Children in Biblical History

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Schaff's Bible Dictionary

Definitions in Biblical History
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What are Children?
CHIL'DREN
The term is used in A.V. where "sons" would better represent the Hebrew or Greek; as, "the children of Abraham," "the children of Israel," "the children of God." It was regarded among the Jews as not only a misfortune, but even a disgrace, if a married woman was barren. The more sons a man had, the more was he esteemed. The inheritance of the father was divided equally among all the sons, except the eldest, who received a double portion. The daughters got nothing unless there was no son, in which case they shared equally the property, and were forbidden to marry out of their father's tribe. Num 27:7-12; Num 35:2, 1 Kgs 15:8. Wills were needless, and therefore unknown. The authority of the parent was very great, and children are commanded to reverence their parents. The law allowed children to be sold into bondage in payment of the parents' debts. Lev 25:39-41. We find allusions to the practical working of this law in 2 Kgs 4:1 and Matt 18:25. Child-birth in Eastern countries is usually, although not always, comparatively easy. Gen 35:17; Gen 38:27; Ex 1:19; 1 Sam 4:19-20. The newborn Hebrew child was washed, rubbed with salt, and wrapped in swaddling clothes, Luke 2:7; circumcised on the eighth day, when the name was given. Child-birth rendered the woman ceremonially unclean for 40 days in the case of a son, and 80 in the case of a daughter. At the conclusion of the period she offered for her cleansing the sacrifices the Law prescribed. Lev 12. Women nursed their own children in most cases, and did not wean them until the lapse of 30 months, or even 3 years. The weaning was made a festive occasion. This custom was very old. Gen 21:8. Daughters remained under the care of the mother until the period of marriage, but boys passed in their fifth year under the training of the father. See Education.

Bibliography Information
Schaff, Philip, Dr. "Biblical Definition for 'children' in Schaffs Bible Dictionary".
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