THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN AND THE DESCENDANTS OF SAUL For the second time he talks about the children of Benjamin, yet with a different goal; namely, in reference to the issues pertaining to the kingdom of God. 1- The genealogy here, brings us forth to Saul and his household, to refer to the enthronement of the first king of Israel according to the human mind; who had physical features sought by the people in the king, by which to boast before the surrounding nations; and to be appreciated and honored by them. Yet, although having the body stature, strength, and beauty, he failed to realize the portrait of the divine kingdom in his own life and worship, as well as in his dealings with the people; and had to be removed to pave the way for the enthronement of David as a king according to the choice and the council of the divine grace. 2- The second issue was to present the possibilities of the tribe of Benjamin; in which were found mighty men of valor, capable of bearing the bow. Yet this power could not support the young Saul, when the mighty Goliath stood defying the Lord of host; nor support him to care for the people; for he was only preoccupied with his own popularity, reputation, and personal honor. And ultimately, it could not save him, and his sons, from death in shame and reproach in the last battle against the Palestinians; to realize God’s plan and promises for David to be enthroned in his place. 3- With the horrible persecution of Saul against David, and his persistent attempts to get rid of him, some Benjamites and Saul’s brethren, started to be drawn to David, even during the life of Saul. Feeling that God was with him; they attached themselves to David, and the relation of the two tribes: ‘Judah and Benjamin’ got stronger with time, to become one kingdom, including some of those defected from the northern kingdom, or driven out of it. Then the two tribes were taken captives to Babylon, and from there they returned together. The book follows the genealogies of the tribe of Benjamin, with a special reference to Saul and Jonathan. 1- The tribe of Benjamin 1 – 32 2- The children of Saul 33 – 40 1- THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN: “Now Benjamin begot Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, Aharah the third” (1) “Bela”; A Hebrew name, meaning (swallowing). “Ashbel”; A Hebrew name, probably meaning a portrait of ‘Ashbaal’, the founder of a family that carries his name.(1) “Aharah”; A Hebrew name, probably meaning (a follower of the brother). “Nohah the fourth, and Raphah the fifth” (2) “Nohah”; A Hebrew name, meaning (rest). The fourth son of Benjamin. He did not found a family like his brothers, nor his name was mentioned among those who accompanied Jacob when he set forth to Egypt. He probably was born in Egypt. “Raphah”; A Hebrew name, meaning (healed), or (God healed) (2). “The sons of Bela were Addar, Gera, Abihud” (3) “Addar”; A Hebrew word, probably meaning (width) or (greatness). In some Hebrew and Greek documents, this name came as ‘Ard’, which, most probably, is more correct. “Gera”; A Hebrew name, probably meaning (who resided with God) the name of a man of Benjamin, and of a grandson of Benjamin by Bela (3, 5, 7) “Abihud”; A Hebrew name, meaning (father of reverence) or (my father is reverent) “Abishua, Naaman, and Aboah” (4) “Abishua”; A Hebrew name, meaning (father of salvation) “Naaman”; A Hebrew name, meaning (Paradise) “Aboah”; A Hebrew name, meaning (brotherly); Probably the same person mentioned by the name of ‘Ahijah’ in verse 7 of the same chapter. “Gera, Sheshuphan, and Huram” (5) “Shephupham” (or Shephuphan) A Hebrew name, meaning (a serpent); A Benjamite chief of the family of the Shephuphamites. “Horam”; A Phoenician and Hebrew name, meaning (the brother is exalted); probably the son of Bela. “And these are the sons of Ehud, who were the heads of the fathers’ houses of the inhabitants of Geba, and who forced them to move to Manahath” (6) “Ehud”; A Hebrew name, meaning (union); he was a left-handed judge, of the tribe of Benjamin (12-30) “Geba”; A Hebrew word, meaning (a hill) Connecting between the crying out of the people after 18 years, and God sending Ehud the left-handed as a deliverer, the scholar Origen says + It is written: “So the children of Israel served Eglon king of Moab eighteen years” (Judges 3: 14) “The children of Israel cried out to the Lord ,the Lord raised up a deliverer for them, Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a lefthanded man” (Judges 3: 15): What kind of Man did the Lord send to deliver the people of Israel? He had in his soul nothing (left) to do; but had a (right) hand on both sides; hence called ‘left-handed’. He was qualified to become a leader of the people, and a judge to the church; who does no (left); and “his left hand does not know what his right hand is doing” (Matthew 6: 3). He was (right-handed) in both faith and works, had nothing of the works of those on the left hand, to whom the Lord says: “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25: 41). According to the spiritual concept, I believe that all saints should be called ‘left-handed’; and on the contrary, the devil and his angels should be called ‘those on the left hand’; on account of that they do nothing but what is (left), that would lead to the eternal fire prepared for the people of the left. Let us see now, what that left-handed judge has done: “By him, the children of Israel sent tribute to Eglon king of Moab. Now Ehud made himself a dagger (it was double-edged and a cubit in length), and fastened it under his clothes on his right thigh” (Judges 3: 15-16). You may see that all what that ‘left-handed’ man did was ‘right-handed’; he carried his dagger on his right thigh to kill the king of Moab. As we already said, those, whom their God set for the salvation and the liberation of His people Israel; those judges or deliverers who bear the portrait of a multitude of heavenly host (Luke 2: 13) whom God sends to support and help those who cry out to Him from their whole heart, on whom, through their change by repentance, the divine mercy will dwell. This conform to other episodes in the Holy Book, where we read in the Book of Exodus, how our fathers the people of Israel were serving for a long time, the Egyptians and their cruel Pharaoh, making mud bricks (Exodus 1: 14); and how they cried out to the Lord ; and “their cry out for help rose up to God” (Exodus 2: 23). How God brought them out by Moses before all; and how He sent His angel to destroy every firstborn of the Egyptians; yet did not touch those of the Israelites (Exodus 11: 5-7) ; which proclaims that it was a heavenly power that brought the people of God out of the yoke of bondage, and brought perdition upon the Egyptians. Something similar, along history, happened against the Assyrians, led by king Sennecherib, when God sent His angel to liberate His people from the siege, and eminent perdition, and he killed one hundred and eighty-five thousand in one evening (2 Kings 19: 35). That is why, for the same reasons, we should be aware, when we are delivered into captivity because of our sins, we have to cry out to the Lord; yet not by the mouth, but by the heart, that from it, a fountain of tears will come out of our eyes (Jeremiah 9: 1); “that all night I make my bed swim , I drench my couch with my tears” (Psalm 6: 6). If we turn away from the ways of evil, not to go back to them again; if we stop being proud and arrogant; God will send to us His heavenly power, by which we can be liberated from the hold of the devil of bondage; a power that provide us with everything good and of benefit; and by which we forsake “the wide gate and the broad way that leads to destruction” (Matthew 7: 13). God calls on us to walk in the right way, He who said about Himself: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14: 6); Jesus Christ, our Lord, “to whom belong the glory and the dominion, forever and ever, Amen” (1 Peter 4: 11). (The scholar Origen) “Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera, who forced them to move. He begot Uzza and Ahihud” (7) “Ahijah”; A Hebrew name, meaning (my brother) “Uzza”; A Hebrew name, meaning (strength), or (Jehovah is the strength). “Ahihud”; A Hebrew name, meaning (brother of union). “And Shaharaim begot children in the country of Moab, after he had sent away Hushim and Baara his wives” (8) “Shaharaim”; (or Shahraim) A Hebrew name, meaning (the two dawns); a father of a big family (8) The Old Testament, sometimes, refers, with no comments, to divorce and marrying many wives; Yet that does not mean that God is in favor of any of them; having proclaimed that He hates divorce (Malachi 2: 15-16); And the Lord Christ confirms that: “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it was not so” (Matthew 19: 8). “Hushim”; A Hebrew name, meaning (haste) or (excitement) “Baara”; A Hebrew name, meaning (burnt up); the ex-wife of Shaharaim. “By Hodesh his wife he begot Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam” (9) “Hodesh”; A Hebrew name, meaning (A crescent) (9). The wife of Shaharaim. “Jobab”; A Hebrew name, probably meaning (screams); a name of two Benjamite chiefs (9-18) “Zibia”; A Hebrew name, meaning (a deer) “Malcam”; A Hebrew name, meaning (their king); A Benjamite chief. “Jeuz, Sachiah, and Mirmah. These were his sons, head of their fathers’ houses” (10) “Jeuz”; A Hebrew name, meaning (a listener to sermon); a Benjamite chief, son of Shaharaim by his wife Hodesh. “Sachiah”; A Hebrew name, most probably meaning (Come back, O Jehovah) “Mirmah”; A Hebrew name, meaning (cheating); born to Shaharaim in Moab by his wife Hodesh. “And by Hushim he begot Abitub, and Elpaal” (11) “Abitub”; A Hebrew name, meaning (my father is good) or (goodness) (11) “Elpaal”; A Hebrew name, meaning (God did); A head of fathers’ house (1, 8, 11, 12, 18). “The sons of Elpaal were Eber, Misham, and Shemed, who buitt Ono and Lod with its towns” (12) “Eber”; A Hebrew name, meaning (Crossed over); Two Benjamites bore this name; one, the son of Elpaal; and the other the son of Shashak (12, 22, 25) “Misham”; A Hebrew name, meaning (swift) “Shemed”; A Hebrew name, meaning (guard) “Ono”; A Hebrew name, meaning (strong); the name of a city in Benjamin, built by Shemed, a Benjamite “Ono and Lod”; No mention of them came among the cities of Benjamin in (Joshua 18: 21-28). ‘Lod’ is ‘Lydda’ in (Acts 9: 32). “and Beriah and Shema, who were heads of their fathers’ houses of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who drove out the inhabitants of Gath” (13) “Shema”; A Hebrew name, meaning (news); One of the heads of fathers who drove away the inhabitants of Gath. “Aijalon”; A Hebrew name, meaning (an Oak tree); a town that belonged to the tribe of Dan (Joshua !9: 43), then was given to Benjamin, then to Judah, then to Benjamin, in the days of Rehoboam (1 Chronicles 11: 1) “Ahio, Shashak, Jeremoth” (14) “Ahio”; A Hebrew name, meaning (brotherly) or (brother of Jehovah); More than one person bore this name, among whom were: 1- A Benjamite, of the children of Alpaal (14) 2- A Benjamite , the son of Jeoel from his wife Maacah (8: 29) “Shashak; A Hebrew name, meaning (a desire); A Benjamite, one of the sons of Alpaal (14, 25) “Jeremoth”;A Hebrew name, meaning (swollen), (huge) or (tall)’ A head of a Benjamite family (14); probably the same ‘Jeroham’. “Zebadiah, Arad, Eder” (15) “Zebadiah”; A Hebrew name, meaning (Jehovah gave); Nine persons of little importance in the Old Testament were so called, among whom was the son of Beriah, and the son of Alpaal. “Arad”; A Hebrew name, meaning (Zebra) “Eder”; A Hebrew name, meaning (herd); son of Alpaal. “Michael, Ispah, and Joha, were the sons of Beriah” (16) “Michael”; A Hebrew name, meaning (Who is like God?) “Ispah”; A Benjamite chief; son of Beriah “Joha”; A Benjamite chief (16) “Beriah”; A Hebrew name, meaning (clever); A Benjamite chief “Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber” (17) “Mushullam”; A Hebrew name, meaning (he who got his reward); a name of three Benjamite persons “Hizki”; A Hebrew name, meaning (my strength) or an abbreviation of Hezekiah); son of Alpaal “Heber”; A Hebrew name, meaning (Partnership) or (partner); son of Shaharaim from Elpaal. “Ishmerai, Jizliah, and Jobab, were the sons of Elpaal” (18) “Ishmerai”; A Hebrew name, meaning (Jehovah guards); son of Elpaal “Jizliah”; A Hebrew name, meaning (eternal); dwelt in Jerusalem “Jobab”; A Hebrew name, probably meaning (screams); a name of two Benjamite chiefs “Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi” (19) “Jakim”; A Hebrew name, meaning (dwells) “Zabdi”; A Hebrew name, meaning (God gave) “Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel” (20) “Elienai”; A Hebrew name, most probably an abbreviation of ‘Alihuenai’, meaning (his eyes are toward Jehovah); a Benjamite chief; son of Shimei “Zillethal”; A Hebrew name, meaning (Jehovah is a shade or a refuge); son of Shimei “Eliel”; A Hebrew name, meaning (Iel is God); son of Shimei “Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei” (21) “Adaiah”; A Hebrew name, meaning (whom Jehovah adorned); son of Shimei “Beraiah”; A Hebrew name, meaning (whom Jehovah created)’ a Benjamite chief; son of Shimei “Shimrath”; A Hebrew name, meaning (A watcher or a guard); son of Shimei “Shimei”;A Hebrew name, meaning (Jehomah hears); A Benjamite head of a house in Aijalon; was called ‘Shema’ in verse 13 “Ishpan, Eber, Eliel” (22) “Ishpan”; A Hebrew name, probably meaning (bald); A Benjamite chief, son of Shashak “Abdon, Zichri, Hanan” (23) “Abdon”; A Hebrew name, meaning (enslaved); Two bore this name: 1- A Benjamite son of Shashak 2- A Benjamite son of Jeoel the Gibeonite (8: 30; 9: 36) “Hananiah, Elam, Antothijah” (24) “Hananiah”;A Hebrew name, meaning (Jehovah granted) or (showed compassion); son of Sheshak “Elam”; A Hebrew name of Achadian origin, meaning (heights); son of Sheshak; a head of a house in Benjamin “Antothijah”;A Hebrew name, probably referring to ‘Anathoth; son of Sheshak “Iphdeiah, and Penuel were the sons of Shashak” (25) “Iphdeiah”; A Hebrew name, meaning (Jehovah redeems); son of Sheshak “Penuel”; A Hebrew name, meaning (face of God); son of Sheshak “Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah” (26) “Shamsherai”; A Benjamite of the children of Jeroham (26) ”Shehanah”; A Hebrew name, meaning (Jehovah is dawn); son of Jeroham “Athaliah”; A Hebrew name, meaning (Jehovah is exalted); son of Jeroham “Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zichri, were the sons of Jeroham” (27) “Jaareshiah”; A Hebrew name, meaning (Jehovah plants); son of Jeroham “Elijah”; A Hebrew name, meaning (My God is Jehovah); The Greek and Arabic pronunciation of this name is ‘Elias’; son of Jeroham “Zichri”; A Hebrew name, meaning (mentioned); a name of three Benjamite chiefs “Jeroham”; A Hebrew name, meaning (on whom God has mercy) or (with whom He is pleased) his two sons were chiefs; dwelt in Jerusalem “These were heads of the fathers’ houses by their generations, chief men; These dwelt in Jerusalem” (28) Here, as in verse 32, he referred to Jerusalem; which will be dealt with in more detail in the next chapter. “Now the father of Gibeon, whose wife’s name was Maacah, dwelt at Gibeon” (29) The goal of the author here is to talk about the ancestors and descendants of Saul in an indirect way; For the relationship that binds the names mentioned here is meant to present the family which was rejected and was replaced by the family of David. “Gibeon”; A Hebrew name, meaning (a hill); where the ancestors of Saul dwelt for some time, and had influence. “Father of Gibeon”; namely head of the city of Gibeon (35); Gibeon is mentioned in (Joshua 9: 10) “Maacah”; A Semite name, meaning (injustice); the name of the wife of Jeoel father of Gibeon; from whom Saul descended. “And his firstborn son was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab” (30) “Zur”;A Semite name, meaning (a rock); son of the founder of Gibeon “Nadab”; A Hebrew name, meaning (generous); son of ‘Jeoel’ and ‘Maacah’; a head of a household in Gibeon “Gedor, Ahio, Zecher” (31) “Gedor”; A Hebrew name, meaning (A stronghold or walled place); son of Jeoel; and brother of Ner and Kish, ancestors of Saul (30-31) “Zecher”; A Hebrew name, meaning (a memorial) “and Mikloth, who begot Shimeah. They also dwelt alongside their relatives in Jerusalem, with their brethren” (32) “Mikloth”; A Hebrew name, meaning (disobeyed) “Shimeah”; son of Mikloth; dwelt in Jerusalem. 3- DESCENDANTS OF SAUL: “Ner begot Kish, Kish begot Saul, and Saul begot Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-Baal” (33) “Ner”; A Hebrew name, meaning (light or a lamp); son of Jeoel and Maacah, and father of Kish, father of Saul “Saul”; Saul the son of Kish was the first king of Israel. Concerning his body stature, He had an ideal appearance as a king; and showed some kind of humility, courage, and generosity, when he was chosen as a king (1 Samuel 9). He obeyed God at the beginning of his reign, and achieved great conquests and success. Then he soon fell into pride, and attempted to take priesthood by force. Depending on himself, and caring for his popularity, not by walking according to the will of God, isolated him from his people, and made him lose much; and even destroyed his personality. Trying to draw every mighty man of valor to work with him, yet not for the glory of God, but to the account of the growth of his popularity; made even his own relatives turn their backs to him. His attempts several times to kill David, and directing all his energy and possibilities to get rid of him, led to his own failure and not to that of David. “Jonathan”; Son of Saul; A Hebrew name, meaning (Jehovah gave); Contrary to his father, he was characterized by courage, faithfulness, good leadership, and trusting in God. Although he was the heir of the throne, yet he believed that God has chosen David for the throne, he so loved him that he became a close friend to him, saved his life from his father’s attempts to kill him (1 Samuel 14-31) and did not envy David because of his conquests and popularity; despite of the warnings of his father that David will take the throne away from him. “Malchishua”; A Hebrew name, meaning (The king is salvation “Abinadab”; A Hebrew name, meaning (Father is generous) “Esh-Baal”; A Hebrew name, meaning (Man of Baal); the first name of ‘Ish- Bosheth’, the son of Saul; namely (a naked man); changing his name was meant as a despise of Baal. “The son of Jonathan was Merib-Baal; and Merib-Baal begot Micah” (34) “Merib-Baal”; He is ‘Mephibosheth’ son of Jonathan, and grandson of Saul. The word Baal was replaced by ‘Bosheth’, as a despise. Mephibosheth is a Hebrew name, meaning (taking the idols away).. The two names bound to the idol Baal: ‘Esh-Baal’ and ‘Merib-Baal’ were changed in (2 Samuel 2: 8, 9, 5) to Ish-Bosheth and Mephibosheth. When he was 5 years old, Mephibosheth fell from the hands of his governess and became lame his whole life, David searched for him, took him to live in his palace, and gave him back what belonged to his father Jonathan . Yet, when he showed some signs of treason during the rebellion of Absalom the son of David, he first took from him what was his, and gave it to ‘Ziba’ his servant, then, having compassion on him, he gave half of it to Ziba , and gave him back the other half. Why was the change of the two names mentioned in the second book of Samuel, and not in the books of Chronicles? The second book of Samuel was the holy Hebrew book in the second part of the prophecies (Nebiwim), which were read in the synagogue, and it was not befitting to mention the name of an idol (Baal); hence it was replaced by (bosheth), meaning (my disgrace). Whereas in the two books of the Chronicles, there was no need for this change; on account of that the two books were in the third part (Ketubim), namely (the writings), which were not read in the synagogue until recently. That shows that the texts of the Holy Book were bound to worship. “Micah”; A Hebrew name, meaning (like Jehovah); son of Mephibosheth, or Merib-Baal; and grandson of Jonathan. “The sons of Micah were Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz” (35) “Pithon”; a descendant of Jonathan son of Saul “Melech”; A Hebrew name, meaning (king), a descendant of Jonathan, son of Saul “Tarea”; A Hebrew name, meaning (crafty); a descendant of Jonathan, son of Saul “Ahaz”; A Hebrew name, meaning (The Lord seized); a descendant of Jonathan, son of Saul “And Ahaz begot Jehoaddah, Jehoaddah begot Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begot Moza” (36) “Jehoaddah”; A Hebrew name, probably meaning (Jehovah, come back); a descendant of Jonathan son of Saul. “Alemeth”; A Hebrew name, meaning (hiding); a descendant of Saul (8: 36; 9: 42) “Azmaveth”; A Hebrew name, meaning (death is powerful); a descendant of Jonathan. “Zimri”; A Hebrew name, probably meaning (Who is like wild cows). More than one bears this name, among whom are: 1-A Benjamite, a descendant of Jonathan son of Saul 2- A leader in the army of Israel, of half the chariots of ‘Elah’ son of ‘Baashah’ king of Israel; then rebelled against his master and killed him; consummating the divine judgment on the house of Baashah. According to some, he was a descendant of Saul who tried to restore his old throne (1 Chronicles 8: 36). “Moza”; A Hebrew name, meaning (exodus); a descendant of Saul “Moza begot Binea, Raphah, his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son” (37) “Bineah”; Son of Moza, a descendant of Jonathan son of Saul “Raphah”; A Hebrew name, meaning (Jehovah healed) or (God healed); a descendant of Saul “Eleasah”; A Hebrew name, meaning (God did); a descendant of Saul and Jonathan his son (33-370 “Azel had six sons whose names were these: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan; All these were the sons of Azel” (38) “Azel”; A Hebrew name, meaning (honorable); a descendant of Jonathan son of Saul “Azrikam”; A Hebrew name, meaning (He rose to my help); More than one bore this name, among whom were: 1- Son of Azel, a descendant of Jonathan (1 Chronicles 8; 38) 2- Son of Gerah, a descendant of Ahihud the Benjamite (1 Chronicles 8: 7) “Bocheru”;A Hebrew name, meaning (firstborn); son of Azel “Ishmael”; A Hebrew name, meaning (God hears) “Sheariah”; A Hebrew name, meaning (the might of Jehovah); a descendant of Saul “Obadiah”; A Hebrew name, meaning (servant of Jehovah); son of Azel; a descendant of Saul (8: 38; 9: 44) “Hanan”; A Hebrew name, meaning (Compassionate, merciful, generous). More than one bore this name, among whom were: 1- A famous Benjamite, son of Sheshak ((23) 2- Son of Azel; a descendant of Jonathan son of Saul (38) “And the sons of Eshek his brother were Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second, and Eliphelet the third” (39) “Eshek”; A Hebrew name, meaning (cruelty); a descendant of Saul “Ulam”; A Hebrew name, meaning (first); son of Eshek.; The children of Ulam were mighty men of valor. “Jeush”; A Semite name, meaning (God helps); head of a fathers’ house; a descendant of Saul “Eliphelet”; A Hebrew name, meaning (God saved him); son of Eshek “The sons of Ulam were mighty men of valor – archers. They had many sons and grandsons, one hundred and fifty in all. These were the sons of Benjamin” (40) 1- It is to be noticed that, in the genealogies of all the tribes, there was no reference to any king of Israel after the dissension from the house of David; Nor any reference to the houses of Jeroboam, Baashah, Omri, and Jahu, on account of that they were all idol-worshippers. 2- He cared for the descendants of Jonathan the son of Saul for the sake of his loyalty and faithfulness in his friendship with David. 3- The genealogies ended by Ulam and his sons, whose family had a special fame in Benjamin, because of his numerous sons and grandsons, who reached 150; known for being mighty men of valor. The secret of their greatness was not their authority, social status, or riches, as much as for their service to their country in battles. ------------------------------ AN INSPIRATION FROM 1 CHRONICLES 8 IN THE MIDST OF THE DENSE THORNS, YOU PRESENT TO US, O LORD, BEAUTIFUL ROSES + It was not possible for the tribes of Israel to imagine the extent of corruption of the tribe of Benjamin (Judges 19-20) The children of Benjamin became corrupt children of Bileal Shamefully, they raped a concubine of a Levite all night And in the morning they found her fallen at the entrance of the house, dead with her hands on the threshold The Levite divided her body, and distributed its parts to the tribes of Israel. All the tribes attacked Benjamin, and almost wiped out the whole tribe (Judges 21: 3) + From that tribe, came king Saul who disobeyed the Lord; He disregarded the ark of the covenant; and in his affliction he sought the counsel of the medium and not God Great was the bitterness that dwelt on the people of God because of this tribe. + In the midst of those serious thorns, God planted beautiful roses That bore the fragrance of love and holiness; What a rose, cared for by God, like Jonathan the son of Saul? He did not care for inheriting the throne from his father; As long as God has chosen David the man of God to inherit the throne; He loved David like himself; and gave him his garment and sword; He did his best to save the sweet psalmist of Israel from the hands of his evil father Saul. + Many of the relatives of Saul; the mighty men of valor, For the sake of the Lord, have forsaken Saul, and joined David; They preceded many tribes to enthrone David over all Israel’ They became David’s men and guards; for he was the man of God. + When the tribes joined Jeroboam who divided the kingdom of Israel; Benjamin persisted on being attached to the kingdom of Judah; They were like roses of love and faithfulness to God, and to His commandments and ordinances; + Yes, indeed, Benjamin will testify on the great day of the Lord; That God planted them as a joyful garden that bears the sweet fragrance of Christ; In the midst of a tribe that had its serious sins and faults; + Teach me, O Lord, how not to despise any congregation for the sake of those corrupt among them; For in the midst of the darkness, there is always the light of Your grace shining on many; In the midst of the dense darkness, splendid stars glitter to testify to Your grace.
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