Keturah was Abraham's Second Wife

Dr. Alice C. Linsley

Analysis of the marriage and ascendancy pattern of Abraham's Hebrew caste reveals that the rulers had two wives. Both were Hebrew women because the Hebrew selected their marriage partners exclusively from among the Hebrew lans (caste endogamy). The ruler's first usually was a half-sister, as was Sarah to Abraham. The second wife usually was a patrilineal cousin, as was Keturah to Abraham. The wives maintained separate settlements. The settlements of Sarah and Keturah marked the northern and southern boundaries of Abraham's territory. Sarah resided in Hebron, at the northern edge of ancient Edom. Keturah, of the royal line of Sheba, resided at Beersheba to the south. Both Hebron and Beersheba were in the territory that the Greeks called Idumea, which is Edom, the land of red people.

This two-wife marriage pattern for high-ranking Hebrew rulers was common. Many Hebrew rulers had two wives. Among them were Lamech the Elder, Terah, Abraham, Isaac, Esau the Elder, Amram, Jesse, Elkanah, Ashur, and Joash. 

In 1 Chronicles 4:5, we read that "Ashur, the father of Tekoa, had two wives, Helah and Naarah."

In 1 Chronicles 4:17-18, we read that Mered had two wives, and one was "Pharaoh’s daughter Bithiah, whom Mered had married."

 
According to Genesis 25:1, Keturah is described as Abraham’s wife. The Hebrew word here is ishshah, which means woman or wife. However, according to I Chronicles 1:32, Keturah was a concubine (piylegesh or piyegesh meaning concubine). I Chronicles reflects a time long after the events described and is not consistent with the overwhelming evidence that Keturah was a wife. The confusion may be due to the Chronicles' post-exilic reading of Genesis 25:6: "To the sons of his concubines Abraham made grants during his lifetime, sending them away from his son Isaac..."  It was the custom to send away non-ascendant sons. Abraham, Moses, Jacob and Joseph are among the sent-away sons in the Hebrew Bible.

Abraham married Keturah at a late age. Analysis of the marriage and ascendency pattern of Abraham’s people makes it clear that Keturah was a wife. Typically, the first wife was the bride of the Hebrew ruler's youth and usually his half-sister, as was Sarah to Abraham. The second wife was usually a patrilineal cousin, as was Keturah to Abraham. (The sequence may shed light on the relationship of the faithful of the Old Covenant and the faithful of the New Covenant.)

Keturah resided at Beer-Sheba, which took its name from the great patriarch Sheba who controlled the well there. (Beer means well.) Keturah's firstborn son was probably Joktan, who she named after her father. This is an example of the cousin bride's naming prerogative, a distinctive feature of the Hebrew marriage and ascendancy pattern.

It may be that the Joktanite clans of Southern Arabia are among Joktan's descendants.  

Abraham and Keturah were both descendants of Sheba, the great grandson of Ham. They are also descendants of Shem, as the lines of Shem and Ham intermarried. Sheba was a contemporary of Eber, Shem's great grandson. Eber’s son Joktan married a daughter of Sheba. We know this because Joktan’s first-born son was named Sheba, after his cousin bride’s father. This naming prerogative of the cousin bride was already a custom in the time of Lamech (Gen. 4). Lamech’s daughter Naamah married her patrilineal cousin Methuselah and named their firstborn son Lamech after her father.  Lamech the Younger would ascend to the throne of his maternal grandfather.
 
 

Keturah likewise named her first-born son Joktan, after her father. Abraham had two first-born sons by his wives: Isaac and Joktan. He also had firstborn sons by his two concubines Masek and Hagar. By Masek he had Eliezar and by Hagar he had Ishmael. Contrary to common belief, Ishmael was not Abraham's firstborn. Keturah, though Abraham's second wife, would have produced a son before Sarah who was barren and did not bring forth Abraham's proper heir until very late in her life.

Keturah and Sarah were wives whose firstborn sons would rule over different territories. Isaac was Abraham's proper heir who ruled over Abraham's territory after Abraham's death. Abraham's concubines Hagar and Masek were of subordinate status to his wives. This was the case also with Jacob's concubines, Bilhah and Zilpah.


The Pattern of Keturah Parallels the Pattern of Naamah

According to Gen. 10:24-30, Keturah’s father had a brother named Peleg. The text makes much of the implications of Peleg’s name which means “division”, “because it was in his time that the earth was divided” (Gen. 10:25). There are different possible explanations for this division, but the most likely is that expressed in the pattern of genealogical information. The daughter of Sheba who married Joktan and named her firstborn son Sheba is the last bride named of Ham’s line. In this respect she parallels Naamah, the last bride named of Cain’s line.

Keturah’s father was Joktan and her paternal uncle was Peleg, who is said to be the “first” son. This means that Joktan, like Abraham, was not to receive the rights of primogeniture by which he would become chief after his father’s death. So Joktan, Abraham’s firstborn by Ketu-rah, would not be chief after his death. That would fall to Isaac, the son of Sarah. Nevertheless, the Joktanites would become a powerful presence in the Sinai and by their skills and generosity would enable the Israelites to come out of Egypt and survive in the wilderness.

Genesis 10: 26 tells us that Joktan had 13 sons. Almodad appears to be the first-born, as his name is listed first. If Joktan followed the pattern of his fathers, his two wives would have maintained separate households on a north-south axis. This may be the meaning of the sites mentioned in Gen. 10:30: Mesha and Sephar, although “sephar,’ which means “numbering,” might refer to the cosmology of Abraham’s people rather than to a specific location.

Some of the descendants of Joktan and Sheba hold an annual autumn feast at an oasis in the wilderness to celebrate the date harvest. This is the one time of the year that women and men may dance together. The date palm (“tamar”) is a symbol of prosperity and fertility. The ‘Id el-Tamar is a festival when the unmarried check out the pool of available matches. As is the custom from time immemorial, wife selection takes place at a well or an oasis.

The Significance of the Well

Wells and oases are where boy meets girl in the Bible. There are several incidents of wives being found at wells. Abraham’s servant found Rebecca at a well. Moses met Zipporah at a well. The wells were under the control of the local ruler, often Hebrew priests, such as Jethro. Probably Abraham met Keturah at the well of Sheba, one of their common ancestors.

The Hebrew priests among Abraham's people established their shrines near rivers and wells. They needed the water to sustain their flocks, and it was from these flocks and herds that they selected animals to sacrifice. The evidence of the Bible indicates that the rulers among Abraham's Hebrew people married the daughters of Hebrew priests (caste endogamy). Moses married his cousin Zipporah, the daughter of a Hebrew priest named Jethro. He was of the Hebrew clan of Midian. Midian was another son born to Abraham by Keturah. Abraham had nine sons. Here is a list of sons:

Sarah, daughter of Terah (Gen. 20:12)
Yitzak (Issac)

Hagar the Egyptian (Sarah’s handmaid)
Yishmael (Ishmael) was Egyptian, since ethnicity was traced through the mother and Hagar was Egyptian. Tracing ethnicity through the mother rather than the father is still required to establish Jewish identity today. This pattern is recognized in Egypt as well, which is why the Egyptian government has made it illegal for Egyptian men to marry Jewish women.

Ketu-rah, daughter of Joktan (Gen. 25)
Joktan – probably Keturah’s firstborn son
Midian

Yishbak (Name means "sent away")
Zimran
Medan
Shuah

Masek (Keturah’s handmaid, mentioned only in the Septuagint.)
Eliezar 

Related reading: Cousin Brides Among the Hebrew; Identifying the Status of the Two Wives; The Hebrew were a Caste; Abraham's Sons; Eliezar of Damascus; Abraham's Two Concubines; BIBLICAL ANTHROPOLOGY: Reading the Bible in a Different Way

Sarah's Story

Alice C. Linsley

Sarah’s story is one of loss, long-suffering, hope and fulfillment. Though she was born a princess in the household of her father Terah, a high-ranking Hebrew ruler-priest, her life was not without troubles. She married her half-brother, Abraham. After their father died in Haran, Abraham's older brother Nahor ascended to rule over Terah's territory in Aram. Abraham was sent away to establish a territory of his own near a maternal uncle living in the region of the Negev.

Sent-away sons often lived with or near their maternal uncles. This is called "avunculocal residence." Jacob was sent away to live with his maternal uncle Laban. Moses was sent away to live with his uncle, Jethro, the priest of Midian. (The Midianites were descendants of Abraham by Keturah, Gen. 25). It is likely that Joseph, the son of Jacob and Rachel, was sent away to serve his maternal uncle Potiphar in Egypt. 

Sarah enjoyed the life of a wealthy, highborn woman. Her name is derived from the Akkadian word for queen: šarratum. Sarah's high social status was recognized by Pharaoh who was told of her beauty. From childhood, she had servants to attend to her needs. One was Hagar, Sarah's handmaid. 

Sarah had to leave her home and all that was familiar. When Sarah set out with Abraham for the land of Canaan, she was Abraham’s only wife. However, after Abraham relocated to the land of Canaan, he took a second wife, Keturah, his patrilineal cousin. This marriage arrangement was typical of the early Hebrew ruler-priest caste.

As the first wife, it was Sarah's responsibility to produce an heir for Abraham. Sarah's barren state was a cause of great sorrow for her. By the time she brought forth Isaac, Abraham's proper heir, Keturah had already brought forth six sons. Genesis does not say that Abraham married Keturah after Sarah died. It simply states that “Abraham married another wife whose name was Keturah.” The idea that he married her after Sarah’s death is implied by the order of the accounts of marriage and is reinforced by rabbinic tradition. Both Abraham and Keturah were descendants of Sheba the Elder (Gen. 10:7).

In her desperation, Sarah decided to use Hagar as a legal surrogate according to Horite/Hurrian law. Horite family law allowed for a concubine to bear an heir, and this is what Sarah had in mind when she encouraged Abraham to produce an heir by her handmaid Hagar. The son was to be born on Sarah’s lap, symbolically making the child Sarah’s offspring.

Analysis of the marriage and ascendancy pattern of the biblical Hebrew indicates that the proper heir was the firstborn son of the first wife, usually a half-sister. As Sarah was barren, Abraham could lawfully appoint Eliezer, the son of the concubine Mesek, to be the steward of his household. A steward is not the same as a proper heir. 

Mesek was probably Keturah’s handmaid. She is mentioned in the Septuagint, but not in the Masoretic Text. “Eliezer dam-Mesek” means “Eliezer blood/son of Mesek”. Dam mesek is erroneously taken as a reference to Damascus in some versions of the Bible. The appointment of a concubine's son as steward over Abraham's estate would have been "salt in the wound" for Sarah.

Two Wives in Separate Settlements

Two wives were instrumental in establishing and maintaining territorial boundaries. However, the birth of two firstborn sons raises the question: “Which is the ruler’s proper heir?” Among the early Hebrew the proper heir was the firstborn son of the first wife, usually a half-sister. That is why Isaac was Abraham's proper heir, and like his father, Isaac was a man of great wealth. He ruled over his father's territory in Idumea (ancient Edom). Like his ancestor Adam, Esau is associated with the red skin people.

Sarah settled in Hebron at the northern boundary of Abraham's territory. Her settlement was served by craftsmen, herdsmen, shepherds, and warriors. Likewise, Keturah's settlement in Beersheba was well provisioned with servants, metal workers, stone masons, herdsmen, potters, bakers, weavers, and warriors.

The wives' settlements marked the northern and southern boundaries of Abraham's territory. Abraham divided his time between the settlements of his two wives, and after Sarah died, he spent his last years in Beersheba.

The wives of Hebrew rulers exercised considerable influence over their settlements. Sarah ordered her Egyptian servant Hagar to leave the settlement and, though he loved his son Ishmael, Abraham conceded to Sarah’s demand (Gen. 21).

Both Hebron and Beersheba were in ancient Edom, the territory that the Greeks called Idumea, which means the land of red people. These are Jesus' ancestors and many of them are described as having a red skin tone like Adam, Esau, and David.

The biblical data suggests that Abraham controlled a sizeable territory that extended between Hebron and Beersheba and Ein Gedi and Gerar. This corresponds to ancient Edom, a territory associated with the Horite Hebrew (Gen. 36).

Settlements required permanent water sources. The major water systems of Abraham's territory included the Well of Sheba (Beersheba), the Spring of Abraham in Hebron, Ein Gedi, and wells in Gerar. Genesis 26:18 reports that Isaac, Abraham's heir, had to reopen the wells in Gerar.

Keturah's Descendants

Keturah had six sons, and these were clan chiefs who spread across Arabia. Among Keturah's people are the Joktanite clans of Arabia, descendants of Joktan, one of Keturah's sons (Gen. 25).

According to Genesis 23:1, Sarah lived 127 years. She died in Hebron and was buried in a cave in a field that Abraham purchased from a kinsman, Ephron the Hittite (Gen. 23:1-20). In this final act, Abraham honored his wife and half-sister through a costly purchase of land. Genesis 25:9 tells us that Abraham was buried there also.

And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre; the field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.

Related reading: Hebrew Rulers with Two Wives; Cousin Brides Among the Hebrew; Sarah's Laughter; Abraham's Complaint; Abraham's Concubines; The Wives' Settlement Marked the Boundaries

Just Genesis: Answers to Your Questions

Alice C. Linsley


People around the world are asking questions about Genesis. Some questions are emailed to me, and some appear in the comments. Most of the questions that follow appeared as search words that brought people to Just Genesis.

Sometimes the questions reveal a sophisticated understanding of the Genesis material. These are usually asked by people doing research. Other questions indicate a profound ignorance of people, events and chronology. Others reveal commendable curiosity. In at least once case there was a wager placed and the questioner hoped to win the bet! I'm not sure if he won or not.


Here are some questions people have asked:

Did Solomon live before Abraham?
No. Solomon was David’s son by Bathsheba.


Was David Moses’ father?
No. Moses’ father was Amram. Amram had 2 wives. Moses had two brothers and a sister. Korah was his half-brother.


Did the Afro-Arabians invent the compass?
It is very likely. The Arabic word for compass is al-konbas, a compound of kon and bas. Kon means universe and bas refers to home, which was the place of the Sun’s rising. The ancient Afro-Arabians were aware of the magnetic properties of meteoric iron and iron filings since they were famous metalworkers. They were able to use these filings to determine true north, but their key point of reference or “orientation” was east.


How did Abraham abuse Hagar?
There is no record of Abraham abusing Hagar. Genesis tells us that Hagar was mistreated by Sarah.


How many concubines did Abraham have?
He apparently had two, as did Jacob. One was the servant of Sarah: Hagar the Egyptian.  The other was the servant of Keturah: Masek, according to the Septuagint.


How widespread was the use of Aramaic?
Geoffrey W. Bromiley, in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (p. 231), states that Aramaic inscriptions have been found from “Greece to Pakistan, and from the Ural Mountains to Arabia.” Aramaic was the lingua franca of the Near East, Palestine and the Levant in the 7th and 6th centuries BC. Aramaic used the Phoenician script which largely replaced the cuneiform of Babylon and Persia.


Had Isaac another wife beside Rebecca?
It is very likely that Isaac had two wives, as did all his ruler ancestors. By his other wife, a half-sister, he had a son named Yisbak. Analysis of the Genesis genealogies indicates that Isaac had three first-born sons. 


Who were the ancient African Hindus?
This person probably is seeking information about the Sudra/Sudanese and their relationship to the Dravidian populations in gold-rich Africa. Sudra means Sudanese. They were a Nilotic people who spread across the ancient Afro-Asiatic Dominion. Dravidians are classified as Sudroid. Nilotic religion is older than Hinduism.


Are Nubians Nilotic people?
Yes. The Nile, with its many inlets and tributaries, was the center of daily life in ancient Nubia. Its waters provided food and water and a means of transportation and commerce. The Nubians were known to be great boat builders.  They also influenced Egyptian architecture. The Egyptian rock cut temple (speos) was of Nubian origin. The earliest example was the cave sanctuary at Sayala, a Nubian site just north of Abu Simbel on the west bank of the Nile River. This site is dated to 3700-3250 B.C. This Nubian architecture was adopted by the Egyptians of the New Kingdom, whose pharaohs commissioned several temples in Upper Egypt and in Nubia.

Was Lilith Adam’s first wife?
There is no mention of Lilith in Genesis. She is a figure from the Babylonian pantheon and does not reflect Nilotic culture.


Was Moses married when he lived in Egypt?
Exodus doesn’t tell us. Moses had 2 wives. One was Midianite and the other was Kushite. Both were related to him by blood and marriage.


What is the Hebrew name for a boat builder?
The Hebrews weren’t famous for being a seafaring people. The Afro-Arabians were and Arabic is older than Hebrew. The Arabic for a place where boats and ships are built is dar al-sina’a. The Hebrew word for boat work or navel workmanship is בונה ספינות. The Hebrew ספינות means to go over water, as in a drawbridge. עברית is the Hebrew word naval, an adjective.


What do the names Og and Magog mean?
The meaning of the names is uncertain. These names are related to a third name: Gog. The names Og, Magog and Gog appear to represent a 3-clan confederation of Horite ruler-priests.


Was Keturah a wife or a concubine?
Keturah was Abraham's patrilineal cousin wife.  Genesis 25:1 describes Keturah as Abraham’s wife. The word here in Hebrew is ishshah, which means woman or wife.


What happened to Keturah’s children?
Keturah had 6 sons and probably some daughters, though daughters are not named in Genesis, since they didn’t rule among the Afro-Arabians. Keturah’s sons became the chiefs of Arabian tribes. These tribes are referred to as the “Joktanite Tribes.” Joktan probably was Abraham’s first-born son by Keturah. As Keturah was Abraham's cousin bride, her first-born son ascended to the throne of her father, Joktan the Elder.


Are the Genesis origin stories like the Akan origin stories?
They are closer to the Gikuyu origin stories as Abraham’s ancestors came from the Nile region, not from West Africa. The Akan live primarily in Ghana and the Gikuyu live primarily in Kenya.


Related reading:  Common Questions About Genesis; Some Extraordinary Questions; Moses' Wives and Brothers; The Genesis Creation/Origins Stories; The Christ in Nilotic Mythology

A Coptic Monk Reflects on Genesis

Abuna Elia was one of the disciples of the monastic reformer, Abuna Mina el Muttawahad, who rejuvinated monasticism in Egypt in the 1940s and 1950s. Abuna Mina later became the Coptic Patriarch, Pope Kyrillos VI. 

Abuna Elia was the only one of Abuna Mina's original disciples who didn't become a bishop, an abbot, or a pope. He lived for about a decade as a solitary in a cave in the desert. Concerned monks of St. Bishoi (Pishoy) brought him to their monastery when he was no longer able to care for himself in the harsh desert environment. As the monks were carrying the aged monk into the monastery, Abuna Elia saw Mark Gruber, an American Benedictine monk and Catholic priest. Fr. Gruber was staying with the monks to conduct a year-long anthropological study. At the gate of the monastery, the aged monk turned to Fr. Gruber and said, "You are a Roman... You will want to see me; you will want to have some opportunity to talk with me." 

Fr. Gruber reponded, "Yes, Abuna. I would be very happy to see you." 

This fateful encounter led to numerous conversations between Abuna Elia and Fr. Gruber, and some of Abuna Elia's thoughts are presented in Fr. Gruber's books: Journey Back to Eden and Sacrifice in the Desert (Orbis Books). Journey Back to Eden is available to read online here.

 

In discussing Abuna Elia's understanding of Abraham's relationship to Sarah and Keturah, Fr. Gruber explains, "Abuna Elia was keen on preserving a sense of the unique character of Sarah, the 'princess' whose personality had no peerage for Abraham. The monogamy he bore to her was a reflex of the monotheism to which his faithfulness to Sarah predisposed him. So for Keturah, Abuna Elia supplied a commentary of remarkably modern ringing vintage: Keturah was the apical maternal ancestor of a Semitic people 'grandmothered' into Hebrew stock at the time after Joshua. They eventually embraced monotheism and so posthumously Abraham embraced them by the marital reference to her in Genesis. Analogously Abuna Elia observed that the dozen or so ethnic pilgrimage groups in Jerusalem recorded by St. Luke in the Pentecost narrative of the Acts of the Apostles are so included to give a kind of map of Christian missionary expansion when the Acts were written; as if they too were there at the Church’s birthday because they too shared the same Spirit… This is part of the economy of grace whereby Jews today share the Passover Night of Moses or Christians are present in the Upper Room, Calvary, the Empty Tomb and at the Ascension’s Trinitarian Embrace when they receive Communion. Abuna Elia also observed that if we take the marriage to Keturah on literal face value we have the oddity of trivializing the conception of Isaac regarded as so marvelous for Abraham’s (and Sarah’s) advanced age… 'After… my husband is so old, shall I have with him the pleasures of marriage?' (Gen. 19). But the children accorded to Abraham almost casually and offhandedly are born many years after Isaac without any sense of wonder noted. Indeed, a certain Keturah may well have received Abraham after the disaster at Moriah and she may be the ancestor of whom these peoples are descendents so named in Genesis. But their inclusion into the paternity of Abraham owes to her or her descendents accepting the seed of his faith rather than his natural procreative powers. Genesis is a book of the Table of the Nations where apical ancestry is a crucial element… And by faith and faith’s acceptance Genesis previews for us how Abraham becomes a father of many nations. Kinship and national formation through ancestry re-interpretation is rather lost on the atomized citizenry of contemporary western folk. But Egyptians (Hamites) and Semites retain a taste for this kind of meditation." 

There is difficulty in reconciling the apical view of Keturah with the kinship pattern revealed in Genesis king lists of Genesis 4, 5, 10, 11, 25 and 36. Analysis of the marriage and ascendancy pattern of the early Hebrew ruler-priests reveals that they had two wives. The first wife is the bride of the man's youth and usually a half-sister, as was Sarah to Abraham. The second wife is necessary to establish a kingdom, and is usually a patrilineal cousin, as was Keturah to Abraham. The wives resided in separate households on a north-south axis. Sarah resided in Hebron, and Keturah resided in Beersheba. These settlements marked the northern and southern boundaries of Abraham's territory in ancient Edom (called Idumea by the Greeks, meaning "Land of Red People.")

Abuna Elia's reflections on the Genesis narratives lift up a theological point or teach a spiritual lesson. They are midrash of a Coptic flavor. Midrash is beneficial only to the degree that it stays close to the biblical text. Problems arise when interpretation is layered on interpretation so that meaning strays rather far from the details of the text. This is when midrash becomes tangential to the overall picture of Genesis. (The Noahide interpretation of Nimrod is an example.) 

Most midrashim are based on the teachings of the Tannaim and can be dated to between 2 B.C. and 200 A.D. This means that the Rabbis were interpreting the Hebrew Bible at the same time that the early Church Fathers were expounding on the same Bible from a Christian perspective. The divergence of interpretation concerning Messianic passages is explained by the polemic of those centuries. 

In recent centuries Bible commentators relied more on Jewish interpretation and became less acquainted with the Patristic writings. Midrashic notions have influenced Christian interpretation. This seems to be changing as more commentators return to the biblical texts for closer observation. 

 

Fr. Mark Gruber recognized layers of midrash in his conversations with the Coptic monks. He asked them about an ostrich egg that hung between the ceiling oil lamps in the monastery chapel. He wanted to know of its significance and he was given different interpretations. One monk said that the egg was there to remind monks to keep their spiritual eyes fixed on God. Another explained that the ostrich warms its egg by gazing on it and that this reminds us that God’s gaze is always on us. 

Fr. Gruber decided on an experiment that involved empirical observation. While sitting in the chapel one night, Fr. Gruber "saw a scrawny desert rat crawling along a groove in the wall, creeping very slowly and with great stealth. It proceeded to slide down the wire till it came to the egg. However, when it tried to navigate the large smooth surface, it couldn’t get a grip. Its little claws had been so tightly closed around the wire that when it came to the egg, it couldn’t open them wide enough to hold onto it. So it slipped off the egg and fell to the ground. The rat seemed to be injured by the fall. It scurried away… So it turns out that the eggs actually have a practical purpose. They keep the rats away from the lamps, away from the oil reserve which they might otherwise try to drink, desert rats being omnivorous” (p. 171). 

This story illustrates the importance of observation in situ. An empirical approach to the Bible requires that we observe the fine details of the biblical narrative. We must not ignore details because they don't seem to align with our interpretations. Fr. Gruber reports that Abuna Elia still lives and has achieved a very ripe age. He tells me that "these monks have been known to live a long time."

Related reading: The Marriage and Ascendancy Pattern of Abraham's People; The Chiefs of Edom; Hebrew Rulers With Two Wives

Abraham's Sons

Abraham's descendants as numerous as the stars.

Dr. Alice C. Linsley

Abraham had nine sons by two wives and two concubines (Hagar and Masek). Typically, high ranking Hebrew rulers had two wives. The wives resided in separate settlements that marked the ruler's territorial boundaries. His proper heir was the firstborn son of his first wife, Sarah. That is why Isaac ruled over Abraham's territory after Abraham died. According to Scripture, Abraham's sons received gifts from their father (Gen. 25:5-7) and probably a priestly blessing as happened with Jacob and his sons (Gen. 49:1-27).

He probably had a number of daughters also, but they are not mentioned in Genesis since only ruling sons are listed in the king lists.

Here is a list of the sons born to Abraham by his two wives: Sarah and Keturah, and his two concubines: Hagar and Masek. Jacob, like his grandfather Abraham, also had two concubines: Bilhah (Rachel’s maidservant) and Zilpah (Leah’s maidservant).

Sarah, daughter of Terah (Gen. 20:12)
Yitzak (Issac)

Hagar the Egyptian (Sarah’s handmaid)
Yismael (Ishmael), who was Egyptian, since race/ethnicity was traced through the mother, as is true in Judaism today. This pattern is still recognized in Egypt, which is why the Egyptian government has made it illegal for Egyptian men to marry Jewish women.

Keturah (Gen. 25). She was Abraham's cousin bride. 
Yisbak
Joktan – Probably Keturah’s firstborn son, named for her father. See cousin bride's naming prerogative.
Midian
Zimran
Medan
Shuah

Masek (Keturah’s handmaid?) If we include Eliezer as a son (following the Septuagint), Abraham had nine sons. The firstborn of the sons was probably Joktan (Yaqtan), son of Keturah, but he was not Abaham's proper heir. He was to become a high-ranking official in the territory of his maternal grandfather as happened with Jacob. (See Sent-Away Sons.)

Eliezar of Damascus was Abraham's son by Masek.

It was common for Hebrew rulers over territories to have two wives. 


Confederations

Reviewing this list, we note a linguistic correspondence between three sons: Yitzak, Yismael and Yisbak. This triad of sons appears to represent a tribal unit. Other tribal units are Og, Gog and Magog and Uz, Buz and Huz.

Some triads represent heads of clans that may not be in confederation. This seems to be the case with Jacob, Esau and Seir the Horite Hebrew, although these blood relatives might have been a tribal confederation had Jacob not fled to Padan-Aram.

When twin sons were born it was important to determine which breached first; thus the midwife’s use of the scarlet cord (Gen. 38:28). Some name pairs suggest twins, such as Perez and Zerah, Dishon and Dishan (Horite Hebrew, according to Gen. 36:21), and Letush and Leum (Dedanites, according to Gen. 25:3). Dedan is where the oldest Arabic texts have been found.

Which Son Rules Over His Father's Territory?

Abraham actually had four firstborn sons: Yaqtan (Joktan), Yismael (Ishmael), Eliezer, and Yitzak (Isaac), probably born in that order. Joktan became the head of the Joktanite tribes of Arabia. Yismael became the father of the Sinai Bedouins. No sons are named for Eliezar. Yitzak fathered Yisreal (Jacob), and Esau the elder. Esau and Jacob were contemporaries of Seir the Horite. The initial Y in the names of these Horite rulers indicates divine appointment. It is the symbol of the long horns of the Nilo-Saharan cattle and represents a solar cradle whereby the individual is overshadowed.

The firstborn sons ruled among Abraham’s people. However, the firstborn sons of wives were ranked above the firstborn sons of concubines. So, Joktan ranked over Eliezar, and Yitzak ranked over Yishmael. Joktan would rule as an official in the southern settlements of his maternal grandfather (the holdings of the Joktanite clans), and Yitzak would rule the northern settlements of his father Abraham (Hebron to Beersheba).


Two Wives

Abraham married according to the pattern of his royal Hebrew ancestors, many of whom had two wives. The first wife was a half-sister (as was Sarah to Abraham) and the second was a patrilineal cousin (as was Keturah to Abraham). Analysis of the Genesis genealogical data indicates that the firstborn son of the cousin wife went to serve his maternal grandfather. This is consistent pattern of the cousin bride naming her firstborn son after her father is evident as early as Genesis 4 and 5. Lamech the Elder (Gen. 4) was the maternal grandfather of Lamech the Younger (Gen. 5). Likewise, Joktan, the firstborn son of Keturah, was probably named after Keturah’s father Joktan.

The firstborn son of the half-sister wife ascended to the throne of his biological father. Isaac was Abraham's proper heir and ruled after him. Genesis tells us that Abraham's other sons were given their inheritance and sent away from the territory of Isaac. This is not entirely accurate. Other sons often served as viziers in the territories of their ruling brothers. Indeed, there is much evidence that the men listed in the Horite Hebrew King lists either ruled over territories or served as high-ranking persons in the territories of their siblings or maternal grandfathers. Those who did not, were sent away to establish kingdoms of their own. Most of the heroes of the Old Testament were sent-away sons: Cain, Nimrod, Abraham, Moses, and David are examples.

The sending away of non-ascendant sons drove the early Hebrew dispersion out of the Nile Valley (as shown of the map).

Raamah and Nimrod ruled separate territories that had once been united under their father Kush. Asshur and Arpachshad ruled separate territories that had once been united under their father Shem. Likewise, Peleg and Joktan ruled separate territories that had once been unified under their father Eber.


Firstborn Sons of Concubines

Had Sarah remained without a son, the rightful heir to Abraham’s throne would have been Eliezar (Gen. 15). The Masoretic and Greek texts do not agree on Eliezer. The Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) clearly states that he was a son of Abraham by Masek, but this is not found in the Masoretic text. This suggests a peculiar characteristic of this unique kinship pattern: the assignment of territories to the firstborn sons of concubines. If the pattern of Hagar and Masek is like the pattern of Bilhah and Zilpah, then Yismael and Eliezar received lands/settlements and were included as clan chiefs along with Joktan, Yitzak, Yisbak, Midian, Medan, Zimran and Shuah.

Concerning Ishmael, his assignment of a settlement in or near Paran on the way to Egypt is indicated by these words: This is the genealogy of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s maidservant, bore to Abraham. And these were the names of the sons of Ishmael: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth, then Kadar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadar, Tema, Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah. These were the sons of Ishmael and these were their names, by their towns and settlements… (Gen. 25:12-16).

So, it appears that firstborn sons of wives ruled territories and firstborn sons of concubines ruled cities or settlements as regional rulers in obedience to their brother Kings. This is similar to the "nomes" of Egypt, each ruled separately by a tribal chieftain. This sheds light on the relationship between Jacob's sons and can help us to understand the apportionment of land and settlements to their descendants.


Related reading: The Hebrew Hierarchy of Sons; Abraham's Firstborn Son; Abraham's Two Concubines; Abraham's Nephews and Niece; Royal Sons and Their Maternal Uncles; Hebrew Sent-Away Sons; Hebrew Rulers with Two Wives

Abraham's Firstborn Son

Following the custom of his Horite forefathers, Abraham had two wives. Sarah was his half-sister wife and Keturah was his patrilineal cousin wife. Isaac ascended to the throne of Abraham as the firstborn of the sister wife and Joktan ruled in the territory of his maternal grandfather, after whom he was named. Though Isaac ruled after Abraham, he was not the first son born to Abraham.



Alice C. Linsley


Jews insist that Isaac was Abraham's firstborn son while Muslims insist that Ishmael was Abraham's firstborn son. Risking the anger of both Jews and Muslims, my guess, based on the evidence of Scripture, is that Joktan was the first in the birth order of Abraham's nine sons. This means that he was likely born before Sarah conceived Isaac and before Sarah attempted to gain a son by using Hagar as a surrogate.

The Joktanite Tribes of Southern Arabia

Joktan (also spelled Yaqtan) is the founder or titular head of the Joktanite Tribes of Arabia. The Jews say that his name means "little" but his name is a version of the name Jonathan, meaning "God gives." Joktan lived about 1987-1912 B.C. That he was a ruler is evident by the solar symbol Y at the beginning of this name. This symbol designates chiefs and rulers.

The earliest scripts, such as Thamudic, involved symbols representing not simply general names, but complex related experiences including names, attributes and worldview. A solar symbol such as Y or T or O represented a deified or divinely appointed ruler, his territory, his people, and his resources such as water and gold. This is why the Horite ruler-priests names begin with the solar symbol: Yaqtan, Yishmael, Yitzak, Yisbak, Yacob, Yosef, Yeshua, etc.

Joktan is the son of Abraham that most people have never heard of.  They think only of Isaac (Yitzak) and Ishmael (Yishmael),  the two best known. Joktan is the somewhat "hidden third" son.
We explored the biblical theme of 2 sons, and now we must consider the equally important theme of 3 sons. Seeing the bigger picture of Abraham's people requires looking at all 3 sons.

We note the persistence of the theme of 3 sons here:
Gen. 4 - Cain, Abel, Seth
Gen. 4 - Jubal, Jabal, Tubal
Gen. 7 - Ham, Shem, Japheth
Gen. 11 - Haran, Nahor, Abraham

To this we add the first-born sons of Abraham: Ishmael (by the concubine Hagar), Isaac (by his sister-wife Sarah) and Joktan (by his cousin wife Keturah). The birth order is not clear, which is strange given the importance of primogeniture among Abraham’s people. We are told that Ishmael was born first, but rejected as the heir upon Sarah's insistence, though she had arranged the situation. It is not clear that Ishmael would have been heir to Abraham's office as chief, even if Sarah's scheme had gone forward, especially if Keturah's son Joktan was born first.

We are told that Sarah couldn't conceive, but finally bore Isaac in her old age. Meanwhile, the order of the narrative implies that Abraham married Keturah after Sarah died, which can't be the case, since it was the pattern among Abraham's people for chiefs to maintain 2 wives in separate households at the northern and southern boundaries of their territories. Sarah was in Hebron and Keturah was in Beersheba to the south. That Abraham was recognized as a chief among the people is evident in Genesis 23:5 where the Hittites speak of Abraham as "a prince of God" among them.

So who was Abraham's first-born son? My guess is Joktan, the first-born of Keturah, and that Abraham acquired Keturah as a wife when he went to the Negev (Gen. 12:9) after consulting the Seer at Shechem (Gen. 12:6).

The number 3 taunts us and compels us to seek the hidden, just as Abraham sought guidance about his unknown future at the Diviner’s Oak near Hebron (Gen.13:18). At this very place he later looked up and saw 3 “men” coming to him and ordered 3 measures of flour to make cakes and brought to these visitors 3 gifts: curds, milk and a calf. And Abraham interceded for Sodom 3 times (Gen. 18).

Consider the mystery surrounding Isaac. On the surface there appears to be so little information about Isaac (compared to Abraham and Jacob). This led some biblical scholars to speculate that Isaac may be a fictional character, created to bridge the generations. We may dismiss this theory since Genesis provides more information about Isaac than is generally recognized and what we are given could not have been invented, nor could it be the product of an editor. The key to discovery is the seeking of the hidden third son.

The text presents us with this picture of Isaac: He had two wives, as did his father and his father’s father. Rebecca was his cousin wife, to whom he was married shortly before Abraham died. She was Isaac's second wife. Isaac's first wife was a half-sister (again following his father and grandfather). She lived in the area of Beersheba where Abraham had married Keturah and where he settled after his experience at Mt. Moriah (Gen. 22:19).

Isaac’s rule in Beersheba is evident in Gen. 26 where we are told that he reopened the wells dug by his father between Beersheba and Gerar. This explains why Abraham’s servant brought Rebecca to Beersheba rather than to Hebron, Sarah's settlement. According to tradition, Isaac's first wife was called Judith (feminine equivalent of Judah).

Just as Abraham needed 2 wives to establish himself in the land, so Isaac needed 2 wives to maintain his father's territory. This explains the urgency of getting Isaac a wife before Abraham's death.

The picture becomes clearer when we imagine Judith in Beersheba and Rebecca in the area of Hebron. We are now able to speculate that Isaac had 3 sons: Jacob and Esau by Rebecca, and by Judith a son who is not named in the text. However, since the kinship of Abraham’s people traces lineage through the father and the mother, this pushes the line of Judah back several generations. It also establishes a connection between the Aramaen house of Terah and the royal house of Sheba.

Revisiting Gen. 10 and Gen. 11:10-26, we find confirmation of this connection. Terah (Abraham's father) and Sheba are descendents of Eber’s two sons Peleg and Joktan. Terah descends from Peleg and Sheba from Joktan. Keturah's father was Joktan and she named her firstborn son Joktan, after her father, as was the custom. Joktan is one of the three firstborn sons of Abraham. He is a hidden third son, and probably Abraham's firstborn.


Related reading:  Abraham's Complaint; Evidence that Yaqtan was Abraham's Firstborn Son; Abraham's Sons; Abraham's Two Concubines

Hidden Sons in the Bible

Alice C. Linsley

Having considered the biblical theme of 2 sons, we now turn to the equally important theme of 3 sons. The recurrence of 3 sons is less evident because this theme is under the surface and must be mined. The number 3 represents unity so seeing the bigger picture of Abraham's people requires looking at all 3 sons. In some case the 3 sons can be identified as a tribal unit by the similarities of their names. Consider these examples:

Three of Jacob's sons by Zilpah are Jimnah, Jishvah and Jishvi (Gen. 46:17). Here we see the alliterative naming so typical of the Horites clans.  Abraham's sons Yitzak (Isaac), Yishbak and Yishmael (Ishmael) are another example. Another example is Magog, Gog and Og, which also represents a tribal unity.

We find the 3-son configuration throughout Genesis, though not all involve alliterative names.

Gen. 4 - Cain, Abel, Seth
Gen. 4 - Jubal, Jabal, Tubal
Gen. 7 - Ham, Shem, Japheth
Gen. 11 - Haran, Nahor, Abraham
Gen. 22 - Huz, Uz, Buz

To this we must add the first-born sons of Abraham: Ishmael (by the concubine Hagar), Isaac (by his sister-wife Sarah) and Jokshan (by his cousin wife Keturah). The birth order is not clear, which is strange given the importance of primogeniture among Abraham’s people. We are told that Ishmael was born first, but rejected as the heir upon Sarah's insistence, though she had arranged the situation. It is not clear that Ishmael would have been heir to Abraham's office as chief, even with Sarah's scheme, especially if Keturah's son Joktan was born first.

We are told that Sarah couldn't conceive, but finally bore Isaac in her old age. Meanwhile, the order of the narrative implies that Abraham married Keturah after Sarah died, which can't be the case, since it was the pattern among Abraham's people for chiefs to maintain 2 wives in separate households at the northern and southern boundaries of their territories. Sarah was in Hebron and Keturah was in Beersheba to the south. That Abraham was recognized as a chief among the people is evident in Genesis 23:5 where the Hittites speak of Abraham as "a prince of God" among them.

So the question remains, who was Abraham's first-born son? My guess is Joktan, the first-born of Keturah, and that Abraham acquired Keturah as a wife when he went to the Negev (Gen. 12:9) after consulting the moreh (prophet) at the Oak in Mamre (Gen. 12:6).

The number 3 is a taunting symbol. It compels us to seek the hidden, just as Abraham sought guidance about his unknown future. At this very place in Mamre, he later looked up and saw 3 “men” coming to him and ordered 3 measures of flour to make cakes.  He brought to his visitors 3 gifts: curds, milk and a calf. And Abraham interceded for Sodom 3 times (Gen. 18).

Consider the mystery surrounding Isaac. On the surface there appears to be so little information about Isaac, compared to Abraham and Jacob. This led some biblical scholars to speculate that Isaac may be a fictional character, created to bridge the generations. We may dismiss this theory since Genesis provides more information about Isaac than is generally recognized and what we are given could not have been invented, nor could it be the product of an editor. The key to discovery is the seeking of the hidden third son.

The text presents us with this picture of Isaac: He had two wives, as did his father and his father’s father, Terah. Rebecca was his cousin wife and his first wife who was a half-sister (again following his father and grandfather) lived in the area of Beersheba (that is the "well of Sheba"). This is where Abraham settled after his experience at Mt. Moriah (Gen. 22:19). Isaac’s rule in Beersheba is evident in Gen. 26 where we are told that he reopened the wells dug by his father between Beersheba and Gerar. This explains why Abraham’s servant brought Rebecca to Beersheba rather than to Hebron, the home of Isaac’s mother.

There is a suggestion in the genealogical data that Isaac’s first wife was named Judith. This name is the feminine equivalent of Judah.

Just as Abraham needed 2 wives to establish himself in the land, so Isaac needed 2 wives to maintain the territory. The picture becomes clearer when we imagine Judith in Beersheba and Rebecca in the area of Hebron. We are now able to speculate that Isaac had 3 sons: Jacob and Esau by Rebecca, and by Judith a son who is not named in the text. However, since the kinship of Abraham’s people traces lineage through the father and the mother, this pushes the line of Judah back several generations. It also establishes a connection between the Aramaic house of Terah and the Hamitic house of Sheba.

Revisiting Gen. 10 and Gen. 11:10-26, we find confirmation of this connection. Terah and Sheba are descendents of Eber’s two sons Peleg and Joktan. Terah descends from Peleg and Sheba from Joktan. Now where have we heard that name “Joktan” before? This is the name of one of Abraham’s 3 sons, born of his cousin bride Keturah, who dwelt at the Well of Sheba. He is a hidden third son, and probably Abraham's first-born.

The motif of the hidden son is Christological.  The Son of God is the Holy One hidden and revealed.


Related reading:  The Holy One Hidden and Revealed

For related information, go here and here.

Keturah was a Hebrew Wife

 

Hebron and Beersheba are shown on this map.

Dr. Alice C. Linsley

All Hebrew wives were close kin to their husbands because the Hebrew ruler-priests practiced caste endogamy. Some Hebrew wives were their husband's half-sisters. That is the case with Sarah. She and Abraham had the same father but different mothers. Terah had two wives, as did many of his Hebrew forefathers. It was common for high-ranking Hebrew chiefs to have two wives. 

The half-sister was the bride of the ruler's youth, and the cousin bride was the wife of the ruler's later years. The cousin wife was sought before the Hebrew man took over the rule of his father's territory. This explains Abraham's urgency to fetch a cousin bride for Isaac before he died. Isaac was not Abraham's firstborn son, but as the only son of his half-sister wife, Isaac was Abraham's proper heir. Before he died, Abraham gave grants to the sons of his concubines and sent them away from Isaac (Gen. 25:6). The sending away of non-ascendant sons drove the Hebrew dispersion throughout the Ancient Near East.

Some Hebrew wives were their husbands' cousins. That is the case with Keturah who bore Abraham six sons (Gen. 25). Recognizing this two-wife pattern is essential to understanding the social structure and marriage customs of the early Hebrew. (4000-2000 BC).

The ancient custom of having two wives pertained only to Hebrew men who ruled over territories. The two wives resided in separate settlements that provided security along the ruler's borders. Their border settlements were served by warriors, craftsmen, herdsmen, and physicians. 

Abraham's territory extended between Sarah's settlement at Hebron and Keturah's settlement at Beersheba. These are shown on the map above. Note that Abraham's territory in ancient Edom (Idumea in Greek) does not correspond to the modern Israel.

Keturah’s settlement at Beersheba was the site of seven wells. (Be'er means well.) These wells have been identified by archaeologists. In Abraham’s time, Sarah’s settlement at Hebron had four water sources. It is likely that these wells were also places of ritual cleaning. Shrines were built at wells, and these were tended by priests and their families. The wells provided water for the herds and flocks. Though the water shrines were under the control of regional lords, visitors were welcome to the water. Wells and water shrines were neutral ground and natural gathering places. 

Some Hebrew men met their future wives at wells. Among them were Abraham, Jacob, and Moses. Abraham's servant found Issac's cousin bride at her father's well in Padan-Aram. Jacob met his cousin wife Rebekah at her father's well (Gen. 29). Moses met his cousin wife Zipporah at her father's well in Midian.

The arrangement of the narrative of Sarah's death and burial before the account of Abraham's marriage to Keturah is an artful way to imply that Abraham took a second wife only after Sarah died. However, what is implied is not supported by the biblical data. 

Related reading: Hebrew Rulers with Two Wives; Keturah was Abraham's Second Wife; The Hebrew Hierarchy of Sons; Cousin Brides Among the Hebrew; INDEX of Topics at Just Genesis

Isaac's Second Marriage

Alice C. Linsley

Isaac was the proper heir to Abraham's holdings in Edom. Abraham's territory extended on a north-south axis between his two wives Sarah and Keturah. Sarah was Abraham's half-sister wife, the bride of his youth. Keturah was Abraham's patrilineal cousin wife, the bride of his old age.

The map shows Hebron (Kiriath-arba) , where Sarah resided, and Beersheba, where Keturah resided. These settlements marked the northern and southern boundary of Abraham's territory. His territory was entirely in the land of Edom, called "Idumea" by the Greeks. Idumea means "land of red people."

Rebekah was to Isaac what Keturah was to Abraham. Both women were second wives and both were related to their husbands patrilineally, that is, they share a common male ancestor. Both named their first born sons for rulers from whom the sons descended. Keturah named her first born son Joktan (Yaqtan) after her father. The Joktanite clans still reside in this region.

Rebekah named her first born son Esau. Esau is a royal name associated with the kingdom of Edom, and it was noted that Esau was red and had an abundance of hair: “The first to be born was red, altogether like a hair cloak; so they named him Esau.” (Gen. 25:25) More than one ruler of Edom was named Esau and the name is a variant of Issa which is also the name Jesus. Variants of the name Jesus include Yeshua, Joshua, Issa, Esse and Esau.

The cousin bride's naming prerogative was an established custom in the time of the Proto-Saharan ruler Lamech (Gen. 4). Lamech’s daughter, Naamah, married her patrilineal cousin Methuselah and named their first born son Lamech (see diagram below). This is a distinctive feature of the marriage and ascendancy pattern of the Horite Hebrew who ruled Edom. Some of those rulers are listed in Genesis 36.

The evidence of kinship analysis indicates that Rebecca was Isaac's second wife. His first wife would have been a half-sister living in the area of Beersheba. His first wife would be the mother of Oholibamah who is named in Genesis 36 as being of the clan of Seir the Horite Hebrew. Oholibamah married Esau the Younger around the age of 17 or 18. She was his half sister, as Sarah was to Abraham.

Isaac's first wife would have been a daughter of Abraham and Keturah. This was the bride of Isaac's youth, long before he could ascend to the throne of his father Abraham he needed a second wife. Abraham's rightful heir was Isaac so Abraham took great care to assure that he married according to the custom of the Horite Hebrew rulers of Edom. This way his ascension to the throne was less likely to be challenged.

As Abraham approached his death in Beersheba, Isaac had not taken his second wife, a prerequisite for ascension to his father's throne. As the second wife was usually a patrilineal cousin or a niece, Abraham enjoined his servant to seek a wife for Isaac among the women of Paddan-Aram in the territory of Abraham's older brother Nahor. Abraham's servant asks what he is to do if the woman refuses to come back with him to Beersheba. Abraham answered: "If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there." (Genesis 24:8) Isaac was to remain in the territory over which he would rule. As the proper heir to the throne of his father, Isaac was not to leave Abraham's territory in Edom. Abraham was confident that the Lord would insure the servant's success, and this would not entail Isaac leaving the territory he was to rule.

Abraham's servant was divinely guided to the proper bride for Isaac in the person of Rebekah. Rebekah consented to return to Beersheba in the Negev (Gen 24:62) where she married Isaac, and Isaac then ascended to the throne of his father Abraham.

Note that the New Testament speaks of Jesus taking His bride at the time of His revealing as the Son of God.  Jesus is a descendant of these Horite Hebrew rulers, as was David. David and Esau are both described as having a red skin tone. Perhaps this was true of Jesus also.

Here is a diagram of the clans of Seir the Horite. This includes Job’s clan of Uz.




Note that there are two named Esau. This is explained by the cousin bride's naming prerogative.  Esau the Elder was a contemporary of Seir. Esau the Younger was Jacob’s half-brother, reinforcing the suggestion that Isaac had a sister wife in Beersheba before he married Rebecca, his cousin wife.  As Isaac's first born son by his cousin wife, Esau would have been a vizier in the hill country of Seir in Edom. Not being a first born son, Jacob would have been sent away to establish a kingdom for himself, which is exactly what Genesis 28:2-4 describes. Note the contrast between Isaac’s admonition to Jacob to leave and not marry a local girl (Genesis 28:1-4) and Abraham’s admonition to his servant never to take Isaac from his territory, but instead to fetch a wife for him from his own Horite people in Paddan-Aram (Genesis 24:4-8).

Before he died, Abraham gave gifts to all his other sons and sent them away. These sent-away sons  would have to establish territories for themselves, with God's help. This feature of the Horite Hebrew marriage and ascendancy pattern drove the Kushite expansion out of the Nile Valley. The oldest known Horite shrine was there at Nekhen. Votive offerings at Nekhen were ten times larger than the normal mace heads and bowls found elsewhere, suggesting that this was a very prestigious shrine.

The pattern of two wives for the ruler insured a rightful heir to the father's throne and a strong alliance between the Horite Hebrew/Habiru clans. This was not the practice of the common folk. Isaac's two wives would have lived in separate settlements on a north-south axis.

Related reading:  Abraham's Sons; Genesis on Ancient Kingdom Builders; Kushite Brides; Jacob's Journeys; Abraham's Complaint; Jacob Leaves Beersheba; Twins Sent-Away Sons and Heirs to the Throne; Isaac's Wealth; Methuselah's Wife; Adam was a Red Man; Edo, Edom, Idumea; Archaic Rulers, Ascendancy, and the Foreshadowing of Christ

Evidence that Yaqtan was Abraham's Firstborn Son

Alice C. Linsley


Abraham had at least eight sons, probably nine, since the Septuagint states that Eliezar was Abraham's son by a concubine named Masek. His first-born son was probably born of his cousin wife Keturah, and his name was Joktan/Jachin or Yaqtan. The initial Y, a solar symbol, designates him as a divinely appointed ruler. Among the early Hebrew, divine appointment was indicated by "overshadowing" of the sun. Four of Abraham's sons had names beginning with the letter Y:  Yitzak (Isaac), Yishmael (Ishmael), Yaqtan, and Yishbak. 

Jews insist that Isaac was Abraham's first-born son, while Muslims insist that Ishmael was Abraham's first-born son. However, the evidence of the canonical Scriptures indicates that Yaqtan was the first in the birth order. He was likely born before Sarah conceived Isaac. His birth to Abraham's second wife, may have prompted Sarah's attempt to gain a son by Hagar as a surrogate.

Hagar and Masek are to Abraham's household what the concubines Zilpah and Bilhah are to Jacob's household. If the biblical pattern is to be trusted, we may reasonably suspect that Hagar and Masek were the servants of Sarah and Keturah, just as Zilpah and Bilhah were the servants of Leah and Rachel (Gen. 30). That Masek was Keturah's servant is supported by the fact that the name Masek is still found among the south Arabian Mahra who dwell in Yemen, Oman, and Southern Arabia.

The name Yaqtan/Joktan indicates a connection to the Jokanite clans of Southern Arabia. 

It appears that Abraham's son Yaqtan became an official in his maternal grandfather's territory, after whom he was named. Yaqtan the Elder was Keturah's father, a chief of high standing in the royal house of Sheba. Isaac ruled Abraham's territory between Hebron (Sarah's settlement) and Beersheba (Keturah's settlement), and Abraham's son Yaqtan resided in the territory of his maternal grandfather, probably in the territory of Sheba. Keturah resided at the Well of Sheba (Beersheba), and that is where Abraham's spent his last years.

The rulers of the Hebrew clans living in Sheba, Raamah, and Hazarmaveth/Hadhramaut (Talmud - "Chatzarmavet") formed alliances by the marriages of their sons and daughters. According to Rabbinic tradition, Joktan/Yaqtan was a "humble and upstanding citizen."

This is consistent with the practice of endogamy of the early Hebrew rulers. The lines of Cain and Seth intermarried, and the lines of Ham and Shem intermarried. The diagram shows the pattern of intermarriage. 

Related reading: Talmud on Yaqtan and the Hadhramaut; Abraham's Complaint; 7000 BC Horse Burial Linked to Sheba; Biblical Sheba and East African Settlements Linked; The Afro-Arabian Dedanites

Jacob Leaves Beersheba

Genesis 28:10-17

Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place. And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And the LORD stood beside him and said, "I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; , and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring. Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, "Surely the LORD is in this place-- and I did not know it!" And he was afraid, and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven."

Alice C. Linsley

Beersheba was the southern boundary of Abraham's territory and the territory that Isaac received as his birthright.

When Abraham was approaching his death he arranged for Isaac to take a second wife from among Nahor's clan. Nahor was Abraham's older brother. Nahor ascended to the throne of their father Terah and ruled a territory between Ur and Haran. Abraham, as the younger son, was sent away. Sent away sons receive their territories through conquest or marriage. This is a feature of the Kushite marriage and ascendancy pattern and is reflected in the Zulu word Kushwa, which means one expelled from home, cast out, or sent away.

Isaac was Abraham's first born son by his half-sister wife Sarah. As the firstborn son of the sister wife, Isaac was to rule over the territory of his father Abraham. Abraham's territory extended from Beersheba in the south to Hebron in the north. Hebron is where Sarah lived. Beersheba is where Keturah lived. Keturah was Abraham's patrilineal cousin. Her firstborn son was Joktan (Yaqtan) who ruled over holdings in the territory of his maternal grandfather in southern Arabia.  Josephus calls the descendants of Abraham by Keturah "Horites" and, quoting an ancient historian, speaks of them as "conquerors of Egypt and founders of the Assyrian Empire."

Isaac was living in Beersheba when Jacob was sent away.  Jacob was heading to the land of His mother's kin in Mesopotamia, to the "padan" of Aram in Haran. This story is laced with irony because we are told that Jacob was a "hogareño" who enjoyed staying home. He was not one who enjoyed hunting trips or other activities that took him away from his mother's settlement. We can imagine how insecure he must have felt as he crossed the Jabok into unfamiliar territory and an uncertain future.


Behold the pattern!

Jacob was returning to the homeland of his mother's people and was uncertain as to his reception. This also happened to his grandfather Abraham. Abraham left his father's territory to journey to the homeland of his mother in Canaan. Abraham’s mother was a daughter of Terah the Elder and likely the sister of Keturah’s mother. It appears that Terah the Elder and Joktan the Elder (Keturah's father) married sisters. This marriage pattern is typical of the Horite rulers. It is seen as early as Genesis 4 and 5 where we find that Cain and his brother Seth married sisters. They were the noble daughters of an African chief Nok.

The Babylonian Talmud names Abraham's maternal grandfather as Karnevo, an Akkadian form of Karnak. Karnak was a Horite temple along the Nile. Horite ruler-priests maintained shrines along all the major water systems in East Africa, Arabia, Canaan and Mesopotamia. Most of the women in Genesis are Horite wives and daughters. The Jews acknowledge their Horim or Horite ancestors.

In Haran Jacob found a cousin wife, Leah. Among the Horites, the cousin wife is the second wife, suggesting that Jacob may already have had a wife. Was Rachel is half-sister bride? In Canaan, Abraham found a second wife, Keturah, his cousin. Abraham's first wife Sarah came with him to Canaan. The manner in which Jacob came by his two wives appears to be unusual. It is blamed upon Laban's deception, but this is problematic since no kingdom is gained by deception.

On the way to his mother's people, Jacob had an encounter with God in a dream. On the way to his mother's people, Abraham had an encounter with God. Both received divine promises. God's promise to Abraham is "I shall give this country to your progeny" (Gen. 12:7) and God's promise to Jacob is "the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth."  The promise received by Jacob is essentially the same as that received by Abraham.  Abraham had 8 or 9 sons and an unknown number of daughters. His offspring became too numerous to count.  Jacob had even more sons and at least one daughter.  The offspring of both Patriarchs spread throughout the land.

At the time that Jacob received the promises in Genesis 28:10-17, he was in great need of a word from the Lord about his future. When his grandfather Abraham had been at a loss about his future, he consulted the moreh (prophet) at the great Oak between Bethel on the west and Ai on the east (Gen. 12:6). Notice that the west has priority in this list.  This cardinal direction represents the future. The promise made to Abraham is to be fulfilled in the future, west being listed first. Jacob had no prophet to consult, but instead was visited in a dream. He beheld a great ladder reaching to heaven. Above the ladder stood the Lord who said to him, "Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth and shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south." Again we note that priority is given to the west in the list of cardinal points.  Despite his attempt to deceive and usurp the birthright of his older brother Esau, Jacob would see the divine promise fulfilled in the future.

Your kingdom, O Lord, is an eternal kingdom. Your dominion endures through all the ages. Faithful is the Lord to his word and gracious in all His works. (Psalm 145:13)

Related reading: Genesis on the Ancient Kingdom Builders; Jacob's Journeys; Some Cousin Brides Were Nieces; Sent-Away Sons; Ishmael Was Not Abraham's First Born Son; Abraham's Nephews and Niece; The Cousin Bride's Naming Prerogative; The Genesis Record of Horite Rule; Terah's Territory and Legacy; Reality is Cross Shaped