The Book of Jubilees, a fascinating text considered canonical by some but excluded from the Hebrew Bible as we know it, gives us glimpses into that world. It’s a retelling of Genesis and Exodus, but with extra details, moral lessons, and a unique perspective on history.
Chapter 38 of Jubilees, in particular, offers a tantalizingly brief list of Edomite kings. It's almost like a forgotten family tree of rulers who held sway "before there reigned any king over the children of Israel." Imagine the world at that time! What were their lives like? What stories did they tell?
The text names them one after the other, a kind of ancient roll call:
“And Bâlâq, the son of Beor, reigned in Edom, and the name of his city was Danâbâ.”
Bâlâq. Danâbâ. Just the names evoke a sense of a distant, almost mythical past. We don’t know much about him, other than his name and the city he ruled. But isn't it human nature to wonder: What kind of king was Bâlâq? Was he just? Was he cruel? Was he wise?
“And Bâlâq died, and Jobab, the son of Zârâ of Bôsêr, reigned in his stead.”
Then comes Jobab, son of Zârâ, from Bôsêr. The line of succession continues, each king stepping onto the stage for a brief moment before fading back into the mists of time.
“And Jobab died, and ’Asâm, of the land of Têmân, reigned in his stead.”
Next, ’Asâm from the land of Têmân. Têmân itself is a place name that echoes through biblical literature, often associated with wisdom. Was ’Asâm known for his wisdom as well? We can only speculate.
“And ’Asâm died, and ’Adâth, the son of Barad, who slew Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his stead, and the name of his city was Avith.”
Finally, we meet ’Adâth, son of Barad. Ah, but ’Adâth is more than just a name on a list! He's described as having "slain Midian in the field of Moab." Now that's a story! We get a hint of conflict, of battles fought and victories won. This single phrase opens up a whole world of possibilities. What led to that battle? What were the consequences?
The Book of Jubilees doesn’t tell us. These are just snippets, glimpses into a world before Israelite kings, a world with its own dramas and its own heroes... and villains, no doubt.
Why does the text include this seemingly simple list? Perhaps it's to give context, to place the history of Israel within the broader tapestry of human civilization. Or maybe it's to remind us that even before the rise of Israel, there were other kingdoms, other peoples, with their own stories to tell.
It makes you wonder: What other forgotten histories are out there, just waiting to be rediscovered? And what can we learn from these glimpses into the past?