CHILD, CHILDREN
1. Value set on the possession of children.Throughout the Bible a noteworthy characteristic is the importance and happiness assigned to the possession of children, and, correspondingly, the intense sorrow and disappointment of childless parents. Children were regarded as Divine gifts (Gen_4:1; Gen_33:5), pledges of Gods favour, the heritage of the Lord (Psa_127:3). It followed naturally that barrenness was looked upon as a reproach, i.e. a punishment inflicted by God, and involving, for the woman, disgrace in the eyes of the world. Thus, Sarah was despised by her more fortunate handmaid Hagar (Gen_16:4); Rachel, in envy of Leah, cried, Give me children or else I die (Gen_30:1); Hannahs rival taunted her to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb (1Sa_1:6); Elisabeth rejoiced when the Lord took away her reproach among men (Luk_1:25). He maketh the barren woman to keep house and to be a joyful mother of children (Psa_113:9), cries the Psalmist as the climax of his praise. The reward of a man who fears the Lord shall be a wife like a fruitful vine, and children like olive branches round about his table (Psa_128:3). Our Lord refers to the joy of a woman at the birth of a man into the world (Joh_16:21). Not only is natural parental affection set forth in these and similar passages, but also a strong sense of the worldly advantages which accompanied the condition of parentage. A man who was a father, especially a father of sons, was a rich man; his position was dignified and influential; his possessions were secured to his family, and his name perpetuated. Be fruitful and multiply was a blessing desired by every married couplefor the sake of the latter part of the blessing, the necessary accompaniment of fruitfulnessreplenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion; for fatherhood involved expansion of property and increase in importance and wealth.
2. The filial relationship.The position of children was one of complete subordination to their parents. Gen_22:1-24, Jdg_11:39, and the sacrifices to Molech of children by their parents (Lev_18:21; Lev_20:2-5, 2Ki_23:10, Jer_32:35) indicate that the father had powers of life and death over his children; these powers are limited in Deu_21:18-21. Reverence and obedience on the part of children towards their parents were strongly enjoined (Exo_20:12, Lev_19:3, Deu_27:16, Pro_1:8 etc.). Any one smiting or cursing his father or mother is to be put to death (Exo_21:15; Exo_21:17). Any one who is disrespectful to his parents is accursed (Deu_17:16). Irreverence on the part of children towards an older person is visited by a signal instance of Divine judgment (2Ki_2:23-24). Several passages in the Book of Proverbs urge care, even to severity, in the upbringing of children (Pro_3:12; Pro_13:24; Pro_15:5; Pro_22:6; Pro_29:15 etc.). The outcome of this dependence of children upon their parents, and of their subordination to them, was an intensely strong sense of the closeness of the filial bond, and a horror of any violation of it. A son who could bring himself to defy his father and break away from his home life was indeed no longer worthy to be called a son (Luk_15:19). The disobedience of Israel is bewailed in penitence by the prophet because it appears to him like the most heinous crime, the rebellion of children against a loving father: Surely they are my people, children that will not err.
In his love and in his pity he redeemed them,
and he bare them and carried them all the days of old. But they rebelled (Isa_63:8-10). In this connexion some of the sentences in our Lords charge to the Twelve must have fallen upon startled ears (Mat_10:21; Mat_10:35-38). Children were expected to follow in the footsteps of their parents and to resemble them. Hence such expressions as Abrahams children, which carried the notion of resemblance in character. Hence also the figurative use of the word children: children of transgression children of disobedience. Phrases like these are closely connected with others in which the words children or sons are used in a spiritual sense conveying the ideas of love and trust and obedience. St. Peter speaks of Mark, my son. In touching anxiety for their spiritual welfare, St. Paul, writing to the Galatians, addresses them: My little children; and St. John, in his Epistles, is fond of the same expression.
3. The feeling for childhood.Tenderness towards child life, appreciation of the simplicity, the helplessness, of children, affection of parents for their children, and children for their parents: all these are features of the Bible which the most superficial reader cannot fail to observe. There are many touching and vivid examples of and references to parental love. All the sons and daughters of Jacob rose up to comfort him for the loss of Joseph, but he refused to be comforted (Gen_37:35). If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved (Gen_43:14), is his despairing cry when Benjamin also is taken from himBenjamin, a child of his old age, a little one
and his father loveth him (Gen_44:20). Hannah dedicated her little son to the service of the Lord in gratitude for his birth; and then year by year made a little robe and brought it to him (1Sa_2:19). David fasted and lay all night upon the ground praying for the life of his sick child (2Sa_12:16). The brief account of the death of the Shunammites boy is a passage of restrained and pathetic beauty (2Ki_4:18 ff.). Isaiahs feeling for the weakness and helplessness of children is displayed in the mention of the words first articulated by his own son (Isa_8:4); and in his description of the time when the earth should be full of the knowledge of the Lord, and little children, still dependent for life and protection upon their mothers care, should, without fear of harm on her part, be allowed to play among wild beasts and handle the asp and the adder (Isa_11:6-9). Zechariah dreams of the happy time when Jerusalem shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets (Zec_8:5). The beauty of a childs humble simplicity is acknowledged by the Psalmist, who likens his own soul to a weaned child with its mother (Psa_131:2); unconsciously anticipating the spirit of One, greater than he, who said that only those who became as little children should in any wise enter the Kingdom of heaven (Mat_18:3), and who gave thanks to His Father for revealing the things of God to babes (Mat_11:25).
E. G. Romanes.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible
Edited by James Hastings, D.D. Published in 1909