1. It was God-centred and God-commanded, Gen 18:19; Ex 10:2; 12:26-27; 13:14-16; Deut 4:9-10; 6:7,9; 11:19; 32:46; Isa 38:19; etc.

2. Its content and purpose centred on the fear of the Lord, Pr 1:7; 9:10; Ec 12:13.

3. It was home-based.

4. Children were required to honour and obey their parents Pr 1:8; 6:20; Ex 20:12; 21:15-17; Le 20:9; Deut 21:18; Pr 30:17; cf Eph 6:1-3.

5. Children were viewed as sinful by nature, Ps 51:5.

6. Parents committed children to God’s care, Job 1:5.

7. Education began very early, 1 Sam 1:27-28; 2:11, 18f; Pr 22:6.

8. The training of children received strength and support from God’s covenant-promise, Gen 17:7; Ps 74:20; 105:8f; Acts 2:38f; Gal 3:9,29.

9. Careful and wise discipline was used, Pr 13:24; 23:13-14; 17:10.

10. Parents loved their children, Ps 103:13; and allowed time for fun and play, Zec 8:5; Mt 11:16-18.

11. Parents prepared children to make decisions for themselves, Jos 24:15.

12. Education was very practical, though even small children learned to read and write, Isa 10:19.

13. Israelites made full use of their children’s powers of memory, Isa 28:10. When questions were asked, definite answers were expected, Ex 13:8; Deut 6:7,20-25; 11:19.

14. When children were older, education was shared by tutors, Nu 11:12; 2 Sam 12:25; 2 Kings 10:1; 1 Chron 27:32; Isa 49:23, ‘wise men’, rabbis, priests, prophets, etc.

15. That this system of education actually worked, is evident from the book of Daniel.

(See Hendriksen, on 2 Tim 3:15)