Genesis Encyclopedia:

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Abel
     The second son of Adam and Eve. He was murdered by his older brother, Cain. Abel was a shepherd, and Cain was a tiller of the ground. They both made an offering to God from the fruits of their labor. Without giving any reason, God accepted Abel's offering, of the "firstlings of his flock and of their fat". But Cain's was rejected. In a fit of jealousy, Cain killed his brother (right). For this sin, Cain was exiled. (4:2-8)

Abel Mizraim
     The Canaanites' name for Atad (or Goren Atad), a place close to the Jordan river. They named it when they saw Jacob's family stop there for a period of seven day's mourning. The family was on its way to bury Jacob's body in Canaan. (50:7-11)

Abida (also called Abidah)
     A son of Midian (25:1-4)

Abidah
     See Abida

Abimael
     A son of Joktan (10:28)

Abimelech
     The king of the Philistine city of Gerar (located near the southern border of the land of Canaan).
     When Abraham and Sarah settled for a time in Gerar, Abraham was afraid that people would want his wife Sarah, and would kill him to possess her. So he passed off Sarah as his sister, rather than his wife. Abimelech took a liking to Sarah. He kidnapped Sarah, and tried to have sex with her. But God warned Abimelech in a dream that Sarah was Abraham's wife. Abimelech confronted Abraham. Abraham confessed "She is my wife." So Abimelech gave Sarah back to Abraham. (20:1-18) He later made peace with Abraham. (21:27-32)
     Later, Abimelech had a similar incident with Abraham's son Isaac. Isaac and Rebekah settled for a time in Gerar. Gerar was still ruled by the Philistines, and Abimelech was still their king. Like Abraham before him, Isaac passed off Rebekah as his sister in order to stay alive. Abimelech suspected that Rebekah was really Isaac's wife, and confronted Isaac. Isaac confessed the truth. Abimelech warned the people of Gerar that whomever touched Isaac or Rebekah would be put to death. (26:1-11)
     Later, Isaac became a very powerful man in the city. The Philistines were jealous of him. Abimelech warned Isaac to leave. (26:11-16) So Isaac and his family went to the town of Beersheba, where Abraham and Abimelech had made their covenant. There, Isaac and Abimelech made a peace treaty of their own. (26:28-33)
     It's possible that Gerar may have had two kings with the same name, but this is never explicitly stated. In any case, in both incidences, King Abimelech is accompanied by a military commander named Phichol. (21:22,32; 26:26)

Abraham
     Abraham has his own page. To read about Abraham, click here.

Abram
     See Abraham.

Accad (also called Akkad)
     A city in Nimrod's kingdom. It was located in the land of Shinar. (The land of Shinar was located north of the Persian Gulf, between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, in what would today be Iraq, or northeastern Syria. It was later called Chaldea, and later Babylon.) (10:9-10)

Achbor
   The father of Baal-Hanan. (36:38-39)

Adah - There are two:
     1. One of the wives of Lamech. (4:19) She bore him two sons: Jabal and Jubal. (4:20-21)
     2. One of Esau's wives. (26:34) She was a Canaanite woman, which displeased Esau's parents. (26:35)
     There is a discrepancy as to her name. In 26:34, she is named Basemath (or Bashemath). But later in 36:1-16, she is named Adah. In any case, she is the daughter of Elon the Hittite (26:34; 36:2), and she bore Esau a son named Eliphaz. (36:1-16)

Adam (The name comes from the Hebrew word "adam", which means "man" or "human being" in English.)
     The first man.
     Genesis 1:1 to 2:4 describes the creation of man as male and female in the image of God, on the sixth day. Man is told to multiply and subdue the earth.
     Genesis 2:4 to 4:25 tells how man was formed from the dust of the earth and placed in the Garden of Eden. Adam named the animals, but he couldn't find a fitting companion. So God formed Eve from the man's rib.
     Adam and Eve ate the fruit forbidden by God, and were expelled from the garden. Outside the garden, hardship and pain were common.
     After the expulsion, Adam and Eve had children. First Adam fathered two sons: Cain and Abel. (4:1-2) Later, at age 130, Adam fathered a third son, Seth. (4:25; 5:3) After this, Adam and Eve had other sons and daughters, but no more names are given. (5:4)
     Adam died at age 930. (5:5)

Adbeel
     One of Ishmael's twelve sons. He was the head of a tribe that bore his name. (25:12-16)

Addar (also called Ard)
     A son of Benjamin. He was one of Jacob's family that moved to Egypt. (46:5-8,21)

Admah
     A city in the land of Canaan. (10:19) It was one of the five cities that banded together and rebelled against Chedolaomer in the battle in the valley of Siddim. Admah was on the losing side. (chapter 14)

Adullam
     A city in the southern part of the land of Canaan. The home of Hirah. (38:1-2)

Adullamite
     A resident of the city of Adullam, a city in the southern part of the land of Canaan. Hirah was an Adullamite. (38:1-2)

Aholibama (also called Oholibama)-there are two:
     1. One of Esau's wives. She was a Canaanite, the daughter of Anah. (36:2,25) She bore Esau three sons: Jeush, Jaalan, and Korah. (36:5,14,18)
     2. An chief in the Edom tribe. (36:40-43)

Ahuzzath
     A friend of Abimelech (the Philistine king of the city of Gerar). He accompanied Abimelech to Beesheba to make a covenant with Isaac. (26:23-31)

Ai (also called Hai)
     A city in the eastern part of the land of Canaan. Abraham camped near there shortly after arriving in Canaan. (12:8) He later revisited the place after staying in Egypt. (13:3)

Aiah
     See Ajah, below.

Ajah (also called Aiah)
     The first son of Zibeon. (36:20,24)

Akan
     A child of Ezer. (36:27)

Akkad (also called Accad)
     A city in Nimrod's kingdom. It was located in the land of Shinar. (The land of Shinar was located north of the Persian Gulf, between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, in what would today be Iraq, or northeastern Syria. It was later called Chaldea, and later Babylon.) (10:9-10)

Allon Bacuth (also called Allon-bacuth)
     The name given to an oak tree under which Deborah (Rebekah's nurse) was buried. (35:8)

Almodad
     A son of Joktan. (10:26)

Alvah (also called Alvan)
     One of the chiefs of Edom (36:40)

Alvan-there are two:
     1. A variation on Alvah (see above).
     2. A son of Shobal (36:23)

Amalek
     The son of Eliphaz and his concubine Timna. (36:12) He was a chief of Edom. (36:16)

Amalekites
     A tribe who lived in the land of Canaan. They lived in the city of Enmishpat, until the city was conquered by Chedorlaomer in the war in Canaan. (14:7)

Ammon
     A tribe who are descendants of Ben-Ammi, the son of the incest between Lot and his younger daughter. (19:38)

Ammonite
     A person of the tribe of Ammon (see above).

Amorites
     A subdivision of the Canaanites. (10:16; 16:16,21)
     Some Ammorites lived in the city of Hazaron Tamar, until the city was conquered by Chedorlaomer in the war in Canaan. (14:7)

Amraphel
     The king of the land of Shinar during the civil war in the land of Canaan. (14:1)

Anah - There are two:
     1. The daughter of Zibeon. (36:2,14,24-25) She was the mother of Aholimah, one of Esau's wives. (36:2,14,18,25)
     2. A son of Seir. This Anah had a brother named Zibeon. (36:20) Anah was a Horite chief. (36:29)

Anamin
     A son of Mizraim. (10:13)

Aner
     One of three Amorite chiefs who helped Abram's army defeat Chedorlaomer and rescue Lot. (The other two were Aner's brothers, Eshcol and Mamre.) After their victory, Abraham refused to take any of the spoil, but let the three chiefs have their share. (chapter 14)

Aram - There are three:
     1. A son of Shem. He was the parent of Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash. (10:22-23)
     2. A child of Kemuel. (22:21)
     3. A group of tribes, also called the Syrians. Members of these tribes included Bethuel (25:20; 28:5) and Laban (25:20, 31:20,24).

Aramean
     A member of the tribes of Aram, also called the Syrians. Members of these tribes included Bethuel (25:20; 28:5) and Laban (25:20, 31:20,24).

Aran
     A child of Dishan. (36:28)

Ararat
     A group of mountains on which Noah's ark came to rest when the flood subsided. (8:4) (Archeologists have allegedly found Noah's ark on Mt. Ararat in eastern Turkey, near the borders of Russia and Iran. They have found a vessel there, and it has not been positively identified. But some archeologists believe that it may be Noah's Ark.)

Arbah
     A city. It was also called Hebron (35:27) and Kirjath Arba (or Kiriatharba). (23:2)
     The city was located near the plain of Mamre in the land of Canaan. (13:18; 23:2,19; 35:27)
     Abraham built an altar to God there. (13:18) Sarah died there. (23:2) Later, Isaac died there. (35:27-29)

Ard (also called Addar)
     A son of Benjamin. He was one of Jacob's family that moved to Egypt. (46:5-8,21)

Areli
     A son of Gad. He was one of Jacob's family who moved to Egypt. (46:5-8,16)

Arioch
     The king of the city of Ellasar during the civil war in the land of Canaan. (14:1)

Arkites
     A subdivision of the Canaanites. (10:17)

Ark
     See Noah's ark.

Arod (also called Arodi)
     A son of Gad. He was one of Jacob's family who moved to Egypt. (46:5-8,16)

Arodi (also called Arod)
     A son of Gad. He was one of Jacob's family who moved to Egypt. (46:5-8,16)

Arpachshad (also called Arphaxad)
     A son of Shem. (10:22; 11:10) He was born two years after the flood. (11:10) At age 530, he became the father of Salah. Then he lived another 403 years, and had other sons and daughters.

Arphaxad (also called Arpachshad)
     A son of Shem. (10:22; 11:10) He was born two years after the flood. (11:10) At age 530, he became the father of Salah. Then he lived another 403 years, and had other sons and daughters.

Arvadites
     A subdivision of the Canaanites. (10:18)

Asenath
     The daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On. The Egyptian pharaoh gave her to Joseph as a wife. (41:45,50; 46:20) She was the mother of Joseph's sons, Manasseh and Ephraim (41:50-52; 46:20)

Ashbel
     A son of Benjamin. He was one of Jacob's family that moved to Egypt. (46:5-8,21)

Asher (The name comes from the Hebrew word "osher", which means "happy" in English.)
     A son of Jacob. The second of his two sons by Zilpah, Leah's slave. His only full brother was Gad. (30:10-13; 35:26) Asher had four sons-Imman, Ishuah, Ishui, and Beriah-plus one daughter, Serah. (46:17)

Ashkenaz (also called Ashchenaz)
     A son of Gomer. (10:3)

Ashchenaz (also called Ashkenaz)
     A son of Gomer. (10:3)

Ashteroth Karnaim
     A city in the land of Canaan. It was lived in by a tribe called the Rephaims, until the war in Canaan. Then Chedorlaomer's army conquered the city. (14:5)

Asshur
     A son of Shem. (10:22)

Assyria
     A land located in the Persian Gulf near the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. (2:14; 25:18)

Atad (also called Goren Atad)
     A place near the Jordan river. After Jacob's death, his family brought his body to Canaan for burial. On the way to Canaan, they stopped at Atad for a period of seven days of mourning. (50:7-10) When the Canaanites saw them mourning, they called the place "Abel Mizraim". (50:11)

Avith
     The capital city of the kingdom of Edom when Hadad was its king. (36:35)


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