Jarha

Jarha is an Egyptian slave in the household of Sheshan, a descendant of Jerahmeel. His brief notice in the Judahite genealogies records an unusual marriage that grafts an Egyptian into the line of Israel and continues Sheshan's house through a daughter's son.

An Egyptian in Sheshan's Household

The Chronicler pauses the genealogy to explain how Sheshan's line continued: "Now Sheshan had no sons, but daughters. And Sheshan had a slave, an Egyptian, whose name was Jarha. And Sheshan gave his daughter to Jarha his slave as wife; and she bore him Attai" (1Ch 2:34-35). The verses do two things at once. They identify Jarha by status — slave — and by origin — Egyptian — making clear he is not a native member of Sheshan's clan. They also record the master's solution to a failing patrilineal line: Sheshan gives his daughter to his own slave so that the household's name and inheritance can pass through their son Attai. From Attai the genealogy continues for several generations within the Jerahmeelites of Judah.