בֶּן־חוּר

Ben-Chur, an Israelite

Definition

Ben-Chur is a proper name meaning 'son of Chur,' referring to one of King Solomon's twelve district governors mentioned in 1 Kings 4:8. He was appointed over the hill country of Ephraim, responsible for supplying provisions for the royal household for one month each year. The name itself is a patronymic, identifying him through his father, Chur, a common practice in ancient Israelite society. His role highlights the administrative structure of Solomon's united kingdom.

Biblical Usage

This name appears only once in the Old Testament, in 1 Kings 4:8, within a list of Solomon's twelve regional officers. The context is purely administrative, detailing the organization of the kingdom's tax and provision system. There are no other occurrences or patterns of usage for this specific individual.

Etymology

The name is a compound of two Hebrew words: בֵּן (ben, H1121), meaning 'son,' and חוּר (chur, H2354), a proper name meaning 'white linen' or possibly 'noble.' It follows the standard Hebrew patronymic naming convention ('son of X'). The father's name, Chur, is also borne by other biblical figures, including a companion of Moses (Exodus 17:10-12).

Semantic Range

The name reflects the strong emphasis on lineage and family identity in ancient Israelite culture. Being identified as 'son of Chur' connected the individual to his father's reputation and social standing. His role as a district governor under Solomon illustrates the centralized, bureaucratic administration of the monarchy, where loyal officials were tasked with managing resources from specific tribal territories to support the king's court.

Other district governors in 1 Kings 4: share similar administrative roles but have distinct names and territories, such as Ben-Deker (H1127) and Ben-Geber (H1127).

Word Details

Scripture References