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The Identity of the Tribe of Benjamin on the Border Between Israel and Judah

Lee Keung Jae 1

1목원대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

This study aims to clarify the political and geographical identity of the tribe of Benjamin, which was located along the border between Israel and Judah from the Monarchic period through the Persian period and experienced continuous changes in ownership. The tribe of Benjamin emerged as a significant tribe in Israelite history by producing King Saul. During this period, the tribe of Benjamin likely maintained deep connections with the northern tribes. This association with the northern tribes is confirmed in the stories of Shimei and Sheba, who rebelled against David after Saul's death. During the divided kingdom period, the territory of the tribe of Benjamin served as a buffer zone between Israel and Judah. That is, due to wars between the two kingdoms and military interventions by Aram and Assyria, ownership of the Benjaminite territory was constantly fluid. First, during the reign of Asa, king of Judah, Judah's territory expanded with Aramean assistance to include the western highlands, encompassing the central hill country, except for the northeastern region of the tribe of Benjamin. However, during the reign of Amaziah, king of Judah, Judah conversely lost part of its territory, including land belonging to the tribe of Benjamin. From this period onward, for a considerable time, the land of the tribe of Benjamin likely belonged to Israel. That is, during the divided kingdom period, the central hill country belonging to the tribe of Benjamin was temporarily incorporated into Judah, but the northeastern region relative to Jerusalem was never incorporated into Judah. However, taking advantage of Israel's destruction and a temporary power vacuum in Assyria, King Josiah of Judah first annexed the entire territory of the tribe of Benjamin into Judah. During the Babylonian period, the city of Mizpah in the tribe of Benjamin served as the administrative capital, and Bethel functioned as the religious center, replacing the ruined Jerusalem. However, with the rebuilding of Jerusalem in the Persian period, the status of Mizpah and Bethel declined. Nevertheless, the Chronicles and the Book of Ezekiel attest that the tribe of Benjamin, alongside the tribe of Judah, was a core tribe within the rebuilt Jerusalem community. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that the history of the tribe of Benjamin was characterized by the constant fluidity of their territory, influenced by surrounding powers and internal political dynamics. Furthermore, it presents the tribe of Benjamin, alongside the tribe of Judah, as a core tribe essential for understanding the historical, social, and theological transformations of ancient Israel.

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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* References for papers published after 2024 are currently being built.

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