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Bible Encyclopedias
Gera
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or (Heb. Gera', גֵּרָא , a grain (See GERAH); Sept. Γηρά ), the name of at least three Benjamites.
1. The son of Bela and grandson of Benjamin (1 Chronicles 8:3); probably the same with the one mentioned (with some confusion) in 1 Chronicles 8:5; 1 Chronicles 8:7, unless one of these be identical with No. 2 below. In Genesis 46:21, he is given as if directly the son of Benjamin; and he there appears among the descendants of Jacob, at the time of that patriarch's removal to Egypt, B.C. 1874. (See JACOB). "Gera is not mentioned in the list of Benjamite families in Numbers 26:38-40, of which a very obvious explanation is that at that time he was not the head of a separate family, but was included among the Belaites; it being a matter of necessity that some of Bela's sons should be so included, otherwise there could be no family of Belaites at all. To the remarks made under Becher should be added that the great destruction of the Benjamites recorded in Judges 20 may account for the introduction of so many new names in the later Benjamite lists of 1 Chronicles 7, 8, of which several seem to be women's names" (Smith). (See BENJAMIN). In 1 Chronicles 7:7, UZZIEL occupies the same position as Gera elsewhere in the genealogy. (See BELA).
2. The father (or ancestor) of Ehud the judge (Judges 3:15); compare 1 Chronicles 8:5; 1 Chronicles 8:7; possibly identical with No. 1 above. B.C. ante 1509. (See EHAUD).
3. The father (or ancestor) of Shimei, which latter so grossly abused David (2 Samuel 16:5; 2 Samuel 19:16; 2 Samuel 19:18; 1 Kings 2:8); thought by some to be identical with both the foregoing. B.C. ante 1023. (See SHIMEI).
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Gera'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/g/gera.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
