‘ And the children of Israel, sent to the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the priest, and with him ten princes, one prince of a father's house for each of the tribes of Israel, and they were every one of them head of their father's houses among the families (thousands) of Israel.'
The deputation sent into the land of Gilead to confront the supposed rebels was a powerful one. Eleazar's own son, Phinehas, who had already proved himself in dealing firmly with idolatry at Peor (Numbers 25:7; Psalms 106:28-31), was a very suitable choice, and was there to represent his father. He could be depended on to act firmly. With him was one prince from each of the tribes settling in the land of Canaan. ‘Prince of a father's house' may well have been a title depicting a certain status. They were important men. Indeed this is then made clear in the description of what they were, rulers over a sub-clan of their tribe.