Becher בֶּ֫כֶר
An Ephraimite clan head in the wilderness census.
Who is Becher in the Bible?
Becher was an Ephraimite clan head whose descendants, the Becherites, are mentioned in Numbers 26:35 during the wilderness census. This census was conducted by Moses and Eleazar in the plains of Moab near the end of the Israelites' forty-year wilderness wandering, serving the purpose of determining military strength and allocating land in Canaan among the tribes. As one of Ephraim's sons, Becher represents the importance of family lineage and tribal organization in ancient Israel, particularly regarding military service and inheritance of the promised land. The specific naming of the Becherite clan reflects how the biblical narrative preserved tribal genealogies to establish legitimate claims to territory and tribal identity among God's people.
Biography
Becher is mentioned in Num.26.35 as a descendant of Ephraim and the ancestor of the Becherite clan. The context of the passage is the census taken by Moses and Eleazar in the plains of Moab, near the end of the Israelites' wilderness wanderings. The purpose of the census was to determine the military strength of each tribe and to allocate the land of Canaan among the tribes. In the listing of the clans of Ephraim, the Becherites are named as one of the clans descended from Ephraim's sons. This mention of Becher and the Becherite clan highlights the importance of family lineage and tribal organization in Israelite society, especially in relation to military service and land inheritance.
Family
Siblings
- Shuthelah Tribe of EphraimSon of ZabadEphraimite descendant, son of Zabad.View full profile →
- Tahan Tribe of EphraimSon of TelahSon of Telah, from the tribe of EphraimView full profile →
- Ezer MaleDavid's warriorGadite warrior; joined David at Ziklag.View full profile →
- Elead Tribe of EphraimSon of EphraimEphraimite killed by the men of GathView full profile →
- Beriah Tribe of EphraimSon of EphraimSon of Ephraim born after family tragedyView full profile →
In Scripture
1 biblical bookNumbers 1 verse
- Numbers 26:35
"These were the descendants of Ephraim by their clans: The Shuthelahite clan from Shuthelah, the Becherite clan from Becher, and the Tahanite clan from Tahan."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | בֶּ֫כֶר |
| Group | Hebrew | בַּכְרִי |