Becher, Son of Benjamin

Background and Family

Becher appears in the biblical narrative primarily through the lens of genealogy. As the son of Benjamin, he was a grandson of the patriarch Jacob and the matriarch Rachel. According to Genesis 46:21, Becher was one of ten sons attributed to Benjamin at the time of the migration to Egypt. In the alternative genealogical list found in 1 Chronicles 7:6, he is named as one of the three primary sons of Benjamin, alongside Bela and Jediael, suggesting his line was one of the most prominent to survive and flourish.

Becher was a sibling to a large group of brothers, including Bela, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, Ard, and Jediael. This large fraternal group formed the early core of the Benjamite identity during the years of the Egyptian Sojourn.

Major Life Events

The most significant event recorded for Becher is his participation in the migration of the house of Jacob to Egypt (Genesis 46). This journey, taken at the invitation of Joseph and Pharaoh, marked the beginning of the period known as the Egyptian Sojourn. Becher arrived in Egypt as part of a family unit that would eventually grow into a nation.

Aside from this migration, the biblical text focuses on Becher's role as a progenitor. 1 Chronicles 7:8 provides an extensive list of his sons: Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jeremoth, Abijah, Anathoth, and Alemeth. The text emphasizes that "all these were Becher’s sons," portraying him as the head of a robust and expansive household. The presence of nine named sons suggests that Becher’s clan was particularly fruitful, a sign of divine blessing within the cultural context of the Old Testament.

Relationship to Other Biblical Figures

Becher’s primary relationship is his position as the son of Benjamin. This connection places him in the direct line of the covenant promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. His brothers, particularly Bela and Ashbel, were his peers in the tribal leadership of the early Benjamites. While Benjamin was the youngest of Jacob's sons, Becher and his brothers were responsible for ensuring that the tribe did not remain the smallest in influence.

Spiritual Significance

The inclusion of Becher in the genealogical records of both Genesis and 1 Chronicles serves a specific theological purpose. In the Hebrew tradition, names and lineages were essential for proving membership in the covenant community and for the distribution of land in the Promised Land. By recording Becher and his nine sons, the Chronicler reinforces the idea of God’s faithfulness in multiplying the descendants of Jacob even during their long stay in Egypt and the subsequent years in the wilderness.

Becher represents the continuity of the Israelite people. His life bridges the gap between the patriarchal era of Jacob and the formation of the organized tribal system. The survival of his name through the centuries of Egyptian bondage and the wilderness wanderings testifies to the preservation of the Tribe of Benjamin as an integral part of the twelve-tribe confederation.