J18-8: How The Tribe Of Benjamin Was INSTANTLY Elevated In Status Among All The Tribes Of Israel

The reality is the families and clans who together made up a certain tribe were given cities and villages to live in on an individual basis and then the area they collectively resided in was named after the tribe’s founder, in this case the “Territory of Benjamin”. 

So exactly where was the area set aside for the Tribe of Benjamin?

Pay attention to the information I’m about to share because it will give you a good understanding of how a tribe’s status was determined within Israel hierarchy.

The territory Benjamin received was situated smack dab between Ephraim and Judah’s territories kinda serving as a buffer zone.

It wasn’t a large area per say, but it did contain two cities of huge prominence: Jericho and Jebus.

I know what you’re thinking.

You can understand why Jericho is famous because it was the first city the Israelites captured once they invaded the Promised Land but what’s so big about Jebus?

That’s what you’re thinking, right?

Well, homies, let me tell you why Jebus is so freakin’ important.

Jebus is the town that would end up being captured by King David.

First, it would be called the “City of David”.

And then later, it would be called “Jerusalem”.

That’s right man.

Jebus is the city that would eventually become the center of the Biblical universe and is still considered a controversial hot spot to this very day.

Here’s the situation.

Since Benjamin was the very last son born to Jacob, according to the traditions of the times, he would have been the least in status.

But as we’ve seen time and time again, the Lord could give 2 hoots about our traditions.

As luck would have it, Benjamin was the first lot drawn out of the remaining 7 tribes who had yet to receive their land inheritance and as a result, was given an area bordering both the territory of the Joseph and Judah tribes.

This instantly propelled Benjamin to a much higher than expected status within Israel and everyone knew it.

Tuck this information into your back pocket because Benjamin’s elevated status is gonna play an important role in Israel’s future.

The next time we meet we’ll talk about the next tribal allotment that went to the Tribe of Simeon.

This does it for Joshua Chapter 18.

CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT

“ I was circumcised on the eighth day after my birth.
I am from the people of Israel  and the tribe of Benjamin.
I am a true Jew, and so were my parents.
The law was very important to me.
That is why I became a Pharisee. I was so eager to
defend my religion that I persecuted the church.
And no one could find fault with the way I obeyed
the Law of Moses.”
-Philippians 3:4-6