St Andrews Encyclopaedia of Theology (Jul 2024)
The Patriarchs and the Matriarchs
Abstract
The patriarchs – Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (or Israel) – are the ancestors of the Jewish people, and their stories are recounted in the book of Genesis (chapters 12–50), covering a span of three hundred years (c. 2000–1700 BCE). God forged an irrevocable bond with them – the covenant of the patriarchs – promising their progeny the land of Canaan as an inheritance. The four matriarchs – Sarah, Rebekah, Leah, and Rachel – all played pivotal roles in determining the rightful heir to that covenant. The terms of the promise – the possession of the land of Canaan and of progeny as heirs to that land – are deferred, forming the basis for a unique yet fraught relationship with God. First, the patriarchs and matriarchs must endure barrenness and displacement, as ‘strangers in a foreign land’, before the covenant can be fulfilled. Enduring these trials forms the basis for ‘the merit of the forefathers’, a concept often inclusive of the matriarchs. These merits are invoked by the prophets in the Hebrew Bible, and throughout Rabbinic literature and liturgy, on behalf of Israel and the Jewish people in order to secure a promise of return to the Land and/or forgiveness of the nation. The Binding of Isaac (‘Aqedah) and the voice of Rachel as an intercessor play particularly poignant roles in prayer throughout Jewish history to the present day. The premise is that God’s covenant with the Jewish people remains unbroken, despite their exile from the Promised Land, because of the merits of the patriarchs and matriarchs.
