Interesting Facts

• Cheref is identified as one of the sons of Uz, the firstborn of Nahor.
• He is listed as a brother to Abi, Gadin, Melus, and Deborah.
• The name Abichorof, who is also a son of Uz, bears a striking similarity to a potential combination of Abi and Cheref, suggesting a close familial connection or naming tradition.

Genealogy

• Cheref was a son of Uz.
• Uz was the firstborn son of Nahor, who was the brother of Abraham.
• Thus, Cheref was a nephew of Bethuel, the father of Laban and Rebekah.
• Cheref was a first cousin to Laban and Rebekah.
• His siblings included Abi, Gadin, Melus, and Deborah.
• Abichorof was also a son of Uz, making him a brother of Cheref, Abi, Gadin, Melus, and Deborah.

Historical Context

Cheref, as a son of Uz and grandson of Nahor, would have resided in Haran with the rest of Nahor’s descendants. This was a time when Abraham and his lineage were establishing themselves in Canaan, maintaining a geographical separation from their Mesopotamian kin. The social and cultural context for Cheref would have been the environment of Haran, a region with its own traditions and interactions, distinct from the experiences of Abraham’s immediate family. The lineage of Nahor continued to grow and establish families in Haran. The death of Serug, Nahor’s grandfather, occurred around the time of Isaac’s birth, marking a point in the broader family chronology. Abichorof similarly existed within this context, later being associated with Laban, a prominent member of this Haranite family. The sending of messengers like Abichorof indicates communication and potential political or familial considerations within this extended kinship network stretching between Mesopotamia and Canaan.

Narrative

Cheref himself does not feature prominently in the narrative of the provided sources. His mention is solely within a genealogical listing, establishing his place within the family of Nahor. Similar to his brother Abi, his significance in the text is to document the expansion of Abraham’s extended family who remained in Mesopotamia. His existence contributes to the broader tapestry of the early patriarchal narratives by illustrating the familial connections beyond the main lineage of Isaac and Jacob.

Abichorof, on the other hand, has a more specific narrative role. He is identified as one of the messengers dispatched by Laban to Esau to inform him of Jacob’s surreptitious departure from Haran. This action places Abichorof within the context of the strained relationship between Jacob and Laban, and the potential conflict brewing with Esau. The task entrusted to Abichorof suggests a level of trust or suitability for conveying important, and potentially inflammatory, information. His message to Esau detailed Jacob’s prosperity, his taking of Laban’s daughters, and his unannounced flight, including the alleged theft of Laban’s “gods”. The fact that Laban chose Abichorof, along with his own son Beor, for this mission highlights the seriousness of the situation in Laban’s eyes. The cross-analysis reveals that both Cheref and Abichorof share a common lineage as sons of Uz. While Cheref remains a figure within the genealogical record, Abichorof actively participates in the unfolding drama between Jacob, Laban, and Esau, serving as a conduit of information that contributes to the narrative tension. The potential etymological link between Abichorof‘s name and his brothers Abi and Cheref further underscores the close-knit nature of this family within Nahor’s descendants.