Topical Bible: Benjamites

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Topical Encyclopedia

The Benjamites, or descendants of Benjamin, are one of the twelve tribes of Israel, originating from Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel. The tribe holds a significant place in biblical history, known for its valor, resilience, and complex relationship with the other tribes of Israel.

Ancestry and Early History

Benjamin was the twelfth son of Jacob, born to Rachel, Jacob's beloved wife. His birth is recorded in Genesis 35:16-18, where Rachel names him Ben-Oni, meaning "son of my sorrow," due to her dying in childbirth. However, Jacob renames him Benjamin, meaning "son of the right hand." The tribe of Benjamin is thus named after him, and his descendants are referred to as Benjamites.

Territory and Settlement

The territory allotted to the tribe of Benjamin is described in Joshua 18:11-28. It was strategically located between the tribes of Judah to the south and Ephraim to the north. This central location included significant cities such as Jerusalem, Jericho, Bethel, and Gibeah. The proximity to these key locations often placed the Benjamites at the heart of Israel's political and military affairs.

Characteristics and Notable Figures

The Benjamites were renowned for their skill in battle, particularly their proficiency with the sling and bow. Judges 20:16 highlights their left-handed warriors, who could "sling a stone at a hair and not miss." This martial prowess is a recurring theme in their history.

One of the most notable Benjamites is King Saul, the first king of Israel, who was chosen from the tribe of Benjamin (1 Samuel 9:1-2). Saul's reign marked a significant period in Israel's transition from a confederation of tribes to a centralized monarchy.

Another prominent Benjamite is the Apostle Paul, originally named Saul, who identifies himself as "of the tribe of Benjamin" in Romans 11:1 and Philippians 3:5. His contributions to the early Christian church are foundational, and his Benjamite heritage is a point of pride and identity.

The Benjamite War

A dark chapter in the history of the Benjamites is the civil war recounted in Judges 19-21. The tribe of Benjamin was nearly annihilated by the other Israelite tribes due to a grievous crime committed in Gibeah, a Benjamite city. The conflict resulted in the near extinction of the tribe, with only 600 men surviving. The other tribes later sought to preserve the tribe by providing wives for the remaining Benjamites, ensuring their continuity.

Role in the Divided Kingdom

During the division of the united monarchy after Solomon's reign, the tribe of Benjamin remained loyal to the house of David, aligning with the tribe of Judah to form the Southern Kingdom of Judah (1 Kings 12:21). This alliance was significant in maintaining the Davidic line and the continuity of Jerusalem as the religious and political center of the Jewish people.

Legacy

The Benjamites, despite their tumultuous history, played a crucial role in the narrative of Israel. Their legacy is marked by both their martial prowess and their contributions to Israel's leadership and spiritual heritage. The tribe's central location and historical alliances underscore their importance in the unfolding account of God's covenant with Israel.

Strong's Hebrew

3103. Yobab -- a son of Joktan, also his desc., also two non-Isr. ...
... kings, also two Benjamites. Transliteration: Yobab Phonetic Spelling: (yo-bawb')
Short Definition: Jobab. ... kings, also two Benjamites NASB Word Usage Jobab (9). ...
/hebrew/3103.htm - 6k

5041. Neballat -- a place where Benjamites dwelt
... 5040, 5041. Neballat. 5042 . a place where Benjamites dwelt. Transliteration:
Neballat Phonetic Spelling: (neb-al-lawt') Short Definition: Neballat. ...
/hebrew/5041.htm - 6k

1145. Ben-yemini -- a descendant of Benjamin
... Benjamite. Word Origin from Binyamin Definition a desc. of Benjamin NASB Word
Usage Benjamite (5), Benjamites (4). Benjamite, of Benjamin. ...
/hebrew/1145.htm - 6k

Library

How, after the Death of Joshua their Commander, the Israelites ...
... their weapons of war. 5. But the Benjamites, to whom belonged Jerusalem,
permitted its inhabitants to pay tribute. So they all left ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 2 how after the.htm

The Historical Books.
... Chap.18. It was only on special occasions, like that of the sin and punishment of
the Benjamites (chaps.19-21), that there was a general concert among them. ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xx the historical books.htm

Beth-El. Beth-Aven.
... Josephus thus describes the land of Benjamin; "The Benjamites' portion of land was
from the river Jordan to the sea, in length: in breadth, it was bounded by ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 20 beth-el beth-aven.htm

Nob. Bahurim.
... place alleged in the Book of Samuel, the Chaldee renders, "And David the king came
to Almath." Where Kimchi thus; "Bahurim was a city of the Benjamites, and is ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 44 nob bahurim.htm

The Cost of a Lie
... hand. And all his servants were standing about him. Saul said to his servants
who stood about him, "Hear, O Benjamites! Will the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the cost of a lie.htm

About These Times, Civil War, as we have Said...
... At length, however, in the third, the Benjamites were conquered, and cut off to
a man; thus the crime of a few was punished by the destruction of a multitude. ...
/.../life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter xxix about these times.htm

That Upon the Slaughter of Ishbosheth by the Treachery of his ...
... set upon by the sons of Rimmon, [Baanah and Rechab were their names,] and was slain
by them; for these being of a family of the Benjamites, and of the first ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 2 that upon the.htm

Knox in the War of the Congregation: the Regent Attacked: Her ...
... He lectured at great length on discomfitures of the godly in the Old Testament,
and about the Benjamites, and the Levite and his wife. ...
/.../lang/john knox and the reformation/chapter xii knox in the.htm

Flight into Egypt and Slaughter of the Bethlehem Children.
... He represents Rachel weeping, because the Benjamites were descendants of Rachel,
and, perhaps, because the tomb of Rachel was "in the border of Benjamin," and ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xiv flight into egypt and.htm

The King.
... and we find Abner himself admitting that "the elders of Israel" wanted David as
king (2 Samuel 3:17), so that when he was gone, it is two Benjamites who give ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/the life of david/ix the king.htm

Thesaurus

Benjamites (24 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Benjamites (24 Occurrences). Judges 1:21 And the
children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that ...
/b/benjamites.htm - 13k

Rimmon (22 Occurrences)
... It has been identified with Um er-Rumamin, about 13 miles south-west of Hebron.
(4.) "Rock of," to which the Benjamites fled (Judges 20:45, 47; 21:13), and ...
/r/rimmon.htm - 18k

Benjamite (15 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 27:12 The ninth captain for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anathothite,
of the Benjamites: and in his division were twenty-four thousand. ...
/b/benjamite.htm - 11k

Benjamin (167 Occurrences)
... his father into Benjamin. His posterity are called Benjamites (Genesis
49:27; Deuteronomy 33:12; Joshua 18:21). The tribe of Benjamin ...
/b/benjamin.htm - 50k

Ono (5 Occurrences)
... o'-no ('ono; Codex Vaticanus Onan; Codex Alexandrinus Ono, and other forms): A town
mentioned along with Lod as fortified by certain Benjamites (1 Chronicles 8 ...
/o/ono.htm - 9k

Jabeshgilead (12 Occurrences)
... of whose inhabitants were put to the sword, except four hundred maidens, whom they
brought as prisoners and sent to "proclaim peace" to the Benjamites who had ...
/j/jabeshgilead.htm - 13k

Jabesh-gilead (12 Occurrences)
... of whose inhabitants were put to the sword, except four hundred maidens, whom they
brought as prisoners and sent to "proclaim peace" to the Benjamites who had ...
/j/jabesh-gilead.htm - 13k

Eber (16 Occurrences)
... (4.) One of the heads of the familes of Benjamites in Jerusalem (22). ... (2) A Gadite
(1 Chronicles 5:13). (3) & (4) Two Benjamites (1 Chronicles 8:12, 22). ...
/e/eber.htm - 12k

Shiloh (34 Occurrences)
... The maids of Shiloh were captured by the Benjamites on the occasion of a feast,
while dancing in the vineyards; this having been planned by the other tribes to ...
/s/shiloh.htm - 27k

Gibeah (52 Occurrences)
... of outrage upon the Levite's concubine; the way in which he made known his wrongs
to Israel; and the terrible revenge exacted from the Benjamites, who would ...
/g/gibeah.htm - 30k

Resources

What can we learn from the story of the Levite and his concubine? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Adoni-Bezek? | GotQuestions.org

Why was Israel divided into the Southern Kingdom and Northern Kingdom? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Benjamites (24 Occurrences)

Judges 1:21
And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwelt with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem, unto this day.
(See NIV)

Judges 19:16
Behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even: now the man was of the hill country of Ephraim, and he sojourned in Gibeah; but the men of the place were Benjamites.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE YLT NAS NIV)

Judges 20:13
Now therefore deliver up the men, the base fellows that are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel.' But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel.
(See NIV)

Judges 20:18
And the children of Israel arose, and went up to Beth-el, and asked counsel of God; and they said: 'Who shall go up for us first to battle against the children of Benjamin?' And the LORD said: 'Judah first.'
(See NIV)

Judges 20:20
And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel set the battle in array against them at Gibeah.
(See NIV)

Judges 20:23
And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until even; and they asked of the LORD, saying: 'Shall I again draw nigh to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother?' And the LORD said: 'Go up against him.'
(See NIV)

Judges 20:34
And they came in front of Gibeah, ten thousand of the best men in all Israel, and the fighting became more violent; but the children of Benjamin were not conscious that evil was coming on them.
(See NIV)

Judges 20:35
And the LORD smote Benjamin before Israel: and the children of Israel destroyed of the Benjamites that day twenty and five thousand and an hundred men: all these drew the sword.
(KJV NIV)

Judges 20:36
So the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten: for the men of Israel gave place to the Benjamites, because they trusted unto the liers in wait which they had set beside Gibeah.
(KJV NIV)

Judges 20:39
And the men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons; for they said: 'Surely they are smitten down before us, as in the first battle.'
(See NIV)

Judges 20:40
But when the cloud began to arise up out of the city in a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them; and behold, the whole of the city went up in smoke to the sky.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE NIV)

Judges 20:43
They surrounded the Benjamites, chased them, and trod them down at their resting place, as far as over against Gibeah toward the sunrise.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV YLT NIV)

Judges 20:44
And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these were men of valour.
(See NIV)

Judges 20:45
They turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon: and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men, and followed hard after them to Gidom, and struck of them two thousand men.
(See NIV)

Judges 21:6
And the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and said: 'There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day.
(See NIV)

Judges 21:13
And the whole congregation sent and spoke to the children of Benjamin that were in the rock of Rimmon, and proclaimed peace unto them.
(See NIV)

Judges 21:20
And they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying: 'Go and lie in wait in the vineyards;
(See NIV)

1 Samuel 9:4
He passed through the hill country of Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they didn't find them: then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and there they weren't there: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they didn't find them.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE NAS)

1 Samuel 22:7
Saul said to his servants who stood about him, "Hear now, you Benjamites! Will the son of Jesse give everyone of you fields and vineyards, will he make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE YLT NAS)

2 Samuel 2:31
But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, even of Abner's men--three hundred and threescore men died.
(See NIV)

2 Samuel 3:19
And Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin; and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and to the whole house of Benjamin.
(See NIV)

2 Samuel 19:17
And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him. And they rushed into the Jordan before the king.
(See NIV)

1 Chronicles 27:12
The ninth captain for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anathothite, of the Benjamites: and in his division were twenty-four thousand.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE NAS)

Nehemiah 11:31
And the children of Benjamin from Geba onward, at Michmas and Aijah, and at Beth-el and the towns thereof;
(See NIV)

Subtopics

Benjamites

Related Terms

Jaaziah (2 Occurrences)

Ja-azi'ah (2 Occurrences)

Merari (38 Occurrences)

Benjamites (24 Occurrences)

Zaccur (10 Occurrences)

Korahites (7 Occurrences)

Ibri (1 Occurrence)

Mahli (11 Occurrences)