The Torah portion of Vayishlach includes a list of Eisav’s descendants, the oldest of whom was Eliphaz. Although his father Eisav and Eliphaz’s son Amalek were both wicked, Eliphaz’ character was more complicated. This article will discuss some of the biographical information that we have about Eliphaz.
His Mother
Eliphaz’s mother was Bosmat (also known as Adah), daughter of Elon, the Hitite. Eisav married her when he was 40 years old to give the impression that he was righteous like his father who also got married at the age of 40. Bosmat was a pagan worshiper who gave grief to her in laws, Yitzchak and Rivkah.
In some verses Bosmat is called Adah. Some say that she went by both names while others offer the following explanations:
- Rashi says that her name was Adah but that she was called Bosmat because she burned incense (besamim) for idol worship.
- The Chida writes that her name was Bosmat but that she was called Adah because she made ornaments for idols. (עדי means jewelry.)
Meaning of the Name
Here are some of the opinions as to the meaning of the name Eliphaz.
- My G-d Is Gold
Some say that the name Eliphaz (אליפז) is an expression of Eliphaz’s righteousness as it means that he proclaimed that the Almighty G-d (אֵלִי) is like a golden crown upon his head (פז/paz means gold). - Gold Is My god
Tosfot says that Eliphaz is a pagan name which means “Gold (פז) is my god (אֵלִי).” This can allude to Eilphaz’ or Eisav’s excessive desire for wealth. (It is possible that the name was given by Eisav who was a pagan while Eliphaz himself was righteous, see below.) - Gold Is for Me
According to the Roke’ach, Timna paid Eliphaz a lot of gold so that he should take her as a concubine. (See below for more about Timna.) His name reflects this as it means “Gold (פז) is for me (אֵלַי).”
It has been suggested that because Eliphaz married Timna, a women who wasn’t so suitable, for the sake of money, that their son Amalek ended up being an evil man. This is the punishment for a person who takes an unsuitable wife for money.
Didn’t Kill Yaakov
The Midrash says that Eisav sent Eliphaz on a mission to kill Yaakov but since he grew up on the knees of his righteous grandfather Yitzchak, he could not bring himself to carry out this mission. Or that that Yaakov convinced Eliphaz to have mercy on him. When Eliphaz argued that he had to honor his father’s wishes, Yaakov suggested that he take his possessions, rendering him a poor man who is equated with a dead man.
Excelled in Honoring his Father
Eliphaz was so concerned about fulfilling his father’s wishes because he excelled in the mitzvah of honoring his father just as Eisav excelled in honoring his father Yitzchak.
In the merit of Eliphaz’ honoring his father, his son Amalek became a powerful nation.
Timna, Daughter and Concubine
According to Rashi, Eliphaz cohabited with the wife of Seir, and they begot Timna. When Timna grew up, Eliphaz took her as a concubine even though she was his daughter. Together they begot Amalek, a bastard whose descendants became the arch enemy of the Jewish people.
The Talmud says that Timna had wanted to convert and marry into the family of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov, but they refused to accept her. She therefore settled on at least being a concubine of Eliphaz, who was a member of that family. The fact that her descendants were the archenemy of the Jewish people is linked to the fact that she was rejected unnecessarily.
Some suggest that the reason they didn’t want to accept her for conversion is that she was the product of adultery (see above). It is noteworthy that according to the Rashi quoted above Timna was the daughter of Eliphaz which means that she was already a descendant of Abraham and Isaac. Yet she still wanted to convert (since her mother was a pagan) in order to marry into that family.
Korach, Eliphaz’s Son and Step Brother
Rashi writes that Eliphaz had an adulterous and incestuous relationship with his father’s wife Oholivamah and this relationship produced Korach (not to be confused with the Jewish Korach who had the same name) who is consequently listed as the son of Oholivamah and also of Eliphaz.
Eliphaz, the Friend of Job (Iyov)
The book of Job describes the terrible calamities which befell Job and how his three close friends came to comfort him and talk to him. One of these friends was named Eliphaz HaTeimani. Some say that this is the same Eliphaz, the son of Eisav, who came from the south (Teiman means south). This would follow the opinion that the story of Job took place in the time of the sons of Yaakov and that Job was married to Dinah.
A Tzadik with Divine Inspiration
In the discussions that Eliphaz and his two friends had with Job, he shared many deep thoughts which, according to our sages, were spoken with Divine Inspiration (Ru’ach HaKodesh). In addition, the Midrash says that Eliphaz was a Tzadik (righteous man) as a result of being brought up “on the lap of Yitzchak.”
Reconciling the Divergent Behaviors
These descriptions of Eliphaz do not seem to fit the picture of a person who (as described above) indulged in adultery and incest. It is possible that these represent different opinions as to his character. Two other explanations have been suggested.
- Strayed from the Path
Some say that after Eliphaz left the home of Yitzchak and went to live in Se’ir, he strayed from the path of righteousness. - Started Wicked and then did Teshuvah
According to one Midrash, Eliphaz started out as a rasha (wicked man) and then repented and became a tzadik (righteous man). As such, he may have had the incestuous and adulterous relationships before he repented.
Timeline
Here is a timeline of some of the events of Eliphaz’ life:
- Eliphaz was 13 years old when he was sent to kill Yaakov which means that he was born when his father Eisav was 64 years old.
- When he came to comfort Iyov (according to the opinion that this was the same Eliphaz), he would have been at least 45 years old, but more likely he was at least 59.
Reincarnated in Onkelus
Rabbi Menachem Azariah of 16th-century Fano Italy wrote that the soul of Eliphaz was reincarnated into Onkelus, the convert, who translated the Torah into Aramaic. Just as Eliphaz refused to murder Yaakov as his father Eisav demanded, so too Onkelos rejected the advice of his uncle Titus (who was a reincarnation of Eisav) who told him not to convert but instead to oppress the Jewish people. In the merit that Eliphaz did not kill Yaakov who was the pillar of Torah, he was reincarnated in Onkelus who translated the entire Torah.
Visions to Job
In one of his speeches to Job, Eliphaz shared wisdom that he had received prophetically in “visions of the night.” The Midrash says that in this merit, one of his descendants, the prophet Ovadiah, experienced a prophetic “vision” in which he foretold the downfall of Eisav.
Classic Teachings
Here are some of the classic teachings that Eliphaz said as recorded in the book of Job:
- זְכׇר נָא מִי הוּא נָקִי אָבָד “Think now, what innocent man was ever destroyed?”
- הֵן בַעֲבָדָיו לֹא יַאֲמִין וּבְמַלְאָכָיו יָשִים תׇהֳלָה “If He cannot trust His own servants and casts reproach on His angels”
- כִִּֽי אָדָם לְעָמָל יוּלָד “For man is born to toil.”
- וְִּֽיָדַעְתָ כִִּֽי שָלוֹם אׇהֳלֶךָ וִּּֽפָקַדְתָ נָוְךָ וְלֹא תֶחֱטָא “You will know that all is well in your tent; When you visit your dwelling place you will not sin.”
- וְתִבְחַַ֗ר לְשוֹן עֲרוּמִים “So that you choose the language of the wise”
- הֲרִאישוֹן אָדָם תִוָּלֵד “Were you created before (the first) man?”
- מַה יִקָחֲךָ לִבֶךָ “How your heart has carried you away!”
- הֵן בִקְדֹשָו לֹא יַאֲמִין “Behold, He does not trust His holy ones.”
- ר מִמֶנּוהָאֹמְרִים לָאֵל סוּּ “Those who say to G-d, ‘stay away from us!’”
- וְִּֽתִגְזַר אֹמֶר וְיָקׇם לָך ְ “And He decreed and said, and it was established.”
- בְּשֵׁש צָרוֹת יַצִּילֶךָ וּבְּשֶבַע לֹא יִּגַע בְּךָ רָע “He will deliver you from six troubles, in seven no harm will reach you.”
May we merit to take all these teachings to heart!
Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom Umevorach! Copyright 2023 by Rabbi Aryeh Citron
