Elidad is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Elidad was a leader from the tribe of Benjamin. He is identified in Scripture as “Elidad the son of Chislon” (Numbers 34:21). His only appearance in the King James Bible comes in the account of how the land of Canaan was to be divided among the tribes of Israel. At this point in the biblical narrative, the Israelites were still on the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan River, preparing to enter the land that God had promised to their ancestors. Moses had not yet died, and Joshua had not yet led the people across the Jordan. The task of apportioning the land still lay ahead.
God instructed Moses to take one leader from each of the tribes to oversee the division of the inheritance. These men were not chosen to conquer the land but to represent their tribes in the allotment that would follow the conquest. Elidad was the man appointed for Benjamin. Numbers 34:21 records his selection simply and without elaboration: “Of the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad the son of Chislon.” He is named alongside the other tribal representatives, each of whom was a “prince” or leader among his people.
Scripture tells us nothing further about Elidad—nothing of his family beyond his father’s name, nothing of his character, and nothing of what he did after this appointment. He appears once, is named as Benjamin’s representative, and then passes from the record. What we know of him is bound up entirely in this one task: he was entrusted by Moses, at God’s command, with helping to divide the promised land among the tribes of Israel. His inclusion in the list marks him as a man of standing within Benjamin, chosen for a responsibility that would shape the inheritance of his people for generations.
The Name
The name Elidad appears to be a Hebrew name, and its meaning is not as clearly established as some other biblical names. Suggestions have been offered—such as “God has loved” or “my God is a friend”—but these are not firmly settled, and the name’s exact sense is not recoverable with confidence. What can be said is that it is a compound name containing a reference to God (the “El” element common in Hebrew names), which was typical of Israelite naming. Beyond that, readers should be cautious about assigning a definite meaning where the evidence does not clearly support one.
A Closing Thought
Elidad’s life reminds us that faithfulness is not measured by how much of our story is recorded. He appears once in Scripture, named for a single task, and then is heard from no more. Yet that task mattered: he helped divide an inheritance that would belong to his tribe for generations. Many of God’s people serve in exactly this way—quietly, briefly, and without acclaim—and their labor is no less real. What we do in obedience to God does not need to be remembered by the world. It is enough that He knows, and that He uses it.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- Numbers 34:21 — Of the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad the son of Chislon.