Interesting Facts

• Hamul was the brother of Chezron/Hezron, indicating they were both sons of Perez.
• The spelling of his name varies slightly between sources, appearing as both Hamul and Chamul.
• Similar to his brother Chezron/Hezron, Hamul is not depicted engaging in any specific actions or having any dialogue within these excerpts; his presence is noted through genealogical listings.

Genealogy

• Hamul was a son of Perez, whose parents were Judah and Tamar.
• His brother was Chezron/Hezron.
• Er and Onan were his uncles, being the older brothers of his father Perez, who died in the land of Canaan.
• Shelah and Zerah were his uncles, the other brothers of his father Judah.
• He was born in the land of Canaan before Jacob and his family migrated to Egypt.

Historical Context

Hamul’s life, like that of his brother and the rest of Jacob’s descendants, was significantly shaped by the severe famine that struck the land of Canaan. This famine, which began in the first year of the third week of the forty-fifth jubilee (around 2171 A.M. according to Jubilees), led to barren lands and a lack of sustenance. Fortunately, Joseph in Egypt had foreseen this period of scarcity during the seven years of plenty and had stored grain. When the famine extended to Egypt, the stored corn was found to be infested with vermin. Consequently, Jacob and his entire household, numbering seventy souls including Hamul, journeyed to Egypt to secure food. They settled in the land of Goshen, where Joseph provided for them throughout the remaining years of the famine. This period of resettlement and dependence on Joseph’s provision would have been a defining experience for Hamul and his generation. They lived securely under Joseph’s administration, which extended for forty years after Pharaoh’s death and the ascension of his son Magron.

Narrative

Hamul’s personal narrative is not detailed within these sources. He appears solely as a member of the genealogical lists that document the sons of Jacob who migrated to Egypt. His significance within the broader narrative lies in his inclusion as one of the seventy souls who formed the nascent Israelite community in Egypt. Along with his brother and extended family, Hamul’s presence signifies the continuation of Jacob’s lineage and the initial fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to make their descendants a great nation. Although he has no individual actions or dialogues recorded, his existence as a son of Perez places him within the ancestral line of Judah, which is later prophesied by Jacob to hold the scepter and from which Shiloh would eventually come. Therefore, while Hamul remains a figure primarily defined by his familial connections, his inclusion in these foundational genealogies underscores his role in the early stages of Israelite history and the unfolding of divine promises.