Interesting Facts

• Adinah is identified as the elder daughter of Jobab, son of Yoktan.
• She married Levi, one of the sons of Jacob.
• The text in Jasher refers to her as Adinah, while Jubilees names Levi’s wife as Melka. This suggests that Adinah and Melka might be the same person or that Levi could have had multiple wives, though the sources primarily focus on one.
• Her father, Jobab, is mentioned as the son of Yoktan, who is further identified as the son of Eber.
• She moved from the land of the east to Canaan to live in her father-in-law Jacob’s house after marrying Levi.

Genealogy

• Adinah’s father was Jobab, the son of Yoktan, the son of Eber.
• She had a younger sister named Aridah, who married Issachar.
• She married Levi, the son of Jacob. Levi’s parents were Jacob and Leah (though Leah’s death is mentioned later in the narrative).
• Adinah bore three sons to Levi: Gershon, Kehath, and Merari.

Historical Context

Adinah’s life took place during a period when Jacob and his sons were dwelling in the land of Canaan. The families were establishing themselves and intermarrying, sometimes with individuals from other regions and cultures, as seen in Levi and Issachar’s journey to the land of the east to find wives. This period precedes the significant event of Joseph’s sale into Egypt, meaning Adinah’s marriage and the birth of her children occurred before the family was fractured by this event. The text mentions Jacob’s advanced age and the passing of Leah later in this timeframe, suggesting Adinah became part of the family during a relatively settled period before the major upheaval caused by Joseph’s disappearance. The interactions with people from other lands, such as the daughters of Jobab from the east, illustrate a degree of cultural exchange and the expanding familial ties of Jacob’s lineage.

Narrative

Adinah’s personal narrative within the provided excerpts is relatively limited, primarily focusing on her marriage to Levi and the birth of their sons. Her story is intertwined with that of her sister Aridah, as they both married two of Jacob’s sons after Levi and Issachar journeyed to their homeland. This indicates a proactive role taken by Levi and Issachar in establishing their families. Adinah’s integration into Jacob’s household in Canaan signifies the expansion of Jacob’s immediate family and the beginnings of the twelve tribes of Israel. While the texts don’t detail her individual actions or dialogues, her existence and marriage are crucial for understanding the genealogical development of the Israelite nation. The fact that she bore three sons – Gershon, Kehath, and Merari – highlights her contribution to Levi’s lineage, which would later become significant in the religious traditions of Israel. Her story, though brief, is foundational to the broader narrative of Jacob’s family and their settlement in Canaan before the events surrounding Joseph’s betrayal.