Benjamin
Meaning: "Son of the right hand"
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Symbol: Wolf
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Stone/Color: Amethyst / Purple
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Family: Twelfth son of Jacob, born to Rachel. Rachel named him Ben-Oni, "son of my sorrows," as she was dying in childbirth, but Jacob renamed him Benjamin, "son of the right hand" which indicates a favored son (Gen. 35:18).
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Size: First Census: 35,400. Second Census: 45,600.
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Location: Small portion of land just north of Jerusalem, a strategic position in ancient Israel.
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Jacob's Blessing: "Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning de devours the prey, in the evening he divides the plunder" (Gen. 49:27).
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Moses' Blessing: "Let the deloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long"
(Deut. 33:12).
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Notable: In Egypt, Joseph tested his brothers by saying that he would keep Benjamin as his slave. When Judah pleaded with Joseph not to deprive his father of Benjamin, Joseph was moved to reveal his true identity and be reconciled with his brothers (Gen. 44-45). In the era of the judges, a civil war nearly obliterated the tribe of Benajmin (Judg. 20). King Saul was from the tribe of Bnejamin (1Sam. 9:1-2). After Saul's death, the tribe fought against David for control of the kingdom, but eventually sided with David(2 Sam. 2). Jeremiah, Mordecai, and the apostle Paul were from the tribe of Benjamin (Jer. 1:1; Est. 2:5-6; Phil. 3:5).