<b>Benjamin is a wolf that raveneth (Gen. 49:27).</b> Scripture states elsewhere: <i>For the Lord will do nothing, but He revealeth His counsel unto His servants the prophets</i> (Amos 3:7). At first He revealed His counsel to those who feared him, as is said: <i>The counsel of the Lord is with them that fear him</i> (Ps. 25:14). Later He disclosed it to the righteous, as is said: <i>But His counsel is with the righteous</i> (Prov. 3:32). Finally He revealed it to the prophets, concerning whom it is said: <i>But He revealeth His counsel unto His servants the prophets</i> (Amos 3:7).
All acts of the righteous are performed through the inspiration of the Divine Spirit. When Jacob blessed Judah, he likened him to a lion, as is said: <i>Judah is a lion’s whelp</i> (Gen. 49:9). He thus coupled him with the kingdom of Babylon, about which it is said: <i>The first was a lion</i> (Dan. 7:4). Hence Daniel, Mishael, Hananiah, and Azariah fought against Babylon. He also coupled Joseph with the kingdom of Edom.
R. Samuel the son of Nahman stated: There is a tradition that Esau will be subjugated by the descendants of Rachel, as it is said: <i>Surely the least of the flock shall drag them away</i> (Jer. 49:20).
Moses coupled the tribe of Levi with the Macedonian Greek Empire. The Hasmoneans were descended from the tribe of Levi, the third tribe, and Greece was the third empire (in Daniel’s vision). The word Levi in Hebrew has three letters (i.e., consonants), and (similarly) the word for Greece (<i>yavan</i>) has three letters. One sacrificed oxen, and the other wrote with the horn of an ox, but had no share in (i.e. did not believe in) the God of Israel. One was numerous, and the other few in number. Moses saw them and blessed them: <i>Bless, Lord, his substance</i> (Deut. 33:11).
He pitted Benjamin against the kingdom of Media. And thus Mordecai, who was of the tribe of Benjamin, exacted retribution from it. It is written: <i>And behold, another beast, a second, like to a wolf</i> (Dan. 7:5). This alludes to the kingdom of Media, which He turned against the tribe of Benjamin, which is also compared to a wolf, as it is said: <i>Benjamin is a wolf that raveneth</i> (Gen. 49:27). What is the meaning of <i>a wolf that raveneth</i>? Just as a wolf seizes its prey, so the tribe of Benjamin seized its prey, as it is said: <i>And see, and behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in the dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife</i> (Judg. 21:21). Hence, just as a wolf seizes its prey hungrily, so too did the tribe of Benjamin.
In the Book of Judges, it is written concerning Ehud: <i>And Ehud made him a sword which had two edges</i> (ibid. 3:16). This indicates that he would have a share in two worlds because he had studied the law, about which it is stated: <i>A two-edged sword in their hand</i> (Ps. 149:6). Hence he was privileged to enjoy the fruits of this world and the hereafter.
<i>He went in to Eglon, and said: “I have a message from God unto thee.” And he arose out of his seat</i> (Judg. 3:20). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: You honored Me by arising from your throne; be assured, I will cause your daughter to rear a son who will sit on My throne. This refers to Ruth the Moabitess, from whom Solomon descended. <i>Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king</i> (I Chron. 29:23). What is written about Ehud? <i>And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the sword from his right side, and thrust it into his belly</i> (Judg. 3:21). <i>In the morning he devoureth prey</i> (Gen. 49:27) alludes to the fact that he thrust the sword into his belly; <i>and at even he divideth the spoil</i> refers to the land which he took as spoil.
<i>Benjamin is a wolf that raveneth</i>. This refers to the fact that his land produced early crops. Hence, <i>In the morning he devoureth prey, at even he divideth spoil</i> refers to Beth-El, where the fruit ripens late.
<i>Benjamin is a wolf that raveneth</i>. This alludes to Saul. For <i>in the morning he devoureth prey</i>, as it is said: <i>So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab</i>, etc. (I Sam. 14:47). <i>And at even divideth the spoil. Saul died, and his three sons … that same day together</i> (ibid. 31:6). Hence, <i>at even divideth the spoil</i>.
Another comment on <i>Benjamin is a wolf that raveneth</i>. This alludes to queen Esther. <i>In the morning he devoureth prey: And the king and Haman came to banquet</i> (Est. 7:1). <i>And at even he divideth spoil: For he hung Haman</i> (ibid., v. 10). And after that is written: <i>On that day the king Ahasuerus gave the house of Haman, the Jews’ enemy, unto Esther the queen</i> (ibid., 8:1).
Another explanation of <i>Benjamin is a wolf that raveneth</i>. It alludes to sacrifice. <i>In the morning he devoureth prey: The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning</i> (Exod. 29:39). <i>At even he divideth the spoil: And the other lamb thou shalt offer at even</i> (ibid.).
This verse also refers to the altar. Though it extended only a cubit’s length into the territory of Benjamin, the flame did not depart from his land. This was in fulfillment of the verse <i>He covereth him all the day</i> (Deut. 33:12).