The obviousness of this principle is too great, and against it we
have to consider that the later development of the legend shows a
manifest tendency to make Abraham the patriarch par excellence and
cast the others into the shade. In the earlier literature, on the
other hand, Isaac is mentioned even by Amos, Abraham first appears
in Isaiah xl.-lxvii. Micah vii 20 belongs to the exile, and the
words "who redeemed Abraham" in Isaiah xxix. 22 are not genuine;
they have no possible position in the sentence, and the idea of
the salvation of Abraham (from the fire of the Chaldaeans) is of
late occurrence. I certainly do not mean to maintain that
Abraham was not yet known when Amos wrote; but he scarcely stood
by this time at the same stage as Isaac and Jacob. As a saint of
Hebron he might he of Calibite ordain, and have something to do
with Ram (1Chronicles ii.). Abram may stand for Abiram, as Abner
for Abiner and Ahab for Ahiab. The name Abu Ruham occurs in the
Hadith as _nomen proprium viri_.
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In the Jehovist this skeleton of ethnographic genealogy is found
covered throughout with flesh and blood.
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