Eliab is a Hebrew name meaning “God is my father.” In the Bible, Eliab is primarily known as the eldest son of Jesse and an older brother of David, who was initially rejected by God as the anointed king (1 Samuel 16:6-7).
Scripture
6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.”
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.”
9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.”
10 Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.”
11 Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.”
12 And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.”
13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.
Meaning of Eliab in the Bible
Eliab, as the eldest son of Jesse, carries significant symbolic weight in the biblical narrative, particularly in the context of divine selection and human perception. The meaning of Eliab’s name, “God is my father,” underscores a fundamental relationship between humanity and the divine that transcends familial lineage. In 1 Samuel 16:6-7, when the prophet Samuel sees Eliab and assumes he is God’s chosen because of his outward appearance, God corrects this misjudgment, stating, “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” This moment highlights the theme of divine sovereignty and the importance of internal virtue over external attributes, prompting a reevaluation of what constitutes worthiness in the eyes of God.
Eliab’s rejection serves as a critical lesson in humility and divine purpose. While he may possess the advantages of being the firstborn—typically favored in terms of inheritance and leadership—his inability to meet God’s criteria for kingship reveals that divine authority often chooses the unexpected. This is further illustrated when David, the youngest and seemingly the least qualified, is chosen to lead Israel, demonstrating that God often elevates the humble and disregards societal expectations. Eliab’s story thus encapsulates a broader theological message: reliance on God’s wisdom regarding who is worthy and the need to seek the heart’s condition above societal norms. This narrative not only challenges our understanding of leadership but also encourages believers to reflect on their own qualifications through the lens of divine intention rather than human standards (1 Samuel 16:10-13).
While Eliab’s initial prominence as the eldest son of Jesse positions him as a potential figure of leadership, his narrative arc extends further into the biblical story, reinforcing the theme of interpersonal dynamics and relational strife. Eliab surfaces again during the confrontation with Goliath when David arrives at the battlefield. In this instance, Eliab’s reaction to David’s inquiries reveals layers of rivalry and misunderstanding within their familial relationship. When Eliab berates David for his curiosity and perceived naivety, it reflects the tension that often exists between older siblings and younger ones, particularly in moments of crisis. Eliab’s response underscores how the expectations of valor and bravery weigh heavily upon him as the eldest, contrasting sharply with David’s faith-driven courage and aspirations.
Moreover, the relationship dynamics between Eliab and David demonstrate an important lesson about the human tendency to cling to preconceived notions of worth. Eliab’s rebuke illustrates a natural inclination to doubt the capabilities of someone who does not fit the conventional mold of a warrior or leader. It serves as a reminder that spiritual insight often bypasses familial biases and societal norms, showcasing that true strength and calling can emerge from unexpected places. Additionally, Eliab’s story compels readers to consider their own relationships and judgments, emphasizing the need for grace and understanding, especially when confronted with divine truths that challenge our assumptions about roles, worthiness, and the nature of God’s kingdom. In essence, Eliab’s journey is not just a narrative of personal failure; rather, it invites deeper reflection on the complexities of identity, family, and the ever-unfolding divine narrative that celebrates those who may be overlooked or underestimated.
The Significance of Leadership and Anointing
Eliab, as the eldest son of Jesse, represents the expectations and standards of leadership in ancient Israel. His physical appearance and stature initially make him a prime candidate for kingship, reflecting the common belief that outward qualities are indicative of inner worthiness. This highlights a broader theme in the Bible regarding the nature of true leadership, which often contrasts with human perceptions. The story of Eliab serves as a reminder that divine selection transcends human criteria, emphasizing the importance of inner character and divine calling over mere appearances.
The Role of Family Dynamics
Eliab’s position as the firstborn son also sheds light on the dynamics of family and inheritance in biblical narratives. In many cultures, the firstborn is expected to inherit leadership and responsibility. However, Eliab’s eventual overshadowing by his younger brother David illustrates the biblical theme that God’s plans often disrupt traditional familial roles and expectations. This serves as a broader commentary on how God can elevate the unexpected and challenge societal norms, reinforcing the idea that divine purpose can manifest in surprising ways.
The Contrast Between Human Judgment and Divine Insight
Eliab’s story underscores the contrast between human judgment and divine insight. While he is initially perceived as a suitable leader based on his physical attributes, the narrative reveals that God looks beyond the surface. This theme resonates throughout the Bible, where many characters are chosen for their unique qualities or circumstances that defy human logic. Eliab’s experience serves as a cautionary tale about the limitations of human understanding and the importance of seeking divine wisdom in discerning true worth and potential.
How to Embrace God’s Fatherhood in Daily Life
Embracing God’s fatherhood in our daily lives is a transformative journey that invites us to see ourselves as beloved children, cherished and guided by a loving Creator. Start each day by acknowledging His presence, perhaps through a simple prayer or a moment of gratitude, reminding yourself that you are not alone in your struggles or joys. As you navigate the challenges of life, lean into His wisdom by seeking His guidance in decisions, big or small, and trust that He desires what is best for you. Reflect on the unconditional love He offers, allowing it to shape how you interact with others—showing kindness, patience, and forgiveness, just as He does with us. Remember, embracing God’s fatherhood means accepting His grace, which empowers you to grow and learn from your mistakes, fostering a deeper relationship with Him and those around you. In every moment, let His love be your anchor, guiding you to live out your faith authentically and joyfully.
Bible References to the Meaning of Eliab:
1 Samuel 17:12-28: 12 Now David was the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, named Jesse, who had eight sons. In the days of Saul, the man was already old and advanced in years.
13 The three oldest sons of Jesse had followed Saul to the battle. And the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.
14 David was the youngest. The three eldest followed Saul.
15 but David went back and forth from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.
16 For forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand, morning and evening.
17 And Jesse said to David his son, “Take for your brothers an ephah of this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers.
18 Also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See if your brothers are well, and bring some token from them.
19 Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
20 And David rose early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper and took the provisions and went, as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the encampment as the host was going out to the battle line, shouting the war cry.
21 And Israel and the Philistines drew up for battle, army against army.
22 And David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage and ran to the ranks and went and greeted his brothers.
23 As he talked with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him.
24 All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were much afraid.
25 And the men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel. And the king will enrich the man who kills him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father’s house free in Israel.”
26 And David said to the men who stood by him, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
27 And the people answered him in the same way, “So shall it be done to the man who kills him.”
28 Now Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men. And Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, “Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.”
1 Chronicles 2:13-15: 13 Jesse fathered Eliab his firstborn, Abinadab the second, Shimea the third,
14 Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth,
15 Now Mesha had sons: his firstborn was Ziph, Ziph, Ziph, Tiria, and Ethnan.
1 Chronicles 27:18: 18 for Judah, Elihu, one of David’s brothers; for Issachar, Omri the son of Michael;
Numbers 1:1-16: 1 The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying:
2 “Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, by clans, by fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, every male, head by head.”
3 from twenty years old and upward, all in Israel who are able to go to war, you and Aaron shall list them, company by company.
4 And there shall be with you a man from each tribe, each man being the head of the house of his fathers.
5 These are the names of the men who shall assist you: from Reuben, Elizur the son of Shedeur;
6 from Simeon, Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai;
7 from Issachar, Nethanel the son of Zuar;
8 from Issachar, Nethanel the son of Zuar;
9 from Zebulun, Eliab the son of Helon;
10 from the sons of Joseph, from Ephraim, Elishama the son of Ammihud, and from Manasseh, Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur;
11 those listed of the tribe of Benjamin were 35,400.
12 from Dan, Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai;
13 Of Asher, Pagiel the son of Ochran.
14 those listed of the tribe of Gad were 45,650.
15 from Naphtali, Ahira the son of Enan.”
16 These were the ones chosen from the congregation, the chiefs of their ancestral tribes, the heads of the clans of Israel.
Numbers 2:1-34: 1 The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,
2 The people of Israel shall camp each by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers’ houses. They shall camp facing the tent of meeting on every side.
3 Those to camp on the east side toward the sunrise shall be of the standard of the camp of Judah by their companies, the chief of the people of Judah being Nahshon the son of Amminadab,
4 And his division, the tribe of Gad, and the chief of the people of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel.
5 Those who camp on the east side toward the sunrise shall be of the standard of the camp of Judah by their companies, the chief of the people of Judah being Nahshon the son of Amminadab,
6 Those who will camp on the east side toward the sunrise shall be of the standard of the camp of Judah by their companies, the chief of the people of Judah being Nahshon the son of Amminadab,
7 Then the tribe of Zebulun, the chief of the people of Zebulun being Eliab the son of Helon,
8 And his company as listed were 57,400.
9 All those listed of the camp of Judah, by their companies, were 186,400. They shall set out first on the march.
10 “On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben by their companies, the chief of the people of Reuben being Elizur the son of Shedeur,
11 and his army as listed were 46,500.
12 Those listed of the tribe of Simeon were 59,300.
13 and his army as listed were 59,300.
14 Then the tribe of Gad, the people of Gad, by their fathers’ houses, and the number of their men of war, who could draw the sword, was 45,650.
15 “The standard of the camp of the people of Judah set out first by their companies, and over their company was Nahshon the son of Amminadab.”
16 All those listed of the camp of Reuben, by their companies, were 151,450.
17 Then the tent of meeting shall set out, with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camps; as they camp, so shall they set out, each in position, standard by standard.
18 On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim by their companies, the chief of the people of Ephraim being Elishama the son of Ammihud,
19 Then the tribe of Manasseh, the chief of the people of Manasseh being Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur,
20 “On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben by their companies, the chief of the people of Reuben being Elizur the son of Shedeur,
21 Then the tribe of Naphtali, the chief of the people of Naphtali being Ahira the son of Enan,
22 Then the tribe of Benjamin, the chief of the people of Benjamin, being counted, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war,
23 Those listed of the tribe of Simeon were 59,300.
24 All those listed of the camp of Ephraim, by their companies, were 108,100.
25 On the north side shall be the standard of the camp of Dan by their companies, the chief of the people of Dan being Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
26 and his army as listed by their companies, the chief of all the people of Gad being Eliasaph the son of Reuel,
27 and those who camp next to him shall be the tribe of Asher, the chief of the people of Asher being Pagiel the son of Ochran.
28 This was the order of march of the people of Israel by their companies, when they set out.
29 Then the tribe of Naphtali, the chief of the people of Naphtali being Ahira the son of Enan, – Numbers 2:29
30 On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben by their companies, the chief of the people of Reuben being Elizur the son of Shedeur,
31 All those listed of the camp of Dan were 157,600. They shall set out last, standard by standard.”
32 These are the people of Israel as listed by their fathers’ houses. All those listed in the camps by their companies were 603,550.
33 but the Levites were not listed among the people of Israel, as the Lord commanded Moses.
34 So the people of Israel did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses; so they camped by their standards, and so they set out, each one in his clan, according to his father’s house.
Numbers 7:1-89: 1 On the day when Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle and had anointed and consecrated it with all its furnishings and had anointed and consecrated the altar,
2 the chiefs of Israel, heads of their fathers’ houses, who were the chiefs of the tribes, who were over those who were listed, offered
3 and they brought their offering before the Lord, six wagons and twelve oxen, a wagon for every two of the chiefs, and for each one an ox. They brought them before the tabernacle.
4 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
5 the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
6 So Moses took the wagons and the oxen and gave them to the Levites.
7 Two wagons and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gershon, according to their service,
8 And he gave the two carts and the four oxen to the sons of Gershon, according to their service.
9 But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because they were charged with the service of the holy things that had to be carried on the shoulder.
10 And the chiefs offered offerings for the dedication of the altar on the day it was anointed; and the chiefs offered their offering before the altar.
11 And the Lord said to Moses, “Let them bring their offerings, one leader each day, for the dedication of the altar.”
12 And the one who offered his offering on the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah.
13 and his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
14 one golden dish weighing 10 shekels, full of incense;
15 one silver plate weighing 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
16 one male goat for a sin offering;
17 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
18 On the second day Nethanel the son of Zuar, the chief of Issachar, presented an offering.
19 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense;
20 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
21 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
22 One bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering
23 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
24 On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, the chief of the people of Zebulun:
25 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
26 one silver plate weighing 130 shekels and one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
27 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering
28 and one male goat for a sin offering;
29 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Abidan the son of Gideoni.
30 one male goat for a sin offering;
31 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
32 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense;
33 and one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering
34 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a peace offering, were brought by Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
35 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense;
36 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense;
37 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
38 and one bull from the herd, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering.
39 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
40 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense;
41 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering
42 The golden pans full of incense, weighed 10 shekels apiece, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, all the gold of the pans being 240 shekels.
43 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
44 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense;
45 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering
46 and one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
47 …one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering,
48 On the seventh day Elishama the son of Ammihud, the chief of the people of Ephraim:
49 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
50 the one golden dish of ten shekels, full of incense;
51 one golden dish weighing 10 shekels, full of incense;
52 one golden dish weighing 10 shekels, filled with incense;
53 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
54 This was the dedication offering for the altar on the day when it was anointed, from the chiefs of Israel: twelve silver plates, twelve silver basins, twelve golden dishes,
55 and for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
56 one golden dish of ten shekels, full of incense;
57 one golden dish of ten shekels, full of incense;
58 one male goat for a sin offering;
59 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense;
60 On the ninth day Abidan the son of Gideoni, the chief of the people of Benjamin:
61 one male goat for a sin offering;
62 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense;
63 one male goat for a sin offering;
64 one male goat for a sin offering;
65 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;
66 On the tenth day Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, the chief of the people of Dan, offered sacrifice.
67 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
68 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
69 one golden dish weighing 10 shekels, filled with incense;
70 one golden dish weighing 10 shekels, full of incense;
71 one male goat for a sin offering,
72 On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ochran, the chief of the people of Asher:
73 and for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
74 one golden dish weighing 10 shekels, full of incense;
75 one golden dish of ten shekels, full of incense;
76 one golden dish of ten shekels, full of incense;
77 the one male goat for a sin offering,
78 On the twelfth day Ahira the son of Enan, the chief of the people of Naphtali, offered.
79 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
80 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
81 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
82 one golden dish of ten shekels, full of incense;
83 and the dedication for the altar was twelve silver plates, twelve silver basins, and twelve golden dishes.
84 This was the dedication offering for the altar on the day when it was anointed, from the chiefs of Israel: twelve silver plates, twelve silver basins, twelve golden dishes,
85 Each silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and each basin seventy, all the silver of the vessels two thousand four hundred shekels according to the shekel of the sanctuary,
86 The golden dishes weighed 130 shekels, and the silver dishes 70, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
87 All the livestock for the burnt offering were twelve bulls, the rams twelve, the male lambs a year old twelve, with their grain offering.
88 all the bulls of the sacrifice of peace offerings were twelve rams, the rams twelve, the male lambs a year old twelve, with their grain offering.
89 And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim; and it spoke to him.
Numbers 10:1-36: 1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
2 “Make two silver trumpets. Of hammered work you shall make them, and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for breaking camp.
3 And when they blow a long blast with the ram’s horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him.”
4 And if they blow only one, then the chiefs, the heads of the tribes of Israel, shall gather themselves to you.
10 When you blow an alarm, the camps that are on the east side shall set out.
6 And when you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that are on the south side shall set out. An alarm is to be blown whenever they are to set out.
7 But when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow a long blast, but you shall not sound an alarm.
8 And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets. The trumpets shall be to you for a perpetual statute throughout your generations.
9 And when you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before the Lord your God, and you shall be saved from your enemies.
10 On the day of your gladness also, and at your appointed feasts and at the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings. They shall be a reminder of you before your God: I am the Lord your God.”
11 In the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, the cloud lifted from over the tabernacle of the testimony,
12 And the people of Israel set out by stages from the wilderness of Sinai. And the cloud settled down in the wilderness of Paran.
14 In the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, the cloud lifted from over the tabernacle of the testimony,
14 The standard of the camp of the people of Judah set out first by their companies, and over their company was Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
15 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Issachar was Nethanel the son of Zuar.
16 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
17 Then the tabernacle was taken down, and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who were carrying the tabernacle, set out.
18 And the standard of the camp of Reuben set out by their companies, and over their company was Elizur the son of Shedeur.
19 And the people of Israel set out by stages from the wilderness of Sinai. And the cloud settled down in the wilderness of Paran.
20 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
21 So the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy things, and the tabernacle was set up before their arrival.
22 And the standard of the camp of the people of Ephraim set out by their companies, and over their company was Elishama the son of Ammihud.
23 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Issachar was Nethanel the son of Zuar.
24 This was the order of march of the camp of the people of Judah as they set out.
25 Then the standard of the camp of the people of Dan, acting as the rear guard of all the camps, set out by their companies, and over their company was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
26 and over the company of the tribe of the people of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
27 And over the shoulder of the camp of the sons of Issachar was the standard of the camp of the sons of Zebulun.
28 This was the order of march of the people of Israel by their companies when they set out.
29 And Moses said to Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are setting out for the place of which the Lord said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will do good to you, for the Lord has promised good to Israel.”
30 But he said to him, “I will not go. I will depart to my own land and to my kindred.”
31 And he said, “Please do not leave us, for you know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you will serve as eyes for us.
32 And if you do go with us, whatever good the Lord will do to us, the same will we do to you.”
33 So they set out from the mount of the Lord three days’ journey. And the ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them three days’ journey, to seek out a resting place for them.
34 And the cloud of the Lord was over them by day, whenever they set out from the camp.
35 And whenever the ark set out, Moses said, “Arise, O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before you.”
36 And when it rested, he said, “Return, O Lord, to the ten thousand thousands of Israel.”
Reverend Ogunlade is a seasoned Church Minister with over three decades of experience in guiding and nurturing congregations. With profound wisdom and a serene approach, Reverend Ogunlade has carried out various pastoral duties, including delivering uplifting sermons, conducting religious ceremonies, and offering sage counsel to individuals seeking spiritual guidance. Their commitment to fostering harmony and righteousness within their community is exemplified through their compassionate nature, making them a beloved and trusted figure among the congregation.