In the name of the gracious merciful God

Children of Israel, the Jews ,and the covenant

 

First I would like to confirm the meaning of the terms used to avoid misunderstanding. Children of Israel means the descendants of Jacob the son of Isaac the son of Abraham peace be on them all (PBOT). Jacob was named Israel when he became a prophet. The meaning of the word Israel is the slave of God. As to Ishmael he is the  firstborn son of Abraham, he is the elder brother of Isaac ,the uncle of Jacob (PBOT).The Old Testament is believed by both Jews ,and Christians to be the story of all the prophets up to Zechariah . The Old Testament verses use the name Israel to refer to both Jacob (PBOH)and his descendants.

As to the word Jew it is a faith  name which began after the Exodus. The cause of this name is that Moses (PBOH)rushed to meet God Most High at Mount Sinai leaving Israel’s sons with Haron ( Aaron)(PBOH). They have made themselves a molded calf, and worshipped it and offered sacrifices to it. Moses(PBOH) went down from the mountain and fought those who worshipped the gold calf. They said: we will return to worship God, since then Israel’s sons were named Jew, because the meaning of the word is returning back.  Moses (PBOH) then is not a Jew since he never bowed except for the Living God.

Israel’s sons are named in the “Holy Bible “Israel as well as their father. At the time of Moses (PBOH) they were only a small tribe divided in twelve partitions by the name of each one of Jacob’s sons. From Levi partition were Moses and Aaron (PBOT)

In the Holy Quran only one partition of this tribe believed in God. This seems to be Levi’s sons because they were those who fought with Moses (PBOH)the rest of the tribe and conquered them .This battle is the real explanation of the verse :” And remember Moses said to his people: "O my people! Ye have indeed wronged yourselves by your worship of the calf: so turn (in repentance) to your Maker, and slay yourselves (the wrong-doers); that will be better for you in the sight of your Maker." Then He turned towards you (in forgiveness): for He is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful. “ Sura 2 : 54; for it is impossible to order them to commit  suicide , but at this time to fight their own tribe would be called fighting them selves.

After Moses Israel’s children entered the holy land under the command of David(PBOH).He became their king. The kingdom was composed of twelve tribes living in separate places, among them there were other tribes which were not from Israel descendants.

After David ,and Solomon (PBOT) the kingdom was divided into two kingdoms Judea, and Israel. In Judea lived the descendants of Judah, and Levi, who considered themselves superior than the rest of Jacob descendants. The rest of Jacob descendants lived in Israel’s kingdom. 

What is meant by the promise is the promise (or promises) which God the Most High gave to Abraham (PBOH).

There is a general agreement that Ishmael is the firstborn of Abraham, he was born when Abraham was eighty six years old(according to the Old Testament Genesis 16:16),and that Isaac was born when Abraham was one hundred years old (genesis 21:5).

In the Generous Quran God Most High says “"O my Lord! grant me a righteous (son)!" So We gave him the good news of a boy ready to suffer and forbear. * Then, when (the son) reached (the age of) (serious) work with him, he said: "O my son! I see in vision that I offer thee in sacrifice: now see what is thy view!" (the son) said: "O my father! do as thou art commanded: thou will find me, if Allah so wills, one practicing Patience and Constancy!” * So when they had both submitted their wills (to Allah), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (for sacrifice),* We called out to him, "O Abraham! * "Thou hast already fulfilled the vision!" thus indeed do We reward those who do right. * For this was obviously a trial, * And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice: * And We left (this blessing) for him among generations (to come) in later times: * "Peace and salutation to Abraham!” * Thus indeed do We reward those who do right * Thus indeed do We reward those who do right  * For he was one of Our believing Servants. * And We gave him the good news of Isaac - a prophet - one of the Righteous. * We blessed him and Isaac: but of their progeny are (some) that do right, and (some) that obviously do wrong, to their own souls.”( Alsaffat 37 :100 -113).Who is meant by (boy ready to suffer and forbear) is Ishmael (PBOH) ,then he must be the firstborn. The verses declare also that God gave Abraham because he accepted to offer his firstborn and only son  to sacrifice and began to fulfill God’s order, by keeping his son, and offering a big sacrifice, and that he ordered us ( because Muslims are who the verse name the generations (to come )in the later times) to pray for him in every prayer (as we say “please Allah send blessings on the Prophet, and his relatives as you have blessed Abraham and his relatives... “ towards the end of every prayer), by giving birth to Isaac (PBOH),by blessing him by making Ishmael a prophet, and a messenger of God” Also mention in the Book (the story of) Isma'il: he was (strictly) true to what he promised, and he was a messenger (and) a prophet.” (Mary 19 :54 ) ,also that the Messenger of God to all nations (PAPBOH) from his descendants, and by blessing Isaac by making from his descendants Jacob Joseph (who is the only human being who is a prophet’s  son ,of a prophet’s  son, of a prophet),in addition to other prophets (PBOT)

The first mention of a promise in the Old Testament was in Genesis 13:14,15 “And the Lord said unto Abram.., Lift up now thine eyes, and look...For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.”. And in Genesis: 15:4 -18” And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying... but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir... And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness... And he said, Lord God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?

And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon. And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another... And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces... In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates.”

It seems that this event is what is mentioned in the Generous Quran :Albakara 2 :260 when Abraham asked God to let him see how the dead arise. God ordered him to cut apart some birds, to put each part on a separate mountain, then call them ,they will come to him running.

The Old Testament says that Abraham’s name was first Abram.

In Genesis: 17:1- 21” And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God… And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.... This is my covenant, which ye shall keep..... And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.. He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant…And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant...., Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed. and thou shalt call his name Isaac.... at this set time in the next year.”

Then this covenant was before the birth of Isaac (PBOH) that shows that Ishmael is meant by that, and that this covenant is conditioned. Its primary condition is that Abraham should be perfect, and to regard God as his God not anything else, he ,and his sons in their generations, and to circumcise every male when he is eight days old. This covenant goes also to strangers which are bought. who will not keep these conditions shall be cut off from his people.

So those are the Gods people. Those who follow Abraham’s religion, whether they are from his seed or from the strangers.

In the Holy Quran the destruction of Lot’s people(Sodom and Gomorrah) happened at the same time of the tiding of Abraham with the birth of Isaac ( Alhegr 15: 51 -60). Genesis 18:1- 20 .Says this also” And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son... And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him......”. The verse also clarifies that the promise (the covenant)was made before the birth of Isaac, that it is conditioned by keeping the way of the Lord ,to do Justice and judgment, that it contains also his household.

In Genesis22:16 - 18 “By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son. That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies. And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.”. which means that because Abraham has not held his only son, God blessed him, and God gave him the good tiding, that from his son all the nations of earth will be blessed. This son must be Ishmael before the birth of Isaac( PBOT).

It is true then the description of this event in the  Holy Quran by the big examination. For Abraham (PBOH) offered his only son as a sacrifice to God ,while he had no hope to get another son, his two wives reached menopause(Hagar ,and Sarai God accepted them both ) ,in addition Sarah was impotent ,he was then so old, according to God’s the most high order. So God gave him these big prizes here and there after. This is in spite of what is written in Genises 22 :2” Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest”.It can not be true that a man loves only one of his children, especially if he is a prophet as Abraham. On the contrary Genesis 17 :18 describes how much Abraham loves Ishmael(PBOT)” And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!”.

If Abraham (PBOH) had two sons ,and he was ordered to slay one of them, the meaning will not be the same as he was willing to slay his firstborn and only son. With regards to what is written in Genesis 18 - that God tided him by having a great and mighty nation - before the birth of Isaac (PBOH) ,if after that he was ordered to slay him he would surely know that God will rescue Isaac by any means to fulfill his promise. Then there is no reason to fear losing Isaac before Isaac has children of his own. Then there is no examination at all in what Abraham has done to receive this great prize. So it is most probable that the word Isaac is added by the writers, that this verse was placed before the promise given to Abraham in Genesis 17, and some of its words had been changed.

All this reassures that the covenant was done by Ishmael, and that from the descendants of Ishmael the prophet that God blesses with him all the nations, and fulfill’s in his time his promise by the land” Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates.”. So it is Mohammed (SAAS) and this prophecy was fulfilled .

Following Abraham ,in the commandments given to Moses (PBOT) the believers should offer a sacrifice  for the firstborn males as in Exodus: 13:2,15 “Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.”    “and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.”. Also to offer a sacrifice in the Passover as in Exodus 12:3 -11 “Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for a house ...... And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord's Passover.” .In the commandments Given to Mohammed (SAAS) the Od’heih ,and Ak’eek’ah.

According to Acts 7:17” But when the time of the promise drew near which God had sworn to Abraham ,the people grew and multiplied in Egypt” ,which means that God’s promise was fulfilled when Israel’s  sons went to Canaan under the command of David (PBOH).

We do not know  on what bases the Jews claim that the covenant is for Israel’s sons only. Even if the prophecies mentioned in the Old Testament was true and accurate ,exactly as the prophets said, we must ask them : why not the other sons of Isaac (PBOH) (sons of Esau Jacob’s twin, and others mentioned without names in Genesis 31:37, 46?

There is another question of  the same importance :Who are Jacob’s sons now ?

Moses was God’s messenger to Jacob’s sons, still there were those who followed him while they are not from Jacob’s sons. Some of the Egyptians, one of them was from Pharaoh’s house, the sorcerers, the magicians of Egypt .Those people accompanied Moses and Jacob’s sons.

Solomon (PBOH) preached God’s religion to Sheeba’s people. They are Arabs, from the descendants Of Abraham from his wife Ketura - As in the old testament- They believed both Tawrah and Zaboor.

Also the Jews preached, other people than the Arabs (Hebrews) Greeks, Romans, Spanish.... when they were scattered for the first time, as shown in Acts: 2:5” And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.” ,and in  Acts: 15:21” For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day. “

Then there are Jews who are not from the children of Israel.

Never all children of Israel were “elects” . On the contrary many of them prayed to idols. They worshipped the gold calf at the time of Moses, stars “But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves. “ (Amos 5 :26),Baal at the time of Ilijah” And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim.”  (1 Kings 18 :18).God punished them by being enslaved for many long periods, and by many peoples.

When Jesus (PBOH) was sent to Jacob’s sons, both kingdoms  Judah ,and Israel were occupied by Romans. Romans allowed the Jews to believe in what they like, the way they like it. The Jews then had no idols; but their hearts were full of hypocrisy .Some of them were searching for the right guidance. For those  Christ (pboh) was sent to guide them to the true way to worship God.. The religious authority then was in the hands of Judah’s tribe. This tribe lived in Kods (Jerusalem ) which follows Judah Kingdom. Levi’s tribe lived there also.

Nationalities have begun at these times, calling the inhabitants of each country by its name despite their ascendants .This can be understood from Acts 4 :36” And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, “ and from Acts 9 :11” and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus”. The Jew priests scribes ,Pharisees  were full of hypocrisy as shown in Matthew : 23 :27-29 “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the Righteous,” , “But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.” (Matthew 23:13) .Luke 12 :1” he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”. They used the Romans to aveng from their enemies (the righteous people). There were cities for the Samaritans & for the Canaans as can be understood from Matthew 10:5, 6 ”These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel”.. Matthew 15:22- 24” And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. .... But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”. E’isa (Jesus) Almaseeh’ (the Christ was sent to all Jacob’s sons not only for the lost sheep as may be understood from the previous verses.

The Jew’s priests, scribes, pharisees considered him turning away from the Lord , that he is insane “And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself”. (Mark 3:21) ,and believed that they are the good ones!!! They pretended to be awful to Caesar and said that Jesus wants to be a king, so he must be killed. Avoiding by this the anger of most Jacob’s son who believed in him, this is clear from Mark 12 :12” And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.”. Also in Luke 20:19” And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.”. God had saved him as in the previous prophecies. Israel’s  sons believed in him except Judah tribe, which thought (which is wrong) that he is the defender of Moses (PBOH)religion. This can be understood from the fact that Jesus (PBOH) cursed Jerusalem only ,which is where Judah’s tribe lived ” O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate”.( Matthew: 37,38), “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate”,(Luke 13:34,35),and “And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.... And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;”(Luke 21:20- 25). the last verse explains that this will be exactly before the rising day (Judgment day).

When the prophet (SAAS) was sent, the majority of the people living in the territories where Jacob’s sons lived believed in the new religion (Islam) .Then they are now Moslims, the majority of Jacob’s sons are Muslims, having Arabian nationalities. The Jews now are less than one tenth from Jacob’s sons with, and a mixture of other races.

As a result of Jesus  (PBOH) prophecy ,and the struggle between the different beliefs, the tribes were  ignored in Jacob’s sons. Jesus Christ (PBOH) clarified what is meant by Abraham’s sons,they are those who have the same belief as Him, not who are from his flesh descendants. In John 8 :33 -44 "They answered him, We be Abraham's seed .. I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you... Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father... Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do”.

Yehya (PBOH) (John the Baptist) said about the same” O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”(Matthew 3 :7- 10, Luke 3 :7 -9). The Bible, especially in the New Testament drew an analogy between children of Israel and a tree, almost a fig tree. So the last verse prophecies the departure of prophecies from them to another people.

The same meaning is clear in Mark 12:1-10 “ A certain man planted a vineyard ... and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country... What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others. And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:” The verses clears also that the curse of those who had not believed in Jesus (PBOH) is endless. This is clear also in the Psalms 69:27,28” Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness. Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.  “.

So even if the covenant is made especially for Jacob’s sons, it will not be for the Jews.

David (PBOH) in the Zaboor (Psalms in the Old Testament) cursed the unbelievers, those who wrested God’s word” In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me. Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.  “(Psalms 56:4,5),the same meaning we find in” How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain.  “(Jermiah 8:8),” I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.”,(Jrmiah 23:25),and “And the burden of the Lord shall ye mention no more: for every man's word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the Lord of hosts our God.”(Jermiah 23 :36).

From the Psalms we can see clearly that God saved his Christ, and that Christ will live towards the end of the world ,and that he will see when the wicked are cut off :”The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against His anointed, saying.....He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. “( Psalms 2 :2-4).” Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand....They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.”(Psalms 20:6-8). “The Lord is their strength, and He is the saving strength of His anointed. “(Psalms 28 :8).” The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.....The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.. The Lord will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged... Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.” (Psalms 37:29- 34).” A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.... There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. “(Psalms 91: 7 -16).Then Jesus Christ will come back and will revenge from those who wanted to kill him.

From the Hadeeth Elnabawy(The prophet saying) we know that Christ (PBOH) will be back, kill the Daggal (the liar) . The Saheeh (verification) of Muslim, Termezy mentioned that, the Saheeh of Ibn Magah had explained the prophecy from it “... Oh Messenger of God where arer the Arabs then .He said”... most of them in Beet Elmakdes(Jerusalem ) .Their Imam (guide or leader) a righteous man, while their Imam is going to pray the morning prayers Eisa (Jesus) descends .The Imam goes back so that Jesus be the Imam .Jesus puts his hands between his shoulders and say go forward because this prayer is for you to lead .Their Imam prays with them ,after he goes ,Jesus  peace be on him says :” Open the door there will be the Daggal (the liar) with him there are seventy thousand Jews ...As the Daggal sees him he melts like the salt in water ,he runs escaping ,Jesus says :” I have to beat you will not be able to beat me .He will overtake him at the Alled eastern door and kills him, God will conquer the Jews , God will make all God’s  creatures even the tree to say : ...“You Slave of God the Muslim there is a Jew hiding behind me come and kill him ... Jesus  son of  Mary will be a Justiful ruler ,righteous Imam , he breaks the cross slaughter the pig ... the struggle and the hatred ends ... the earth will be full of peace ... the word will be one nothing will be worshiped but Allah (the real God)...”.Most probably then that Jesus (PBOH) is the leader of Muslims to fight the Jews before the Hour, he will eliminate them ,watch their end .But when will this happen? No one knows but God, because this is one of the signs of the Hour which God did not permit anyone but Himself to know it.  

These events may be what the Holy Quran  had said in God’s the most high saying “Before this We wrote in the Psalms, after the Message (given to Moses): "My servants, the righteous, shall inherit the earth *Verily in this (Quran) is a Message for people who would (truly) worship Allah.* We sent thee not, but as a mercy for all creatures.* Say: "What has come to me by inspiration is that your God is One God: will ye therefore bow to His Will (in Islam)?".

                 

 

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