Interesting Facts

• Ard, also sometimes listed as Ord, is identified as one of the sons of Benjamin.
• Benjamin named some of his sons after his brother Joseph, whom he had not seen. While not explicitly stated for Ard/Ord, it is a pattern observed with other sons of Benjamin like Mupim and Chupim.

Genealogy

• Ard/Ord is a son of Benjamin.
• Benjamin was the son of Jacob and Rachel.
• Jacob was the son of Isaac, and Isaac was the son of Abraham. This establishes Ard/Ord’s lineage within the patriarchal line.
• Lists of Benjamin’s sons include Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Mupim, Chupim, and Ard/Ord. One list specifies eleven sons for Benjamin.

Historical Context

Ard/Ord was likely born in Canaan as part of Jacob’s extended family before their descent into Egypt due to the famine, a significant event that shaped the early lives of Jacob’s descendants. He would have been among those who migrated to Egypt and settled in the land of Goshen under the care of his uncle Joseph, who had risen to a position of great authority. This period in Egypt provided security and prosperity for Jacob’s family during Joseph’s lifetime. Ard/Ord’s life would have been influenced by the presence and leadership of Joseph, as well as the cultural context of living in Egypt while maintaining a distinct Hebrew identity. The act of Benjamin naming his sons with a connection to Joseph reflects the enduring family ties and the impact of past events on their naming practices.

Narrative

The narrative surrounding Ard/Ord in the provided sources is primarily genealogical. His inclusion in the lists of Benjamin’s sons serves to document the lineage of Jacob and his contribution to the eventual tribes of Israel. While the texts do not detail specific actions or dialogues involving Ard/Ord, his existence as a son of Benjamin places him within the broader narrative of Jacob’s family, their journey to Egypt, and their life there under Joseph’s leadership. He would have been part of the growing Israelite community in Egypt that benefited from Joseph’s administration and experienced a period of relative peace and prosperity. The eventual command given by Jacob for his bones to be carried out of Egypt and Joseph’s death in Egypt frame the later context in which Ard/Ord would have lived with his extended family before the subsequent period of Egyptian rule over the Israelites.