AY Honors/Patriarchs of the Bible/Answer Key

Patriarchs of the Bible

Skill Level

1

Year

2017

Version

28.11.2024

Approval authority

North American Division

1

What is meant by the term “patriarch” in a biblical context?

a. Patriarch (father of a tribe), the name given to the head of a family or tribe in Old Testament times. In common usage the title of patriarch is assigned especially to those whose lives are recorded in Scripture previous to the time of Moses, as Adam, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. "In the early history of the Hebrews we find the ancestor or father of a family retaining authority over his children and his children’s children so long as he lived, whatever new connections they might form when the father died the branch families did not break off and form new communities, but usually united under another common head. The eldest son was generally invested with this dignity. His authority was paternal. He was honored as central point of connection and as the representative of the whole kindred. Thus, each great family had its patriarch or head, and each tribe its prince, selected from the several heads of the families which it embraced." --McClintock and Strong. "After the destruction of Jerusalem, patriarch was the title of the chief religious rulers of the Jews in Asia and in early Christian times it became the designation of the bishops of Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem." American Cyclopedia. Dr William Smith “Entry for Patriarch”. “Smith’s Bible Dictionary”. 1901.

2

List four major patriarchs whose experiences are recorded in the book of Genesis. Develop a media experience that includes:

NOTE: This could include – Adam (Gen 2:1-5:5), Noah (Gen 5:29-9:29), Abram or Abraham (Gen. 11:26-25:10), Isaac (Gen. 21:1-35:39, Jacob (Gen. 25:24-33:20 & 35:1-49:33).

2a

An outline of their experience

Your answer will vary based on the patriarch you chose. This may be done individually or as a unit activity.

2b

A character trait they exemplify

Your answer will vary based on the patriarch you chose. This may be done individually or as a unit activity.

2c

Their importance to the rest of the Bible

Your answer will vary based on the patriarch you chose. This may be done individually or as a unit activity.

2d

An instance where God talked directly to them

Your answer will vary based on the patriarch you chose. This may be done individually or as a unit activity.

3

Who is the father of the twelve patriarchs of Israel? Illustrate using a family tree drawing of their parents, outlining the chronological order of their births.

Jacob. His two wives, Leah and Rachael, and their maids Zilpah and Bilhah are the mothers of the twelve sons who became the fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel. Note that Joseph received a "double portion" in that instead of a tribe of Joseph, there are two tribes of his lineage "Ephraim and Manasseh."

The 12 include (in birth order):

• Reuben son of Leah (Gen. 29:32)
• Simeon son of Leah (Gen. 29:33)
• Levi son of Leah (Gen. 29:34)
• Judah son of Leah (Gen. 29:35)
• Dan son of Bilhah (Gen. 30:4-6)
• Naphtali son of Bilhah (Gen. 30:7-8)
• Gad son of Zilpah (Gen. 30:10-11)
• Asher son of Zilpah (Gen. 30:12-13)
• Issachar son of Leah (Gen. 30:17-18)
• Zebulun son of Leah (Gen. 30:19-20)
• Joseph son of Rachel (Gen. 30:23-24)
• Benjamin son of Rachel (Gen. 35:16-18)

• 

  Family Tree of Jacob and his 12 sons who became the 12 tribes of Israel

4

Name three biblical patriarchs not found in the book of Genesis and briefly describe their significant role in the Bible.

Moses – seen as the Father of Israel as an independent nation because he led them out of Egypt David – seen as the father of Israel because he was considered the greatest king

Some might say that Job is the third patriarch, but there is wide disagreement among Biblical scholars on this point so the two main patriarchs are mentioned here and fulfill the requirement.

5

Read a chapter from Patriarchs and Prophets, written by Ellen White, that covers your favorite patriarch. Find five points that you may have learned from your reading. As a group or with a leader discuss the five points.

Patriarchs and Prophets is available in a variety of formats:

PP Audio files

PP Print HTML

OUR RECOMMENDATION - Beginning of the End (PP Adaptation)

OUR RECOMMENDED AUDIO - Beginning of the End (PP Adaptation) Audio

These adaptations are White Estate approved, and are published by Pacific Press. They are used in the Adventist Encounter Curriculum.

• Adam – Chapter 2 (Creation) PP chapter 2 Creation Beginning of the End chapter 2 Creation: God's Answer to Evolution
• Noah – Chapter 7 (The Flood) PP chapter 7 The Flood BOE - When the World was Destroyed By Water
• Abram or Abraham – Chapter 11 (The Call of Abraham) PP chp 11 The Call of Abraham BOE - Abraham, the Father of All Believers – There are several other chapters that would also work
• Isaac – Chapter 15 (The Marriage of Isaac) PP chp 15 The Marriage of Isaac BOE - Isaac's Marriage the Happiest in the Bible – There are several other chapters that would also work
• Jacob – Chapter 16 (Jacob and Esau) PP - chp 16 Jacob & Esau BOE - Jacob & Esau – There are several other chapters that would also work
• Moses – Chapter 22 (Moses)PP - chp 22 Moses BOE - Moses: The Leader of God's People – There are several other chapters that would also work
• David – Chapter 62 (The Anointing of David) PP - chp 62 The Anointing of David BOE - David Anointed as King– There are several other chapters that would also work

6

Search Genesis 6 and find the evidence that Noah was called by God.

Look specifically in verses 9, 13-14, and 18

7

Draw an image of a boat.

7a

Inside the boat, list the reasons Noah’s family chose to go on the boat.

7b

Outside the boat, list the reasons the people chose not to go on the boat.

7c

Circle those things that would influence your decision to be inside or outside the boat.

8

Compare and contrast Genesis 12 and 22 discussing how Abraham's faith grew.

9

Give the reason for God changing Abram’s name to Abraham, found in Genesis 17. List why the name was changed, the time frame, and the effect.

10

List three major events in Joseph’s life where God took a bad situation and used it to further His will.

11

When Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt, he devised a few tests; what was he trying to ascertain? List the tests and what they were designed to show.

12

Illustrate the significance of Moses’ life in three major stages. List the length of time, what he learned and what caused the changes.

12a

Prince of Egypt

12b

Shepherd

12c

Leader of his people

13

What was the primary reason God chose to keep Moses from entering the Promised Land? Discuss whether this was fair and why.

14

Although Moses did die and his body never found, show biblical proof that he is in Heaven.

15

Find three examples of how Joshua exhibited his faith in God when others questioned God. Provide biblical text to support your answer.

16

As the last biblical patriarch, Joshua calls Israel together and speaks to them before his death. Read his speech to Israel in Joshua 24. Through a media experience, show what gods you may have in your life that you need to forsake, so like Joshua you can say: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

References