“From Efrayim came those rooted in ‘Amalek.
Behind you, Binyamin is with your peoples.
From Makhir the commanders marched down,
and from Z’vulun those holding the musterer’s staff.”
-Judges 5:14
Yesterday we expounded on the mysterious phrase about Ephraim being rooted in Amalek.
Following on the heels of that phrase, we encounter yet another mysterious verse.
We’re told that behind Ephraim, members from the tribe of Benjamin followed after.
As with the “rooted in Amalek” phrase we studied yesterday, scholars over the years have added some interpretational nuances that go beyond the simple reading of the text.
Some Rabbis say we’re actually looking at a prophetic statement here meaning that after Ephraim battles against the Canaanites, at another point later in history, so will Benjamin.
This actually turned out to be true when in 1020 B.C. Israel’s first king Saul fought against the Canaanites to claim more promised land territory.
However, there’s another interpretation that’s just as valid.
Geographically speaking, the tribe of Benjamin was located right behind the Ephraimites.
So this verse could also mean Benjamin literally was physically marching right behind the tribe of Ephraim in this particular battle with the Canaanites.
Of course, one could make the excuse that since this is a song, it’s futile to try and tear apart every word or phrase to find some deeper meaning that might be embedded in the text.
I don’t necessarily disagree with that notion but I do know from studying Scripture for many, many years that more often than not, one singular phrase can have multiple meanings that are all valid.
This is especially true when it comes to prophetic statements.
I mean think about the prophecy normally applied to the birth of Yeshua.
In the Book of Isaiah, we have this word from the Lord:
“Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign:
Behold, the young woman who is unmarried and
a virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and shall call his name Immanuel [God with us].”
-Isaiah 7:14
We know this prophecy happened twice.
It first happened when God promised King Ahaz of Judah that his enemies would be destroyed before a child born to an ALMAH (young woman) was weaned.
And we know this prophecy was also fulfilled with the birth of Yeshua.
That’s why we should never take a black-and-white, it-absolutely-has-to-be-interpreted-this-way approach to the Scriptures.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“But after he had considered this,
an angel of the Lord appeared to him
in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary home as your
wife, because what is conceived in her is
from the Holy Spirit.
She will give birth to a son,
and you are to give him the name Yeshua,
because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had
said through the prophet:
‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel’
(which means “God with us”).”
-Matthew 1:20-21
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