Interesting Facts

• There are no specific intriguing or non-intuitive details about Zerah/Zerach’s actions or unique aspects of his story presented in the provided sources.

Genealogy

• Father: Reuel, the son of Esau.
• Mother: Bashemath, Esau’s wife.
• Brothers: Nahath/Nachath, Shammah, and Mizzah.
• Grandfather: Esau.
• Grandmother: Bashemath, whose parentage is not detailed in the sources.
• The sources do not provide information about Zerah/Zerach’s birth, marital connections, or offspring. He is listed as one of the sons of Reuel.

Historical Context

Zerah/Zerach, being a son of Reuel and grandson of Esau, would have lived during the same general timeframe as his brother Nahath/Nachath. This period was characterized by the final years of Isaac’s life, the inheritance division between Jacob and Esau, and the establishment of Esau’s descendants in the land of Seir/Edom. Following Isaac’s death in the year 2229, Esau and his sons, including Zerah/Zerach’s father Reuel, moved to the land of Seir. Zerah/Zerach’s existence places him within the early generations of the Edomite people, separate from Jacob and his offspring who inherited the land of Canaan. The sources suggest a potential for future conflict between these two lineages, stemming from the unresolved issues of birthright and blessing.

Narrative

Zerah/Zerach is mentioned only in the genealogical listings provided by the sources. He is identified as one of the four sons born to Reuel and Bashemath, thus establishing his place within the lineage of Esau that settled in Edom. The texts do not ascribe any specific actions, dialogues, or personal narrative to Zerah/Zerach. His inclusion serves to document the descendants of Esau and their early establishment in the land outside of Canaan, as distinct from the lineage of Jacob. Therefore, his significance within the narrative of these texts lies primarily in his contribution to the genealogical record of Esau’s family.