Interesting Facts

• Aridah is identified as the younger daughter of Jobab, son of Yoktan.
• She married Issachar, one of the sons of Jacob.
• The text in Jasher refers to her as Aridah, while Jubilees names Issachar’s wife as Hezaqa. This suggests that Aridah and Hezaqa are likely the same individual.
• 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 Issachar.

Genealogy

• Aridah’s father was Jobab, the son of Yoktan, the son of Eber.
• She had an elder sister named Adinah, who married Levi.
• She married Issachar, the son of Jacob.
• Aridah bore four sons to Issachar: Tola, Puvah, Job, and Shomron.

Historical Context

Aridah’s life, as depicted in the sources, unfolded during the time when Jacob and his sons resided in the land of Canaan. This was a period of familial expansion and the establishment of the future tribes of Israel. The journey undertaken by Levi and Issachar to the “land of the east” to find wives, including Aridah, highlights the practice of seeking spouses from beyond their immediate surroundings, indicating potential interactions and connections with other cultures. This occurred before the significant events narrated later in the provided excerpts, such as the death of Leah and the unfolding story of Joseph. Aridah’s integration into Jacob’s household signifies the strengthening of Jacob’s lineage through marriage and the birth of her sons.

Narrative

Aridah’s personal narrative in the provided sources is primarily focused on her marriage to Issachar and the subsequent birth of their four sons. Her story is closely linked to that of her sister Adinah, as they both became wives of Jacob’s sons after Levi and Issachar traveled to their homeland. This journey suggests an active role of Jacob’s sons in establishing their families and expanding their lineage. Aridah’s relocation to Canaan and her integration into Jacob’s family signify the growth of what would become the Israelite nation. While the sources do not offer details about her individual actions or conversations, her marriage and the birth of her children, Tola, Puvah, Job, and Shomron, are essential for understanding the genealogical development of the tribe of Issachar. Her story serves as a foundational element in the broader narrative of Jacob’s family and their life in Canaan before the major events involving Joseph and the later movements of the family.