Abraham was born in about 2000 BCE in the city of Ur, Mesopotamia, originally called Abram. The Mesopotamians believed in multiple gods, but Abram believed in one true God. This belief set Judaism apart from other religions. Judaism began when God and Abram made a sacred agreement, or covenant that God would make him the father of a great nation. In return, Abram promised that he and his descendants would always devote themselves to God.

God told him to leave his homeland. Abram obeyed. In 1950 BCE, he gathered his relatives, and went west to Canaan. As a mark of their covenant, god gave Abram the name of Abraham which means ‘father of many’. God also tested Abraham’s faith and obedience many times. The last test was the hardest. It was common