Benjamin

Biblical Account

Benjamin was the second son of Jacob and Rachel, and the youngest of Jacob's sons. According to Genesis 35:16-20, Rachel died giving birth to him while Jacob's family was traveling from Bethel toward Ephrath, that is, Bethlehem. Rachel named the child Ben-oni ("son of my sorrow"), but Jacob renamed him Benjamin ("son of the right hand"). His older brothers had all been born in Paddan-aram; Benjamin was the only one of Jacob's sons born in Canaan.

Benjamin occupies an important place in the story of Joseph in Genesis 42–45. Having lost Joseph, Jacob kept Benjamin with him and would not send him to Egypt (Genesis 42:4). When Joseph, now governor of Egypt, demanded that the youngest brother be brought to him, Judah offered himself as surety for the boy (43:9). At a feast Joseph gave Benjamin a portion five times larger than those of his brothers (43:34). Joseph then tested his brothers by having a silver cup placed in Benjamin's sack (chapter 44). When Judah pleaded to become a servant in Benjamin's place, Joseph revealed his identity, embraced Benjamin, and wept (45:14).

Later references include the following:

• Genesis 46:21 lists the names of his sons.
• In his deathbed blessing, Jacob compared him to a ravenous wolf: "Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf" (Genesis 49:27).
• In the blessing of Moses he is called "the beloved of the LORD" (Deuteronomy 33:12).

Significance in Scripture

His descendants became the tribe of Benjamin, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Figures recorded as belonging to this tribe include:

• The judge Ehud (Judges 3:15)
• Saul, the first king of Israel (1 Samuel 9:1-2)
• Mordecai (Esther 2:5)

Judges 19–21 recounts how, as a result of the incident at Gibeah, the tribe of Benjamin went to war with the other tribes and was nearly wiped out. At the division of the kingdom, the tribe of Benjamin sided with Judah in support of Rehoboam (1 Kings 12:21).

The name of Benjamin continues into the New Testament. Paul identified himself as a member of the tribe of Benjamin (Romans 11:1; Philippians 3:5). Acts 13:21 refers to King Saul as a man of the tribe of Benjamin, and the tribe of Benjamin also appears in the list of those sealed in Revelation 7:8.

Interpretations and Debates

• Meaning of the names: Some hold that the element on in Ben-oni may be read as "strength" rather than "sorrow." Because yamin in Benjamin can mean "south" as well as "right hand," some scholars interpret the name as "son of the south."
• Age: Sunday school illustrations and stories often portray Benjamin as a young boy. However, when Jacob's family went down to Egypt, ten sons of Benjamin were already included in the list (Genesis 46:21). For this reason, many hold that he was an adult at the time.
• Typological reading: A type is an Old Testament person or event that foreshadows Christ. Interpreters who read the Joseph narrative typologically sometimes see Judah's offer of himself in Benjamin's place as a foreshadowing of substitutionary atonement (paying the price on behalf of another). Interpreters differ on how far typology should be applied.
• What the text does not say: Scripture contains no record that Benjamin took part in selling Joseph.

In the Korean Church

Benjamin appears in Sunday school lessons on the Joseph story, particularly those covering the incident of the silver cup and the reconciliation of the brothers. In preaching he is mentioned mainly in two contexts: in describing the change in Judah, and in explaining Paul's background (Philippians 3:5).