Interesting Facts

• Ora was the daughter of ‘Ûr, the son of Kesed.
• She became the wife of Reu.

Genealogy

• Ora was the daughter of ‘Ûr, the son of Kesed.
• She married Reu in the thirty-fifth jubilee, in the third week, in the first year [1681 A.M.].
• She bore Reu a son named Sêrôh (Serug) in the seventh year of this week in this jubilee [1687 A.M.].

Historical Context

Ora lived in a period following the significant event of the confusion of languages at the tower of Babel and the subsequent dispersal of humanity. This era witnessed the descendants of Noah spreading across the earth and establishing their own cities. According to the Book of Jubilees, the time of Ora’s marriage and the birth of her son was marked by increasing warfare among Noah’s sons, with instances of captivity, killing, and the shedding of blood. Furthermore, this period saw the emergence of idolatry, with the creation and worship of molten images, influenced by malignant spirits leading people into transgression and uncleanness. Indeed, the very name given to Ora’s son, Serug, is stated to be because “every one turned to do all manner of sin and transgression” during his time.

Narrative

The narrative concerning Ora is primarily centered on her role as the wife of Reu and the mother of Serug. Her marriage to Reu occurred some years after the scattering of peoples from Shinar. The birth of her son, Serug, is specifically noted within the context of a prevailing spiritual and moral decline among humankind, as highlighted by the explanation given for his name. While the sources do not provide details about Ora’s personal actions or any direct dialogue, her existence and familial connections place her within the lineage leading to later generations. Her father, ‘Ûr, the son of Kesed, is identified as the builder of the city of ‘Ara of the Chaldees, suggesting a link to the region that would later become known as Ur of the Chaldees and the ancestral home of Abraham. Therefore, Ora’s significance in the narrative lies in her position within this lineage during a time of notable shifts in human civilization and a departure from righteous living as described in the texts.