Who was Haruz in the Bible?

Haruz was a man from Jotbah and the father of Meshullemeth, who became a wife of King Manasseh of Judah and the mother of King Amon. His only mention is in the genealogy of the kings of Judah (2 Kings 21:19).

Why is Haruz significant in the Bible?

Haruz is significant because his daughter's marriage to King Manasseh connected him to the royal line of Judah, making him the grandfather of King Amon. This familial link places him within the historical narrative of Judah's monarchy during a period of great spiritual decline.

What do we know about Haruz's life?

The Bible provides no details about Haruz's life or events, only his name, his hometown of Jotbah, and his role as a father. His entire biblical significance is derived from his daughter's marriage into the royal family (2 Kings 21:19).

Haruz

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleKingWifeFather

Haruz was the father of Meshullemeth, wife of King Manasseh of Judah. (2Ki.21.19)

Haruz

Biography

Haruz of Jotbah is recorded in 2 Kings 21:19 as the father of Meshullemeth, who became the queen mother of Judah as the wife of King Manasseh and the mother of King Amon. Although Saul had initially promised Merab to David, Haruz himself receives no moral evaluation of his own in the text; his family connection places him at the center of one of Judah's darkest royal chapters. His daughter Meshullemeth married Manasseh, one of the most notorious kings in Judah's history, remembered for his extensive promotion of idolatry, the shedding of innocent blood, and the reversal of Hezekiah's reforms. Through his daughter, Haruz became grandfather to Amon, who continued his father's wicked ways. The period the chroniclers viewed as sowing seeds of Jerusalem's eventual destruction began with this royal household.

Significance

Haruz's significance is largely defined by his proximity to the royal court at one of Judah's most critical spiritual junctures. The queen mother held a position of honor and influence in the ancient Near Eastern royal household, and Meshullemeth's background, drawn from Jotbah, a town outside Jerusalem, reflects the social reach of the Davidic monarchy. Haruz's legacy thus intersects with the broader question of parental and familial influence on the course of Israel's history. His family's association with the Manasseh-Amon era illustrates how the choices of those near power can shape the spiritual trajectory of a nation, underscoring the biblical theme that faithfulness, or its absence, carries consequences extending across generations.

Authority Records

Wikidata

ChildMeshullemeth

Verse Appearances (1)

2Kgs

2Kgs 21:19

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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