Dictionaries :: Benjamin

Benjamin:

son of my right hand. (1.) The younger son of Jacob by Rachel (Gen 35:18). His birth took place at Ephrath, on the road between Bethel and Bethlehem, at a short distance from the latter place. His mother died in giving him birth, and with her last breath named him Ben-oni, son of my pain, a name which was changed by his father into Benjamin. His posterity are called Benjamites (Gen 49:27; Deu 33:12; Jos 18:21).

The tribe of Benjamin at the Exodus was the smallest but one (Num 1:36,37; Psa 68:27). During the march its place was along with Manasseh and Ephraim on the west of the tabernacle. At the entrance into Canaan it counted 45,600 warriors. It has been inferred by some from the words of Jacob (Gen 49:27) that the figure of a wolf was on the tribal standard. This tribe is mentioned in Rom 11:1; Phl 3:5.

The inheritance of this tribe lay immediately to the south of that of Ephraim, and was about 26 miles in length and 12 in breadth. Its eastern boundary was the Jordan. Dan intervened between it and the Philistines. Its chief towns are named in Jos 18:21-28.

The history of the tribe contains a sad record of a desolating civil war in which they were engaged with the other eleven tribes. By it they were almost exterminated (Jdg 20:20,21; 21:10). (See GIBEAH.)

The first king of the Jews was Saul, a Benjamite. A close alliance was formed between this tribe and that of Judah in the time of David (2Sa 19:16,17), which continued after his death (1Ki 11:13; 12:20). After the Exile these two tribes formed the great body of the Jewish nation (Ezr 1:5; 10:9).

The tribe of Benjamin was famous for its archers (1Sa 20:20,36; 2Sa 1:22; 1Ch 8:40; 12:2) and slingers (Jdg 20:6).

The gate of Benjamin, on the north side of Jerusalem (Jer 37:13; 38:7; Zec 14:10), was so called because it led in the direction of the territory of the tribe of Benjamin. It is called by Jeremiah (Jer 20:2) "the high gate of Benjamin;" also "the gate of the children of the people" (17:19). (2Ki 14:13.)

Benjamin:

son of the right hand

Benjamin:

ben'-ja-min (binyamin, or binyamin; Beniaein, Beniamin):

1. The Patriarch:

The youngest of Jacob's sons. His mother Rachel died in giving him birth. As she felt death approaching she called him Benoni, "son of my sorrow." Fearing, probably, that this might bode evil for the child-for names have always preserved a peculiar significance in the East-Jacob called him Benjamin, "son of the fight hand" (Ge 35:17 ff). He alone of Jacob's sons was born in Palestine, between Bethel and Ephrath. Later in the chapter, in the general enumeration of the children born in Paddan-ar am, the writer fails to except Benjamin (Ge 35:24). Joseph was his full brother. In the history where Benjamin appears as an object of solicitude to his father and brothers, we must not forget that he was already a grown man. At the time of the descent of Israel to Egypt Joseph was about 40 years of age. Benjamin was not much younger, and was himself the father of a family. The phrase in Ge 44:20, "a little one," only describes in oriental fashion one much younger than the speaker. And as the youngest of the family no doubt he was made much of. Remorse over their heartless treatment of his brother Joseph may have made the other brothers especially tender toward Benjamin. The conduct of his brethren all through the trying experiences in Egypt places them in a more attractive light than we should have expected; and it must have been a gratification to their father (Ge 42 ff). Ten sons of Benjamin are named at the time of their settlement in Egypt (Ge 46:21).

2. The Tribe:

At the Exodus the number of men of war in the tribe is given as 35,400. At the second census it is 45,600 (Nu 1:37; 26:41). Their place in the host was with the standard of the camp of Ephraim on the west of the tabernacle, their prince being Abidan the son of Gideoni (Nu 2:22 f). Benjamin was represented among the spies by Palti the son of Raphu; and at the division of the land the prince of Benjamin was Elidad the son of Chislon (Nu 13:9; 34:21).

3. Territory:

The boundaries of the lot that fell to Benjamin are pretty clearly indicated (Jos 18:11 ff). It lay between Ephraim on the North and Judah on the South. The northern frontier started from the Jordan over against Jericho, and ran to the north of that town up through the mountain westward past Bethaven, taking in Bethel. It then went down by Ataroth-addar to Beth- horon the nether. From this point the western frontier ran southward to Kiriath-jearim. The southern boundary ran from Kiriath-jearim eas tward to the fountain of the waters of Netophah, swept round by the south of Jerrus and passed down through the wilderness northern by shore of the Dead Sea at the mouth of the Jordan. The river formed the eastern boundary. The lot was comparatively small. This, according to Josephus, was owing to "the goodness of the land" (Ant., V, i, 22); a description that would apply mainly to the plans of Jericho. The uplands are stony, mountainous, and poor in water; but there is much good land on the western slopes.

4. Importance of Position:

It will be seen from the above that Benjamin held the main avenues of approach to the highlands from both East and West: that by which Joshua led Israel past Ai from Gilgal, and the longer and easier ascents from the West, notably that along which the tides of battle so often rolled, the Valley of Aijalon, by way of the Beth-horons. Benjamin also sat astride the great highway connecting North and South, which ran along the ridge of the western range, in the district where it was easiest of defense. It was a position calling for occupation by a brave and warlike tribe such as Benjamin proved to be. His warriors were skillful archers and slingers, and they seem to have cultivated the use of both hands, which gave them a great advantage in battle (Jud 20:16; 1Ch 8:40; 12:2, etc.). These characteristics are reflected in the Blessing of Jacob (Ge 49:27). The second deliverer of Israel in the period of the Judges was Ehud, the left-handed Benjamite (Jud 3:15).

5. History:

The Benjamites fought against Sisera under Deborah and Barak (Jud 5:14). The story told in Jud 20:21 presents many difficulties which cannot be discussed here. It is valuable as preserving certain features of life in these lawless times when there was no details in Israel. Whatever may be said of the details, it certainly reflects the memory of some atrocity in which the Benjamites were involved and for which they suffered terrible punishment. The election of Saul as first king over united Israel naturally lent a certain prestige to the tribe. After the death of Saul they formed the backbone of Ish- bosheth's party, and most unwillingly conceded precedence to Judah in the person of David (2Sa 2:15,25; 3:17 ff). It was a Benjamite who heaped curses upon David in the hour of his deep humiliation (2Sa 16:5); and the jealousy of Benjamin led to the revolt on David's return, which was so effectually stamped out by Joab (2Sa 19 f). Part of the tribe, probably the larger part, went against Judah at the disruption of the kingdom, taking Bethel with them. 1Ki 12:20 says that none followed the house of David but the house of Judah only. But the next verse tells us that Rehoboam gathered the men of Judah and Benjamin to fight against Jeroboam. It seems probable that as Jerusalem had now become the royal city of the house of David, the adjoining parts of Benjamin proved loyal, while the more distant joined the Northern Kingdom. After the downfall of Samaria Judah assumed control of practically the whole territory of Benjamin (2Ki 23:15,19, etc.). Nehemiah gives the Valley of Hinnom as the south boundary of Benjamin in his time (Ne 11:30), while westward it extended to include Lod and Ono. Saul of Tarsus was a member of this tribe (Php 3:5).

(4) A great-grandson of Benjamin, son of Jacob (1Ch 7:10).

(5) One of those who had married a foreign wife (Ezr 10:32, and probably also Ne 3:23; 12:34).

Written by W. Ewing

Benjamin: 1. Son of Jacob

By Rachel,

Gen 35:18, 24; 46:19.

Taken into Egypt,

Gen 42; 43; 44; 45.

Prophecy concerning,

Gen 49:27.

Descendants of,

Gen 46:21; Num 26:38-41.

Benjamin: 2. Tribe Of

Census of, at Sinai,

Num 1:37;

in the plain of Moab,

Num 26:41.

Clans of,

Num 26:38-40; 1Ch 7:6-12; 8.

Position of, in camp and march,

Num 2:18, 22.

Moses' benediction upon,

Deu 32:12.

Allotment in the land of Canaan,

Jos 18:11-28.

Reallotment,

Eze 48:23.

Did not exterminate the Jebusites,

Jdg 1:21.

Join Deborah in the war against Sisera,

Jdg 5:14.

Territory of, invaded by the Ammonites,

Jdg 10:9.

Did not avenge the crime of the Gibeonites against the Levite's concubine, the war that followed,

Jdg 19; 20.

Saul, the first king of Israel, from,

1Sa 9:1, 17; 10:20, 21.

Its rank during the time of Samuel,

1Sa 9:21.

Jerusalem within the territory of,

Jer 6:1.

A company of, joins David at Ziklag,

1Ch 12:1, 2, 16.

Not enrolled by Joab when he took a census of the military forces of Israel,

1Ch 21:6.

Loyal to Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul,

2Sa 2:9, 15, 31; 1Ch 12:29.

Subsequently joins David,

2Sa 3:19; 19:16, 17.

Loyal to Rehoboam,

1Ki 12:21; 2Ch 11:1.

Military forces of,

during the reign of Asa,

2Ch 14:8;

during the reign of Jehoshaphat,

2Ch 17:17.

Skill in archery and as slingers of stones,

Jdg 3:15; 20:16; 1Ch 8:40; 12:2.

Return to Palestine from the exile in Babylon,

Ezr 1:5.

Saints of, seen in John's vision,

Rev 7:8.

Paul, of the tribe of,

Rom 11:1; Phl 3:5.

See ISRAEL

Benjamin: 3. Grandson of Benjamin

1Ch 7:10

Benjamin: 4. A Son of Harim

Ezr 10:32

Probably identical with the man mentioned in,

Neh 3:23.

Benjamin: 5. A Jew Who Assisted in Purifying the Wall of Jerusalem

Neh 12:34

Benjamin: 6. A Gate of Jerusalem

Jer 20:2; 37:13; 38:7; Zec 14:10

Benjamin:

(son of the right hand, fortunate).

(1.) The youngest of the children of Jacob. His birth took place on the road between Bethel and Bethlehem, near the latter, B.C. 1729. His mother, Rachel, died in the act of giving him birth, naming him with her last breath Ben‐oni (son of my sorrow). This was by Jacob changed into Benjamin (Genesis 35:16; 35:18). Until the journeys of Jacob's sons and Jacob himself into Egypt we hear nothing of Benjamin. Nothing personal is known of him. Henceforward the history of Benjamin is the history of the tribe.

(2.) A man of the tribe of Benjamin, son of Bilhan, and the head of a family of warriors (1 Chronicles 7:10).

(3.) One of the "sons of Harim," an Israelite in the time of Ezra who had married a foreign wife (Ezra 10:32).