What Was The Tribe of Benjamin?
Descended from Benjamin, the twelfth son of the Jewish Patriarch, Jacob, and the Jewish Matriarch, Rachel, the Tribe of Benjamin formed between the 18th and 15th centuries BCE, and settled in south-central Palestine between the Northern Tribe of Ephraim and the Southern Tribe of Judah.
According to Numbers 1:37, during the First Census, the Tribe of Benjamin included 35,400 men for war, while the Second Census, mentioned in Numbers 26:41, counted 45,600 ready to fight.
Led by Abinadab the son of Zeruiah, the tribe produced King Saul, the very first King of the United Kingdom of Israel who ruled for 40 years and was anointed by the Prophet Samuel after the elders of Israel demanded a king to unite all twelve tribes to defend against the Philistines and Ammonites.
Meanwhile, in 1117 BCE, a Levite and his concubine stayed the night at a house in Gibeah, northeast of Jerusalem.
One night, the house was raided by a wicked mob of men who gang-raped the Levite, and in outrage, cut the concubine’s body into twelve pieces; one for each of the Twelve Tribes of Israel.
The other 11 tribes demanded that Benjamin hand over the guilty men, but he refused and went to war.
This caused only 600 Benjaminite men to survive, but the Tribe was rebuilt after Benjamin obtained 400 virgins from Jabesh-Gilead and 200 more wives during the dances at Shiloh.
Today, the Tribe of Benjamin is nonexistent, as they merged with Judah after the United Kingdom of Israel split in 931 BCE following the death of King Solomon.
Meanwhile, the Tribe of Benjamin was named after its founder, Benjamin, who marched ninth during the Exodus.
Overall, the Tribe of Benjamin’s survival and contributions are tied to Jewish tradition and collective memory, having a lasting impact on the religion’s history.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) What is the symbol and blessing of the Tribe of Benjamin?
Jacob blessed Benjamin as a “ravenous wolf” (Genesis 49:27), signifying a fierce, warlike, and resilient nature. Moses later described them as dwelling safely near God (Deuteronomy 33:12).
2) Where was the Tribe of Benjamin’s territory?
The Tribe of Benjamin’s allotment sat between the tribe of Ephraim to the north and the tribe of Judah to the south. It included key cities like Jericho, Bethel, Gibeah, and initially encompassed Jerusalem.
Source: https://www.historyofisrael.com/tribe-of-benjamin.html
3) What happened to the Tribe of Benjamin after the Babylonian exile?
Following the Babylonian exile, surviving members returned to rebuild Jerusalem and merged closely with the identity of Judah, forming the core of modern Jewish lineage.
Source: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Benjamin-Hebrew-tribe
Why it matters
The Tribe of Benjamin produced Israel’s first King and played a pivotal role in the early history and survival of the Jewish people.
Sources
- "Tribe of Benjamin in the Bible | Overview, History & Symbol" Study.com, TK Wallace, Christopher Muscato
- "Tribe of Benjamin: A Redemption Story Across Scripture" Revived Thoughts
- "The Tribe of Bejamin: Courage, Failure, and Covenant Faithfulness" Unforsaken: Be Strong and Of Good Courage, Joshua Andreasen
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