Interesting Facts

• Malchiel was a grandson of Jacob through his son Asher.
• He is consistently listed as a son of Beriah.
• Similar to other figures in the genealogical lists, Malchiel is not attributed any specific actions or dialogues within these texts.
• His brother was Heber/Cheber.

Genealogy

• Malchiel was a son of Beriah.
• Beriah was a son of Asher.
• Asher was one of the sons of Jacob (also called Israel) and Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid.
• Therefore, Jacob and Zilpah were Malchiel’s paternal grandparents.
• His great-grandparents were Isaac and Rebekah, and Abraham and Sarah [as inferred from his lineage tracing back to Jacob].
• He had at least one brother, Heber/Cheber, as they are both listed as sons of Beriah.
• His uncles (Asher’s other sons) were Jimnah, Jishvah, and Jishvi.
• His aunt was Serach, Asher’s daughter.

Historical Context

Malchiel was among the offspring of Jacob’s sons born in the land of Canaan before the family’s descent into Egypt due to the severe famine. As part of Asher’s lineage, he would have been included in the seventy souls who migrated to Egypt to seek sustenance from Joseph’s stores. His early life would have been marked by the hardship of the famine in Canaan and the subsequent relocation to and settlement in the land of Goshen in Egypt. During his time in Egypt, Malchiel and his extended family would have benefited from the provision and care of Joseph, who held a prominent position of power. They dwelt securely in Goshen and multiplied exceedingly during this period, following the commands of their father Jacob to serve the Lord. Malchiel’s life, therefore, unfolded within the context of the Israelite community’s sojourn in Egypt under Joseph’s guidance, a time of both security and growth before the eventual rise of Egyptian rule and the oppression that followed Joseph’s death.

Narrative

Malchiel does not possess an individual narrative within these sources. His presence is solely within the genealogical lists that document the descendants of Jacob who came to Egypt. As a son of Beriah and a grandson of Asher, his significance lies in his inclusion as part of the expanding family of Jacob that was destined to become a great nation in Egypt, according to the divine promises made to their forefathers. While no specific actions or personal experiences are recounted for Malchiel, his existence as part of Asher’s family contributes to the broader narrative of the twelve tribes of Israel taking root and flourishing in Egypt during Joseph’s lifetime. He is a silent witness to this foundational period of Israelite history, his name a link in the chain of Jacob’s descendants who would eventually inherit the promised land.