Benjamin

Family: Jacob's Family · Role: youngest son of Jacob · First appears: The Wives Of The Sons Of Jacob

Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob, was born when his mother Rachel died; he later recalled that she had conceived him after praying and fasting. At ten, he married Mahlia, who bore him five sons, and at eighteen he married Arbat, who bore him five more. In Egypt, Benjamin identified himself as having a wife and ten sons: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.

When Joseph’s brothers first went to Egypt, Benjamin remained in Canaan with Jacob. After Joseph demanded that they bring their youngest brother, Jacob at first refused, but eventually allowed Benjamin to accompany them after Judah pledged to bring him back safely. Joseph privately revealed himself to Benjamin, and the brothers shared a meal; during the ensuing cup incident, the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. Joseph had Benjamin taken away and locked in a chamber, while Judah prepared to rescue him; the brothers returned to the city, distressed over Benjamin’s predicament.

After Joseph made himself known to his brothers, Benjamin and Joseph embraced and wept. Benjamin later recalled that Joseph had recognized him when he came down to Egypt and asked what their brothers had told Jacob about him. In his testament, Benjamin announced that he was about to die; in the ninety-first year of their sojourn in Egypt, his sons and his brothers’ sons carried his bones to Hebron and buried them at the feet of their fathers. Five of his family divisions perished in Egypt, and later Naphtali’s account says Benjamin stayed true to Judah when Joseph invited the brothers to follow him.