Interesting Facts

• Ishuah is identified as one of the sons born to Asher by his wife Hadurah, who was also known as ‘Ijona’.
• His name appears in genealogical listings with variations in spelling such as Yishvah and Isui.
• Similar to his brother Jimnah, the provided sources do not attribute any specific actions, speeches, or individual narrative events directly to Ishuah. His primary mention is within genealogical records.

Genealogy

• Ishuah’s father was Asher, one of the twelve sons of Jacob.
• His mother was Hadurah, the second wife of Asher, who was the daughter of Abimael, a descendant of Shem.
• He had three full brothers: Yimnah, Yishvi, and Beriah.
• He also had a half-sister, Serach, from his mother’s first marriage to Malkiel.
• Ishuah is listed among the offspring of Asher who went down to Egypt with Jacob.

Historical Context

Ishuah’s existence is situated within the early history of the Israelite tribes and their migration to Egypt during the famine, a pivotal event orchestrated by Joseph’s foresight. Born in the land of Canaan to Asher and his wife Hadurah, Ishuah would have experienced the familial and tribal dynamics of Jacob’s growing household. The journey to Egypt, prompted by severe famine in Canaan, marks a significant turning point in his life and the history of Jacob’s descendants, as they sought sustenance and security in a foreign land under the provision of Joseph. The texts highlight the secure dwelling and prosperity enjoyed by Jacob’s sons and their families in Egypt during Joseph’s long period of governance. The patriarchal structure of the society and the importance of lineage are consistently emphasized through the detailed genealogical records that include Ishuah.

Narrative

The personal narrative of Ishuah, as presented in the sources, is largely confined to his inclusion within the genealogical lists detailing the sons of Asher who journeyed to Egypt. Unlike some of his uncles, such as Judah, Simeon, and Levi, or his half-niece Serach, no specific actions, dialogues, or personal stories are attributed to Ishuah in the provided texts. His presence in the narrative serves primarily to establish his place within the lineage of Asher and his participation in the collective migration of Jacob’s family to Egypt. While the sources extensively cover the events leading up to and during their time in Egypt, focusing on figures like Joseph and Jacob, Ishuah remains a figure whose significance is rooted in his familial connections and his role as one of the early members of the tribe of Asher during this foundational period of Israelite history. His existence contributes to the broader tapestry of Jacob’s descendants and their sojourn in Egypt, but his individual contributions or experiences are not elaborated upon within these texts.