Jidbas

Son of Nahor

Also known as: Idbash

The patriarchsPatriarchc. 2000 BC

Jidbas was one of the sons of Nahor, Abraham's brother, and his wife Milcah. He is mentioned in the genealogy in Genesis 22 as part of Abraham's extended family. Although Jidbas does not play a prominent role in the biblical narrative, he is part of the patriarchal lineage that connects Abraham's family with the surrounding peoples.

Family

Key events

The News about the Sons of Nahor

After Abraham had passed the test with Isaac on Mount Moriah, he was told that his brother Nahor had eight sons with his wife Milcah, including Jidbas.

20Some time later Abraham was told, "Milcah too has borne sons to your brother Nahor:
וַיְהִ֗י אַחֲרֵי֙ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה וַיֻּגַּ֥ד לְאַבְרָהָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר הִ֠נֵּה יָלְדָ֨ה מִלְכָּ֥ה גַם־הִ֛וא בָּנִ֖ים לְנָח֥וֹר אָחִֽיךָ׃ ‬
21Uz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram,
אֶת־ע֥וּץ בְּכֹר֖וֹ וְאֶת־בּ֣וּז אָחִ֑יו וְאֶת־קְמוּאֵ֖ל אֲבִ֥י אֲרָֽם׃ ‬
22Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel."
וְאֶת־כֶּ֣שֶׂד וְאֶת־חֲז֔וֹ וְאֶת־פִּלְדָּ֖שׁ וְאֶת־יִדְלָ֑ף וְאֵ֖ת בְּתוּאֵֽל׃ ‬
23Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham's brother.
וּבְתוּאֵ֖ל יָלַ֣ד אֶת־רִבְקָ֑ה שְׁמֹנָ֥ה אֵ֙לֶּה֙ יָלְדָ֣ה מִלְכָּ֔ה לְנָח֖וֹר אֲחִ֥י אַבְרָהָֽם׃ ‬

The Lineage of Nahor

Jidbas is mentioned as part of Nahor's lineage, which connected Abraham's family to other ethnic groups in Mesopotamia.

22Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel."
וְאֶת־כֶּ֣שֶׂד וְאֶת־חֲז֔וֹ וְאֶת־פִּלְדָּ֖שׁ וְאֶת־יִדְלָ֑ף וְאֵ֖ת בְּתוּאֵֽל׃ ‬

The Connection to Abraham's Trial

The report about the sons of Nahor, including Jidbas, came right after Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac, marking a transition in the narrative toward finding a wife for Isaac.

20Some time later Abraham was told, "Milcah too has borne sons to your brother Nahor:
וַיְהִ֗י אַחֲרֵי֙ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה וַיֻּגַּ֥ד לְאַבְרָהָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר הִ֠נֵּה יָלְדָ֨ה מִלְכָּ֥ה גַם־הִ֛וא בָּנִ֖ים לְנָח֥וֹר אָחִֽיךָ׃ ‬
21Uz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram,
אֶת־ע֥וּץ בְּכֹר֖וֹ וְאֶת־בּ֣וּז אָחִ֑יו וְאֶת־קְמוּאֵ֖ל אֲבִ֥י אֲרָֽם׃ ‬
22Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel."
וְאֶת־כֶּ֣שֶׂד וְאֶת־חֲז֔וֹ וְאֶת־פִּלְדָּ֖שׁ וְאֶת־יִדְלָ֑ף וְאֵ֖ת בְּתוּאֵֽל׃ ‬
23Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham's brother.
וּבְתוּאֵ֖ל יָלַ֣ד אֶת־רִבְקָ֑ה שְׁמֹנָ֥ה אֵ֙לֶּה֙ יָלְדָ֣ה מִלְכָּ֔ה לְנָח֖וֹר אֲחִ֥י אַבְרָהָֽם׃ ‬
24His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also bore sons: Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah.
וּפִֽילַגְשׁ֖וֹ וּשְׁמָ֣הּ רְאוּמָ֑ה וַתֵּ֤לֶד גַּם־הִוא֙ אֶת־טֶ֣בַח וְאֶת־גַּ֔חַם וְאֶת־תַּ֖חַשׁ וְאֶֽת־מַעֲכָֽה׃ ס ‬

The Context of Rebekah's Lineage

Jidbas' brother Bethuel became the father of Rebekah, who later became Isaac's wife. Jidbas was thus Rebekah's uncle and part of the family to whom Abraham sent his servant.

15Before he had finished speaking, there came Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, who was the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor. She had her jar on her shoulder.
וַֽיְהִי־ה֗וּא טֶרֶם֮ כִּלָּ֣ה לְדַבֵּר֒ וְהִנֵּ֧ה רִבְקָ֣ה יֹצֵ֗את אֲשֶׁ֤ר יֻלְּדָה֙ לִבְתוּאֵ֣ל בֶּן־מִלְכָּ֔ה אֵ֥שֶׁת נָח֖וֹר אֲחִ֣י אַבְרָהָ֑ם וְכַדָּ֖הּ עַל־שִׁכְמָֽהּ׃ ‬
24She answered, "I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son whom Milcah bore to Nahor."
וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֔יו בַּת־בְּתוּאֵ֖ל אָנֹ֑כִי בֶּן־מִלְכָּ֕ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָלְדָ֖ה לְנָחֽוֹר׃ ‬
47Then I asked her, 'Whose daughter are you?' She said, 'The daughter of Bethuel son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to him.' So I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her wrists,
וָאֶשְׁאַ֣ל אֹתָ֗הּ וָאֹמַר֮ בַּת־מִ֣י אַתְּ֒ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר בַּת־בְּתוּאֵל֙ בֶּן־נָח֔וֹר אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָֽלְדָה־לּ֖וֹ מִלְכָּ֑ה וָאָשִׂ֤ם הַנֶּ֙זֶם֙ עַל־אַפָּ֔הּ וְהַצְּמִידִ֖ים עַל־יָדֶֽיהָ׃ ‬

Mentioned in the Bible (1)