Hur חוּר
A Midianite king killed by the Israelites.
Who is Hur in the Bible?
Hur was one of the five Midianite kings slain by the Israelites during the time of Moses, as recorded in Numbers 31.8 and Joshua 13.21. He was killed in battle as part of God's judgment against the Midianites, who had led the Israelites into idolatry and sexual immorality. Under Moses' command, the Israelite army, led by Phinehas, defeated the Midianites and executed their five kings: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba (Numbers 31.7-8). The conquest of Midian's territory, including the land of these kings, was subsequently divided among the tribes of Reuben and Gad as their inheritance in the Promised Land (Joshua 13.21). Hur's death symbolizes the divine judgment against those who corrupted God's people and the fulfillment of God's command to protect Israel from spiritual compromise.
Biography
Hur is mentioned in Num.31.8 and Jos.13.21 as one of the five kings of Midian who were killed by the Israelites during the time of Moses. These kings were slain in battle as part of a divine judgment against the Midianites for their role in seducing the Israelites into idolatry and sexual immorality (Num.25.1-18).
In Numbers 31, God commanded Moses to take vengeance on the Midianites. The Israelite army, led by Phinehas, went to war against Midian and killed all the men, including the five kings: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba (Num.31.7-8).
The territory of these Midianite kings was later allocated to the tribes of Reuben and Gad as part of their inheritance in the Promised Land (Jos.13.21). This indicates that the defeat of these kings and the conquest of their land was a significant event in Israel's history, marking their victory over their enemies and the fulfillment of God's promise to give them the land of Canaan.
The biblical account of Hur and the other Midianite kings serves as an example of God's judgment against those who oppose His people and lead them astray. It also demonstrates the importance of obedience to God's commands and the consequences of idolatry and immorality.
In Scripture
2 biblical books ; 1 with study contentNumbers 1 verse
- Numbers 31:8
"Among the slain were Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba—the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword."
Joshua 1 verse
- Joshua 13:21
"all the cities of the plateau and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon until Moses killed him and the chiefs of Midian (Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba), the princes of Sihon who lived in the land."
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | חוּר | Chur , the name of four Israelites and one Midianite |