Elizaphan

Biblical Record

Elizaphan was the son of Uzziel, the son of Kohath the Levite. Numbers 3 records the census of the sons of Levi in the wilderness and the assignment of their duties. Numbers 3:30 states, "And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel." The Kohathites camped on the south side of the tabernacle and were given charge of the ark, the table, the candlestick, the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary (Numbers 3:29–31). Elizaphan was the chief who represented the families entrusted with this work.

Exodus 6:22 and Leviticus 10:4 mention Elzaphan, the son of Uzziel. The Hebrew spelling differs only slightly, and he is generally regarded as the same person. In Leviticus 10, after Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, died before the Lord, Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and had them carry the bodies out of the camp (Leviticus 10:4–5).

His name reappears later as the name of a family. When David brought the ark up to Jerusalem, "Of the sons of Elizaphan; Shemaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred" took part (1 Chronicles 15:8). When Hezekiah cleansed the temple, "of the sons of Elizaphan; Shimri, and Jeiel" likewise arose to do the work (2 Chronicles 29:13).

An Elizaphan also appears in Numbers 34:25. This man was the son of Parnach and the prince of the tribe of Zebulun, one of the leaders charged with dividing the land of Canaan. He is a different person from the subject of this article.

Significance in the Bible

Elizaphan is recorded as the leader of the Kohathites, the branch of the tribe of Levi that handled the most holy furnishings of the tabernacle. The fact that his descendants are named as a distinct family centuries later in 1 Chronicles and 2 Chronicles indicates that this family continued as a unit within the organization of the Levites. His name is interpreted to mean "God protects" (or "God hides"). He is not mentioned in the New Testament.

Interpretations and Debates

Uzziel was the youngest of the four sons of Kohath (Exodus 6:18), yet his son became chief over all the Kohathites. Traditional Jewish commentary preserves an interpretation that Korah, the son of Izhar and thus from an elder brother's line, grew envious over this appointment and led his rebellion (see Numbers 16). The text of Numbers, however, does not connect the motive for Korah's rebellion with Elizaphan. This interpretation should be regarded as later tradition, distinct from the biblical text.

In the Korean Church

Elizaphan is rarely treated on his own in sermons or Sunday school lessons. He is mainly mentioned in programs for reading through the whole Bible or in expository teaching on Numbers and Leviticus, when the division of Levitical duties and the deaths of Nadab and Abihu are explained.