Who is…
Reuel
Meaning: friend of God
This is the name of 3 biblical men.
-
Reuel, a son of Esau and Bashemath
He is a son of Esau through Esau’s wife Bashemath (aka Basemath).
The patriarch of 4 Edomite tribes, his 4 sons all became tribal chiefs (dukes) in the land of Edom.
Relatives
- Father: Esau
- Mother: Bashemath
- Grandfather: Ishmael, son of Abraham
- Wife: not named
- Sisters: not named or numbered in the Bible
- Sons: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, Mizzah
- Daughters: not named or numbered in the Bible
Genesis 36:4, 10; 1 Chronicles 1:35
More information
-
Reuel, priest of Midian, and likely a prince or chieftain
also known as: Raguel and Jethro (his title)
He is a Midianite who welcomed Moses to his land and group after Moses fled Egypt after killing a violent Egyptian taskmaster. Reuel was impressed with him, and Moses was willing to settle down with them. Subsequently, Reuel gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses as his wife. He then became Moses’ father-in-law (Exodus 2:18) = Raguel (Numbers 10:29).
Reuel is called “The priest of Midian.”
Jethro (aka Jether (meaning: “excellency”) is his official title.
“Moses’ father in law is also called Reuel (Exodus 2:18) and Raguel (Numbers 10:29). These are probably two forms of his given name, while the name Jethro was associated with his priestly office (Exodus 18:1).” —Dr. Henry M. Morris, The Defender's Bible
Reuel is also described as a Kenite shepherd in some contexts.
Jethro (Reuel) later advised Moses on organizing Israel’s leadership during the Israelite Exodus (Exodus 18).
He also brought Zipporah and her sons to rejoin Moses after the Exodus.
-
Reuel, father of Eliasaph
This Reuel is the father of a Gadite captain named Eliasaph, a man mentioned in Numbers 2:14.
He is also called Deuel (Numbers 1:14; 7:42).
More information