seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Genesis 49:27 “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf;
in the morning he devours the prey,
in the evening he divides the plunder.”
28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them when he blessed them, giving each the blessing appropriate to him.
in the morning he devours the prey,
in the evening he divides the plunder.”
28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them when he blessed them, giving each the blessing appropriate to him.
Bible-commentaries.com has this to say.
The commentaries agree that the prophecy alludes to the warlike character of the tribe of Benjamin. As examples of this attitude Ehud is mentioned, who assassinated Eglon (Judges 3:15-30); and king Saul, whose acts of excessive cruelty are too many to mention in the context of this study.
With vs. 27 ends the blessings that Jacob pronounced over his sons. We can hardly say that these were blessing in the common sense of the word. As vs.1 of this chapter indicates, Jacob's words were more a predication than a blessing, with the exception of the prophecies given to Judah and Joseph. In Jacob's own words, he said to his sons: "Gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come." (vs.1) But even in the words of warning and in the curses pronounced there is a hidden blessing, because the fulfillment of prophecy is often linked to the attitude of the people involved. In Levi's case, for instance, the scattering about of the tribe in the promised land was the best thing that could happen to them. The received no inheritance of lands or cities, because the Lord was their inheritance. In fulfilling the ministry of the priesthood they became the most prominent tribe in the nation
With vs. 27 ends the blessings that Jacob pronounced over his sons. We can hardly say that these were blessing in the common sense of the word. As vs.1 of this chapter indicates, Jacob's words were more a predication than a blessing, with the exception of the prophecies given to Judah and Joseph. In Jacob's own words, he said to his sons: "Gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come." (vs.1) But even in the words of warning and in the curses pronounced there is a hidden blessing, because the fulfillment of prophecy is often linked to the attitude of the people involved. In Levi's case, for instance, the scattering about of the tribe in the promised land was the best thing that could happen to them. The received no inheritance of lands or cities, because the Lord was their inheritance. In fulfilling the ministry of the priesthood they became the most prominent tribe in the nation
The blueletterbible.org shows Paul in it's list of descendants of Benjamin.
This was the tribe with a reputation for fierceness. To see the great extent of this, look at Ehud (Judges 3:15-23), Saul (1 Samuel 9:1, 14:47-52), and Paul (Acts 8:1-3). The cruelty of the tribe in general is seen in Judges 19 and 20.
Now Jacob [Israel] had been protecting Benjamin. He wouldn't send him to Egypt with his brothers on the first trip. He didn't want to send him to Egypt on the second trip but he had no choice. The rest of the family was starving and Judah put up his two sons as a guarantee of his safety.
Ehud killed a man and left him to die all alone.... telling his bodyguards that he was in the latrine. Saul did so many horrible things that the commentary just says "too many to list" and Paul killed Christians and enjoyed it. In Judges 19 and 20 there is a description of a war at Gibeah in Benjamin. Some men in Gibeah raped a Levite's concubine to death. The Levite cut the woman into twelve pieces, sent a part to each tribe and they all went to war against the Benjamites..... talk about sibling rivalry. It's gruesome. I wouldn't think Benjamin would pass down such a wicked gene, but apparently they all had anger issues.
What a family Jesus had.
