The origins, central teachings, and legacies of Judaism, (continued)

The entire story of the Jewish people began to be written down in about 430 BCE, during their captivity in Babylon.  This historical and religious epic is what we call the Old Testament.

The story begins with the section called Genesis and the tale of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

One of the most familiar stories in the Bible is that of the Great Flood; where Noah at the command of God, builds an enormous ark to shelter his family and all of the known animals of the world into safety against the flood.  Ultimately, the descendants of Noah scatter over the face of the earth. 

One of these descendants is Abraham who at age 100 years is blessed by God with a son called Isaac.  Abraham had another son by his wife’s handmaiden, Hagar and his name was Ishmael.  The descendants of Ishmael are all the Arab nations of the world.  It is this Semitic family relationship that links the Hebrews of Judaism to the Arabs of Islam.

Isaac had two twin sons; the younger was Jacob whose name was later changed to Israel from which the name Israelites came.