Elisur

Leader of the tribe of Reuben

The exodusLeaderc. 1500 BC

Elisur, son of Shedeur, was the chosen leader and chief of the tribe of Reuben during the wilderness journey. He represented his tribe at the census and at the dedication of the tabernacle, and was one of the twelve tribal princes who assisted Moses in organizing the people of Israel.

Family

Key events

Appointed as Leader of the Tribe of Reuben

Elisur, son of Shedeur, was appointed by God as leader and representative of the tribe of Reuben to assist Moses in the census.

5These are the names of the men who will stand with you: from Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur;
וְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ שְׁמ֣וֹת הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַֽעַמְד֖וּ אִתְּכֶ֑ם לִרְאוּבֵ֕ן אֱלִיצ֖וּר בֶּן־שְׁדֵיאֽוּר׃ ‬

The Census in the Wilderness

Elisur led the counting of fighting men from the tribe of Reuben, which totaled 46,500 men over twenty years old.

20The descendants of Reuben, Israel's firstborn: all the men twenty years old and upward who were fit for military service were listed by name, one by one, according to their genealogy, by clan and family.
וַיִּהְי֤וּ בְנֵֽי־רְאוּבֵן֙ בְּכֹ֣ר יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל תּוֹלְדֹתָ֥ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם בְּמִסְפַּ֤ר שֵׁמוֹת֙ לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָ֔ם כָּל־זָכָ֗ר מִבֶּ֨ן עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה כֹּ֖ל יֹצֵ֥א צָבָֽא׃ ‬
21The number from the tribe of Reuben was 46,500.
פְּקֻדֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַטֵּ֣ה רְאוּבֵ֑ן שִׁשָּׁ֧ה וְאַרְבָּעִ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וַחֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת׃ פ ‬

Camp Arrangement Around the Tabernacle

Elisur was appointed leader of the camp of Reuben on the south side of the tabernacle, along with the tribes of Simeon and Gad.

10On the south side shall be the divisions of the camp of Reuben under their standard. The leader of the people of Reuben is Elizur son of Shedeur,
דֶּ֣גֶל מַחֲנֵ֧ה רְאוּבֵ֛ן תֵּימָ֖נָה לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וְנָשִׂיא֙ לִבְנֵ֣י רְאוּבֵ֔ן אֱלִיצ֖וּר בֶּן־שְׁדֵיאֽוּר׃ ‬
11and his division numbers 46,500.
וּצְבָא֖וֹ וּפְקֻדָ֑יו שִׁשָּׁ֧ה וְאַרְבָּעִ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וַחֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת׃ ‬
12The tribe of Simeon shall camp next to them. The leader of the people of Simeon is Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai,
וְהַחוֹנִ֥ם עָלָ֖יו מַטֵּ֣ה שִׁמְע֑וֹן וְנָשִׂיא֙ לִבְנֵ֣י שִׁמְע֔וֹן שְׁלֻמִיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־צוּרִֽי־שַׁדָּֽי׃ ‬
16All those enrolled in the camp of Reuben, by their divisions, number 151,450. They shall set out second.
כָּֽל־הַפְּקֻדִ֞ים לְמַחֲנֵ֣ה רְאוּבֵ֗ן מְאַ֨ת אֶ֜לֶף וְאֶחָ֨ד וַחֲמִשִּׁ֥ים אֶ֛לֶף וְאַרְבַּע־מֵא֥וֹת וַחֲמִשִּׁ֖ים לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וּשְׁנִיִּ֖ם יִסָּֽעוּ׃ ס ‬

Offering at the Dedication of the Altar

On the second day of the dedication of the tabernacle, Elisur brought his offering: a silver plate, a silver basin, a gold spoon, a burnt offering, and a sin offering.

30On the fourth day it was Elizur son of Shedeur, the leader of the people of Reuben.
בַּיּוֹם֙ הָרְבִיעִ֔י נָשִׂ֖יא לִבְנֵ֣י רְאוּבֵ֑ן אֱלִיצ֖וּר בֶּן־שְׁדֵיאֽוּר׃ ‬
31His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver basin of seventy shekels, by the sanctuary shekel, both of them filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
קָרְבָּנ֞וֹ קַֽעֲרַת־כֶּ֣סֶף אַחַ֗ת שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים וּמֵאָה֮ מִשְׁקָלָהּ֒ מִזְרָ֤ק אֶחָד֙ כֶּ֔סֶף שִׁבְעִ֥ים שֶׁ֖קֶל בְּשֶׁ֣קֶל הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ שְׁנֵיהֶ֣ם ׀ מְלֵאִ֗ים סֹ֛לֶת בְּלוּלָ֥ה בַשֶּׁ֖מֶן לְמִנְחָֽה׃ ‬
32one gold dish of ten shekels, filled with incense;
כַּ֥ף אַחַ֛ת עֲשָׂרָ֥ה זָהָ֖ב מְלֵאָ֥ה קְטֹֽרֶת ‬
33one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;
פַּ֣ר אֶחָ֞ד בֶּן־בָּקָ֗ר אַ֧יִל אֶחָ֛ד כֶּֽבֶשׂ־אֶחָ֥ד בֶּן־שְׁנָת֖וֹ לְעֹלָֽה׃ ‬
34one male goat for a sin offering;
שְׂעִיר־עִזִּ֥ים אֶחָ֖ד לְחַטָּֽאת׃ ‬
35and for the fellowship offering, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur.
וּלְזֶ֣בַח הַשְּׁלָמִים֮ בָּקָ֣ר שְׁנַיִם֒ אֵילִ֤ם חֲמִשָּׁה֙ עַתֻּדִ֣ים חֲמִשָּׁ֔ה כְּבָשִׂ֥ים בְּנֵֽי־שָׁנָ֖ה חֲמִשָּׁ֑ה זֶ֛ה קָרְבַּ֥ן אֱלִיצ֖וּר בֶּן־שְׁדֵיאֽוּר׃ פ ‬

Leader of Reuben's Division in the March Order

Elisur, son of Shedeur, led the army of the tribe of Reuben when the people of Israel broke camp and marched through the wilderness.

18Next the standard of the camp of Reuben set out, company by company, and Elizur son of Shedeur was over its company.
וְנָסַ֗ע דֶּ֛גֶל מַחֲנֵ֥ה רְאוּבֵ֖ן לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וְעַל־צְבָא֔וֹ אֱלִיצ֖וּר בֶּן־שְׁדֵיאֽוּר׃ ‬

Mentioned in the Bible (5)