Interesting Facts

• Melka was the daughter of Kaber.
• Kaber was the daughter of Serug’s father’s brother.
• Melka became the wife of Serug.

Genealogy

• Melka’s father was Kaber.
• Melka’s paternal grandfather was Serug’s father’s brother.
• Melka married Serug.
• Melka gave birth to Nahor.
• Serug was the son of Reu.
• Reu was the son of Peleg.
• Peleg was the son of Eber.
• Eber was the son of Salah.
• Salah was the son of Arphaxad.
• Arphaxad was the son of Shem, the son of Noah.

Historical Context

The life of Melka unfolds in the aftermath of the confusion of languages at Babel and the subsequent dispersal of humankind. This era was marked by the building of new cities by the various families according to their languages and lands. The texts also indicate a period where evil had become prevalent, as seen in the construction of the Tower of Babel with the intent to ascend to heaven. Furthermore, there is mention of demons leading astray the children of Noah, prompting Noah’s prayer and the Lord’s command to bind them, though a tenth remained to tempt humanity. By the time of Melka’s marriage to Serug, the narrative suggests a continued drift towards idolatry, as Serug himself is said to have dwelt in Ur of the Chaldees and worshipped idols. The Chaldeans were also known for their divination and augury, practices that Serug taught to his son Nahor. Thus, Melka’s life was situated within a cultural context where the memory of the flood and Noah’s teachings was receding, and new forms of religious practice and societal organization were emerging, some deviating from the ways of the Lord.

Narrative

The primary narrative involving Melka centers around her marriage to Serug. According to the Book of Jubilees, this union occurred in the thirty-sixth jubilee, in the fifth week, in the first year, which corresponds to the year 1744 A.M.. The text identifies her specifically as Melka, the daughter of Kaber, the daughter of Serug’s father’s brother. This detail highlights the practice of marriage within extended family networks during this period. Following her marriage, Melka bore Serug a son named Nahor in the first year of the subsequent week. The narrative does not elaborate on Melka’s personal actions or thoughts beyond her role as Serug’s wife and the mother of Nahor. However, her connection to Serug, who is described as a dweller of Ur of the Chaldees and a worshipper of idols, places her within a lineage that is increasingly distant from the direct teachings of Noah and aligned with the emerging Chaldean culture and its religious practices. Her existence contributes to the genealogical progression leading to Terah and eventually Abraham, figures of significant import in later narratives.