The Patriarchs
Abraham
Isaac
Jacob
Joseph
ABRAHAM
Abraham was the founding father of the Jewish
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nation of Israel.
 He demonstrated great faith and obedience to God.
 His name in Hebrew means "father of multitudes."
 Orginally called Abram, God changed his name to
Abraham to symbolize the great covenant to bless
him with many descendants.
 Abraham sets out on a journey with his wife Sarah
and nephew Lot to the land of Canaan. This was
known as the Promised Land.
ABRAHAm
 After a famine in the land, Abraham and Sarah set out for
Egypt.
 There they encounter the Pharaoh.
 Read Gen 12:10- 20
 In your notes describe the role of Brother vs. the role of
Husband in this story.
 In your own words, what is the role of Women in the Old
Testament.
ABRAHAM…
 Many descendants?
 Abraham decides ( with Sarah’s permission!!) to have a child
with Hagar the slave .
 The name the son Ishmael .
 Later God intervenes on Sarah’s behalf and allows Sarah to
have a child named Isaac. This child is Blessed by God.
 Describe these birth stories in your own words in your
notebook.
ABRAHAM…
 God tests Abraham again involving King Abimelech of Gerar.
 Read Genesis 20
 What is with the my wife is my sister stuff?
But Abraham underwent the biggest testing of his faith when
God asked him to sacrifice Isaac, the promised heir, in
Genesis 22: "Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac,
whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go
and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains,
which I will show you."
Isaac
 Isaac was the promised son born to Abraham and Sarah in
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their old age.
God commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, but at the last
moment told him to offer a ram instead.
READ Genesis 22
Isaac was married to Rebekah and they were granted twin
sons, Jacob & Esau.
In Isaac's old age Rebekah and Jacob tricked him into blessing
Jacob, the younger son, rather than Esau, the elder son.
Jacob
 The son of Isaac and Rebecca, third great patriarch of the
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chosen people, and the immediate ancestor of the twelve
tribes of Israel.
Conned his brother Esau & father Isaac to sell him the
birthright.
Jacob was married to both Leah & Rachel. He had 12 sons all
together. ( The 12 tribes of Israel)
The two sons born to Rachel were Joseph (favored one) &
Benjamin.
He had one daughter named Dinah.
Joseph
 Born to Jacob’s favored wife Rachel.
 Jacob loved Joseph more than he loved his other sons.
 Had gift of “interpreting dreams”.
 Had famous “tunic” or multicolored coat.
 “Joseph was well built and handsome and after some time Potiphar’s wife
tried to seduce him. She approached Joseph day after day but he refused her
each time, citing loyalty to Potiphar and to God. One day, Joseph came into
the house to work. Potiphar’s wife grabbed his coat and he ran away. She
then pretended that Joseph had tried to seduce her and slandered him first
to her servants and then to her husband. Potiphar was furious and sent
Joseph to a jail for the king’s prisoners.”