SYMBOLS OF TWELVE TRIBES: BENJAMIN

(Message by Tanny Keng)

1. Symbols Of Twelve Tribes

a) The Symbols of the Tribes are often depicted in Synagogues. The Book of Numbers tells us that each Tribe had its characteristic symbol used in its encampment.

Numbers 2:2  

2 “Everyone of the children of Israel shall camp by his own standard, beside the emblems of his father’s house; they shall camp some distance from the tabernacle of meeting. 

2. Benjamin

a) Benjamin is depicted by a wolf.

Genesis 49:27 
27 “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf;
In the morning he shall devour the prey,
And at night he shall divide the spoil.”

b) Benjamin may also be represented by a picture of the Temple. The area of the Temple belonged to all the Tribes but in a geographic sense it was divided between territory in the portion of Judah and that in the area of Benjamin.

Deuteronomy 33:12 
12 Of Benjamin he said:
“The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by Him,
Who shelters him all the day long;
And he shall dwell between His shoulders.”

c) This may be understood to read that the presence of the Almighty dwells between the shoulders (i.e. mountain slopes) of Benjamin.