Aram (Son of Shem)
Male
Parents:
Lifespan:
Birth:
Death:
Marriage:
Children:
Hul (Chul) (Genesis 10:23, Jasher 7:17)
Gether (Gather) (Genesis 10:23, Jasher 7:17)
Mash (Genesis 10:23, Jasher 7:17)
Description:
Interesting Facts
- Aram is identified as one of the five sons of Shem.
- Following the dispersion from the Tower of Babel, Aram and his brothers built cities and named them after themselves.
- The land of Mesopotamia between the Tigris and the Euphrates to the north of the Chaldees to the border of the mountains of Asshur and the land of ‘Arara is identified as the fourth portion of the divided land that came forth for Aram.
- One of the cities built by the children of Aram was named Uz, after their eldest brother.
Genealogy
- Aram’s father was Shem, one of the three sons of Noah who survived the great flood.
- His brothers were Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, and Lud.
- The sons of Aram are listed as Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash.
- Aram’s lineage contributed to the repopulation of the earth and the establishment of settlements in Mesopotamia after the flood and the Tower of Babel incident.
Historical Context
Aram’s life unfolded in the world after the great flood, a period where the primary focus was on the repopulation of the earth as commanded by Noah. This era was also characterized by the transmission of Noah’s teachings regarding righteousness and the avoidance of the sins that led to the deluge. The pivotal event of the construction of the Tower of Babel and the subsequent confusion of languages and scattering of humanity significantly shaped this period. Aram and his family were part of the unified linguistic group before this division. Following the divine intervention at Babel, the earth was divided among the sons of Noah, and Aram’s descendants were allocated the region of Mesopotamia between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. This geographical assignment provided the context for the settlements and development of Aram’s lineage. The rise of figures like Nimrod and the beginnings of kingdoms also mark this historical period.
Narrative
The narrative concerning Aram, son of Shem, within the provided sources primarily centers on his role in the genealogical accounts following the flood and his participation in the post-Babel dispersion. He is consistently listed as one of the five sons of Shem. A key aspect of Aram’s narrative is that after the confusion of languages at the Tower of Babel, he and his descendants migrated to the region of Mesopotamia, as indicated by the division of the earth among Noah’s sons. It is mentioned that the children of Aram built a city and named it Uz after their eldest brother, demonstrating the establishment of settlements by his lineage. While the sources do not provide specific personal actions or dialogues of Aram himself, his significance lies in his contribution to the repopulation of a specific geographical area and the founding of a distinct family group that settled in Mesopotamia. His story is part of the broader narrative of how the descendants of Noah spread across the earth and began to rebuild civilization after the great flood and the linguistic separation at Babel.