Bible Dictionary
Reuel
Reuel means “friend of God.” The name refers to a son of Esau, a person connected with Moses’ Midianite family, a leader of Gad, and a Benjamite.
Definition
Reuel, meaning “friend of God” or “God is his friend,” was a name applied to several persons. It belonged to a son of Esau, to a person connected with Moses’ Midianite family, to the father of Eliasaph the leader of Gad, and to a Benjamite.
Biblical Usage
Reuel appears in genealogical records and in the account of Moses’ connection with Midian. In Numbers, the father of Eliasaph is called Reuel, while other passages call him Deuel.
Historical Background
The supplied material suggests that Reuel connected with Moses’ family may have been a clan name, with Hobab a member of that clan. The name is also associated with Jethro in the account of Moses’ marriage to Zipporah.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Friend of God. (1.) A son of Esau and Bashemath (Gen. 36:4, 10; 1 Chr. 1:35). (2.) “The priest of Midian,” Moses’ father-in-law (Ex. 2:18)=Raguel (Num. 10:29). If he be identified with Jethro (q.v.), then this may be regarded as his proper name, and Jether or Jethro (i.e., “excellency”) as his official title. (3.) Num. 2:14, called also Deuel (1:14; 7:42).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(friend of God) One of the sons of Esau, by his wife Bashemath, sister of Ishmael. (Genesis 36:4,10,13,17; 1 Chronicles 1:36,37) (B.C. about 1790.)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>roo'-el (re`u'el, "God is his friend"; the Septuagint Rhagouel):</p><p>(1) In the genealogical system Reuel is both a son of Esau by Basemath (Ge 36:4,10,13,17; 1Ch 1:35,37) and the father of the father-in-law of Moses, Hobab (Nu 10:29). In the account of the marriage of Zipporah to Moses (Ex 2:16-21) Jethro seems to be called Reuel (compare HOBAB). The various names of Jethro perplexed the Talmudists, too; some held that his real name was "Hobab," and that Reuel was his father. Reuel is probably a clan name (Gray, "Nu," ICC), and Hobab is a member of the clan ("son") of Reuel (Nu 10:29, the King James Version reads "Raguel").</p><p>(2) The father of Eliasaph, the prince of Gad (Nu 2:14), called (by some copyist's mistake) "Deuel" in Nu 1:14; 7:42,47; 10:20. The Septuagint has uniformly Rhagouel.</p><p>(3) A Benjamite (1Ch 9:8). Horace J. Wolf</p>