But the Bible doesnt explicitly tell us what Samuel meant by this. 6), gives another reason, probably based on Jewish tradition (compare Esther R. on iii. honor him, for he is your lord. As more sites have been excavated, there has been a growing consensus that the main story of Joshua, that of a speedy and complete conquest (e.g. Nevertheless, a prophetic answer could exist in the prophecy concerning Benjamin from Jacob and Moses: Jacob- God testified concerning him: I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.. They had a special economic and social status in the Jewish community, and they were close to their respective governments, some serving as advisers and tax collectors/finance ministers. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. Benjamin means "son of the right hand." King David saw the angel and immediately confessed his sin to Gd, at which point Gd, via the Prophet Gad, commanded him to build an altar on the site. Then again, perhaps the Biblical writers simply enjoyed a bit of word play. Gottheil, Richard, et al. [38][39], In 2012, The Jerusalem Post reported that philanthropist Susan Roth created Davidic Dynasty as subsidiary of her Eshet Chayil Foundation, dedicated to finding, databasing, and connecting Davidic descendants and running the King David Legacy Center in Jerusalem. The king then understood that if his own son was seeking his life, it was no surprise if the Benjamites should behave in similar fashion (16:11). Many years before Samuel anointed David and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, Samuel anointed Saul, and the Spirit of the Lord came upon Saul (1 Samuel 10:16). The kingdom fell to the Neo-Babylonian Empire in 587/6 BCE. The Kingdom of Judah was so named because the royal family was from the tribe of Judah and most of the territory, including . 400 virgin women from Jabesh-Gilead were found and given in marriage to the Benjaminite men. Deuteronomy 23:2 says no one born of a forbidden marriage nor any of his descendants may enter the assembly of the Lord, even down to the tenth generation. Now, this was hundreds of years before Jesus said looking at a woman lustfully was committing adultery in your heart (Matthew 5:27-28), but at this point it was pretty clear to David that this was not a relationship he could pursue. It is related that Benjamin (Sifre, Deut. Shimei was from the tribe of Benjamin, and Douay-Rheims Bible And Semei the son of Gera the son of Jemini of Bahurim, made haste and went down with the men of Juda to meet king David, English Revised Version After Saul died, all the tribes other than Judah remained loyal to the House of Saul and to Ish-bosheth, Saul's son and successor to the throne of Israel, but war ensued between the House of Saul and the House of David. When asked for a proof that his brother's memory was so sacred that Joseph must believe this oath, Benjamin told Joseph how he had given his ten sons (Gen. xlvi. Benjamin was the only son born in Canaan and choosing the first king from Benjamin is a way to recognize that distinction. A special feature of the Benjamite warriors was that they were completely ambidexterous, being able to handle the sling equally well with either hand (Judg 20:16; 1 Chron 8:40; 12:2). One interpretation refers the blessing to the early ripening of the fruits in the territory of Benjamin, and the great fertility of the region of Jericho and Beth-el, and another refers the expression "wolf" to the altar of the Temple, which devoured the sacrifices in the morning and in the evening (Gen. R. Members of the tribe are referred to as Benjamites or Benjaminites. [31] Meir Perels traced the ancestry of Judah Loew ben Bezalel to the Hai Gaon through Judah Loew's alleged great-great-grandfather Judah Leib the Elder and therefore also from the Davidic dynasty; however, this claim is widely disputed, by many scholars such as Otto Muneles. How many wives David had? 11), that "a nation and a company of nations shall be of him"; and they decided that the existence of the tribe of Benjamin was necessary (Yer. Wherever Saul sent David, God went with him, and he was successful. So there were two kings and two kingdoms: Ish-bosheth became the second king of Israel, and David ruled Judah. Birthplace tribe of Judah David was the youngest of eight sons of Jesse, a farmer and sheep breeder of the Israelite tribe of Judah. Why was Israel accused of "evil" by seeking a king (1 Samuel 12, cf. [49], Another Christian interpretation emphasizes the minor, non-royal, line of David through Solomon's brother Nathan as it is recorded in the Gospel of Luke chapter 3 (entirely undocumented in the Hebrew Bible), which is often understood to be the family tree of Mary's father. The names of Kafnai and his son Haninai, who were Exilarchs in the second half of the 6th century, have been preserved. Benjamin went into captivity in Babylon with Judah, and later returned from captivity with Judah (Ezra 4:1). So because the people demanded a king God gave them what they asked for and all the problems that went along with it. But Jerusalem's significance predates King David. The Latter Day Saint movement accepts Christ as the "Stem of Jesse" and the Messiah. Warriors from the tribe of Benjamin might have been trained to be equally or more effective with their left hands. Later rabbinical authorities grant the office of exilarch to family members that traced its patrilineal[26] descent from David, King of Israel. The Book of Judges recounts that the rape of the concubine of a member of the tribe of Levi, by a gang from the tribe of Benjamin resulted in a battle at Gibeah, in which the other tribes of Israel sought vengeance, and after which members of Benjamin were killed, including women and children. Petrus Vermaak even suggests that the physical prowess of the Benjaminites, including their left-handed abilities, was what led the tribe to produce the first Israelite king.16 II.he Symbolic Meaning of Left and Right T The ownership of Bethel is also ambiguous. they enter the palace of the king. So he sent Samuel to Jesse of Bethlehem, telling him I have chosen one of his sons to be king (1 Samuel 16:1). He attempted to kill David on multiple occasions, and became his constant enemy. Mari texts but that seems, on the whole, to be unlikely. Jewish Quarterly Review, hereafter "J. Q. R.", xv. 23:2 prevented it. It only takes a minute to sign up. The text refers several times to the Benjaminite warriors as "men of valour"[2] despite their defeat. . 69c; Lam. After a long war (2 Samuel 3:1), David succeeded in uniting all twelve tribes (5:1-5). How could I go to my house to eat and drink and make love to my wife? The Seder Olam Zutta attributes the office to Zerubbabel, a member of the Davidic line, who is mentioned as one of the leaders of the Jewish community in the 6th century BC, holding the title of Achaemenid Governor of Yehud Medinata. Since Benjamin is the youngest, his tribe should be given the first opportunity to rule. 55b). In addition, Mormon eschatology includes multiple references to other prophesied Davidic figures,[52] including one by the name of David who would come in the last days to inherit the throne and kingdom of David.[53]. Initially, David was king over the Tribe of Judah only and ruled from Hebron, but after seven and a half years, the other Israelite tribes, who found themselves leaderless after the death of Ish-bosheth, chose him to be their king as well.[25]. But Joab did not include the tribes of Levi and Benjamin in the census because he was so distressed at what the king had made him do. In the period of the judges, they feature in an episode in which a civil war results in their near-extinction as a tribe. He killed a lot of prisoners after battles. [28] An unsuccessful attempt of David ben Daniel of the Davidic line to establish an Exilarchate in the Fatimid Caliphate failed and ended with his downfall in 1094. The year of Jubileewhen debts were forgiven and property returned to its original owners, among other thingstook place after seven cycles of seven years. The other Israelite tribes were grieved at the near loss of the tribe of Benjamin. The tribe of Benjamin continued to oppose David being named as king. After Solomon's death, the ten northern tribes rejected the Davidic line, refusing to accept Solomon's son, Rehoboam, and instead chose as king Jeroboam and formed the northern Kingdom of Israel. In 1 Samuel 16:1-13 why did David not establish himself as king when Saul decided to go after him? He was betrayed by a woman of Abel of Beth-maachah and was slain. ". Why did Ahimaaz the son of Zadok run ahead of the Cushite to Only provide good news about War Victory, & Not the Bad News about Absalom's death? Hezekiah, Ahaz's son, is attested to by numerous royal seals[10][11] and Sennacherib's Annals;[12] Manasseh is recorded giving tribute to Esarhaddon;[13] Josiah has no relics explicitly naming him; however, seals belonging to his son Eliashib[14] and officials Nathan-melech[15][16] and Asaiah[17] have been discovered; and the kings Jehoahaz II, Jehoiakim, and Zedekiah are never explicitly named in historical records but are instead alluded to; however, Jeconiah is mentioned by name in Babylonian documents detailing the rations he and his sons were given while held prisoner during the Babylonian captivity. Bright, History of Israel (1960), 142, 189, 213-216; F. F. Bruce, Israel and the Nations (1963), passim. Lawrence J. Mykytiuk. 17:14-15)? ; "Sefer ha-Yashar," Wayishla, ed. When he was born, Rachel gave him the name of Ben-oni: Then they journeyed from Bethel. He was the sibling of Joseph, yet forever ago was firmly associated with individuals of Judah. The name Benjamin means "son of (my) right hand." [26] The position holder was regarded as a king-in-waiting, residing in Babylonia in the Achaemenid Empire as well as during the classic era. And when her labor was at its hardest, the midwife said to her, Do not fear, for you have another son. And as her soul was departing (for she was dying), she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. Originally, the Levites did not have a land assigned to them, as their inheritance was the service to the Lord, and were scattered throughout all the . When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. Other rabbis interpret the name Benjamin as "son of the South," since he was the only son born to Jacob in Palestine, the others having been born in Mesopotamia, north of Palestine (Rashi ad loc. Years later, when Saul disobeyed God, God rejected him as king (1 Samuel 15:26). Y. Aharoni describes the southern border as turning NW from the shores of the Dead Sea, passing S of Jericho, skirting below Jerusalem leaving it in Benjamite territory, continuing past Kiriath-jearim, descending to Beth-shemesh and following the Sorek Valley to the Mediterranean. According to the Bible, David, of the Tribe of Judah, was the third king of the United Monarchy of Israel and Judah. Goliath wasnt just taunting the Israelites. However, The Jewish Quarterly Review mentions that Hezekiah was liberated from prison, and became head of the academy, and is mentioned as such by a contemporary in 1046. The Tribe of Benjamin Later, the Israelite. When the Israelites wanted a human king, the prophet, Samuel, anointed Saul to show that God had set him apart for this special role: Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it on Sauls head and kissed him, saying, Has not the Lord anointed you ruler over his inheritance? 1 Samuel 10:1. ; compare Ab, Fifteenth Day of). But its also worth noting: God forbid David from building his temple because he had shed blood (1 Chronicles 28:3). This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and Ill strike you down and cut off your head. From this point on, the fortunes of Benjamin are tied up with those of Judah. Welcome to BHSE! It is now an abandoned Arab village. Buber, Wayiggash, 7; the meanings of the names are also given in Soah 36b; Gen. R. xciv. (Dont worry, its been done. So there seems to be some discrepancy between David and Gods heart. Leghorn, p. 56b). Hes the most frequently mentioned human in the Old Testament, and the second most frequently mentioned human in the entire Bible (only Jesus Christ is mentioned more). This is what the LORD says: 'Record this man as if he is childless, a man who will not prosper in his lifetime, for none of his offspring will prosper, none of them will sit on the throne of David or rule in Judah anymore.Jeremiah 22:30, NIV, Warren W. Wiersbe -The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: The Complete Old Testament - 2007 p. 1497 "Zerubbabel was the grandson of King Jehoiachin (Jeconiah, Matt. And then David famously replied: You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Here are some of the things we know about David. As Davids fame as a warrior grew, Saul feared him more and more. Judges 1:21 points to the city being within the territory of Benjamin, while Joshua 15:63 implies that the city was within the territory of Judah. A number of Jewish families in the Iberian peninsula and within Mesopotamia continued to preserve the tradition of descent from Exilarchs in the Late Middle Ages, including the families of Abravanel, ibn Yahya and Ben-David. As Saro Fedele notes in this answer, Jacob's prophecy to Judah does not rule out another tribe from being chosen to rule first: The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet; so that tribute shall come to him and the homage of the people be his. 13 All glorious is the princess within her chamber; Atlanta, 2004, 15359, 219. Psalm 7 is the only Biblical mention of this later Cush, who was from the tribe of Benjamin. I'm just a layman but this is my analysis. Perhaps the meaning was understood that Benjamin's King was never meant to continue as it is said: A wolf not a lion the biblical royal ensign, In the evening he divides or shares his spoil or gain (the kingdom of Israel), The beloved dwell in safety by Benjamin (David of Judah? Although Jerusalem was in the territory allocated to the tribe of Benjamin (Joshua 18:28), it remained under the independent control of the Jebusites. The E border was the Jordan River. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The elder serving the younger carries the sense of being ruled. He was later succeeded by his son, Solomon. But what makes David such a significant biblical figure is his role in establishing Gods earthly headquarters in Jerusalem. Some have thought that the origin of the tribe is to be found in the Binu (or Maru) yamina of the 18th cent. His great-grandson Simeon ben Gamliel became one of the Jewish leaders during the First JewishRoman War.[27]. On the accession of Rehoboam, David's grandson, in c. 930 BCE, the united Kingdom of Israel dissolved with the northern tribes splitting from the House of David to constitute the northern Kingdom of Israel. These families had special rights in Narbonne, Barcelona, and Castile. [41][42] The King David Legacy Center has seen support from Haredi Jews in Jerusalem. The difference between the phonemes /p/ and /b/ in Japanese. When David became king, he established Jerusalem as the nations capital and Gods headquarters, permanently altering Judahs importance in Jewish life and culture. They each wrote at least 32,000 words, and the entire book of Psalms is only 30,000! He was somewhere between the age of 15 and 19when Jesse sent him to the battle to check on his brothers. When the men of the city came out and fought against Joab, some of the men in Davids army fell; moreover, Uriah the Hittite died. 2 Samuel 11:14-17. [30] Similarly Maimonides claimed 37 generations between him and Simeon ben Judah ha-Nasi, who was also a fourth-generation descendant of Gamaliel. In the captivity under Ezrah and Nehemiah it was only Benjamin and Judah that tribally returned to rebuild the kingdom. The Tel Dan Stele, as aforementioned, remains the only mention of David himself outside the Bible, and the historical reliability of the United Monarchy of Israel is archaeologically weak. Benjamites continued their opposition to David even after he had secured the throne for himself. In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. He also supports his own Jewish credentials by reference to his descent from the tribe of Benjamin (Rom 11:1; Phil 3:5). ", "Recent decades, for example, have seen a remarkable reevaluation of evidence concerning the conquest of the land of Canaan by Joshua. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. Ruth 4:18 lists descendants of Judah as Perez, Hezron, Ram, Amminidab, Nahshon, Salmon, Boaz, Obed, Jesse, David (the tenth). Redemption ran in the family. those brought to be with her. But he wasnt the only person to hold this title. The Rabbis lay stress on the name, "beloved of the Lord," by which Benjamin is distinguished (Deut. Is it plausible for constructed languages to be used to affect thought and control or mold people towards desired outcomes? [21] As nothing like it is mentioned in the (older) book of Kings and Bethel is thereafter always firmly situated in the Northern kingdom of Israel, this is almost certainly not a historical event. [16] Marking what is now one of the southernmost butts and bounds of Benjamin's territory is "the spring of the waters of Nephtoah" (Joshua 18:15), a place identified as Kefar Lifta ( ), and situated on the left-hand side of the road as one enters Jerusalem. And while he and Abner were at war with David the whole time he was in power, Ish-bosheth didnt die by Davids hand. l.c. Because of this, some people have assumed that Jesus belonged to the tribe of Judah. David was from the tribe of Judah The 12 tribes of Israel descended from Jacob's 12 sons, and with the exception of Levi, each tribe controlled a specific territory within the nation of Israel. Gods anointed one was the person he chose to lead and save his people. David is the only person referred to this way in the Bible. After he finished the work of creation, God rested on the seventh day and made it holy (Genesis 2:3). [19] After the breakup of the United Monarchy, Jerusalem continued as the capital of the southern Kingdom of Judah. In David's case, this was done by the prophet Samuel. ); 2) in another (subsequent) crucial moment, a special individual would receive this honor (that the tribe of Judah received for a previous period). Isa 11:1-10)? Why did King Saul prophesy w/o clothing all day after pursuing David in 1 Samuel 19:24? (Gen 49:10, I Sam 8-9), We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. What tribe was King David from? Had they waited till David was 17 he would have been king. Throughout the gospels, Jesus is often referred to as "the son of David," referring to the lineage associated with King David and the royal house of Judah. 4 and 3 respectively; Identifying Biblical Persons in Northwest Semitic Inscriptions of 1200539 B.C.E. . R. xiv. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. The tribe seems to have met the challenge of this position, becoming known for its skillful archers and slingers. Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. All subsequent kings in both the ancient first united Kingdom of Israel and the later Kingdom of Judah claimed direct descent from King David to validate their claim to the throne in order to rule over the Israelite tribes. Davids line ruled in Jerusalem for about 400 years, until King Nebuchadnezzar captured the city and broke the line of kings. I believe the NIV includes illegitimate births also. When David returned to Jerusalem an all too obvious favorite of Judah, one Sheba, a Benjamite, raised a revolt (20:1ff.). [10][11][12], The Bible recounts that Joshua assigned to Benjamin the territory between that of Ephraim to the north and Judah to the south, with the Jordan River as the eastern border, and included many historically important cities, such as Bethel, Gibeah, and encroached on the northern hills of Jerusalem. Note that the translation of the words in Genesis 49:10 is a guess. The Tribe of Benjamin remained a part of the southern Kingdom of Judah. When you get a chance, please take the, Why Was A Benjamite Chosen as Israel's First King? But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a . The Davidic line or House of David (Hebrew: , romanized: Beit David) refers to the lineage of the Israelite king David through texts in the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament, and through the succeeding centuries.. This kingdom was conquered by the Neo-Assyrian Empire in the 8th century BCE which exiled much of the Northern Kingdom population and ended its sovereign status. But David also wrote Psalms of praise and thanksgiving, and frequently declared his trust in the Lord in spite of his circumstances. Several passages record his lineage, and they all point out that he was the son of Jesse, who was the son of Obed, who was the son of Boaz and Ruthmaking him the great grandson of this significant couple (1 Chronicles 2:12). David killed a lot of people in battle. Before he anointed David, the prophet Samuel rebuked Saul and warned him the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). He was defying God himself on Gods own turf. Some of the people replied: Prophet Muhammad passed away".[55]. This time, the Lord would rescue him from a foe that Saul and his entire army were terrified of (1 Samuel 17:11). [23] Still, in light of a general lack of material evidence explicitly indicating a United Monarchy, it cannot be positively ascertained whether some portents of the biblical narrative of the United Monarchy and the origins of David's dynasty have any historical basis.