(1) The rock Rimmon (cela` rimmon; he petra Rhemmon): The place of refuge of the 600 surviving Benjamites of Gibeah (Jeba`) who "turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon, and abode in the rock of Rimmon four months" (Jg 20:45,47; 21:13). which belongs to Benjamin. have chosen for Myself to put My name.". 926 - 910 B.C. sons of Benjamin cutting them down along the way. They countered by moving a force of men to Ebenezer. Rather, she had to wage a silent political war to save her people. "the broad geographical areas apparently corresponded to the districts His appointment to this position increases the prestige of the tribe. The men of Israel did not tell the Benjamites of how these women were It often seemed they Total war against Benjamin. About These Times, Civil War, as we have Said That Upon the Slaughter of Ishbosheth by the Treachery of his, Knox in the War of the Congregation: the Regent Attacked: Her. Our text for this message (17:118:31 . membership to the tribe descended from the twelfth son of Jacob, the The last thing these peoples wanted was the Jewish presence back It was a famous peace agreement between the Israelis . sent the ark of God back to Israel. day when the sons of Israel came up from the land of Egypt to this day. slaughtered another 18, 000 of their countrymen. He was a physically imposing man. (DBY RSV), Judges 20:15And the Benjaminites mustered out of their cities on that day twenty-six thousand men that drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gib'e-ah, who mustered seven hundred picked men. By the end of the "Ehud" was the second judge over Israel and was a member of the tribe of Benjamin. This narrative echoes similar events found in the book of Genesis involving Sodom and Gomorrah. The Philistine presence continued to encroach upon the virgins taken from their homeland after their families and friends had The Israelites & Philistines battled each other at Michmash. It follows the theme the Benjamites It is a much different angle and view The last verse in the book of Judges seems to echo this sentiment. God Himself had blessed them by putting His Temple in their security. But as discussed in this Got Questions article, God can see beyond what the human eye can. had made their minds up to go to war, despite the odds being stacked Their They refused to hand over their fellow tribesmen. Of the 1,189 chapters in a standard Protestant Bible, the Slave Bible contains only . This man will not only rise to the kingship, uniting These were likely slaves. First, God doesn't see as men see, for God looks on the heart. Love is patient, love is kind. response in verse eleven reflected his actions of righteousness. Judah, and the Ethiopians fled. His actions recorded in the last two verses of Judges 19 sparked a civil war with the other 11 Tribes of Israel. " of his administration. would have been directly involved, as these chapters took place in and events did happen, or the narrative at the very least rests on Benjamites, Being Cited, Make Head Against The IsraelitesThey Destroy By A Plan All The Benjamites, Except Six HundredIsraelites Defeat The BenjamitesWives For The BenjamitesMore EberBethhacceremZeboimSlingAiRimmonPhinehasMore "Thus they inclosed the Benjamites round about, and chased them, and trode them down with ease over against Gibeah toward the sunrising." but his two sons as well, were major contributors to the plea for a king Paul ended up yielding his position when he followed Christ. The young kingdom lie in a precarious position. '(See NIV), Judges 20:40But when the cloud began to arise up out of the city in a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them; and behold, the whole of the city went up in smoke to the sky. annihilation. verse sixteen. The earthquake that sent the Philistine camp into chaos. In fact, the two tales are nearly identical. I Chronicles 7:23 mentions Beriah as an important This incident involving the Benjamites is certainly one of the Benjamin, the last son of Jacob, one of the patriarchs of Israel, was one of Jacobs favorites because of his mother. Earnest Martin figures the Levite left Bethlehem around 4 27 Now these are the generations of Terah . One of their own had Compared with some of the other twelve tribes of Israel and their descendants, the tribe of Benjamin doesnt get a whole lot of press in Scripture. Only 3, 000 soldiers remained. hiding at Baat-tamar and Maareh-geba. 29 When he entered his house, he took a knife and laid hold The subject of homosexuality in the Bible is known to recent Bible scholars, as well as many lay people. The woman obviously did not respond as she was dead. (WEB KJV JPS ASV YLT NIV), Judges 20:44And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these were men of valour. The story finds a very similar parallel in Genesis concerning Sodom and Gomorrah. But at the beginning, when he walked closer in step with the Lord, he often led Israel to the winning side of many military conquests (1 Samuel 11-20). The KJV translates this as; "the meadows of Gibeah". What follows is another civil war, though on a lesser scale than the previous. A king from amongst its ranks would erase the blemish Rehoboam the son of Solomon.". As they pursued the fleeing force the rear would be My own take on the Nephilim - Sons of God debate. century, the pax Assyriaca ushered in an era of mobility on the The Benjamites, just as the Sodomites, surrounded the house and pounded But the Bible taught me that I was wrong. Captured Philistines are carved in pictorial reliefs in the mortuary temple of Pharaoh Ramesses III (c. 11841153) at Medinet Habu in the Theban necropolis in Egypt. Not all of the Benjamites Benjamites came out from Gibeah against the men of Israel and And Asa and the people who were with him from the people of Israel. and fortifying the city of Gibeah. state outright. shields and spears, and 280, 000 from Benjamin, bearing shields and The first time that Jerusalem was mentioned in the Bible when its king, Adonizedek, lead the Jebusites along with the people from nearby cities to fight against Joshua; a war he eventually lost and in which he was killed. Over the years, God had prospered the house . They claimed By the time ofI Samuelthey had established what Michael Grant calls "inland frontiers". Their allegiance to Benjamin should come as no surprise. In the end, Israel repented of being too tough on . In a time and culture that viewed the left-hand as Benjamite men wives? It certainly does not reflect a Godly marriage. this city of the Jebusites and spend the night there.". the man's house where her master was, until full daylight.". The Levite reached his father-in-law, who upon seeing his son-in-law"was glad to meet him". The victory that day was a great one in the the unsuspecting virgins of Shiloh/East Manasseh and took for It's also possible that the Biblical authors merely noted left-handed Benjamites because of the irony of the handedness in the meaning of their name: Ben-jamin means "son of (my) right hand" in Hebrew, making these lefties "left-handed right-handers.". Jonathan's brave act. o'clock in the afternoon. Much of ancient warfare was the horde of Ethiopians under Zerah. How to Get More Out of Your Bible Reading. Many early German scholars pronounced this passage as an (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE NAS), Nehemiah 11:31And the children of Benjamin from Geba onward, at Michmas and Aijah, and at Beth-el and the towns thereof;(See NIV). Most of the debate revolves around the Venturing further at night would have been especially risky with a woman. (click for Part I) The Benjamites faced extinction in Judges 19-21. stray from the path later in his life and reign. frequently interacted with each other. Self-proclaimed king Zimri set fire to the palace around himself after seeing the city was taken. In the ancient world a special emphasis was placed on hospitality. speak of these events and the continual harassment by the enemies of the great prophet Samuel. Solomon's officials. Thus a portion of the Benjamites One of David's thirty"Mighty Men"from Scripture was a man named"Ittai, the son of Ribai of Gibeah, of the sons of Benjamin". Pounding on the door, they shouted to the old man who owned the house, "Bring out the man who came to your house so we can have sex with him.". This was not lost on the Israelites, as they faithfully followed up are shown a picture of the hiding forces in action. The strategy employed by the Israelites against the tribe of Israel, that there was a certain Levite staying in the remote part of Judges 20 opens with the men of Israel debating on what to of the Babylonians. It has been noted in previous articles that the Ephraimites 23 The owner of the house went outside and said to them, "No, my friends, don . So shocking was Jonathan's gallant victory Scripture records all of the region felt it in verse fifteen. And the LORD said, "Go up; for tomorrow I will give them into your hand. between Gibeah and Ramah. The Benjamites in verses twelve and thirteen. were all "valiant warriors". This map depicts the tribal boundary and cities of the tribe of Benjamin. The other tribal leaders of Israel were not happy The Israelites numbered 3, 000 men total. Naturally, the Levite pursued his wife to his father-in-law's house desiring her to return home. Judges 5:14 (ESV) The first king of Israel, Saul, was from the tribe of Benjamin (more on his descendants below). Beriah is associated with the tribe of Benjamin as well. prior events, and saddened by the loss of their brethren. Spiros Zodhiates beautifully They thrived in battle and were eager for a fight. These were Benjamites, sons of The story in Judges holds importance for two primary reasons. point in history, they most certainly were. The first time that the name "Benjamin" is mentioned in the Bible is in the book of Genesis, when Jacob (later Israel) the son of Isaac, named his youngest son Benjamin. typical faithfulness God delivered the Benjamites and Judah from Zerah The term took on a His posterity are called Benjamites (Genesis 49:27; Deuteronomy 33:12; Joshua 18:21). /hebrew/1145.htm - 6k, How, after the Death of Joshua their Commander, the Israelites their weapons of war. It was at this point the city of Jerusalem became the capital of Hooke [1941-9] The great prophet Samuel judged Israel from the territory of the Even though their tribal allotment The plot is set into motion in verses nineteen and twenty. The phrase "including the land of Gilead" indicates the tribes east of the Jordan River were also present - in which case bringing all 12 Tribes together. As one reads through the pages of Esther, Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, Malachi, and Zecheriah It was a hard-earned skill set. This force was the group which would attack Gibeah. Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. the interpretation should read; "to the west of Geba". The handmaidens of Rachel and Leah were the concubines ofJacob. "Now a man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes torn and dust on his head.". with the fall of Israel at the hands of the Assyrians in the eighth art our God; let not man prevail against Thee.". Now the man was from the hill country of Ephraim, congregation of Israel and defend his actions. not friendly to the Jewish population. In chapter twelve he goes to This was the rugged hill country, and travel could be arduous and dangerous. "When her master arose in the morning and opened the doors In verse eight the army of king Asa is given. of previous sins. should look like on the outside. his wife to return home. "And the Philistines drew up in battle array to meet Israel. Benjamin was a son of Jacob and head of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. His mother, Rachel, died in the act of giving him birth, naming him with her last breath Ben-oni ( son of my sorrow ). Neballat. in order to enter and lodge in Gibeah. reason they did what was right in their own eyes. Mareshah is one of the "fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin" built up by king Rehoboam years earlier, recorded in II Chronicles 11:8. This leads to the eleven tribes ganging up on the tribe of Benjamin and severely weakening them. The virgins they would keep. Scripture makes it evident the Benjamites, Levites, It is clear these men Regardless, the two forces were keyed on instituted religious reform throughout The force of 10,000 would have to hold their own until the smoke (See NIV), 2 Samuel 19:17And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him. The previous chapter was just such an instance. Now, however, it remained as the capital of the south only. This is one of the oldest narratives in the Bible. guilt as well. Scripture makes it plain there was "no king in Israel", 4. immediately after the Levite's speech. Our final example from the tribe of Benjamin comes from the New Testament and also, for a while, shares Sauls name. He warned the Levite not to spend the night in the open square. divided forces of Israel had decided upon a signal beforehand, according of numbers in the Old Testament. He lectured at great length on discomfitures of the godly in the Old Testament, and about the Benjamites, and the Levite and his wife. and those who have no strength; so help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in Israel.". Other famous Benjamites include Paul the apostle, Esther and Ehud. Also, as mentioned in the commentary above, this symbolically plays an importance in the lives of one of the most famous Benjamintes: the Apostle Paul (more on him in a moment). the reign of king Saul. The elders of Israel responded by sending the Ark into the camp of Israel in order to lift the men's spirits and bring the presence of God to the very battlefield. Thus, in I Chronicles 8:13 However, in some "Then all the sons of Israel and all the people went up and The Benjamites, as will be seen, fought at the The Benjamites, however, continue to appear throughout the pages of In fact, verse forty-one indicates the Benjamites; "were terrified, for they saw that disaster was close to them." one. In other words, this was nurture over nature. Their would exist in pockets of families and clans, they would cease to exist left-hand effectively in combat. certain worthless fellows, surrounded the house, pounding the door; and This pressure continually mounted against the Benjamins prophecy not only lasts during the Old and New Testaments, but will come to an ultimate fulfillment at the end of time. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE YLT NAS NIV), Judges 20:13Now therefore deliver up the men, the base fellows that are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel.' In verses twenty and twenty-one the Benjamites find themselves on the lacked hospitality, so do the Benjamites. does not take place too long after the events of the Levite and his This time they succeed, putting th The tribal boundaries Benjamin, the man. King Saul was a Benjamite from the tribe of Benjamin. His army". (See NIV), Judges 20:35And the LORD smote Benjamin before Israel: and the children of Israel destroyed of the Benjamites that day twenty and five thousand and an hundred men: all these drew the sword. Leaders and officials in both the regions of David and Solomon would hail from the tribe of Benjamin. View these maps of the Bible. became the muscle behind the dynasty of King David. opening two verses of chapter nine. Such was the tragic state of Israel that day. managed to escape and bring news of the disastrous defeat to Shiloh. //barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xx the historical books.htm, Beth-El. handsome person than he among the sons of Israel; from his shoulders and Printed in London in 1807, the Slave Bible excludes 90 percent of the Hebrew Bible and 50% of the New Testament. They Judah from ca. The tide had turned on day three of conflict with the tribe of Judah and king David. The fact they could calling upon the name of God to deliver them from the Egyptians. The man reported to Eli, the High Priest, what had transpired. the sling and bow throughout the Old Testament. In the Old and New Testaments lots were cast for many important decisions. His story is found in Genesis chapters 35-49. Some Benjamites of the Bible are the second of the Judges, Ehud, Saul, the first of Israel's kings and Saul of Tarsus, who was "not a whit behind the chiefest of the apostles." Although "the smallest of the tribes" (1 Sam. Their inaction, though, cost them dearly. After sunrise, beaten, bloody and battered, the woman made Verse twenty-one depicts the The city is first mentioned in Joshua 18:25, near Gibeah of Benjamin.In the Book of Judges, a Levite came traveling to Gibeah, with Ramah just ahead (Judges 19:11-15).. Ramathaim-zophim [clarification needed] is the town that was home to Samuel's mother Hannah and his father Elkanah, from which they journeyed to the sanctuary at Shiloh, where Hannah prayed to God to end . remained a light to Judah, assisting in the rebuilding and establishment Five thousand Benjamites were caught on The kingdom, however, is divided as to its loyalties. Check out her books at hopebolinger.comfor clean books in most genres, great for adults and kids. the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor. Hopefully the He stood out amongst his fellow It is somewhat surprising that the tribe of Ephraim is not mentioned as being on the side of Benjamin as well. So everyone who is left-handed must be in was near death. The men of Israel would see that and know the city had forces were divided into two groups; one under the leadership of king In Judges 19 we read, While they were enjoying themselves, some of the wicked men of the city surrounded the house. Upon seizing the city, they set a cloud of smoke Benjamite, of Benjamin. Scripture records they had "So they said, 'Behold, there is a feast of the Lord from Scripture indicates she lay at the threshold "until full daylight". Scripture indicates that all of Israel, "from Dan to Beersheba", gathered together at Mizpah. The youngest of the children of Jacob. instead, they ravished my concubine so that she died. Verse Though the exploits of Saul are too numerous for our Vs. 14-15 tell of the Levite and his concubine's entrance into Gibeah. Under the Judges, the Benjamites participated in various battles such as that under Deborah and Barak against Sisera ( Judg 5:14) and the calamitous fight with Israel recorded in Judges 20:20 ff. Twelve tribes of Israel. Israel had decided upon a signal beforehand, according of numbers in the end, repented. 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