Numbers 34:21
Elidad son of Chislon from the tribe of Benjamin;
Of the tribe of Benjamin
The tribe of Benjamin holds a significant place in Israel's history. Named after Jacob's youngest son, Benjamin, this tribe is known for its fierce warriors and strategic location between the northern and southern kingdoms. The Hebrew root for Benjamin, "Binyamin," means "son of the right hand," symbolizing strength and favor. Historically, the tribe of Benjamin produced notable figures such as King Saul and the Apostle Paul. This phrase reminds us of God's providence in using even the smallest tribe to accomplish His purposes, emphasizing that divine strength often emerges from unexpected places.

Elidad
The name Elidad means "God has loved" or "whom God loves" in Hebrew. This name reflects the deep, personal relationship between God and His people. Elidad's role as a leader in the allocation of the Promised Land underscores the importance of divine love in guiding and sustaining the Israelites. It serves as a reminder that God's love is foundational to leadership and service, encouraging believers to lead with love and integrity.

son of Chislon
The mention of Chislon, Elidad's father, provides a genealogical anchor, emphasizing the importance of family lineage in Israelite society. The name Chislon is derived from a root meaning "confidence" or "hope." This connection suggests that Elidad's leadership is not only a result of divine love but also of a heritage of hope and confidence in God's promises. It highlights the biblical theme of generational faithfulness, where the faith and virtues of one generation are passed down to the next, inspiring believers to cultivate a legacy of hope and trust in God.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Elidad
Elidad is identified as a leader from the tribe of Benjamin. His name means "God has loved" or "God is a friend," reflecting a relationship with God that is characterized by divine favor and friendship.

2. Chislon
Chislon is the father of Elidad. His name means "hope" or "confidence," which may indicate a family heritage of trust in God.

3. Tribe of Benjamin
One of the twelve tribes of Israel, Benjamin was the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel. The tribe is known for its warriors and later becomes part of the Southern Kingdom of Judah.

4. Allocation of the Promised Land
This event involves the division of the land of Canaan among the tribes of Israel. Leaders from each tribe, including Elidad, were appointed to oversee this process.

5. Moses' Leadership
Moses, as the leader of the Israelites, is responsible for organizing the distribution of the land, following God's instructions.
Teaching Points
Leadership and Responsibility
Elidad's role as a leader emphasizes the importance of godly leadership in fulfilling God's promises. Leaders are called to act with integrity and faithfulness.

Heritage and Identity
The mention of Elidad's lineage underscores the value of spiritual heritage and identity. Believers are encouraged to embrace their identity in Christ and the spiritual legacy they inherit.

Divine Appointment
Elidad's selection as a leader illustrates God's sovereign choice and appointment. Believers should seek to understand and fulfill their God-given roles and responsibilities.

Faith and Obedience
The allocation of the Promised Land required faith and obedience to God's commands. Christians are called to trust in God's promises and act in obedience to His Word.

Community and Cooperation
The division of the land involved collaboration among the tribes. The church today is called to work together in unity to accomplish God's purposes.
Bible Study Questions
1. What qualities do you think Elidad possessed that made him a suitable leader for the tribe of Benjamin, and how can we cultivate similar qualities in our own lives?

2. How does the concept of divine appointment in Elidad's role as a leader challenge us to seek and fulfill our own God-given purposes?

3. In what ways does understanding our spiritual heritage and identity in Christ impact our daily walk with God?

4. How can the process of land allocation among the tribes of Israel teach us about the importance of community and cooperation in the church today?

5. Reflecting on the faith and obedience required in the allocation of the Promised Land, how can we apply these principles to the challenges we face in our own spiritual journey?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Joshua 18
This chapter describes the further division of the land among the remaining tribes, including Benjamin, under Joshua's leadership, showing the continuation of the process initiated in Numbers 34.

Genesis 49
Jacob's blessing over Benjamin provides insight into the character and future of the tribe, which is relevant to understanding the role of leaders like Elidad.

1 Samuel 9
The account of Saul, a Benjamite, becoming the first king of Israel, highlights the significance of the tribe of Benjamin in Israel's history.
The Promised LandW. Jones.
People
Addar, Ahihud, Ammihud, Asher, Azzan, Benjamin, Bukki, Caleb, Chislon, Dan, Eleazar, Elidad, Elizaphan, Enan, Gad, Hanniel, Israelites, Issachar, Jephunneh, Jogli, Joseph, Joshua, Kemuel, Manasseh, Moses, Naphtali, Nun, Paltiel, Parnach, Pedahel, Phaltiel, Reuben, Samuel, Shelomi, Shemuel, Shiphtan, Simeon, Zebulun
Places
Ain, Akrabbim, Brook of Egypt, Canaan, Edom, Great Sea, Hazar-addar, Hazar-enan, Jordan River, Kadesh-barnea, Lebo-hamath, Mount Hor, Plains of Moab, Riblah, Salt Sea, Sea of Chinnereth, Shepham, Zedad, Zin, Ziphron
Topics
Benjamin, Chislon, Elidad, Eli'dad, Kislon, Tribe
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Numbers 34:17-29

     4208   land, divine responsibility

Library
The Talmudic Girdle of the Land under the Second Temple, Taken Out of the Jerusalem Sheviith, Fol. 36 3
What all these things mean, I cannot so much as conjecture; yea, nor can I scarce conjecture, what the meaning is of some of them. Neither is there any Oedipus at hand, nor Sphinx herself, to explain and unriddle them. The Talmudists are silent from making any comments here, nor have we the advantage of any other commentator. We must, therefore, act here according to the uncertain instruction of nods and winks; and that either by saying nothing, or by mere conjecture, since that the mind of the authors
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

The Northern Coasts of Galilee. Amanah. The Mountain of Snow.
This coast is described by Moses, Numbers 34:7: "From the Great Sea to mount Hor: from mount Hor to the entrance of Hamath," &c. Mount Hor, in the Jewish writers, is Amanah; mention of which occurs, Canticles 4:8, where R. Solomon thus: "Amanah is a mount in the northern coast of the land of Israel, which in the Talmudical language is called, The mountainous plain of Amanon; the same with mount Hor." In the Jerusalem Targum, for mount 'Hor' is the mount Manus: but the Targum of Jonathan renders it
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

What is to be Said of the Sea of Apamia.
'The sea of Apamia' is reckoned the seventh among those seas that compass the land of Israel; which word hath a sound so near akin to the word Pamias, by which name the Rabbins point out the fountains of Jordan,--that the mention of that word cannot but excite the memory of this, yea, almost persuade that both design one and the same place: and that the sea Apamia was nothing else but some great collection of waters at the very springs of Jordan. This also might moreover be added to strengthen that
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Pamias. Paneas, the Spring of Jordan.
The maps assign a double spring of Jordan; but by what right it scarce appears; much less does it appear by what right they should call this Jor,--and that Dan. There is indeed mention in Josephus of little Jordan and great Jordan. Hence, as it seems, was the first original of the double spring in the maps, and of a double river at those first springs. For thus Josephus; "There are fountains (in Daphne) which send little Jordan, as it is called, into the great." He treats, in the text cited, of the
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

The Lake of Gennesaret; Or, the Sea of Galilee and Tiberias.
Jordan is measured at one hundred and twenty furlongs, from the lake of Samochonitis to that of Gennesaret. That lake, in the Old Testament, is 'The sea of Chinnereth,' Numbers 34:11, &c. In the Targumists, 'The sea of Genesar'; sometimes, 'of Genesor'; sometimes, 'of Ginosar': it is the same also in the Talmudists, but most frequently 'The sea of Tiberiah.' Both names are used by the evangelists; 'the lake of Gennesaret,' Luke 5:1; 'the sea of Tiberias,' John 21:1; and 'the sea of Galilee,' John
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Subterraneous Places. Mines. Caves.
Thus having taken some notice of the superficies of the land, let us a little search into its bowels. You may divide the subterraneous country into three parts: the metal mines, the caves, and the places of burial. This land was eminently noted for metal mines, so that "its stones," in very many places, "were iron, and out of its hills was digged brass," Deuteronomy 8:9. From these gain accrued to the Jews: but to the Christians, not seldom slavery and misery; being frequently condemned hither by
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Arbel. Shezor. Tarnegola the Upper.
"Arbel a city of Galilee."--There is mention of it in Hosea 10:14. But there are authors which do very differently interpret that place, viz. the Chaldee paraphrast, R. Solomon, Kimchi: consult them. It was between Zippor and Tiberias. Hence Nittai the Arbelite, who was president with Josua Ben Perahiah. The valley of Arbel is mentioned by the Talmudists. So also "The Arbelite Bushel." "Near Zephath in Upper Galilee was a town named Shezor, whence was R. Simeon Shezori: there he was buried. There
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

The Coast of the Asphaltites, the Essenes. En-Gedi.
"On the western shore" (of the Asphaltites) "dwell the Essenes; whom persons, guilty of any crimes, fly from on every side. A nation it is that lives alone, and of all other nations in the whole world, most to be admired; they are without any woman; all lust banished, &c. Below these, was the town Engadda, the next to Jerusalem for fruitfulness, and groves of palm-trees, now another burying-place. From thence stands Massada, a castle in a rock, and this castle not far from the Asphaltites." Solinus,
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Jesus Calls Four Fishermen to Follow Him.
(Sea of Galilee, Near Capernaum.) ^A Matt. IV. 18-22; ^B Mark I. 16-20; ^C Luke V. 1-11. ^a 18 And walking ^b 16 And passing along by the sea of Galilee [This lake is a pear-shaped body of water, about twelve and a half miles long and about seven miles across at its widest place. It is 682 feet below sea level; its waters are fresh, clear and abounding in fish, and it is surrounded by hills and mountains, which rise from 600 to 1,000 feet above it. Its greatest depth is about 165 feet], he [Jesus]
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Kadesh. Rekam, and that Double. Inquiry is Made, Whether the Doubling it in the Maps is Well Done.
The readers of the eastern interpreters will observe, that Kadesh is rendered by all Rekam, or in a sound very near it. In the Chaldee, it is 'Rekam': in the Syriac, 'Rekem': in the Arabic, 'Rakim'... There are two places noted by the name Rekam in the very bounds of the land,--to wit, the southern and eastern: that is, a double Kadesh. I. Of Kadesh, or Rekam, in the south part, there is no doubt. II. Of it, in the eastern part, there is this mention: "From Rekam to the east, and Rekam is as the
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Numbers
Like the last part of Exodus, and the whole of Leviticus, the first part of Numbers, i.-x. 28--so called,[1] rather inappropriately, from the census in i., iii., (iv.), xxvi.--is unmistakably priestly in its interests and language. Beginning with a census of the men of war (i.) and the order of the camp (ii.), it devotes specific attention to the Levites, their numbers and duties (iii., iv.). Then follow laws for the exclusion of the unclean, v. 1-4, for determining the manner and amount of restitution
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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