Mivsam

מבשם


Genesis 25:13: a son of Yishma-El, one of twelve children in whom, yet again, the zodiacal constellations are reflected, and the cosmic hierarchy echoed, in an earthly tribal division: the twelve are Nevayot (נבית), Kedar (קדר), Adbe-El (אדבאל), Mivsam (מבשם), Mishma (משמע), Dumah (דומה), Masa (משא), Chadad (חדד), Teyma (תימא), Yetur (יטור), Naphish (נפיש) and Kedmah (קדמה).

It will be well worth investigating these names, as with the Ya'akov and Milkah lists, to work out which represented which zodiacal sign, and which had which role in the temples. It ought also to be possible to cross-identify the three lists, thus allowing each list to help explain the others more clearly. 

And then, what about the Esav list - does it fit as well? It should do. And see the Shim'on list below.

1 Chronicles 4:24/27 names Mivsam as a son of Shim'on (Simeon), linked to Shalum (שלם) and Mishma (משמע). Shalum is another of the Salm names connected to the sun-cult that David presided over in Yeru-Shala'im; cf Shelomoh (Solomon), Av-Shalom (Absalom) et al. Mishma is Mivsam's brother in the Yishma-El list as well as in this Shim'on list. The Shimon list, which does not actually make complete sense and is therefore difficult to translate or interpret, also appears to name the twelve constellations, in that Shim'on's sons are Nemu-El, Yamin, Yariv, Zerach and Sha'ul; there then follows the problematic verse which simply states "Shalum his son, Mivsam his son, Mishma his son", without being specific as to who "his" means. Mishma is then said to have three sons: Chamu-El (חַמּוּאֵל), Zachur (זַכּוּר) and Shim'i (שִׁמְעִי), making twelve in total. 

The name Mivsam means "sweet odour", which connects it to the sacrifices; but are we misreading Mivsam for Mevushim (מבשם) which are the "privates" - cf Deuteronomy 25:11?





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