Interesting Facts

• According to Genesis, the name of Hadar’s city was Pau.
• Genesis states that Hadar’s wife was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.
• Jubilees records that the name of ‘Adath’s wife was Maitabith, the daughter of Matarat, the daughter of Metabedza’ab.
• Jubilees identifies ‘Adath as the king who reigned in Edom after Ba’elunan (Baalhanan).
• Genesis also places Hadar as the king who reigned in Edom after Baalhanan.

Genealogy

• According to Genesis, Hadar was the successor of Baalhanan the son of Achbor as king of Edom.
• Jubilees similarly states that ‘Adath reigned after Ba’elunan, the son of Achbor.
• Genesis identifies Hadar’s wife as Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab, providing a lineage for his spouse.
• Jubilees names ‘Adath’s wife as Maitabith, the daughter of Matarat, the daughter of Metabedza’ab, offering a parallel but slightly different genealogy for his wife.
• The sources do not explicitly detail Hadar/’Adath’s parents or offspring.

Historical Context

The reign of Hadar (or ‘Adath) occurs within the sequence of kings who ruled in Edom before any king reigned over the children of Israel, as noted in both Genesis and Jubilees. This places his rule in a specific period of Edomite history, characterized by a monarchical system distinct from that of the later Israelite kingdoms. The texts primarily focus on the succession of rulers in Edom during this era. The mention of the names of Hadar/’Adath’s city and wife, along with her lineage, provides glimpses into potential cultural or familial connections of this particular ruler within Edomite society. However, the provided excerpts do not offer specific details about major historical events or broader cultural dynamics that directly influenced Hadar/’Adath’s reign, beyond his place in the lineage of Edomite kings.

Narrative

The narrative surrounding Hadar/’Adath in the provided sources is primarily focused on his place within the succession of Edomite kings. He is mentioned as the ruler who ascended the throne after the death of Baalhanan (Ba’elunan). Genesis further provides details regarding his capital city, Pau, and the name and lineage of his wife, Mehetabel. Jubilees offers similar information, with slight variations in the spelling of his wife’s name and her ancestral line, and his city. Unlike some other Edomite kings mentioned earlier in the texts (like Hadad the son of Bedad), there are no accounts of military campaigns or significant interactions with neighboring nations attributed to Hadar/’Adath in these excerpts. His significance in the narrative of these texts lies mainly in his position within the chronological list of Edomite rulers before the rise of kings in Israel, contributing to the historical record of the region’s leadership. His story, as presented here, serves to document the lineage and, to a limited extent, the personal details of one of Edom’s ancient monarchs.