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  • From: "Harold R. Holmyard III" <hholmyard AT ont.com>
  • To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Benjamin
  • Date: Sat, 3 Jul 2004 17:39:24 -0500

Dear Yigal,

While I have no argument with all of your examples of sons' being their
fathers' "right hand", where in the Jacob story do you find that Benjamin
ever filled this role?

HH: First, the naming expresses the father's intentions or hopes for the child. It need not be a prophecy. However, Jacob did demonstrate a special protective care for Benjamin. He would not let him go with his brothers to Egypt for grain:

Gen. 42:4 But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph's brother, with the others, because he was afraid that harm might come to him.

HH: Then when Joseph demanded that the youngest brother be produced, and the others returned to Jacob and told him, this happened:

Gen. 42:36 Their father Jacob said to them, "You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!"
Gen. 42:37 ¶ Then Reuben said to his father, "You may put both of my sons to death if I do not bring him back to you. Entrust him to my care, and I will bring him back."
Gen. 42:38 ¶ But Jacob said, "My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead and he is the only one left. If harm comes to him on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in sorrow."

Yours,
Harold Holmyard






Yigal


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