September 8 – Benjamin

September 8 – Benjamin
Genesis 35:17

Rachel gave birth to Benjamin while traveling between Bethel and Bethlehem.  When he was born, she died and Jacob buried the wife he loved. Even today, there is a tomb marking this place (though there are several disputed locations depending on the exact reading of the Hebrew text).

Benjamin was the youngest, by far, of all the sons of Israel and his tribe was one of the smallest.  Because he was the youngest and the last son of Rachel, Jacob loved him and the brothers all took great care in ensuring his safety.

Do you know that both men named Saul in the Bible came from the tribe of Benjamin?  1 Samuel 9:1 says, “There was a Benjamite, a man of standing, whose name was Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin. He had a son named Saul, an impressive young man without equal among the Israelites – a head taller than any of the others.”

In his letter to the Philippians, Paul (Saul) says, “If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put more confidence in the flesh, I have more; circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeazl, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.” (Philippians 3:5)

The tribe of Benjamin was small – Psalm 68:27 says, “there is the little tribe of Benjamin, leading them, there the great throng of Judah’s princes, and there the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali.”  They allied with Judah during the reign of David (2 Samuel 19:16-17) and this alliance would become the foundation for the Jewish nation which continued to exist even after the exile.

The last son of Jacob, the smallest tribe of Israel. From this came a great leader of the Israelites and a great defender of the faith.