Interesting Facts

• Ziphion is identified as a son of Gad.
• He is listed among the sons of Jacob who went down to Egypt.
• His name appears in multiple genealogies of the Israelite families in Egypt.

Genealogy

• Ziphion’s father was Gad, one of the sons of Jacob and Zilpah, who was Leah’s handmaid.
• His grandfather was Jacob, and his grandmothers were Leah and Zilpah.
• His brothers, as listed in the sources, were Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.

Historical Context

Ziphion’s life, as portrayed in these records, falls within the crucial period of the migration of Jacob’s family to Egypt during a severe famine in Canaan. As a son of Gad, Ziphion would have been part of this significant relocation, which was orchestrated by divine providence through his uncle Joseph, who had risen to a position of great authority in Egypt. The initial years in Egypt, particularly during Joseph’s lifetime, were marked by prosperity and security for Jacob’s family in the land of Goshen. Ziphion would have experienced this period of growth and familial unity under the protective hand of Joseph. The cultural context would have involved adapting to Egyptian customs while maintaining their Hebrew identity and traditions, as instructed by their patriarch Jacob. This era precedes the later period when the Egyptians began to rule over the Israelites after Joseph’s death.

Narrative

The narrative pertaining to Ziphion within these selected texts is primarily genealogical, establishing his place within the lineage of Jacob’s descendants who journeyed to Egypt. He is consistently listed as one of the sons of Gad who accompanied his father and grandfather to Egypt to escape the famine in Canaan. While the sources do not detail any specific actions, interactions, or personal events concerning Ziphion, his inclusion in these enumerations underscores his significance as a member of the foundational generation of Israelites in Egypt. His existence contributes to the larger narrative of the growth and expansion of Jacob’s family in a foreign land, a community that would eventually grow into a great nation as foretold. Ziphion’s story, though lacking in individual anecdotes, is an essential component of the broader historical account of the Israelite sojourn in Egypt during this formative period.