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Patriarchs (bible)




The Patriarchs, known as the '''''Avot''''' in Hebrew , are Abraham , his son Isaac and his grandson Jacob . Collectively, they are referred to as the '''three patriarchs''' (''sh'loshet ha-avot'') of Judaism , and the period in which they lived is known as the Patriarchal Period .

Their primary wives – Sarah (wife of Abraham), Rebeccah (wife of Isaac), and Leah and Rachel (the wives of Jacob) – are known as the Matriarchs . Thus, classical Judaism considers itself to have three patriarchs and four matriarchs.


OTHER USES


In the New Testament , King David is referred to as a patriarch, as are Jacob's twelve sons (the ancestors of the Twelve Tribes Of Israel ).

In addition, the title ''patriarch'' is often applied to the ten Antediluvian figures Adam , Seth , Enos , Cainan , Mahalaleel , Jared , Enoch , Methuselah , Lamech , and Noah . According to the Book Of Genesis , these ten men are the ancestors of the entire human race.


RELATION TO OTHER TRIBES


Many of the tribes living in the Middle East , between the time of Abraham and the time of Christ , have a genealogical connection to the Patriarchs or their descendants. This list, taken from the book of Genesis , gives the details of that genealogy.













The twelve tribes of Israel include ten of the sons of Jacob, (excluding Levi and Joseph) and the two sons of Joseph.


SEE ALSO