Numbers 25:14

Now the name of the Israelite that was slain, even that was slain with the Midianitish woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a chief house, the house of a father, among the Simeonites. The elementary group among the Israelites was the family; the aggregation of families formed "the house of the father"; the aggregation of houses made the tribe; the aggregation of tribes constituted the commonwealth.