Benjamin

Benjamin, the youngest of Jacob's twelve sons and the second born to Rachel, became the progenitor of one of Israel's twelve tribes, allotted a compact territory between the larger tribes of Ephraim and Judah. Though small in size and population, the tribe produced Israel's first king, Saul, whose reign marked the transition from judges to monarchy, and centuries later the apostle Paul, who identified himself as a Benjamite in his epistles. In Scripture the tribe's near extinction during the civil war described in Judges 20–21, followed by its restoration and eventual alignment with the southern kingdom of Judah, illustrates recurring biblical themes of judgment, preservation, and divine purpose within the covenant people.

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Meaning: Son of my right hand
Patriarch: Benjamin
Mother: Rachel
Territory: Small territory between Judah and Ephraim, including parts of Jerusalem
Blessing: Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.
Key Figures: Saul, Paul

Key Passages

Jacob's Blessing

Genesis 49:27

B²⁷enjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.

Paul of Benjamin

Philippians 3:4-6

T⁴hough I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:

⁵ Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; ⁶ Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

War Against Benjamin

Judges 20:1-11

T¹hen all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the LORD in Mizpeh.

² And the chief of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword. ³ (Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of Israel, Tell us, how was this wickedness? ⁴ And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge. ⁵ And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about upon me by night, and thought to have slain me: and my concubine have they forced, that she is dead. ⁶ And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel: for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel. ⁷ Behold, ye are all children of Israel; give here your advice and counsel. ⁸ And all the people arose as one man, saying, We will not any of us go to his tent, neither will we any of us turn into his house. ⁹ But now this shall be the thing which we will do to Gibeah; we will go up by lot against it; ¹⁰ And we will take ten men of an hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and an hundred of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to fetch victual for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that they have wrought in Israel. ¹¹ So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.

Did You Know?

Benjamin was the only son born in the Promised Land. All others were born in Mesopotamia.

Israel's first king (Saul) and greatest apostle (Paul) both came from Benjamin.

The tribe was nearly wiped out in the civil war of Judges 19-21. Reduced to 600 men.

Benjamin means 'son of my right hand'. The position of honor and power.