Who was Husham in the Bible?

Husham was a king of Edom, a nation descended from Esau. He is listed in the genealogical records of the Edomite kings who ruled before the Israelites had their own monarchy (Genesis 36:34-35, 1 Chronicles 1:45-46).

Why is King Husham mentioned in the Bible?

Husham's mention is primarily for historical and genealogical record, showing the lineage of the Edomites. His inclusion establishes the continuity of leadership in Edom, a nation often in conflict with Israel, fulfilling the prophecy about Esau's descendants (Genesis 36:31).

What did Husham do as king of Edom?

The Bible does not record specific events from Husham's reign. His role was to succeed Jobab as king and to be succeeded by Hadad, as documented in the king lists (1 Chronicles 1:45-46). His mention confirms the historical reality of the Edomite kingdom.

Husham

Old TestamentPatriarchsMaleKing

Husham was a king of Edom who reigned before the Israelites had kings, according to the genealogies in Genesis and 1 Chronicles.

Husham

Biography

Husham was an early king of Edom, listed among the eight pre-monarchic Edomite rulers in Genesis 36:34-35 and the parallel passage in 1 Chronicles 1:45-46. He was 'from the land of the Temanites', a region of Edom associated with wisdom, referenced elsewhere in the book of Job. Husham succeeded Jobab son of Zerah as king and was himself succeeded by Hadad son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the country of Moab. These rulers reigned 'before any king reigned over the children of Israel' (Genesis 36:31), a chronological marker that places Husham's reign in the patriarchal period, contemporary with or slightly after Jacob's generation. He represents one link in the chain of Edomite royal succession that the biblical author preserves as part of the comprehensive genealogy of Esau's descendants.

Significance

Husham's place in the Edomite king list of Genesis 36 serves the theological function of demonstrating God's faithfulness to his promise that Esau's descendants would also become a great nation (Genesis 25:23; 36:31). His origin in Teman is noteworthy: the Temanites were proverbially wise in the ancient Near East (Jeremiah 49:7), and Eliphaz of Teman, one of Job's companions, came from this region. Though Husham himself plays no narrative role, his inclusion in sacred genealogy affirms that divine sovereignty encompasses the rise and fall of kingdoms outside Israel, ordering all of history, including that of neighboring peoples, within the framework of God's redemptive purposes.

Verse Appearances (4)

Genesis

Genesis 36:34 Genesis 36:35

1Chr

1Chr 1:45 1Chr 1:46

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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