Ver. 12. And of Benjamin he said— After an account had been given of the priesthood, and of the general duties of the Levites, the place where those duties were to be exercised comes properly to be next considered. The first and second temple were, doubtless, built in a portion to which Benjamin had a right; and it is with reference to this circumstance, that what Moses here predicts of him is to be understood, viz. that God's providence would remarkably continue over him until the dissolution of their state; and that he would, for a season, vouchsafe to dwell (by his visible representation) in his inheritance. Durell.
The beloved of the LORD— This expression does not occur in any other place of Scripture. The words in the original are יהוה ידיד iediid Jehovah. When the syllables of the former word are separated, it is read יד יד iad, a hand: the Samaritan text and manuscript separate the two syllables; in which they are followed by most of the versions made from them. Such a repetition, to raise attention, and give a greater weight to what is said, is not unusual in Scripture; particularly, when God is addressed himself, or when he is introduced as speaking or acting. That the phrase is justifiable, no one will doubt, who considers that the word hand, when applied to God, signifies the divine agency or influence; and that the expression, the hand of the Lord is upon or against any one, when he assists or opposes them, is very common: and therefore, when he chooses to continue for a long time with any person in any place, He, or the divine energy, may properly be said to dwell there. Accordingly, we render the passage, The hand, even the hand of the LORD—shall dwell in safety upon him. From the verb שׁכן shakan, dwell, which occurs twice in this verse, comes המשׁכן hammishkan, the tabernacle, or THE RESIDENCE, κατ εξοχην; and likewise שׁכינה or שׁכינא shekinah; by which the later Jews understand the Divine Presence, which from the tabernacle removed to Solomon's temple, where it continued till the Babylonish captivity, after which period it never returned. The words, in safety, seem to imply, that the temple would be fixed in this lot, and not be ambulatory, as the tabernacle was. The verb ףּחפ chopep, rendered cover, signifies, in the Chaldee, Arabic, and Samaritan, to cover by way of protection. Capellus observes, that it conveys the idea of brooding, as a hen covers her chickens. In this sense, it is very applicable to the hand of God, particularly as followed by the preposition עליו alaiv, over him: but those who follow the present printed Hebrew text, sensible that ידיד iediid, the beloved, should be, regularly, the nominative case to the verb; and not being able to make any sense from that connection, they either substitute another nominative case as in our version, or give the verb another sense. All the day long, signifies as long as the law of Moses and the theocracy shall continue. And he shall dwell between his shoulders implies, that God should rest upon, or between Benjamin's shoulders. Some interpreters observe, that the word translated shoulders, is, in Numbers 34:11 rendered borders; and Le Clerc translates the word hills: but if we take the word rendered beloved to signify the hand, every difficulty will vanish, and the sense will be, It [the hand] covers him all the day long, and dwells upon his shoulders. It cannot be doubted, but that Jerusalem belonged originally to this tribe; Joshua 18:28. Joshua 1:21 and though in process of time it came to be generally considered as one of the cities of Judah, yet it is not improbable, that when the temple was built, the spot on which it was erected, and the environs, were still regarded as a part of Benjamin's portion. However, this is certain, that God intended these two tribes to share in the same fortune, and to continue the enjoyment of their property and privileges longer than any of the other tribes, as the prophesies plainly intimate; and this may be the reason why we cannot easily trace what belongs to each separately. Durell. I would just observe, that Houbigant, reading עליון elion, the Most High, instead of עליו alaiv, renders the verse, in agreement with the LXX, (whose interpretation he much approves,) The beloved of the LORD shall have a secure dwelling-place: the Most High shall overshadow him; he shall hang all the day long over his shoulders. In which words, says he, God is compared to an eagle descending from on high, hovering over the shoulders of Benjamin, and protecting him with his wings.