Difference between revisions of "Children"

<p> &nbsp;Βen , "son;" &nbsp;bath , "daughter;" both from &nbsp;baanah , to build. [[Regarded]] as consecrated to God, in the same covenant relation as the parents; therefore sons on the eighth day were circumcised (&nbsp;Genesis 17:12). Hence, flowed parents' responsibility to rear children in the way of the Lord (&nbsp;Genesis 18:19; &nbsp;Deuteronomy 6:7; &nbsp;Deuteronomy 11:19); also children's responsibility to obey parents, as a preparatory discipline for the higher relationship to God. At five years of age, the boy passed under the father's training. At 12 he became "son of (i.e. subject to) the law," and was advanced to a fuller instruction in it. Smiting, or even cursing, a parent was punishable with death (&nbsp;Exodus 21:15; &nbsp;Exodus 21:17); also contumacy (&nbsp;Deuteronomy 21:18-21; compare &nbsp;Deuteronomy 27:16). The child might be sold to bondage until the [[Jubilee]] year for a parent's debt (&nbsp;2 Kings 4:1; &nbsp;Nehemiah 5:5). </p> <p> [[Children]] were often nursed until they were three years old. They were carried on the mother's hip or shoulder (&nbsp;Isaiah 49:22; &nbsp;Isaiah 66:12). Governors or tutors watched them in nonage (&nbsp;Numbers 11:12; &nbsp;2 Kings 10:1; &nbsp;2 Kings 10:5; &nbsp;Isaiah 49:23; &nbsp;Galatians 3:24, &nbsp;paidagoogos , the guardian slave who led the child to school). The mother's example and authority were weighty over sons and daughters alike (&nbsp;Proverbs 10:1; &nbsp;Proverbs 15:20), even with a royal son (&nbsp;1 Kings 2:19). Daughters had no right of inheritance; but if a man had no son the daughters received the inheritance, but they must marry inside their own tribe. Metaphorically: CHILDREN OF LIGHT (&nbsp;Luke 16:8; &nbsp;Luke 1Th_6:5), of obedience (&nbsp;1 Peter 1:14, "as children of obedience" Greek), of this world, of Belial, of wisdom (&nbsp;Matthew 11:19), of faith. (See &nbsp;BELIAL.) </p> <p> As children resemble their parent, so those in whom these several qualities, good or bad, predominate, are children of them severally (&nbsp;2 Samuel 23:6). So [[Barnabas]] is termed "son of consolation," expressing his predominant grace (&nbsp;Acts 4:36); John and James "sons of thunder," characterized by fiery zeal (&nbsp;Mark 3:17). So "sons of might," "daughters of sons" (compare &nbsp;Isaiah 5:1, "a very fruitful hill," Hebrew: "the horn (i.e. peak) of the son of oil,") "children of the bridechamber" (&nbsp;Matthew 9:15), the heavenly Bridgegroom's best men (friends) who go and fetch the bride, the apostles and evangelists who seek to bring sinners to Jesus and to heaven (Matthew 25). </p>

<p> &nbsp;Children. The blessing of offspring, but especially of the male sex, is highly valued among all eastern nations, while the absence of offspring is regarded as one of the severest punishments. &nbsp;Genesis 16:2; &nbsp;Deuteronomy 7:14; &nbsp;1 Samuel 1:6; &nbsp;2 Samuel 6:23; &nbsp;2 Kings 4:14; &nbsp;Isaiah 47:9; &nbsp;Jeremiah 20:15; &nbsp;Psalms 127:3; &nbsp;Psalms 127:5. As soon as the child was born, it was washed in a bath, rubbed with salt and wrapped in swaddling clothes. &nbsp;Ezekiel 16:4; &nbsp;Job 38:9; &nbsp;Luke 2:7. </p> <p> 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. &nbsp;Leviticus 12:1-8; &nbsp;Luke 2:22. The period of nursing appears to have been sometimes prolonged to three years. &nbsp;Isaiah 49:15. &nbsp;2 [[Maccabees]] 7:27. The time of weaning was an occasion of rejoicing. &nbsp;Genesis 21:8. </p> <p> Both boys and girls, in their early years, were under the care of the women. &nbsp;Proverbs 31:1. Afterwards, the boys were taken by the father, under his charge. Daughters usually remained in the women's apartments till marriage. &nbsp;Leviticus 21:9; &nbsp;Numbers 12:14; &nbsp;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. </p> <p> The inheritance was divided equally between all the sons, except the eldest, who received a double portion. &nbsp;Genesis 25:31; &nbsp;Genesis 49:3; &nbsp;Deuteronomy 21:17; &nbsp;Judges 11:2; &nbsp;Judges 11:7; &nbsp;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. &nbsp;Numbers 27:1; &nbsp;Numbers 27:8; &nbsp;Numbers 36:2; &nbsp;Numbers 36:8. </p>

<p> &nbsp;(1): (n.) pl. of Child. </p> <p> &nbsp;(2): (pl.) of Child </p>