Interesting Facts

• Anar is mentioned in the book of Jasher as one of the sons of Shelach (Salah).
• Anar is listed as one of the men who went with Abram to battle against the kings who had captured Lot and the cities of Sodom.
• Abram stipulated that Anar and the other men who accompanied him should take their portion of the spoil from the recovered goods.

Genealogy

• According to Jasher, Anar was a son of Shelach (Salah), who was the son of Arpachshad, a son of Shem, who was a son of Noah.
• The sources do not provide information regarding Anar’s birth year, marital connections, or offspring.

Historical Context

Anar lived in the generations after the flood, a period during which the descendants of Noah were spreading across the earth and establishing their own communities. The narrative places Anar in the vicinity of Abram and Lot, indicating a time before the significant dispersal and the clear establishment of the later Israelite and surrounding nations. The event in which Anar participates, the war against the kings who plundered Sodom, highlights a time of localized conflicts and the intervention of individuals like Abram to protect their kin and allies. The societal norms of the time, as reflected in the interactions between Abram and the kings of Sodom, suggest an understanding of property rights and the expectation of reward for military assistance.

Narrative

The narrative involving Anar is centered around his association with Abram. He is identified as one of the individuals who accompanied Abram when he pursued and defeated the kings who had taken Lot captive. This action demonstrates a willingness on Anar’s part to engage in conflict alongside Abram, suggesting a bond of loyalty or alliance. Furthermore, Abram’s insistence that Anar and his companions should receive a share of the recovered goods indicates a sense of fairness and responsibility towards those who aided him in the endeavor. While Anar has no direct dialogue or independent actions recorded in these excerpts, his inclusion in this significant event portrays him as a supporter and companion of Abram during a time of regional conflict and rescue. His presence underscores the network of relationships and alliances that Abram had established in the land of Canaan.