Helon

Father of Eliab from the tribe of Zebulun

The exodusLeaderc. 1500 BC

Helon is known from the Bible as the father of Eliab, who was the leader and chief of the tribe of Zebulun during the wilderness wanderings. He is mentioned several times in the Book of Numbers in connection with the census and the arrangement of the tribes in the camp and during the march. Although little is known about Helon personally, his significance is tied to his son Eliab's leadership role.

Family

Key events

Census in the wilderness

Helon's son Eliab was appointed as leader of the tribe of Zebulun during the first census in the wilderness of Sinai.

9from Zebulun, Eliab son of Helon;
לִזְבוּלֻ֕ן אֱלִיאָ֖ב בֶּן־חֵלֹֽן׃ ‬
30The descendants of Zebulun: all the men twenty years old and upward who were fit for military service were listed by name, according to their genealogy, by clan and family.
לִבְנֵ֣י זְבוּלֻ֔ן תּוֹלְדֹתָ֥ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם בְּמִסְפַּ֣ר שֵׁמֹ֗ת מִבֶּ֨ן עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה כֹּ֖ל יֹצֵ֥א צָבָֽא׃ ‬
31The number from the tribe of Zebulun was 57,400.
פְּקֻדֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַטֵּ֣ה זְבוּלֻ֑ן שִׁבְעָ֧ה וַחֲמִשִּׁ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וְאַרְבַּ֥ע מֵאֽוֹת׃ פ ‬

Arrangement of the tribes in the camp

Eliab, son of Helon, was assigned his place in the camp arrangement with the tribe of Zebulun under Judah's banner on the east side of the tabernacle.

7Then the tribe of Zebulun. The leader of the people of Zebulun is Eliab son of Helon,
מַטֵּ֖ה זְבוּלֻ֑ן וְנָשִׂיא֙ לִבְנֵ֣י זְבוּלֻ֔ן אֱלִיאָ֖ב בֶּן־חֵלֹֽן׃ ‬

Offerings of the chiefs at the altar

Eliab, son of Helon, brought his offering as chief of Zebulun at the dedication of the tabernacle, on the third day.

24On the third day it was Eliab son of Helon, the leader of the people of Zebulun.
בַּיּוֹם֙ הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֔י נָשִׂ֖יא לִבְנֵ֣י זְבוּלֻ֑ן אֱלִיאָ֖ב בֶּן־חֵלֹֽן׃ ‬
25His 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׃ ‬
26one gold dish of ten shekels, filled with incense;
כַּ֥ף אַחַ֛ת עֲשָׂרָ֥ה זָהָ֖ב מְלֵאָ֥ה קְטֹֽרֶת׃ ‬
27one 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׃ ‬
28one male goat for a sin offering;
שְׂעִיר־עִזִּ֥ים אֶחָ֖ד לְחַטָּֽאת׃ ‬
29and for the fellowship offering, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliab son of Helon.
וּלְזֶ֣בַח הַשְּׁלָמִים֮ בָּקָ֣ר שְׁנַיִם֒ אֵילִ֤ם חֲמִשָּׁה֙ עַתֻּדִ֣ים חֲמִשָּׁ֔ה כְּבָשִׂ֥ים בְּנֵי־שָׁנָ֖ה חֲמִשָּׁ֑ה זֶ֛ה קָרְבַּ֥ן אֱלִיאָ֖ב בֶּן־חֵלֹֽן׃ פ ‬

Commander of Zebulun's army during the march

Eliab, son of Helon, led the army of the tribe of Zebulun when the children of Israel broke camp and marched through the wilderness.

16and Eliab son of Helon was over the company of the tribe of Zebulun.
וְעַ֨ל־צְבָ֔א מַטֵּ֖ה בְּנֵ֣י זְבוּלֻ֑ן אֱלִיאָ֖ב בֶּן־חֵלֽוֹן׃ ‬

Mentioned in the Bible (5)