Abrahams affair with his African handmaiden led to an entire race The Torah now calls her "Keturah," meaning "bound," for she had kept her faithful bond to Abraham. [8], Louis Feldman has said "Josephus records evidence of the prolific non-Jewish polymath Alexander Polyhistor, who, in turn, cites the historian Cleodemus Malchus, who states that two of the sons of Abraham by Keturah joined Heracles' campaign in Africa, and that Heracles, without doubt the greatest Greek hero of them all, married the daughter of one of them."[9]. Is she a local Canaanite woman? Both Genesis and First Chronicles record that Keturah bore Abraham six sons: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. /hebrew/4091.htm - 6k, 3370. On a superficial level, The Birth of a Nation is a love story concerning the two families. The view that was widely accepted by the Rabbis is the one which identifies Keturah with Hagar, and it appears in various A type of non-halakhic literary activitiy of the Rabbis for interpreting non-legal material according to special principles of interpretation (hermeneutical rules).midrashim. Moses' Black-Skinned Wife: What Does the Torah Think of Her? Hence Amos, ch. "Caravans, Kenites, and Casus Belli: Enmity and Alliance in the Song of Deborah. Since Abrahams later children were not Jewish, they could descend from a mother of ordinary lineage (see Rashbam, Ramban). Int. There have been quite a few revolutions and uprisings in the world, and although critics love to blame religion and differences in opinion, the main reason why people revolt is because their liberties are curtailed to the point that their lives aren't livable. Please consider supporting TheTorah.com. Since this presumably occurred after Isaacs marriage at 40 (25:20), and Ishmael was 14 years older than Isaac (compare Gen. 16:16 to 21:5), she bore Ishmael at least 54 years before her remarriage yet still, she gave birth to six more children. (1 Chron. First Chronicles 1:32 refers to Keturah as Abraham's concubine, so there is some debate as to the exact nature of their relationship. [5][6][7] This interpretation is set forth in the Midrash[8] and is supported by Rashi, Gur Aryeh, Keli Yakar, and Obadiah of Bertinoro. Lastly, there are those who suggest that the wisdom of the Eastern religions actually spawns from the children of Keturah whom Abraham sent east (Gen. 25:6). | GotQuestions.org, How many sons did Abraham have? This school of thought is further bolstered by the fact that this wife also had a different name (Keturah); in addition, the plural wording of Gen. 25:6 (to Abrahams sons by concubines) conveys that Abraham had at least two wives in addition to Sarah. According to the Hebrew Bible, Keturah or Ketura (Hebrew: , ModernQtura TiberianQrh; "Incense") was the woman whom Abraham, the patriarch of the Israelites, married after the death of his wife, Sarah. The Bible "William Baur, 4080. a son of Abraham and Keturah, also his desc. "And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things." (Gen. 24:1) The widower Abraham 1:17-27, Gen. 20:12) You need to understand Something went wrong while submitting the form. And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said It would have certainly applied to his children through Keturah. Yishbaq. do not hold females in high regard. Reply, Sons of Keturah and Abraham The Family Tree of Abraham is found in the Book of Genesis along with his life story. "What is Meant by Abraham's Marrying Keturah After Sarah's Death. Who Was Keturah and Why Did Abraham Marry Her? - Chabad 5. Oops! During this trek through Africa, Abraham feared its What Nationality Was Keturah In The Bible Keturah, for example, was referred to as a wife of Abraham in Genesis 25:1, but a concubine in vs. 6 of the same chapter (as well as later in 1 Chronicles 1:32). Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Though the Torah describes them separately, the rabbis often identify Keturah with Hagar, who they state came back to remarry Abraham after Sarah's death. Rabbi Rosenfeld's son Zvi recently published his first book, The Ring of Fate, a riveting, fast-paced fantasy novel which is also completely kosher in both language and subject matter. Yoqshan -- a son of Abraham and Keturah 3369, 3370. The Birth of a Nation, landmark silent film starring Lillian Gish, released in 1915, that was the first blockbuster Hollywood hit. Moses' Father-in-Law: Kenite or Midianite? - TheTorah.com Zipporah - Wikipedia In other words, Abraham married (and had children) from the three families of Noah. Who was Abraham's second wife, Hagar or Keturah? Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Her nationality is unknown. Syrian Bedouin woman, at the World's Columbian Exposition, 1893. and Midyan. [5] The Book of Jubilees also supports the conclusion that Keturah and Hagar were two different people, by stating that Abraham waited until after Hagar's death before marrying Keturah. Egyptians claim their lineage is Shemitic through Ishmael, Abrahams All rights reserved. /z/zimran.htm - 8k, Jokshan (3 Occurrences) Easton's Bible Dictionary Snarer, the second son of Abraham and Keturah (Genesis 25:2, 3; 1 Chronicles 1:32). Genesis Rabbah interpreted the name Keturah in accordance with the opinion that she was identical to Hagar: the name was said to be related to the Aramaic ketur (knot) to imply that she was "bound" and did not have sexual relations with anyone else from the time she left Abraham until her return. Keturah in The Bible - King James Bible Online Where is Keturah?". Her ancestry is not mentioned, although she was presumably a local Canaanite. [5][13] Possible justifications for this opinion include the fact that Keturah is referred to 1 Chronicles 1:32 as Abraham's concubine (in the singular),[14] and several other verses which suggest that the descendants of Hagar and Keturah lived in the same territory or formed a single ethnic group. [6], Keturah is mentioned in two passages of the Hebrew Bible: in the Book of Genesis,[2] and also in the First Book of Chronicles. Alternatively, Keturah also shares the same root as the Hebrew word for incense ( ketoret ); for her good deeds were sweet and pleasant like incense. ", https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/keturah, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Keturah&oldid=1137525950, This page was last edited on 5 February 2023, at 02:32. concubine, Hagar. In another tradition, Abraham sends the sons of Keturah away with a writ of divorce, as a wife is sent away from her husband. Why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? The Torah writes nothing about her background and origin although if she was a wife of Abraham and mother to six of his children, she must have been a pretty important person! In my Torah studies I keep running across the number 40 - Would we consider Adam and Eve to have been Jewish? She is styled "Abraham's concubine" ( 1Chronicles 1:32 ). No one could replace Sarah, the foremother of Israel. greatest black king known as Pharaoh would slay him in order to take his Praises to Saint Gerard Majella are often said by those who seek the intercession of his saintly majesty to address specific issues or general blessings. [2], According to Jewish tradition, she was a descendant of Noah's son Japheth. the lineage of the female. cousins. From another wife (or wives) named Keturah, Abraham begat six nations who went to the East. Who was Keturah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Ishmael was born and brought up in Abrahams household. B. XIV. Another midrash relates that when Jacob died, the offspring of Esau, Ishmael and Keturah came to Goren ha-Atad to fight against the sons of Jacob. Abida -- "my father took knowledge," a son of Midian Abida, Abidah. The children of Keturah are depicted as waste that issued from Abraham (Sifrei on Deuteronomy 312). Radak comes very close to seeing the redaction critical point. Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and Among these traditions we find that Amalekites attacked the Israelites in a pitched battle at Rephidim, which, to judge by the Bible (Ex. 12. 1 Chronicles 1:33 chapter context similar meaning copy save. tr:Kantura. 1 Chronicles 1:32 (and also Genesis 25:6) shows us that Keturah was not considered to be of the same dignity as Sarah who, indeed, was the mother of the son of promise, and, for obvious reasons, the sons of Abraham's concubines were separated from Isaac. Keturahs offspring never ceased to claim their fathers inheritance. Chronicles, a late biblical book that knows and integrates traditions from the Torah and other earlier material now found in the Tanakh, resolves this problem by calling Keturah a concubine from the start: , The sons of Keturah, Abrahams concubine (1 Chr 1:32). Although the miracle of Abraham and Sarah bearing a child when they were 100 and 90 was quite emphasized in the Torah (Gen. 18:12, 21:7), no doubt once Abraham regained his vigor, it remained with him for some time to come (Haamek Davar). (1.) Shuah /hebrew/7744.htm - 5k, 4091. A theme in the Abraham stories is his lack of children, which is why he marries Hagar and has Ishmael. If verse 6 refers to other concubines, but not to Keturah, what happens to the six sons she bears for Abraham?[3]. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. (1.) A popular old reference Bible calls Ishmael "the progenitor of the Arabs" and goes on to say that Muhammad "came from the line of Ishmael." . In Jubillees 19:11 it says, And Abraham took to himself a third wife, and her name was Keturah, from among the daughters of his household servants. Although Jubillees is only a historical record, not part of the cannon of scripture, the information is worth considering if it agrees with the Bible.Apr 6, 2019. Though she is called a "concubine," this may have been to distinguish her sons as well as Ishmael from Isaac the son of promise, Genesis 25:6; 1 Chronicles 1:32; Galatians 4:22,30. Some Jewish sages have proposed that Keturah and Hagar, the mother of Ishmael, are the same person, but there's no evidence in the text to support this, and this proposition is ultimately fantastic. How The Nation Of The Troglodytes Were Derived From Abraham By Keturah. 3436 . /s/shuah.htm - 9k, Genesis 25:1Abraham took another wife, and her name was Keturah. One of Abraham's sons by Keturah (Genesis 25:2; 1 Chronicles 1:32). [2][3] The Book of Genesis records that Abraham gave them gifts and sent them to the East, while making Isaac son of Sarah his primary heir. In its portrayal of the Civil War, the film presents a shining view of the Confederacy. Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with According to the Judean authors Josephus and Cleodemus Malchus, Punic people were descended from Epher, grandson of Abraham and Keturah. Abraham And Keturah Family Tree You Will Like These Detail What Nationality Was Keturah In The Bible Saint Gerard Majella is a beloved figure of the Catholic Church who is renowned for his devotion to God and his miraculous power. The Children of Keturah as the Realization of Gods Blessing to Abraham, The Offspring of Keturah as a Constant Threat to Israel. with the yod). ke-tu'-ra, ke-too'-ra (qeTurah; Chettoura, "incense"): The second wife of Abraham (Genesis 25:1 1 Chronicles 1:32 f). Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah. In fact, a difference in opinion is often a characteristic of political peace rather than the reason for its demise. Even so, as children of Abraham, they were most certainly blessed and to some degree spiritual heirs of his sanctity. "Entry for 'KETURAH'". WWW.BLACKSINTHEBIBLE.NET. the area was also settled by Abraham's sons through Keturah (Gen. 25:1-4), the 12 sons of Ishmael (Gen. 25:13-16), and finally the sons of Esau (Gen. 36:1-19), all descendents of Abraham (also Semitic). "Unjust and unworthy portrayal:" "The Birth of a Nation" CHAPTER 15. And why the circumlocution, why not mention the womens namesunless the implication is that Abraham had many concubines, not just them (or not them at all.). Who was Keturah in the Bible? - CompellingTruth.org A son Others believe that this opinion in the Midrash should not be taken literally and Keturah was a different woman, no doubt much younger. Keturah (Hebrew: , Qr, possibly meaning "incense";[1] Arabic: ) was a wife[2] and a concubine[3] of the Biblical patriarch Abraham. remarkable, for she was in her mid 60s and late 80s when these events Therefore, the editor made the only choice available to him: he put the Keturah account after the death of Sarah.[8]. In any event, Abraham was at least in his 140s at that time (he would live to 175). The Lit. upon: Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, ISHBAK. These are by Herodotus called Barbarians, and perhaps were derived from the Syrians and Arabians, the posterity of Abraham by Keturah. (Note the inclusio at the end of verse 4, all these are the children of Keturah.), The second unit confirms Isaac as Abrahams sole heir by having him send away his other sons. Keturah - Blacks in The Bible The Ishmaelites who were settled in the north of the Arabian peninsula, the descendants of Keturah who colonised Midian and the western coast, were also his //sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter i the israelites.htm, Chapter xxv the life of Jacob and Esau. In First Chronicles, she is called Abraham's "concubine"[3] (Hebrew: Translit. This is done by introducing another wife This is not to be understood biographically. In other words, the biblical authors use the description of a marriage with Abraham to connect certain tribes with Abraham (Midianites, Dedanites, etc.). Have an update or correction? After Sarah dies, Abraham marries Keturah. Who is this Keturah and what was the significance of her marriage to Abraham? (Gen. 12:15-16) Abraham later fathered a son by one of these African maidens, It is not improbable that, as some writers have suggested, this change in the life of his son prompted Abraham to remarry in order to overcome the feeling of lonesomeness caused by Isaac's entering the state of matrimony. Black History and its Prophecy of the Races at The Bible; the Pentateuch; Tanakh (the Pentateuch, Prophets and Hagiographia)Torah mentions this marriage in Gen. 25:1, after the death of Sarah and subsequent to the wedding of Isaac and Rebekah. a wife of Abraham. Keturah is referred to in Genesis as "another wife" of Abraham[2] (Hebrew: .mw-parser-output .script-hebrew,.mw-parser-output .script-Hebr{font-family:"SBL Hebrew","SBL BibLit","Taamey Ashkenaz","Taamey Frank CLM","Frank Ruehl CLM","Ezra SIL","Ezra SIL SR","Keter Aram Tsova","Taamey David CLM","Keter YG","Shofar","David CLM","Hadasim CLM","Simple CLM","Nachlieli",Cardo,Alef,"Noto Serif Hebrew","Noto Sans Hebrew","David Libre",David,"Times New Roman",Gisha,Arial,FreeSerif,FreeSans} Translit. Jewish Women's Archive. Concubines seem to have been wives acquired through slavery or else as payment of a debt; however, this made them no less legitimate than free-born wives. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. One of the most important and influential men in the Old Testament is Abraham, affectionately called father by three major religions of the world. (Gen. 11:10-27) Abraham told Who was Keturah in the Bible? script>. The biblical account is as follows: And there was a famine in the land: and Abram Some 13 years later, however, Sarah conceived Isaac, with whom God established his covenant. /d/dedan.htm - 11k, Shuah (5 Occurrences) Easton's Bible Dictionary Prostration; a pit. It is available as both book and ebook. The Birth of a Nation | Encyclopedia.com They probably settled among the sons of Cush, on the north-west coast of the Persian Gulf. We rely on the support of readers like you. The Midrash Yalkut Shimoni (Job, Remez 904) has a fascinating take on the three wives of Abraham: "Sarah was the daughter of Shem, Keturah was the daughter of Japheth, and Hagar was the daughter of Ham.". Who was Abrahams second wife Keturah? Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. a son of Abraham and Keturah. Do We See Any Gospel Connections in the Book of Numbers? Zipporah was one of seven Midianite sisters that mistook Moses for an Egyptian after he saved them from the men at the well ( Exodus 2:16-19 ). (Genesis 25:1; 1 Chronicles 1:32) (B.C. They were not Israelites, but wild Arabs, a branch of the Kenite tribe, which claimed"at least its chiefs"to be descended from Abraham, by his wife Keturah //kingsley/discipline and other sermons/sermon vi false civilization.htm, Ketu'rah (4 Occurrences)Ketu'rah. He died at the age of 175. What happened to Abraham's other descendants? - Chabad.org Medan. The minor character Asenath, mentioned in the Bible as Joseph's wife and mother of Manasseh and Ephraim, became the heroine of an ancient Jewish novel written between 100 BCE to 200 CE, likely in Egypt. NOBSE Study Bible Name List and Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names agree: the name Keturah means Incense.. What may not be immediately obvious to the modern reader is that the name Keturah demonstrates a very high level of governance and social sophistication, namely the idea that a healthy society is not healthy because the government suppresses what it perceives as bad or . However, it seems apparent that the two of them were monogamous and that she did not bear him any children until after Sarah's death. | GotQuestions.org, How many wives did Abraham have? (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV), 1 Chronicles 1:33The sons of Midian: Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. When a person secures his valuables with his seal, they are still shut when he opens his treasury. Yishbaq -- a son of Abraham and Keturah 3434, 3435. Generations later, Moses would marry the daughter of Jethro the Midianite, and other descendants of Jethro converted as well (see Judges 1:16). Five Books of Moses. All these were the children of Keturah. Keturah | The amazing name Keturah: meaning and etymology Keturah ( Hebrew: , Qr, possibly meaning "incense"; [1] Arabic: ) was a wife [2] and a concubine [3] of the Biblical patriarch Abraham. All these were the children of Keturah. 25:3 Jokshan begot Sheba and Dedan. After all, Moses met YHWH in Midian (Exodus 3:1-6), and Moses' priestly father-in-law Jethro thought Moses all about the great benefits of delegated governance (Exodus 18:24). son of contention, one of Job's friends. "the written Torah." religions of the world. After Sarah dies and a wife is found for Isaac, one would think the story of the Jewish people has moved on from Abraham to the next generation of Isaac, Rebecca and their sons. 1. Hagar and Ishmael wander through the desert until they run out of water, and in despair, Hagar sets Ishmael down under a bush and turns away, expecting him to die and not being able to watch it happen.Aug 17, 2018. Ibid. The children of Keturah and of Ishmael did not receive Abrahams blessing; the midrash stresses that this was an intentional decision on Abrahams part. What may not be immediately obvious to the modern reader is that the name Keturah demonstrates a very high level of governance and social sophistication, namely the idea that a healthy society is not healthy because the government suppresses what it perceives as bad or supports what is perceives as good, but rather because the government endows all elements with enough safety that none needs to be scared, enough food that none needs to be hungry, and enough wealth that none needs to feel stifled, stunted or duped. Abraham and Hagar had a son named Ishmael. Modern day Adherents of the Bah' faith believe their founder, Bah'u'llh, to have been a descendant of both Keturah and Sarah. Modern day She "is styled "Abraham's concubine" (1 Chr. The offspring of Keturah was used as a disparaging appellation by the Rabbis when they wished to deride a Torah scholar who did not live up to expectations, just like the sons of Keturah, who, although the children of Abraham, did not attain the level of Isaac (BT Zevahim 62ab). Three camels, one of which is the beast of burden. On February 8, 1915, D.W. Griffith's The Birth of a Nation, a landmark film in the history of cinema, premieres at Clune's Auditorium in Los Angeles. And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? An epic about the American Civil War (1861-65) and the . In this view, the redactor is trying to turn Keturah into just one of Abrahams concubines, a view accepted by Chronicles. But instead, as the customs of the time permitted, Sarah gave her female servant Hagar to Abraham as a concubine or secondary wife. : 'ih Translated: woman, wife[10]). (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV), 1 Chronicles 1:32The sons of Keturah, Abraham's concubine: she bore Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. In addition, in the days to come Abraham will be ashamed of Ishmael and the offspring of Keturah, as portrayed in Isa. Later, Abraham and Sarah told the same lie to another black King who also wished (Gen. 12:15-16) Abraham later fathered a son by one of these African maidens, [9], ca:Quetur me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee. pt:Quetura Before moving on, it should be mentioned that Keturah is called Abrahams concubine, not his full wife (Genesis 25:6, I Chronicles 1:32). Although Abraham was quite insistent that Isaac not marry a Canaanite (24:3), and Rebecca later insisted the same for Jacob (27:46), that was due to the importance of fathering the Jewish people. (from Aramaic teni) "to hand down orally," "study," "teach." /hebrew/6989.htm - 6k, 28. 9, vs. 7 saying "Are you not like the Children of Ethiopia to me, O Children of Israel"[4]. fi:Keturah Rashi asserts that that Keturah is the same person as Hagar, and he quotes a midrash to explain the name change: Perhaps the Sages were bothered by Abrahams treatment of Hagar and hoped to make midrashic amends. As Hagar begins to despair, God speaks to her, promising that Ishmael will become a great nation and showing her a well that saves both their lives.Jan 25, 2008, So Sarah throws Hagar and Ishmael out, and the homeless pair has to fend for themselves in the hot and barren desert. Bildad. Keturah The wife of Abraham, after the death of Sarah, Genesis 25:1-6. sister? Rabbi Zev Farber of 4. Why do women seem to have a small role in the Bible. Keturah is the second wife of Abraham, whom he took after the death of his first wife Sarah, and who bore him six additional sons, namely Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah (Genesis 25:1-2). In Genesis 16 we learn a little of how Sarah might have felt. Genesis 25:1 And Abraham took another wife, and her name was Keturah/k/ketu'rah.htm - 7k, Epher (4 Occurrences) Easton's Bible Dictionary A calf. 1915. "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". Keturah. were not from Ishmaels line at all, but existed prior to Abraham, much less his deserts of Africa, Asia, and Arabia in search of a city whose builder and Her nationality is Ethiopian as she was the mother of Sheba and the Medians whose descendant, Jethro,or Ragu'el or Reu'el the Ethiopian priest of Median begot a daughter, Zipporah, who, in the Scriptures, was referred to as the Ethiopian wife of Moses. Though she is called a "concubine," this may have been to distinguish her sons as well as Ishmael from Isaac the son of promise, Genesis 25:6; 1 Chronicles 1:32; Galatians 4:22 ,30. There is even an opinion that the descendants of Keturah were obligated in circumcision for all generations, implying their status is elevated above all the other nations of the world (Maimonides Hil Melachim 10:8 based on Talmud Sanhedrin 59b). Keturah bore Abraham six sons, Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. She freely married Abraham and became his bona fide wife. /hebrew/3370.htm - 6k, 6989. In Genesis 15 we read about Abrahams doubts and concerns. In Muslim belief, Abraham fulfilled all the commandments and trials wherein God nurtured him throughout his lifetime. The descendants of Dedan were the Asshurim, the Letushim, and the Leummim. 5. So who was Keturah? /hebrew/2175.htm - 6k, What is Meant by Abraham's Marrying Keturah after Sarah's Death. This notion is based on 25:6: But to Abrahams sons by concubines Abraham gave gifts while he was still living, and he sent them away from his son Isaac; and this expulsion is both in this world and in the world to come (Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer, chap. Who is she? 25:2 She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Qeturah -- a wife of Abraham 6988, 6989. He learned in Manchester Yeshiva, Gateshead Yeshiva, and Mir Yeshiva. The Rabbis describe her as a woman of virtue, for which she was worthy of being joined to Abraham. whose name was Hagar. [17][18] The name Keturah was alternatively said to be derived from the ketoret (meaning "incense" in Hebrew) due to her deeds being as pleasing as incense. He used her as a surrogate mother a stand-in for his barren wife to produce an heir, following an ancient Bronze Age Near Eastern custom/law. In the chain of tradition, they were followed by the amora'im.Tannaim disagree regarding Keturahs identity. The Quran extols Abraham as a model, an exemplar, obedient and not an idolator.