Origins Of Judeo-Christian Vs Muslim Enmity & Strife ( Part Two)

We found in part one of this subject that Abraham's and Sarah's treatment of Abraham's first born son was such that would have caused enmity between this son by the handmaiden Hagar and the second son Isaac by Sarah. this was further intensified by the episode of Jacob and Esau where the second born schemed the rights away from the first born son of Isaac. For the most part, these two races, or decendents, from Abraham have been at odds more than they have not.

When God spoke to Hagar when she was pregnant, here is what he said of the future of Ishmael and his descendants: "...Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction. And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren."(Genesis 16: 11-12)

Adam Clarke, renowned Methodist scholar who compiled one of the most referred to commentaries on the whole bible has this to say concerning this "wild man".

"pere adam. As the root of this word does not appear in the Hebrew Bible, it is probably found in the Arabic [Arabic] farra, to run away, to run wild; and hence the wild ass, from its fleetness and its untamable nature. What is said of the wild ass, Job 39:5-8, affords the very best description that can be given of the Ishmaelites, (the Bedouins and wandering Arabs,) the descendants of Ishmael: "Who hath sent out the wild ass ( pere) free? or who hath loosed the bands ( arod) of the brayer? Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings. He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver. The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing." Nothing can be more descriptive of the wandering, lawless, freebooting life of the Arabs than this.

God not only blessed the descendants of Isaac whom he had miraculously given Abraham and Sarah to fulfil His promise that all the nations would be blessed through him. But since Ishmael was also Abraham's son and was loved by him, God promised to bless him also and that he would be the father of 12 princes. Jacob's brother Esau married into Ishmaels family and his descendants became known as the Edomites.

When the Israelites were brought out of Egyptian bondage and as they traveled their way towards Canaan, they passed through several nations lands. But when they asked permission to pass through Edom, the king refused and came out with a strong army and fought against them. God had told Moses not to fight him but to turn and go another way, which they did. God remembered this treatment of His people and later punished the Edomites severely. This is only one other point of antagonism between the Israelites and the descendents of Ishmael and Esau. Chapter 35 of Ezekiel prophesies of God's coming destruction for them.

Part # 3

Be A Writer For Webgazine



Webgazine Columnist.