Interesting Facts

• Maacah is identified as one of the four sons born to Nahor by his concubine, Reumah.
• One source lists his name as Maacha.
• He is listed alongside his brothers Tebah/Zebach, Gaham/Gachash, and Thahash/Tachash.
• These four sons are distinguished from the eight sons born to Nahor by his wife Milcah.

Genealogy

• Maacah/Maacha was a grandson of Terah through his son Nahor, who was the brother of Abraham.
• His mother was Reumah, identified in the texts as a concubine of Nahor.
• His father, Nahor, procreated twelve sons, the eight sons of his wife Milcah (Uz, Buz, Kemuel, Kesed, Chazo, Pildash, Tidlaf, and Bethuel) and the four sons of his concubine Reumah, which includes Maacah/Maacha.
• The sources mention that the children born to Nahor had offspring in Haran, implying the continuation of Maacah/Maacha’s lineage, although no specific details regarding his marital status or children are furnished within these texts.

Historical Context

The existence of Maacah/Maacha is situated within the social and familial structures prevalent in Haran, a Mesopotamian locale where Nahor and his kin resided. The practice of polygyny, including the recognition of offspring born to concubines, was a feature of the patriarchal society of that era. Reumah’s status as a concubine denotes a specific social standing within Nahor’s household, and her sons, including Maacah/Maacha, would have been part of this expanded family unit. This context is contemporaneous with Abraham’s departure towards Canaan, signifying a branch of Terah’s descendants establishing themselves in Mesopotamia, predating the specific covenantal lineage that would proceed through Isaac. The mention of Nahor’s sons bearing children in Haran suggests a period of familial consolidation and growth in that geographical region.

Narrative

The narrative role of Maacah/Maacha within the provided sources is exclusively within the realm of genealogy. He appears as one of the four sons born to Nahor through his concubine Reumah, thereby contributing to the complete enumeration of Nahor’s twelve sons, who are distinguished from the eight sons of his wife Milcah. This inclusion serves the purpose of meticulously recording the lineage of Terah’s descendants, illustrating the familial ties of Abraham that extended into Mesopotamia. No specific actions, events, or dialogues are ascribed to Maacah/Maacha as an individual within these texts. His significance resides in his place within the broader genealogical tapestry, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the ancestral background from which Abraham and his chosen lineage emerged. The slight variation in his name, presented as both Maacah and Maacha, is a common occurrence in ancient textual traditions due to variations in scribal practices and linguistic nuances.