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The Tribe of Benjamin, located to the north of the Tribe of Judah but to the south of the later Kingdom of Israel, is significant in biblical narratives as a source of various Israelite leaders, including the first Israelite king, Saul, as well as earlier tribal leaders in the period of the Judges.
The Ten Lost Tribes were those from the Twelve Tribes of Israel that were said to have been exiled from the Kingdom of Israel after it was conquered by the Neo-Assyrian Empire around 720 BCE.
The Tribe of Benjamin faced numerous challenges throughout its history, including near-extinction during the events of the Book of Judges (Judges 20-21). Following a civil war between Benjamin and the other tribes of Israel, Benjamin was left severely weakened, with only a remnant surviving.
Although we find that the verse stated earlier that only one tribe would remain loyal to the house of King David (see I Kings 11:13 and 12:20), the tribe of Benjamin was considered part of Judah and secondary to it, since Jerusalem, the capital, was in the portions of both Judah and Benjamin, and so the ruler of Jerusalem ruled over both tribes ...
The Kingdom of Israel - consisting of the ten tribes (the twelve tribes excluding Judah and Benjamin who constituted the southern Kingdom of Judah) - fell in 722 B.C.E. and its inhabitants were exiled by the Assyrians. In general, it can be said that these tribes disappeared from the stage of history.
The Tribe of Benjamin. Moses' Blessing. Youngest son of Jacob by Rachel, who died on the road between Beth-el and Ephrath, while giving him birth. She named him "Ben-oni" (son of my sorrow); but Jacob, to avert the evil omen, called him "Ben Yamin," son of the right hand; that is, of good luck (Gen. xxxv. 17, 18).
The lost tribes are one of the biggest mysteries of Jewish history, and have inspired multiple theories. Maybe the Igbo Jews of Nigeria are one of the lost tribes? Perhaps Bene Menashe, in Northern India, can claim the title. Or the Pashtun people of Afghanistan. Or Native Americans.
