The blessing of offspring, but especially of the male sex, is highly valued among all eastern nations, while a the absence is regarded as one of the severest punishments. (Genesis 16:2; 7:14; 1 Samuel 1:6; 2 Samuel 6:23; 2 Kings 4:14; Isaiah 47:9; Jeremiah 20:15; Psalms 127:3,5) As soon as the child was born it was washed in a bath, rubbed with salt and wrapped in swaddling clothes. (Ezekiel 16:4; Job 38:9; Luke 2:7) On the 8th day the rite of circumcision, in the case of a boy, was performed and a name given. At the end of a certain time (forty days if a son and twice as long if a daughter) the mother offered sacrifice for her cleansing. (Leviticus 12:1-8; Luke 2:22) The period of nursing appears to have been sometimes prolonged to three years. (Isaiah 49:15) 2 Macc. 7:27. The time of weaning was an occasion of rejoicing. (Genesis 21:8) Both boys and girls in their early years were under the care of the women. (Proverbs 31:1) Afterwards the boys were taken by the father under his charge. Daughters usually remained in the women's apartments till marriage. (Leviticus 21:9; Numbers 12:14; 1 Samuel 9:11) The authority of parents, especially of the father, over children was very great, as was also the reverence enjoined by the law to be paid to parents. The inheritance was divided equally between all the sons except the eldest, who received a double portion. (Genesis 25:31; 49:3; 21:17; Judges 11:2,7; 1 Chronicles 5:1,2) Daughters had by right no portion in the inheritance; but if a man had no son, his inheritance passed to his daughters, who were forbidden to marry out of the father's tribe. (Numbers 27:1,8; 36:2,8) Christ was an example to -- Lu 2:51; Joh 19:26,27. Are a gift from God -- Ge 33:5; Ps 127:3. Are capable of glorifying God -- Ps 8:2; 148:12,13; Mt 21:15,16. Should be Brought to Christ. -- Mr 10:13-16. Brought early to the house of God. -- 1Sa 1:24. Instructed in the ways of God. -- De 31:12,13; Pr 22:6. Judiciously trained. -- Pr 22:15; 29:17; Eph 6:4. Should Obey God. -- De 30:2. Fear God. -- Pr 24:21. Remember God. -- Ec 12:1. Attend to parental teaching. -- Pr 1:8,9. Honour parents. -- Ex 20:12; Heb 12:9. Fear parents. -- Le 19:3. Obey parents. -- Pr 6:20; Eph 6:1. Take care of parents. -- 1Ti 5:4. Honour the aged. -- Le 19:32; 1Pe 5:5. Not imitate bad parents. -- Eze 20:18. An heritage from the Lord -- Ps 113:9; 127:3. Not to have Considered an affliction. -- Ge 15:2,3; Jer 22:30. A reproach in Israel. -- 1Sa 1:6,7; Lu 1:25. Anxiety of the Jews for -- Ge 30:1; 1Sa 1:5,8. Often prayed for -- 1Sa 1:10,11; Lu 1:13. Often given in answer to prayer -- Ge 25:21; 1Sa 1:27; Lu 1:13. Treatment of, after birth, noticed -- Eze 16:4. Mostly nursed by the mothers -- 1Sa 1:22; 1Ki 3:21; Ps 22:9; Song 8:1. Weaning of, a time of joy and feasting -- Ge 21:8; 1Sa 1:24. Circumcised on the eighth day -- Php 3:5. Named at circumcision -- Lu 1:59; 2:21. Were named After relatives. -- Lu 1:59,61. From remarkable events. -- Ge 21:3,6; 18:13; Ex 2:10; 18:3,4. From circumstances connected with their birth. -- Ge 25:25,26; 35:18; 1Ch 4:9. Often by God. -- Isa 8:3; Ho 1:4,6,9. Often numerous. -- 2Ki 10:1; 1Ch 4:27. Numerous, considered an especial blessing. -- Ps 115:14; 127:4,5. Sometimes born when parents were old. -- Ge 15:3,6; 17:17; Lu 1:18. Male If first born, belonged to God and were redeemed. -- Ex 13:12,13,15. Birth of, announced to the father by a messenger. -- Jer 20:15. Under the care of tutors, till they came of age. -- 2Ki 10:1; Ga 4:1,2. Usefully employed. -- 1Sa 9:3; 17:15. Inherited the possessions of their father. -- De 21:16,17; Lu 12:13,14. Received the blessing of their father before his death. -- Ge 27:1-4; 48:15; 49:1-33. Female Taken care of by nurses. -- Ge 35:8. Usefully employed. -- Ge 24:13; Ex 2:16. Inherited property in default of sons. -- Nu 27:1-8; Jos 17:1-6. Fondness and care of mothers for -- Ex 2:2-10; 1Sa 2:19; 1Ki 3:27; Isa 49:15; 1Th 2:7,8. Of God's people, holy -- Ezr 9:2; 1Co 7:14. Of God's people, interested in the promises -- De 29:29; Ac 2:39. Prosperity of, greatly depended on obedience of parents -- De 4:40; 12:25,28; Ps 128:1-3. Frequently bore the curse of parents -- Ex 20:5; Ps 109:9,10. Were required To honour their parents. -- Ex 20:12. To attend to instruction. -- De 4:9; 11:19. To submit to discipline. -- Pr 29:17; Heb 12:9. To respect the aged. -- Le 19:32. Mode of giving public instruction to -- Lu 2:46; Ac 22:3. Power of parents over, during the patriarchal age -- Ge 9:24,25; 21:14; 38:24. Often wicked and rebellious -- 2Ki 2:23. Rebellious, punished by the civil power -- Ex 21:15-17; De 21:18-21. Sometimes devoted their property to avoid supporting parents -- Mt 15:5; Mr 7:11,12. Could demand their portion during father's life -- Lu 15:12. Amusements of -- Zec 8:5; Mt 11:16,17. Casting out of weak, &c alluded to -- Eze 16:5. Inhuman practice of offering to idols -- 2Ki 17:31; 2Ch 28:3; 33:6. Illegitimate Had no inheritance. -- Ge 21:10,14; Ga 4:30. Not cared for by the father. -- Heb 12:8. Excluded from the congregation. -- De 23:2. Sometimes sent away with gifts. -- Ge 25:6. Despised by their brethren. -- Jdj 11:2. Destruction of, a punishment -- Le 26:22; Eze 9:6; Lu 19:44. Grief occasioned by loss of -- Ge 37:35; 44:27-29; 2Sa 13:37; Jer 6:26; 31:15. Resignation manifested at loss of -- Le 10:19,20; 2Sa 12:18-23; Job 1:19-21.
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