Possible Traits of the Tribe of Benjamin
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2 Clips No.2 Duration 40 Minutes. For Article: Scroll Down.
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Questions are given followed by explanations to the questions.
Note: If from the list of questions and explanations below you receive the impression that you are, or are not, from Benjamin then such may well be the case.
It is not however certain and more information will be required. In fact absolute certainty may only be available in the Messianic Era.
These questions will lead to the building of a composite figure. Some themes will repeat themselves with slight variations.
Questions-1:
Are you left-handed? or have left-handed members in your family? Can you use both hands reasonably well?
Are you a good shot?
Questions-2:
Are you romantic?
Are you sexually active, even in the permitted sense? Are their members of your family whom you would consider over-sexed in comparison to the norms accepted in your community?
Does your family tend to be clannish and stress family loyalty, perhaps too much? Alongside the sexual proclivities is there also (paradoxically perhaps) a prudish, modest streak amongst your people?
Questions-3:
Are you Aristocratic, formal? Do you have a sense of breeding and manners, of politeness? Do you catch yourself sometimes tending to snobbery?
Are you independent but also socially conscious?
Questions-4:
Are you religiously inclined? introverted? spiritually minded? contemplative rather than intellectual?
Questions-5:
Do you have an heroic streak? Are you self-sacrificing if the situation requires?
Do you have an emotional side?
Are you sometimes impulsive and take an instant liking for people?
Do you prefer second place to first but nevertheless will fight for this place as if it was the first one?
Can you adapt from a sudden change from one extreme to the other quite well?
Do you have Jewish Friends? Are you attracted to Jews?
Do you have leadership capabilities?
Questions-6:
Do you have Jews in your family? French Canadians? English aristocrats of possible Norman origin? Family names that sounded a bit fancy as if they may once have been French? Belgians?
Questions-7:
Do you have a tendency to take by force what you believe belongs to you ? Are the elderly in your family often physically almost as active as young people? Are you prepared to stand alone for your principles if necessary?
Questions-1:
Are you left-handed? or have left-handed members in your family? Can you use both hands reasonably well?
Are you a good shot?
Explanations to Questions-1.
Are you left-handed? or have left-handed members in your family? Can you use both hands reasonably well?
A Left-Handed Hero-Warrior.
Judges 3:15 But when the children of Israel cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer for them: Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a left-handed man. ...
Benjamin possibly had a higher than normal percentage of left-handed or ambidextrous people. This could mean a slight tendency to clumsiness alongside faster reflexes, greater sensitivity, and intelligence (I too am left-handed so I know all about it).
Another possibility exists however: It could be that the percentage of left-handed peoples was not above the average but in training for the use of bow and sling an advantage was discovered in switching hands. i.e. right-handed people learned to use their left-hand?
Are you a good shot?
The Warriors of Benjamin.
Left-Handed Sling-Throwing Marksmen.
Judges 20:15 And from their cities at that time the children of Benjamin numbered twenty-six thousand men who drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who numbered seven hundred select men. 16 Among all this people were seven hundred select men who were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair's breadth and not miss.
Ambidextrous Sling-Shot Marksmen and Archers.
1-Chronicles 12:1 Now these were the men who came to David at Ziklag while he was still a fugitive from Saul the son of Kish; and they were among the mighty men, helpers in the war, 2 armed with bows, using both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows with the bow. They were of Benjamin, Saul's brethren.
Are you good at geometry? able to calculate distances, etc? Are you reasonably courageous?
Valiant Archers
1-Chronicles 8:40 The sons of Ulam were mighty men of valor, archers. They had many sons and grandsons, one hundred and fifty in all. These were all sons of Benjamin.
Specialized in Archery
2-Chronicles 14: 8 And Asa had an army of three hundred thousand from Judah who carried shields and spears, and from Benjamin two hundred and eighty thousand men who carried shields and drew bows; all these were mighty men of valor.
We see from the above that Benjamin was noted for skill with both the bow and arrow (archery) and the sling. These two types of weaponry have different types of trajectory. The sling has a trajectory which goes straight for a good while then abruptly curves downward. The bow has a trajectory more like a bow i.e. it goes up on a gradual curve, reaches a peak, then curves gradually downward.
Questions-2:
Are you romantic?
Are you sexually active, even in the permitted sense? Are their members of your family whom you would consider over-sexed in comparison to the norms accepted in your community?
Does your family tend to be clannish and stress family loyalty, perhaps too much? Alongside the sexual proclivities is there also (paradoxically perhaps) a prudish, modest streak amongst your people?
Are you Aristocratic, formal? Do you have a sense of breeding and manners, of politeness? Do you catch yourself sometimes tending snobbery?
Explanations to Questions-2.
Are you romantic?
Michal was a daughter of Saul, king of Israel. Saul was from Benjamin.
Michal loved David (1-Samuel 18:20). This is the only place in the Bible where the love of a woman for a man is mentioned.
According to the Sages Michal was exceedingly beautiful. Michal became the wife of David (1-Samuel 18:20-27) after David had killed 200 Philistines and brought their foreskins to Saul.
Are you sexually active, even in the permitted sense? Are their members of your family whom you would consider over-sexed in comparison to the norms accepted in your community?
The Benjamin inhabitants of Gibeah first attempted to rape a male sojourner from another Tribe who had stopped over for the night (Judges 19:22). The traveller pushed his concubine out to the Benjaminites. They raped her all night long. In the morning she died on the doorstep (Judges 19:27).
This shows EXAGGERATED sexual lust and perversion.
The second name of Benjamin, Ben-Oni, could be interpreted to indicate sexual prowess:
Genesis 35:16-19.
Then they journeyed from Bethel. And when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel travailed in childbirth, and she had hard labor. Now it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, "Do not fear; you will have this son also." And it was so, as her soul was in departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin. So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).
Ben-Oni is usually understood to mean son of my suffering and the Hebrew fits this interpretation.
There is another possibility however. Rachel gave birth to Benjamin after hard labor and struggle. She died as a result but her son was born.
The word ON in Hebrew can also denote Power. In her struggle to give birth Rachel had put all her power into it and had succeeded. Benjamin was the reward.
There is another meaning.
The word ON in Hebrew can denote Power or sexual prowess.
This is not the meaning that Rachel had intended but it is an implication of the word ON in Hebrew. It also fits the Tribe of Benjamin as depicted in the Bible.
Alongside the sexual proclivities is there also (paradoxically perhaps) a prudish, modest streak amongst your people?
The Sages described the tribe of Benjamin as serene, modest and quiet and used to miracles happening.
In the same way as with the Concubine at Gibeah they had shown a liability to descend to the depths of depravity so too they had the opposite quality of being able to reach great heights of virtue.
Does your family tend to be clannish and stress family loyalty, perhaps too much?
After the death of the concubine, the rest of the Tribes of Israel demanded that the wrong-doers be handed over for punishment. The rest of Benjamin refused. There was a war in which Benjamin was initially victorious but later defeated and almost wiped out (Judges chs. 20, 21).
This shows a stubborn clannish streak in which the whole Tribes places itself in danger to defend some of its members even though they are criminals and deserving of punishment.
"Benjamin is a ravenous wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil" (Genesis 49:27).
Benjamin was Symbolized by the wolf which is a fierce predatory animal known to travel in packs. Group-conscious.
Questions-3:
Are you Aristocratic, formal? Do you have a sense of breeding and manners, of politeness? Do you catch yourself sometimes tending snobbery?
Are you independent but also socially conscious?
Explanations to Questions-3.
cf. the remarks of Michal to David about his dancing in public.
2-Samuel 6:23:
16 Now as the ark of the LORD came into the City of David, Michal, Saul's daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. ...20 Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, 'How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!'
Mical is always referred to as daughter of Saul rather than wife of David. It may be as the daughter of a king she considered herself independently deserving of respect.
Saul was from the Tribe of Benjamin. He was the first King of Israel. He was very tall and exceedingly handsome (1-Samuel 9:2). He looked the part. Saul killed himself rather than suffer the indignity of being taken captive. The Sages spoke of the royalty of Saul. Saul was a natural aristocrat.
Questions-4:
Are you religiously inclined? introverted? spiritually minded? contemplative rather than intellectual?
Explanations to Questions-4.
Deuteronomy 33:12:
Of Benjamin he said:
'The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by Him,
Who shelters him all the day long;
And he shall dwell between His shoulders.'
The People of Benjamin are likeable and attractive. They have good qualities. They are spiritually inclined, possibly more than intellectual.
Amongst Religious Orthodox Jews one finds two major types:
(a) Those who concentrate on praying, saying Psalms, spirituality, fulfilling commandments and doing good deeds.
(b) The scholars, teachers and students. These also have pray, say Psalms, do commandments, etc but the emphasis is different.
It could be that (a) is more representative of Benjamin. He is a friend of the Almighty. A friend does not ask questions about the details. He does not check the bills, or endlessly check and re-check agreeements. A friend looks for soul contact.
The two main groups amongst the Jews are Judah and Benjamin. Judah is the scholar and legal expert.
Questions-5:
Do you have an heroic streak? Are you self-sacrificing if the situation requires?
Do you have an emotional side?
Are you sometimes impulsive and take an instant liking for people?
Do you prefer second place to first but nevertheless will fight for this place as if it was the first one?
Can you adapt from a sudden change from one extreme to the other quite well?
Do you have Jewish Friends? Are you attracted to Jews?
Do you have leadership capabilities?
Explanations to Questions-5.
Do you have an heroic streak? Are you self-sacrificing if the situation requires?
Heroic
When the messengers of Saul were searching for David in order to kill him, Michal secretly sent him away while pretending he was ill and laid up in bed. She let David down through a window and made his bed look like he was sleeping in it (1-Samuel 19:11-17).
The hero of Benjamin was Jonathan.
Yehonatan (Jonathan) was an extremely noble and heroic figure. In Biblical Literature Yehonatan is the Classical Hero type par excellence.
Jonathan with the help of his attendant had almost single-handedly defeated a whole garrison of Philistines and in the process he brought about the defeat of the Philsitine army.
(1 Samuel 14:24). Jonathan risked his life. He was second in command to King Saul his father and the heir apparent. He acknowledged the right of David to be king instead of him.
Several of the Heroes of the entourage of David came from Benjamin (1-Chronicles ch.11).
Do you have an emotional side?
Are you sometimes impulsive and take an instant liking for people?
This quality may be seen concerning both Jonathan and Michal.
Michal the sister of Jonathan loved David and she let it be known.
1-Samuel 18:20 Now Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.
For a single woman to fall in love with a man and to let it be known in those times might not have been as easy as it might be in our times.
So too, Jonathan takes an instant liking to David.
1-Samuel 18:1 Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
Do you prefer second place to first but nevertheless will fight for this place as if it was the first one?
Jehonathan was prepared to take second place after David, but second place is what he wanted.
1-Samuel 20:
14 And you shall not only show me the kindness of the LORD while I still live, that I may not die; 15 but you shall not cut off your kindness from my house forever, no, not when the Lord has cut off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth. 16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD require it at the hand of David's enemies.1-Samuel 23:
16 Then Jonathan, Saul's son, arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God. 17 And he said to him,' Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Even my father Saul knows that. 18 So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. And David stayed in the woods, and Jonathan went to his own house.
Benjamin in the figure of Yehonatan was prepared to take second place to David. -Second Place and not third!
When the Tribes separated from Judah, Benjamin remained.
Benjamin according to his family origins was closer to Joseph, both were sons of Rachel.
Nevertheless Benjamin stays with Judah.
May be Benjamin figured that second place to Judah was better than tenth place in the rest of Israel?
Even concerning the Sanctuary and Temples we find hints at this quality.
When the Mishkan (Tabernacle) was in the wilderness it moved around together with the Tribes of Israel.
After the conquest and division of the land among the tribes, the Tabernacle was moved to Shiloh in Ephraimite territory (Joshua's tribe)... King Saul moved the Tabernacle to Nob, near his home town of Gibeah, but after he massacred the priests there (1 Samuel 21-22), it was moved to Gibeon (1 Chronicles 16:39; 21:29; 2 Chronicles 1:2-6, 13). The Tabernacle included the Ark. In the time of David the Ark was brought to Jerusalem. Later Solomon built the Temple and the Tabernacle structure and furnishings were either incorporated into the Temple or buried underneath it. The Tabernacle and the Temple became one. The Sages said that in the Land of Israel the Tabernacle was always at least partly within the boundary of Benjamin.
They quoted the blessing to Benjamin.
Deuteronomy 33:12.
Of Benjamin he said:
The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by Him,
Who shelters him all the day long;
And he shall dwell between His shoulders.
This verse from the Hebrew may also be read as saying:
# Concerning Binyamin,
The Friend of the ALMIGHTY,
He will dwell in surety,
He wraps himself over him all day long,
and between his shoulders shall he dwell #
The Sages explained the expression,
# He wraps himself over him all day long, and between his shoulders shall he dwell #
to mean that Benjamin would seek to always wrap himself around wherever the Presence of God (in the Tabernacle) was to be found.
Benjamin had at least a partial stake in all the Sanctuaries and Temples e.g. Gibeon, Shiloh, Nob, Jerusalem (Yoma 12:a).
The Divine Presence made itself in three places, Shiloh, Nob, Gibeon, and [later] in the House of Eternity [i.e. the Temple]. In all of these IT was not felt except in the portion of Benjamin, as it says,
Who shelters him all the day long (Deuteronomy 33:12). (Talmud, Zevachim 118;b).
It may be object that the Tabernacle was at Shiloh for about 300 years. Shiloh was right in the Middle of the Territory of Ephraim. Benjamin was to the south of Ephraim. The Sages explained that a thin strip of land went out from Benjamin up into the heart of Ephraim into Shiloh and encompassed the Tabernacle. [This is hinted at in Joshua 16:6 where it mentions the border of Ephraim skirting the fig tree of Shiloh].
Accept it or not the account may be understood as reflecting a need by Benjamin to always some stake in the Tabernacle. So too Jerusalem was not divided amongst the Tribes but technically it was partly in the section of Benjamin and partly in that of Judah. The area of Temple split between the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Part of the Altar was in the section of Benjamin and part in that of Judah. We have here another hint as to the character of Benjamin.
Benjamin can be brave, stubborn, self-sacrificing, formidable. He is quite prepared and definitely capable of fighting for what he wants.
He is however not suicidal. Second-best is very good. If he cannot have all the Temple, he will take what he can get.
Number two is not number one... but it is better than nos 3, 4, 5, 6,..
Soo too, when Benjamin decided to go with Judah instead of with the Ten Tribes this quality may have played a part.
May be Judah was not giving the Tribes enough of what they wanted? Maybe Judah was taking charge against the will of the others so they rebelled against Judah?
Benjamin stays. Something is better than nothing. Second place is quite respectable.
Can you adapt from a sudden change from one extreme to the other quite well?
The Land of Benjamin was a small area but it encompassed a great variety of climate and vegetation patterns.
So too, the stone of Benjamin was the Jasper which was described as contained all the different colors.
This could be reflected in their character, i.e. able to make drastic changes if necessary.
Benjamin had ten sons. This too could represent a multi-faceted aspect to the character of Benjamin.
The names of each one of these sons incidentally, according to the Sages represented an aspect of Benjamin yearning for his brother Joseph.
Do you have Jewish Friends? Are you attracted to Jews?
Most of Benjamin was attached to Judah so Jewish associations are also an indication of Benjamin.
Do you have leadership capabilities?
Saul failed as a king but in the early days of his career he had successes. He lead Israel to victory against their enemies.
Saul in fact in the Bible is not referred to as KIng (Melec in Hebrew) but rather as leader (Nagid).
Saul was anointed as Nagid i.e. commander, ruler, or leader
cf.
1-Samuel 10:
1 Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head, and kissed him and said: Is it not because the Lord has anointed you commander [Hebrew: Nagid] over His inheritance?
Mordecai and Esther were descendants of Saul. They held rulership positions over the subjects of Persia.
See:
The Division of Power!
Benjamin and Joseph to Rule Over Gentiles, Judah Over Israel!
[Based on the work ("Shivtei Yisrael") of Rabbi Fishel Mael, p. 497 ff.]
Questions-6:
Do you have Jews in your family? French Canadians? English aristocrats of possible Norman origin? Family names that sounded a bit fancy as if they may once have been French? Belgians?
Explanations to Questions-6.
Most of Benjamin joined up with Judah. A portion also linked up with the Ten Tribes. These settled in Belgium and in Normandy in northwest France. The Normans conquered England and Norman ancestry in found amongst the English especially in the upper classes. The Normans spoke a type of French so French names amongst Anglo-Saxons many denote Norman origins.
Many of the French Canadians came from Normandy.
A separate article is being prepared dedicated to the Benjaminite characteristics of French Canadians.
Elements from Benjamin were also to be found in England, Ireland, Scotland, and France.
Questions-7:
Do you have a tendency to take by force what you believe belongs to you ? Are the elderly in your family often physically almost as active as young people? Are you prepared to stand alone for your principles if necessary?
Explanations to Questions-7.
Do you have a tendency to take by force what you believe belongs to you ?
"Benjamin is a ravenous wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil" (Genesis 49:27).
The Sages said that the Tribe of Benjamin have a grabbing, seizing tendency that may be used negatively or positively. This was why they were likened to a wolf. This grabbing tendency in the negative sense was seen when they seized the Concubine at Gibeah. This started a war in which their women were wiped out. The other Tribes allowed them to run out and grab the young girls who were dancing at Shiloh. This grabbing guerrilla warfare type tendency was also noticed in Ehud from the Tribe of Benjamin and in King Saul. The Benjaminite tendency of being prepared to settle for second place and second best also shows the same idea, i.e. grab what you can, like a wolf.
Are the elderly in your family often physically almost as active as young people?
The blessing comparing Benjamin to a wolf mentions him devouring the prey in the morning and in the evening dividing the spoil. The evening of one's life is when we get old. Benjaminites may feel an increased burst of vigor at this time.
Are you prepared to stand alone for your principles if necessary?
Ths may seem to be contradictory to the socially -correct consciousness of Benjamin mentioned above but it fits the facts. Benjamin was the last son born to Jacob. He was the favorite son of his father, Jacob, who doted on him. In the concubine at Gibeah incident the Tribe of Benjamin defies the rest of Israel and stands alone. When the Ten Tribes separate from Judah, Benjamin does not follow. He demonstrates an independence of character, an ability to go against the crowd.
See Also:
Benjamin. Tribal Characteristics in a Nutshell
Characteristics of the Tribe of Benjamin
[Based on the work ("Shivtei Yisrael") of Rabbi Fishel Mael.]
The Division of Power!
Benjamin and Joseph to Rule Over Gentiles, Judah Over Israel!
[Based on the work ("Shivtei Yisrael") of Rabbi Fishel Mael, p. 497 ff.]