The term "Belaites" refers to the descendants or members of the family of Bela, who was the firstborn son of Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel. The Belaites are mentioned in the genealogical records of the tribes of Israel, specifically within the tribe of Benjamin. The name "Bela" itself means "destruction" or "devouring," which may reflect the characteristics or the historical experiences of his descendants.

Biblical References:

1. Genesis 46:21 · In the list of Jacob's descendants who went to Egypt, Bela is mentioned as one of the sons of Benjamin: "The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard."

2. Numbers 26:38-40 · During the census in the wilderness, the descendants of Bela are enumerated as part of the tribe of Benjamin: "The descendants of Benjamin by their clans were: the Belaite clan from Bela, the Ashbelite clan from Ashbel, the Ahiramite clan from Ahiram, the Shuphamite clan from Shupham, and the Huphamite clan from Hupham."

3. 1 Chronicles 7:6-7 · The genealogies in Chronicles also mention Bela as a son of Benjamin, highlighting his descendants: "The three sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, and Jediael. The sons of Bela: Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth, and Iri—five in all. They were heads of their families, and there were 22,034 mighty men of valor listed in their genealogies."

4. 1 Chronicles 8:1-3 · Further genealogical records in Chronicles provide additional details about Bela and his lineage: "Benjamin was the father of Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second son, Aharah the third, Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth."

Historical and Cultural Context:

The Belaites, as part of the tribe of Benjamin, played a significant role in the history of Israel. The tribe of Benjamin was known for its warriors and was strategically located between the powerful tribes of Judah and Ephraim. The Benjaminites were involved in several key events in Israel's history, including the civil war described in Judges 20, where the tribe was nearly decimated due to a conflict with the other tribes of Israel.

The tribe of Benjamin also produced significant figures in Israel's history, such as King Saul, the first king of Israel, and the Apostle Paul, originally named Saul, who was a Pharisee from the tribe of Benjamin (Philippians 3:5).

Theological Significance:

The Belaites, as part of the tribe of Benjamin, are a testament to God's faithfulness in preserving the tribes of Israel despite internal and external challenges. The inclusion of their genealogies in Scripture underscores the importance of family lineage and heritage in the biblical narrative. The tribe of Benjamin's survival and eventual integration into the kingdom of Judah after the division of Israel highlight themes of redemption and restoration.

In the broader biblical narrative, the Belaites and the tribe of Benjamin serve as a reminder of the complexities of human relationships and the consequences of sin, as well as the hope of reconciliation and unity under God's covenant promises.BELAITES

be'-la-its (bal`i, "belonging to Bela"): The descendants of Bela (Numbers 26:38). Compare BELA (2).

1108. Bali -- descendant of Bela
... Bali. 1109 . descendant of Bela. Transliteration: Bali Phonetic Spelling:
(bel-ee') Short Definition: Belaites. ... of Bela NASB Word Usage Belaites (1). Belaites. ...
/hebrew/1108.htm - 6kBelaites (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

Be'la-ites (1 Occurrence)
Be'la-ites. Belaites, Be'la-ites. Belch . Multi-Version Concordance Be'la-ites
(1 Occurrence). ... Belaites, Be'la-ites. Belch . Reference Bible.
/b/be'la-ites.htm - 6k

Belaite (1 Occurrence)
... Numbers 26:38 The sons of Benjamin after their families: of Bela, the family of
the Belaites; of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites; of Ahiram, the family of ...
/b/belaite.htm - 6k

Bela (14 Occurrences)
... (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 ...
/b/bela.htm - 13k

Belah (1 Occurrence)
... (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 ...
/b/belah.htm - 8k

Ashbelites (1 Occurrence)
... Numbers 26:38 The sons of Benjamin after their families: of Bela, the family of
the Belaites; of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites; of Ahiram, the family of ...
/a/ashbelites.htm - 6k

Ahi'ramites (1 Occurrence)
... Numbers 26:38 The sons of Benjamin after their families: of Bela, the family of
the Belaites; of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites; of Ahiram, the family of ...
/a/ahi'ramites.htm - 6k

Ahi'ram (1 Occurrence)
... Numbers 26:38 The sons of Benjamin after their families: of Bela, the family of
the Belaites; of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites; of Ahiram, the family of ...
/a/ahi'ram.htm - 6k

Ahiramites (1 Occurrence)
... Numbers 26:38 The sons of Benjamin after their families: of Bela, the family of
the Belaites; of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites; of Ahiram, the family of ...
/a/ahiramites.htm - 6k

Ahiramite (1 Occurrence)
... Numbers 26:38 The sons of Benjamin after their families: of Bela, the family of
the Belaites; of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites; of Ahiram, the family of ...
/a/ahiramite.htm - 7k

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