Interesting Facts

• Areli is identified as one of the sons of Gad.
• He is listed among the sons of Jacob who came into Egypt.
• His name appears in the genealogical records detailing the families of Israel in Egypt.
• One source lists seven sons of Gad, including Areli. Another source lists eight sons of Gad.

Genealogy

• Areli’s father was Gad, one of the sons of Jacob and Zilpah, who was Leah’s handmaid.
• His grandfather was Jacob, also known as Israel.
• His brothers, as mentioned in the sources, were Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, and Arodi. One source indicates an additional brother, making a total of eight sons of Gad.

Historical Context The existence of Areli is situated during the significant period when the sons of Jacob migrated to Egypt to escape the severe famine in Canaan. As a son of Gad, Areli would have been part of this divinely purposed relocation, which ensured the survival of Abraham’s lineage through the actions of Joseph in Egypt. This era in Egypt, especially during Joseph’s influential years, provided a secure and prosperous environment for Jacob and his extended family in the region of Goshen. Areli’s life would have been influenced by the transition from the land of Canaan to the foreign culture of Egypt, while the family maintained their ancestral customs under the leadership of their patriarch Jacob [Historical Context of Ezbon]. This period precedes the time when a new Pharaoh arose who did not know Joseph and subjected the Israelites to harsh servitude.

Narrative

The narrative pertaining to Areli within these ancient texts is primarily genealogical, establishing his place within the early Israelite community in Egypt. He is consistently listed as one of the sons of Gad who accompanied his father and grandfather Jacob during their migration to find sustenance amidst the famine. While the sources do not provide any specific accounts of Areli’s individual actions, dialogues, or personal experiences, his inclusion in these fundamental genealogical records highlights his role as a member of the tribe of Gad, contributing to the growth and establishment of the Israelite tribes in a foreign land [Narrative of Eri, Narrative of Arodi]. His presence in these lists underscores the fulfillment of the divine promises concerning the multiplication of Jacob’s descendants [Narrative of Ezbon]. Therefore, Areli’s story, as it can be gleaned from these sources, forms an integral, though not individually detailed, part of the larger historical narrative of the Israelite sojourn in Egypt during its initial phase, solidifying his position within the tribal structure that would later define the nation of Israel [Narrative of Eri, Narrative of Arodi].