Who was Pallu in the Bible?

Pallu was the second son of Reuben, Jacob's firstborn son. He is primarily known as the father of the Palluite clan within the tribe of Reuben (Genesis 46:9, Exodus 6:14).

What is the significance of Pallu in the Bible?

Pallu's significance lies in his role as a clan founder. His descendants, the Palluites, were recognized as one of the major family groups within the tribe of Reuben during the Exodus and wilderness wanderings (Numbers 26:5, 8).

What key events in the Bible involve Pallu or his descendants?

The key events are genealogical listings. Pallu is named in the genealogy of Reuben when Jacob's family moves to Egypt (Genesis 46:9) and when the Israelites are counted in the wilderness (Numbers 26:5). His son, Eliab, was the father of Dathan and Abiram, who rebelled against Moses (Numbers 26:8-9).

Pallu

Old TestamentEgypt & WildernessMaleSon

Pallu was a son of Reuben and the ancestor of the Palluite clan within the tribe of Reuben.

Pallu

Biography

Pallu was the second son of Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and the founder of the Palluite clan within the tribe of Reuben (Genesis 46:9; Exodus 6:14; Numbers 26:5, 8; 1 Chronicles 5:3). He was among the seventy members of Jacob's household who migrated to Egypt during the great famine, where the family would grow into the nation of Israel over the course of four centuries. Pallu's son Eliab became the father of Dathan and Abiram, who along with Korah would later mount the most serious rebellion against Moses and Aaron's leadership during the wilderness period (Numbers 16:1-2; 26:8-9). The Palluite clan was numbered at the second wilderness census and continued as a recognized division within Reuben's tribal allotment in the Transjordan territory east of the Dead Sea.

Significance

Pallu occupies a complex position in Israel's genealogical history as both a tribal patriarch and the ancestor of some of the most notorious rebels in the wilderness narrative. Through his grandson Dathan and great-grandson Abiram, Pallu's line became associated with the challenge to Moses's divinely appointed authority, a rebellion that ended in dramatic divine judgment when the earth opened and swallowed the rebels (Numbers 16:31-33). This connection serves as a sobering reminder that belonging to a covenant family does not guarantee faithfulness in subsequent generations. Despite the rebellion of some descendants, the Palluite clan survived and continued within Reuben's tribe, illustrating God's mercy in preserving family lines even when individual members fall into grievous sin.

Verse Appearances (5)

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]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

View all sources & licensing →

See our editorial standards →

Content compiled from public domain scholarship, academic sources, and verified references. Editorial standards · View all sources