Interesting Facts

• Leum was one of the sons of Dedan.
• The Leummim were the descendants of Leum.

Genealogy

• Leum was a son of Dedan.
• Dedan was a son of Jokshan.
• Jokshan was a son of Abraham and Keturah.
• Leum had two brothers: Asshurim and Letushim.
• The descendants of Leum were known as the Leummim.

Historical Context

Leum’s existence falls within the period after Abraham‘s marriage to Keturah. The sources indicate that Abraham gave gifts to his sons from Keturah and sent them away from his son Isaac eastward, to the east country. This act signifies a distinction between the lineage of Isaac, who was to inherit the promised land of Canaan, and the other branches of Abraham‘s family. Abraham also emphasized the importance of adhering to the ways of the Lord and avoiding intermarriage with the Canaanites among his children and grandchildren. The descendants of Jokshan and Midian, including the family of Dedan, are noted to have not dwelled in the cities of their brethren but instead journeyed and encamped in countries and wildernesses. This suggests a particular socio-economic or geographical context for Leum and his kin, potentially indicating a more nomadic or dispersed lifestyle compared to Isaac‘s settled presence in Canaan.

Narrative

The narrative pertaining to Leum, the son of Dedan, and his descendants, the Leummim, is predominantly genealogical within the provided texts. The sources primarily serve to establish Leum‘s lineage, tracing his ancestry back to Abraham through Keturah and Jokshan. He is identified as one of the sons of Dedan, alongside his brothers Asshurim and Letushim. The texts mention that the children of Jokshan, including Dedan‘s offspring, did not establish themselves in the cities of their relatives but rather adopted a pattern of travel and encampment in various countries and wildernesses. This detail offers a glimpse into the potential lifestyle of Leum and his subsequent family, the Leummim, suggesting a more mobile or less urbanized existence in comparison to other branches of Abraham‘s descendants who remained closer to the land of Canaan. However, the available sources do not provide specific accounts of Leum‘s personal actions, interactions, or any detailed historical events concerning the Leummim beyond their genealogical placement and this general observation about their dwelling patterns. The narrative, therefore, remains largely within the scope of their inclusion in the broader genealogical framework of Abraham‘s extended family.