בראשית, פרק מ״ו, פסוק כ״א

The roster of Benjamin's descendants arriving in Egypt serves as a profound record of family pain and memory. The primary approach among commentators is that Benjamin named his children to memorialize the tragic events that befell his beloved, separated brother, Joseph [קיצור בעל הטורים, תורה תמימה]. Through his children, Benjamin mapped out the painful stations of his brother's life. He named Bela to signify how Joseph was swallowed up and lost among the nations, and Becher to honor Joseph as the firstborn of their mother, Rachel. Ashbel reflects that God allowed Joseph to be taken into captivity, while Gera marks his time as a stranger wandering through foreign inns. Naaman serves as a tribute to Joseph's exceedingly pleasant nature.

Benjamin continued to honor his brother's greatness with the names Ehi and Rosh, declaring that Joseph was both his brother and his leader. The name Rosh also carries a dual meaning of bitterness, representing the severe hardships Joseph endured [קיצור בעל הטורים]. The names Muppim and Huppim express a deep mutual sorrow over missed milestones. Because they were separated when Joseph was around eighteen, the traditional age to marry, neither brother was able to stand beside the other under the wedding canopy [פרדס יוסף]. Alternatively, Muppim suggests that Joseph's mouth mirrored Jacob's, as he faithfully repeated the laws he learned from his father [תורה תמימה]. Finally, Ard signifies Joseph's steep descent among the nations, though some suggest it simply reflects his striking, rose-like beauty [תורה תמימה].

Later biblical records present slight variations in the names and numbers of Benjamin's family members. One perspective suggests that ten sons originally traveled to Egypt and another was born later, with the subsequent name changes simply reflecting a stylistic choice to diversify titles upon repetition [חזקוני]. However, a differing view clarifies that Naaman and Ard were not direct sons, but rather grandsons born to Benjamin's firstborn, Bela [אבן עזרא, מחוקקי יהודה, יהל אור].

The legacy of these ten families carries a tragic historical weight. Half of them perished in Egypt due to wickedness and a failure to repent, leaving only five to eventually enter the Land of Israel [צרור המור]. This sharp division is traced back to Benjamin's own birth. His mother named him Ben-Oni, an expression of sorrow that ultimately led to the loss of half his descendants, while his father named him Benjamin, an expression of strength that preserved the remaining half. The survivors included the righteous Bela and Ashbel, alongside Ehi, Muppim, and Huppim, who successfully repented. Their spiritual return is subtly indicated by their altered names in the Book of Numbers, which reflect healing, satisfaction, and corrected actions. To fill the void left by the lost families, the two grandsons stepped up. Ard, who lived in the fear of God, and Naaman, known for his pleasant deeds, both merited to establish their own enduring lineages [צרור המור].