Numbers 1:9 Study Bible: Of Zebulun: Eliab the son of Helon.

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from Zebulun, Eliab son of Helon;

from Zebulun
The tribe of Zebulun is one of the twelve tribes of Israel, named after the sixth son of Jacob and Leah. The name "Zebulun" is believed to derive from the Hebrew root "zabal," meaning "to dwell" or "to honor." Historically, Zebulun was known for its strategic location near the sea, which facilitated trade and interaction with other cultures. This tribe's inclusion in the census highlights its importance and contribution to the collective identity of Israel. The mention of Zebulun here serves as a reminder of God's promise to the patriarchs and the fulfillment of His covenant through the multiplication and organization of their descendants.

Eliab
The name "Eliab" means "God is Father" in Hebrew, combining "El" (God) and "ab" (father). Eliab's role as a leader within the tribe of Zebulun signifies the importance of godly leadership and the acknowledgment of God's sovereignty in the governance of His people. Eliab's position underscores the biblical principle that leadership is a divine calling, and those who are chosen to lead are accountable to God for their actions and decisions.

son of Helon
The phrase "son of Helon" provides a genealogical context, linking Eliab to his father, Helon. The name "Helon" is less common, and its meaning is not entirely clear, but it may be related to the Hebrew word "chayil," meaning "strength" or "valor." This connection emphasizes the importance of family lineage and heritage in the biblical narrative. It reflects the continuity of God's promises through generations and the role of families in maintaining the faith and traditions of Israel. The mention of Helon also serves to authenticate Eliab's identity and authority within the tribe, as lineage was a crucial aspect of leadership and inheritance in ancient Israel.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Zebulun
One of the twelve tribes of Israel, descended from Jacob's tenth son, Zebulun. The tribe of Zebulun was known for its maritime activities and settled in the northern part of Canaan.

2. Eliab
The son of Helon, Eliab was chosen as the leader of the tribe of Zebulun during the census in the wilderness. His name means "God is Father" in Hebrew, reflecting a strong spiritual heritage.

3. Helon
The father of Eliab, mentioned here to establish Eliab's lineage and authority within the tribe of Zebulun.

4. Census in the Wilderness
This event, commanded by God, was a military and organizational census of the Israelite men able to go to war, conducted in the wilderness of Sinai.

Teaching Points

Leadership and Lineage
Eliab's role as a leader emphasizes the importance of godly leadership and the responsibility that comes with it. In our lives, we should seek to lead with integrity and faithfulness, recognizing the influence of our spiritual heritage.

Obedience to God's Commands
The census was conducted as per God's command, illustrating the importance of obedience. We are called to follow God's instructions in our lives, trusting in His wisdom and timing.

Community and Identity
The mention of tribes and leaders underscores the significance of community and identity within God's people. We should value our place within the body of Christ, contributing to the community with our unique gifts and callings.

Bible Study Questions

1. What can we learn from Eliab's leadership role in the tribe of Zebulun about the qualities of a godly leader?

2. How does the concept of lineage and heritage in the Bible influence our understanding of spiritual inheritance today?

3. In what ways does the obedience of the Israelites in conducting the census challenge us to be obedient to God's commands in our own lives?

4. How does the identity and role of the tribe of Zebulun in Israel's history inspire us to understand our own identity and role within the church?

5. Reflect on a time when you had to take on a leadership role. How did your faith influence your actions and decisions in that position?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Genesis 49:13
This verse contains Jacob's blessing to Zebulun, prophesying their future by the sea, which connects to the tribe's later geographical location and activities.

Exodus 1:1-5
Lists the sons of Jacob, including Zebulun, establishing the foundational families of the tribes of Israel.

1 Chronicles 12:33
Describes the men of Zebulun as experienced soldiers, highlighting their military prowess and readiness, which is relevant to the census context in Numbers.

Sermons

An Honest Pedigree		Numbers 1:4-16
Bank and Service	W Jones.	Numbers 1:4-16
God's Knowledge of His People	W. Jones.	Numbers 1:4-16
The Lord Knows the Number and the Names of All Who Belong to Him	W. Attersoll.	Numbers 1:4-16
The Pedigree Declared	C. H. Mackintosh.	Numbers 1:4-16
The Men of Renown Who Managed the Census	D. Young	Numbers 1:5-16

People

Aaron, Abidan, Ahiezer, Ahira, Ammihud, Amminadab, Ammishaddai, Asher, Benjamin, Dan, Deuel, Eliab, Eliasaph, Elishama, Elizur, Enan, Gad, Gamaliel, Gideoni, Helon, Israelites, Issachar, Joseph, Levi, Levites, Manasseh, Moses, Nahshon, Naphtali, Nethaneel, Ocran, Pagiel, Pedahzur, Reuben, Reuel, Shedeur, Shelumiel, Simeon, Zebulun, Zuar, Zurishaddai

Places

Egypt, Sinai

Topics

Eliab, Eli'ab, Helon, Zebulun, Zeb'ulun

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Numbers 1:1-16

5700 headship

Numbers 1:1-49

5249 census

Library

The Consolation
Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received at the LORD 's hand double for all her sins. T he particulars of the great "mystery of godliness," as enumerated by the Apostle Paul, constitute the grand and inexhaustible theme of the Gospel ministry, "God manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

The Census of Israel
Thirty-eight years had passed away since the first numbering at Sinai, and the people had come to the borders of the Promised Land; for they were in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho. The time had come for another census. The wisdom which commanded the counting of Israel at the beginning of the wilderness journey, also determined to count them at the end of it. This would show that he did not value them less than in former years; it would afford proof that his word of judgment had been fulfilled …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 37: 1891

The Child-Life in Nazareth
THE stay of the Holy Family in Egypt must have been of brief duration. The cup of Herod's misdeeds, but also of his misery, was full. During the whole latter part of his life, the dread of a rival to the throne had haunted him, and he had sacrificed thousands, among them those nearest and dearest to him, to lay that ghost. [1084] And still the tyrant was not at rest. A more terrible scene is not presented in history than that of the closing days of Herod. Tormented by nameless fears; ever and again …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Genealogy According to Luke.
^C Luke III. 23-38. ^c 23 And Jesus himself [Luke has been speaking about John the Baptist, he now turns to speak of Jesus himself], when he began to teach, was about thirty years of age [the age when a Levite entered upon God's service--Num. iv. 46, 47], being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son [this may mean that Jesus was grandson of Heli, or that Joseph was counted as a son of Heli because he was his son-in-law] of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
THE ISRAELITES IN THE LAND OF CANAAN: THE JUDGES--THE PHILISTINES AND THE HEBREW KINGDOM--SAUL, DAVID, SOLOMON, THE DEFECTION OF THE TEN TRIBES--THE XXIst EGYPTIAN DYNASTY--SHESHONQ OR SHISHAK DAMASCUS. The Hebrews in the desert: their families, clans, and tribes--The Amorites and the Hebrews on the left bank of the Jordan--The conquest of Canaan and the native reaction against the Hebrews--The judges, Ehud, Deborah, Jerubbaal or Gideon and the Manassite supremacy; Abimelech, Jephihdh. The Philistines, …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 6

And thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, too little to be among the thousands of Judah
"And thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, too little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall come forth unto Me (one) [Pg 480] to be Ruler in Israel; and His goings forth are the times of old, the days of eternity." The close connection of this verse with what immediately precedes (Caspari is wrong in considering iv. 9-14 as an episode) is evident, not only from the [Hebrew: v] copulative, and from the analogy of the near relation of the announcement of salvation to the prophecy of disaster …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

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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