The Torah (Law) and the Household in the Development of the Israelites

Abstract

Organization of indigenous sustainability of Israelite households, family and kinship in Old Testament involves different approaches of capturing developmental dynamics that feature between Genesis and 2 Kings. Ancient Israel in biblical texts begins with Aramean/Syrian background. Infiltration of the Arameans/Syrians into Canaan and their submission to Canaanite practices as subsistent people are recorded in Genesis. However, the Hebrews of Genesis become the Israelites in Exodus - 2 Kings. Consequently, this paper engages a combination of socio-literary approach and social anthropological method (sometimes considered as comparative sociology). It discovers how the use of Torah in sustaining Israelite households has created a change of status for people in ancient Israel. It identifies congregational or democratic system of administration as the acceptable pattern of leadership that Yahweh approves under Moses. The Hebrews later move from genealogical descent and ascribed givens (as dependent people) to become the Israelites with religious flexibility, individually conscious creativity and achieved goals (as an independent state).