Joktan, Peleg's brother, fathers Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, and Jerah — the first four of thirteen sons listed in verses 26–29. These names correspond primarily to South Arabian tribes and territories — the Arabian Peninsula's diverse peoples trace their ancestry to Joktan. The thirteen sons of Joktan represent one of the densest clusters of descendants in the table, reflecting the significant population of the Arabian region and its importance in the ancient world. The spice routes and frankincense trade of Arabia connect these peoples to the broader story — the Magi who follow the star to Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1) likely come from a region populated by Joktan's descendants. The gifts they bring — frankincense and myrrh — are products of the land where Joktan's sons settled. The genealogy that seems most distant from the gospel story may be the one that plants its most unexpected witness.

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