Almodad

Almodad ({{Langx|he|אַלְמוֹדָ֖ד}} ’Almōḏāḏ) was a descendant of Noah and the first named son of Joktan in {{bibleverse-lb||Genesis|10:26}} and {{bibleverse-lb|1|Chronicles|1:20}}. While the Bible has no further history regarding Almodad, this patriarch is considered to be the founder of an Arabian tribe in "Arabia Felix".{{cite book | title = The Historical Geography of Arabia (Volume I) | chapter = Section II: Settlements of Joktan | pages = 77–175 | author = Charles Forster | author-link = Charles Forster (theologian) | year = 1844 | quote = The family of this patriarch seems to have been correctly traced by Bochart, in the Almodaei, or Allumaeotae, a central people of Arabia Felix, noticed by Ptolemy; and whose geographical position can be pretty exactly ascertained, both by the statement of the Alexandrine geographer, and by the nature of the adjoining country. }} This is based on the identification of Joktan's other sons, such as Sheba and Havilah, who are both identified as coming from that region.Skinner, D.D., John, A Critical and Exegitical Commentary on Genesis, T&T Clark Ltd., 1910 (1980 ed.), p. 221. {{ISBN|0-567-05001-7}}.

According to Easton's Bible Dictionary "Almodad" means "immeasurable", however it has also been translated as "not measured",{{Strong-number|אַלְמוֹדָד|H|486}} "measure of God",{{cite book | url = http://christianthings.com/reading/biblena.html | title = Hitchcock's New and Complete Analysis of the Holy Bible |author1=Roswell Dwight Hitchcock |author2=Nathaniel West |author3=Alexander Cruden | year = 1870 | publisher = A.J. Johnson | isbn = 978-0-8370-1742-6 }} "the beloved," or, "God is beloved",{{cite encyclopedia | year = 1915 | title = Almodad | encyclopedia = International Standard Bible Encyclopedia }} "God is love",{{cite encyclopedia | encyclopedia = Ancient Faiths Embodied in Ancient Names Part 1 | title = Almodad | author = Thomas Inman | pages = 231 | year = 2002 | publisher = Kessinger Publishing | isbn = 978-0-7661-2668-8 }} and "God is a friend".{{cite encyclopedia | encyclopedia = The Comprehensive Dictionary of English & Hebrew First Names | author = Alfred J. Kolatch | author-link = Alfred J. Kolatch | title = Almodad | page = 39 | year = 2005 | publisher = Jonathan David Company | isbn = 978-0-8246-0455-4 }}{{cite encyclopedia | encyclopedia = HCSB Super Giant Print Dictionary and Concordance | author = David K. Stabnow | title = Almodad | pages = 47 | year = 2006 | publisher = Broadman & Holman | isbn = 978-0-8054-9489-1 }}

Many translations and scholarly works use "Elmodad", including Josephus,{{cite book | author = Josephus | title = Antiquities of the Jews | chapter-url = http://www.ccel.org/j/josephus/works/ant-1.htm | chapter = Book I | title-link = Antiquities of the Jews }} Douay–Rheims Bible[http://www.hebrewoldtestament.com/B13C001.htm "The First Book of the Chronicles"], Parallel Hebrew Old Testament and the Targum Ps.-Jonathan, which elaborates Gen 10:26 and says "begot Elmodad, who measured the earth with cords."{{cite book | chapter-url = http://www.targum.info/pj/pjgen6-11.htm | title = Targum Ps.-Jonathan | chapter = Section II. Toledoth | title-link = Targum Pseudo-Jonathan }}{{cite encyclopedia | encyclopedia = The Bible Dictionary | title = Almo'dad | year = 1875 | pages = 51 | oclc = 26196495 }}{{cite journal | title = Yonton Revisited: A Case Study in the Reception of Hellenistic Science within Early Judaism | author = Alexander Toepel | journal = Harvard Theological Review | year = 2006 | volume = 99 | pages = 235–245 | doi = 10.1017/S0017816006001234 | issue = 3 | s2cid = 162433476 }}