Understanding Israel's Culture - Patriarchal, Patrilineal, Patrilocal

Understanding the culture into which something is written helps to understand the people, places and events in the text. In the case of the Old Testament this means understanding Ancient Near Eastern Culture. This helps us understand the Israelites and what we read in the Old Testament. In the book Epic of Eden, Sandra Richter breaks down what it means to be part of a patriarchal, patrilineal, and patrilocal culture.

Patriarchal Culture - 

The oldest living male member of the family is central to the structure of the larger society. It was the patriarch of the household who bore both legal and economic responsibility for the household. In Israel's tribal system, an individual would identify their place in society through the lens of their patriarch's household first, then their clan, then their tribe, and finally their nation.

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Patrilineal Culture - 

This is centered around tracing ancestral  descent (and therefore tribal affiliations and inheritances) through the male line. In Israel, the possessions of a particular lineage were carefully passed down through the generations according to birth order and gender. This was done in order to provide for family members and to preserve "the name" of those gone before. The firstborn male in an Israelite family was normally entitled to a "double-portion" of inheritance so that their ability to carry on the patriarchal responsibilities was assured.

Patrilocal Culture - 

This term is derived from the importance of living space of the family unit. It was built around the oldest living male (patriarch). An Israelite household was in essence a compound of extended family members, clustered together as one unit. One of the primary goals of this family compound was tribal solidarity. In their unity they found the capacity to survive under harsh conditions and defend one another. The land was also tied to inheritance.

 (Check out more from Sandra - https://www.thetorah.com/author/sandra-l-richter)