Kemuel
“Possibly 'helper of God' or 'God's mound'”
Summary
A name borne by three men in Scripture, including a nephew of Abraham who became father of Aram, a prince of Ephraim, and a Levite leader under David.
☩Nephew of Abraham
The most notable Kemuel was the third son of Abraham's brother Nahor by his wife Milcah. He was the father of Aram (not the same as the ancestor of the Syrians mentioned in Genesis 10), from whom descended Bethuel, the father of Rebekah and Laban. This family connection made him an important link in the lineage that produced Isaac's wife.
☩Other Kemuels
Two other men bore this name. One was the son of Shiphtan, who served as the prince or representative of the tribe of Ephraim, appointed by Moses to help divide the land of Canaan among the tribes. The other was a Levite, the father of Hashabiah, who served as a tribal prince in David's time and was a ruler among the Levites.
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Kemuel," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. V (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Kemuel," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. III (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.George Morrish, "Kemuel," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).