Eliezer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article may require copy-editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone or spelling. You can assist by editing it now.  (November 2007)

For the mathematician and Tamil activist see C.J. Eliezer; also look at Eleazar

Eliezer (Hebrew: אֱלִיעֶזֶר, Standard Eliʿézer, Tiberian ʾĔlîʿézer; "Help/Court of my God") was the name of at least three different characters in the Bible.

[edit] The son of Moses

Eliezer was Moses and Zipporah's second son. His name means "God is help" in Hebrew.

The verse in the Book of Exodus (18:4) states:

Both Gershom and Eliezer were born during the time Moses had fled from Egypt and had taken refuge in Midian and had married Jethro's daughter Zipporah.

[edit] Eliezer of Damascus

There is also an Eliezer known as Eliezer of Damascus (Hebrew: דַּמֶּשֶׂק אֱלִיעֶזֶר, Standard Damméseq Eliʿézer, Tiberian Damméśeq ʾĔlîʿézer), head of the patriarch Abraham's household mentioned in the Book of Genesis (15:2):

According to most opinions the nameless servant in Genesis 24, who searched for a bride for Isaac, was this Eliezer. There is also an interpretation, cited for example by Rashi, that Eliezer went alone with Abraham to rescue Lot, with the reference to 318 men (Genesis 14:14) being the numerical value of Eliezer's name in Hebrew.

[edit] Eliezer, prophet

A prophet called Eliezer, son of Dodavah, rebuked King Jehosophat for aligning himself with Ahaziah the King of Israel. He and Ahaziah built ships in Ezion Geber which were to sail to Tarshish for trade. According to 2 Chronicles (20:37), the ships sank due to his not relying on the Lord:

[edit] Trivia

Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (February 2009)

Eliezer is the name of the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which supports the activities of Eliezer at Yale at Yale University.