Becher is an ancestral figure in the Bible, whose importance stems from his position as one of the foundational sons of Benjamin and a progenitor of a family that contributed to the lineage of Israel. His identity is recorded across the major genealogical lists of the nation.
Becher, Son of Benjamin
Becher is first identified in the Book of Genesis during the enumeration of the seventy souls who descended with Jacob into Egypt. He is consistently listed as one of the sons born to Jacob’s youngest son, Benjamin:
“And the sons of Benjamin were Belah, and Becher, and Ashbel, Gera, and Naaman, Ehi, and Rosh, Muppim, and Huppim, and Ard.” (Genesis 46:21, KJV).
This record establishes his place in the direct ancestral line of the covenant people before the family settled and multiplied in Egypt.
The Tribal Head in Chronicles
Later in the biblical record, in the historical lists found in 1 Chronicles, Becher is again singled out as a head of the tribe of Benjamin. These lists were vital for maintaining the identity and territorial rights of each family unit in Israel:
“The sons of Benjamin; Bela, and Becher, and Jediael, three.” (1 Chronicles 7:6, KJV).
While the total number of Benjamin’s sons differs across the records (Genesis lists ten, while 1 Chronicles focuses on three primary heads), Becher’s prominent place remains secure. He is consistently recognized as a tribal ancestor, leading to the formation of the subsequent clan known as the Bachrites:
“Of Becher, the family of the Bachrites…” (Numbers 26:35, KJV).
The listing of Becher in the Bible serves as a testament to the meticulous care with which God preserved the generations of Israel, affirming that even those names with no deeds recorded were essential links in the chain leading to the fulfillment of His promises.