Interesting Facts

• Hanoch, also spelled Chanoch, is identified as one of the five sons of Midian.
• Midian was born to Abraham and Keturah, making Hanoch/Chanoch a grandson of Abraham.
• The provided texts do not record any specific personal actions or dialogues attributed directly to Hanoch/Chanoch. His presence is within lists of descendants.
• Hanoch/Chanoch is mentioned in conjunction with his brothers: Ephah, Epher, Abidah, and Eldaah.
• The sons of Hanoch/Chanoch are recorded as Reuel, Rekem, Azi, Alyoshub, and Alad.

Genealogy

• Hanoch/Chanoch’s father was Midian, who was one of the six sons of Abraham and his wife Keturah.
• His paternal grandfather was the patriarch Abraham.
• His paternal grandmother was Keturah, whom Abraham married after the death of Sarah. Keturah is noted as being “from the land of Canaan” in one source.
• Through his father, Hanoch/Chanoch was a great-grandson of Terah and a descendant of Shem and Noah.
• His brothers, as listed in the sources, were Ephah, Epher, Abidah, and Eldaah. One source uses the spelling Chanoch.
• Hanoch/Chanoch’s sons were Reuel, Rekem, Azi, Alyoshub, and Alad. The provided sources do not specify any information regarding Hanoch/Chanoch’s birth, his own marital relationships, or any daughters he may have had.

Historical Context Hanoch/Chanoch’s life would have taken place following Abraham’s marriage to Keturah and the subsequent birth of their six sons, including Midian. As a grandson of Abraham, Hanoch/Chanoch would have been part of the lineage that Abraham provided with gifts and sent eastward, away from Isaac, who was designated as the primary heir. This eastward movement established the descendants of Keturah in regions to the east of Canaan. The cultural and religious environment for Hanoch/Chanoch and his family would have been influenced by the teachings and traditions of Abraham, which emphasized adherence to the “way of the Lord” and acting with righteousness and justice. The descendants of Midian, including Hanoch/Chanoch, settled to the east of Cush, where they discovered a large valley, established a city, and resided there, forming the land known as Midian. Therefore, Hanoch/Chanoch’s life and the growth of his own family would have occurred within this developing Midianite society, shaped by their Abrahamic heritage and the specific circumstances of their settlement in the east. This era generally falls within the later years of Abraham’s life and the early generations following him.

Narrative

Within the narrative of the provided sources, Hanoch/Chanoch’s role is principally genealogical, functioning as a component in the record of Abraham’s expanding family through Keturah and his son Midian. He is mentioned as one of the five sons of Midian, and subsequently, his own sons are listed by name. This inclusion underscores his contribution to the foundation and perpetuation of the Midianite lineage. Unlike prominent figures in the line of Isaac, whose lives are recounted with specific events and interactions, Hanoch/Chanoch remains a figure whose existence is documented primarily by his place within the ancestral records. His narrative significance lies in illustrating the fulfillment of the divine promise to Abraham concerning the multiplication of his descendants. While the texts provide some broader context regarding the settlements and later interactions of the Midianites in the wider biblical narrative, Hanoch/Chanoch himself is defined by his position within the familial structure, indicating the early diversification of Abraham’s descendants into distinct groups and territories as directed by the patriarch.