Bible Strands
1 Kings 11:20
And the sister of Tahpenes bore Hadad a son named Genubath. Tahpenes herself weaned him in Pharaoh’s palace, and Genubath lived there among the sons of Pharaoh.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative records Hadad’s family arrangements in Egypt after he marries into Pharaoh’s household and before he hears of David’s death and requests permission to return to Edom.
The words — The verse highlights וַ/תִּגְמְלֵ֣/הוּ (va./tig.me.Le./hu), literally “and she weaned him,” specifying Tahpenes’ personal role in raising the child within the royal palace.
The thread — The text’s mention of weaning parallels 1 Samuel 1:24, where Hannah completes Samuel’s weaning before presenting him at the sanctuary, and Genesis 21:7, which notes Sarah’s miraculous bearing of Isaac.
Why it lands — The passage requires the reader to observe how political asylum and royal adoption operate through the physical upbringing of a child, establishing the domestic reality that will later prompt Hadad’s request to return to his homeland.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And the sister of Tahpenes bare him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh’s house: and Genubath was in Pharaoh’s household among the sons of Pharaoh.
Cross-references
- Genesis 21:7 She added, “Who would have told Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”
- 1 Samuel 1:24 Once she had weaned him, Hannah took the boy with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. Though the boy was still young, she brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh.