THE SONS OF BENJAMIN AND BELA (1 Chronicles 8:1-5).
(See Notes on 1 Chronicles 7:6-7.)
Bela his first-born. — The Hebrew word for “firstborn” in Genesis 46:21 may have been turned into the proper name Becher, by an ancient mistake of the scribes. (See Note on 1 Chronicles 7:6.)
Ashbel. — Probably the same as Jediael.
Aharah the same as Ahiram and Ehirosh.
(2) Nohah and Rapha. — These names do not occur in either of the other lists. The present series agrees with Numbers 26:38 in assigning five sons to Benjamin, of whom Bela is the first, and Ashbel the second. Further, there is enough likeness between the name Aharah here and Ahiram there to warrant our assumption of their original identity. But we cannot hence conclude that the Nohah and Rapha of our list answer to the Shephupham-Shupham and Hupham of the other. It is more likely that Nohah and Rapha represent different clans, which were prominent at the time when the present list was draughted. Rapha reminds us of the valley of Rephaim, south-west of Jerusalem, 1 Chronicles 11:15.
(3-5) The sons of Bela here are nine, like the sons of the suspected Becher, 1 Chronicles 7:8. But none of the names correspond.
(3) Addar the same as Ard, who in Numbers 26 is eldest son of Bela, but in Genesis 46 apparently his youngest brother.
Gera appears as brother of Bela in Genesis 46:21. The name is repeated in 1 Chronicles 8:5, probably by a scribe’s inadvertence; though there may have been two great Benjamite houses so designated.
Abihud (4) and Abishua are peculiar to the present list.
Naaman is a son of Bela in Numbers 26, a brother in Genesis 46.
Ahoah is peculiar, unless he be identified with the Ehi of Genesis 46.
Shephupham and Huram, younger sons of Bela in the present series, are in Gen. and Num. his younger brothers Muppim (Shuppim) and Huppim, or Shephupbam and Hupham. These fluctuations of statement are worth observing, because they demonstrate the vagueness of terms denoting various degrees of kindred, when used in describing tribal and clan relationships.