Interesting Facts

• Saul is distinguished from his full brothers as the son of Simeon by a Canaanitish woman named Bunah (also referred to as Adlba’a).
• He is listed among the sons of Simeon who went with Jacob into Egypt.
• The provided sources do not attribute any specific individual actions or unique traits to Saul beyond his genealogical listing.

Genealogy

• Saul was the son of Simeon, one of the twelve sons of Jacob and Leah, and Bunah, a Canaanitish woman. In the Book of Jubilees, Simeon’s wife is named ‘Adlba’a, a Canaanite. These likely refer to the same individual.
• This parentage makes Saul a grandson of Jacob but his maternal lineage is Canaanite.
• His full brothers, born to Simeon and Dinah, were Memuel (also called Jemuel), Jamin (also called Yamin), Ohad, Jachin, and Zochar.
• Saul was among the descendants of Jacob who migrated to Egypt.
• The sources do not offer any information regarding Saul’s marital status or whether he had any offspring.

Historical Context

Saul’s life, being tied to that of Simeon and the rest of Jacob’s family, would have been significantly influenced by the major events they experienced. Born in Canaan, his upbringing would have been within the patriarchal structure of Jacob’s household. A defining event for Saul and his family was the severe famine in Canaan which necessitated their migration to Egypt. This move, facilitated by the position of his nephew Joseph, led to their settlement in the land of Goshen. During the forty years of Joseph’s governance, the Israelites, including Saul and his family, dwelt securely and multiplied. It is reasonable to assume that Saul would have been exposed to the religious and moral teachings of Jacob. The sources state that the sons of Jacob served the Lord as their father had commanded. Following Joseph’s death, the power dynamics in Egypt shifted, with the Egyptians beginning to exert control over the Israelites. Saul would have either lived through the initial stages of this change or his descendants would have experienced its increasing impact.

Narrative

The personal narrative of Saul is not detailed within the provided sources. His presence is primarily noted in genealogical lists, identifying him as a son of Simeon born to a Canaanitish woman. While the texts extensively cover the narrative of Joseph’s life, including his being sold into Egypt by his half-uncles (Saul’s half-brothers’ father), the famine, and the eventual reconciliation, Saul is not depicted as participating in any specific actions, dialogues, or events within these accounts. His inclusion in the lineage signifies his place within the family of Jacob that settled in Egypt. Like his half-brothers, he would have been part of the Israelite community in Goshen, benefiting from the relative peace and prosperity during Joseph’s time. The sources do not provide any further specific details about Saul’s individual experiences, choices, or interactions beyond his recorded lineage.