BIBLE GENEALOGIES WITH NOTES ON BIBLE KINSHIP AND FAMILY SYSTEMS and other related issues such as GENDER RELATIONS AND SEX Jim Belote 2000-2002, 2008

NOTE: You are welcome to reproduce the web pages on this web site for personal and small group (under 30) use only; copying for commercial use or widespread distribution is prohibited except by permission.

Comments, suggestions, corrections are welcome. e-mail:  jdbelote@mtu.edu

Retired from: SOCIOLOGY-ANTHROPOLOGY DEPARTMENT
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, DULUTH

In addition to extensive genealogies, the Bible, particularly the Old Testament (Tanakh), contains an abundance of other material on family and kinship systems of the time and on other related matters. As a cultural anthropologist who taught courses on family and kinship systems (I am not a theologian or any other kind of authority on the Bible, nor am I a specialist on the part of the world in which it was set), I find this material to be extremely interesting and worthwile. For example, it provides us with ways of viewing and understanding the origins of some elements of the western/Judeo-Christian "tradition." It also provides us with evidence on how much things can change within a "tradition." This site is, then, an attempt to bring much of this material together in a way that is clearly presented, consistent and faithful to the sources, and that will facilitate further investigation. At most, a few tentative interpretations and conclusions (and/or further questions) may be suggested. And unlike the way in which anthropology is supposed to proceed, I will not often attempt to provide much of a contextual, holistic view in which material from outside the biblical record is brought in as an aid to fuller analysis and understanding.

To these ends: [1] the primary sources are the Authorized King James Version of the Bible (although other translations are consulted as well) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance;** [2] the sources used for the kinship diagrams are used as literally as possible (with the degree of interpretation necessary only for the presentation of relatively coherent diagrams); [3] extensive genealogical diagrams (presented in a more or less standard anthropological mode) serve as a framework for presenting the much of the material, as well as to clearly show the importance of genealogical reckoning for some people of the time; [4] an index of all the persons shown on the genealogical diagrams is given and provides brief comments on their kinship relationships and where these may be found in the Bible; [5] an alphabetical listing of kinship and family topics accompanied by Bible references and/or Bible quotations on those materials and accompanied by some discussion and interpretation of what the Bible says; and [6] a frameset page which will permit concurrent use of two pages alongside each other (e.g. the genealogies of Jesus alongside Old Testament genealogies, or the index of persons alongside the Old Testament genealogies where they are found).

** NOTE: A number of additional resources have been used as important aids in tracking down kinship and family information in the Bible. These are:
Achtemeier, Paul J. (general editor)  HARPER COLLINS BIBLE DICTIONARY. San Francisco:           HarperSanFrancisco. 1996.
Anon.  WHO WAS WHO IN THE BIBLE. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers. 1999.
Davis, John D.  A DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE (4th revised ed.). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House. 1960.
Wayne A. Meeks (general editor)  THE HARPER COLLINS STUDY BIBLE: NEW REVISED STANDARD           VERSION. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. 1993.



INTERNAL LINKS
Both genealogical diagrams listed below are more or less complete as of January 24, 2000. The "Index to People ..." and the "Family and Kinship Topics ..." pages are currently available for use but are still under construction.

Genealogies of Jesus Diagram
Old Testament (Tanakh) Genealogies Diagram 
Frameset containing both Bible Genealogies
Index to People on Old Testament (Tanakh) Genealogies
Family and Kinship Topics from the Bible Alphabetically Arranged
Diagram of Prohibited sex or Marriage Partners: Leviticus



EXTERNAL LINKS
Following is a variety of related materials available on the Web.

GENERAL
The Bible Gateway: on the Gospel Communications Network (access to bible passages from many versions and languages).
Family and Society in ancient Israel: University of Manitoba (an anthropological approach).
Biblical Theology Bulletin--Readers Guide: Kinship (lots of information and an extensive bibliography of print material).
My Father, My Mother, My Gods: Aspects of Family Religion in Israel and the Ancient Near East.

Catholic Encyclopedia: "Genealogy (in the Bible)."
Gender Studies and the New Testament (an extensive bibliography).
Human Sexuality in the Bible: An Index Extracts from a Recent Draft By Norman E. Anderson (has an index of biblical references with discussion of marriage forms).
The Genealogy of the Brethren A Catholic view on the words "brother,"... "brethren" in the Bible.

GENEALOGIES OF JESUS
Teaching Course - Subject One: The Genealogy of the Messiah (a lengthy and detailed examination of the entire genealogical record of Jesus).
Response to..."The Fabulous Prophecies of the Messiah" (Explains difficulties in genealogies of Jesus)
This is the s.r.c.b-s genealogy FAQ. The Genealogies in Matthew and Luke ... (detailed attempt at harmonization of the Biblical genealogies of Jesus).
The Problem of the Genealogy of Jesus (attempts to resolve difficulties).
Lesson 2: A Star is Born:Christmas Magic -- The Cradle of the Wizards / Holy Paternity Suit / The Abominable Branch / Making a Virgin (an ex-evangelical claims contradictions in genealogies are not resolvable).

ABORTION
Abortion: All sides of the issue (presents a lot of material).

POLYGAMY
...Is polygamy allowed by the New Testament? (claims the Bible does not support polygamy).
"Multiple Marriage: A Study of Polygamy in Light of the Bible" by Dr. Robert J. Hitchens an extended review and rebuttal (claims the Bible does support polygamy).
The Relevance Of The Study Of Polygamy For The Western Church (a detailed examination of the issue).
Truth Bearer
("Teaching and Revealing Christian Polygamy")


Last modified November 16, 2000

Background design from humback whale flipper underwater, Bay de Verde, Newfoundland