Lexical Summary Bali: Without, not, except Original Word: בַּלְעִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Belaites Patronymically from Bela': a Belaite (collectively) or descendants of Bela -- Belaites. see HEBREW Bela' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom Bela Definition desc. of Bela NASB Translation Belaites (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs בַּלְעִי adjective, of a people of 2, ׳הַבּ collective noun Numbers 26:38. Topical Lexicon Scriptural Setting “ The descendants of Benjamin by their clans were: of Bela, the family of the Belaite …” (Numbers 26:38). Strong’s Hebrew 1108 designates this single mention of the Belaite clan during Israel’s second wilderness census on the plains of Moab just before the conquest of Canaan. Historical Background: The Second Wilderness Census Numbers 26 recounts a fresh census taken after the faithless first generation had died (Numbers 26:64–65). The count established military strength for imminent warfare (Numbers 26:2) and fixed clan allotments in the Promised Land (Numbers 26:53–54). The appearance of the Belaites at this juncture confirms that the line of Benjamin’s firstborn had survived the wilderness and remained eligible for its inheritance. Ancestry of the Belaites Bela is named first among Benjamin’s sons (Genesis 46:21; 1 Chronicles 7:6; 8:1). His branch expanded through sons such as Ard and Naaman (Numbers 26:40). Later chroniclers trace Bela’s line through Gera, Abihud, Abishua, and others (1 Chronicles 8:3–11), showing multiple generations of growth well into the kingdom period. Role within the Tribe of Benjamin Benjamin entered Canaan with 45,600 fighting men (Numbers 26:41). Although individual clan numbers are not given, the chronicled prominence of Bela’s descendants suggests that the Belaites contributed significantly to this total. Their territorial stake would later lie in the central hill country north of Jerusalem, a region that produced leaders such as Ehud the judge (Judges 3:15, linked to Gera, a Belaite) and, eventually, King Saul (1 Samuel 9:1–2). Preservation through Crisis Judges 19–21 records a near-annihilation of Benjamin after the atrocity at Gibeah. The survival of any clan—including the Belaites—testifies to divine mercy. Despite losing almost an entire generation of fighting men, Benjamin re-emerged, repopulated, and provided warriors for David (1 Chronicles 12:1–7) and temple servants after the exile (Ezra 10:39). Connections to Later Biblical History The legacy of Benjamin is honored in the New Testament when Paul identifies himself as “of the tribe of Benjamin” (Philippians 3:5). While Scripture does not specify Paul’s clan, the ancestral continuity implied by Numbers 26 lends credence to the idea that Bela’s line, along with other Benjamite families, endured into the first century. Theological and Ministry Insights 1. Covenant Continuity: The solitary mention of the Belaites underscores that no clan was overlooked. God’s promise to Abraham encompassed every family; the census demonstrates His meticulous faithfulness. Summary Strong’s Hebrew 1108 marks a single but meaningful appearance of the Belaite clan. Their presence in the second census confirms the survival of Benjamin’s eldest line, foreshadows their territorial share in Canaan, and illustrates the Lord’s unwavering commitment to every branch of His covenant people. Forms and Transliterations הַבַּלְעִ֔י הבלעי hab·bal·‘î habbal‘î habbalILinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 26:38 HEB: לְבֶ֗לַע מִשְׁפַּ֙חַת֙ הַבַּלְעִ֔י לְאַשְׁבֵּ֕ל מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת NAS: the family of the Belaites; of Ashbel, KJV: the family of the Belaites: of Ashbel, INT: of Bela the family of the Belaites of Ashbel the family 1 Occurrence |
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