157. Because 'bone from bones and flesh from flesh' meant the proprium belonging to the external man which contained the internal man, all who could be called one' s own were in ancient times called 'bone from bones and flesh from flesh', whether they came from the same house or from the same family, or had some other family connection, as Laban said of Jacob,

Surely you are my bone and my flesh. Genesis 29:14.

Referring to his mother's brothers and to 'the family of the house of his mother's father' Abimelech said,

Remember that I am your bone and your flesh. Judges 9:1-3.

Also the tribes of Israel, in reference to themselves, told David,

Behold, we are your bone and your flesh. 2 Samuel 5:1.