Who was Hur in the Bible?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Hur in the Bible refers to a few different individuals. Two are mentioned briefly: one as a Midianite king defeated by the Israelites (Numbers 31:8; Joshua 13:21), and another as the father of Rephaiah (Nehemiah 3:9). The most notable Hur helped hold up Moses' arms during the battle against the Amalekites (Exodus 17:11–12). Hur came alongside Moses to equip and support him in the task God had given Moses to do. He did not take over the holding of the "staff of God" nor did he rush down to fight the battle himself. Instead, Hur recognized the Israelites' (and by extension, his own) dependence on God for the military victory as well as the role God had given him to fill. He was the supportive friend and faithful co-leader to Moses. Hur was also a trusted leader during Moses' absence and the grandfather of Bezalel, who was called by God to help construct the tabernacle (Exodus 31:2). Hur's actions highlight the value of humble, supportive roles in achieving collective success.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• There are a few men by the name of Hur in the Bible. Two are only mentioned in passing. One such man was one of five kings in Midian defeated by the Israelites referred to in Numbers 31:8 and Joshua 13:21. Another Hur is mentioned in Nehemiah 3:9 as being father to Rephaiah.
• Perhaps the most well-known Hur is the man who helped hold up Moses' arms during battle. In Exodus 17, the Amalekites came to attack the Israelites at Rephidim. Verses 11 and 12 explain, "Whenever Moses held up his hand [with the staff of God], Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun." This Hur was such a trusted man that when Moses went up to Mount Sinai with Joshua to receive the Law from God, Moses told the elders, "Wait here for us until we return to you. And behold, Aaron and Hur are with you. Whoever has a dispute, let him go to them" (Exodus 24:14). Hur was to be a leader in Moses' absence. Unfortunately, while Moses was gone for forty days, the Israelites built a golden calf to worship (Exodus 32). Moses rebuked Aaron about the golden calf, but there is no mention of Hur. Some speculate that the Israelites killed Hur in their demands for an idol, which is what scared Aaron into building one for them, but there is no indication of that in the text.
• This Hur was also the grandfather of Bezalel (Exodus 31:2). Bezalel and a man named Oholiab were called by God for the construction of the tabernacle. God told Moses, "See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you" (Exodus 31:2–6).
• Caleb, who spied out Canaan in Numbers 13 and, along with Joshua, trusted that God would give them victory to enter into the land, had a son named Hur. That Hur also had a son named Uri who also had a son named Bezalel (1 Chronicles 2:19–20). They were also from the tribe of Judah. However, given the understood chronology of the events, it seems these were different men bearing similar family names. Shared names in a family is not unusual, particularly when those names are associated with people of honor.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Hur is not mentioned in the New Testament.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

One valuable lesson we can learn from Hur, who helped hold up Moses' arms, is the significance of supportive leadership and collaboration. Hur's willingness to assist Moses without seeking recognition illustrates that collective success often depends on individuals stepping up to support one another. By participating in this crucial moment, Hur showed that even seemingly small acts of support can have a significant impact on the outcome of larger efforts. This teaches us that in any community or group, everyone’s contribution matters, and we must be willing to lend a hand and share burdens to achieve common goals. Hur’s actions remind us that victories are rarely won by a single person, but by the collective efforts and mutual support of many.

UNDERSTAND

• Several men are named Hur in the Bible.
• The most significant Hur held up Moses’ arms while the Israelites were battling the Amalekites.
• Hur and Aaron were left in charge of the people when Moses went up Mount Sinai to receive the Law from God.

REFLECT

• In what ways can you provide support to others in their leadership roles, similar to how Hur supported Moses?
• How can you embrace humility and recognize the significance of your contributions, even if they seem small or go unnoticed?
• When faced with challenges, how do you seek to collaborate with others, share responsibilities, and receive support? Or do you try to handle everything on your own?

ENGAGE

• How can your community foster a culture where everyone's support and contributions are valued, similar to Hur's role with Moses?
• What are some examples from your experiences where teamwork and collaboration led to success, mirroring the victory over the Amalekites?
• How can we individually contribute our gifts and talents for collective success and the good of others?