Arpachshad

Arpachshad is a figure mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and the Book of Genesis. He is identified as the son of Shem and the grandson of Noah. According to the biblical genealogy, Arpachshad was born two years after the Great Flood, a catastrophic event described in Genesis. His father, Shem, was one of Noah's three sons who survived the flood along with their families.

The lineage continues with Arpachshad's son, Shelah, and then to Eber, from whom the name "Hebrew" is believed to derive. Arpachshad's life span is recorded in Genesis as 438 years, during which he fathered other sons and daughters. The biblical narrative places Arpachshad in the period following the flood, a time of re-establishment and the proliferation of humanity. His significance lies primarily in his place within the ancestral line leading to important figures in biblical history, including Abraham. The name Arpachshad is often interpreted to have Mesopotamian origins. While the Bible provides a genealogical account, historical and archaeological evidence for Arpachshad himself is not directly available, as he is a figure within a religious text.