Interesting Facts

• Hadurah was also known as ‘Ijona’.
• She was previously married to Malkiel, the son of Elam, and had a daughter named Serach with him.
• After the death of her first husband, she returned to her father’s house before marrying Asher.
• She brought her three-year-old daughter Serach with her when she married Asher, and Serach was raised in Jacob’s house.
• Hadurah is described as being of comely appearance and a woman of sense.

Genealogy

• Hadurah’s father was Abimael.
• Her grandfather was Eber.
• Her great-grandfather was Shem.
• She was first married to Malkiel, the son of Elam, who was also a descendant of Shem.
• Her second husband was Asher, a son of Jacob.
• She had a daughter named Serach from her first marriage to Malkiel.
• She bore four sons to Asher: Yimnah, Yishvah, Yishvi, and Beriah.

Historical Context

The narrative places Hadurah’s life after the death of Adon, Asher’s first wife, and during the time when Jacob and his sons were dwelling in the land of Canaan. Asher went beyond the river to find Hadurah, who was from the lineage of Shem, suggesting continued intermarriage between Jacob’s family and other peoples in the region. The detail that Hadurah had been previously married and brought her daughter Serach into Jacob’s household offers insight into the social customs of the time, where remarriage was practiced and step-children were integrated into new families. The text notes Serach’s upbringing in Jacob’s house and her adherence to the sanctified ways of Jacob’s children, indicating a level of cultural and possibly religious assimilation. The mention of Hadurah’s comely appearance and sense highlights qualities valued in women during this period.

Narrative

Hadurah’s story begins with her marriage to Malkiel and the birth of their daughter, Serach. Following Malkiel’s death, she resided in her father’s house until Asher, son of Jacob, sought her as his wife after the passing of his first wife, Adon. Hadurah’s acceptance of this marriage led her to the land of Canaan, bringing her young daughter Serach with her into Jacob’s household. The narrative emphasizes Serach’s positive integration into Jacob’s family, noting her adherence to their ways and the divine favor she received. Hadurah herself is portrayed as a woman of admirable qualities. Her primary contribution to the narrative is through her marriage to Asher and the subsequent birth of his sons Yimnah, Yishvah, Yishvi, and Beriah, thus continuing Asher’s lineage after Adon’s childlessness. While the text does not feature any direct dialogue from Hadurah, her actions – entering into marriage with Asher and raising her daughter within Jacob’s family – speak to the interconnectedness of families and the continuation of patriarchal lines within this ancient context.