Interesting Facts

• Ihuri was the king of Shiloh.
• Ihuri came to assist Elon, the king of Gaash, in battle against Jacob and his sons.
• Ihuri approached Jacob in battle.
• Jacob killed Ihuri with an arrow from his bow.

Genealogy

• The provided sources do not offer any information regarding Ihuri’s ancestry, birth, marital connections, or offspring. He is solely identified by his title as the king of Shiloh.

Historical Context

Ihuri’s appearance in the narrative occurs during a period of intense conflict between Jacob and his sons and a coalition of Amorite kings. This conflict arose after the sons of Jacob returned to Shechem and subsequently engaged in battles with various Amorite cities, including Gaash, whose king, Elon, had already been killed by Levi. The Amorite kings, witnessing the military prowess of Jacob’s sons and seeking to avenge the losses inflicted upon their brethren, banded together to confront them. Ihuri, as the king of Shiloh, was part of this assembly of kings who sought to challenge the growing power of Jacob’s household in the land of Canaan. This was a time of tribal warfare and the struggle for territorial control among the various groups inhabiting the region.

Narrative

Ihuri, identified as the king of Shiloh, enters the narrative as part of the Amorite resistance against Jacob and his sons. He comes to the aid of Elon, the king of Gaash, who was previously slain by Levi. Approaching Jacob directly in battle, Ihuri’s intervention is short-lived. Jacob, utilizing his bow, strikes Ihuri with an arrow, resulting in his death. Ihuri’s action of joining the battle to support another Amorite king underscores the solidarity among these rulers in their opposition to Jacob’s lineage. His demise at the hands of Jacob further diminishes the ranks of the Amorite kings arrayed against Jacob’s family and contributes to their eventual retreat. Ihuri’s role in the narrative is brief but significant as it highlights the continued resistance faced by Jacob and the effectiveness of Jacob’s own involvement in the fighting alongside his sons.