The passing of the clan

The life of the Hebrews prior to the establishment of the monarchy was, as we have seen, largely vested on both its civil and its social side in the clan, the free citizens of which determined, in accordance with ancient customs, matters of general concern. Under the rule of kings things changed and the clan fell more and more into the background as a vital factor in the social life of the people, while the civic affairs which were not arranged by the crown were left principally to the sheiks or free citizens of the various cities. ¹ That this change was gradual, the fragmentary chronicles of the time reveal in many incidental hints and allusions. Not only were minor matters, as the securing of blood-revenge, where the immediate relatives for any reason shrank from demanding it, looked after by sept or clan, but for a considerable period more important matters were still in the hands of these septs and clans. Besides, the sheiks, or elders, as we persist in calling them, were frequently mentioned as being consulted or as coming to the front and taking things into their hands in times of grave concern. ² In the days of Eli the matter of taking the Ark to battle in their campaign against the Philistines had been decided by them. Long afterward Abner communicated with them when he wanted to carry North Israel over to David. To the sheiks David himself often deferred, as at times, bidden or unbidden, these men came forward to council him. Absalom allied himself with the sheiks, and they shared with him the responsibilities which he had assumed in taking things into his own hands. David's appeal to the sheiks of Judah when he sent to them, after the overthrow of Absalom, to ascertain why they had not taken action in the matter of reinstating him, is significant. The freemen of Judah were still able to come together, if they so desired, in clan assembly for the purpose of general action. Similarly, Solomon had to do with the sheiks. The chroniclers speak of frequent conferences. Here the men consulted, as may have been very frequently the case in his father's day, were probably those of Jerusalem. Geographical location then, as has so often been the case in other lands during later centuries where the representative principle was partially recognised, largely determined the extent and character of such influence ; but the mere fact that it had a place, is what we would here emphasise. Its range must have been considerable. Even such a self-reliant, aggressive man as Ahab, backed as he was by one of the most energetic women of his time, is said to have conferred with his city freemen in an affair that seemed to all of special concern. ¹ That he never again deferred to them is utterly improbable.