The Old Testament recounts that after Jacob was reconciled to his brother Esau, he fulfilled his vow to return to Bethel and to build an altar unto God. See Gen. 35:1-18 . Rachel, his wife, was in the last days of her pregnancy, and as they traveled from Bethel to Ephrath she went into labor. The birth was very hard and she was not to live. With her last breath she called her newborn son Benoni, the "son of my sorrow." But Jacob, though he had loved Rachel with a great love, called his new son Benjamin. This name means "son of the south" or "son of the right hand," which probably refers to the territory of the Benjamites. But traditionally it has been assumed that Benjamin also signifies "son of good fortune."
Before this, the power of Spirit had so transformed Jacob that he himself had been renamed Israel. He had discovered that in the darkest hours—in soul's deep travail with its admixture of terror, guilt, and despair—God remains steadfastly with men. The guiding, saving light of Spirit never flickers. The penetrating truth of God and man had its way with Jacob and brought to light man's true identity and individuality in the likeness of God. As Jacob he had been defined, so to speak, mortally. As Israel he illustrated the nature of Soul, God.
Is it surprising that the lasting influence of Spirit, Soul, on Jacob should lead to the renaming of his new son; that this child should bring him assurance of the continuing care of God? Jacob certainly needed such a message. He had dearly loved his wife Rachel from the first days they had met. He served her father fourteen years in order to win her hand. But Benjamin was not to be a reminder of her death; he was to remind Jacob, in effect, of the revelation of the life-transforming power of Spirit. Benjamin's presence comforted him.
