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'''Benjamin''' ({{langx|he|{{Script/Hebr|בִּנְיָמִין}}}} | '''Benjamin''' ({{langx|he|{{Script/Hebr|בִּנְיָמִין}}}}, {{translit|he|Bīnyāmīn}} {{gloss|Son of (the) right}})<ref name=EtymologyBenjamin>[[blue letter bible]]: https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h3225/kjv/wlc/0-1/ H3225 - yāmîn - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv)</ref> was the younger of the two sons of [[Jacob]] and [[Rachel]], and Jacob's twelfth and youngest son overall in Jewish, Christian and Islamic tradition. He was also considered the progenitor of the [[Israelites|Israelite]] [[Tribe of Benjamin]]. Unlike Rachel's first son, [[Joseph (Genesis)|Joseph]], Benjamin was born in [[Canaan]] according to biblical narrative. | ||
In the [[Samaritan Pentateuch]], Benjamin's name appears as "{{Transliteration|smp|Binyamēm}}" ( | In the [[Samaritan Pentateuch]], Benjamin's name appears as "{{Transliteration|smp|Binyamēm}}" ({{langx|smp|ࠁࠪࠍࠬࠉࠣࠌࠜࠉࠌࠬ}} {{gloss|son of days}}). In the [[Quran]], Benjamin is referred to as a righteous young child, who remained with Jacob when the older brothers plotted against Joseph. Later rabbinic traditions name him as one of four ancient Israelites who died without sin, the other three being [[Chileab]], [[Jesse (biblical figure)|Jesse]] and [[Amram]]. | ||
==Name== | ==Name== | ||
The name is first mentioned in letters from King [[Sîn-kāšid]] of [[Uruk]] (1801–1771 BC), who called himself “King of Amnanum” and was a member of the [[Amorite]] tribal group the “Binu-Jamina” (single name “Binjamin”; Akkadian {{Transliteration|akk|Mar-Jamin}}).<ref name=Dietz>[[Dietz Otto Edzard]]: ''Die Nomaden in der altbabylonischen Zeit'' In: [[Elena Cassin]], [[Jean Bottéro]], [[Jean Vercoutter]]: ''Die Altorientalischen Reiche I - Vom Paläolithikum bis zur Mitte des 2. Jahrtausends v. Chr. -'', Fischer, Frankfurt am Main 1965 (gleichnamige limitierte Sonderausgabe 2003), S. 170.</ref> | The name is first mentioned in letters from King [[Sîn-kāšid]] of [[Uruk]] (1801–1771 BC), who called himself “King of Amnanum” and was a member of the [[Amorite]] tribal group the “Binu-Jamina” (single name “Binjamin”; Akkadian {{Transliteration|akk|Mar-Jamin}}).<ref name=Dietz>[[Dietz Otto Edzard]]: ''Die Nomaden in der altbabylonischen Zeit'' In: [[Elena Cassin]], [[Jean Bottéro]], [[Jean Vercoutter]]: ''Die Altorientalischen Reiche I - Vom Paläolithikum bis zur Mitte des 2. Jahrtausends v. Chr. -'', Fischer, Frankfurt am Main 1965 (gleichnamige limitierte Sonderausgabe 2003), S. 170.</ref> This name means "Sons/Son of the South" and is linguistically related to the Old Testament name "Benjamin". | ||
According to the [[Hebrew Bible]], Benjamin's name arose when Jacob deliberately changed the name "Benoni", the original name of Benjamin, since Benoni was an allusion to Rachel's dying just after she had given birth, as it means "son of my pain".<ref>Genesis 35:18</ref> Textual scholars regard these two names as fragments of naming narratives coming from different sources - one being the [[Jahwist]] and the other being the [[Elohist]].<ref>[[Richard Elliott Friedman]], ''Who wrote the Bible?''</ref> | According to the [[Hebrew Bible]], Benjamin's name arose when Jacob deliberately changed the name "Benoni", the original name of Benjamin, since Benoni was an allusion to Rachel's dying just after she had given birth, as it means "son of my pain".<ref>Genesis 35:18</ref> Textual scholars regard these two names as fragments of naming narratives coming from different sources - one being the [[Jahwist]] and the other being the [[Elohist]].<ref>[[Richard Elliott Friedman]], ''Who wrote the Bible?''</ref> | ||
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[[File:Morgan-bible-fl06.jpg|thumb|300px|An illustration from the [[Morgan Bible]] of Benjamin being returned to Egypt (Genesis 44)]] | [[File:Morgan-bible-fl06.jpg|thumb|300px|An illustration from the [[Morgan Bible]] of Benjamin being returned to Egypt (Genesis 44)]] | ||
In the narrative, just prior to this test, when Joseph had first met all of his brothers (but not identified himself to them), he had held a feast for them;<ref>{{bibleverse||Genesis|43|HE}}</ref> the narrative heavily implies that Benjamin was Joseph's favorite brother, since he is overcome with tears when he first meets Benjamin in particular,<ref>{{bibleverse||Genesis|43:30|HE}}</ref> and he gives Benjamin five times as much food as he apportions to the others.<ref>{{bibleverse||Genesis|43:34|HE}}</ref> According to textual scholars, this is really the Jahwist's account of the reunion after Joseph identifies himself, and the account of the threat to enslave Benjamin is just the Elohist's version of the same event, with the Elohist being more terse about Joseph's emotions towards Benjamin, merely mentioning that Benjamin was given five times as many gifts as the others.<ref name = "bdmtze"/> | In the narrative, just prior to this test, when Joseph had first met all of his brothers (but not identified himself to them), he had held a feast for them;<ref>{{bibleverse||Genesis|43|HE}}</ref> the narrative heavily implies that Benjamin was Joseph's favorite brother, since he is overcome with tears when he first meets Benjamin in particular,<ref>{{bibleverse||Genesis|43:30|HE}}</ref> and he gives Benjamin five times as much food as he apportions to the others.<ref>{{bibleverse||Genesis|43:34|HE}}</ref> According to textual scholars, this is really the Jahwist's account of the reunion after Joseph identifies himself, and the account of the threat to enslave Benjamin is just the Elohist's version of the same event, with the Elohist being more terse about Joseph's emotions towards Benjamin, merely mentioning that Benjamin was given five times as many gifts as the others.<ref name = "bdmtze"/> | ||
Modern scholars often view these narrative variations as evidence of distinct source traditions that emphasize Benjamin's symbolic and theological significance within the broader Joseph cycle. | |||
== Jacob's blessing == | == Jacob's blessing == | ||
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==In Islam== | ==In Islam== | ||
Though not named in the [[Quran]],<ref>{{qref|12|4-102|b=y}}</ref> Benjamin ({{lang|ar|بنيامين}} Binyāmīn) is referred to as the righteous youngest son of [[Jacob in Islam|Jacob]], in the narrative of [[Joseph in Islam|Joseph]] in Islamic tradition. Apart from that, however, Islamic tradition does not provide much detail regarding Benjamin's life, and refers to him as being born from Jacob's wife [[Rachel]]. As with Jewish tradition, it also further links a connection between the names of Benjamin's children and Joseph.<ref name="EOIBinyamin">{{cite encyclopedia |author1=Vajda, G. |author2=Wensick, A. J. |title=Binyamin |publisher=[[Encyclopaedia of Islam]] |volume=I}}</ref> | Though not named in the [[Quran]],<ref>{{qref|12|4-102|b=y}}</ref> Benjamin ({{lang|ar|بنيامين}} Binyāmīn) is referred to as the righteous youngest son of [[Jacob in Islam|Jacob]], in the narrative of [[Joseph in Islam|Joseph]] in Islamic tradition. Apart from that, however, Islamic tradition does not provide much detail regarding Benjamin's life, and refers to him as being born from Jacob's wife [[Rachel]]. As with Jewish tradition, it also further links a connection between the names of Benjamin's children and Joseph.<ref name="EOIBinyamin">{{cite encyclopedia |author1=Vajda, G. |author2=Wensick, A. J. |title=Binyamin |publisher=[[Encyclopaedia of Islam]] |volume=I}}</ref> | ||
Near [[Jenin]], in [[Al-Yamun]], there is a tomb-shrine known as the "[[Maqam (shrine)|Maqam]] of Nabi Yamin" or "A-Nabi Binyamin," which is traditionally believed by locals to be the burial site of Benjamin.<ref name=":03">{{Cite book |last=Tal |first=Uri |title=Muslim Shrines in Eretz Israel: History, Religion, Traditions, Folklore |publisher=Yad Izhak Ben-Zvi |year=2023 |isbn=978-965-217-452-9 |location=Jerusalem |pages=106–107 |language=he}}</ref> | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
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* [[Mordecai]] the Jew, from the Tribe of Benjamin see Esther 2:5 | * [[Mordecai]] the Jew, from the Tribe of Benjamin see Esther 2:5 | ||
* [[Esther]], also known as Hadassah, the cousin of Mordecai the Jew—see the Book of Esther | * [[Esther]], also known as Hadassah, the cousin of Mordecai the Jew—see the Book of Esther | ||
* [[Prophet Joseph (TV series)|Prophet Joseph]] (TV series) | |||
==Citations== | ==Citations== | ||