Interesting Facts

• Nishma is listed as one of the eight sons born to Ishmael by his wife Malchuth.
• According to one genealogical listing in Jasher, Mishma is presented as a son of Ishmael by his first wife, Ribah (also called Meribah).
• The descendants of Mishma (through Ribah) are listed as Shamua, Zecaryon, and Obed.
• The text indicates that Mishma and his descendants are part of the families of Ribah, the wife of Ishmael.

Genealogy

• Mishma/Nishma was a son of Ishmael.
• Ishmael was the son of Abraham and Hagar, Sarah’s handmaid.
• According to one account, Mishma’s mother was Ribah (also known as Meribah), Ishmael’s first wife, who was from Egypt.
• According to another account, Nishma was the son of Malchuth, Ishmael’s second wife, who was from the land of Canaan.
• If Mishma is the son of Ribah, his brothers according to that lineage were Nebayoth, Kedar, Adbeel, and Mibsam, and his sister was Bosmath. His sons were Shamua, Zecaryon, and Obed.
• If Nishma is the son of Malchuth, his brothers according to that lineage were Dumah, Masa, Chadad, Tema, Yetur, Naphish, and Kedma. His sons are not listed in this context.

Historical Context

The accounts of Ishmael’s sons occur within the context of the expansion of Abraham’s lineage and the separation of Ishmael’s line from that of Isaac, who was designated as the primary inheritor of the Abrahamic covenant. The marriages of Ishmael to women from different regions, Egypt and Canaan, suggest potential cultural and familial connections extending beyond Abraham’s immediate kin. The listing of the descendants of Ishmael and his wives indicates the importance placed on lineage and the growth of their respective families, ultimately leading to the formation of twelve princes according to their nations. The narrative reflects a patriarchal society where the patriarch’s approval of marriages and the bearing of children were significant for the continuation and prosperity of the family lines. The eventual dwelling of Ishmael and his descendants in the wilderness and the east further emphasizes their distinct trajectory from Isaac’s lineage in Canaan.

Narrative

Mishma/Nishma appears primarily in genealogical lists within the sources, serving to document the offspring of Ishmael and the early expansion of his family. Depending on the source, Mishma is either presented as a son of Ishmael’s Egyptian wife, Ribah (Meribah), with descendants named Shamua, Zecaryon, and Obed, or Nishma is listed as the first son of Ishmael’s Canaanite wife, Malchuth, as part of a set of eight sons who became twelve princes. There are no specific actions or dialogues attributed directly to Mishma/Nishma within the provided texts. Their significance lies in their inclusion within the broader narrative of Abraham’s extended family and the fulfillment of the divine promise that Ishmael would also father a great nation. The variation in the listing of Ishmael’s sons and their mothers across different sources highlights the potential for diverse traditions and accounts concerning these early ancestral figures. Ultimately, Mishma/Nishma represents an early branch of Abraham’s descendants, contributing to the genealogical tapestry of the ancient Near East as depicted in these texts.