Family in the Bible

The genealogy of Levi is detailed, including the priestly line through Aaron and the Levitical musicians appointed by David. The 48 Levitical cities are listed, showing their distribution throughout Israel.

The genealogies of Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher are recorded. Notable among Ephraim's descendants is Joshua son of Nun. These records establish the tribal identities for the post-exilic community.

Benjamin's genealogy is expanded, especially the family of King Saul. This detailed record of Saul's lineage provides context for the transition of kingship from Saul to David.

The aging King David's son Adonijah attempts to seize the throne. Bathsheba and the prophet Nathan intervene, and David confirms Solomon as his chosen successor. Solomon is anointed king at Gihon, and Adonijah's supporters scatter.

Hannah, barren and deeply distressed, prays fervently at the tabernacle in Shiloh for a son. She vows to dedicate him to God. God answers her prayer, and she gives birth to Samuel, whose name means heard by God.

Paul gives practical instructions for caring for widows, honoring elders, and handling accusations against leaders. He teaches that the church should provide for genuine widows while younger widows should remarry. Elders who serve well deserve double honor.

Jehoram kills his brothers and follows the wicked ways of Ahab's family through his wife Athaliah. Elijah sends a letter predicting judgment. Edom and Libnah revolt. Jehoram is struck with an incurable disease and dies unmourned.

Ahaziah reigns briefly as a wicked king under his mother Athaliah's influence. He is killed alongside Ahab's family by Jehu. Athaliah then seizes the throne and massacres the royal family, but baby Joash is hidden by the priest's wife.

David's son Amnon rapes his half-sister Tamar, then despises her. David is furious but does nothing. After two years, Tamar's brother Absalom takes revenge by having Amnon murdered at a feast, then flees to Geshur.

Joab devises a scheme using a wise woman of Tekoa to persuade David to bring Absalom back from exile. David allows Absalom to return to Jerusalem but refuses to see him for two more years until Absalom forces a meeting.

David's forces defeat Absalom's army in the forest of Ephraim. Absalom's hair gets caught in a tree, and Joab kills him despite David's explicit orders to deal gently with his son. David is devastated, crying: O my son Absalom!

Since believers have been raised with Christ, Paul urges them to set their minds on things above. He instructs them to put to death earthly sins and put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Whatever you do, work heartily as for the Lord—for it is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Moses delivers the Shema — the foundational confession of Israel's faith: Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. He commands them to love God with all their heart, soul, and strength, and to teach God's words diligently to their children. He warns that prosperity in the Promised Land must not lead to forgetting God.

Various laws address unsolved murders (a heifer ritual), rights of firstborn sons in polygamous households, rebellious sons (brought before elders), and the treatment of executed criminals whose bodies must not remain on a tree overnight. The ceremonial unsolved murder ritual demonstrates the seriousness of bloodguilt.

Laws limit flogging to forty stripes, protect working oxen from being muzzled, and establish levirate marriage — a brother's duty to marry his deceased brother's widow to continue his name. Honest weights and measures are required. The chapter concludes with a command to remember and eventually destroy Amalek.

Paul instructs children to honor parents and fathers not to exasperate children. He addresses slaves and masters with mutual respect. He closes with the armor of God: belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of the gospel, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and sword of the Spirit—the word of God.

Moses is born and hidden for three months, then placed in a basket on the Nile where Pharaoh's daughter finds and adopts him. As an adult, Moses kills an Egyptian who is beating a Hebrew and flees to Midian. There he marries Zipporah and lives as a shepherd while God hears Israel's groaning.

Moses makes excuses about his inadequacy, and God gives him three signs: a staff turning into a snake, his hand becoming leprous and restored, and water turning to blood. God appoints Aaron as Moses's spokesman. Moses returns to Egypt, and on the way God nearly kills him until Zipporah circumcises their son.

God reassures Moses by revealing His name Yahweh and reaffirming the covenant promises to Abraham. He pledges to redeem Israel with an outstretched arm and bring them to the Promised Land. The chapter also records the genealogy of Moses and Aaron through the tribe of Levi.

Moses's father-in-law Jethro visits the camp, bringing Zipporah and Moses's sons. He observes Moses judging the people from morning to night and advises him to delegate by appointing capable leaders over groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. Moses follows Jethro's wise counsel.

God gives Moses detailed laws governing the treatment of servants, including conditions for their release. Laws address personal injury cases including murder, assault, and the principle of proportional justice — an eye for an eye. These civil laws establish justice and protect the vulnerable in Israelite society.

Cain and Abel bring offerings to God; Abel's is accepted but Cain's is not. Jealous and angry, Cain murders his brother and is cursed to wander the earth. The chapter traces Cain's descendants and ends with Seth's birth.

The genealogy from Adam to Noah is recorded, tracing ten generations. Each entry notes the patriarch's age at fatherhood, total lifespan, and death. Enoch stands out as the man who walked with God and was taken without dying.

God blesses Noah and establishes a covenant never to destroy the earth by flood again, setting the rainbow as its sign. God gives new dietary permissions and institutes the principle of capital punishment for murder. Noah plants a vineyard, becomes drunk, and Ham's disrespect leads to prophetic blessings and curses on his sons.

The Table of Nations lists the descendants of Noah's three sons — Shem, Ham, and Japheth — and how they spread across the earth after the flood. The chapter maps the origins of various ancient peoples, nations, and territories. Nimrod is highlighted as a mighty hunter and founder of great cities.

The people build the Tower of Babel to make a name for themselves, but God confuses their language and scatters them across the earth. The chapter then traces the genealogy from Shem to Abram, bridging the primeval history to the patriarchal narrative.

Sarai, unable to conceive, gives her servant Hagar to Abram as a wife. Hagar becomes pregnant and despises Sarai, leading to conflict. Hagar flees but the angel of the Lord finds her and tells her to return, promising her son Ishmael will become a great nation.

Isaac is born to Abraham and Sarah in their old age, fulfilling God's promise. Sarah insists that Hagar and Ishmael be sent away, and God assures Abraham that Ishmael will also become a nation. Abraham makes a treaty with Abimelech at Beersheba.

Sarah dies at age 127 in Hebron. Abraham mourns for her and negotiates with the Hittites to purchase the cave of Machpelah as a burial site. This is the first piece of the Promised Land that Abraham legally owns.

Abraham dies and is buried with Sarah. The chapter lists Ishmael's descendants and records the birth of Esau and Jacob as twins to Isaac and Rebekah. Esau sells his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew, despising his inheritance.

Jacob deceives his blind father Isaac by impersonating Esau to steal the patriarchal blessing. When Esau discovers the deception he weeps bitterly, but Isaac confirms Jacob's blessing cannot be revoked. Esau vows to kill Jacob, so Rebekah sends Jacob away to her brother Laban.

Jacob flees to Haran and on the way has a dream at Bethel of a stairway reaching to heaven with angels ascending and descending. God appears above it and renews the Abrahamic covenant with Jacob. Jacob vows that if God protects him, the Lord will be his God.

Jacob arrives in Haran and meets Rachel at a well, falling in love with her. He agrees to work seven years for Laban to marry her, but Laban deceives him by substituting Leah on the wedding night. Jacob works another seven years for Rachel, and God opens Leah's womb as she bears four sons.

The rivalry between Leah and Rachel intensifies as they compete for Jacob's attention through childbearing, including through their servants Bilhah and Zilpah. Rachel finally conceives and bears Joseph. Jacob negotiates with Laban for speckled and spotted livestock as his wages, and through shrewd breeding he prospers greatly.

God tells Jacob to return to the land of his fathers. Jacob secretly flees from Laban with his family and flocks, and Rachel steals her father's household idols. Laban pursues and confronts Jacob, but God warns Laban in a dream not to harm him, and they make a covenant at Mizpah.

Jacob sends messengers ahead to Esau and learns his brother is coming with 400 men, filling him with fear. He divides his camp, prays earnestly, and sends gifts ahead. That night Jacob wrestles with a mysterious figure until dawn and is renamed Israel, meaning one who strives with God.

Jacob and Esau meet and reconcile after twenty years apart. Esau runs to embrace his brother and they weep together. Jacob settles near Shechem in Canaan and buys a plot of land, setting up an altar called El Elohe Israel.

Dinah, Jacob's daughter, is violated by Shechem the son of Hamor. Simeon and Levi avenge their sister by tricking the men of Shechem into being circumcised and then slaughtering them. Jacob rebukes his sons for bringing trouble, but they defend their sister's honour.

God commands Jacob to return to Bethel and build an altar. Jacob's household puts away their foreign gods, and God reaffirms the name Israel and the covenant promises. Rachel dies giving birth to Benjamin near Bethlehem, and Isaac dies at age 180.

The chapter records Esau's genealogy, his wives, sons, and the chiefs and kings of Edom. Esau settles in the hill country of Seir, separate from Jacob. The Edomite lineage is traced in detail as a nation that will interact significantly with Israel throughout history.

Joseph, Jacob's favoured son, receives a special coat and has dreams foretelling his family's future submission to him. His jealous brothers plot to kill him but instead sell him to Midianite traders heading to Egypt. They deceive Jacob with Joseph's bloodied coat, and Jacob mourns believing his son is dead.

Judah separates from his brothers and marries a Canaanite woman. After his sons Er and Onan die, Judah fails to give his daughter-in-law Tamar his third son. Tamar disguises herself and conceives twins by Judah, who acknowledges she is more righteous than he.

The famine reaches Canaan and Jacob sends ten of his sons to buy grain in Egypt, keeping Benjamin home. Joseph recognises his brothers but they do not recognise him. He tests them by accusing them of being spies and demands they bring Benjamin to prove their honesty, keeping Simeon as hostage.

When the grain runs out, Jacob reluctantly allows Benjamin to go to Egypt with his brothers. Joseph receives them, seats them in birth order — astonishing them — and gives Benjamin five times more food than the others. They dine together and the brothers are overwhelmed by Joseph's generosity.

Joseph plants his silver cup in Benjamin's sack and sends his steward to arrest them. When the cup is found, Judah offers himself as a slave in Benjamin's place, showing how much the brothers have changed. Judah's passionate plea reveals deep concern for their father Jacob.

Joseph can no longer contain himself and reveals his identity to his brothers, weeping loudly. He tells them not to be angry with themselves, for God sent him ahead to preserve life. Joseph sends for Jacob and Pharaoh invites the whole family to settle in the best land of Egypt.

Jacob sets out for Egypt with his entire household. God speaks to him at Beersheba in a vision, reassuring him not to fear going to Egypt and promising to make him a great nation there. The chapter lists all seventy members of Jacob's family who enter Egypt, and Joseph joyfully reunites with his father.

Joseph presents his family to Pharaoh, and Jacob blesses Pharaoh. The family settles in Goshen. As the famine worsens, Joseph acquires all the money, livestock, and land of Egypt for Pharaoh in exchange for grain. Jacob makes Joseph swear to bury him in Canaan, not in Egypt.

Jacob falls ill and Joseph brings his two sons Ephraim and Manasseh to be blessed. Jacob adopts them as his own, giving them inheritance among his sons. He deliberately crosses his hands to give the greater blessing to Ephraim the younger over Manasseh the firstborn, continuing the biblical pattern of the younger being chosen.

Jacob gathers his twelve sons and delivers prophetic blessings over each, foretelling the character and destiny of the twelve tribes. Judah receives the sceptre and ruler's staff prophecy pointing to the Messiah. Jacob gives instructions for his burial in the cave of Machpelah and then dies.

Joseph mourns Jacob's death and fulfils his promise to bury him in Canaan with an elaborate funeral procession. His brothers fear Joseph will now take revenge, but Joseph reassures them with one of the Bible's greatest statements of faith: what they meant for evil, God meant for good. Joseph dies at 110 and is embalmed in Egypt.

God's tender heartbreak as a parent: When Israel was a child, I loved him — I taught Ephraim to walk, I carried them. But they turned away. God's heart recoils within Him; His compassion grows warm and tender. He will not execute His fierce anger because He is God, not man.

The Rechabites obey their ancestor's command to never drink wine, even when Jeremiah offers it to them. God uses their faithfulness as a shaming contrast: the Rechabites obey a human father, but Israel won't obey their heavenly Father.

Laws address a woman's ceremonial uncleanness after childbirth — seven days for a boy, fourteen for a girl, followed by further purification periods. After the purification period, she brings a burnt offering and a sin offering to the priest to be declared clean.

God commands Israel not to follow the practices of Egypt or Canaan. He lists forbidden sexual relationships — incest, adultery, homosexuality, and bestiality. Child sacrifice to Molech is also prohibited. God warns that the land itself will vomit out those who defile it with these practices.

God prescribes penalties for various sins including child sacrifice to Molech, consulting mediums, cursing parents, adultery, incest, and other sexual sins. Many offences carry the death penalty. God emphasises that Israel must be holy and distinct from the nations He is driving out before them.

The day is coming, burning like a furnace — but for those who fear God's name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. God will send Elijah the prophet before the great day, who will turn fathers' hearts to children. The Old Testament closes looking forward to the Messiah's forerunner.

Jesus teaches about marriage, divorce, and celibacy. He blesses children brought to Him and encounters the rich young ruler, teaching that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the rich to enter God's kingdom. He promises reward for those who leave everything to follow Him.

Jesus heals on the Sabbath and appoints the twelve apostles. The religious leaders accuse Him of being possessed by Beelzebul, and He warns about blaspheming the Holy Spirit. He redefines family as those who do God's will.

The daughters of Zelophehad boldly request their father's inheritance since he died without sons, and God rules in their favour, establishing the right of daughters to inherit. God tells Moses to view the Promised Land from Mount Abarim before he dies. Joshua is commissioned as Moses's successor through the laying on of hands.

Laws are given about vows, particularly regarding women. A man's vow is binding immediately, but a woman's vow may be confirmed or annulled by her father (if unmarried) or husband on the day he hears of it. Silence constitutes approval. These laws reflect the household authority structure of ancient Israel.

The leaders of Manasseh raise a concern that if the daughters of Zelophehad marry outside their tribe, their land inheritance would transfer permanently. God rules that women who inherit land must marry within their own tribe to keep each tribe's territory intact. The book closes with Israel on the plains of Moab, ready to enter the land.

Solomon passes down his father David's wisdom: get wisdom at all costs. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Keep your eyes fixed forward and your feet on straight paths.

The beginning of Solomon's collected proverbs, mostly antithetical couplets contrasting the wise and foolish, righteous and wicked. A wise son brings joy; a foolish son brings grief. The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life.

Proverbs on discipline, wealth, and hope. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. Those who walk with the wise become wise. A good person leaves an inheritance for their children's children.

Proverbs on friendship, conflict, and restraint. A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for a time of adversity. Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam. Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent.

Proverbs on patience, kindness to the poor, and parenting. Kindness to the poor is lending to the Lord. A person's wisdom yields patience. Discipline your children while there is hope. Many are the plans in a person's heart, but the Lord's purpose prevails.

Proverbs on reputation, parenting, and the poor. A good name is more desirable than great riches. Train up a child in the way he should go. The rich and poor have this in common: the Lord is the Maker of them all.

Warnings against envy, gluttony, and drunkenness. Do not wear yourself out to get rich. Words of wisdom to a fool are wasted. A vivid description of the drunkard's suffering: bloodshot eyes, seeing strange sights, stumbling around.

The words of King Lemuel's mother and the famous poem of the virtuous woman. She is clothed with strength and dignity, laughs at the days to come, speaks with wisdom, and is praised by her children and husband. Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.