Interesting Facts

• Meshar is listed as one of the sons of Ephah.

Genealogy

• Meshar’s father was Ephah.
• Ephah was one of the sons of Midian.
• Midian was a son of Abraham.
• Meshar had brothers named Methach, Avi, and Tzanua.

Historical Context

The texts place the birth of Meshar within the period after the death of Abraham, specifically during the time when Abraham’s grandchildren were being born. According to the text from Jasher, the sons of Ephah, including Meshar, were born between the years 2136 and 2149 A.M.. This was a time when the families of Midian were spreading throughout the land of Midian, having journeyed to the east of the land of Cush and established themselves there. While the sources detail events such as a famine in the land and the interactions of Isaac with the Philistines, Meshar’s direct involvement in these events is not mentioned. However, his existence as a son of Ephah and a grandson of Midian situates him within the expanding lineage of Abraham and the early settlement of the Midianite territories during this post-Abrahamic era.

Narrative

Meshar’s individual narrative is not developed within the provided excerpts. He appears solely within a genealogical listing as one of the four sons of Ephah, who was himself a son of Midian, the son of Abraham. Therefore, Meshar’s significance within the narrative lies in his contribution to the lineage and familial expansion of Abraham’s descendants through Midian. His mention serves to document the proliferation of Abraham’s seed into various families and regions, specifically the Midianites. The focus of the narrative during this period centers on the life of Isaac, his interactions with the Philistines, and the early lives of Esau and Jacob. Meshar’s presence in the text is primarily to establish his place within the broader ancestral records of the descendants of Abraham.