Interesting Facts

• Eri is listed as one of the sons of Gad.
• He is mentioned in the enumeration of those who came into Egypt with Jacob.
• His name appears in the genealogical records of the children of Israel who dwelt in Egypt.
• According to one source, there were eight sons of Gad who went to Egypt, including Eri. Another source lists seven.

Genealogy

• Eri’s father was Gad, a son born to Jacob and Zilpah, who was the handmaid of Leah.
• His grandfather was Jacob, also known as Israel.
• His brothers, as identified in the sources, were Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Arodi, and Areli. One source includes an additional brother, making a total of eight.

Historical Context

The existence of Eri, son of Gad, must be understood within the context of the significant migration of Jacob and his household to Egypt. The impetus for this move was the severe famine that had gripped the land of Canaan, as alluded to in several passages detailing Joseph’s rise to prominence and the subsequent invitation extended to his family. Eri, being a son of Gad, would have been part of this transition from the familiar pastoral life of Canaan to the fertile yet foreign land of Goshen in Egypt. This era was marked by the initial prosperity and security afforded to Jacob’s family under the patronage of their kinsman Joseph, who held a position of great authority in Pharaoh’s court. Eri would have witnessed the growth and consolidation of the Israelite community in Egypt during this favorable period, maintaining their familial and tribal structures as they adapted to their new surroundings. This period precedes the later oppression that would befall their descendants.

Narrative

The narrative surrounding Eri in the provided ancient texts is primarily situated within the genealogical lists that document the descendants of Jacob who settled in Egypt. He is consistently mentioned as one of the sons of Gad who made this pivotal journey. While the texts do not elaborate on Eri’s individual actions, dialogues, or personal experiences, his inclusion in these foundational genealogies serves to establish his place as one of the progenitors of the tribe of Gad within the burgeoning Israelite nation in Egypt. His existence contributed to the fulfillment of the divine promise of increase and posterity bestowed upon Abraham and his lineage. Therefore, Eri’s story, as it can be discerned from these records, is an essential, though not individually detailed, component of the larger narrative concerning the early Israelite sojourn in Egypt and the formation of the tribal identities that would later become central to their history.