במדבר, פרק כ״ו, פסוק ל״ט

The census of the Israelites in the desert reveals a shifting landscape within the tribe of Benjamin. When the family originally went down to Egypt, Benjamin had ten sons, but the desert count reflects a different reality. Five of those original sons died without leaving behind any descendants to establish their own family lines. As a result, the tribe was ultimately composed of only seven families, stemming from five of Benjamin's surviving sons and two of his grandsons [חזקוני].

Beyond the changing numbers, the names of these surviving sons also underwent notable transformations over time. The son originally known as Chupim is later recorded as Chufam, while the son formerly called Mupim is identified as Shfufam [חזקוני, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This latter change carries deep symbolic weight. The new name reflects the tragic fate of Benjamin’s brother, Joseph, who was bent over and wandering in exile among foreign nations [רש״י, שפתי חכמים].

A closer look at the family title derived from Shfufam reveals an unexpected spelling, as a letter representing a "mouth" is noticeably absent. This missing letter serves as a subtle historical hint regarding the sale of Joseph. It suggests that Benjamin actually possessed a "mouth"—meaning he knew the truth about what his brothers had done to Joseph—yet he actively chose to remain silent and keep the secret [פענח רזא]. Alternatively, this specific family name is connected to the concept of a snake. This ancient imagery indicates Benjamin's profound spiritual purity, suggesting that he lived a life entirely free of personal sin and passed away solely due to the ancient decree associated with the primordial snake [פענח רזא, קיצור בעל הטורים].