Who was Lael in the Bible?

Lael was the father of Eliasaph and a member of the Gershonite clan of Levites. He is mentioned only once in the Bible, where his son is appointed as a leader over the Gershonites during the wilderness wanderings (Numbers 3:24).

What was Lael's significance in the Old Testament?

Lael's significance comes through his son, Eliasaph, who was a chief leader responsible for the tabernacle's outer coverings and hangings. This role was vital for the worship and mobility of Israel in the wilderness, making Lael part of an important priestly lineage (Numbers 3:21-26).

Are there any key events in Lael's life?

The Bible records no specific events in Lael's life. His mention is genealogical, establishing his son's authority. The key 'event' associated with him is the divine appointment of his son to a leadership role in the Levitical service.

Lael

Old TestamentEgypt & WildernessMaleLeviteFather

Lael, the father of Eliasaph, a leader of the Gershonite Levites (Num.3.24).

Lael

Biography

Lael was a Levite of the Gershonite clan whose name means "belonging to God" or "devoted to God" in Hebrew. He is known primarily as the father of Eliasaph, who served as the appointed leader of the Gershonite division of the Levites during Israel's wilderness journey (Numbers 3:24). Under Moses' organization of the Israelite camp, the Gershonites were charged with transporting the curtains, coverings, and hangings of the tabernacle, the woven fabrics that formed the outer structure of Israel's sacred dwelling place. Though Lael himself receives no direct narrative attention beyond his paternal relationship to Eliasaph, his name carries profound theological resonance. As a Levite whose very identity was consecrated to the Lord, Lael represents the faithful lineage through which God's worship was maintained in the wilderness generation.

Significance

Lael's significance lies in his place within the Levitical system that God established for Israel's worship. His son Eliasaph led the Gershonites, a division responsible for the physical fabric of the tabernacle, the outer tent and its coverings (Numbers 3:25-26). This work was not merely logistical but profoundly sacred: the Gershonites ensured that the dwelling place of God could be transported and erected as Israel moved through the wilderness. Lael's very name: "belonging to God", suggests a household oriented toward divine service. He reminds readers that faithfulness often works through generations, as a parent's consecration to God shapes the leadership of the next.

Authority Records

Wikidata

Verse Appearances (1)

Numbers

Numbers 3:24

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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