The Samaritan Spelling of 'Benyamim' Older than the Jewish Spelling 'Benyamin'

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Secret Alias
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The Samaritan Spelling of 'Benyamim' Older than the Jewish Spelling 'Benyamin'

Post by Secret Alias »

For the name Benjamin being interpreted means, "the son of days:" and the day is illuminated by the light of the sun which is perceptible by the outward senses: and to this we liken vain glory. (Philo On the Change of Names 92)
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ConfusedEnoch
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Re: The Samaritan Spelling of 'Benyamim' Older than the Jewish Spelling 'Benyamin'

Post by ConfusedEnoch »

It is not older than the Benjamin spelling.
The name is first mentioned in letters from King Sîn-kāšid of Uruk (1801–1771 BC), who called himself “King of Amnanum” and was a member of the Amorite tribal group the “Binu-Jamina” (single name “Binjamin”; Akkadian "Mar-Jamin"). The name means "Sons/Son of the South" and is linguistically related as a forerunner to the Old Testament name "Benjamin".

"Son of the south", with south derived from the word for the right hand side, referring to the birth of Benjamin in Canaan, as compared with the birth of all the other sons of Jacob in Aram.
Last edited by ConfusedEnoch on Tue Apr 19, 2022 7:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Secret Alias
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Re: The Samaritan Spelling of 'Benyamim' Older than the Jewish Spelling 'Benyamin'

Post by Secret Alias »

The specific Hebrew meaning (explicit in the context of the story) is that the parents of Benjamin/m are old = son of (many) days. Why do people waste everyone's time with nonsense passing as erudition?
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ConfusedEnoch
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Re: The Samaritan Spelling of 'Benyamim' Older than the Jewish Spelling 'Benyamin'

Post by ConfusedEnoch »

Secret Alias wrote: Tue Apr 19, 2022 7:52 am The specific Hebrew meaning (explicit in the context of the story) is that the parents of Benjamin/m are old = son of (many) days. Why do people waste everyone's time with nonsense passing as erudition?
As an old man and proud father, are you really that scared of confronting people directly? If you want to say I am wasting your time, then say that. Don't hide behind generalizations.

Regardless of your insults, though, most scholars agree that the clear context behind the name Ben-jamin is that he is the ONLY child born in Canaan (the South) compared to everyone else who was born in Aram.

Hence, "Son of the South".
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