2S4-2: Why God’s Concern With Intermarriage Was Always About Faith, NOT Race

“Sha’ul’s son had two men who were captains of raiding parties, one called Ba‘anah and the other Rekhav, sons of Rimmon the Be’eroti, of the people of Binyamin (for Be’erot is counted as part of Binyamin, even though the Be’erotim fled to Gittayim and have lived as foreigners there to this day).”-2 Samuel 4:2-3

Now that the setting has shifted to the north, we’re introduced to two unsavory characters called Ba’anah and Rekhav. 

We’re told their father is Rimmon, who hails from an area called Be’eroth. 

And then we’re given some info about their tribal roots to help explain their relationship to Ishboseth.

Be’eroth was one of the villages assigned to the tribe of Benjamin after Israel first invaded Canaan under Joshua’s leadership.

Here’s the scripture reference:

“Each family group of Benjamin received some of this land. And these are the cities they owned: Jericho, Beth Hoglah, Emek Keziz, Beth Arabah, Zemaraim, and Bethel; Avvim, Parah, Ophrah,  Kephar Ammoni, Ophni, and Geba. There were 12 towns and all their villages.

The tribe of Benjamin also owned Gibeon, Ramah, and Beeroth.  They owned Mizpah, Kephirah, Mozah, Rekem, Irpeel and Taralah.   They also owned Zelah, Haeleph, the Jebusite city (Jerusalem), Gibeah, and Kiriath. There were 14 towns and all their villages. All these areas are the lands the tribe of Benjamin was given.”-Joshua 18:21-28

So notice at the end of the list, that the last city mentioned is Beeroth.

Folks from this city escaped to a place called Gittaim, near Beth-Horon, just a few miles northwest of Be’eroth.

Because of this, the city almost overnight became a ghost town.

Rashi, the great medieval French Jewish sage, said the exodus of this mixed-race town occurred during the time of 1st Samuel 31 when the Philistines attacked the northern tribes and killed Saul.

Why do I say mixed race?

Because this town was originally a village of gentiles (obviously!) when Joshua and his army showed up.

The tribe of Benjamin ended up conquering and settling in this area.

This village, like so many others, ended up intermarrying with the Israelites.

Keep in mind that at this stage in the Scriptures, a good three centuries have passed since Joshua led the Israelites across the Jordan.

So, a whole lot of intermarriage went on between the Canaanites and all the 12 Hebrew tribes during this time -against God’s direct command, I might add.

By now, the people of Be’eroth were counted as part of the tribe of Benjamin.

But many of them hadn’t forgotten their heathen Canaanite roots as evidenced by the way they called themselves.

That’s the situation here.

To the Israelites 2,500 years ago, the situation with Be’eroth was likely well understood.

So, this detail was worth mentioning.