In early times the father was the ruler and priest of his own family, and he exercised authority over his children, even after they had families of their own. His descendants were taught to look up to him as their head, in both religious and secular matters. This patriarchal system of government Abraham endeavored to perpetuate, as it tended to preserve the knowledge of God. It was necessary to bind the members of the household together, in order to build up a barrier against the idolatry that had become so widespread and so deep-seated. Abraham sought by every means in his power to guard the inmates of his encampment against mingling with the heathen and witnessing their idolatrous practices, for he knew that familiarity with evil would insensibly corrupt the principles. The greatest care was exercised to shut out every form of false religion and to impress the mind with the majesty and glory of the living God as the true object of worship.

I de tidligste tider var faderen sin families leder og præst, og han udøvede endog myndighed over sine børn, efter at de selv havde stiftet familie. Hans efterkommere blev opdraget til at se op til ham som deres overhoved både i religiøse og verdslige anliggender. Denne patriarkalske styreform søgte Abraham at videreføre, fordi den tjente til at bevare kundskaben om Gud. Det var nødvendigt at knytte husstandens medlemmer sammen for at danne en skranke mod afguderiet, der var blevet så udbredt og så dybt rodfæstet. Abraham søgte med alle de midler, han rådede over, at værne sin lejrs beboere mod at blive blandet med hedningerne og overvære deres afguderiske skikke, for han vidste, at berøring med det onde umærkeligt ville fordærve principperne. Der udvistes den største omhu for at udelukke enhver form for falsk religion og for at indprente i sindet, at den levende Guds majestæt og herlighed var det sande mål for tilbedelse.