ceded, and formed a kingdom, which is ever after called the
kingdom of Israel; their first king was Jeroboam. But it is very
singular to notice, that one of these Ten Tribes is lent to the kingdom
of Judah, and this one Tribe is Benjamin. In this was the Divine
provision for the time of Christ. We find in the first book of Kings,
eleventh chapter, that Solomon displeased the Lord by his wicked ways,
and the Lord said: "Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not
kept My covenant and My statutes which I have commanded thee, I will
surely rend the kingdom from thee, and I will give it to thy servant
(Jeroboam was Solomon's servant at that time); notwithstanding in thy
days I will not do it, for David thy father's sake; but I will rend it
out of the hands of thy son. Howbeit I will not rend away all the
kingdom, but will give one Tribe to thy son, for David My servant's sake,
and for Jerusalem's sake, which I have chosen." All the kingdom
evidently meant the Ten Tribes. The same truth Ahijah, the Shilonite,
taught when he rent his new garment into twelve pieces, and gave to
Jeroboam ten. "And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces; for thus
saith the Lord, the God of Israel: Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of
the hands of Solomon and will give Ten Tribes to thee." Then comes in
the reserve clause again: "But he shall have one Tribe for My servant
David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out
of all the Tribes of Israel." And the reason for the reservation of this
Tribe is clearly expressed in verse 36: "And unto his son will I give one
Tribe, that David My servant may always have a light before Me in
Jerusalem." Now it is plain why this Tribe was an exception. The city
of Jerusalem, God says, He has chosen out of all the cities of Israel,
because to this city would the Messiah come. And beautifully agreeing
with the forethought is the fact that when the Tribes had their lots
assigned them in Palestine, the city of Jerusalem fell in the portion of
Benjamin.

The Tribe then were owners of the city, and they received Christ. The
disciples and first followers and converts were chiefly from this Tribe
of Benjamin. After this Tribe received Christ, then their work was done
in Jerusalem. So they were to separate from the kingdom of Judah, and
seek out their own brethren and unite with them. The time of their
separation had been foretold by the prophet, and pointed out by t