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Psalm 68:27
There is little Benjamin, their ruler, the princes of Judah, their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.
25The singers went before, the minstrels followed after, among the ladies playing with tambourines,
26“Bless God in the congregations, even the Lord in the assembly of Israel!”
27There is little Benjamin, their ruler, the princes of Judah, their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.
28Your God has commanded your strength. Strengthen, God, that which you have done for us.
29Because of your temple at Jerusalem, kings will bring presents to you.
Notice
Little Benjamin appears among named tribes and princes, making Israel’s gathered praise a scene of distinct people whose size does not keep them from view.
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What catches your attention about “little Benjamin” appearing among the princes in this gathering?
Write on thisHow does this list of tribes shape your picture of the congregation praising God?
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Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
1 Samuel 9:21Saul answered, “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then …Saul describes Benjamin as one of Israel’s smallest tribes, echoing the psalm’s description of little Benjamin.
Genesis 30:20Leah said, “God has endowed me with a good dowry. Now my husband will live with me, because I have borne him six sons.” She named him Zebulun.Genesis records Leah naming her son Zebulun; the psalm names the princes of the tribe bearing his name.
Psalm 60:7Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine. Ephraim also is the defense of my head. Judah is my scepter.Both psalms associate Judah with rule: one names its princes, while the other describes Judah as a scepter.
Isaiah 11:13The envy also of Ephraim will depart, and those who persecute Judah will be cut off. Ephraim won’t envy Judah, and Judah won’t persecute Ephraim.Judah appears in both passages, among tribes gathered for praise here and in a promise of peace with Ephraim there.
1 Chronicles 12:16Some of the children of Benjamin and Judah came to the stronghold to David.Benjamin and Judah appear together in both texts, in the psalm’s worshiping assembly and among those coming to David.
Numbers 2:22“The tribe of Benjamin: the prince of the children of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni.Both texts connect Benjamin with leadership: the psalm calls Benjamin their ruler, while Numbers names Abidan as its prince.
Numbers 34:21Both name Benjamin within Israel; the psalm names the tribe, while Numbers names Elidad as belonging to it.
2 Samuel 3:19Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin; and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel and to the whole house of …Both passages name Benjamin within the wider people of Israel, in gathered praise and in Abner’s report to David.
Genesis 42:32We are twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is no more, and the youngest is today with our father in the land of Canaan.’The link is indirect: Genesis describes a family of twelve brothers; the psalm names several of Israel’s tribes.
1 Chronicles 27:12The ninth captain for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anathothite, of the Benjamites. In his division were twenty-four thousand.Benjamin appears with leadership in both texts, while Chronicles identifies a particular Benjamite, Abiezer, commanding a division.
Judges 5:18Zebulun was a people that jeopardized their lives to the death; Naphtali also, on the high places of the field.Zebulun and Naphtali appear together in both songs, represented by princes in the psalm and risking their lives in Judges.
Judges 21:6–25The children of Israel grieved for Benjamin their brother, and said, “There is one tribe cut off from Israel today.Benjamin is present in the psalm’s worshiping assembly; Judges records Israel’s grief over that tribe being cut off.
Where this verse fits
Praise and worship. sermon or Bible study notes.
One step
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Encouragement
Israel’s praise has names and faces here. Little Benjamin has a place in the gathering, and the princes stand within an assembly whose praise belongs to God.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).