Yes — the two names picture one Messiah who first suffers and then reigns.
Rachel, dying in childbirth, called her son Benoni — the son of her sorrow. Jacob renamed him Benjamin, the son of the right hand. Les Feldick notes that ancient rabbis took these two names as evidence for two Messiahs, but the names actually picture the one Messiah, who came first in suffering and will come again in power and rule.
Genesis 35:17-18 — Records Rachel's dying name Benoni and Jacob's renaming of the child Benjamin — the two names at the heart of the question.
The Bible records that Rachel died in childbirth. In Genesis 35:17, as she was in hard labour, the midwife told her, 'Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.' Then Genesis 35:18 says, 'And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.' The same child received two names: Benoni from his mother as she died, and Benjamin from his father. The Old Testament also describes the coming One in royal terms. Isaiah 9:6-7 declares: 'For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder... Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom.' These verses show that the child born to Israel is the One to whom government belongs, and the names given to Him — Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace — are the names of the coming King.
Les Feldick describes the Old Testament as having two parallel lines of prophecy running through it, which he calls 'railroad tracks.' On one track is a suffering Savior who would come and die for sin; on the other is a coming King who would establish the Kingdom. He reminds his class that he had just covered this in the naming of Benjamin. Les explains that some rabbis actually taught there would be two Messiahs — one to fulfill the promise of being King and setting up the Kingdom, and another to be the suffering Savior. The name of the saving One, Jehoshua, is the basis of the name Jesus, 'because He shall save the people from their sin.' In the naming of Benjamin, the same child is given a name of sorrow from his mother (Ben-Oni, son of her suffering) and a name of power from his father (Benjamin, son of the right hand) — two pictures of the one Messiah. Rather than two Messiahs, Les teaches that both aspects are fulfilled in Christ. At His first coming He came to the nation of Israel as the suffering One; at His second coming the government will be upon His shoulder and He will rule from David's throne. Les also raises Paul's repeated emphasis that he is of the tribe of Benjamin as a further point of reflection.
Rachel died giving birth. The midwife tried to encourage her with the words, 'Fear not; thou shalt have this son also' (Genesis 35:17), but her soul was departing as she named the boy. The name she chose, Benoni, captured the sorrow of the moment — the son of her suffering. The biblical narrative records her dying act and the name she gave.
Jacob would not leave the sorrowful name on his youngest son. Genesis 35:18 records that 'his father called him Benjamin.' Where the mother's name spoke of her suffering, the father's name speaks of the right hand — the position of strength and honor. Benjamin carries the sense of power that pictures the ruling aspect of the Messiah.
Les Feldick says he has read that some rabbis actually thought there would be two Messiahs. One would fulfill 'the promise of being the King, and setting up the Kingdom.' The other would be 'the suffering Savior,' whose name, Jehoshua, is where we get the name Jesus. The rabbis could not see how one person could be both the suffering One and the ruling King.
Les teaches that the Old Testament runs on two parallel tracks — a suffering Savior and a coming King. In the naming of Benjamin, the two names carry both pictures in one child. The same Messiah fulfilled the suffering line at His first coming, when He came to the nation of Israel, and He will fulfill the ruling line at His second coming, when the government is upon His shoulder and He sits on the throne of David.
Les points to Romans 11:1, where Paul says he is 'an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin,' and he adds that he has wondered more than once about this. Paul's repeated emphasis on the tribe of Benjamin is held out as a further thread connecting the apostle to the name that pictures the son of the right hand.
Les says he has had Jewish people tell him they are looking for a Messiah who is a superman — someone with military ability, economic power, and charisma. His response is direct: 'You're describing the Antichrist.' Even today, the nation is still looking for the ruling Messiah without the suffering One, and the covenant promises God made to Israel are still waiting to be fulfilled.
Paul, an Israelite of the Tribe of Benjamin
Les reminds his students that Paul identified himself as of the tribe of Benjamin and says he has more than once wondered at the significance of this repeated emphasis.
Rabbis Expected Two Messiahs
Les explains that some rabbis thought there would be two Messiahs — one to reign as King and set up the Kingdom, and one to be the suffering Savior, Jehoshua, the basis of the name Jesus.
Two Parallel Lines of Prophecy
Les sets up the two 'railroad track' lines of Old Testament prophecy — the suffering Savior and the coming King — and refers back to the naming of Benjamin as an example he had just covered.
Christ's First Coming to Israel
Les reminds viewers that Christ's first coming was to the nation of Israel and that the government was not set up then but is future upon His shoulder.
The Coming King and David's Throne
Les explains that the government will be upon the shoulder of the One born to Israel, and that He will rule from the throne of David with no end to the increase of His government and peace.
Jacob & Esau: The Sovereignty of God in the Birthright & Blessing | Genesis 25-27
Now, I think I pointed it out in our last program, but time flies by and we're prone to forget the birthright, you remember, was the spiritual side of the family position. The eldest son was more or less the priest of the family, if I may use that word. He was the spiritual leader. But with regard to this little family coming out of Abraham now, it's more than just being the family priest.
Isaiah 9:6 Titles of the Messiah
Les highlights that every capitalized title in Isaiah 9:6 — Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace — belongs to the coming King, the Messiah, the Son of God.
Israel's Antichrist Expectation
Les says Jewish people today are looking for a superman Messiah with military and economic power, and he tells them plainly they are describing the Antichrist.
Genesis 35:17: And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.
Sets the scene of Rachel's difficult childbirth immediately before she names her son Benoni.
Genesis 35:18: And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.
The key verse: Rachel gives a sorrowful name and Jacob gives a name of honor to the same child.
Isaiah 9:6: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Shows the coming Messiah as the royal King whose names include deity and eternal rule.
Isaiah 9:7: Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Describes the endless rule of the Messiah from David's throne — the ruling aspect pictured by Benjamin.
Romans 11:1: I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
Paul identifies himself with the tribe of Benjamin, a detail Les raises in connection with the name's meaning.
Ben-Oni is the name Rachel gave her son as she was dying in childbirth. It means the son of my sorrow — the child who came through her suffering. In the Messianic picture, it represents the suffering Messiah.
Benjamin, the name Jacob gave the same child, means the son of my right hand. It is a name of strength, power, and honor, and it pictures the Messiah as the ruling King.
Yes. Les Feldick explains that some rabbis thought there would be one Messiah who would set up the Kingdom as King and another who would be the suffering Savior. They could not reconcile both roles in one person.
Ben-Oni pictures the Messiah's first coming in suffering and death. Benjamin pictures His second coming, when He will come in power and the government will be upon His shoulder. Both names belong to the same child, and both roles belong to the same Christ.
Watch the Teaching: Has God Cast Away Israel? Romans 11:1-2 Finally Explained