Naama (Bible)

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Naama ( Hebrew נַעֲמָה"Lovely, lovely", also: Naema ) is the name of two women, a village and a landscape that are mentioned in the Hebrew Bible .

Descendant of Cain

In Gen 4,22  EU , Naama is mentioned as the daughter of Lamech and Zilla . It was therefore descended from Adam's eldest son, Cain . Naama's brother was Tubal-Cain , the progenitor of all blacksmiths and metalworkers. The Bible also mentions two half-brothers Naamas, Jabal and Jubal . It is noticeable that, unlike her brothers, no particular reason is given for their mention. In general, she is the only woman in biblical prehistory who appears as the daughter of another person. Usually only (firstborn) sons are mentioned. In the commentaries on the Tanakh of Schlomo ben Jizchak , an important rabbi of the 11th and early 12th centuries, she therefore appears as the wife of Noah , whose name is otherwise unknown in the Bible.

According to the medieval scholar Gregorius Bar-Hebraeus (1225 / 26–1286) Naama taught women to dress and hair beautifully, to sing and dance. She is also said to have invented make-up. Naama was the first of the women who were later referred to as "Daughters of Cain" and opened the tradition of the Arab singing girls (Qaina) . With their art of singing and their feminine charms, the Qaina provided entertainment for the male guests in wine bars and grand festivities. Her three brothers Jubal, Jabal and Tubal-Kain are considered to be the inventors of music, especially the Kinnor lyre , the blacksmith's trade and nomadic donkey breeding.

Other biblical mentions

  • In 1 Kings 14.31  EU , an Ammonite woman named Naama is named as the concubine of King Solomon and mother Rehoboam of Judah .
  • In Jos 15.41  EU a city Naama is in the Shephelah mentioned, for the tribe of Judah was one.
  • In addition, the landscape from which one of Job's three friends came is called Naama. This is suspected to be in the northwest of Arabia ( Hi 2.11  EU ).