Zepho

Family: Sons Of Esau · Role: son of Eliphaz · First appears: The Sons Of Jacob At War With The Sons Of Esau

Zepho, son of Eliphaz, was captured by Joseph in Egypt with fifty of his men and carried away in chains. When Joseph returned from battle, he ordered Zepho and his followers put in manacles and fetters, making their captivity more bitter. During Agnias’s reign, Zepho escaped Egypt, was welcomed by him, and appointed commander-in-chief of his troops; when Agnias would not wage war against the sons of Jacob, Zepho fled to Kittim.

At Kittim, Zepho killed a monster that had been devouring the people’s cattle, and they honored him as their liberator with an annual day bearing his name. After defeating African troops who invaded Kittim, he was chosen king. He subdued the sons of Tubal and the Islands of the Sea, then repelled successive invasions by Agnias and pursued his troops to Africa’s borders. When Agnias sought aid, the people of Seir, allied with him, refused Zepho’s request; Zepho prayed, and with God’s help defeated the African army in battle. Balaam, driven from Africa by Agnias’s defeat, came to Kittim and was received with honors by Zepho.

Zepho later joined forces with Hadad to wage war against Jacob’s descendants. The Israelites prayed to God and routed Zepho’s allies after the Egyptians fled. In the wars waged by Malol against Zepho, the Israelites saved the Egyptians from a crushing defeat; the account describes Zepho as Esau’s grandson. He continued to reign as king of Kittim and Italy until his death.