Interesting Facts

• Becher was among the first five sons born to Benjamin and Mechalia (Ijasaka).
• His birth took place in the land of Canaan.
• Becher is listed as one of the sons of Benjamin who journeyed with Jacob to Egypt.
• He is mentioned in the genealogical lists of Jacob’s descendants who settled in Egypt.
• Becher is listed as the second son of Benjamin in some genealogical accounts.

Genealogy

• Becher’s father was Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel.
• His mother was Mechalia (Ijasaka), the daughter of Aram.
• He had four brothers born before the family’s descent into Egypt: Bela, Ashbel, Gera, and Naaman.
• Becher also had additional brothers born in Egypt: Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard. Benjamin named one of his earlier sons Bela, and the latter sons also contribute to Benjamin’s extensive progeny.
• His paternal grandparents were Jacob and Rachel.
• Becher was part of the lineage of Jacob that migrated to and subsequently resided in Egypt.

Historical Context

Becher was born in Canaan during a time when Jacob’s family was establishing itself in the land promised to their ancestors. His early years were spent within the patriarchal structure of Jacob’s household, amidst the familial dynamics and early formation of what would become the tribes of Israel. A significant event in Becher’s lifetime was the severe famine that struck Canaan, which ultimately led to Jacob and his entire family’s relocation to Egypt under the provision of his brother Joseph. This move marked a major transition for Becher and his kin, shifting their existence from the land of their forefathers to the foreign land of Egypt, where they settled in the region of Goshen. During their time in Egypt, particularly under the forty-year governance of Joseph, the children of Israel, including Becher and his brothers, lived securely, prospered, and multiplied. This period was characterized by relative peace and abundance for Jacob’s descendants before the subsequent rise of Egyptian rule and eventual oppression. Becher’s life, therefore, spanned from the early tribal life in Canaan to the settled and secure, albeit temporary, existence in Egypt under Joseph’s authority.

Narrative

Becher’s individual narrative presence in the provided sources is limited primarily to his inclusion in genealogical lists as one of the sons of Benjamin. He is mentioned as being born in Canaan and later migrating with his family to Egypt. Unlike some of his uncles, such as Reuben, Simeon, and Levi, Becher is not depicted as having any specific actions, dialogues, or distinct personal story within these texts. His significance within the narrative lies in his role as one of the foundational members of the tribe of Benjamin, contributing to its growth and establishment within the larger Israelite community in Egypt. The fact that Benjamin had several sons, with Becher listed early among them, underscores the continuation of Jacob’s lineage and the fulfillment of the divine promise of numerous descendants. While the narratives focus more intensely on the stories of Joseph and his interactions with his elder brothers, Becher’s existence as a son of Benjamin and a member of the Israelite community in Egypt is an implicit part of that broader historical and familial saga.