Scriptural Examples
There are several examples in the Tanakh where the practice of Generational Responsibility is observed and practiced; the most notable one is found in Daniel, Chapter 9.
While in Babylonian captivity, as his practice, when studying the Holy Scriptures, or perhaps notes of Jerimiah, the earlier prophet of 70 years before him, El Shadai, The LORD GOD Almighty and Holy One of Israel, revealed to Daniel, that it was the time for HIS chosen people, the Jews, to return to the Promise Land of their nativity to continue the purpose assigned to them.
In doing so, Daniel recognized that the Supreme Judge of all the earth chastised and sent the pre-Babylonian invasion of that generation of Jews, which was the consequence of previous generations who rebelled against GOD in violating the tenets of the Torah/Tanakh.
Though innocent of causing it, but knowing that according to the Decalogue-Ten Commandments, Elohim/El Elyon holds every passing generation in the strategic, cognizant, present time, responsible for the collective, succeeding-generational, “piled-on”, like “a snowball rolling down a hill”, bad-sinful behavior of prior generations.
From it, the prophet Daniel, for some mysterious reason, Adonia “visits and punishes ” the children for the sins of the fathers.
As a student of the then-ancient Holy Scriptures, Daniel knew and understood HIS demands by which HE would redeem them from their inherited, warranted chastisement.
Therefore, being enlightened by YAWEH that he is chosen to initiate the prophecy of his elder prophet Jeremiah, thankfully humbling himself before the incredible calling of responsibility he was tasked with, Daniel immediately donned sackcloth, and ashes, the began fasting, entering into the Holy Written, precendented Standard to address The Sumpreme Judge of all the earth accordingly, to these matters.
There appear to be four (4) protocols for approaching the Throne in the Heavenly Courts of GOD for these particular kinds of matters of Generational responsibility.
As a practicing, prophetic priest within the Kingdom of GOD, based on the Holy, historical Writ, Daniel proceeded. See:
9:1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans;
9:2 In the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood by books the number of the years, whereof the Word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that HE would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.
9:3 And I set my face (determination) unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
9:4 And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;
9:5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:
9:6 Neither have we hearkened unto YOUR servants the prophets, which spake in YOUR Name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.
Note: First Protocol – According to the historical Holy Writ, as the first procedural protocol with respect for Adonai, WHO Is seated upon HIS Majestic, Heavenly Courts Throne, Daniel rehearses the sinful behavior of past generations’ kings, prophets, and our fathers before the Supreme Judge.
9:7 O LORD, righteousness belongeth unto YOU but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither YOU have driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against YOU.
9:8 O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against YOU.
9:9 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against HIM;
9:10 Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which HE set before us by HIS servants the prophets.
9:11 Yea, all Israel have transgressed YOUR law, even by departing, that they might not obey YOUR Voice; therefore the curse (Mt. Girizim) is poured upon us, and the oath that is Written in the Law of Moses the servant of GOD, because we have sinned against him.
9:12 And HE has confirmed HIS Words, which HE spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.
9:13 As it is Written in the Law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet we made not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand YOUR truth.
9:14 Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God is righteous in all HIS works which HE does: for we obeyed not his voice.
9:15 And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought YOUR people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten YOU renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly.
9:16 O LORD, according to all YOUR righteousness, I beseech YOU, let YOUR anger and YOUE fury be turned away from YOUE city Jerusalem, YOUR holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and YOUR people are become a reproach to all that are about us.
Note, Protocol 3, Daniel confesses the sins of the present and previous generations as a collective, one generational body politic, honoring God for their just punishments.
Note, Protocol 3: Daniel appeals to HIM for mercy and redemption
9:17 Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of YOUR servant, and his supplications, and cause YOUR Face to shine upon YOUR sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake.
9:18 O my God, incline YOUR ear, and hear; open YOUR eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by YOUR Name: for we do not present our supplications before YOU, not for our righteousnesses, but for YOUR great mercies.
Note, Protocol 4: On behalf of himself, the present, all generations, Daniel asks the Supreme Judge for forgiveness.
9:19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for YOUR own sake, O my GOD: for YOUR city and YOUR people are called by YOUR Name.
9:20 And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my GOD for the Holy Mountain of my GOD;
9:21 Yea, while I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.
9:22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.
9:23 At the beginning of your supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew you; for you are greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.