These changes could not have been arbitrary. Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham, was the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. In the Bible, we are told that a divine being he wrestled with ...

Abraham, center, with grandson Jacob ... Jacob produced twelve sons, each of whom became the father of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Reuven, Shimon, Levi, Yehuda, Issachar, Zevulun, Dan ...

Abraham in turn Isaac, in turn Jacob, in turn Joseph and the twelve tribes, this brings us directly to the people of Israel and the covenant at Sinai. So Abraham is thought of as the first Jew ...