BENJAMIN, a tribe of Israel which traced its pedigree back to Jacob and Rachel (Gen. xxxv., the alternative name Ben-oni may have originated in a period of intertribal hostil ity such as that described in Jud. xix-xxi.). The tribe is thus regarded from the first as closely allied, though possibly sub ordinate, to the Joseph tribes. This view is borne out by the geographical position of Benjamin in the period that succeeded the Conquest, for its settlements lay to the south of Ephraim and Manasseh, immediately bordering on the territory of the Jebusites, which remained unsubdued by Israel till the time of David. The fact that after the death of Solomon it was tradi tionally a part of the southern kingdom is probably to be ex plained by its proximity to Jerusalem, and it is a striking fact that the chief sanctuary of the northern kingdom, Bethel, was originally included in the territories of this tribe. The rape of the maidens of Shiloh (Jud. xxi. 16 seq.) may point to the recognition of admixture with Canaanite blood.
The tribe is characterized as fierce and warlike (cf. Gen. xlix. 27, Jud. xix.-xxi.) , and was especially noted for the skill of its left-handed slingers (Jud. iii. 15, xx. 16, I Chron. xii. 2) . It produced two of the great heroes of early Israel, Ehud (Jud. iii. 12-31) and Saul, and it is to the latter that we must ascribe the unification of Israel and the foundation of the monarchy. The later ascription of Jerusalem to this tribe added to a religious importance established by such centres of worship as Bethel, Gibeon, and Anathoth, while it is interesting to note that St. Paul himself claimed Benjamite descent. (T. H. R.)