Who Are the Patriarchs in the Bible?
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are considered the patriarchs in the Bible. The three patriarchs were fathers to a nation of people that we know today as the Israelites. They are also known as the patriarchal age. These men paved the way for our culture and history.
Abraham
The story of Abraham and his son Isaac is a powerful one in the Hebrew Bible. Christians and Jews have read the story in slightly different ways, but the main message is the same. God asks Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. Abraham travels for three days to the site where he is to offer the sacrifice. He binds his son and lays him on a pile of firewood. He raises his knife to slay him, but then an angel calls out to him and tells him to spare Isaac. A ram was substituted for Isaac, and he was spared from death.
After this dramatic event, Abraham and his family travelled for many years. The journey took them through different people groups and cultures. They travelled along the Fertile Crescent from Mesopotamia to Egypt. Abraham and his family eventually settled in Egypt. They were eventually blessed with a thriving nation.
Although the Patriarchs did own land, it did not preclude nomadic living. In fact, Genesis and other contemporary records mention Abraham and his family owning slaves. The Patriarchs also had towns and villages. They cultivated the soil, planted and harvested crops.
The patriarchs in the Bible were men who followed God. They were also great prophets and obedient to God’s commandments. In the Bible, Abraham and his sons were considered to be a blessing to the Israelites. And as a result, they became the ancestors of the modern nation known as Israel.
Jacob
Jacob is one of the patriarchs in Hebrew scriptures. He was the son of Abraham and Sarah. He had four children: Joseph, Leah, and Esau. However, Jacob didn’t wait for the Lord to give him a son. He should have waited for the Lord’s timing. Instead, Jacob cheated his way to the Promised Land by stealing the blessing of Isaac. He later died and was buried in the land of Hebron.
Jacob served Laban for six years. During that time, Jacob was able to acquire a lot of property. He then traveled to Palestine with his family. During this time, he was able to reconcile with his brother Esau. He also had a mighty heart. Despite the pain and heartache, Jacob and his family reached the Promised Land.
Jacob’s sons became the patriarchs of different tribes in Israel. Moses spent most of his life record describing the people Jacob interacted with. The stories he wrote dealt with two people groups within the boundaries of the Promised Land. These people groups posed a threat to Israel, so it was important to know how to treat them.
Jacob was wealthy and well-to-do. He owned livestock and slaves. He also had a great amount of silver. Genesis 23:16 mentions him as a rich man. The Shechemites invited Jacob’s family to join their community, and Joseph, the oldest of them, provisionally welcomed the brothers. This gave them trading privileges.
Esau
One of the patriarchs in the bible is Esau. He was the firstborn of the Jacob’s descendants. As the firstborn, he was entitled to double his share of material wealth and the spiritual blessing of his father. However, his lack of patience and hospitality led him to take matters into his own hands, resulting in his father’s untimely death.
The Bible describes Esau as an archer and a hunter. He was also referred to as sword-living in Genesis 10:9, 21:20, and 27:40. These descriptions are quite different from the ideal image of a leader. While Esau favored the life of a hunter, the ideal image of a leader is that of a shepherd.
Genesis 25:25 describes Esau’s birth. The Hebrew name “Esau” is not very clear. It may be akin to the Arabic word ‘athaa’, but it also means red. It is no wonder the Bible attributes Esau the red color of his hair. Esau’s descendants became known as the Edomites.
Esau was one of the firstborn sons of Isaac and his wife, Rebekah. He was the twin brother of Jacob and was the elder of the two. He was the favorite of Isaac and his father, Isaac. The story of Ya’qub also mentions him.
Manasseh
Manasseh is one of the patriarchal figures in the Bible. The story of his birth and his reign in Judah is a familiar one. According to the Bible, he succeeded his father on the throne when he was twelve years old. However, some Bible scholars do not agree on this fact. Some scholars believe that Manasseh was only a viceroy under his father Hezekiah for eleven years before he was crowned sole ruler of Judah.
The descendants of Manasseh were numbered among the tribes of Israel. They were granted the blessing of Moses by the tribes of Ephraim and Joseph, and their land lay partly west of the Jordan. This group was also a part of the colony in Gilead. The descendants of Manasseh were also among the ancestors of the prophet Lehi.
The eldest son of Joseph, Manasseh was born during the seven years of abundance, followed by the seven years of famine. During this time, Joseph learns that his father, Jacob, is ill, and he brings his two sons with him. Afterwards, Jacob adopts Manasseh and his brother Ephraim. In the census that Moses took of all the children of Israel, Manasseh was listed with 32,200 descendants and Ephraim with forty-five thousand descendants.
Manasseh had a son named Makir, who is placed on Joseph’s knee. According to the Bible, the mother of Makir is an Aramean concubine. Manasseh’s descendants are referred to as the Tribe of Manasseh. According to the census of Numbers, the Tribe of Manasseh had 32,200 men aged twenty and older. They were led by Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, who brought the offering from the Tribe of Manasseh on the eighth day.
Joseph
The Bible tells us about patriarchs, progenitors of families and heads of families. In the Old Testament, patriarchs are referred to as post-diluvian or antediluvian patriachs (from Adam until Noah), and antediluvian patriachs (from Noah to Jacob). Pre-Flood patriarchs were known to have long lifespans, and some of them were even mentioned by name in the Old Testament.
The biblical account of Joseph’s life demonstrates God’s covenant love with His people. He is a model of steadfast obedience and fidelity to God, as well as redemptive suffering for the good of the people. In the Old Testament, Joseph is also a model of the Messiah. As a patriarch, he fulfills the divinely-ordained purpose for his people and embodies the ideal of a perfect ruler.
Joseph’s story is also reflected in the New Testament. His life is cited by Saint Stephen in his speech before the Sandhedrin. The Bible also mentions Joseph as a prophet, and Hebrews 11:22 sites Joseph’s prophetic powers as an example of faith. Several Christian denominations hold him as a saint and commemorate his life on Holy and Great Monday.
Joseph is the son of patriarch Jacob and his wife Rachel. He died in 1700 B.C. and was buried at Shechem, the oldest northern shrine. His descendants are called Ephraim and Manasseh.