Thematic Bible: Patriarchal government
Thematic Bible
Patriarchal government » Exercised in » Acting as priests
Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "I'll give this land to your descendants." So Abram built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.
Later, God told Jacob, "Get up, move to Bethel, and live there. Build an altar to the God who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau." Jacob announced to his household and to everyone with him, "Throw away the foreign gods that you've kept among you, purify yourselves, and change your clothes. Then let's get up and go to Bethel, where I'll build an altar to the God who answered me when I was in distress and who was with me on the road, wherever I went." read more.
So they handed over to Jacob all their foreign gods on which they had been depending, along with the rings that they were wearing on their ears. Jacob buried them under the oak that grew near Shechem. As they set out on their journey, because the people who lived in the cities around them feared God, they did not pursue Jacob's sons. Eventually, Jacob and everyone with him arrived at Luz (also called Beth-el) in the territory of Canaan. He built an altar there to God and named the place El Beth-el, because God had revealed himself there when he was fleeing from his brother.
So they handed over to Jacob all their foreign gods on which they had been depending, along with the rings that they were wearing on their ears. Jacob buried them under the oak that grew near Shechem. As they set out on their journey, because the people who lived in the cities around them feared God, they did not pursue Jacob's sons. Eventually, Jacob and everyone with him arrived at Luz (also called Beth-el) in the territory of Canaan. He built an altar there to God and named the place El Beth-el, because God had revealed himself there when he was fleeing from his brother.
Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and offered burnt offerings on it from every clean animal and every clean bird.
When their time of feasting had concluded, Job would rise early in the morning to send for them and consecrate them to God. He would offer a burnt offering for each one, because Job thought, "Perhaps my children sinned by cursing God in their hearts." Job did this time and again.
Patriarchal government » Exercised in » Forming treaties and alliances
About that time, Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, told Abraham, "God is with you in everything that you're doing. Therefore swear an oath here by God that you won't deal falsely with me, my sons, or my descendants. Just as I've dealt graciously with you, won't you do so with me and with the land in which you live as a foreigner?" And Abraham replied, "I agree!" read more.
But then Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well of water that Abimelech's servants had seized. "I don't know who did this thing," Abimelech replied. "You didn't report this to me, and I didn't hear about it until today." So Abraham took sheep and oxen and presented them to Abimelech, and the two of them made a covenant. Then Abraham set aside seven ewe lambs, so Abimelech asked Abraham, "What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs that you have set aside?" He replied, "You are to accept from me these seven ewe lambs as a witness that I have dug this well." Therefore that place was called Beer-sheba, because the two of them swore an oath. So after they had made a covenant in Beer-sheba, Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, left and returned to Philistine territory.
But then Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well of water that Abimelech's servants had seized. "I don't know who did this thing," Abimelech replied. "You didn't report this to me, and I didn't hear about it until today." So Abraham took sheep and oxen and presented them to Abimelech, and the two of them made a covenant. Then Abraham set aside seven ewe lambs, so Abimelech asked Abraham, "What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs that you have set aside?" He replied, "You are to accept from me these seven ewe lambs as a witness that I have dug this well." Therefore that place was called Beer-sheba, because the two of them swore an oath. So after they had made a covenant in Beer-sheba, Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, left and returned to Philistine territory.
Someone escaped, arrived, and reported what had happened to Abram the Hebrew, who was living by the oaks belonging to Mamre the Amorite, whose brothers Eshcol and Aner were allied with Abram.
"We've seen that the LORD is with you," they responded, "so we're proposing an agreement between us between us and you. Allow us to make a treaty with you by which you'll agree not to do us any harm, just as we haven't harmed you, since we've done nothing but good for you after we sent you away in peace. As a result, you've been tremendously blessed by the LORD." So Isaac held a festival for them, and they ate and drank. read more.
They woke up early the next morning and made the treaty. After this, Isaac sent them off and they left on peaceful terms. That very same day, Isaac's servants arrived and reported to him about a well that they had just completed digging. "We've found water!" they said. So Isaac named the well Shebah, which is why the city is named Beer-sheba to this day.
They woke up early the next morning and made the treaty. After this, Isaac sent them off and they left on peaceful terms. That very same day, Isaac's servants arrived and reported to him about a well that they had just completed digging. "We've found water!" they said. So Isaac named the well Shebah, which is why the city is named Beer-sheba to this day.
Patriarchal government » Exercised in » Blessing and cursing their children
May the LORD grant you dew from the skies, and from the fertile land; may he grant you abundant grain and fresh wine.
Patriarchal government » Exercised in » Arbitrarily disinheriting and putting away servants and children
So early the next morning, Abraham got up, took bread and a leather bottle of water, gave them to Hagar, and placed them on her shoulder. He then sent her away, along with the child. She went off and roamed in the Beer-sheba wilderness.
Here is a record of the descendants of Reuben, Israel's firstborn. (He was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father's marriage bed, his birthright was transferred to the descendants of Israel's son Joseph. As a result, Reuben is not enrolled in the genealogy according to the birthright.
Patriarchal government » Exercised in » Vindicating their wrongs
They also took Abram's nephew Lot captive, and confiscated his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.
During the night, Abram and his servants divided his forces, conquered his enemies, and pursued them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. He recovered all the goods and brought back his nephew Lot, together with his possessions, the women, and the other people.
Patriarchal government » Exercised in » Training, &c their servants for war
When Abram heard that his nephew had been taken prisoner, he gathered together 318 of his trained men, who had been born in his household, and they went out in pursuit as far as Dan.
Patriarchal government » Exercised in » Acting as judges
Three months later, it was reported to Judah, "Your daughter-in-law Tamar has turned to prostitution! And look! She's pregnant because of it!" "Bring her out," Judah responded. "Let's burn her to death!"
Patriarchal government » Vested in the heads of families
Indeed, I've made myself known to him in order that he may encourage his sons and his household that is born after him to keep the way of the LORD, and to do what is right and just, so that the LORD may bring about for Abraham what he has promised."
Patriarchal government » Exercised in » The authority of heads of families for, acknowledged
"Listen to us, sir. You are a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our burial tombs. None of us would refuse you his tomb for burying your dead."