God called Abraham to live as a nomad in Canaan and promised the land to his descendants, naming him “father of many”, although he had no heir until his old age.
Abraham's ancestors, marriage and descendants
The line of descent from Shem to Abraham
Abraham's marriage to Sarah
Abraham's descendants
Abraham was called to live in Canaan
His migration from Ur to Canaan
Genesis 11:31–12:5 See also Joshua 24:2–3; Acts 7:2–4; Hebrews 11:8–9
His nomadic way of life in Canaan
Hebrews 11:9 See also Genesis 12:6–10, Genesis 13:1–4
By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.
God gives Abraham his new name
Genesis 17:5 The giving of a new name signifies a new relationship to God. “Abram” has the sense of “revered father”, whereas “Abraham” means “father of many people”. See also Genesis 17:15
No longer will you be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.
Abraham buys a burial site for Sarah
Genesis 23:3–4 This is his only acquisition of land in Canaan. See also Genesis 23:17–20, Genesis 49:29–32
Then Abraham got up from beside his dead wife and said to the Hittites, “I am a foreigner and an outsider among you. Give me a burial site among you so that I can bury my dead.”
Abraham's dealings with his nephew, Lot
Genesis 12:4–5 Abraham is accompanied to Canaan by Lot; Genesis 13:5–12 Abraham and Lot separate; Genesis 14:8–16 Abraham rescues Lot from five local kings.; Genesis 18:20–33, Genesis 19:29
Significant encounters in Abraham's life
With Melchizedek: Genesis 14:18–20; Hebrews 7:1–10; Genesis 18:1–22 with three angels
God's covenant with Abraham
God makes a covenant with Abraham
Genesis 15:1–21 See also Acts 7:5–7
God gives Abram the name Abraham, as a sign of the covenant
God gives Abraham the gift of circumcision as a sign of the covenant
Genesis 17:9–27 See also Acts 7:8; Romans 4:11
Abraham's family
Abraham and Sarah were childless
Genesis 11:30 See also Genesis 15:2–3, Genesis 17:17, Genesis 18:11–13
But Sarai was barren; she had no children.
Abraham's pretence that Sarah is his sister
Genesis 12:10–20, Genesis 20:1–18
The birth of Ishmael
Genesis 16:1–4, Genesis 16:15–16
The birth of Isaac
Abraham dismisses Hagar and Ishmael
God tests Abraham over Isaac
Genesis 22:1–19 See also Hebrews 11:17–19; James 2:21
Abraham's wife Sarah dies
Abraham makes arrangements for a wife for Isaac
Abraham marries Keturah and has children by her
Genesis 25:1–2 parallel 1 Chronicles 1:32
The death of Abraham
The time span of Abraham's life
Genesis 12:4 Abraham leaves Haran at the age of 75.; Genesis 16:3, Genesis 16:16; Genesis 17:1 Abraham renamed and circumcised at the age of 99; Genesis 21:5 Isaac born when Abraham is 100; Genesis 23:1 Sarah dies when Abraham is 137. Genesis 17:17 indicates that Sarah was ten years younger than Abraham; Genesis 25:7 Abraham dies at the age of 175.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.