Clan
Each tribe consisted of a number of clans. So the clan is the second largest unit within the ancient Israelite society. The members of a clan are (distant) relations.
Structure
A clan consisted of a number of families. According to the clan lists in Numbers 26
A clan was led by elders
Caring for One Another
Members of a clan had a deep sense of belonging:
- in patriarchal times, people preferred to seek a marriage partner within their own clan;
- if someone was in debt, people had to take care of each other (redemption
); - the death of a member of the clan had to be avenged by the clan (blood vengeance
); - in times of war, the clans were called upon to set up an army.
In the Neighbourhood
People from the same clan lived in the same neighbourhood, and so property could easily remain within the family. At feasts and sacrificial meals, people visited each other.
So if someone mentioned his clan, it was somewhat clear where he came from geographically, as with the area of his tribe.
Clan in the New Testament
A number of clan lists are found in the New Testament as well, for instance to describe the family line of Jesus.
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