(The Lord speaking is red text)
And over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad [was] Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
Over the company of the descendants of Gad was Elyasaf the son of De'u'el.
and Eliasaph son of Deuel was over the division of the tribe of Gad.
And over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
And over the host{H6635} of the tribe{H4294} of the children{H1121} of Gad{H1410} was Eliasaph{H460} the son{H1121} of Deuel{H1845}.
Numbers 10:20 is a part of the Old Testament in the Bible, specifically found within the book of Numbers, which details the Israelites' journey from Egypt to the Promised Land after their exodus. The book is named after the census that occurs at the beginning, where the tribes of Israel are counted and organized for the purposes of the journey and the allotment of land.
**Themes:**
1. **Divine Order and Leadership:** The verse emphasizes the structured leadership appointed by God over the tribes of Israel. Each tribe had its own leader, and this organization was crucial for the coordination of the large group of people as they traveled through the wilderness.
2. **Responsibility and Service:** The leaders, like Eliasaph, were responsible not only for military matters but also for the spiritual and civil affairs of their respective tribes. This reflects the broader theme of service to God and the community.
3. **Preparation for the Promised Land:** The organization of the tribes and their leaders was part of the preparation for entering and possessing the land of Canaan, which was promised to their ancestors.
**Historical Context:**
- **Exodus and Wilderness Wanderings:** The Israelites had recently been delivered from slavery in Egypt and were journeying towards Canaan under the leadership of Moses and Aaron.
- **Census and Organization:** Prior to this journey, a census was taken, and the tribes were organized for marching order and for the division of the land they were to inherit.
- **Tribal Leaders:** Each tribe had a leader, and these leaders were significant figures in their tribes, responsible for maintaining order and ensuring that the commands of Moses were carried out.
- **Time Period:** This event would have occurred around the 13th century BCE, according to traditional biblical chronology.
In summary, Numbers 10:20 reflects the theme of divine order in the leadership of Israel as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. It provides a snapshot of the structured governance of the Israelite community during their wilderness wanderings, with Eliasaph serving as an example of the tribal leaders appointed to guide the people according to God's instructions.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)