Smith's Bible Dictionary.pdf - Online Christian Library

Smith's Bible Dictionary
The proximity of Benjamin to Ephraim during the march to the promised land was maintained
in the territory allotted to each. That given to Benjamin formed almost a parallelogram, of about
26 miles in length by 12 in breadth, lying between Ephraim, the Jordan, Judah and Dan. The general
level of this part of Palestine is not less than 2000 feet above the Mediterranean or than 3000 feet
above the valley of the Jordan, the surrounding country including a large number of
eminences—almost every one of which has borne some part in the history of the tribe—and many
torrent beds and deep ravines.
Benjamin, The Tribe Of
The contrast between the warlike character of the tribe and the peaceful image of its progenitor
comes out in many scattered notices. Benjamin was the only tribe which seems to have pursued
archery to any purpose, and their skill in the bow, (1 Samuel 20:20,36; 2 Samuel 1:232; 1 Chronicles
8:40; 12:2; 2 Chronicles 17:17) and the sling, (Judges 20:16) is celebrated. The dreadful deed
recorded in Judges 19 was defended by Benjamin. Later the tribe seems, however, to assume another
position, as Ramah, (1 Samuel 9:12) etc., Mizpeh, (1 Samuel 7:5) Bethel and Gibeon, (1 Kings
3:4) were all in the land of Benjamin. After the struggles and contests which followed the death of
Saul, the history of Benjamin becomes merged in that of the southern kingdom.
Beno
(his son), a Levite of the sons of Merari. (1 Chronicles 24:26,27)
Benon
(Numbers 32:3) [BETH-BAALMEON] Comp. ver. 38.
Benoni
(son of my sorrow). (Genesis 35:18) [Benjamin, Benjamin, The Tribe Of]
Benzoheth
(son of Zoheth), a descendant of Judah. (1 Chronicles 4:20)
Beor
(burning or torch).
•The father of Bela, one of the early Edomite kings. (Genesis 36:32; 1 Chronicles 1:43)
•Father of Balaam. (Numbers 22:5; 24:3,15; 31:8; 23:4; Joshua 13:22; 24:9; Micah 6:5) He is called
Bosor in the New Testament. (B.C. before 1450.)
Bera
(son of evil) king of Sodom. (Genesis 14:2) also (Genesis 14:17,21)
Beraa
(well watered).
•A city of Macedonia, mentioned in (Acts 17:10,13) It is now called Verria or Kara-Verria, and is
situated on the eastern slope of the Olympian mountain range, and has 15,000 or 20,000 inhabitants.
•The modern Aleppo, mentioned in 2 Macc. 13:4.
•A place in Judea, apparently not very far from Jerusalem. 1 Macc. 9:4.
Berachah
(blessing), a Benjamite who attached himself to David at Ziklag. (1 Chronicles 12:3) (B.C.
1054.)
Berachah, Valley Of
a valley in which Jehoshaphat and his people assembled to “bless” Jehovah after the overthrow
of the hosts of Moabites. (2 Chronicles 20:26) It is now called Bereikut, and lies between Tekua
and the main road from Bethlehem to Hebron.
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William Smith