“And Yoktan begot Almodad, and Shelef, and Ḥatzarmavet, and Yeraḥ” (Genesis 10:26). “And Yoktan begot Almodad, and Shelef, and Ḥatzarmavet” – Rabbi Huna said: There is a place named Ḥatzarmavet,31Literally, courtyard of death. [and it is so called] because they eat leeks and wear papyrus garments,32So dire is their poverty. and anticipate death every day.33They look forward to death, since they are so deprived.
Rabbi Shmuel said: They do not have even papyrus garments. “Their dwelling was from Mesha, as you approach Sefar, the mountain of Kedem” (Genesis 10:30). “Their dwelling was from Mesha” – Elazar ben Pinḥas said: Mesha is death.34This is a metaphor. All the children there were illegitimate, and illegitimate children do not live long.
Media is ill.35Their children are mostly legitimate, but there are some illegitimate among them. Eilam and Govevei are dying.36The majority are illegitimate. Ḥevel Yama is the sky blue wool of Babylon.37Sky-blue wool is the most expensive material. Ḥevel Yama contains people of the finest lineage in Babylon. Tzor and Tzayar are the sky blue wool of Ḥevel Yama. Rabbi Yehuda says: Mesopotamia is like the Exile38Exile is a moniker for Pumbedita, a place with fine lineage. in terms of lineage. “As you approach Sefar” – Tafrei. “The mountain of Kedem” – the mountains of the east.39Kedem often means east.