B. 58a). "His skin was a bright garment, shining like his nails; when he sinned this brightness vanished, and he appeared naked" (Targum Yer. Gen. iii. 7; Genesis Rabba xi.). When God said: "Let us make man in our image," the angels in heaven, filled with jealousy, said: "What is man that Thou thinkest of him? A creature full of falsehood, hatred, and strife!" But Love pleaded in his favor; and the Lord spoke: "Let truth spring forth from the earth!" (Genesis Rabba viii.; Midrash Tehilim viii.).

A midrashic legend (Genesis Rabba viii.) relates that the angels were so filled with wonder and awe at the sight of Adam, the image of God, that they wanted to pay homage to him and cry "Holy!" But the Lord caused sleep to fall upon him so that he lay like a corpse, and the Lord said: "Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?" (Isaiah ii. 22).[2] Another version (Pirke de Rabbi Eliezer xi.; Tan., Peḳude, 3) is that all other creatures, marveling at Adam's greatness, prostrated themselves before him, taking him to be their creator; whereon he pointed upward to God, exclaiming: "The Lord reigneth, He is clothed with majesty!" (Psalms xciii. 1).

The Christian View

Adam arguably plays the more important role in Christianity than he does in any of the other Abrahamic religions. Christians believe that because Adam disobeyed God, sin and death entered into the world resulting in the fall of man and passing original sin onto all of his descendants. Adam's sin separated man from God, but Christ, who is sometimes referred to as the "Second Adam", atoned for the sins of the world through his sacrifice and thus reconciled man to God. Debate continues within Christian circles as to what degree Adam's sin affected humanity. Some Protestants, such as Calvinist, believe in original guilt, teaching that man shares in the same guilt as Adam. But both Catholics and Orthodox reject this; though there is disagreement among Catholics and Orthodox over the nature of sin.

Irenaeus taught that Adam's sin had grave consequences for humanity, and that the fall of man was the source of human sinfulness, mortality and enslavement to sin, and that all human beings participate in his sin and share his guilt. Irenaeus promoted this concept in his struggle to counter the doctrines of Gnosticism. Subsequently, the doctrine of original sin was formalized by Irenaeus in the 2nd-century.

Augustine of Hippo (354–430) furthered the teaching of original sin by concluding that Adam's sin is transmitted by concupiscence. This is the concept that sin is inherited, so that original sin is passed from parent to child, resulting in humanity becoming a massa damnata (mass of perdition, condemned crowd). By Adam and Eve's sexual reproduction, all their descendants now live in sin. Augustine also promoted the view that all of humanity was really present in Adam's guilt when he sinned, and therefore all descendant humans inherit that guilt.

For many Christian denominations, the doctrine of the fall is closely related to that of original sin. They believe that the fall brought sin into the world, corrupting the entire natural world, including human nature, causing all humans to be born into original sin, a state from which they cannot attain eternal life without the grace of God. The Eastern Orthodox Church accepts the concept of the fall but rejects the idea that the guilt of original sin is passed down through generations, based in part on the passage Ezekiel 18:20  that says a son is not guilty of the sins of his father. Calvinist Protestants believe that Jesus gave his life as a sacrifice for the elect, so they may be redeemed from their sin. Judaism does not have a concept of "the fall" or "original sin" and has varying other interpretations of the Eden narrative.

The story of the Garden of Eden and the Fall of Man represents a tradition among the Abrahamic peoples, with a presentation more or less symbolical of certain moral and religious truths.

Source: Reprinted from Wikipedia.com (Adam and the Fall of Man)

The Islamic View

Âdam is believed to have been the first human being and Nabi (Arabic: Prophet) on Earth, in Islam. Adam's role as the father of the human race is looked upon by Muslims with reverence. Muslims also refer to his wife, Hawa (Arabic: Eve), as the "mother of mankind". Muslims see Adam as the first Muslim, as the Qur'an states that all the Prophets preached the same faith of Islam.

The Qur'an and Hadith give the same account of the creation of Adam and Eve. Synthesizing the Qur'an with Sunni hadith can produce the following account. According to the Qur'an, when God informed the angels that he was going to put a successor on Earth, they questioned whether the human would cause blood shed and damage, but he told them that he knew what they did not. He created Adam from clay and breathed life into him. Hadith adds that he was named Adam after the clay he was made out of, or the skin (adim) of the earth.

Returning to the Qur'an, when God asked all the angels to prostrate before Adam, they all obeyed, except Iblis. He said, "I am made from fire, when Adam is from clay. I am better than him. I am not going to prostrate before him."

Sunni hadith say that while Adam was sleeping, God took a rib from him and from it he created Eve; however, while the creation of Adam and Eve is referred to in the Qur'an, the exact method of creation is not specified. The Qur'an then says that God commanded that Adam and Eve not eat from one tree in the garden of Eden, but Iblis was able to convince them to taste it. They then began to cover themselves because they now knew that they were naked. For this, God banished Adam and Eve to earth; non-canonical Sunni hadith says that fruits were turned to thorns and pregnancy became dangerous. Non-canonical Sunni hadith also say that Adam and Eve were cast down far apart, so that they had to search for each other and eventually met each other at Mount Arafat.

In Islamic theology, it is not believed that Adam's sin is carried by all of his children. Hadith says that once Adam was on earth, God taught him how to plant seeds and bake bread. This was to become the way of all of Adam's children. Adam proceeded to live for about 1000 years, though this has been a topic of debate.

Source: Reprinted from Wikipedia.com (Adam in Islam)

Adam and Eve both ate of the Tree of Immortality, and both shared guilt equally, for Eve neither tempted Adam or ate before him; nor is Eve to blame for the pain of childbirth, for Allah never punishes one person for the sins of another. The Shiah school of Islam does not even consider that their action was a sin, for obedience and disobedience are possible only on Earth and not in heaven, which is the location of Paradise. Adam fell on a mountain in India, the tallest in the world and so the closest to Heaven, and from there God sent him to Mecca, where he repented and was forgiven. At Mecca he built the first Sanctuary (the Kaabah - it was later rebuilt by Ibrahim [Abraham]) and was taught the ritual of the Hajj, and wove the first cloak for himself and the first veil and shift for Eve, and after this returned to India where he died at the age of 930, having seen the sons of the sons of his children, 1400 in all.

According to the Ahmadiyya sect Adam was not the first human being on earth, but when the human race came into existence, and spread all over the world and developed the ability to receive revelation, God sent Adam to each and every branch and civilization. According to a revelation received by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the founder of the community, the Adam mentioned in the Qur'an was born 4,598 years before Muhammad.

Source: Reprinted from Wikipedia.com (Adam)

Overview

While a traditional view was that the Book of Genesis was authored by Moses and has been considered historical and metaphorical, many modern scholars consider the Genesis creation narrative as one of various ancient origin myths. The Abrahamic religions all agree that Adam was the first historical man and created by a Supreme Being, yet his purpose for being created and expulsion from the Garden of Eden somewhat differs.

For further reading, please visit the following websites:

http://biblehub.com/topical/a/adam.htm

https://www.thoughtco.com/adam-the-first-man-701197

https://amazingbibletimeline.com/blog/biblical-figure-adam/

http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/758-adam#1