Almodad

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Almodad is Joktan's first-born son and descendant of Noah in the Old Testament .

etymology

The Hebrew personal name אַלְמֹודָד 'almôdād , German ' Almodad ' is probably a nominal sentence name, consisting of subject and predicate. The subject and at the same time theophoric element is אַל 'al or אֵל ' el "God", מֹודָד môdād is derived from the verb root ידד jadad "to be loved" and translated as "lover / friend". The name therefore means "God is friend".

A derivation from the verb root מדד mdd “measure” would also be possible . The particle אַל al in this case is viewed as a negative . This would result in the meaning “immeasurable”.

The Septuagint gives the name as ελμωδαδ elmōdad , the Vulgate as Helmodad , the Samaritan Pentateuch as ' Ilmūdad .

Biblical report

Almodad is according to the table of peoples Gen 10.26  EU and according to 1 Chr 1.20  EU the firstborn son of Joktan. His brothers are called Shelef , Hazarmawet , Jerach , Hadoram , Usal , Dikla, Obal, Abimaël, Sheba , Ofir , Hawila and Jobab. They settled from Mescha via Sefar to the Eastern Mountains. The section in Gen 10: 25-29  EU , in which Almodad and his brothers are mentioned, does not belong to the priestly scriptures.

Rabbinical tradition

Targum pseudo-Jonathan reports from Almodad that he measured the earth with ropes. He connects the name with the verb מדד madad "measure".

literature

Individual evidence

  1. Markus Witte:  Völkertafel. In: Michaela Bauks, Klaus Koenen, Stefan Alkier (Eds.): The Scientific Biblical Lexicon on the Internet (WiBiLex), Stuttgart 2006 ff.
  2. Targum Pseudo-Jonathan Gen 10 on targum.info (en)