כִּסְלוֹן
Kislon, an Israelite
Definition
Kislon is a proper noun referring to an Israelite man, the father of Elidad, who was chosen as a representative from the tribe of Benjamin. His primary biblical appearance is in the context of the land division of Canaan. In Numbers 34:21, he is mentioned as the father of Elidad, who was appointed to help oversee the distribution of the Promised Land among the tribes. The name itself carries a positive connotation, derived from a root meaning 'hope' or 'folly,' though in this context, it is understood as a personal identifier.
Biblical Usage
The word כִּסְלוֹן (Kislon) is used only once in the Old Testament, specifically in Numbers 34:21. It functions strictly as a proper name for an individual within a genealogical and administrative list. The context is the appointment of tribal leaders by Moses to assist in allocating the land of Canaan west of the Jordan River, as commanded by God.
Etymology
The name כִּסְלוֹן (Kislon) is derived from the Hebrew root כָּסַל (kāsal, H3688), which has a dual semantic range. It can mean 'to be foolish' or, in a more positive sense, 'to be hopeful' or 'to trust.' As a proper name, Kislon likely carries the hopeful connotation, meaning 'hopeful' or 'trusting,' which was a common practice in Hebrew onomastics (name-giving) to express positive attributes or divine reliance.
Semantic Range
While Kislon himself is a minor figure, his inclusion highlights the theme of God's orderly and just provision for His people. The appointment of his son, Elidad, as a land distributor underscores that every tribe and family had a designated role and inheritance in the fulfillment of God's covenant promise to Abraham. Understanding the name's root meaning ('hopeful') can subtly reinforce the trust Israel was to place in God's allocation of their portion.
In ancient Israelite culture, names were often significant and descriptive. Bearing a name like Kislon ('hopeful') may have reflected parental aspirations or acknowledged divine faithfulness. His role as the father of a tribal representative indicates he was likely a person of standing within the tribe of Benjamin, as such appointments were made from among the leaders and heads of the ancestral houses (Numbers 34:18).
There are no direct synonyms for this proper noun. However, other Hebrew names derived from roots expressing trust include: בָּטַח (bāṭaḥ, H982) — meaning 'to trust,' seen in names like Betach. יָחַל (yāḥal, H3176) — meaning 'to wait, hope,' as in the name Jahleel.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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