The patriarchs of the
Bible, when narrowly defined, are
Abraham, his son
Isaac, and Isaac's son
Jacob, also named Israel, the ancestor of the
Israelites. These three figures are referred to collectively as the
patriarchs, and the period in which they lived is known as the
patriarchal age. They play significant roles in Hebrew scripture during and following their lifetimes. They are used as a significant marker by God in revelations and promises, and continue to play important roles in the
Abrahamic faiths. Judaism, Christianity and Islam hold that the patriarchs, along with their primary wives, known as the
matriarchs –
Sarah (wife of Abraham),
Rebekah (wife of Isaac) and
Leah (one of the wives of Jacob) – are entombed at the Cave of
Machpelah in
Hebron, a site held holy by the three religions.
Rachel is said to be buried separately at what is known as
Rachel's Tomb, near
Bethlehem, at the site where she is believed to have died in childbirth. More widely, the term patriarchs can be used to refer to the twenty male ancestor-figures between
Adam and Abraham. The first ten of these are called the
antediluvian patriarchs, because they came before
the Flood. ==Lifespans==