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We can't really understand the NT until we have understood the OT, and then find the hidden meanings for which we should all (Christians) be searching...see Proverbs 25:2.

How much do we know about Israel of the OT? The first thought that comes to the mind of an ignorant Christians is...."those are the Jews". NO, THEY ARE NOT!

The only tribes Christians know anything about are JUDAH (through whom came our Messiah, Jesus Christ), LEVI (who were temple priests), DAN (supposedly through who the "Antichrist" will come), and JOSEPH (through whom came Ephraim and Manasseh)....and his rise to power under Pharoah during the famine in Egypt.

Ask any Christian about Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Reuben, Simeon, Issachar, or Zebulun....and you will either get a "blank stare" or very little information. THEY ARE IN THE BIBLE FOR A REASON. And it's up to us to know the reason.

How about Benjamin...we all know that Paul (formerly Saul) was a Benjamite. He told us about himself in Philippians 3:5-6:

"Circumcised the eighth day (followed Law of Moses), of the stock of Israel (born to Israel after his name change from Jacob), of the tribe of Benjamin (inherits the prophecies made to Benjamin in Genesis 49), and Hebrew of the Hebrews (well respected as a leader of the Hebrews); as touching the law, a Pharisee (a high-ranking leader of those who practiced Judaism..."Jews"); (vs.6) Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law; blameless."

These two short verses tell a multitude of information about Paul...who he was, and who Christ changed him to be.

And we hear, straight from Paul, what was his opinion of all the honor he had received prior to becoming God's Apostle? He tells it best in Philippians 3:8:

"Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord;: for whom I have suffered the loss of ALL THINGS, and do count them but DUNG, that I may win Christ."

So, Paul was from the tribe of Benjamin. Knowing about this tribe tells more about Paul than one can imagine. If we don't know about Benjamin, we can't know about Paul, and how his conversion was a miracle of God:


http://www.askelm.com/doctrine/d080801.htm


And what happened in Ramah, concerning Benjamin, that was so very evil?


Piece of the link article:

Jacob’s Blessing of Benjamin

Genesis chapter 49 shows Jacob bringing together his children to bless them. He blesses them all and the two tribes that got the best blessing would have been Judah and Joseph. Joseph was a full brother to Benjamin. The others were half-brothers. Benjamin’s blessing was last; little was said about him:

“Benjamin shall ravin [be as ravenous] as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.”

Genesis 49:27

This means he will be like a wild animal, like the wolf, devouring the prey during the daytime and fighting over the spoil in the evening. Nothing would better illustrate Benjamin’s early life than that he was like a wolf. Some of the other brothers (tribes) did not get all that good a blessing either, but Benjamin was to be more or less like a wild animal. There were reasons for this:

(continued in link)

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Why watch television for exciting stories....the Bible is filled with them! And teaches us so much as well. One verse or two a week in a church building will teach you NOTHING!

Arlene