Matri מַטְרִי
Saul's ancestral clan from the tribe of Benjamin.
Who is Matri in the Bible?
Matri refers to an ancestral clan within the tribe of Benjamin during ancient Israel's monarchy. When the prophet Samuel cast lots to select the first king of Israel, the selection fell upon the tribe of Benjamin, then specifically upon the Matrite clan, and finally upon Saul, son of Kish (1 Samuel 10:21). This genealogical detail underscores that Saul's royal lineage belonged to this particular clan of Benjamin. The mention of the Matrites in Scripture serves to establish the precise tribal and familial identity of Israel's first king, demonstrating how divine selection worked through the social structures of Israel's twelve tribes and their subdivisions.
Biography
The Matrite, also known as Matri, was a clan within the tribe of Benjamin. When Saul was chosen to be the first king of Israel, the selection process involved casting lots among the tribes, clans, and families. The lot fell on the tribe of Benjamin, then on the Matrite clan, and finally on Saul, the son of Kish (1Sa.10.21). This indicates that Saul's family belonged to the Matrite clan within the tribe of Benjamin.
In Scripture
1 biblical book1 Samuel 1 verse
- 1 Samuel 10:21
"Then he had the tribe of Benjamin come forward by its clans, and the clan of Matri was selected. Finally, Saul son of Kish was selected. But when they looked for him, they could not find him."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | מַטְרִי |