Deuel: Edit history

Revision #13015

Deuel

Localized for English-speaking readers

Status: approved

Changes from the previous English revision

= ## 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."

+ Deuel appears in Numbers only as the father of Eliasaph, the leader of the tribe of Gad. Scripture records nothing about his life or deeds. His name serves solely 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 7:42, 7:47: At the dedication of the altar of the tabernacle, Eliasaph is recorded as presenting his 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.

+ Deuel belongs to 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 spelling "Reuel," which appears for the same man only in Numbers 2:14, is commonly explained as a variation that arose during scribal copying. The Hebrew letters dalet (ד) and resh (ר) are similar in shape and easily confused. Some manuscripts and ancient versions are reported to use a single form of the name throughout. Among Korean Bible translations, 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.

~~Deuel was the father of Eliasaph, leader of the tribe of Gad during the wilderness period. He is a biblical figure named only in the Book of Numbers; in Numbers 2:14 his name appears as "Reuel."~~
Deuel is a biblical figure named only in the Book of Numbers, where he appears as the father of Eliasaph, leader of the tribe of Gad during the wilderness period. In Numbers 2:14 his name is written "Reuel."

Full revision

Deuel is a biblical figure named only in the Book of Numbers, where he appears as the father of Eliasaph, leader of the tribe of Gad during the wilderness period. In Numbers 2:14 his name is written "Reuel."

Biblical Record

Deuel appears in Numbers only as the father of Eliasaph, the leader of the tribe of Gad. Scripture records nothing about his life or deeds. His name serves solely 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 his 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 belongs to 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 during scribal copying. The Hebrew letters dalet (ד) and resh (ר) are similar in shape and easily confused. Some manuscripts and ancient versions are reported to use a single form of the name throughout. Among Korean Bible translations, 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.

Revision	Time (UTC)	Contributor	Summary	Status
#13015	2026-11-05 01:48:32	AI localization	Localized for English-speaking readers	approved
#13014	2026-11-05 01:48:32	AI localization	English baseline before localization	approved