The Tribe of Benjamin.
Census. At the Exodus the number of men of war in the tribe is given as 35,400. At the second census it is 45,600 (Num 1:37; 26:41).
Position. Their place in the host was with the standard of the camp of Ephraim on the west of the tabernacle,
Standard. According to rabbinical authority the standard of Ephraim was a golden flag on which the head of a calf was depicted. According to Targum Pseudojon, the standard of Manasseh was the figure of a boy, with the inscription "The cloud of Yahweh rested on them until they went forth out of the camp."
Journeying. "All who were numbered according to their armies of the forces with Ephraim (Benjamin and Manasseh), one hundred and eight thousand one hundred-- they shall be the third to break camp." (Num 2:24).
Representatives. At Sinai their prince being Abidan the son of Gideoni (Num 2:22). Benjamin was represented among the spies by Palti the son of Raphu.
Interesting Notes. Saul, Israel's first king, was a Benjamite, and the Benjamites supported Saul over David (2 Sam. 2:9, 15; 1 Chr. 12:29). Although the Benjamites continued to show some unrest throughout David's reign (2 Sam. 20:1; Ps. 7), most of the tribe remained loyal to the house of David and became part of the southern kingdom of Judah when Israel divided into two nations (1 Kin. 12:21; Ezra 4:1). Saul of Tarsus, who later became known as the apostle Paul, was a Benjamite (Phil. 3:5).
The Land Division. Its northern boundary ran westward from the Jordan River through Bethel and just south of Lower Beth Horon; its western boundary picked up at this point to Kirjath Jearim; its southern border ran eastward to the northern point of the Dead Sea; and its easternmost limit was the Jordan River (Josh. 18:11-20). The chief towns in this hilly, fertile region were Jerusalem, Jericho, Bethel, Gibeon, Gibeath, and Mizpah (Josh. 18:21-28).
The Man Benjamin.
Heb. Benya-min; "son of my right hand." The youngest son of Jacob. His mother Rachel died in giving him birth:
Gen 35:16-19 Then they journeyed from Bethel. And when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel labored 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 so it was, as her soul was 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).
Benjamin was probably the only son of Jacob born in Palestine. His birth took place on the road between Bethel and Ephrath (Bethlehem), a short distance from Bethlehem. Rachel died immediately and with her last breath she named him Ben-oni ("son of my pain"), which name the father changed. We hear nothing more of Benjamin until the time when his brothers went into Egypt to buy food. Jacob kept him at home, for he said, "I am afraid that harm may befall him" (Gen. 42:4). The situation of his going to Egypt, the silver cup, etc., reveals a strong affection for him by his father and brothers.