Bible Encyclopedias
Bela; Belah

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

bē´la ( בּלע , 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 f; 1 Chronicles 1:43 f). Septuagint Codex Alexandrinus, Βαλάκ , Balák ̌ .

(2) Bela, the firstborn son of Benjamin (Genesis 46:21; 1 Chronicles 7:6 f; 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 ).