Benjamin

Son of my right hand.

1) The younger son of Jacob by Rachel (Gen. 35:18). His birth took place at Ephrath, on the road between Bethel and Bethlehem, at a short distance from the latter place. His mother died in giving him birth, and with her last breath named him Ben-oni, son of my pain, a name which was changed by his father into Benjamin. His posterity are called Benjamites (Gen. 49:27; Deut. 33:12; Josh. 18:21).

The tribe of Benjamin at the Exodus was the smallest but one (Num. 1:36, 37; Ps. 68:27). During the march its place was along with Manasseh and Ephraim on the west of the tabernacle. At the entrance into Canaan it counted 45,600 warriors. It has been inferred by some from the words of Jacob (Gen. 49:27) that the figure of a wolf was on the tribal standard. This tribe is mentioned in Rom. 11:1; Phil. 3:5.

The inheritance of this tribe lay immediately to the south of that of Ephraim, and was about 26 miles in length and 12 in breadth. Its eastern boundary was the Jordan. Dan intervened between it and the Philistines. Its chief towns are named in Josh. 18:21-28.

The history of the tribe contains a sad record of a desolating civil war in which they were engaged with the other eleven tribes. By it they were almost exterminated (Judg. 20:20, 21; 21:10). (See Gibeah.)

The first king of the Jews was Saul, a Benjamite. A close alliance was formed between this tribe and that of Judah in the time of David (2 Sam. 19:16, 17), which continued after his death (1 Kings 11:13; 12:20). After the Exile these two tribes formed the great body of the Jewish nation (Ezra 1:5; 10:9).

The tribe of Benjamin was famous for its archers (1 Sam. 20:20, 36; 2 Sam. 1:22; 1 Chr. 8:40; 12:2) and slingers (Judge. 20:6).

The gate of Benjamin, on the north side of Jerusalem (Jer. 37:13; 38:7; Zech. 14:10), was so called because it led in the direction of the territory of the tribe of Benjamin. It is called by Jeremiah (20:2) "the high gate of Benjamin;" also "the gate of the children of the people" (17:19). (Comp. 2 Kings 14:13.)

Related Words

Benjamin
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Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
Benjamin
son of the right hand ...

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Benjamin
n. a husband, in Australian pigeon-English. 1870. Chas. H. Allen, `A Visit to Queensland and her G...

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Benjamin
(son of the right hand, fortunate). • The youngest of the children of Jacob. His birth took place o...

William Smith's Bible Dictionary
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(1706-1790) American statesman, philosopher, and writer, was one of a numerous family. His f. was a...

Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature by John W. Cousin
Hoadley, Benjamin
(1676-1761) Theologian and controversialist, ed. at Camb., entered the Church, and became Bishop su...

Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature by John W. Cousin
Jowett, Benjamin
(1817-1893) Scholar, was b. at Camberwell, and ed. at St. Paul's School and Balliol Coll., where he...

Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature by John W. Cousin
Whichcote, Benjamin
(1609-1683) Divine, belonged to a good Shropshire family, and was at Camb., where he became Provost...

Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature by John W. Cousin
Kidd, Benjamin
(b. 1858) Sociologist, etc. Social Evolution (1894), Principles of Western Civilisation (1902), etc...

Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature by John W. Cousin
upper benjamin
A great coat. CANT. ...

Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
benjamin-tree
n. also called Weeping Fig in Queensland, Ficus benjaminea, Linn., N.O. Urticaceae. ...

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
Beaconsfield, Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of
(1804-1881) Statesman and novelist, was the s. of Isaac D. (q.v.). Belonging to a Jewish family set...

Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature by John W. Cousin
Benjamin, The Land Of
The proximity of Benjamin to Ephraim during the march to the promised land was maintained in the ter...

William Smith's Bible Dictionary
Benjamin, The Tribe Of
The contrast between the warlike character of the tribe and the peaceful image of its progenitor com...

William Smith's Bible Dictionary
Benjamin, High Gate Or Gate Of
(Jeremiah 20:2; 37:13; 38:7; Zechariah 14:10) [Jerusalem] ...

William Smith's Bible Dictionary

Benjamin

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Related Words