Interesting Facts

• Tzanua is mentioned as one of the sons of Ephah.

Genealogy

• Tzanua’s father was Ephah.
• Ephah was among the sons of Midian.
• Midian was a son of Abraham.
• Tzanua had brothers named Methach, Meshar, and Avi.

Historical Context

According to the Book of Jasher, Tzanua was born within the period spanning from the year 2136 A.M. to 2149 A.M.. This timeframe falls after the demise of Abraham, which occurred in 2124 A.M. according to one interpretation of the sources, or earlier based on the Jubilee chronology. During this era, the descendants of Midian, Tzanua’s grandfather, had already migrated eastward into the region of Cush, established a city, and begun to populate the land of Midian. While the provided texts describe events such as a famine in the land and the interactions of Isaac with the Philistines, Tzanua is not directly involved in these occurrences. His existence is situated within the broader context of the expansion of Abraham’s progeny through Midian and the early development of the Midianite people in the years following Abraham’s death.

Narrative

The provided excerpts do not contain a specific narrative for Tzanua. His sole mention is within a genealogical record in the Book of Jasher, where he is listed as one of the four sons of Ephah, who was a son of Midian and a grandson of Abraham. Consequently, Tzanua’s significance within the narrative presented in these sources is primarily genealogical, contributing to the documented lineage and expansion of Abraham’s descendants through the line of Midian. His inclusion serves to illustrate the growth of Abraham’s family into various distinct groups and territories, in this instance, the Midianites. The active narrative within these sources during this period predominantly focuses on the lives of key figures such as Isaac, Esau, and Jacob, as well as significant events like the famine and interactions with the Philistine king Abimelech. Tzanua’s role in these texts is therefore confined to his place within the ancestral records tracing the descendants of Abraham.