Page 8 - Biblical Backgrounds student textbook

This example of a student’s cuneiform tablet is from the city of Nippur during the Hammurabi Dynasty.
Abraham was likely an educated man for the time. Most believe he could at least read and write. Vos
speculates that because of his background and ability to move his entire family and all his herds, he was
likely a wealthy man as well.

Commerce in Ancient Mesopotamia:

Howard Vos explains that commerce had many different
aspects. The Sumerians were engaged in growing plants
and animals for food, making bricks for personal and
industrial profit, growing and importing trees to be used
for decoration in dwellings and temples, and
metalworking among other things. Metals such as gold
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came from outside Sumer. These metals were used to
make tools, weapons, crowns, statues of deities, jewelry,
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and other items. Other common metals included silver
and copper. Pottery was also important in the commerce
of the time. Like many cultures today, the state and the
religion were often involved in orchestrating commerce.
The Sumerian rulers are known to have created factories
for the development of goods. Both the government and the temples owned land and used it to
produce commercially functional items such as those listed above. Individuals owned land as well but
did not produce on the level of the industrial operations.

Abraham and Ancient Mesopotamia
Abraham was a man of his culture who Yahweh called into a special relationship. As Abraham followed
Yahweh the relationship became closer and he realized Yahweh was not going to allow for Abraham
worshipping other gods. Yahweh made a covenant with Abraham and Abraham responded in faith. We
know from Romans 4 that God credited Abraham’s faith as righteousness and blessed him. Abraham
came out of a background that worshipped many gods and revered the ancestors and their deities.
Often following the one true God means we have to say no to parts of our culture and heritage that
does not honor God.

12 Voss, Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Manners and Customs, 20-22.
13 Public Domain Image. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/322903.

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