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. 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.