Definition and Location:
Paddanaram, also known as Paddan-Aram, is a region mentioned in the Old Testament, primarily associated with the ancestral narratives of the patriarchs. It is located in the northern part of Mesopotamia, corresponding to the area around Haran. The name "Paddanaram" is often translated as "the field of Aram" or "the plain of Aram," indicating its geographical and cultural ties to the Arameans.

Biblical References:
Paddanaram is prominently featured in the Genesis accounts of the patriarchs, particularly in relation to the family of Abraham. It is first mentioned in Genesis 25:20: "And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddanaram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife." This passage highlights the familial connections between the patriarchs and the inhabitants of Paddanaram.

The region is also significant in the life of Jacob. After deceiving his brother Esau, Jacob flees to Paddanaram to escape Esau's wrath and to find a wife from his mother's family. Genesis 28:2 records Isaac's instruction to Jacob: "Go at once to Paddanaram, to the house of your mother's father Bethuel. Take a wife for yourself there, from the daughters of Laban, your mother's brother."

Jacob's time in Paddanaram is marked by his service to Laban, his uncle, in exchange for his daughters Leah and Rachel as wives. This period is detailed in Genesis 29-31, where Jacob's experiences in Paddanaram include his marriages, the birth of his children, and his eventual departure back to Canaan.

Cultural and Historical Context:
Paddanaram was part of the larger region of Aram, inhabited by the Arameans, a Semitic people closely related to the Hebrews. The cultural and familial ties between the Hebrews and the Arameans are evident in the narratives of Genesis, where intermarriage between the two groups is a recurring theme.

The region's significance is underscored by its role as a place of refuge and family connection for the patriarchs. It serves as a backdrop for God's unfolding covenantal promises, as seen in Jacob's vision at Bethel (Genesis 28:10-22) and his subsequent experiences in Paddanaram.

Theological Significance:
Paddanaram is integral to the biblical narrative of God's covenant with Abraham and his descendants. The region is a setting for divine encounters and the fulfillment of God's promises. Jacob's journey to and from Paddanaram is marked by God's guidance and protection, reinforcing the theme of divine providence and faithfulness.

The experiences of the patriarchs in Paddanaram also highlight themes of family, faith, and God's sovereignty in the lives of His chosen people. The marriages and offspring resulting from Jacob's time in Paddanaram are pivotal in the formation of the twelve tribes of Israel, furthering God's redemptive plan through the lineage of Abraham.

Conclusion:
While Paddanaram is not frequently mentioned outside the patriarchal narratives, its role in the biblical account is significant. It serves as a geographical and cultural link between the patriarchs and their ancestral heritage, illustrating the unfolding of God's covenantal promises through the generations.PADDAN-ARAM

pad'-an-a'-ram or p.-ar'-am (paddan 'aram; Septuagint Mesopotamia tes Surias; the King James Version Padan-aram): In Genesis 48:7, Paddan stands alone, but as the Septuagint, Sam, and Peshitta read "Aram" also, it must in this verse have dropped out of the Massoretic Text. In the time of Abraham, padanu occurs on the Babylonian contract-tablets as a land measure, to which we may compare the Arabic feddan or "ox-gang." In the Assyrian syllabaries it is the equivalent of iklu, "a field," so that Paddan-aram would mean "the field of Aram," and with this we may compare Hosea 12:12 (Hebrew 12:13) and the use of the Hebrew sadheh in connection with Moab and Edom (Judges 5:4 Ruth 1:6).

Furthermore, [`padanu] and harranu are given as synonyms with the meaning of "road."

Paddan-aram occurs only in the Priestly Code (P), but it corresponds to the "Haran" of the older documents. The versions agree in translating both as Mesopotamia, and identify with the home of the patriarchs and the scene of Jacob's exile the district of Haran to the East of the Upper Euphrates valley. More in harmony with the length of Jacob's flight, as indicated by the time given (Genesis 31:22, 23), is Harran-el-`Awamid, an ancient site 10 miles to the East of Damascus, which satisfies all the demands of history.

See ARAM.

W.M. Christie

Chapter xxxv
... handmaid of Leah"Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob which were
born to him in PaddanAram. And Jacob came to Isaac, his ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxv.htm

Chapter xxxiv
... handmaid of Leah"Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob which were
born to him in PaddanAram. And Jacob came to Isaac, his ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxiv.htm

Paddanaram

/p/paddanaram.htm - 8k

Paddan (11 Occurrences)

/p/paddan.htm - 10k

Paddan-aram (10 Occurrences)
Paddan-aram. Paddanaram, Paddan-aram. Paddle . Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia ...
(See JPS ASV BBE NAS RSV). Paddanaram, Paddan-aram. Paddle . Reference
/p/paddan-aram.htm - 10k

Jacob's (34 Occurrences)
... to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph: and Jacob's well was
there." When Jacob came to Shechem on his return from Paddanaram he encamped ...
/j/jacob's.htm - 23k

Well (2882 Occurrences)
... to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph: and Jacob's well was
there." When Jacob came to Shechem on his return from Paddanaram he encamped ...
/w/well.htm - 39k

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