By Hildegard Schneider
The story of Joseph tells how it came about that the sons of Jacob, and with them the tribes of Israel, moved to Egypt so that they could migrate from there a second time to Canaan, to that Promised Land that their fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had already inhabited. The Exodus is presented as a homecoming. For this to be possible, the story of Joseph is indispensable as a link between the story of the fathers and the story of the exodus.
Benjamin plays a special role in the Joseph story (Genesis 37; Genesis 39-50) although he does not appear as a speaker at any point. At first, on Jacob’s instructions, he is not allowed to accompany his brothers to Egypt to buy grain (Gen 42:4) Joseph, however, suspects the brothers of espionage and demands that they bring Benjamin, his only full brother, after them for their credentials (Genesis 42:7-20) Only when Judah vouches for Benjamin does his father allow him to travel to Egypt (Genesis 43:8-9). After their arrival, Benjamin is favored by Joseph over his brothers. “And he (Joseph) lifted his eyes, and saw Benjamin his brother, his mother’s son, and said, Is this your youngest brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, Elohim have mercy on you, my son.” (Genesis 43:29)
“And he commanded them of the courts of honor before him. But the honorable judgment of Benjamin was five times greater than the honorable judgments of them all. And they drank with him and became intoxicated.” Genesis 43:34
“He gave them all, each one, a change of clothes, but to Benjamin, he gave three hundred silver⟨shekels⟩ and five changes of clothes.” Genesis 45:22
Joseph loves his brother Benjamin and showers him with mercy. He receives five times greater courts of honor than the half-brothers. In addition, Benjamin receives 300 silver shekels and five changes of clothing. The number five stands for mercy.
Many Questions Arise...
Why does Joseph make such a fuss about Benjamin being brought to him? Why does Joseph stage the story of a cup being placed in Benjamin’s sack and then it is found there? Why does Joseph say:
“The man in whose hand the cup was found, he shall be my servant.” Genesis 44:17
Why does Joseph say to the servants, his brothers:
“If your youngest brother does not come down with you, you shall not see my face again.” Genesis 44:23
And why does Benjamin experience such great grace from Joseph?
Why does Joseph have such an eye on Benjamin? Is it because he is his full brother?
Questions upon questions, to which we must find an answer.
Of course, there is an explanation for one or the other question in the narrative.
The narrative reaches its dramatic climax when a silver cup, apparently stolen but hidden there on behalf of Joseph, is found at Benjamin’s house (Genesis 44:1-12).
But his brothers do not distance themselves from him as they did earlier from Joseph (Genesis 37). Instead, they stand up for him (Genesis 44:13-34) Thus they have passed the test that Joseph laid out. So far so good.
But biblical history is prophecy, and in the Joseph story, especially in the section about Benjamin, there is a tremendous prophetic hint, especially for the end of days.
Since the story contains great prophecy, we now embed it in the prophetic context.
The brothers came to Joseph during the seven years of famine, which prophetically alerts us to the fact that Yeshua’s brothers will also find him during the seven-year tribulation.
Joseph said to his brothers:
For these two years, the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. “And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity(remnant) for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. Genesis 45:6-7
Or to put it another way, what happened to Benjamin historically will happen again prophetically, and bring us into the end times. Joseph was sent ahead beforehand to preserve a posterity or remnant. This word, in Hebrew, is the word sherit, which means remnant.
This is the first time the Scriptures speak of a remnant. Thus, the Messiah will also gather a remnant at the end of days. But the course of the narratives shows us that even if the ten brothers are gathered, it will not be without the brother Benjamin.
Benjamin may be the youngest of the brothers, but he holds a very crucial role. Only with him will the unity of the brothers be restored. Joseph knows this and has him brought to Egypt with him.
Benjamin is the youngest of Jacob’s twelve sons and the only one born in the territory of what would later become Israel. His mother Rachel also bore Joseph to Jacob earlier (Genesis 30:22-24) the other ten sons of Jacob are half-siblings of Benjamin. This expresses a special relationship between the tribes of Joseph (respectively Ephraim and Manasseh) and Benjamin.
Benjamin means “son of the south”, “the one who belongs to the south”, “the one who is on the right side”, “son of the right hand“, and “the one who is especially honored”.
The tribe of Benjamin belongs to the Southern Kingdom with Judah.
Interestingly, Benjamin receives Jerusalem as an inheritance. Strictly speaking, Jerusalem is divided between Benjamin and Judah, and interpreters and traditions agree. And the special thing is that the sanctuary, the temple, is in the territory of Benjamin. What is the temple also for? For unity among the people of Israel! Moses prophesied that the sanctuary would one day dwell in Benjamin’s land:
“Of Benjamin, he said, “YHWH’s favorite will surely dwell with Him; He shields him all day long, and between his shoulders, he dwells.” Deuteronomy 33:12
Before we look more closely at the tribe of Benjamin, let’s again go back to the narrative and illuminate why Joseph probably had a silver cup placed in Benjamin’s sack of all things.
“And put my silver cup in the top of the young man’s sack with the money for the grain.” Genesis 44:2
The brothers offer Joseph the following:
“With whomsoever it (the cup) be found among thy servants, let him be put to death; to this end, we also will be slaves to my lord.” Genesis 44:9.
Joseph does not answer them but says:
“But he said, ‘Far be it from me to do such a thing. He with whom the cup is found shall be my slave, but you go up in peace to your father.” Genesis 44:17
In the Bible, silver always stands for redemption. And thus it is prophetically foreshadowed that Joseph’s cup of redemption will come to Benjamin. The tribe of Benjamin will be redeemed in the end and will serve Yeshua in a special way. Among the 144,000 sealed from the 12 tribes, 12,000 Benjaminites are also listed in the last place (Revelation 7:8). It is certainly no coincidence that the Benjaminites are listed last.
Benjamin is the only one of the sons who was able to comfort his father about the “death” of Joseph. Joseph was not dead, he was sold into slavery without Jacob knowing it. For Jacob, Benjamin was the substitute for Joseph, so to speak. They were both sons of Rachel, Jacob’s favorite wife, and so he let him leave his side as little as possible. It is interesting to note that when Judah and the other tribes were brought together under the rule of King David, only Benjaminites were involved (Abner, Ishbosheth, Baanah, and Rekab; 2 Samuel 3-4). The tribe of Benjamin is also allowed to be the first king over Israel:
“Then Saul answered and said, Am I not a Benjamite, of one of the least tribes of Israel, and is not my family the least among all the families of the tribes of Benjamin? Why then do you say such words to me?” 1 Samuel 9:21
Paul says of himself that he is a member of the tribe of Benjamin (Philippians 3:5). His mission is to be an apostle to the Gentiles. But it is not about any Gentiles. It is about the ten lost tribes of the House of Israel. Benjamin stayed with Judah. That became a blessing to them.
And then – after Yeshua opened the door – they could resume their huge mission: The unity of the family of Israel. This can then come about when the ten tribes come back into covenant with Elohim. But as we see from the story of Joseph, the ten brothers or the ten lost tribes also have an important task to take care of Benjamin and bring him to Joseph, that is, to Yeshua ha Mashiach.
This cannot be done so easily, but only with the leading and guiding of the Ruach HaKodesh, the Holy Spirit. But we must have this in mind and open our hearts to it! And it may well be that we receive a special burden of prayer for the House of Judah, which includes Benjamin.
For example, many years ago I had the privilege of launching a prayer network called “Prayer Sponsorships for the Synagogues.” At that time, we prayed for the salvation of the Jews for many, many years and this prayer network went to many nations.
Ask Abba to show you specifically what you could do or how you can pray for Judah and Benjamin.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God to save everyone who believes, the Jews first and also the Greeks.” Romans 1:16
Ask Abba to show you what Messianic ministry you could support that is directly on the front lines of the salvation of the tribe of Judah.
Here are a few ministries based in the land of Israel that are ministering directly to the Jewish people, that you might consider getting acquainted and involved with, praying for, and donating to:
CFI teaches the church’s responsibility toward Israel and brings awareness to Jewish people of our solidarity with them.
ONE FOR ISRAEL is an initiative of native-born Israelis at the forefront of high-tech media evangelism, proclaiming salvation to Israel, raising spiritual leaders.
Tree of Life Ministries is dedicated to sharing the Good News in Israel online and on the streets, equipping laborers for the harvest, saving lives from abortion, and reaching out with the Messiah’s light to the nations.
Isaiah 61:1, Psalm 146:7-10, 1 Tim.6:18-19, James 1:27 and 2Cor.1:3-7
When we bless, feed, and clothe the poor, addicted, foreigners, and Holocaust Survivors, we glorify God and call attention to the truth of Messiah Yeshua!
We are joining with the Jewish people, mourning the destruction of the Holy Temple. We are repenting of collective sins—the horrific persecution Jews have experienced in the name of Christianity. And we are beseeching God that we may soon see the House of Prayer for all nations restored in Jerusalem!
We bring Christians to Israel to serve the land and people, enabling them to connect to the land of their faith, restore Christian Jewish relations, and confirm Israel’s right to their ancestral homeland.
Your purchase of products from Judea and Samaria supports families and small businesses. Fight the BDS movement and restore the Biblical heartland, Judea and Samaria.
Prayer Targets
Abba, we pray that you will change our hearts, soften our hearts and melt our hearts towards Judah and Benjamin (the Jewish people). Abba, even as the ten brothers “passed the test” and their heart was to protect Benjamin, instead of “throwing him under the bus”, may we also “pass this test” and may our hearts be FOR Benjamin and Judah, the Jewish people, to support, protect, and befriend them.
Abba, we repent of the centuries of anti-semitism and persecutions against the Jewish people committed by our church forefathers, and committed now, even witin our ranks.
We turn our hearts TOWARD Benjamin, Joseph’s little brother, and Judah. We stand WITH Benjamin and Judah, the Jewish people. And now, Abba, we ask you to show us how to get more involved, through prayer, serving and giving. In Yeshua’s name, amen and amen!
Abba, we lift up CFI Jerusalem to you. We ask that you would abundantly bless this ministry as they reach out to survivors of the Holocaust, IDF soldiers, survivors of terror attacks, newly arriving Jews making Aliyah, and so much more! We pray that you will BLESS this ministry, PROVIDE for this ministry, and SEND more volunteers!
Abba, we lift up ONE for Israel, a ministry that you have raised up of native-born again Jews who are reaching out to their Jewish brethren with the gospel of Yeshua. We pray you will BLESS this ministry, and open doors for them to reach the Jewish people with the good news of Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach! Please provide for, encourage, strengthen, and protect the staff of this vital ministry!
Abba, we lift up Tree of Life Ministries, based in the land of Israel. Thank you that you are using born-again Jewish people to outreach to their Jewish brethren with the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ. Abba, we pray that you would open doors wide, grant favor and that many more Jews living in the land would come into the salvation by faith in the Messiah Yeshua! Please provide for, encourage, strengthen, and protect the staff of this ministry!
Abba, we lift up Abundant Bread of Salvation ministry, based in Netanya, Israel to you. We thank you that you are using this ministry to reveal and demonstrate your heart of mercy and compassion for the poor, the needy, and the holocaust survivors of Israel. Please BLESS this ministry and send more volunteers!
Abba, we lift up Nations‘ 9th of Av ministry to you. We pray that by your spirit, you will call more and more Christians to come to Jerusalem on the 9th of Av, to pray prayers of repentance for the sins of our church forefathers. May we approach our brother Judah and Benjamin in humility, with a broken heart, so that true reconciliation and restoration can occur!
Abba, we lift up the Hayovel ministry to you. We thank you for the opportunity to go and serve in the vineyards of the heartland of Israel, to serve Jewish farmers. We ask that you would BLESS this ministry and SEND MORE VOLUNTEERS!
Abba, we lift up Blessed Buy Israel ministry to you. We thank you for the opportunity to purchase AWESOME products from the biblical heartland of Israel. Abba, please BLESS this ministry and lay it on the hearts of MANY CHRISTIANS to buy products from Israel!