אַשְׁבֵּלִי
an Ashbelite (collectively) or descendant of Ashbel
Definition
The Hebrew word אַשְׁבֵּלִי (ʼAshbêlîy) is a patronymic noun meaning 'an Ashbelite'—a descendant of Ashbel, who was the second son of Benjamin (Genesis 46:21). It functions as a collective term, referring to the clan or family group tracing its lineage back to this founding ancestor. The term appears exclusively in the context of tribal genealogies and census records, specifically in Numbers 26:38, where the Ashbelites are counted among the clans of Benjamin during the second wilderness census.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Numbers 26:38, within a detailed census list of the Israelite tribes. Its usage is strictly genealogical and administrative, serving to identify one of the familial subdivisions within the tribe of Benjamin. There are no patterns of broader usage, as it is a specific, technical term for a clan name.
Etymology
The word is a straightforward patronymic formation derived from the proper name אַשְׁבֵּל (Ashbel, H788), meaning 'man of Baal' or possibly 'flowing.' It follows the common Hebrew pattern of adding the suffix '-î' to indicate descent or belonging, thus creating 'of Ashbel' or 'descendant of Ashbel.'
Semantic Range
In ancient Israelite culture, clan names like 'Ashbelite' were crucial for identity, inheritance, and military organization. Being counted as an Ashbelite established one's place within the tribe of Benjamin and the broader covenant community. This reflects the societal importance of lineage and the fulfillment of God's promise to multiply Abraham's descendants.
בִּנְיָמִינִי (Binyâmîynîy, H1145) — refers to the broader tribe of Benjamin, while Ashbelite specifies one clan within it.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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