Section One

Abraham and Sarah

The story of Abraham and his wife Sarah shows how, in the Old Testament world at least, children were seen as a key part of the household - especially because the family line would die out without having children. Abraham was promised that his offspring would be as numerous as the starts, but as he got older this promised remained unfulfilled. Abraham and Sarah had no children. Sarah encourages Abraham to sleep with her slave, who was called Hagar. Sarah does this so that her and Abraham can build a family. Having children was seen as so important to them that they took matters into their own hands. Hagar does give birth to a son - Ishmael. Finally, Sarah does give birth to a child - Isaac. Isaac is told that, because of Abraham, his descendents will be a means by which all the nations on the Earth will be blessed.