Bela

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 (Gen. 19:20,23). It is first mentioned in Gen. 14:2,8.

(2.) The eldest son of Benjamin (Num. 26:38; “Belah,” Gen. 46:21).

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

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

(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

be'-la.

See ZOAR.

Bela; Belah

be'-la (bela`, "destruction"; the King James Version Belah, Ge 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 (Ge 36:32 f; 1Ch 1:43 f). Septuagint Codex Alexandrinus, Balak.

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

A. L. Breslich