Primogeniture in the Old Testament : towards a theological-ethical understanding of patriarchy in Ancient Israel

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: As the title suggests, this research is a study of primogeniture in the Old Testament towards atheological-ethical understanding of patriarchy in ancient Israel. Using the Ancient Near East as awider context of the Old Testament, the research first analysed the Ancient Near East texts relatingto primogeniture, i.e., texts relating to inheritance and succession. In so doing the research revealsthat primogeniture was a generally practiced custom of most of the Ancient Near East societies,serving as a cornerstone for their patriarchal culture. The research also demonstrates that there wereexceptions to the rule. For example, the Elamites practiced matrilineal and matrilocal customs.Within the general practice of primogeniture among most of the Ancient Near East societies,firstborns were often displaced in favour of younger sons. In some cases, daughters and wives couldalso inherit and own properties, although succession to the throne by daughters was rare.The central focus of the research is a socio-rhetorical criticism of the primogeniture text ofDeuteronomy 21:15-17. Like in the Ancient Near East, this study also discovers that primogeniturewas a generally practiced custom as well as a cornerstone of ancient Israel's patriarchy. However,exceptions to this rule in ancient Israel seemed to be even more notorious than in those of otherancient Near East societies. The custom was often not followed. Daughters could also inherit.Firstborns were displaced by their younger brothers for prime heirship of the family as well assuccession to the throne. This violation of primogeniture custom was theologically and ethicallyqualified and politically and ideologically appropriated. The research thus concludes that thesetheological-ethical qualifications as well as political-ideological appropriation of the violation ofprimogeniture based on socio-economic and religious-political changes of society indicate thatpatriarchy according to the Old Testament is not a static divine blueprint for all societies of allgenerations. Rather, patriarchy in ancient Israel was a dynamic socio-historical and theologicalethicalprocess which was subjected to change, modification, reinterpretation, and re-appropriationaccording to socio-economic and religious-political developments of a given society.In the name of patriarchy, women had been denied their rights, robbed of their dignity and worth,and regarded as a second class image of God in many societies, then and now. Committed tocorrecting these wrongs, this research – arguing that patriarchy in the Old Testament is not so mucha privilege as it is to a responsibility – challenges the contemporary hierarchical patriarchalideologies, and contends for gender equality in all walks of life, remembering that we are all createdequally in the image of God.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University