Family Life: The Husband and Wife l

   682. In the East, every company of travelers, every tribe, every community, every family must have "a father," who is head of the group. Jabal "was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ." Jabal was the "father of such as dwell in tents and...have cattle" (Gen. 4:20-21 KJV). Easterners would not conceive of any band or group without somebody being "the father" of it.

   683. Under the patriarchal system, the father is supreme in command. The authority of the father extends to his wife, his children, his children's children, his servants, and all his household. Many of the bedouin Arabs of today are under no government other than this patriarchal rule. When Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob lived in tents in the Land of Promise, they were ruled by this same system.

   684. Reverence of the children for their parents and especially the father is almost universal in the Bible lands. It is quite customary for a child to greet the father in the morning by kissing his hand and standing before him in an attitude of humility, ready to receive any order, or waiting for permission to leave. After this the child is often pulled up onto the lap of the father.

   685. Women were confined to different roles than men. They never ate with the men, and the husband and brothers were served first. While walking, women followed at a respectable distance. The woman was closely confined and watched with jealousy; and when she went out she was veiled from head to foot.

   686. The ancient Hebrew women did not have unrestrained freedom, but they did have power in their role and influences within the family. A woman had tremendous influence for good or ill over her husband, and in most cases he showed her great respect. Sarah was treated like a queen by Abraham, and in matters of the household, she ruled in many ways.

   687. The tribute to the wife and mother in the Book of Proverbs indicates she was a person of great influence: "Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value" (31:11). "She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue" (31:26). "Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and praises her" (31:28).