07.12. Benjamin

BENJAMIN. THE only one of the twelve patriarchs born in Palestine was Benjamin. The circum­stances of his birth are well known. His mother Rachel (Genesis 35:16-20), after an interval of nearly twenty years, got this other son from the Lord; but it seems she was feeble and desponding as the hour of birth drew near, and had hard labour. Though her attendant sought to comfort her by saying, "Fear not, for this also is a son for thee"-words fitted to recall her own faith when her first son was born (Genesis 30:24)-she heeded not, but despondingly pro­nounced, "Ben-oni," son of my sorrow, over the child, and expired. Tradition still points out the spot whore she was buried; every traveller to this day knows "Rachel’s Tomb," midway between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. But Jacob would not per­petuate the sadness, or at least would fain throw over it a gleam of sunshine, and therefore names the child "Benjamin," son of the right hand, expressive of what he hoped for him, as well as declaring his strong affection to him for his mother’s sake. Jacob in this did well; he looked at what God might bring out of this calamity and not simply at the sad event itself. See the patriarch, full of faith, after all the toil and weariness of his long wanderings, and after the bitter anguish caused by Dinah’s sin, and her brothers’ cowardly and atrocious murder of the Sychemites-see the aged saint standing at Rachel’s tomb, "looking not at the things that are seen, but at the things which are not seen," anticipating bless­ing in the Lord’s time and way for this sorest bereavement that had befallen him, and by the name "Benjamin" sealing his faith. Rachel looked at affliction on the side of human feeling, and judged by her frame of mind; Jacob viewed it as it can be seen by faith. Nature sees only gloom, and cries Ben-oni! Faith penetrates the gloom, and discovering light beyond, cries Benjamin! Faith is not "Like moonlight on a troubled sea, Bright’ning the storm it cannot calm."

Faith calms the waves, for it brings to us Him who can say, "Peace, be still." Jacob’s blessing on Benjamin (Genesis 49:27) has reference to this scene. Indeed it is as if his heart were torn up by the memories which the mention of Benjamin called up. But, in truth, the future lot of Benjamin and his descendants was to be in keeping with their starting-point-scenes of sorrow passing into scenes of joy.

"Benjamin is a ravening wolf."

He shall be marked by having to do with scenes wherein tearing asunder and violent rending shall be prominent, even as his birth-time was a time of rending ties asun­der; and yet there shall be to him results of peace and scenes of triumph. He shall afterwards be like the wolf in its den, leisurely feasting on its prey after the car­nage is over- "In the morning he shall devour the prey; In the evening divide the spoil."

Some of the old Rabbins refer to the fact that Jerusalem and its altar properly belonged to Benjamin; so that in the sacrifices, morn­ing by morning, day by day, for about fifteen hundred years, Benjamin was seen "raven­ing like a wolf, devouring the prey." If so, we would add, "In the evening he divided the spoil;" for if he was Ben-oni in having to do with blood and death, with victims slain and cut in pieces, with the skin flayed, and the bones divided, and the fat distributed, yet was he also Benjamin in having the pri­vilege of seeing by faith the great sacrifice, through these types of the Lamb of God to be slain for sinners, and afterwards the wondrous honour of actually having that great sacrifice present in the temple. Others illustrate Jacob’s words by referring to the history of the deliverance of Israel by Ehud’s singular deed of blood, and to the wolf-like ravening of the tribe in defence of Gibeah (Judges 20:1-48), which was forgotten ere long in the ex­ploits of Saul, the first king of Israel. They add also the happy times that at a later period passed over scattered Israel through Mordecai and Esther, both belonging to this tribe, in whose case certainly everything at first had the sad aspect of Ben-oni, but passed completely over to the cheerful sun­shine of Benjamin. One other fact should not be forgotten: if in the earlier period of this tribe’s history the Ben-oni aspect pre­vails-"the ravening of the wolf"-yet in Saul’s days "little Benjamin" (Psalms 68:27) became mighty (1 Samuel 9:21, comp. with 1 Samuel 14:47-48); and after the days of David you see the Benjamin-aspect ap­pear more decidedly still-the dividing of the prey in peace; when this tribe was associated with Judah in holding the sceptre till Shiloh come, returning with Judah from Babylon. In Ezekiel 48:23, we find him side by side with Judah still, bordering on the Holy Oblation. Some of the Fathers were convinced that the prophecy went even further in minute fulfilment. They saw in it the history of a notable man of his tribe-Saul of Tarsus­-making havoc of the Church like a wolf (*********), and the dividing the prey with the Church when his heart was turned. Saul becoming Paul the Apostle is, in their view, as Ben-oni becoming Benjamin. The blessing of Moses (Deuteronomy 33:12) gives us the cheerful side, as if he had been led by the inspiring Spirit to dwell as much upon the Benjamin characteristic, as Jacob had done on the Ben-oni. Hence he calls him, " Beloved of the Lord"-q.d., not beloved of Jacob only, but of the Lord also-a title which is specially appropriate to him as in part possessing that token of God’s favour, the Temple and part of the Holy City within his borders. The sense of the other clauses may be given thus:- "He shall dwell in safety by Jehovah, Who shall cover him all the day long."

Jehovah shall be his canopy (*****, compare the ****** of Isaiah 4:5), "Jehovah shall dwell amid his hills," especially referring to Jeru­salem and his portion of it; though others explain the words, "Benjamin shall be like a son whom his father carries on his shoul­ders" (Deuteronomy 1:20, Delitzsh). Oh world, the favour of our God changes the lot of sorrow into joy; but your lot, though it is a Ben­jamin’s portion in measure (Genesis 43:34), shall soon become Ben-oni.

It is a singular fact in the history of this tribe, that so many of them were left-handed, and yet "could sling stones at a hair’s breadth." It is singular that so many "Ben­jamin’s" should be "left-handed," but spe­cially that this apparent defect and disad­vantage should have been remedied by the marvellous skill which distinguished the left-handed ones. This fact is noted of Ehud (Judges 3:15), and of the army of Gibeah, in which were "seven hundred chosen men left-­handed" (Judges 20:16). Was there not something here of Ben-oni turned into Benjamin? It is not less interesting to find of this tribe "mighty men who could use both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow" (1 Chronicles 12:2). These men of might, "helpers of the war," were of "Saul’s brethren, of Benjamin," so that the dark cloud that lowered on David from the side of Benjamin in the person of Saul is now giving forth bright beams. The Dames of their leaders are given in full; and then again, at 1 Chronicles 12:16, "men of Benjamin" joined with men of Judah in going to David, with Amasai at their head. It is still the dark cloud followed by the clear, shining after-rain. How honourable and noble these "brethren of Saul," who, in the day of calamity, discovered God’s anointed one, and followed him at all hazards. Fit repre­sentatives of the true disciples of the Lord now, who forsake kindred and friends to take the side of Christ, suffering with Him that they may in due time reign with Him-­content to be Ben-onis for a time, that they may for ever be Benjamins. In 1 Chronicles 8:1-40. there is full information given about the descendants of Benjamin on account of their connection with Saul and Jonathan. In the close of that genealogical table appears the infant son of Merib-baal, or Mephibosheth, namely, Micah. In him Jonathan’s line was brought very low, almost to extinction; but 1 Chronicles 8:35-36 tell how Micah’s family grew and was strong. The first two names in it are "Pithon," enlarge­ment, and "Melec," king; and after a cata­logue has been given of illustrious descen­dants, verse 40 ends by saying, "The sons of Ulam were mighty men of valour, archers, and had many sons, and sons’ sons, an hun­dred and fifty. All these are the sons of Benjamin." It is still the same story, the Ben-oni aspect first, and then the "right hand." The Lord enlightens the darkness; and in the latter days thus it shall be with this tribe, and with all Israel. Their whole past history might, in some respects, be spoken of as sad and sorrowful; but their future shall be all joy and singing, when the Lord brings back the captivity of his people.

Thy birth-night was a time of love and tears;

Thy mother travailed sore.

"Son of my sorrow!" Rachel feebly moaned, Then sank, and all was o’er.

"Son of my right hand," weeping Jacob cried;

"Dearest of sons to me! That name bear thou; of her who gave thee birth In endless memory."

Deep-written in thy tribe’s sad history, One name too oft appears; From Egypt, * Gibeah, ** and Gilboa’s *** height, Ben-oni looks in tears.

* Genesis 43:1-34. And Genesis 45:1-28. ** Judges 14:1-20, Judges 20:1-48. *** 1 Samuel 1:1-29. But when of Israel’s revolted tribes The star in night had died, "Son of the right hand," faithful Benjamin, Still sat at Judah’s side. And though, Ben-oni, ages have swept past, While thou hast worn the chain, When evening comes, thou must "divide the spoil."

Rise, Benjamin, again!