Better than Benjamin

The Complicated Heritage and Destiny of Benjamin

(1 Chronicles 8:1-40, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, September 3, 2017)

[1] Benjamin fathered Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, Aharah the third, [2] Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth. [3] And Bela had sons: Addar, Gera, Abihud, [4] Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah, [5] Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram. [6] These are the sons of Ehud (they were heads of fathers' houses of the inhabitants of Geba, and they were carried into exile to Manahath): [7] Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera, that is, Heglam, who fathered Uzza and Ahihud. [8] And Shaharaim fathered sons in the country of Moab after he had sent away Hushim and Baara his wives. [9] He fathered sons by Hodesh his wife: Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam, [10] Jeuz, Sachia, and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of fathers' houses. [11] He also fathered sons by Hushim: Abitub and Elpaal. [12] The sons of Elpaal: Eber, Misham, and Shemed, who built Ono and Lod with its towns, [13] and Beriah and Shema (they were heads of fathers' houses of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who caused the inhabitants of Gath to flee); [14] and Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth. [15] Zebadiah, Arad, Eder, [16] Michael, Ishpah, and Joha were sons of Beriah. [17] Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber, [18] Ishmerai, Izliah, and Jobab were the sons of Elpaal. [19] Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi, [20] Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel, [21] Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei. [22] Ishpan, Eber, Eliel, [23] Abdon, Zichri, Hanan, [24] Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah, [25] Iphdeiah, and Penuel were the sons of Shashak. [26] Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah, [27] Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zichri were the sons of Jeroham. [28] These were the heads of fathers' houses, according to their generations, chief men. These lived in Jerusalem.

[29] Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived in Gibeon, and the name of his wife was Maacah. [30] His firstborn son: Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab, [31] Gedor, Ahio, Zecher, [32] and Mikloth (he fathered Shimeah). Now these also lived opposite their kinsmen in Jerusalem, with their kinsmen. [33] Ner was the father of Kish, Kish of Saul, Saul of Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab and Eshbaal; [34] and the son of Jonathan was Merib-baal; and Merib-baal was the father of Micah. [35] The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz. [36] Ahaz fathered Jehoaddah, and Jehoaddah fathered Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri fathered Moza. [37] Moza fathered Binea; Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son. [38] Azel had six sons, and these are their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel. [39] The sons of Eshek his brother: Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second, and Eliphelet the third. [40] The sons of Ulam were men who were mighty warriors, bowmen, having many sons and grandsons, 150. All these were Benjaminites.

The heritage of the tribe of Benjamin

When little Benjamin was born, the youngest son of Israel and the only full brother of Joseph, his mother Rachel died in childbirth. “And as her soul was departing (for she was dying), she called his name Ben-oni;” (son of my sorrow or son of my strength) “but his father called him Benjamin” (son of my right hand). (Genesis 35:18) When Benjamin and his brother Joseph were reunited in Egypt after so many years, there was no denying the special affection that the older brother had for the younger. (Genesis 43:30, 45:14)

At the end of Israel's life, Jacob's blessing of little Benjamin was not particularly tender. “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf, in the morning devouring the prey and at evening dividing the spoil.” (Genesis 49:27) Centuries later, Moses, before his own departure, gives this blessing to the tribe of Benjamin: “The beloved of the LORD dwells in safety. The High God surrounds him all day long, and dwells between his shoulders.” (Deuteronomy 33:12) Moving forward many years again, the book of Judges records the tribe's inability to take Jerusalem from the native Jebusites, but also the great courage of the Benjaminite judge, Ehud (noted in 1 Chronicles 8:6), and his rather vivid execution of the overweight Moabite king, Eglon. By the end of the book, the tribe of ravenous wolves has no hint of nobility, at least in the city of Gibeah, the place from which the most famous Old Testament Benjaminite, King Saul, descended. (Judges 1:21, 3:12-30, 19:14, 19:1-21:25)

A very clear contrast is given between the depravity of Saul's city, Gibeah of Benjamin, and the city of David, Bethlehem of Judah, particularly in the family of Boaz and Ruth. Both Saul and David were anointed by the great man Samuel. Saul has descendants, but his dynasty ends, David's continues through the coming of Jesus, the Savior of the world.

Bejaminites forever identified with Jerusalem and David

Though Benjaminites lived in a variety of towns inside and outside of Israel, the best of their heritage will forever be associated with Jerusalem and with a man of another tribe, David of Judah. Note 1 Samuel 18:3-4 and the story of Jonathan and David: “[3] ... Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. [4] And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt.”

Interesting turn of events that Saul, Jonathan's father, wanted to kill David, but Jonathan had a heart of devoted love for David and his coming dynasty. Jonathan initiated a covenant with David and gave his own emblems of royalty to the son of Jesse. Now David's greatest descendant, King Jesus, has made a covenant with all who will believe in Him as the Messiah. We have been clothed with the robes of His perfect righteousness and He has taken away the stains of our filthy sins. We no longer need to walk in shame, because we are sons of God.

The story of one more Benjaminite

The New Testament tells the story of one more Benjaminite who went from wanting to see the followers of Jesus persecuted and even killed to being the one man who arguably gave more than any other follower in his suffering for the Name of Jesus.

The man once known as Saul of Tarsus, the apostle Paul, was “a member of the tribe of Benjamin” (Romans 11:1). This “Hebrew of Hebrews” once considered it to be a badge of honorable zeal that he was “a persecutor of the church” (Philippians 3:6) His perspective was changed by God's amazing grace. “[8] Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ [9] and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—[10] that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, [11] that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:8-11)

The account of the tribe of Benjamin is full of struggle. Despite their favorite son's madness in His relationship with David, there was yet within the tribe a Jonathan who loved the true king. It is the privilege of every Christian to receive the grace of almighty God, whatever our background may be. God calls us to turn away from the instability of idolatrous loyalties and to see Jesus for who He is. May the Lord take away the blindness of millions and grant us clarity of sight, calling sinners to a life of dignity as agents of the mercy of Jesus.

Old Testament Reading—Psalm 26 – Without Wavering

Gospel Reading—Matthew 9:9-13 – [9] As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. [10] And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. [11] And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” [12] But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. [13] Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”