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Zerah

Old TestamentEgypt & WildernessMaleSon

Zerah (or Zohar), a son of Simeon, was the ancestor of the Zerahite clan (Num.26.13; 1Ch.4.24; Num.26.20; Jos.7.17,17; 1Ch.27.11,13; Gen.46.10; Exo.6.15).

Zerah illustration
Zerah

Biography

Zerah, also called Zohar in some manuscript traditions, was a son of Simeon, Jacob's second son, and appears in the listing of Jacob's descendants who went down to Egypt (Genesis 46:10; Exodus 6:15). He became the ancestor of the Zerahite clan within the tribe of Simeon, which was counted in the wilderness censuses (Numbers 26:13). The dual name Zerah/Zohar likely reflects variant manuscript traditions, with Zerah being the more common form in later texts. The Zerahite clan is mentioned in the context of tribal military organization in Numbers 26:20 and the battle narratives surrounding Joshua 7, where the Zerahites of the tribe of Judah intersect with the more prominent Zerah of Judah's line.

Significance

Zerah son of Simeon represents the foundational tribal genealogy that gave the tribe of Simeon its clan structure in the wilderness period. His designation as the eponymous ancestor of the Zerahite clan demonstrates how Israel's social and military organization during the wilderness years was built upon the biological descendants of Jacob's sons. The tribe of Simeon had a complex history, it lacked an independent allotment in Canaan and was eventually absorbed into Judah, yet figures like Zerah ensured that the clan's identity was remembered and counted. This genealogical memory reflects the biblical conviction that every member of Israel mattered within the covenant community, and that God's redemptive purpose was worked out through real families and their histories.

Verse Appearances (4)

References

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

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