The Line from Shem to Abram

A genealogy traces the line from Noah's son Shem down to a man named Abram — setting the stage for everything that follows.

creationOld Testament

What Happened

After the Tower of Babel scatters humanity, Genesis narrows its focus. A genealogy runs from Shem through ten generations to Terah, who fathers Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Abram marries Sarai, who is barren. Terah takes his family and leaves Ur of the Chaldeans heading for Canaan, but they settle in Harran instead. The stage is now set for God's call to Abram — the moment the story shifts from all humanity to one chosen family.

Read It

Genesis

The Tower, the List, and the Journey That Almost Was

Humanity bands together to build a monument to their own greatness — and God scatters them across the earth. Then a long genealogy quietly narrows the camera from all of civilization down to one family. And that family starts walking toward a land they'll never quite reach.

Key People

ShemAbramSaraiTerah

Key Places

Ur Harran Canaan

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