Jewish religion and is found in the Old Testament of the Bible, a set of sacred texts shared by both Judaism and Christianity. Although the term «mythology» is often associated with beliefs in various deities and mythical beings, the Hebrew tradition focuses on a single God and stories that emphasize the relationship between God and humanity.

Central to Hebrew mythology is the belief in a single, omnipotent God, Yahweh (or Jehovah). The creation story, found in the book of Genesis, tells how God created the world and mankind in six days and rested on the seventh, thus establishing the concept of the day of rest, the Sabbath.

Hebrew mythology features numerous prophets and biblical figures who played an essential role in the relationship between God and humanity. Some of the most prominent figures include:

• Abraham: Considered the father of the Jewish people, Abraham is a central figure in Hebrew mythology. He was promised numerous descendants and was asked to sacrifice his son Isaac in a test of faith.
• Moses: Moses led the people of Israel in their exodus from Egypt and received the Tablets of the Law on Mount Sinai. These tablets contained the Ten Commandments, which became the basis of Jewish ethics and morals.
• David: King of Israel and author of many of the Psalms in the Bible, David is known for his skill in music and his fight against the giant Goliath.
• Solomon: David’s son, Solomon, is famous for his wisdom and for building the Temple in Jerusalem.

Hebrew mythology includes a number of biblical stories that have had a lasting impact on Western culture and religion. Some of these stories include:

• The Universal Flood: The story of Noah and the ark, which tells how God sent a flood to destroy sinful mankind, but preserved Noah and his family along with two of each animal species in an ark.
• Creation: The account of the creation of the world in the book of Genesis, where God creates the sky, the earth, light, animals and the human being, Adam and Eve.
• The Tower of Babel: The story of the Tower of Babel, which explains the diversity of human languages and how humans tried to build a tower that reached to heaven, which displeased God.

Don’t miss the best biblical stories in Short Myths.