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Bible Encyclopedias
Bene-Berak
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or (Heb. Beney'-Berak, בְּנֵיאּבְרִק, sons of Berak or lightning [comp. Boanerges]; Sept. Βανηβαράκ v. r. Βαναιβακάτ; Vulg. et Bane et Baruch), one of the cities of the tribe of Dan, mentioned only in Joshua 19:45, between Jehud and Gath-rimmon. The paucity of information which we possess regarding this tribe (omitted entirely from the lists in 1 Chronicles 2-8, and only one family mentioned in Numbers 26) makes it impossible to say whether the "sons of Berak," who gave their name to this place, belonged to Dan, or were, as we may perhaps infer from the name, earlier settlers dispossessed by the tribe. The reading of the Syriac, Baal- debac, favors this latter foreign origin, but is not confirmed by any other version. It is evidently the Baraca, a "village in the tribe of Dan near Azotus," mentioned by Eusebius and Jerome (in the Onomasticon, s.v. Barath, Βαρακαί ), although they speak confusedly of its then existing name (Bareca, Βαρβά ). It is doubtless the present Moslem village Buraka (Robinson, Researches, 3, App. p. 118), a little north of Ashdod (Van de Velde, Map). The same place appears to be referred to in the Talmud (Sanhedr. 32, 1), and was the residence of the famous Rabbi Akiba (q.v.). Schwarz, however, disputes this location (Palest. p. 141).
Lieut. Conder regards this as identical with the present Ibn-Ibrak (Tent- work, ii, 335), a village laid down on the Ordnance map at 4.5 miles S. of E. from Jaffa; and Tristram coincides in this location (Bible Places, p. 51). It is the spot called Barak by Schwarz (Palest. p, 141).
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Bene-Berak'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/b/bene-berak.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
