Benjamin Facts for 9-13 Year Olds

Categories: Jacob, Joseph

• Benjamin is Jacob’s twelfth son and a full brother to Joseph.
• He is the only son born in the land of Canaan.
• Rachel dies shortly after Benjamin’s birth.
• With her dying breath, she names him Benoni, which means “son of my misfortune” or “son of my sorrow.”
• After her death, Jacob changes his name to Benjamin, meaning “son of my good fortune” or “son of my right hand.”
• Nothing more is heard about Benjamin until the time of the famine.
• When Jacob sends his sons to Egypt to buy grain, he keeps Benjamin at home.
• He is afraid some harm might come to him.
• When Joseph questions the motives of the ten brothers, one blurts out that they used to be twelve. The youngest is with their father.
• Joseph tests them by saying they must bring the youngest brother to him.
• The brothers return home and tell Jacob that Benjamin must go back with them.
• Jacob flat out refuses.
• Eventually, however, the grain runs out.
• Jacob has to relent; he sends Benjamin with his nine brothers back to Egypt.
• When Joseph invites the brothers to dine with him at his house, he gives Benjamin five times more food than his brothers.
• As the brothers are leaving, Joseph tells his steward to put his divining cup in Benjamin’s sack.
• Joseph lets them have a head start.
• Joseph tells his steward to go after them.
• The cup is found in Benjamin’s sack.
• The brothers tear their clothes and accompany Benjamin back to Egypt.
• They beg for Benjamin’s life; Judah offers his life instead of Benjamin’s.
• Joseph reveals himself to his brothers.
• Joseph invites them all to move to Egypt.
• Benjamin goes with Jacob and his descendants to Egypt.
• The children of Benjamin include ten sons: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.
• Scholars think each name is a tribute to Joseph.
• Upon his deathbed, Jacob gives a blessing for Benjamin.
• The Tribe of Benjamin is known for its warriors.
• Ehud, Saul, and Jonathan come from this tribe. So does the apostle, Paul.
• The tribes of Benjamin and Judah comprise the southern kingdom.