Num 1:5-16 | Clarke

Numbers 1:5-16

Verse 14

Eliasaph, the son of Deuel - This person is called Reuel, Num 2:14. As the ד daleth is very like the ר resh, it was easy to mistake the one for the other. The Septuagint and the Syriac have Reuel in this chapter; and in Num 2:14, the Vulgate, the Samaritan, and the Arabic have Deuel instead of Reuel, with which reading a vast number of MSS. concur; and this reading is supported by Num 10:20; we may safely conclude therefore that דעואל Deuel, not רעואל Reuel, was the original reading. See Kennicott. An ancient Jewish rabbin pretends to solve every difficulty by saying that "Eliasaph was a proselyte; that before he embraced the true faith he was called the son of Reuel, but that after his conversion he was called the son of Deuel." As Reuel may be translated the breach of God, and Deuel the knowledge of God, I suppose the rabbin grounded his supposition on the different meanings of the two words. Verse 16

These were the renowned - Literally, the called, of the congregation - those who were summoned by name to attend. The order of the tribes In the above enumeration may be viewed thus: -

Sons of Leah

1. Reuben

2. Simeon

3. Judah

4. Issachar

5. Zebulun

Sons of Rachel

6. Ephraim

7. Manasseh

8. Benjamin 1st son of Bilhah, Rachel's maid

9. Dan 2d son of Zilpah, Leah's maid

10. Asher 1st son of Zilpah.

11. Gad 2d son of Bilhah.

12. Naphtali