Tahash
Tahash was a son of Abraham's brother Nahor and his concubine Reumah.
Biography
Tahash was one of the sons born to Nahor, Abraham's brother, by his concubine Reumah, as recorded in Genesis 22:24. He is listed alongside his brothers Tebah, Gaham, and Maacah as descendants of the extended patriarchal family. While Nahor's primary wife Milcah bore eight sons whose names are well attested in the genealogical records, Tahash and his brothers from Reumah represent the secondary branch of Nahor's household. His name may be connected to a geographical region or ethnic group in the ancient Near East, possibly the Tahsi mentioned in Egyptian records. Tahash's brief mention in the Genesis genealogy situates him within the broader family network that surrounded the covenant line of Abraham.
Significance
Though Tahash receives no narrative development beyond his genealogical mention, his inclusion in Genesis 22:24 carries theological weight. The listing of Nahor's descendants immediately follows the account of Abraham's offering of Isaac, creating a literary juxtaposition between the covenant family and its near relatives. These genealogies demonstrate that God's particular election of Abraham did not erase his broader family connections, and that surrounding peoples had their own origins within the same patriarchal stock. Tahash's lineage thus serves as a reminder of the universal scope of human origins within the biblical worldview, even as God's redemptive focus narrowed through Abraham's chosen line.
Verse Appearances (1)
Genesis
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]