Bible Question: How did the tribe of Benjamin become the smallest tribe? |
Bible Answer: God's day to you, gailj, According to Numbers 1 the the tribe of Manasseh was smaller. They had 32,200 menwho could fight (vv 34-35) while Benjamin had 35,400 (vv 36-37). Note the tribe of Levi was not counted (vs 47). In the second census (Num 26), Simeon was the smallest (v 14). They were third largest 35 years earlier (1:23). Read Jacob's Blessing (Gen 49) for some of the answers. They were absored into the tribe of Judah (Jos 19:1). So even if Saul was right (1Sa 9:21), the tribe of Benjamin was not the smallest in the Exodus. Samuel said he was little in his own eyes (1Sa 15:17). S |