Why is there conflict between Jews and Arabs?

Origins in the Family of Abraham

According to Scripture, the roots of the conflict trace all the way back to the patriarch Abraham. The Book of Genesis portrays Abraham as the father of two sons by different mothers: Ishmael (by Hagar) and Isaac (by Sarah). In Genesis 16:11–12, the Angel of the LORD speaks of Ishmael and foretells:

“Behold, you have conceived and will bear a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard your cry of affliction. He will be a wild donkey of a man, and his hand will be against everyone, and everyone’s hand against him; he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.”

This prophecy foreshadows tension within Abraham’s household and its generational impact.

The Covenant and the Promised Son

God’s covenant promise comes into focus in Genesis 17:19:

“Then God said, ‘No, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you are to name him Isaac. I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.’”

While Ishmael received certain blessings and promises of becoming a great nation (Genesis 17:20), Scripture sets Isaac as the heir to the divine covenant. Jews traditionally trace their lineage through Isaac and his son Jacob, while Arabs have often been viewed—by both demographic and tradition—as descending in part from Ishmael.

Jacob, Esau, and Further Family Rifts

The conflict patterns continue in the next generation. Isaac’s twin sons, Jacob and Esau, competed for blessing and birthright (Genesis 25–27). Though Esau’s descendants (Edomites) are not identical to all Arab peoples, these repeated family struggles illustrate how close relatives in Scripture often diverged into groups later in frequent tensions.

Clash of Promises and Identity

From the time of Abraham onward, issues of land, inheritance, and covenant formed central points of conflict. Jews rooted their identity in God’s promise to establish them in the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:7; 15:18). Ishmael’s descendants also expanded, becoming numerous tribes. Although the term “Arab” in modern usage spans many different peoples and nations, there is a biblical tradition that associates Ishmael’s lineage with the broader Arab peoples.

This clash of identity and promise—who inherits the blessing, who has the right to the land—carries immense spiritual and historical weight. Numerous biblical passages note ongoing strife among neighboring tribes, including the Ishmaelites, Midianites, and other related groups (Judges 6, for instance). Such conflicts, rooted in ancient rivalries, sowed long-lasting divisions.

Historical and Archaeological Confirmations

Archaeological findings such as the Merneptah Stele (c. 1208 BC) reference “Israel” as a distinct people group in Canaan. The existence of multiple inscriptions, including Moabite and Assyrian records, further reveals that the Israelites and their neighbors frequently experienced both cooperation and animosity.

Documents like the Dead Sea Scrolls (discovered mid-20th century) verify the ancient transmission and preservation of the Hebrew Scriptures. Within those scrolls, prophecies and commentaries show that the region’s conflicts trace back centuries, reinforcing the biblical narrative of longstanding tensions.

Religious, Cultural, and Political Dimensions

Over time, religion deepened the complexity of these conflicts. While Jews upheld the Torah and the prophetic writings, later Islamic tradition (emerging in the seventh century AD) placed Ishmael’s role at the center of their own salvation history, claiming the inheritance of Abraham’s promise through him. This divergence turned a familial dispute into a religious division.

Culturally, centuries of migration, empire-building, and shifting alliances shaped the map of the Middle East. Politically, the region repeatedly fell under the dominion of various empires—Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Roman, Islamic caliphates, Ottoman, and others—leaving behind intertwined groups with competing claims over territory.

Prophetic Pronouncements and Hopes of Peace

Biblical prophecy often speaks of the ongoing strife while also offering hope. Isaiah 2:4 declares:

“He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor train anymore for war.”

The ultimate resolution of these deep-seated conflicts is repeatedly placed in God’s hands, pointing forward to a time of lasting reconciliation.

Behavioral Observations

From a behavioral standpoint, conflicts fueled by identity, religious devotion, and ancestral memory tend to pass from one generation to the next. Patterns of hostility and cultural separation, formed centuries ago, remain embedded through family traditions, social narratives, and historical grievances. Scripture itself underlines these spiritual and familial complexities.

Conclusion

In summary, the conflict between Jews and Arabs, from a biblical perspective, finds its origins in the extended family of Abraham—particularly the tension between Ishmael and Isaac, and later lineages such as Esau and Jacob. The question of land and covenant blessings, enshrined within Scripture, set the stage for differences that ripened into long-term conflict. Archaeological and historical records such as the Merneptah Stele, along with the meticulous preservation of Scripture exemplified by findings like the Dead Sea Scrolls, corroborate the region’s ancient history and tensions.

Moreover, religious developments over centuries added new layers of complexity, solidifying the rift within profound theological frameworks. Biblical passages also point to hopes for ultimate peace and reconciliation, emphasizing that these centuries-old disputes will, one day, be resolved by divine decree. While cultural, political, and behavioral factors exacerbate strife, Scripture highlights that the sources of conflict rest upon ancient family divisions, deep promises, and the spiritual weight of inheritance.