Original Word: בְּנֵי־בְּרַק
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Bney-Braq
Pronunciation: beh-nay beh-rahk
Phonetic Spelling: (ben-ay'-ber-ak')
KJV: Bene-barak
NASB: Bene-berak
Word Origin: [from the plural construction of H1121 (בֵּן - sons) and H1300 (בָּרָק - lightning)]

1. sons of lightning, Bene-berak, a place in Israel

Bene-barak

From the plural construction of ben and baraq; sons of lightning, Bene-berak, a place in Palestine -- Bene-barak.

see HEBREW ben

see HEBREW baraq

Word Origin
from ben and baraq
Definition
"sons of lightning," a city in Dan
NASB Translation
Bene-berak (1).

בְּנֵיבְֿרַק proper name, of a location city of Dan (in Assyrian Banai-bar‡a COT Joshua 19:45) Joshua 19:45; — modern Ibn Abra‡, or Ibra‡, approximately 1 4-Janhour south of east from Jaffa, Scholz^{Beise 256} Di, compare Map Bd^{Pal &} Survey^{ii 251}.

Biblical Setting

Bene Berak appears once in Scripture, within the territorial allotment to the tribe of Dan: “Jehud, Bene-berak, Gath-rimmon” (Joshua 19:45). Though the Danites initially settled in the Shephelah and central coastal plain, they struggled to secure their inheritance fully (Judges 1:34-35). Bene Berak therefore stands as a witness both to God’s covenant faithfulness in apportioning the land (Joshua 21:43-45) and to Israel’s responsibility to possess what God had granted.

Geographical Location

Situated on the fertile Plain of Sharon, about seven miles east of Joppa and just northeast of present-day Tel Aviv, Bene Berak lay near major north-south trade routes. The surrounding agricultural richness—particularly grain, figs, and olives—made the site a valuable node in Dan’s economy and a strategic buffer between the coastal Philistine cities and Israel’s interior highlands.

Historical Background

1. Conquest and Settlement: As part of Joshua’s division of Canaan, Bene Berak symbolized the transition from nomadic wilderness life to settled covenant community (Joshua 18:1-10).
2. Period of the Judges: Dan’s difficulty in securing its western holdings (Judges 18:1) suggests Bene Berak may have experienced shifting control or pressure from Philistine neighbors.
3. Monarchy Era: While not directly mentioned later, towns in its vicinity (such as Ekron and Gath Rimmon) appear in Philistine conflicts, implying Bene Berak shared in the ebb and flow of those border tensions.

Archaeology and Later History

Rabbinic literature records Bene Berak as a center of Jewish learning in the second century AD, associated with Rabbi Akiva. Excavations in the region reveal continuous occupation layers from Iron Age through Byzantine periods, corroborating the site’s endurance. Modern Bnei Brak, an ultra-Orthodox city, preserves the ancient name, testifying to Scripture’s geographical reliability.

Theological Themes

• Covenant Fulfillment: Each named town in Joshua underscores the specificity of God’s promise to Abraham (Genesis 15:18-21). Bene Berak’s inclusion confirms that no detail of God’s word is incidental.
• Divine Provision: Its fertile location illustrates the Lord’s intent to place His people in “a land flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:17).
• Spiritual Vigilance: Dan’s partial occupation warns against complacency. God grants inheritance; faith-driven obedience secures it (Hebrews 4:1-11).
• Symbolic Resonance: The imagery evoked by the site’s name—light flaring suddenly—echoes biblical motifs of divine revelation and judgment (Job 37:3; Matthew 24:27).

Ministry Applications

1. Encouragement for Faith Communities: Just as every town in Joshua mattered, so every believer and congregation has a God-appointed sphere of influence (1 Corinthians 12:18-27).
2. Stewardship of Blessings: The Danites’ mixed success prompts Christians to cultivate and defend the spiritual “territory” entrusted to them—family, church, vocation—through prayerful diligence (Ephesians 6:10-18).
3. Hope in Promise-Keeping God: The preservation of Bene Berak’s name and location encourages trust that none of God’s purposes will fail (2 Peter 3:9).
4. Call to Illuminate: The lightning imagery invites believers to “shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15), reflecting Christ’s glory amid cultural darkness.

Cross References

Joshua 21:43-45; Judges 1:34-35; Judges 18:1; 1 Samuel 5:10; Job 37:3; Matthew 24:27; Hebrews 4:1-11; 1 Corinthians 12:18-27; Ephesians 6:10-18; Philippians 2:15; 2 Peter 3:9

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