Lexical Summary Areli: Areli Original Word: אַרְאֵלִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Areli, Arelites From 'er'el; heroic; Areli (or an Arelite, collectively), an Israelite and his descendants -- Areli, Arelites. see HEBREW 'er'el NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition a son of Gad, also his desc. NASB Translation Areli (2), Arelites (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs אַרְאֵלִי proper name, masculine (apparently noun, of a people from foregoing, but ᵐ5 Numbers 26:17 Ἀριηλ (Genesis 46:16 Ἀροηλεις, Ἀροηδις, Ἀπηδεις) = foregoing) a son of Gad Genesis 46:16; Numbers 26:17; also adjective, of a people with article as proper name collective Numbers 26:17 מִשְׁמַּחַת הָאַרְאֵלִי ᵐ5 Ἀριηλει. Topical Lexicon Name and Family Context Areli is listed among the seven sons of Gad, Jacob’s seventh son by Zilpah. “The sons of Gad: Zephon, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.” (Genesis 46:16). This verse places Areli among the seventy individuals who migrated with Jacob to Egypt, securing his place within the early patriarchal record and underscoring the care with which Scripture preserves family lines. Areli later appears as the eponymous ancestor of the Arelite clan (Numbers 26:17), indicating that his descendants flourished into a distinct sub-tribe within Gad. Tribal Allocation and Settlement The tribe of Gad received territory east of the Jordan, stretching from the middle reaches of the Jordan Valley to the edge of the Arabian wilderness (Joshua 13:24-28). Although Areli himself is not mentioned during the land-grant narratives, the Arelites, together with the other Gadite clans, would have shared in these allotments. Their holdings included fertile pasturelands ideal for flocks (Numbers 32:1-5), a detail consistent with Gad’s pastoral character first noted in Genesis 30:11. Participation in the Exodus and Wilderness Census Areli’s name surfaces again in the second wilderness census taken on the plains of Moab: “from Areli, the Arelite clan.” (Numbers 26:17). The listing confirms that the Arelites survived the forty-year judgment in the desert and entered the Promised Land as a recognized fighting force. Their presence in both Egypt-entry and Canaan-entry records testifies to the Lord’s covenant faithfulness across generations. Historical Footprints Beyond the Pentateuch Scripture offers no narrative episodes involving individual Arelites after the conquest. Nevertheless, Gadite valor is highlighted in later history—David’s men “strong, prepared for war” (1 Chronicles 12:8-15) and the prophetic promise of territory restoration in Ezekiel 48:27. Though unnamed, Arelites would have shared in these exploits, embodying the martial spirit and steadfast loyalty assigned to their tribe. Theological Significance 1. Preservation of the Remnant: By naming Areli and recording his clan’s continuity, the Bible models divine remembrance of seemingly minor families. Ministry Applications • Genealogical passages encourage believers to view their family histories as part of God’s redemptive tapestry, just as Areli’s simple listing connects him to national destiny. Key References Forms and Transliterations הָאַרְאֵלִֽי׃ האראלי׃ וְאַרְאֵלִֽי׃ ואראלי׃ לְאַ֨רְאֵלִ֔י לאראלי hā’ar’êlî hā·’ar·’ê·lî haareLi lə’ar’êlî lə·’ar·’ê·lî leAreLi veareLi wə’ar’êlî wə·’ar·’ê·lîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 46:16 HEB: עֵרִ֥י וַֽאֲרוֹדִ֖י וְאַרְאֵלִֽי׃ NAS: Eri and Arodi and Areli. KJV: Eri, and Arodi, and Areli. INT: Eri and Arodi and Areli Numbers 26:17 Numbers 26:17 3 Occurrences |