Benjamin

Benjamin

Meaning: "Son of the Right Hand" (Genesis 35:18)

Symbol: Wolf (Genesis 49:27)

Stone/Color: Amethyst / Purple (Exodus 28:19)

Family: Twelfth son of Jacob, born to Rachel (Genesis 35:18). Rachel named him Ben-Oni, "son of my sorrows," as she was dying in childbirth, but Jacob renamed him Benjamin ,"son of the right hand" which indicates a favored son.

Size: First Census: 35,400. Second Census: 45,600.

Location: Small portion of land just north of Jerusalem; a strategic position in ancient Israel.

Jacob's Blessing: "Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey, in the evening he divides the plunder" (Genesis 49:27).

Moses' Blessing: "The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by Him, Who shelters him all the day long" (Deuteronomy 33:12).

Notable: In Egypt, Joseph tested his brothers by saying that he would keep Benjamin as his slave. When Judah pleaded with Joseph not to deprive his father of Benjamin, Joseph was moved to reveal his true identity and be reconciled with his brothers (Genesis 44-45). In the area of the judges, a civil war nearly obliterated the tribe of Benjamin (Judges 20). King Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin (1Samuel 9:1-2). After Saul's death, the tribe fought against David for control of the kingdom, but eventually sided with David (2 Samuel 2). Jeremiah, Mordecai and the Apostle Paul were from the tribe of Benjamin (Jeremiah 1:1; Esther 2:5-6; Philippians 3:5).

Categories: Bible, Twelve Tribes of Israel