Interesting Facts

• Palu is listed as one of the four sons born to Reuben.
• Chanoch, Pallu, Chetzron, and Carmi are identified as the sons of Reuben who dwelt in Egypt, having come with Jacob.

Genealogy

• Palu was a son of Reuben.
• Reuben was the firstborn son of Jacob.
• The mother of Palu is not explicitly named within these sources regarding his lineage. However, previous analysis utilizing different sources identified Reuben’s wife as Eliuram, daughter of Avi the Canaanite, or ‘Ada. It is reasonable to infer that she was also Palu’s mother.
• The provided sources do not contain information regarding any marital connections or offspring of Palu.

Historical Context

Palu’s lifetime encompassed the significant period of the descent of Jacob’s family into Egypt to escape the famine in Canaan. This migration was facilitated by his uncle Joseph’s high standing in Egypt. Palu would have been part of the community of Jacob’s descendants who settled in the land of Goshen, where they prospered and multiplied under the governance of Joseph during his long tenure. The cultural context would have involved an initial phase of familial unity under Jacob’s leadership, followed by life in a foreign land under Egyptian rule, albeit with the favor granted to them due to Joseph’s position. The sources suggest a time of security and fruitfulness for the sons of Jacob and their families during Joseph’s life.

Narrative

The personal narrative of Palu within these excerpts is limited primarily to his inclusion in genealogical lists as one of the sons of Reuben who migrated with Jacob to Egypt. His presence in these lists serves to establish his place within the lineage of the children of Israel and his participation in the foundational event of their extended sojourn in Egypt. While no specific actions or dialogues are attributed to Palu, his existence and inclusion in the enumeration of those who came to Egypt underscore his contribution to the growth of Jacob’s family in a new land. He would have been among those who dwelt securely in Egypt and partook of the best of the land during the years of Joseph’s prominence.