The Judeo/Christian Tradition's Seven Fathers and Seven Men of God

To ever understand the Judeo/Christian Tradition one must finally realize the ultimate, quintessential truth concerning this unique, impossibly successful tradition. In short, one must willingly choose to actually believe that one particular god (LORD God of Israel) of one particular people (12 Tribes of Israel) from one particular region in the world (Israel) is, in fact, the one, true God of all Mankind. This basic reality  may seem inexplicable to some, but the evidence strongly suggests that history appears to favor the God of the Jews over all the other deities who have ever existed. Even ignoring the world-wide dominance of Christianity and Islam (both derived from Judaism), history still shows that  Judaism, the Jews, and the eternal nation of Israel has so far outlasted all the Pharaohs, Emperors, Caesars, and even Hitlers, the Devil has thrown their way, angrily hoping they might stumble. Yet, the fact remains that those who worship this God of the Old Testament, who also happens to be the God of the New Testament (and the Koran) have not stumbled and have yet to ever really fall down. Regardless of those who try and deny it, the religion of Judaism continues to thrive and prosper, nearly two thousand years after Rabbi Jesus first began to reveal to the Gentiles the benefits of accepting a mere Jewish carpenter from Nazareth as the one and only Son of the one and only God of all mankind.

The Seven Judeo/Christian Fathers
1. Adam
2. Noah
3. Shem
4. Job
5. Abraham
6. Isaac
7. Jacob

 

The Seven Judeo/Christian Men of God
1. Kohath
2. Amram
3. Moses
4. Aaron
5. Eldad
6. Medad
7. Hur

Next to the Temple in its magnificence, it is the throne of Solomon that perpetuates the name and fame of the wise king...The throne was covered with fine gold...On the arms to the right were the images of the seven patriarchs of the world, Adam, Noah, Shem, Job, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and on the arms to the left, the images of the seven pious men of the world, Kohath, Amram, Moses, Aaron, Eldad, Medad, and the prophet Hur.

- Legends of the Jews, By Louis Ginzberg, About.com

The Seven Sages of Judaism

The Seven Greatest Rabbis of Judaism who Ever Lived (100 BC - 1760 AD)
Rabbi Hillel, Rabbi Shammai, Rabbi Judah Ha-Nasi, Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki, Rabbi Moses ben Nachman, Rabbi Moses ben Maimon, and Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer

Both the Babylonian and the Jerusalem Talmud repeatedly mention what they call the 'Sages and Prophets'. Well, the Prophets all have separate Books in the Tanakh named after them so their list of names can be found by simply looking up the Books of the Old Testament in any Bible's Table of Contents. However, the question remains as to who exactly were the 'Sages' of the Talmud's duo of 'Sages and Prophets'? Here is the answer which most readers would probably agree with, give or take a 'Sage' or two. The Seven Sages of Judaism are listed in chronological order:

The Seven Sages of Judaism
1) Hillel (100 BC - 10 AD)
2) Shammai (50 BC - 30 AD)
3) Rab Judah (135-219 AD)
4) Rashi (1040-1105)
5) Ramban (1194-1270)
6) Rambam (1135-1204 AD)
7) Baal Shem Tov (1700 - 1760 AD)

Seven Important Facts about the Seven Sages
Hillel (Rabbi Hillel) had followers called Hillelites of the School of Hillel.
Shammai (Rabbi Shammai) had followers called Shammaites of the School of Shammai.
Rab Judah (Rabbi Judah Ha-Nasi) is often known as the Prince, or Judah the Prince.
Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) wrote an entire verse by verse analysis of the Tanakh.
Ramban (Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman) is also known as Nachmanides.
Rambam (Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon) is also known as Maimonides.
Baal Shem Tov (Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer) is also known as the Bescht.