A Prominent Son of the Tribe of Benjamin
Bilhan is a figure whose significance in Scripture comes entirely from his position within the genealogies of the twelve tribes of Israel, specifically the tribe of Benjamin. He is noted as one of the great ancestral heads from whom many families were descended.
His Place in Benjamin’s Lineage
The tribe of Benjamin, though the smallest, was extremely important to the history of Israel, producing the first King (Saul) and being the only tribe to remain loyal to the Southern Kingdom of Judah after the division.
Bilhan is introduced in the Book of I Chronicles, which meticulously records the lineages of Israel after the return from Babylonian exile, emphasizing the continuity of the covenant people. He is identified as one of the sons of Jediael, who was himself a son of Benjamin (Genesis 46:21).
The KJV records the lineage as follows:
“The sons of Jediael; Bilhan: and the sons of Bilhan; Jeush, and Benjamin, and Ehud, and Chenaanah, and Zethan, and Tharshish, and Ahishahar.” (I Chronicles 7:10, KJV)
A Man of Might and Lineage
The genealogical record often links the heads of these large families to their military strength, emphasizing the power and influence they held within their tribe. The passage concerning Bilhan and his lineage highlights this aspect:
“All these are the sons of Jediael, by the heads of their fathers, mighty men of valour, were seventeen thousand and two hundred soldiers, fit to go out for war.” (I Chronicles 7:11, KJV)
While the verse applies the description of “mighty men of valour” to the entire family of Jediael (which includes Bilhan and his descendants), it underscores the importance of Bilhan’s line in providing a significant contingent of fighting men for the nation of Israel.
Thus, Bilhan is remembered as a patriarchal head whose lineage formed an integral and powerful component of the tribe of Benjamin. His presence in the biblical genealogies ensures that the continuity of the tribes is preserved for the record of God’s chosen people.