1. Bela, Son of Beor

Bela, the son of Beor, is noted in the Bible as the first king of Edom. His reign is mentioned in the genealogical records of the Edomites, a people descended from Esau, the brother of Jacob. Bela's city was Dinhabah, though little else is known about his reign or achievements. The account of Bela's kingship is found in Genesis 36:31-32: "These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the Israelites: Bela son of Beor reigned in Edom; the name of his city was Dinhabah."

2. Bela, Son of Benjamin

Bela is also the name of the firstborn son of Benjamin, one of the twelve sons of Jacob, who became the progenitor of one of the tribes of Israel. Bela's descendants are listed among the Benjamites, and he is recognized as the head of a family within the tribe. The genealogies in 1 Chronicles 7:6 and 1 Chronicles 8:1-5 provide details about Bela and his lineage: "The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, and Jediael—three in all." Bela's descendants were known for their valor and were counted among the warriors of Israel.

3. Bela, City of the Plain

Bela is also the original name of the city later known as Zoar, one of the five cities of the plain mentioned in the account of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. This city was spared from destruction at the request of Lot, Abraham's nephew, who fled there with his daughters. Genesis 14:2 refers to Bela as Zoar: "These kings went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar)." The city of Bela/Zoar holds significance as a place of refuge and divine mercy amidst judgment.

4. Bela, Son of Azaz

In the genealogies of the tribe of Reuben, Bela is mentioned as a descendant of Azaz. This Bela is noted in 1 Chronicles 5:8: "and Bela son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who lived in Aroer as far as Nebo and Baal-meon." This reference situates Bela within the context of the Reubenite settlements, highlighting the tribal organization and territorial claims of the descendants of Reuben, the firstborn son of Jacob.

Significance in Biblical Narrative

The various individuals and places named Bela in the Bible reflect the rich tapestry of genealogies, tribal affiliations, and historical narratives that characterize the Old Testament. Each mention of Bela contributes to the broader understanding of Israel's history, the lineage of its tribes, and the interactions with neighboring peoples such as the Edomites. The accounts of Bela, whether as a person or a place, underscore themes of leadership, heritage, and divine intervention in the biblical narrative.Bela

(destruction).

1. One of the five cities of the plain which was spared at the intercession of Lot, and received the name of Zoar, (Genesis 14:2; 19:22) [ZOAR]
2. Son of Beor, who reigned over Edom in the city of Dinhabah, eight generations before Saul. (Genesis 36:31-33; 1 Chronicles 1:43,44)
3. Eldest son of Benjamin, according to (Genesis 46:21) (Authorized Version "Belah"); (Numbers 26:38,40; 1 Chronicles 7:6; 8:1) and head of the family of the Belaites.
4. Son of Ahaz, a Reubenite. (1 Chronicles 5:8)

Bela

Genesis 14:2.

A thing swallowed.

(1.) A city on the shore of the Dead Sea, not far from Sodom, called also Zoar. It was the only one of the five cities that was spared at Lot's intercession (Genesis 19:20, 23). It is first mentioned in Genesis 14:2,8.

(2.) The eldest son of Benjamin (Numbers 26:38; "Belah, " Genesis 46:21).

(3.) The son of Beor, and a king of Edom (Genesis 36:32, 33; 1 Chronicles 1:43).

(4.) A son of Azaz (1 Chronicles 5:8).

BELA; BELAH

be'-la (bela`, "destruction"; the King James Version Belah, Genesis 46:21):

(1) Bela, the son of Beor, was the first king of Edom previous to the kingdom of Israel and reigned in the city of Dinhabah (Genesis 36:32 1 Chronicles 1:43 f). Septuagint Codex Alexandrinus, Balak.

(2) Bela, the firstborn son of Benjamin (Genesis 46:21 1 Chronicles 7:6 1 Chronicles 8:1). He was the head of the family of the Belaites (Numbers 26:38), the father of Addar (called Ard, Numbers 26:40), Gera, Abihud, Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah, Gera, Shephuphan (compare Shephupham, Numbers 26:39), Huram (1 Chronicles 8:3-5 Numbers 26:40).

(3) Bela, a son of Azaz, of the tribe of Reuben, was a man of great power and wealth. His possessions reached from Nebo to the Euphrates (1 Chronicles 5:8).

A. L. Breslich

BELA

be'-la.

See ZOAR.

1106. Bela' -- an Edomite, also two Israelites
... 1105, 1106. Bela'. 1106a . an Edomite, also two Israelites. Transliteration:
Bela' Phonetic Spelling: (beh'-lah) Short Definition: Bela. Bela ...
/hebrew/1106.htm - 5k

1106b. Bela -- another name for Zoar
... 1106a, 1106b. Bela. 1107 . another name for Zoar. Transliteration: Bela
Short Definition: Bela. Word Origin from bala Definition ...
/hebrew/1106b.htm - 5k

1106a. Bela -- an Edomite, also two Israelites
... 1106, 1106a. Bela. 1106b . an Edomite, also two Israelites. Transliteration:
Bela Short Definition: Bela. ... NASB Word Usage Bela (12). 1106, 1106a. ...
/hebrew/1106a.htm - 5k

1105. bela -- a swallowing, devouring, a thing swallowed
... 1104, 1105. bela. 1106 . a swallowing, devouring, a thing swallowed.
Transliteration: bela Phonetic Spelling: (beh'-lah) Short Definition: devour. ... bela. ...
/hebrew/1105.htm - 6k

1108. Bali -- descendant of Bela
... Bali. 1109 . descendant of Bela. Transliteration: Bali Phonetic Spelling:
(bel-ee') Short Definition: Belaites. Word Origin from Bela Definition desc. ...
/hebrew/1108.htm - 6k

1080. bela -- to wear away or out
... 1079, 1080. bela. 1081 . to wear away or out. Transliteration: bela Phonetic
Spelling: (bel-aw') Short Definition: down. ... 1079, 1080. bela. 1081 . ...
/hebrew/1080.htm - 6k

Chapter xlvi
... Ephraim. And the children of Benjamin: Bela and Becher and Ashbel, Gera
and Naaman, Ehi and Rosh, Muppim and Huppim and Ard. These ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xlvi.htm

Chapter xiv
... 2. They made war with Bera, king of Sodom, and Birsha, king of Gomorrah, Shinab,
king of Admah, and Shemeber, king of Zeboyim; and the king of Bela (that is ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xiv.htm

Chapter xxxvi
... Now there ruled over Edom Bela, the son of Beor, and the name of his city was Dinhabah.
And Bela died and Jobab ruled in his stead, the son of Zerah of Bozrah. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxvi.htm

The History after the Flood.
... And the names of their kings are these: Bera, king of Sodom; Birsha, king of Gomorrah;
Shinab, king of Admah; Shemeber, king of Zeboiim; Bela, king of Zoar ...
/.../theophilus/theophilus to autolycus/chapter xxxi the history after the.htm

The Destruction of the Sodomites by the Assyrian Wall.
... There were five kings that managed the affairs of this county: Ballas, Barsas, Senabar,
and Sumobor, with the king of Bela; and each king led on his own troops ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 9 the destruction of.htm

Centenary Commemoration
... reckoned ecclesiastically as in Connecticut), Richard Samuel Clarke of New Milford,
Ebenezer Dibblee of Stamford, Daniel Fogg of Brooklyn, Bela Hubbard of New ...
/.../the sermons and addresses at the seabury centenary/centenary commemoration.htm

Letter S
... Anson C. "Received 1835 * Smith, Archibald "Received 1833, Located 1836 * Smith,
Barnett "Received 1820, Located 1831 * Smith, Bela "Received 1809 ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/bangs/an alphabetical list of m e preachers/letter s.htm

The Nations of the South-East
... At all events, the first Edomite king is said to have been Bela or Balaam the son
of Beor, and the name of the city of Din-habah, from which he came, has a ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter iii the nations of.htm

Conflicts of the Church with Public Wrongs.
... Other laborers at the East in the same cause were Joshua Leavitt, Bela B. Edwards,
and Eli Smith, afterward illustrious as a missionary, [177] and Ralph ...
/.../bacon/a history of american christianity/chapter xvi conflicts of the.htm

In one of the Few Remaining Streets of Rome which the Vandal Hand ...
... "Ebben! Buona notte, bela capricciosa!" and bowing low he turned towards the
door, "Thank you a thousand times for a very happy evening! ...
//christianbookshelf.org/corelli/the master-christian/xvii in one of the.htm

Bela (14 Occurrences)
... (4.) A son of Azaz (1 Chronicles 5:8). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
BELA; BELAH. be'-la (bela`, "destruction"; the King James ...
/b/bela.htm - 13k

Belah (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia BELA; BELAH. be'-la (bela`, "destruction";
the King James Version Belah, Genesis 46:21): (1) Bela...
/b/belah.htm - 8k

Gera (9 Occurrences)
... Grain. (1.) The son of Bela and grandson of Benjamin (1 Chronicles 8:3, 5, 7). ... (2)
According to 1 Chronicles 8:3, 5, 7, son of Bela and grandson of Benjamin. ...
/g/gera.htm - 10k

Dinhabah (2 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Robbers' den, an Edomitish city, the capital of king Bela
(Genesis 36:32). ... Genesis 36:32 Bela, the son of Beor, reigned in Edom. ...
/d/dinhabah.htm - 7k

Belaites (1 Occurrence)
... BELAITES. be'-la-its (bal`i, "belonging to Bela"): The descendants of Bela (Numbers
26:38). Compare BELA (2). Multi-Version Concordance Belaites (1 Occurrence). ...
/b/belaites.htm - 7k

Beor (11 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary A torch. (1.) The father of Bela, one of the kings of
Edom (Genesis 36:32). ... Genesis 36:32 Bela, the son of Beor, reigned in Edom. ...
/b/beor.htm - 11k

Ard (2 Occurrences)
... Numbers 26:38-40 mentions five sons of Benjamin, together with Ard and Naaman, the
sons of Bela, Benjamin's oldest son, counting all seven as ancestors of ...
/a/ard.htm - 8k

Ashbel (3 Occurrences)
... In 1 Chronicles 8:1 the three names Bela, Ashbel, Aharah (= Ahiram) are taken from
Numbers 26:38, however, without change. HJ Wolf. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/a/ashbel.htm - 8k

Zoar (12 Occurrences)
... 22, 23). It was originally called Bela (14:2, 8). It is referred to by
the prophets Isaiah (15:5) and Jeremiah (48:34). Its ruins ...
/z/zoar.htm - 14k

Naaman (19 Occurrences)
... 2) A son of Benjamin (Genesis 46:21, 6). Fuller and more precise is the description
of Numbers 26:38, 40, where he is said to be a son of Bela and grandson of ...
/n/naaman.htm - 15k

Who was Lot in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus