Slideshow image

“Now the lot of the tribe of the sons of Benjamin came up according to their families, and the territory of their lot lay between the sons of Judah and the sons of Joseph. Their border on the north side was from the Jordan, then the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north, and went up through the hill country westward, and it ended at the wilderness of Beth-aven. From there the border continued to Luz, to the side of Luz (that is, Bethel) southward; and the border went down to Ataroth-addar, near the hill which lies on the south of lower Beth-horon. The border extended from there and turned round on the west side southward, from the hill which lies before Beth-horon southward; and it ended at Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), a city of the sons of Judah. This was the west side. Then the south side was from the edge of Kiriath-jearim, and the border went westward and went to the fountain of the waters of Nephtoah. The border went down to the edge of the hill which is in the valley of Ben-hinnom, which is in the valley of Rephaim northward; and it went down to the valley of Hinnom, to the slope of the Jebusite southward, and went down to En-rogel. It extended northward and went to En-shemesh and went to Geliloth, which is opposite the ascent of Adummim, and it went down to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben. It continued to the side in front of the Arabah northward and went down to the Arabah. The border continued to the side of Beth-hoglah northward; and the border ended at the north bay of the Salt Sea, at the south end of the Jordan. This was the south border. Moreover, the Jordan was its border on the east side. This was the inheritance of the sons of Benjamin, according to their families and according to its borders all around. Now the cities of the tribe of the sons of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho and Beth-hoglah and Emek-keziz, and Beth-arabah and Zemaraim and Bethel, and Avvim and Parah and Ophrah, and Chephar-ammoni and Ophni and Geba; twelve cities with their villages. Gibeon and Ramah and Beeroth, and Mizpeh and Chephirah and Mozah, and Rekem and Irpeel and Taralah, and Zelah, Haeleph and the Jebusite (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah, Kiriath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the sons of Benjamin according to their families.” Joshua‬ ‭18‬:‭11‬-‭28‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬‬‬‬‬

I was interested as to why Benjamin was given their tribal allotment right after Joseph’s ‘blessed’ son and Judah. Benjamin was the second born of Rachel, with Joseph being the older brother of the two. Since Joseph is represented in the Bible with many characteristics of Jesus, I wondered about Benjamin. It is interesting that King Saul was from this tribe as well as Saul, whom God later named Paul in the New Testament. Benjamin was known for their warriors.

When Benjamin was born, Rachel died. He was originally named Benoni. It meant, “son of my pain”. However, Jacob changed his name to “son of my right hand”. Paul originally caused death, however, God changed his name to Paul, and he then offered life from Jesus to many. Because he believed Jesus, he was seated at the right hand of God. Amazing isn’t it! 

In Christ, we have been given the power to reign and rule over sin. I wonder if that is the wink towards King Saul, or rather, if King Saul is our wink towards reigning in God’s kingdom. In Christ, when we die, Christ lives in us, and we are seated at his right hand. 

It is interesting to note facts about the two most famous Benjamite people in the Bible. 

For King Saul, he was not a good king. He deceived himself. He was disobedient. He overstepped his authority. While he did defend Israel, he was basically, full of himself. He committed suicide by falling on his own sword. The kingdom was taken from Saul.

For Saul, who was named Paul after his conversion, he began like Saul. He was deceived. He was disobedient to God because he was killing Christians. Remember that King Saul attempted to kill David. Saul overstepped his authority. Jesus even spoke to him on the road to Damascus asking him, “Why are you persecuting me?”. He believed he was defending Israel, but just like King Saul, he was full of himself. 
While King Saul committed suicide by falling on his own sword, Saul was raised to life and named Paul because he believed. While the kingdom was removed from King Saul, the kingdom was given to Paul.
I began to really think about the idea of falling on his own sword. If we live by our own words, what we believe to be true rather than what God says is true, a fall will come quickly. Saul was full of pride and did not submit to God. He fell on his own sword. Paul submitted to God and God raised him up. Paul lived by what God said was true. Saul was prideful. Paul submitted.

The Lord says that pride comes before a fall. If we live by what we think, we will fall. If we live by what God says is true, we will stand. God’s words are the sword of the Spirit. Which sword will we live by? Our own, or God’s?