Thepatriarchs (Hebrew:אבותʾAvot, "fathers") of theBible, when narrowly defined, areAbraham, his sonIsaac, and Isaac's sonJacob, also named Israel, the ancestor (according to theAbrahamic tradition) of theIsraelites. These three figures are referred to collectively as "the patriarchs", and the period in which they lived is known as thepatriarchal age.
Judaism,Christianity, andIslam hold that the patriarchs, along with their primary wives, known as thematriarchs (Sarah,Rebekah andLeah), are entombed at theCave of the Patriarchs, a site held holy by the three religions.Rachel, Jacob's other wife, is said to be buried separately at what is known asRachel's Tomb, nearBethlehem, at the site where she is believed to have died in childbirth.
More widely, the term patriarchs can be used to refer to the twenty male ancestor-figures betweenAdam and Abraham. The first ten of these are called theantediluvian patriarchs, because they came beforethe Flood.
Scholars have taken a mixed view as to the Patriarchs's historicity, with archaeology so far producing no direct evidence for their existence.[1][2]
The patriarchs of theBible, when narrowly defined, areAbraham, his sonIsaac, and Isaac's sonJacob, also named Israel, the ancestor of theIsraelites. These three figures are referred to collectively as thepatriarchs, and the period in which they lived is known as thepatriarchal age. They play significant roles in Hebrew scripture during and following their lifetimes. They are used as a significant marker by God in revelations[3] and promises,[4] and continue to play important roles in theAbrahamic faiths. Judaism, Christianity and Islam hold that the patriarchs, along with their primary wives, known as thematriarchs –Sarah (wife of Abraham),Rebekah (wife of Isaac) andLeah (one of the wives of Jacob) – are entombed at the Cave ofMachpelah inHebron, a site held holy by the three religions.Rachel is said to be buried separately at what is known asRachel's Tomb, nearBethlehem, at the site where she is believed to have died in childbirth.[5]
More widely, the term patriarchs can be used to refer to the twenty male ancestor-figures betweenAdam and Abraham. The first ten of these are called theantediluvian patriarchs, because they came beforethe Flood.
The lifetimes given for the patriarchs in theMasoretic Text of the Book of Genesis are:Adam 930 years,Seth 912,Enos 905,Kenan 910,Mahalalel 895,Jared 962,Enoch 365 (did not die, but wastaken away by God),Methuselah 969,Lamech 777,Noah 950.[6]Gerhard von Rad said:
The long lives ascribed to the patriarchs cause remarkable synchronisms and duplications. Adam lived to see the birth of Lamech, the ninth member of thegenealogy; Seth lived to see the translation of Enoch and died shortly before the birth of Noah. Noah outlived Abram's grandfather,Nahor, and died in Abram's sixtieth year.Shem, Noah's son, even outlivedAbram. He was still alive whenEsau andJacob were born![7]
Explanation of color-codes:
The matriarchs, also known as "the four mothers" (ארבע האמהות), are:[9]