Who was Beriah in the Bible?

Beriah was a leader from the tribe of Benjamin, specifically mentioned as the son of Elpaal and the brother of Shema (1 Chronicles 8:13). He and his brother were warriors who led a campaign to drive out the inhabitants of Gath.

What did Beriah do in the Bible?

Beriah's primary recorded action was leading a military campaign with his brother Shema to conquer the city of Gath for the tribe of Benjamin (1 Chronicles 8:13). This event highlights the expansion and settlement of the Benjamite territory.

Why is Beriah mentioned in 1 Chronicles?

Beriah is included in the extensive genealogies of 1 Chronicles to preserve the lineage and heroic deeds of the tribe of Benjamin. His story, though brief, signifies the tribe's military strength and success in claiming the promised land.

Beriah

Old TestamentEgypt & WildernessMaleLeader

Beriah and his brother Shema, Benjamite leaders, drove out the inhabitants of Gath.

Beriah

Biography

This Beriah was a Benjamite leader mentioned in the genealogical records of 1 Chronicles 8:13-16. He and his brother Shema were heads of ancestral houses in Aijalon who drove out the inhabitants of Gath, demonstrating unusual military prowess and territorial initiative. Their father was Elpaal, and together these brothers led their clan with a boldness that carved out a sphere of influence at the margins of Benjamite territory. The action against Gath, a Philistine stronghold of great strategic importance, underscores the ongoing struggle for land possession that characterized the era of the judges and early monarchy. Beriah's sons Beraiah, Shimrath, and others are listed, marking his household as a significant Benjamite lineage.

Significance

Beriah the Benjamite leader illustrates the often-overlooked military contributions of smaller clan heads in Israel's ongoing occupation of Canaan. His role in driving out the people of Gath points to a broader theological theme: the land belonged to Israel by divine grant, and its possession required persistent, courageous action by covenant people at every level of society, not only through kings and judges. His story, embedded in Chronicles' genealogical framework, reminds readers that God's promise of the land was fulfilled incrementally through the faithfulness and courage of many whose names are recorded but whose deeds are briefly sketched, yet whose obedience mattered to the larger story.

Authority Records

Wikidata

FatherAsherChildHeberChildMalchielSiblingSerahSiblingJimnahSiblingIshuahSiblingIshvi

Verse Appearances (2)

1Chr

1Chr 8:13 1Chr 8:16

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]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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