“Benjamin is a wolf that mauls; in the morning he devours prey, and in the evening he divides spoils” (Genesis 49:27). “Benjamin is a wolf that mauls” – this is referring to his judges. Just as the wolf snatches, so Ehud snatched Eglon’s heart. That is what is written: “Ehud came to him, and he was sitting [alone] in his cool upper chamber” (see Judges 3:20).
“He said: [I have] a secret matter…” (Judges 3:19). He said to him: ‘So did the Master of the world say to me: Take a sword and plunge it into your innards.’ “The parshedona emerged” (Judges 3:22) – his excrement. “Ehud emerged into the vestibule [hamisderona]” (Judges 3:23) – Rabbi Yudan said: A portico that obscures the light.
Rabbi Berekhya said: There the ministering angels sat in order [mesudarin]. Another matter: It is referring to his kingdom.17Jacob was referring to King Saul, who descended from Benjamin. Just as the wolf snatches, so Saul snatched the kingdom, as it is stated: “Saul secured [lakhad] the kingdom over Israel” (I Samuel 14:47).18Lakhad has the connotation of capturing something that belonged to another, and the tribe of Judah had been granted the right to the kingship (see Etz Yosef).
“In the morning19At the beginning of his reign. he devours prey” – “he waged war against all his enemies all around” (I Samuel 14:47). “In the evening he divides spoils” – “Saul died for his trespass that he trespassed [against the Lord]” (I Chronicles 10:13).20Toward the end of his reign, signified by evening, Saul became spoils for his enemies. It is referring to his kingdom. Just as the wolf snatches, so Esther snatched the kingdom.
That is what is written: “Esther was taken [to the king’s palace” (Esther 2:8). “In the morning it devours its prey” – “On that day, King Aḥashverosh gave the house of Haman to Queen Esther” (Esther 8:1). “In the evening he divides spoils” – “Esther appointed Mordekhai over the house of Haman” (Esther 8:2). It is referring to his land.
Just as the wolf snatches, so Benjamin’s land snatches its produce.21The produce grows very quickly there. “In the morning it devours its prey” – this is Jericho, whose produce would ripen first. “In the evening he divides spoils” – this is Beit El, whose produce would ripen last. Rabbi Pinḥas interprets the verse regarding the altar.
Just as the wolf snatches, so the altar snatches the offerings. “In the morning it devours its prey” – “the one lamb you shall offer in the morning” (Numbers 28:4). “In the evening he divides spoils” – “and the second lamb you shall offer in the afternoon” (Numbers 28:4).