🔢WEB · Numbers 1:9
What does Numbers 1:9 mean?
"Of Zebulun: Eliab the son of Helon."
— Numbers 1:9 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
Of Simeon: Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
Of Judah: Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
Of Issachar: Nethanel the son of Zuar.
Of Zebulun: Eliab the son of Helon.
Of the children of Joseph: Of Ephraim: Elishama the son of Ammihud. Of Manasseh: Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
Of Benjamin: Abidan the son of Gideoni.
Of Dan: Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
Explanation
Numbers 1:9 is a brief entry in a list of tribal leaders, simply identifying Eliab, son of Helon, as the man representing the tribe of Zebulun. On its own, the verse contains almost no narrative content — it is a name and a lineage marker within a longer roster. To understand it, the verse must be read in its immediate context, which is the census that opens the book of Numbers.
The book of Numbers was traditionally attributed to Moses, and this section describes events taking place in the wilderness of Sinai, about one year after Israel left Egypt. God commands Moses to take a census of all the men of Israel who are twenty years old and able to go to war, organized by tribe. To carry out this task, one leader from each of the twelve tribes is appointed to assist Moses and Aaron. Numbers 1:5-15 lists these twelve men by name and tribe, and verse 9 gives the representative for Zebulun, one of the sons of Jacob (through Leah). Eliab is not otherwise prominent in the biblical narrative; his appearance here is essentially administrative, marking him as the appointed head of his tribe for this specific task of numbering the people.
Theologically, this verse reflects the seriousness and order with which God directs the life of his covenant community. Even a name like Eliab's
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