Interesting Facts

• Dedan is identified in the sources as a son of Jokshan.
• Jokshan was one of the six sons born to Abraham and Keturah, establishing Dedan as a grandson of Abraham through this lineage.
• The provided texts do not contain any specific accounts of Dedan’s personal actions, sayings, or unique life events beyond his inclusion in a list of descendants.
• Dedan is listed alongside his brother Sheba as the sons of Jokshan.
• The sources specify that the children of Sheba and Dedan did not dwell with their brethren in their cities but journeyed and encamped in the countries and wildernesses.

Genealogy

• Dedan’s father was Jokshan, who was the offspring of Abraham and his wife Keturah.
• His grandfather was Abraham, a pivotal figure in the narrative.
• Dedan’s brother was Sheba, as they are both recorded as sons of Jokshan.
• Through his paternal line, Dedan was a great-grandson of Terah and a descendant of Shem and Noah.
• The current textual excerpts do not provide details regarding Dedan’s birth, potential marital relationships, or any direct mention of his offspring, although the text refers to the “children of Sheba and Dedan” collectively. The sources mention that the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim.

Historical Context

As a grandson of Abraham through Keturah, Dedan’s life would have taken place after Abraham’s marriage to Keturah, likely during Abraham’s later years. A significant aspect of this period was Abraham’s practice of bestowing gifts upon the sons of his concubines, including Keturah’s offspring, and sending them eastward to establish themselves away from Isaac, the designated inheritor. Dedan, being a son of Jokshan, would have been part of this migration into the eastern territories. The initial cultural and societal influences on Dedan would have stemmed from the teachings of Abraham, emphasizing adherence to the way of the Lord, including principles of righteousness and neighborly love. However, the sources indicate that Dedan and his brother Sheba, along with their children, adopted a distinct way of life, not settling in the cities with their brethren but journeying and encamping in the countries and wildernesses. This suggests a more nomadic existence or a settlement pattern outside the established urban centers of their relatives. The timeline suggests that Dedan’s life unfolded as these different branches of Abraham’s family were carving out their identities and modes of living in the regions east of Canaan.

Narrative

Within the narrative framework of the available textual excerpts, Dedan’s presence is primarily within a genealogical record. He is named as one of the two sons of Jokshan, who himself is listed among the six sons born to Abraham by Keturah. Importantly, the texts add a specific detail concerning Dedan and his brother Sheba, noting that their children did not reside in the cities of their brethren but rather journeyed and encamped in the wildernesses. This detail, while not providing specific actions or dialogues for Dedan himself, distinguishes his lineage from some of the other descendants of Keturah who are described as building cities. Dedan’s significance within the broader narrative context lies in his inclusion within the recorded lineage of Abraham through Keturah, contributing to the comprehensive account of Abraham’s extended family and their dispersal into the eastern regions, separate from the main line of Isaac. This genealogical thread, along with the note about their nomadic tendencies, offers a glimpse into the diverse paths taken by Abraham’s descendants, even if it does not provide a fully developed personal narrative for Dedan himself. The mention of his sons, Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim, further expands his genealogical footprint, though details of their lives are not present in these sources.