Interesting Facts

• Eliuram is identified as the daughter of Avi the Canaanite.
• ‘Ada is identified as Reuben’s wife in another source. It is likely that Eliuram and ‘Ada are the same person, with different sources using different names.
• Eliuram/’Ada conceived and bore Reuben four sons: Hanoch, Palu, Chetzron, and Carmi.

Genealogy

• Eliuram/’Ada’s father was Avi, and she was a Canaanite.
• She married Reuben, the son of Jacob.
• She bore Reuben four sons: Hanoch, Palu, Chetzron, and Carmi.

Historical Context

The period during which Eliuram/’Ada lived was marked by the settling of Jacob’s family in the land of Canaan after his return from Padan-aram. This was also the time when Joseph was sold into Egypt. The sons of Jacob were taking wives from the surrounding lands. Reuben’s decision to marry a Canaanite woman reflects a practice of intermarriage with the local population during this era. The sources do not provide extensive details about the broader societal norms or political events specifically during Eliuram/’Ada’s lifetime, but the context suggests a period of tribal development and interaction with neighboring groups like the Canaanites.

Narrative

The narrative surrounding Eliuram/’Ada is brief but significant in establishing Reuben’s family line after Joseph’s departure to Egypt. The sources indicate that Reuben married her in the year Joseph was sold. Her primary role in the narrative, as presented in these excerpts, is that of Reuben’s wife and the mother of his first four sons: Hanoch, Palu, Chetzron, and Carmi. The text does not detail any specific actions or dialogues of Eliuram/’Ada herself, but her marriage to Reuben and the birth of their sons are recorded as events that transpired during this period. This establishes her as an ancestor of one of the tribes of Israel, contributing to the early stages of Jacob’s lineage in Canaan.