Interesting Facts

• Naaman was among the first five sons born to Benjamin and Mechalia (Ijasaka).
• His birth occurred in the land of Canaan.
• Naaman is listed as one of the sons of Benjamin who accompanied Jacob into Egypt.
• He is included in the enumeration of Jacob’s descendants who settled in the land of Goshen in Egypt.
• Naaman is mentioned as the fifth son of Benjamin in the order presented in some genealogical accounts.

Genealogy

• Naaman’s father was Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel.
• His mother was Mechalia (Ijasaka), the daughter of Aram.
• He had four brothers born before the family’s descent into Egypt: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, and Gera.
• Naaman also had additional brothers born in Egypt: Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.
• His paternal grandparents were Jacob and Rachel.
• Naaman was part of the lineage of Jacob that migrated to Egypt due to the famine in Canaan.

Historical Context

Naaman’s life commenced in the land of Canaan before the severe famine that compelled Jacob and his household to seek sustenance in Egypt, under the guidance of Joseph. His early years would have been shaped by the familial structure of Jacob’s growing clan and the nascent traditions of the Israelite people. The subsequent migration to Egypt marked a significant juncture in Naaman’s life, as he transitioned from the promised land to the foreign territory of Goshen, where the family established themselves. During the forty-year period of Joseph’s influential governance in Egypt, Naaman and his brothers would have experienced a time of relative prosperity and security, contributing to the burgeoning Israelite community in Goshen. This era of peace and abundance preceded the eventual shift in Egyptian rule following Joseph’s passing, which would later lead to the subjugation of the Israelites. Thus, Naaman’s life spanned from the early patriarchal existence in Canaan to a settled, albeit temporary, period of favor in Egypt under Joseph’s authority.

Narrative

The narrative presence of Naaman in the provided sources is primarily within the context of genealogical listings that identify him as one of the sons born to Benjamin before the family’s descent into Egypt, and later as one of those who settled in Goshen. The texts do not record any specific actions, dialogues, or personal anecdotes directly involving Naaman as an individual. His significance within the broader narrative framework rests upon his role as one of the progenitors of the tribe of Benjamin, thereby contributing to the lineage and numerical growth of Jacob’s descendants during their sojourn in Egypt. While the central narrative thrust focuses on the events surrounding Joseph’s betrayal, his rise to power in Egypt, and his eventual reunion with his brothers and father, Naaman’s existence forms a part of the larger familial and historical context of the early Israelites in Egypt. The sources highlight the blessings bestowed upon Jacob’s sons, including Benjamin, implying Naaman’s inclusion within the future trajectory of the Israelite people. Despite the absence of individual narrative details, Naaman remains a component of the collective story of Jacob’s family and their time in Egypt.