Addar
Addar, also known as Ard, was a son of Bela and a grandson of Benjamin (1Ch.8.3; cf. Gen.46.21; Num.26.40).
Biography
Addar (also called Ard in Numbers 26:40) was a son of Bela and a grandson of Benjamin, Jacob's youngest son (1 Chronicles 8:3). He appears in the genealogical records of the tribe of Benjamin, which suffered near-extinction during the civil war recounted in Judges 19–21 but was subsequently rebuilt. The dual naming, Addar in Chronicles and Ard in Numbers, reflects common ancient Near Eastern practices of variant forms of personal names across different genealogical traditions. Addar's clan descended from Bela, Benjamin's firstborn, and through Addar came a line that contributed to the eventual reconstitution of the Benjaminite tribe. His descendants are enumerated among those who went to Egypt with Jacob's household.
Significance
Addar's genealogical placement within the tribe of Benjamin carries significance well beyond mere lineage data. Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob, gave rise to Israel's first king, Saul, and later to the apostle Paul (Philippians 3:5). The careful preservation of Benjaminite lineages through figures like Addar reflects the Chronicler's theological conviction that God preserves the covenant people through every crisis. Even the near-annihilation of Benjamin in Judges did not extinguish the tribe, because God's redemptive purposes require continuity. Addar's name, though barely mentioned, represents one thread in the genealogical tapestry through which God fulfilled His promises to Israel across generations.
Verse Appearances (1)
1 Chronicles
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]