Bela; Belah
Bela, King of Edom
Bela son of Beor is recorded as the first king to reign in the land of Edom before any king ruled over the Israelites (Genesis 36:31-32; 1 Chronicles 1:43-44). His royal seat was the city of Dinhabah, a location otherwise unidentified. The Edomite king list in Genesis 36 presents a line of succession, establishing Bela at its head. This brief notice is significant as it places the development of monarchy in Edom (descended from Esau) prior to its establishment in Israel (descended from Jacob), subtly affirming a theme of Esau's temporal precedence that is later reversed in spiritual significance.
Bela, Son of Benjamin
Bela was the firstborn son of Jacob's youngest son, Benjamin (Genesis 46:21; 1 Chronicles 7:6; 8:1). He became the progenitor of the Belaites, one of the major clan divisions within the tribe of Benjamin (Numbers 26:38). The genealogy of his descendants is given with some variation across biblical texts. Numbers 26:38-40 lists his sons as Ard and Naaman, from whom the Ardites and Naamites descended. A more detailed genealogy in 1 Chronicles 8:1-5 names his sons as Addar (likely equivalent to Ard), Gera, Abihud, Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah, Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram. These lists underscore the importance of Bela's lineage in the tribal structure of Benjamin, a tribe that later produced Israel's first king, Saul.
Bela, Son of Azaz (The Reubenite)
A third Bela is noted as a son of Azaz from the tribe of Reuben (1 Chronicles 5:8). He is described as a man of significant power and wealth whose territory and influence were extensive. His family lived in the Transjordan region, and their possessions stretched from Aroer near the Arnon River all the way to the edge of the Syrian desert-"as far as the entrance of the wilderness this side of the Euphrates" (1 Chronicles 5:8-9). This description paints a picture of a powerful, semi-nomadic chieftain whose clan controlled vital grazing lands and trade routes. The Chronicler notes this expansion occurred during the reign of King Saul, suggesting a period of Reubenite strength and autonomy.
Significance of the Name
The name Bela (בֶּלַע, belaʿ) in Hebrew means "destruction" or "devouring." While the meaning of a name does not necessarily define the character of every biblical figure who bears it, the root meaning may carry symbolic weight. For the Edomite king, it could hint at the martial or conquering nature of early kingship. Its use for Benjamin's firstborn may reflect the turbulent early history of the tribe, which was nearly annihilated in the events of Judges 19-21.
Resolving Textual Variations
Modern readers may notice apparent discrepancies, such as Bela the Benjamite being listed among those who went down to Egypt with Jacob (Genesis 46:21), yet also appearing to have grandsons in that same list. Scholars generally understand these lists as representing tribal/clan structures at a later period, projected back onto the founding ancestors. The Greek Septuagint (Codex Alexandrinus) even renders the Edomite king's name as Balak, creating a fascinating, though likely erroneous, connection with the Moabite king of Numbers 22-24.
Biblical Context
The name Bela appears in three distinct biblical contexts across the Pentateuch and Historical Books. Bela the Edomite king is found in the genealogical records of Genesis 36 and the parallel passage in 1 Chronicles 1. Bela the Benjamite appears in the genealogy of those who went to Egypt (Genesis 46), in the census of the Israelites (Numbers 26), and in the extensive tribal genealogies of 1 Chronicles 7-8. Bela the Reubenite is mentioned solely in the Chronicler's account of the Transjordan tribes (1 Chronicles 5). These contexts are primarily genealogical and historical, serving to establish lineage, tribal identity, and historical precedence.
Theological Significance
The multiple Belas illustrate the Bible's theological interest in genealogy and covenant lineage. Their records affirm God's faithfulness in preserving and distinguishing the lines of promise (Benjamin, Judah) from related but distinct peoples (Edom). The notice that kings ruled in Edom before Israel subtly reinforces the theme that God's chosen people often do not achieve worldly precedence first. The inclusion of a powerful Reubenite Bela also serves as a reminder of the lost prominence of Jacob's firstborn (Reuben), whose birthright was transferred to others, a lesson in divine sovereignty over blessing and inheritance.
Historical Background
Edomite kingship, as represented by Bela son of Beor, aligns with archaeological evidence suggesting the early formation of state societies in the Edomite region (southern Jordan) possibly by the late 2nd millennium BCE. The list in Genesis 36 is considered by many scholars to preserve authentic early traditions of Edomite leadership. The description of the Reubenite Bela's vast territory in Transjordan corresponds to what is known of the settlement patterns of pastoralist groups in the late Iron Age I period (roughly corresponding to the time of Saul). The tribal genealogies containing the Benjamite Bela reflect the social organization of Israel into clans and houses, a structure critical to land distribution, military organization, and social identity in ancient Israel.