Benjamin (tribe)

Benjamin is one of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.

History

Settlement in Galilee

Many of Benjamin and Levi settled in Galilee after the return from Babylon, which is evident from the Scriptures. But Galilee did not originally belong to Benjamin. When the land was divided originally, towns in the territory of Naphtali were said to be in “Galilee”, i.e. Josh. 20:7.

Ambassadors

Eleven of the twelve apostles were of the tribe of Benjamin. Saul of Tarsus, called much later, was also of Benjamin (Rom. 11:1). When the ancient Kingdom of Israel was divided after Solomon’s death, Benjamin was left with the Tribe of Judah for this very purpose (1 Kings 11:9-13, 36). The apostles of this tribe were fulfilling their duties as the light-bearers to Israel.

Unlike the other apostles, Judas Iscariot was not a Benjamite, nor was he even an Israelite. It is evident that Judas Iscariot was an Edomite and through the words of Christ it is telling that his presence among the twelve as a son of destruction were for the purposes of prophetic fulfillment.