Daily Life of the Patriarchs : The Way It Was

While the literature of the ancient Near East portrays legendary heroes, this is not the case with the biblical narrative, which portrays the patriarchs and matriarchs as fallible human beings. Their story is a multigenerational one of family and the dynamics that exist within. Reading these stories is like hearing the echo of family feuds, which is what makes them timeless. Were the patriarchs real people? Or can we say that many details in the Book of Genesis are fictions that project later romantic ideals of life and faith? To answer these questions the author examines the patriarchs’ daily life, beliefs, and customs to provide provocative and useful insights into the life of the Patriarchs. Cover Contents Acknowledgments Abbreviations Introduction Chapter 1: Migration The First Monotheist Dating the Period of the Patriarchs The Biblical Evidence The Mari Evidence From Ur to Canaan Ḫabiru (Ḫapiru) Place of Habitation Chapter 2: Marriages Endogamy: Marriage within the Family Exogamy: Marriage Outside of the Family Bridal Price Maidservant Bilhah and Zilpah Levirate Marriage Wedding Ceremony Chapter 3: The Religious Customs of the Patriarchs Altars Sacrifice Stones Prayers Swearing Circumcision Sacred Trees Chapter 4: The God/Gods of the Patriarchs The Different Names of God The God of Israel and the Foreign Gods Theophany Angels Chapter 5: Dreams Abraham Isaac Jacob Incubation Abimelech Laban Chapter 6: The Three Patriarchs Abraham Isaac Jacob Chapter 7: The Matriarchs Sarah Rebecca Rachel Leah Chapter 8: The Daily Life of the Patriarchs Tent Dwellers Food Wheat and Barley Pulses Wine and Milk Meat Condiments Nuts Transportation Dress and Ornamentation Chapter 9: Death “Lie down with one’s father” Mourning Customs Sheol Cult of the Dead Conclusion Bibliography Index The Biblical narrative portrays the patriarchs and the matriarchs as fallible human beings. Were the patriarchs real people? Or were many details in the Book of Genesis fictions projecting later romantic ideals? To answer these questions the authors examine the patriarchs’ daily life, beliefs, and customs.