What is the meaning of Numbers 34:21? Elidad • Numbers 34:21 simply records, “from the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad son of Chislon.” The Lord had just said, “These are the men who shall allot the land for you” (Numbers 34:17). Elidad’s name is listed alongside Eleazar the priest, Joshua, and ten other tribal representatives. • His appointment shows that God calls specific, trustworthy individuals to carry out His plans. Compare the earlier pattern in Numbers 1:4, where one leader from each tribe was assigned to help Moses with the census. • The presence of a named leader underscores personal accountability; each man’s integrity would directly affect how fairly the inheritance was distributed (see Deuteronomy 19:14 for God’s concern about property boundaries). son of Chislon • By adding “son of Chislon,” Scripture anchors Elidad in a real family line. Biblical genealogy isn’t filler; it testifies to historical reliability and confirms that faithfulness can run in families (Numbers 26 traces similar tribal records). • Lineage also protects against impostors. When land assignments were finalized in Joshua 14:1–2, no one could dispute the legitimacy of the commissioners because their fathers’ names were on record. • The pattern reminds believers that their own choices today shape the spiritual heritage they pass to the next generation (Deuteronomy 6:1–2). from the tribe of Benjamin • Benjamin was the youngest of Jacob’s sons (Genesis 35:18) and had survived near extinction after the civil war in Judges 20. Yet here God reinstates Benjamin with equal standing among the tribes. • Later history highlights this tribe’s prominence: Israel’s first king, Saul, came from Benjamin (1 Samuel 9:1–2), and the apostle Paul proudly traced his lineage there as well (Philippians 3:5). • The land Benjamin would receive lay between Judah and Ephraim, a strategic area including Jerusalem’s future site (Joshua 18:11–28). By appointing a Benjamite like Elidad, God ensured fair representation for this culturally important region. summary Numbers 34:21 affirms God’s orderly plan for His people. By naming Elidad son of Chislon from the tribe of Benjamin, Scripture demonstrates that: • Every tribe mattered. • Every leader was known and accountable. • The promised inheritance would be distributed justly. The verse, though brief, showcases God’s faithfulness to detail and His commitment to involve real, identifiable people in accomplishing His covenant purposes. |
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