Gera

Gera (meaning: pilgrimage, combat; dispute) was a Benjaminite name borne by several figures in the Old Testament, primarily associated with the lineage of Benjamin son of Jacob. In the genealogical lists of Benjamin's descendants, Gera appears as a son of Benjamin (Genesis 46:21) and in the expanded Benjaminite genealogy of 1 Chronicles 8:3, 5, 7 as a name that recurs across several generations of the clan, possibly indicating a family name passed down through multiple generations.

The most historically significant Gera is the father (or ancestor) of Shimei, who cursed David during his flight from Absalom and later sought reconciliation (2 Samuel 16:5; 19:16; 1 Kings 2:8). Another Gera appears as the father of Ehud the judge, the left-handed Benjaminite who killed Eglon king of Moab and delivered Israel (Judges 3:15). The name's recurrence across different generations and narratives makes it difficult to distinguish all occurrences, and some may represent the same family lineage referenced at different points in its history.