Origin of the Conflict
This conflict has its origin, precisely, from the beginning of humanity, more precisely in Babylon, the ancient city of Ur of the Chaldeans. Here is where God makes the call of father to these two peoples, which have been dedicated to fighting, constantly, during all times.
Thus, God makes the call to Abraham and it is upon him that He establishes the roots of both Jews and Arabs. The two nations have only one father. Even though the mothers are different, therefore, the destinies of the people are also different.
Since the beginning of time, the two nations have been in permanent dispute. Ishmael and his brother Isaac are consolidated as the foundations for these two nations.
The essence of the Bible
The essence that shapes the history of these two peoples is found dazzlingly in the scriptures of the Bible.
Writings of experts and scholars on the matter indicate that these two nations are going to be determinant, as far as the end of humanity is concerned. That which had a beginning in Genesis, in the Middle East. It will finally come to an end there, closing the circle completely.
The origin of Arab-Israeli conflict has its origin within the family of Abraham, Ishmael and Isaac.
A life of quarrels
The life of the Ishmaelites, throughout the Old Testament, has been characterized by a life of great hostility against the people of Israel. And it is so at present.
Abrahamic Covenant
This covenant said by God, says that the land of Palestine would only be for Isaac. One of the promises of the Abrahamic covenant was that God made the promise that He would give to the descendants of Isaac and in no case does it say to the descendants of Ishmael. Was the land of Canaan.
This is possession permanently. So, therefore, it turns out to be illegitimate. Moreover, it is unbiblical to claim that the land of Palestine belongs to the children of Ishmael.
It is written in the Bible, where it says in a textual way:
“Abraham also said, Behold, thou hast given me no offspring and behold, he shall be mine heir born in mine house. And the word of God came unto him, saying, This man shall not be thine heir, but a son shall be thine heir.
And he brought him forth and said unto him, Look now toward heaven and number the stars if thou be able to number them. And I said unto him, So shall thy seed be: and he believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness. And he said unto him, I am God, which brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.”
(Genesis 15:3-7).
So, Ishmael was allowed by God to occupy that land. And again God ratifies it to him, in Genesis 17:8 when He says to him:
“And I will give unto thee and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou dwellest, even all the land of Canaan for an everlasting inheritance; and I will be their God.”
The sacrifice of Isaac or Ishmael
The day of September 24, is celebrated by the Muslims of the month of Dhuʻl-Hijjah, a moment in which the previous days come to an end, to what will be the pilgrimage to Mecca.
Also, the day of Eid al-Adha is celebrated, in which they perform the sacrifice, it is slaughtered either a lamb or a ram, in other cases a camel.
It is important to point out that it is not a sacrifice offered to the divinity, as if it were a normal ritual, it is precisely the commemoration of the sacrifice made by Ishmael at the hands of Abraham.
For Muslims, the one who was taken to sacrifice on Mount Moriah was Ishmael and not Isaac.
Ishmael, along with Abraham, is a key character of Islam. They are credited with the creation of the sanctuary of Mecca. As well as the Kaaba and the pilgrimages that are made to this sacred place.
The Place of Sacrifice
The place of the sacrifice, according to the Muslims, of Ishmael, is located in the same place where Isaac’s sacrifice is located in the Bible, Mount Moriah. This site, at present, is known as the Temple Mount, or the esplanade of the mosques, in the center of Jerusalem.
Specifically, it is located on a large stone, which is inside the Mosque of the Rock. That is why it has that name. That is the golden mosque, which happens to be the symbol of Muslim Jerusalem. In the middle of the mosque is located the rock where the sacrifice of the son of Abraham took place.
The Jewish scripture
About the name of Ishmael, it is an allusion to what was the promise made by God, to hear all the complaints that emanated from Israel, every time he suffered at the hands of Ishmael.
Likewise, they indicate that Abraham did his best to give Ishmael a fair upbringing so that he would be indoctrinated according to the laws corresponding to Abraham’s hospitality.
However, despite his efforts, according to the divine prediction, Ishmael remained a savage, a completely ambiguous expression in general. This fact has been interpreted by some rabbis as meaning that Ishmael had been an idolater. And by others, that he had given the bow against Isaac.
Based on the interpretations of the rabbis, Ishmael mocks Isaac as Abraham’s principal heir, because he was the firstborn son and, therefore, should receive two-thirds of Abraham’s inheritance.
The eternal struggle
This struggle is understood by many people, trying to find the roots of the conflict, in what are surely political problems. It is possible not to cease until the end of time.
Arabs express such hatred that they take away Israel’s right to exist as if it were a state. Moreover, they would like to see the Jewish people disappear from the planet.
They are waiting for their leader, their messiah, their imam. Some religious or political leader is going to rule them. Therefore, it relates then to the essence of what is in the Bible, related to Abraham and his sons, Ishmael and Isaac.
Israel and the Arab nations are waiting for the leader to enter through that gate that is currently walled up in the wall of Jerusalem. The one who will be a magnet for the Arabs and the Messiah of the Jews is supposed to enter soon.
The same man
According to those in the know, everyone ignores that it will be the same man who will enter there and that, in addition, the end of the world is related to these two nations. On the one hand, the Jews, who will gather in all parts of the world.
And on the other, the Arab nation will unite to go against Israel and the rest of the nations of the world. All this struggle began in the bosom of Abraham’s family, with his sons Ishmael and Isaac.
Mutual hatred
When the question arises as to why there is so much hatred between Jews and Arabs, it must be said that not all Arabs are Muslims and not all Muslims are Arabs.
Although the majority of Arabs are Muslims, there is a large number who are not. We must be careful not to stereotype people. Both Arabs and Muslims manifest a rejection and distrust of Jews and vice versa.
The Muslim nations of today come from Ishmael
From Ishmael’s descendants came a large number of nations. Which are of Arab origin and are Muslim today.
Moreover, with accuracy, due to the location that, geographically, have their descendants. This is how the Bible states that the last descendants of Ishmael were settled from what is known as Havilah to Shur, just in front of Egypt, coming towards Assyria.
Today they are known as:
- Saudi Arabia
- Jordan
- Syria
- Western Iraq
Therefore, it can be observed in the Bible, which indicates verbatim that:
“And these were the years of Ishmael’s life, one hundred and thirty-seven years. He breathed out the spirit of Ishmael and died. And he went away united with his people. They dwelt from Havilah to Shur, which is opposite Egypt, coming to Assyria; and he died in the presence of all his brethren.”
(Genesis 25:18)
This article has been adapted and translated by InfoMistico.com / Based on information from: estaeslahistoria.com
