Bera (king)

Bera (Hebrew: בֶּ֫רַע Beraʿ; possibly meaning "gift"[1], Greek: Βαλλα Balla) was the king of the city of Sodom according to the Hebrew Bible.

Biblical Account

In Genesis 14:2, the text says:

They [Chedorlaomer and his allies] made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).[2]

Scholars are divided on Genesis 14. According to Frances Anderson, "Opinions range from identifying Genesis 14 as a piece of late fiction" to scholars who believe there may be "some historical foundation" behind the narrative it relates.[3]

In the narrative, Bera joins four other Canaanite city kings in rebelling against Chedorlaomer, an Elamite king, and his allies who rule a vast area. In the Battle of the Vale of Siddim, the combined imperial forces plunder Sodom and nearby cities, taking many people captive and also much plunder. Bera and the king of Gomorrah, Birsha, flee the battle and fall into one of Siddim's many tarpits, while other survivors escape into the mountains.[4] Abram's nephew Lot is captured during the battle, leading Abram (later Abraham) to engage in a rescue expedition.[5]

In the Israel film Zohi Sdom, roughly based upon the Biblical tale of Sodom and Gomorrah, King Bera is portrayed by actor Eli Finish as the corrupt dictator of the city.

References

  1. ^ "Bera", International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915).
  2. ^ Genesis 14:2: New King James Version
  3. ^ Francis I Anderson (1995). David Pearson Wright; David Noel Freedman; Avi Hurvitz (eds.). Pomegranates and Golden Bells: Studies in Biblical, Jewish, and Near Eastern Ritual, Law, and Literature in Honor of Jacob Milgrom. Eisenbrauns. pp. 497–. ISBN 978-0-931464-87-4.
  4. ^ Genesis 14:10
  5. ^ Genesis 14:12–16
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