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Patriarchs (Bible)
The bosom of Abraham - medieval illustration from the Hortus deliciarum of Herrad of Landsberg (12th century)
The patriarchs (Hebrew: אבות Avot or Abot, singular Hebrew: אב Ab or Aramaic: אבא Abba) of the Bible, when narrowly defined, are Abraham, his son Isaac, and Isaac's son Jacob, also named Israel, the ancestor of the Israelites. These three figures are referred to collectively as the patriarchs, and the period in which they lived is known as the patriarchal age. They play significant roles in Hebrew scripture during and following their lifetimes. They are used as a significant marker by God in revelations[1] and promises,[2] and continue to play important roles in the Abrahamic faiths.
More widely, the term patriarchs can be used to refer to the twenty male ancestor-figures between Adam and Abraham. The first ten of these are called the Antediluvian patriarchs, because they came before the Flood. Judaism, Christianity and Islam hold that the patriarchs, along with their primary wives, known as the matriarchs – Sarah (wife of Abraham), Rebekah (wife of Isaac) and Leah (one of the wives of Jacob) – are entombed at the Cave of Machpelah in Hebron, a site held holy by the three religions. Only Rachel, Jacob's favorite wife, is said to be buried separately at what is known as Rachel's Tomb, near Bethlehem, at the site where she is believed to have died in childbirth.
Contents
1 Antediluvian patriarchs
2 Matriarchs
3 See also
4 References
5 External links
Antediluvian patriarchs
The lifetimes given for the patriarchs in the Masoretic Text of the Book of Genesis are:
Adam 930 years, Seth 912, Enos 905, Kenan 910, Mahalalel 895, Jared 962, Enoch 365 (did not die, but was taken away by God), Methuselah 969, Lamech 777, Noah 950.[3] The lifespans given have surprising chronological implications, as the following quotation shows.
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"The long lives ascribed to the patriarchs cause remarkable synchronisms and duplications. Adam lived to see the birth of Lamech, the ninth member of the genealogy; Seth lived to see the translation of Enoch and died shortly before the birth of Noah. Noah outlived Abram's grandfather, Nahor, and died in Abram's sixtieth year. Shem, Noah's son, even outlived Abram. He was still alive when Esau and Jacob were born!"[4]
Explanation of color-codes:
- Lifespans recorded in the Septuagint: Black (▄▄) and gray (▄▄)
- Lifespans recorded in the Syriac Peshitta: Gold (▄▄) and yellow (▄▄)
- Lifespans recorded in the Masoretic text: Crimson (▄▄) and vermilion (▄▄)
Matriarchs
The Matriarchs, also known as "the four mothers" (ארבע האמהות), who were married to the biblical patriarchs:
Sarah, the wife of Abraham
Rebekah, the wife of Isaac
Leah and Rachel, the wives of Jacob
See also
- Chronology of the Bible
References
^ Exodus 3:6
^ Leviticus 26:42
^ Ages of the patriarchs in Genesis Archived 2008-10-22 at the Wayback Machine.
^ Von Rad, G. (trans Marks, J. H.) 1961 Genesis - a commentary Philadelphia: Westminster Press
External links
- Dark Mirrors of Heaven: Timeline of the Patriarchs
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