וְיָקְטָ֣ן יָלַ֔ד אֶת־אַלְמוֹדָ֖ד וְאֶת־שָׁ֑לֶף וְאֶת־חֲצַרְמָ֖וֶת וְאֶת־יָֽרַח׃
Y Joctán engendró á Almodad, y á Sheleph, y Hazarmaveth, y á Jera,
Bereshit Rabbah
“And the stars” (Genesis 1:16) – Rav Aḥa said: This is analogous to a king who had two stewards, one ruled [only] over the city and one ruled over the [rest of the] province. The king said: ‘Since this one diminished himself [and consented] to be ruler over the city, I decree concerning him that whenever he goes out, a large crowd should go out with him, and when he enters, the city council and the multitudes should enter with him.’ So, the Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Since the moon diminished itself to rule at night, I decree concerning it that when it goes out, the stars should go out with it, and when it goes in,11When it sets. the stars should go in with it.’
Similarly, “the name of his brother was Yoktan” (Genesis 10:25) – Rabbi Aḥa said: Why was he named Yoktan? It is because he would minimize [maktin] his affairs.12He was humble. What did he merit? He merited producing thirteen great families.13See Genesis 10:26–29. Now, if Yoktan14Who was the younger brother (Genesis 10:25). received this because he minimized his affairs, if an important man minimizes his affairs, all the more so.
Similarly, “Israel extended his right hand, and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger” (Genesis 48:14) – Rabbi Ḥonya said: Do we not know from the accounts of the births that he was the younger? What, then, is “who was the younger [tza’ir]”? It is because he would minimize [matzir] his affairs. What did he merit? He merited the birthright. Now, if the young one merited the birthright because he minimized his affairs, an older person who minimizes his affairs, all the more so. This is astounding.15It is astounding how great the power of humility is.
Similarly, “the name of his brother was Yoktan” (Genesis 10:25) – Rabbi Aḥa said: Why was he named Yoktan? It is because he would minimize [maktin] his affairs.12He was humble. What did he merit? He merited producing thirteen great families.13See Genesis 10:26–29. Now, if Yoktan14Who was the younger brother (Genesis 10:25). received this because he minimized his affairs, if an important man minimizes his affairs, all the more so.
Similarly, “Israel extended his right hand, and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger” (Genesis 48:14) – Rabbi Ḥonya said: Do we not know from the accounts of the births that he was the younger? What, then, is “who was the younger [tza’ir]”? It is because he would minimize [matzir] his affairs. What did he merit? He merited the birthright. Now, if the young one merited the birthright because he minimized his affairs, an older person who minimizes his affairs, all the more so. This is astounding.15It is astounding how great the power of humility is.
Bereshit Rabbah
“And Yoktan begot Almodad, and Shelef, and Ḥatzarmavet, and Yeraḥ” (Genesis 10:26).
“And Yoktan begot Almodad, and Shelef, and Ḥatzarmavet” – Rabbi Huna said: There is a place named Ḥatzarmavet,31Literally, courtyard of death. [and it is so called] because they eat leeks and wear papyrus garments,32So dire is their poverty. and anticipate death every day.33They look forward to death, since they are so deprived. Rabbi Shmuel said: They do not have even papyrus garments.
“Their dwelling was from Mesha, as you approach Sefar, the mountain of Kedem” (Genesis 10:30).
“Their dwelling was from Mesha” – Elazar ben Pinḥas said: Mesha is death.34This is a metaphor. All the children there were illegitimate, and illegitimate children do not live long. Media is ill.35Their children are mostly legitimate, but there are some illegitimate among them. Eilam and Govevei are dying.36The majority are illegitimate. Ḥevel Yama is the sky blue wool of Babylon.37Sky-blue wool is the most expensive material. Ḥevel Yama contains people of the finest lineage in Babylon. Tzor and Tzayar are the sky blue wool of Ḥevel Yama. Rabbi Yehuda says: Mesopotamia is like the Exile38Exile is a moniker for Pumbedita, a place with fine lineage. in terms of lineage. “As you approach Sefar” – Tafrei. “The mountain of Kedem” – the mountains of the east.39Kedem often means east.
“And Yoktan begot Almodad, and Shelef, and Ḥatzarmavet” – Rabbi Huna said: There is a place named Ḥatzarmavet,31Literally, courtyard of death. [and it is so called] because they eat leeks and wear papyrus garments,32So dire is their poverty. and anticipate death every day.33They look forward to death, since they are so deprived. Rabbi Shmuel said: They do not have even papyrus garments.
“Their dwelling was from Mesha, as you approach Sefar, the mountain of Kedem” (Genesis 10:30).
“Their dwelling was from Mesha” – Elazar ben Pinḥas said: Mesha is death.34This is a metaphor. All the children there were illegitimate, and illegitimate children do not live long. Media is ill.35Their children are mostly legitimate, but there are some illegitimate among them. Eilam and Govevei are dying.36The majority are illegitimate. Ḥevel Yama is the sky blue wool of Babylon.37Sky-blue wool is the most expensive material. Ḥevel Yama contains people of the finest lineage in Babylon. Tzor and Tzayar are the sky blue wool of Ḥevel Yama. Rabbi Yehuda says: Mesopotamia is like the Exile38Exile is a moniker for Pumbedita, a place with fine lineage. in terms of lineage. “As you approach Sefar” – Tafrei. “The mountain of Kedem” – the mountains of the east.39Kedem often means east.