Interesting Facts

• Bakdil is identified as a Zidonite.
• He served as one of the four witnesses to the written and attested transaction wherein Abraham purchased the field and cave of Machpelah from Ephron the Hittite.
• His father was Abudish.

Genealogy

• Bakdil was the son of Abudish the Zidonite.
• The source provides no further genealogical details concerning Bakdil, such as his ancestry beyond his father, his birth details, marital connections, or offspring.

Historical Context

Bakdil’s role as a witness is situated within the context of Abraham’s acquisition of a burial place for his wife Sarah in Hebron, also known as Kirjath Arba. According to the text of Jasher, this was a significant legal transaction that was formally written and required the attestation of four witnesses. Bakdil, identified as a Zidonite and the son of Abudish, participated in this event alongside Amigal the Hittite, Adichorom the Hivite, and Abdon the Gomerite. The presence of witnesses from these different groups (Hittite, Hivite, Gomerite, and Zidonite) underscores the diverse cultural and ethnic landscape of Canaan during this period. The act of witnessing itself highlights the importance of communal validation and legal formality in transactions, particularly those involving land ownership, within the societal norms of the time. Bakdil, as a Zidonite, played a part in this inter-communal legal process involving Abraham, a figure who was a sojourner in the land.

Narrative

Bakdil’s participation in the narrative is limited to his role as one of the four named witnesses to the written and attested agreement between Abraham and Ephron for the purchase of the field and cave of Machpelah. The text of Jasher explicitly identifies him as “Bakdil the son of Abudish the Zidonite” in the enumeration of these witnesses. His primary action within the narrative is his attestation of this significant transaction, thereby contributing to its legal standing and permanence. While the provided source does not record any direct dialogue or other actions by Bakdil, his inclusion as a witness suggests that he held a position of recognition and credibility within his Zidonite community or the broader local society. His presence alongside witnesses from other groups indicates a degree of interconnectedness and shared legal customs among the various inhabitants of the region. Bakdil’s contribution to the narrative, though seemingly passive, is essential in establishing the legal foundation for Abraham’s acquisition of the burial place, a site of profound importance for his descendants.