How did Abraham become connected with the origins of the Hebrew people?
In the tradition of Judaism, Abraham is revered as the first of the Hebrew patriarchs and is often referred to as the "first Jew" and an ethnic ancestor, known as Avraham avinu ("Abraham our father").12
His connection to the origins of the Hebrew people is rooted in a covenant established with God, as recounted in the book of Genesis. According to this narrative, God called Abraham to leave his home in Ur and travel to the land of Canaan, promising him that his "seed" would inherit the land and become a great nation.12
In Jewish belief, this promised lineage is traced through Abraham’s son, Isaac, who was born to his wife Sarah. This ancestral line continued through Isaac’s son, Jacob, whose descendants formed the Twelve Tribes of Israel, thereby establishing the foundation of the Hebrew people.123