Interesting Facts

• Jobab was the son of Zerah of Bozrah.
• He reigned in Edom after the death of Bela.
• According to another account, Jobab, the son of Zara of Boser, reigned in Edom after Balaq.
• Jobab reigned over all the children of Esau for ten years.
• During Jobab’s reign, the children of Esau did not go to fight with the sons of Jacob because they feared them.

Genealogy

• Jobab was the son of Zerah of Bozrah. Another account identifies him as the son of Zara of Boser.
• His father was likely of Edomite origin, given that Jobab reigned over the children of Esau.
• No information regarding Jobab’s mother, siblings, marital connections, or offspring is provided in the sources.

Historical Context

Jobab’s reign over Edom occurred after a period of significant conflict between the descendants of Esau (Edomites) and the descendants of Jacob (Israelites). The children of Esau had previously engaged in warfare with the sons of Jacob, and Bela had reigned as king over them. Bela’s reign was followed by Jobab’s ascension to the throne. This transition in leadership took place in the land of Edom, where the children of Esau had settled after displacing the children of Seir. The fact that the Edomites, during Jobab’s ten-year reign, refrained from further conflict with the Israelites suggests a period of relative stability or a recognition of the Israelites’ strength following their previous defeats. This era predates any king reigning over the children of Israel, highlighting the distinct political trajectories of these two related peoples.

Narrative

The narrative concerning Jobab the son of Zerah (or Zara) primarily focuses on his kingship over Edom. He ascended to the throne after the death of Bela, or according to another account, after Balaq. His reign is specifically noted as lasting for ten years. A significant aspect of Jobab’s reign is the cessation of hostilities between the Edomites and the Israelites. The text explicitly states that the children of Esau did not engage in further battles with the sons of Jacob during this time, attributed to their recognition of the Israelites’ valor and their subsequent fear. This suggests that Jobab’s rule ushered in a period of peace, at least in terms of direct military conflict with the Israelites. However, the source also mentions that despite the absence of war, the hatred and enmity between the two groups persisted strongly throughout this period and beyond. Following his ten-year reign, Jobab died, and Husham from the land of Teman became the king in his stead. Thus, Jobab’s narrative is one of a relatively short but significant reign characterized by peace with the Israelites, though underlying tensions remained.