Who was Hur in the Bible?

One who with Aaron supported the hands of Moses during the battle of Israel with Amalek. He was also left with Aaron in charge of the camp when Moses ascended mount Sinai. Ex. 17:10, 12; Ex. 24:14. Jewish tradition says that he was the husband of Miriam, and the same person as No. 2.

Son of Caleb, the son of Hezron, and grandfather of Bezaleel. Ex. 31:2; Ex. 35:30; Ex. 38:22; 1 Chr. 2:19-20; 1 Chr. 4:1; 2 Chr. 1:5.

From Judah to David there is only a succession of names without any distinguishing mark with the exception of three, and two of these are prominent through their sin. Er, whom the Lord slew, Achar, the troubler of Israel, and Nahshon, the prince of the children of Judah. Having brought the line down to David, the Holy Spirit, as it were, pauses and notes the sons of Hezron (Esrom, Matt. 1) other than Ram (Aram, Matt. 1), i.e. to Jerahmeel, and to Chelubai, the same is called Caleb (see vers. 9 and 18). The honoured line passed through Ram, but his natural connections have a place in the archives of Judah. Doubtless every one named was prominent for some quality or excellence, or for some special blessing conferred which would confer still greater eminence. Hur is the son of Caleb. This is the Hur that with Aaron held up the hands of Moses when Israel fought and overcame Amalek, and was associated with Aaron in the care of the people when Moses went up the mount (Ex. 17:12). Bezaleel, grandson of Hur, was named of God and endowed with wisdom for a very special purpose, taught to make all the furniture for the tabernacle (Ex. 31). This gave greater eminence than all the riches of Jain, who had twenty-three cities, and took sixty more. But even Segub is named, though only half-brother to Ram. Is it not because of his connection with the ancestry of David, with that line which was always so choice with God that even the least affinity with it entitles to a place in these genealogies? Were not these named ones counted among God's elect ones? Would they be mentioned at all if among those who fell in the wilderness through unbelief? Unless such as Achar, whose sin brought such momentous consequences upon Israel, all whose names appear here, are among the worthies of that people. This special mention of Hezron's family and descendants is not a mere genealogical list from Judah to David where the evil take their place in successional order with the good; but these are men of renown, and while the book of God is read, their names will stand forth as of those whom God would honour.

[Aa'ron] Eldest son of Amram and Jochebed, of the tribe of Levi. We first read of him when Moses was excusing himself from being sent to deliver Israel from Egypt because he was 'slow of speech.' Jehovah declared that his brother Aaron who was coming to meet him could speak well and should be his spokesman. Aaron accompanied Moses in his interviews with Pharaoh, and with his rod some of the miraculous plagues were called forth. He with Hur held up the hands of Moses on the Mount when Israel fought with Amalek. Ex. 17:12. Aaron with his two sons Nadab and Abihu with seventy of the elders, went with Moses into the mount where "they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness." Ex. 24:9-10. When Moses retired higher into the mount, he left Israel in charge of Aaron and Hur. Ex. 24:14.

In Exodus 17:8-16 we read of Amalek fighting with the children of Israel at Rephidim. To the top of the hill ascended Moses with the rod of God in his hand, accompanied by Aaron and Hur. When Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. Moses’ hands, however, growing heavy, Aaron and Hur placed him sitting on a stone, while they propped up his hands till the setting of the sun. So Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

Moses had taken Aaron and Hur with him to the place of intercession, and also the rod of God. The rod that had made a way through the Red Sea, and that had been demonstrated before Pharaoh as the rod of God's authority and power, signified that Moses depended on the power of God in this conflict. Moses, unlike the One Who intercedes in heaven for us and Whose hands are never weary, needed the support of God's priest, and of Hur, whose name means free or noble. Moses, Aaron and Hur together give a faint foreshadowing of Him Who intercedes for His saints during their time of conflict here, and His intercession assures us of the victory.

Verses 1 through 23 take up the genealogy of Judah for the second time. Two names especially stand out in 1 Chronicles 2-4. First, that of David, for Judah's kingship is, as we have seen, the principal subject of Chronicles. Secondly, that of Caleb the son of Jephunneh who represents the energy and the perseverance of faith; Hur, who plays a prominent role in Israel's history (Ex. 17:12; Ex. 24:14), is a son of Caleb's (1 Chron. 2:19, 50; 1 Chron. 4:1, 4). Jabez (1 Chron. 4:9-10) is of the same clan (1 Chron. 4:9-10; 1 Chron. 2:55).

Verses 1 through 23 take up the genealogy of Judah for the second time. Two names especially stand out in 1 Chronicles 2-4. First, that of David, for Judah's kingship is, as we have seen, the principal subject of Chronicles. Secondly, that of Caleb the son of Jephunneh who represents the energy and the perseverance of faith; Hur, who plays a prominent role in Israel's history (Ex. 17: 12; Ex. 24: 14), is a son of Caleb's (1 Chron. 2: 19, 50; 1 Chron. 4: 1, 4). Jabez (1 Chron. 4: 9-10) is of the same clan (1 Chron. 4: 9-10; 1 Chron. 2: 55).

But in Ex. 19 you come to law, and the whole thing is changed. Hur means purity. Moses' hands are held up for blessing. The purity is looked for in us. If I am not walking according to God's will, I shall not have strength in conflict. You have nothing to do with God here except to get His blessing. You get discipline and conflict, but then it is all blessing. Every Christian knows that, unless he is walking with God, he cannot have strength. It is striking that "the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation," but it is in Israel that He keeps the conflict up. It gives a very blessed character to Israel's wars; he is fighting a battle for Jehovah, only now "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal." In that sense Hur would represent the Spirit, because He is the power of purity: Aaron's hands, priestly intercession.

Son of Hur and father of Bezaleel who had skill given him for the construction of the tabernacle. Ex. 31:2; Ex. 35:30; Ex. 38:22; 1 Chr. 2:20; 2 Chr. 1:5.

Son of Hezron and father of Hur. 1 Chr. 2:18-19, 42: apparently the same as CHELUBAI in 1 Chr. 2:9.

Son of Hur. 1 Chr. 2:50.