The question of who was the first Jew is an interesting one that the Bible provides some insight into. Based on the Biblical accounts, most scholars believe the first Jew was likely Abraham, the patriarch of the Jewish people. However, there are also arguments that the first Jew may have been earlier biblical figures such as Noah or even Adam.
The Case for Abraham as the First Jew
The strongest case can be made for Abraham being the first Jew. Abraham is considered the father of the Jewish nation because it was with him that God made his covenant (Genesis 15:18-21, 17:1-14). God told Abraham he would make him the father of a great nation, give him and his descendants the land of Canaan, and that through Abraham all the families of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:1-3).
Abraham was the first person to be circumcised as a sign of the covenant between him and God (Genesis 17:9-14). Circumcision became a core identifying practice of the Jewish people. God also changed Abram’s name to Abraham, meaning “father of many nations” (Genesis 17:5). From Abraham’s son Isaac came Jacob, whose name God changed to Israel, father of the 12 tribes that became the nation of Israel.
So in many ways, it was through Abraham that the Jewish nation was born. The promises, covenant, and identifying practices began with him. For these reasons, most biblical scholars identify Abraham as the critical figure who set the Jewish people apart as a nation belonging to God.
The Case for Figures Before Abraham
While Abraham has the strongest case, there are also arguments that the first Jew may have preceded him.
Noah
Noah could be considered a candidate as he was righteous in God’s sight (Genesis 6:9) and followed all of God’s commandments given to him. God established his covenant with Noah (Genesis 9:8-17) promising to never flood the whole earth again. This was an everlasting covenant. Noah also offered sacrifices to God (Genesis 8:20-21), a key act of worship that would become essential to Jewish religious practice. While Noah was not Jewish himself, his obedience and covenant with God could potentially qualify him as the first in a line that would become the Jewish people.
Adam
Adam could also be considered the first Jew. Although the term “Jew” refers specifically to those from the tribe of Judah, which came much later, Adam is the very first human mentioned in the Bible. He is created by God (Genesis 1:26-27) and is said to personally walk and talk with God in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:8). This close relationship and interaction with the one true God could arguably make Adam the original person of Jewish faith.
Of course, Adam did disobey God’s command not to eat the forbidden fruit, bringing sin into the world. But he still may have been the first human to belong to and identify with the God of the Bible. Later Old Testament figures simply built upon the foundation of faith in God established by Adam. For this reason, some consider the first human created by God to also be the ancestor of the Jewish faith.
Key Points in Summary
To summarize, there are good arguments on both sides for different biblical figures as potentially being the first Jew:
– Abraham has the strongest case as the father of the Jewish nation, being given the covenant and promises from God that established the Jewish people.
– Noah was righteous and walked with God, received God’s covenant, and followed His commandments, preceding Abraham in the biblical account.
– Adam as the very first human created by God had a special relationship with Him, laying a foundation of faith that the Jewish people would later build upon.
While we may not be able to say definitively, the evidence seems to point most persuasively to Abraham as being the critical figure in the biblical narrative where the Jewish faith came into clear focus as the people belonging to the one true God. The covenant, sign of circumcision, divine promises to make Abraham a great nation, and other key moments serve as the genesis of the Jewish story found throughout the rest of the Old Testament. For this reason, Abraham stands out above the others as the likely “first Jew” based on the biblical account. But good cases could still be made for some predecessors as forerunners like Noah and Adam. In the end, the Bible does not outright declare who was literally the very first Jew. But Abraham does seem to be the most reasonable choice given his significance in the biblical origins of the Jewish nation.
Abraham’s Life and Calling
To provide more background on why Abraham is considered the first Jew, it is helpful to overview key aspects of his life story:
– Abraham’s original name was Abram and he was born in Ur of the Chaldeans, an ancient city in Mesopotamia (Genesis 11:27-32).
– God called Abram to leave his country and kindred and travel to an unknown land that God would show him, promising to make him a great nation (Genesis 12:1-9). Abram obeyed God’s call, exhibiting faith and trust in God’s promise.
– Abram journeyed with his wife Sarai and nephew Lot, traveling through Canaan until a famine forced them to temporarily stay in Egypt (Genesis 12:10-20). Abram feared he would be killed by Pharaoh if Sarai was known to be his wife, so he passed her off as his sister. This was the first of a few occasions where Abram resorted to deception because of fear rather than fully trusting God.
– Conflict between Abram and Lot’s herdsmen ultimately led to the two separating, with Lot settling near Sodom while Abram stayed in Canaan (Genesis 13).
– God reiterates his promise to give Abram offspring and make his descendants innumerable (Genesis 13:14-18). Still childless, Abram questioned God regarding how his heirs would be his offspring. God declared that Abram’s heir would indeed come from his own body (Genesis 15:1-6).
– God established his covenant with Abram by passing through the halves of sacrificed animals as a smoking firepot and flaming torch, signifying while Abram slept that God alone upholds the covenant (Genesis 15:7-21).
– Still without a child well into old age, Sarai gave Abram her servant Hagar to have a child with. Hagar conceived Ishmael when Abram was 86 (Genesis 16).
– When Abram was 99, God again repeated his covenant to make Abram exceedingly fruitful and a father of many nations (Genesis 17:1-2). God changed Abram’s name to Abraham and Sarai’s to Sarah. God instituted circumcision as the sign of his covenant with Abraham (Genesis 17:3-14).
– God promised Abraham that Sarah would bear him a son within a year’s time, an announcement that made Abraham laugh in disbelief (Genesis 17:15-19).
– Sure enough, the next year Sarah miraculously conceived and bore Isaac when Abraham was 100 years old (Genesis 21:1-7). Isaac would be the legal heir through which God’s promises to Abraham would be fulfilled.
– God tested Abraham’s faith by instructing Abraham to go offer Isaac as a sacrifice (Genesis 22). Abraham obeyed and was prepared to go through with it until God stopped him at the last moment, providing a ram instead. Abraham passed the difficult test of faith.
– Sarah died at age 127 and Abraham purchased the cave at Machpelah to bury her (Genesis 23). Abraham later arranged for his servant to find a wife for Isaac from his kinsmen rather than the Canaanites (Genesis 24).
– Abraham took another wife, Keturah, after Sarah’s death. Abraham had six sons with Keturah who he also provided for but sent away so that Isaac would remain his sole heir (Genesis 25:1-6).
– Abraham died at the good old age of 175 and was buried with Sarah in the cave at Machpelah (Genesis 25:7-11).
Key aspects of Abraham’s story demonstrate why he is considered the patriarch of the Jewish faith:
– God specifically chose to establish his covenant with Abraham, promising to make him a great nation in Canaan. This set the foundation for the future nation of Israel.
– The covenant was sealed through the sign of circumcision, instituted by God as a marking of Jewish identity still practiced today.
– Though he occasionally stumbled in faith, Abraham generally trusted and obeyed God, even leaving his homeland when called to do so. His example of faith and obedience becomes a hallmark of the Jewish people.
– God’s miraculous provision of Isaac when Abraham and Sarah were far past child-bearing years showed his favor and fulfillment of his promise to give Abraham offspring.
– Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac demonstrated profound faith and trust in God.
– Isaac was the child of promise through whom God’s covenant was established. Isaac would carry on Abraham’s faith and obedience to God.
So in numerous important ways, God selected Abraham to be the father of his chosen people. The covenant, promises, miraculous blessings, and acts of faith established through Abraham as the patriarch set the foundation for the Jewish nation that would grow out of his lineage. That is why Abraham towers above the others as the most likely first Jew in the biblical narrative.
Abraham’s Significance to Later Judaism
Not only was Abraham significant in his own time for the origins of the Jewish faith, but he remained a towering figure and example for Jews throughout all time. Here are some of the key ways Abraham continued to shape Judaism after the time of the Torah:
– Abraham was seen as the forefather and prototype for the Jewish people. To be Jewish was to follow in the faithful path of Abraham. The Mishnah tractate Avot 5:2 says Abraham was tested with 10 trials to show how much he loved God, establishing a model for future Jews to emulate.
– Circumcision remained the enduring sign of God’s covenant with Abraham and continued to mark Jewish male identity (Genesis 17:9-14).
– Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac (the Akedah) set a standard of devotion and obedience to God expected of Jews. God was to come before all else, even one’s only son.
– The Promised Land given to Abraham remained central to Jewish identity. Yearning to return to land like Abraham became important during exiles.
– Descending from Abraham spiritually, not just biologically, was emphasized. Jews saw themselves as heirs to the blessings and responsibilities God gave Abraham.
– Abraham epitomized hospitality and kindness by warmly welcoming the three visitors who came to announce Isaac’s birth (Genesis 18). This trait became associated with Jewish ethics.
– The Jewish rite of redemption of the firstborn son recall’s God’s sparing of Isaac. Abraham’s testing writ large was God’s testing of the nation of Israel as His firstborn.
– Abraham’s complete faith in God and willingness to follow His commands became an inspiration. Jews wanted similar unwavering faith.
– Rabbis emphasized Abraham’s merit in spreading knowledge of the one true God and teaching against idolatry. He became an example of a righteous teacher.
So in many ways, Abraham set the standard for Jewishness. To be Jewish was to follow Abraham – to have his faith, ethical nature, devotion to God, and obedience. Abraham remained an aspirational figure throughout all generations of Judaism. He was the father of the Jewish nation not just in lineage but in faith and example.
Arguments Against Abraham as First Jew
Despite the substantial evidence pointing to Abraham as the likely first Jew, some objections are raised by those hesitant to definitively grant him this title:
– The term “Jew” specifically refers to those from the kingdom of Judah, which was not established until many generations after Abraham.
– While Abraham did follow the one true God, he predated the official commands and tabernacle worship outlined in the Law of Moses. The detailed laws and rituals defining Jewish religious practice were not formalized until Mount Sinai.
– As a resident of Mesopotamia, Abraham’s cultural background and upbringing was not Israelite. The unique customs and identity of Jewish culture had not yet been established.
– Abraham was an ancestor of other groups besides the Jewish people. His son Ishmael fathered some of the Arab nations that would be distinct from the Jews.
– Other biblical figures preceded Abraham and also had faith in the one true God, such as Noah who even received God’s covenant. Abraham was not the only candidate for a pre-Jewish prototypical worshiper of God.
– Abraham frequently stumbled or acted in deceitful ways that contradict core ideals of Jewish ethics and virtue. This makes him an imperfect example of true Jewishness.
These points dispute the idea of Abraham as the first official Jew. However, most are technicalities based on definitions. While the finer distinctions they raise are valid, they fail to overturn the broader evidence that Abraham stands as the pivotal founding figure of what lead to the Jewish nation. Though he may not have checked every box, he did exemplify faith in God, receive foundational covenant promises, model key ethics, and launch the lineage that becomes the Jewish people. For all practical purposes, Abraham is the best and most reasonable choice based on the biblical record.
Key Attributes Abraham Displayed
Although Abraham may not have observed all aspects of Jewish law and custom as formalized later on, he did display in seed form many of the key virtues and attributes that came to define the Jewish people:
– Faith in the one true God rather than pagan idolatry
– Trust and obedience to God’s calling and commandments
– Recognition of being set apart by God for a special purpose
– Respect and honor for God through ritual acts like sacrifice
– A desire and willingness to follow God’s direction
– Acceptance of the covenant sign of circumcision
– Stewarding the Promised Land God had given
– Passing on tradition to Isaac to carry on after him
– Hope held in God’s divine promises despite obstacles
– Establishing a chosen generational lineage
– Upholding justice and morality before God
So while Abraham was not fully “Jewish” as it would be codified and practiced later, he honored God as Yahweh in ways that align with the general values, ethics, and duties that came to characterize Jewish religious identity. He lived in the land God gave, circumcised his sons, taught his offspring to follow God, lived uprightly, and trusted in God’s plan. For his time, Abraham embodied the core ideals in ways that connect him to the bigger story of the Jewish people’s history with God.
Pre-Mosaic Figures Exhibited Proto-Jewish Faith
The debate around identifying the first official Jew often centers on the question of whether Abraham or other figures before Moses should be considered fully “Jewish” without the rituals and practices established later in Jewish history. But while anachronistic labels should be avoided, there does seem to be a continuity and progression that these earliest biblical figures represent.
Rather than definitively calling Abraham and other pre-Mosaic figures Jewish, it may be helpful to think of them as exhibiting a “proto-Jewish” faith – a kernel that later bloomed into a fuller expression. Abraham and his predecessors lived out initial stages in the development that over centuries crystallized into mature Judaism.
Adam related to God in the Garden. Noah obeyed God’s commands. Abraham answered God’s call. Moses received the Law. These are different milestones in the emergence of Jewish identity rather than mutually exclusive options for “first Jew status. Though unique, they build on one another in an ongoing story that Abraham significantly advanced, but did not start from scratch.
This avoids false either-or dichotomies by recognizing a continuum where Abraham and others modeled an original version of relating to God that foreshadowed formal Judaism. The proto-Jewish faith of Abraham was part of a progression that predated and led up to the Jewish faith practiced by his descendants. Abraham’s extraordinary example and covenant with God mark him as the pivotal patriarch in the ancestral line of the Jewish people and their faith story.
Conclusion
In the end, the question of who was literally the very first human considered fully Jewish comes down to definitions and frames of reference. From the perspective of the formal giving of the Law to Moses at Sinai, then obviously Abraham the Hebrew lived much earlier and did not follow all the commandments and rituals set out in the Torah. However, in terms of exhibiting the foundational virtues and faith that characterized the worship of the God of the Bible, Abraham stands tall as a seminal figure who in many ways embodied the essence of what it meant to relate to God in the manner that led to the Jewish people.
His obedience, divine calling, covenant of circumcision, miraculous blessings, and exemplary actions point to Abraham as the patriarch who pioneered what a relationship with God according to the Judeo tradition would entail. Abraham is the best and most reasonable choice from among the biblical figures based on the totality of the evidence. He was the prototype of foundational Jewish faith and virtues that the rest of the Old Testament built upon. So while reasonable minds can debate, Abraham seems most fitting based on the biblical record to be designated the critical patriarch and the man who in faith and practice walked with God in a manner that aligned with and anticipated the faith of the Jewish nation that followed him. He was the tree from which the branch of Judaism sprouted even if it took centuries for that branch to fully bloom.