Patriarchs (Bible)

The patriarchs (Hebrew: אבות‎ ʾAvot, "fathers") 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.

For the movement within evangelical Christianity, see Biblical patriarchy. For names of religious leaders in various Orthodox and Catholic sects, see patriarch. For uses not directly related to the Bible, see Patriarch (disambiguation).

Judaism, Christianity, and Islam hold that the patriarchs, along with their primary wives, known as the matriarchs (Sarah, Rebekah and Leah), are entombed at the Cave of the Patriarchs, a site held holy by the three religions. Rachel, Jacob's other 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.

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.

Scholars have taken a mixed view as to the Patriarchs's historicity, with archaeology so far producing no direct evidence for their existence.^[1]^[2]

Definition[edit]

The patriarchs 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^[3] and promises,^[4] and continue to play important roles in the Abrahamic faiths. 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. Rachel 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.^[5]

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.

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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.^[6] Gerhard von Rad said:

Explanation of color-codes:

Lifespans recorded in the : Black (^▄▄) and gray (^▄▄)^{[note 1]}

Septuagint

Lifespans recorded in the : Gold (^▄▄), yellow (^▄▄), and brown (^▄▄)

Syriac Peshitta

Lifespans recorded in the : Crimson (^▄▄), vermilion (^▄▄), and cinnabar (^▄▄)

Masoretic text

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the wife of Abraham

Sarah

the wife of Isaac

Rebekah

and Rachel, the wives of Jacob

Leah

Secondary matriarchs: Some Jewish sources list and Zilpah (Jacob's concubines) as additional matriarchs, for a total of six matriarchs.^[10]^[11] Other sources also include an emphasis on Tamar (the daughter-in-law of Judah) and Asenath (Osnat) (the wife of Joseph).^[12]

Bilhah

The matriarchs, also known as "the four mothers" (ארבע האמהות), are:^[9]

Chronology of the Bible

Dark Mirrors of Heaven: Timeline of the Patriarchs

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