Interesting Facts

• Nahor was the son of Serug.
• Nahor was born in the first year of the week following his parents’ marriage.
• Nahor grew up and dwelt in Ur of the Chaldees.
• Nahor’s father, Serug, taught him the researches of the Chaldees to divine and augur, according to the signs of heaven.
• Nahor married Ijaska, the daughter of Nestag of the Chaldees.
• Nahor was the father of Terah.
• Nahor’s son, Terah, was made the prince of Nimrod’s host and was highly regarded by the king.

Genealogy

• Nahor’s father was Serug.
• Nahor’s mother was Melka, the daughter of Kaber, the daughter of Serug’s father’s brother.
• Nahor married Ijaska, the daughter of Nestag of the Chaldees.
• Nahor was the father of Terah.
• Serug was the son of Reu, who was the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Salah, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah.

Historical Context

The life of Nahor transpired in the period following the confusion of languages at Babel and the subsequent dispersal of humanity. This was an era of city-building and the establishment of distinct nations, each with its own language and customs. The sources highlight a continued drift towards idolatry and practices such as divination and augury, particularly in the region of the Chaldees. Ur of the Chaldees was a prominent location during this time, known for these very practices. Furthermore, the narrative mentions the rise of Nimrod, a mighty figure who established a kingdom in Shinar and became more wicked than those before him, even making gods of wood and stone. Nimrod appointed officials, including Nahor’s son Terah, indicating the consolidation of power structures. The influence of demons leading people astray after the flood also continued to be a factor. The barrenness of the land due to birds devouring seeds and fruit is also noted during the time of Nahor’s son Terah, indicating potential environmental and societal challenges.

Narrative

The narrative concerning Nahor begins with his birth to Serug and Melka in Ur of the Chaldees. Significantly, his father Serug, who himself dwelt in Ur and worshipped idols, instructed Nahor in the researches of the Chaldees, specifically in divination and augury based on celestial signs. This indicates that Nahor was raised and educated within a cultural context deeply immersed in practices diverging from the earlier monotheistic traditions. Nahor later married Ijaska, who was also from the Chaldees, further solidifying his connection to this culture. He then fathered Terah. While the text does not detail Nahor’s personal actions or beliefs beyond his upbringing and marriage, his role in the lineage is crucial. His son, Terah, notably became a high-ranking official under King Nimrod, serving as the prince of his host. This elevation of Terah suggests a degree of influence or standing for Nahor within that society. The naming of Terah is linked to the destruction caused by birds, highlighting the challenges faced by the people during this period. Nahor’s story thus places him within a generation increasingly removed from the direct impact of the flood, deeply involved in the emerging Chaldean culture and its astrological and divinatory practices, and whose lineage would eventually lead to Abraham.