Interesting Facts

• Amthelo was also known as Edna.
• According to Jasher, her father was Cornebo.
• According to Jubilees, her father was Abram, the son of Terah’s father’s sister. This would make her Terah’s niece.
• Her daughter named her son Abram after Edna’s father, who had died before Edna conceived him.
• She conceived and bore Terah a son named Abram.

Genealogy

• According to Jasher, Amthelo’s father was Cornebo.
• According to Jubilees, Edna was the daughter of Abram, who was the son of Terah’s father’s sister.
• She married Terah.
• She was the mother of Abram. The sources do not mention any other children.

Historical Context

Amthelo/’Edna lived in the time when Terah fathered Abram. According to the chronology presented, she married Terah in the thirty-ninth jubilee, the second week, in the first year, corresponding to 1870 A.M. in Jubilees, or in the 40th year of the 1943rd year (Jubilee) in Jasher. Abram was born to them either in 1876 A.M. (Jubilees) or in the 49th year (Jasher). The context of these texts is set within a genealogical and chronological framework tracing the lineage from earlier generations. The birth of Abram is depicted as a significant event, even prophesied by wise men who observed celestial signs. This suggests a cultural interest in omens and the significance of births, particularly those believed to hold future importance. The narratives involving Nimrod’s fear of the newborn Abram further underscore the turbulent times and potential dangers surrounding the birth of individuals perceived as threats to existing power structures.

Narrative

Amthelo/’Edna’s narrative is primarily focused on her role as the wife of Terah and the mother of Abram. The sources highlight the circumstances surrounding Abram’s birth. According to Jasher, Terah married Amthelo, the daughter of Cornebo, and she conceived and bore Abram when Terah was seventy years old. Jubilees offers a slightly different genealogy, stating that Edna was the daughter of Abram, the son of Terah’s father’s sister, and she bore Abram to Terah in the seventh year of the week. Notably, Jubilees mentions that Abram was named after his mother’s father, who had passed away before Abram’s conception. While Amthelo/’Edna herself does not have any direct dialogues or extensive actions attributed to her in these excerpts, her significance lies in her maternal role in bringing forth Abram, a figure who is central to the subsequent narratives involving prophecy, conflict with Nimrod, and the early stages of a unique spiritual path. Her role is foundational, setting the stage for the extraordinary life of her son.