Interesting Facts

• Jezer is identified as a son of Naphtali.
• His name appears in the enumeration of Naphtali’s sons who went with Jacob into Egypt.
• The spelling of his name varies across the sources, appearing as Jezer and Jetzer.

Genealogy

• Jezer’s father was Naphtali, one of the sons of Jacob and Bilhah.
• His mother was Rasu’u (also known as Merimah), of Mesopotamia (based on Jubilees 34:20h).
• His brothers, as listed in the sources, were Jahzeel (or Jachzeel/Jahziel), Guni, and Shillem (or Shilam/Shallum).

Historical Context

The life of Jezer, son of Naphtali, unfolded during a period marked by significant transitions for the family of Jacob. Born in the land of Canaan, he would have been privy to the patriarchal traditions and the nascent covenantal promises bestowed upon his forefathers. The defining event of his early life, as documented in these ancient records, was the severe famine that afflicted Canaan, compelling Jacob and his entire household to seek sustenance in the land of Egypt. Jezer, as part of Naphtali’s lineage, participated in this pivotal migration, a journey that would shape the destiny of his descendants for generations to come. In Egypt, under the providence of Joseph, the family of Jacob found respite and flourished in the land of Goshen. Jezer would have experienced this period of relative security and growth for the burgeoning Israelite community before the later trials and tribulations that would befall them after the passing of Joseph.

Narrative

The personal narrative of Jezer within the examined texts is primarily embedded within the genealogical listings that document the sons of Jacob who journeyed to Egypt. He is consistently accounted for as one of the four sons born to Naphtali prior to their descent into Egypt. While the sources do not elaborate on specific actions, utterances, or personal circumstances of Jezer, his inclusion in these vital records underscores his role as a foundational member of the Israelite community in Egypt. His existence contributes to the broader narrative of the expansion of Jacob’s progeny in a foreign land, fulfilling the divine promises of numerous offspring. Though his individual contributions are not explicitly detailed, Jezer’s presence in the ancestral lists is a testament to his place within the lineage that would eventually form one of the twelve tribes of Israel, a lineage that carried the weight of covenant and divine purpose through their sojourn in Egypt and beyond.