Who was Bela in the Bible?

Bela was the firstborn son of Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob (Israel). He was the founder and head of the Belaite clan, one of the prominent family groups within the tribe of Benjamin (Genesis 46:21, Numbers 26:38).

What is the significance of Bela in the Bible?

Bela's significance lies in his role as a clan founder, which helped structure the tribe of Benjamin. His descendants, the Belaite clan, were counted in the census of Israel's fighting men, showing their importance in the nation's military and tribal organization (Numbers 26:38, 1 Chronicles 7:6-7).

What key events was Bela involved in?

The Bible does not record specific life events for Bela himself. His key 'event' is being named as Benjamin's son when Jacob's family moved to Egypt, ensuring his lineage continued. His legacy is the clan that bore his name, which endured for generations (Genesis 46:21, 1 Chronicles 8:1-3).

Bela

Old TestamentEgypt & WildernessMaleSon

Bela was a son of Benjamin and the head of the Belaite clan within the tribe of Benjamin.

Bela

Biography

Bela was the firstborn son of Benjamin, the youngest of Jacob's twelve sons, and is named among the family members who descended to Egypt with Jacob during the famine (Genesis 46:21; Numbers 26:38). He became the founder of the Belaite clan within the tribe of Benjamin, one of the clans counted in the census of Numbers 26. The name Bela, possibly meaning 'swallowing' or 'destruction' in Hebrew, was shared by several biblical figures. In 1 Chronicles 8:1-3, Bela is again listed as Benjamin's firstborn, and his own sons are enumerated, including Addar, Gera, Abihud, Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah, Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram. Through these sons, Bela's line became an important branch of the Benjaminite tribal genealogy that would later include notable warriors.

Significance

Bela son of Benjamin represents the continuity of covenant promise through tribal genealogy. As the firstborn of Benjamin and the founder of a recognized Israelite clan, he embodies the fulfillment of God's earlier promise to multiply Abraham's descendants into a great nation. The Belaite clan counted in Numbers 26 carried its place in the tribal allotment of the Promised Land, connecting Bela's life in Egypt to the eventual settlement of Canaan. His genealogical record in 1 Chronicles also served the post-exilic community by affirming Benjaminite identity, the tribe from which the apostle Paul would centuries later claim his heritage (Philippians 3:5), demonstrating the enduring reach of these ancient genealogical lines.

Authority Records

Wikidata

FatherBenjaminChildNaamanChildArdChildUzzielChildUzzi