Interesting Facts

• ‘Iv is identified as one of the sons of Naphtali.
• According to the Book of Jubilees, ‘Iv was born after the years of famine.
• ‘Iv died in Egypt.

Genealogy

• ‘Iv was the son of Naphtali.
• Naphtali was a son of Jacob (also known as Israel) and Bilhah, who was Rachel’s handmaid.
• Thus, Jacob and Bilhah were ‘Iv’s paternal grandparents.
• His uncles, the other sons of Jacob, were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin, and his aunt was Dinah [as inferred from his father’s lineage as a son of Jacob].
• ‘Iv had four brothers: Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shallum.

Historical Context

‘Iv’s birth occurred in Egypt after the period of severe famine that had compelled Jacob and his household to migrate from Canaan. The famine, which lasted for seven years, had a profound impact on the region, causing barrenness in Canaan but an accumulation of provisions in Egypt under Joseph’s guidance. The family’s relocation to Goshen provided them with sustenance during this time of hardship. ‘Iv’s birth after this period of scarcity suggests a time of relative stability and recovery for Jacob’s family in their new land. However, despite being born after the famine, ‘Iv’s life was not long, as the Book of Jubilees records his death in Egypt. The specific circumstances surrounding his death are not detailed in the provided texts, but his existence is framed within the context of the family’s sojourn in Egypt following a major agricultural crisis.

Narrative

The narrative of ‘Iv is brief but significant. Unlike his uncles and some cousins who were part of the initial migration from Canaan, ‘Iv was born in Egypt after the famine had concluded. This places him within the second generation of Jacob’s descendants to live in Egypt, a period when the family was establishing itself in the land of Goshen under the protection and provision of Joseph. The key event in ‘Iv’s narrative, as documented in the Book of Jubilees, is his death in Egypt. This detail marks a continuation of the experiences of mortality within Jacob’s lineage in their new land, even after overcoming the immediate threat of famine. While the sources offer no details regarding the cause or timing of his death relative to his birth, his mention serves as a genealogical marker and a reminder of the life cycle within the Israelite community during their early years in Egypt. ‘Iv’s story, though short, contributes to the broader narrative of the family’s growth and eventual fate in a foreign land.