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The Testament of Benjamin Concerning a Pure Mind

Unknown

Section 1

About this work

Author: Unknown

1. The record of the words of Benjamin,

‹ Salutation / Introduction Section 2 ›

which

he

set

forth

to

his

sons

,

after

he

had

lived

a

hundred

and

twenty

years

.

And

he

kissed

them

,

and

said

:

As

Isaac

was

born

to

Abraham

in

his

hundredth

year

,

so

also

was

I

to

Jacob

.

Now

since

Rachel

died

in

giving

me

birth

,

I

had

no

milk

;

therefore

I

was

suckled

by

Bilhah

her

handmaid

.

For

Rachel

remained

barren

for

twelve

years

after

that

she

had

borne

Joseph

:

and

she

prayed

the

Lord

with

fasting

twelve

days

,

and

she

conceived

and

bare

me

.

For

our

father

loved

Rachel

dearly

,

and

prayed

that

he

might

see

two

sons

born

from

her

:

therefore

was

I

called

the

son

of

days

,

which

is

Benjamin

.

Notes

1
The ordinary theory as to the meaning of Benjamin is comparatively late, and seems doubtful. The Targum Jerushalmi (on Gen. xxxv. 18), and the Breshith Rabba, § 82, make Benjamin and Benoni synonymous. Cf. Josephus, Antiq., i. 21. 3; Cyril, Glaph. in Gen., lib. iv. With the view mentioned in the text, cf. Arethas on Rev. vii. 8 (Cramer’s Catena, viii. 289).