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Benjamin

the youngest of the twelve

Who was Benjamin?

The name
His mother called him Ben-oni, “son of my sorrow”; his father called him Benjamin. A NAB note explains that Benjamin means “son of the right hand”. Genesis 35:18; NAB note on Gn 35, 18
Also called
Ben-oni, the name his mother gave him Genesis 35:18
From
He was born on the road to Ephrath, that is, Bethlehem, in Canaan Genesis 35:16-19
Benjamin, an artistic recreation

What the Bible says

Genesis 35:16-19

16And going forth from thence, he came in the springtime to the land which leadeth to Ephrata: wherein when Rachel was in travail, 17By reason of her hard labour she began to be in danger, and the midwife said to her: Fear not, for thou shalt have this son also. 18And when her soul was departing for pain, and death was now at hand, she called the name of her son Benoni, that is, The son of my pain: but his father called him Benjamin, that is, The son of the right hand. 19So Rachel died, and was buried in the highway that leadeth to Ephrata, this is Bethlehem.

Genesis 42:4, 38

4Whilst Benjamin was kept at home by Jacob, who said to his brethren: Lest perhaps he take any harm in the journey. 38But he said: My son shall not go down with you: his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if any mischief befall him in the land to which you go, you will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to hell.

Genesis 43:29-30; Genesis 45:14

29And Joseph lifting up his eyes, saw Benjamin his brother, by the same mother, and said: Is this your young brother, of whom you told me? And he said: God be gracious to thee, my son. 30And he made haste because his heart was moved upon his brother, and tears gushed out: and going into his chamber he wept.

Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.

The path of Benjamin

  1. Before Jesus. He was born on the road to Ephrath. His mother, Rachel, died giving birth. Genesis 35:16-19
  2. Before Jesus. Rachel named him Ben-oni, but Jacob named him Benjamin. Genesis 35:18
  3. Before Jesus. He was the youngest of Jacob’s 12 sons, and Joseph’s only full brother. Genesis 35:22-24; Genesis 43:29
  4. With Jesus. When there was a famine, Jacob sent his sons to Egypt. He did not send Benjamin, for fear that something would happen to him. Genesis 42:1-4
  5. With Jesus. In Egypt, the brothers told the governor that they were 12. They told him that the youngest, Benjamin, had stayed with their father. Genesis 42:13
  6. With Jesus. Jacob did not want to let Benjamin go. Reuben offered the lives of his two sons as a guarantee, but Jacob said no. Genesis 42:36-38
  7. With Jesus. The governor of Egypt demanded to see him. Judah took responsibility for him, and Jacob let him go. Genesis 42:20; Genesis 43:8-13
  8. With Jesus. When he saw him, Joseph blessed him and went out to weep alone. At the meal, Benjamin was served five times as much as the others. Genesis 43:29-30, 34
  9. Afterward. Joseph had his silver cup hidden in Benjamin’s sack. Judah offered to stay as a slave in his place. Genesis 44:2, 12, 33
  10. Afterward. When the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack, the brothers tore their clothes. They all went back to the city with him. Genesis 44:12-13
  11. Afterward. Joseph made himself known, embraced Benjamin, and they wept together. He gave him 300 pieces of silver and five changes of clothes. Genesis 45:3, 14, 22

Words of Benjamin

The Bible records no words of his.

What they were like

The greatest thing they did

In the Church today

In art, recognized by: A silver cup in a sack From Gn 44, 2.12

What people ask

Why didn’t Jacob want Benjamin to go to Egypt?

He had lost Joseph, and Benjamin was the only son of Rachel he had left. He was afraid something would happen to him. Genesis 42:4, 38

Why did Joseph put his cup in Benjamin’s sack?

The Bible tells of Joseph’s order, but it does not explain his intention. Then it tells how Judah offered himself in Benjamin’s place. Genesis 44:1-2, 33

How old was Benjamin when he went to Egypt?

The Bible does not say. Judah calls him “the boy”, but in the list of those who went down to Egypt he already has sons. Genesis 44:30; Genesis 46:21

Who descends from Benjamin?

The tribe of Benjamin. King Saul and the apostle Saint Paul belonged to it. 1 Samuel 9:1-2; Romans 11:1

What blessings did he receive?

Jacob compared him to a wolf that devours the prey in the morning and divides the spoil in the evening. Moses called him the beloved of the Lord, who dwells safely beside him. Genesis 49:27; Deuteronomy 33:12

Where is Rachel, Benjamin’s mother, buried?

On the road to Ephrath, which was later called Bethlehem. Jacob set up a pillar over her grave. Genesis 35:19-20

How many sons did Benjamin have?

The list of those who went down to Egypt names ten sons of Benjamin. Genesis 46:21

What he suffered He lost his mother when he was born. Genesis 35:18-19 He was accused of taking Joseph’s cup, even though Joseph had had it hidden in his sack.…

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Who Benjamin is connected to

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