Beracah
Beracah, a Benjamite warrior, was one of the men who joined David at Ziklag.
Biography
Beracah was a Benjamite warrior who joined David at Ziklag during the period when David was a fugitive from King Saul (1 Chronicles 12:3). The name Beracah means "blessing" in Hebrew, an apt name for those whose military allegiance proved a great benefit to David's cause. He is listed among the ambidextrous warriors from the tribe of Benjamin, soldiers capable of using both hands equally in battle, who defected from Saul's own tribe to join David's growing band of supporters. This crossing of tribal lines was a politically and personally significant act, suggesting Beracah recognized God's anointing upon David even when the reigning king was a fellow Benjamite.
Significance
Beracah's defection from the tribe of Benjamin to join David at Ziklag illustrates a recurring biblical theme: loyalty to God's anointed takes precedence over tribal, political, or familial allegiance. That warriors from Saul's own tribe would abandon him to support David underscores the theological reality that human kingdoms fail while God's purposes advance through those he has chosen. The Ziklag warriors, including Beracah, became part of the foundation of David's future kingdom. Their faith-driven loyalty prefigures the allegiance owed to Christ, the ultimate anointed King, whose kingdom gathers people across every human division and boundary.
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]