Deuel

Biblical Record

Deuel appears in Numbers only as the father of Eliasaph, the leader of the tribe of Gad. Scripture says nothing about his life or deeds. His name serves only to identify his son, always in the phrase "Eliasaph the son of Deuel."

• Numbers 1:14: In the list of tribal representatives who were to assist Moses and Aaron in taking the census, "Eliasaph the son of Deuel" is named as the representative of Gad.
• Numbers 2:14: In the passage describing the arrangement of the camp, Eliasaph appears as the captain of the sons of Gad. Here his father's name is written "Reuel."
• Numbers 7:42, 7:47: At the dedication of the altar of the tabernacle, Eliasaph is recorded as presenting the offering on the sixth day as prince of the children of Gad.
• Numbers 10:20: When Israel set out from the wilderness of Sinai, Eliasaph is recorded as leading the host of the tribe of the children of Gad.

Significance in the Bible

Deuel is one of the figures in the genealogical lists that identify the leaders of the twelve tribes of Israel by their fathers' names. Such lists show that Israel in the wilderness period was organized by tribes and families. Deuel is not mentioned in the New Testament.

Interpretation and Discussion

The spelling "Reuel," which appears for the same man only in Numbers 2:14, is commonly explained as a variation that arose in the course of scribal copying. The Hebrew letters dalet (ד) and resh (ר) are similar in shape and easily confused. Some manuscripts and ancient versions reportedly use a single form of the name throughout. The Korean Revised Version and the New Korean Revised Version follow the Hebrew Masoretic Text and retain both spellings as they stand.

The Reuel of Numbers 2:14 shares only his name with other biblical figures and is distinct from them. He is not the Reuel of Exodus 2:18, Moses' father-in-law Jethro, nor Reuel the son of Esau.