No 26

(The Tribe of Benjamin)

There was an error in last week’s study – the name of Joseph does appear in the New Testament in several places.

Benjamin is the last of the 12 sons of Jacob to receive his prophetic blessing. The Bible says in Genesis 49: 27 that: “ Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.” Jacob refers to Benjamin’s lineage as “wolves”; this is seen in several of the Benjamites. One remarkable trait that the Benjamites had was that many were left handed; this is quite ironic since the name Benjamin means “right-hand son” Many important cities were located in the Benjamite territory; such as, Jericho, Bethel, Gibeon and the most prominent city – Jerusalem. But let’s get back to the ferociousness of this tribe. Evidence of this fierceness is seen in Ehud the judge (Judges 3:21) who killed Eglon with a concealed dagger. Other evidence of Benjamin’s ravenous character was during a dark period in Israel’s history; Benjamin was at the center of a devastating civil war and proved to be a ferocious opponent with its left-handed stone slingers (Jud 20:16).

Another prominent member of the tribe of Benjamin is Saul, the first king of Israel. The ferocity of his rule was evident to all; especially his enemies. Other ferocious Benjamites were – Abner (2 Sam 2:23, 3:30); Shimei (2 Sam 16:5-13); Sheba (2 Sam 20:1-22). But in the Old Testament, some Benjamites showed zeal for the Lord – Esther and Mordecai and their story fulfils the prophecy “divide the spoil”; the feast of Purim commemorates their brave zeal.

But the most ravenous Benjamite of all is found in the New Testament. Oh, he wasn’t ferocious with swords or spears but rather with words and deeds. When he first appears in the Bible, he was an enemy of the Lord but as it turns out, the Lord used his “ravenous” behaviour to spread the Gospel; I’ m speaking of course of Saul of Tarsus or, as we know him better by his Roman name, Paul. He said of himself in Romans 11:1 “I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.” God can channel any type of behaviour to fulfil His plan.