Er עֵר

Male Tribe of Judah H6147H 1 book

Judah's grandson, ancestor of linen workers.

Who is Er in the Bible?

Er was Judah's grandson and the son of Shelah, mentioned in 1 Chronicles 4:21 as the father of Lecah. He is noted as an ancestor of the linen workers at Beth-ashbea, a community known for their textile craftsmanship. Unlike another biblical figure named Er who appears in the story of Judah and Tamar, this Er had a line of descendants who maintained their trade through generations. His significance lies primarily in his role as a patriarchal ancestor of an occupational guild rather than in dramatic narrative events.

Biography

Er was the son of Shelah, son of Judah. Unlike his uncle with the same name, he had descendants, and these became the linen workers at Beth-ashbea.

Family

In Scripture

1 biblical book
1 Chronicles 1 verse
  • 1 Chronicles 4:21

    "The sons of Shelah son of Judah: Er the father of Lecah, Laadah the father of Mareshah and the clans of the linen workers at Beth-ashbea,"

Names & Aliases

Form Language Script
Named Hebrew עֵר
Encyclopedia Article

Er

ISBE 1915 (Public Domain)

(2) "Er the father of Lecah" is mentioned among "the sons of Shelah the son of Judah" (1Ch 4:21).

(3) An ancestor of Jesus in Luke's genealogy in the 7th generation before Zerubbabel (Lu 3:28).

We find no definite era in use in Old Testament times, and such usage does not appear until we reach the period of the Maccabees. There are some references to important events that might have served as eras h