God promised Abraham that he would make from him a nation, that he would give that nation the land of Canaan as a homeland, and that through it blessing would come to people worldwide (Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 13:14-17; Genesis 15:18-21; Genesis 22:17-18). The nation became known as Israel, after Abraham’s grandson (originally named Jacob) whose twelve sons were the fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel (Genesis 32:28; Genesis 35:22-26; Genesis 49:1; Genesis 49:28; 1 Chronicles 1:34; 1 Chronicles 2:1-2; see JACOB).

Beginnings of Israel’s national life