Who was Ezbon in the Bible?

Ezbon was a son of Bela and a grandson of Benjamin, making him a member of the tribe of Benjamin. He is listed in the genealogy of Benjamin's descendants in 1 Chronicles 7:7.

Why is Ezbon mentioned in the Bible?

Ezbon is mentioned to establish the genealogical record of the tribe of Benjamin, showing the lineage and growth of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. His inclusion highlights the importance of family heritage and tribal identity in the Old Testament.

Are there any stories or key events about Ezbon?

No, there are no specific stories or key events recorded about Ezbon's life. His mention is solely genealogical, serving to connect his father Bela to the broader family line of Benjamin in 1 Chronicles 7:6-7.

Ezbon

Old TestamentEgypt & WildernessMaleSon

Ezbon was a son of Bela and a grandson of Benjamin.

Ezbon

Biography

Ezbon was a grandson of Benjamin through his father Bela, Benjamin's firstborn son (1 Chronicles 7:7). He appears in the genealogical register of Benjamin preserved in 1 Chronicles, listed among the sons of Bela who were heads of ancestral houses. The same name appears in some texts with variant spellings. Ezbon and his brothers are noted as mighty warriors and heads of their clans, reflecting the martial character attributed to the tribe of Benjamin from its earliest history. The tribe of Benjamin, though small, produced figures of extraordinary significance in Israel's story, from King Saul to the apostle Paul, and the genealogical lists of 1 Chronicles underscore the careful preservation of each family line within this tribe as part of the comprehensive tribal record.

Significance

Ezbon son of Bela represents one of the sub-clans of Benjamin whose ancestral identity was carefully maintained in Israel's tribal memory. The Chronicler's painstaking genealogical work, which includes Ezbon, reflects a theological conviction that every family within the covenant community bears significance before God. Benjamin's tribal history is one of dramatic reversals, near-annihilation in Judges 19–21, then the gift of Israel's first king, then Paul's apostleship, and the preservation of names like Ezbon testifies to the people who rebuilt and sustained the tribe across generations. These genealogies remind readers that God's purposes run through entire communities and their histories, not only through the famous individuals who appear in the main narrative.

Authority Records

Wikidata

FatherGad

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 7:7

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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