Ten Tribes Vs. One Tribe/2

Ten Tribes Vs. One Tribe

Exegetical Approaches

This topic has not yet undergone editorial review

Binyamin

Achiyah had included the tribe of Binyamin with Yehuda.

Sources:RadakMelakhim I 11:13Melakhim I 11:32Melakhim I 12:20Melakhim II 17:18About R. David Kimchi, RalbagMelakhim I 12:20-21Melakhim I Toalot 11:39About R. Levi b. Gershom, AbarbanelMelakhim I 11About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel, MetzudotMetzudat David Melakhim I 11:13Metzudat David Melakhim I 11:30Metzudat David Melakhim I 12:20-23About R. David Altschuler, Hoil MosheMelakhim I 12About R. Moshe Yitzchak Ashkenazi,

Ten and One – These sources assumes that the one tribe refers to Yehuda and Binyamn together, and the ten tribes to everyone else except for Levi which had no inheritance and, as such, was never counted as one of the twelve.¹

Why isn't Binyamin mentioned? These sources explain that since Binyamin was both less important and less numerous than the tribe of Yehuda, it is not mentioned on its own but only included as part of the more glorified Yehuda.  In addition, sine Yerushalayim fell within the borders of both tribes, they were considered as one.

Evidence that Binyamin was loyal to the Davidic line – The fact that Rechovam gathers "כׇּל בֵּית יְהוּדָה וְאֶת שֵׁבֶט בִּנְיָמִן" to quell Yerovam's rebellion supports the idea that both tribes together had been left under the control of the Davidic dynasty.  During the reign of Asa, as well, Binyamin is explicitly mentioned as being grouped with Yehuda (Divrei HaYamim II 15:1-10).

Status of Yerushalayim and Binyamin's siding with Yehuda – According to this approach, Yerushalayim was always meant to under the jurisdiction of the Davidic dynasty.  Since Yerushalayim was within the territory of Binyamn, it too had, of necessity, to be under the control of David's line.

"לְמַעַן עַבְדִּי דָוִד וּלְמַעַן יְרוּשָׁלַ‍ִם הָעִיר אֲשֶׁר בָּחַרְתִּי" – These sources could suggest that Hashem kept Yehuda "לְמַעַן עַבְדִּי דָוִד" and Binyamin "לְמַעַן יְרוּשָׁלַ‍ִם".

Why would Binyamin side with Yehuda? From a political perspective, it does not make sense that Binyamin would have wanted to join Yehuda, its rival from the reign of Shaul. The tribe would appear to have been prime candidates to join a rebellion rather than to back Rechovam! 

• Hoil Moshe suggests that they only sided with Rechovam out of fear. 
• Alternatively, it is possible that their allegiance demonstrates that David's attempts at reconciliation with the tribe had in fact succeeded.²

Shimon? According to this position, Shimon sided with Yerovam, despite their being physically located in the south, within the territories of Yehuda.³ 

Shimon

Achiyah had not intended that Binyamin was to join Yehuda.  The missing twelfth tribe was Shimon, which had been subsumed under its neighbor already in the period of the Conquest.

¹ Alternatively, one could posit that it is actually Binyamin which is referred to in Achiyah's words, "וְלִבְנוֹ אֶתֵּן שֵׁבֶט אֶחָד", and Yehuda which is not mentioned at all. The prophet explained that Hashem is giving Rechovam one tribe beyond his own.  His reasoning, "לְמַעַן הֱיוֹת נִיר לְדָוִיד עַבְדִּי כׇּל הַיָּמִים לְפָנַי בִּירוּשָׁלַ‍ִם" is logical, for only if Binyamin joins Rechovam will David's descendants be able to maintain control over Yerushalayim.

² See Choice of Yerushalayim for the possibility that David's main goal in choosing his capital city had been to promote peace with Binyamin.

³ See Yehoshua 19:1 and Shofetim 1:3 and Shofetim 1:17.