נֹתֵ֥ן לַיָּעֵ֖ף כֹּ֑חַ וּלְאֵ֥ין אוֹנִ֖ים עָצְמָ֥ה יַרְבֶּֽה׃
Il redonne la vigueur au courbaturé et double le courage de celui qui est à bout de forces.
Rashi
אוני means MY VIGOR, as (Hosea 12:9) “I have gained me (און) strength”; (Isaiah 40:26) “by the greatness of His (אונים) might”; (Isaiah 5:29) “and to him that hath no (אונים) might Ho increaseth strength”.
Haamek Sheilah
R. Birchaya used to apply to [the timing of the famine] the verse: ‘He provides strength to the weary.’”9Isa. 40:29. The Midrash is comparing the famine to a basket containing precious glassware that will in time bring honor to its owner. Since the owner needs to be careful that it will not break, he is zealous to the extent that he will even demean himself to protect it. [This is referred to in the Midrash] in a passage that says: When a glassmaker needs a strong peg from which to suspend the basket, what does he do? He first [tests its strength] by hanging his own weight on the peg [after which he feels confident enough] to hang his basket from it. He is willing to demean himself, because honor will result in the end. So it was with Israel’s shameful famine, which was a profanation of God’s name, as the people became needy and dependent on [the] other [peoples], which in turn led to their dispersal among the other nations.10For example, Jews would move to neighboring countries to obtain food, as did Mahlon and Kilion (See Ruth, chapter 1). However, [David’s degradation, the famine], caused the valiant of Israel to wage God’s battle [by attacking the neighboring nations], so that they could be sustained by the spoils of war. As reported in Tractate Berachos 3b, [the sages of Israel approached King David with the request], “Your nation Israel needs provisions,” [after which] King David replied, ‘Go, stretch out your hands as a band of marauders.’” When [Israel] triumphs, God’s name is made great and sanctified, because Divine salvation becomes well-known among the nations. However, this would not be the case if Israel had lived in security, [as there would be no impetus to wage a war that would result in the sanctification of God’s name.]
Ramban
‘BEN ONI’ (THE SON OF MY SORROW). I am of the opinion that he was so called because he alone was born in the land of Canaan which lies to the south (yamin) as one comes from Aram-naharaim, just as it is said: In the south, in the land of Canaan;220Numbers 33:40. Going on still toward the south.221Above, 12:9. Binyamin thus means a son of the south, just as in the verse: The north ‘v’yamin’ (and the south) Thou hast created them.222Psalms 89:13. For this reason the name Binyamin is here written “full” [with a yud after the mem to indicate that the name is derived from the word yamin (south)]. This is Rashi’s language.
But I do not understand this claim that the Land of Israel lies to the south of Aram-naharaim for Aram is eastward of the Land of Israel, as it is written, And he came to the land of the children of the east,223Above, 29:1. and it is further written, From Aram Balak bringeth me, the king of Moab from the mountains of the East,224Numbers 23:7. and Jacob crossed the Jordan which is to the east of the Land of Israel, and he returned by way of Edom which is south of the Land of Israel. Thus you find that Aram is south-east of the Land of Israel, and the Land of Israel is to its north. However, if Benjamin was born within the border of Bethlehem Ephrathah which is in the land of Judah — as it is written, Bethlehem in Judah,225Judges 19:2. and it is further written, But thou, Bethlehem Ephratha, which art little to be among the thousands of Judah217Micah 5:1. — this was in the south of the Land of Israel, and he was thus born between Beth-el and Bethlehem Ephrath. And if the place was in the hill country of Ephraim, then it is in the north of the Land of Israel, as it is written, Judah shall abide in his border on the south, and the house of Joseph shall abide in their border on the north.226Joshua 18:5. And if it was in the portion of Benjamin, it was also not in the south, for it is written, And their border was on the north side.227Ibid., Verse 12. Thus in any case there was no reason to call Benjamin “a son of the south.”
The correct interpretation appears to me to be that his mother called him ben oni, and she meant to say, “the son of my mourning,” similar in expression to: bread of ‘onim’ (mourners);228Hosea 9:4. I have not eaten thereof ‘b’oni’ (in my mourning).229Deuteronomy 26:14. And his father understood the word oni in the sense of “my strength,” similar in expression to: the first-fruits of ‘oni’ (my strength);230Genesis 49:3. And to those who have no ‘onim’ (power).231Isaiah 40:29. And therefore he called him Binyamin, “the son of power” or “the son of strength,” for in the right hand (yamin) there is strength and success, just as it is written: A wise man’s understanding is at his right hand;232Ecclesiastes 10:2. Thy right hand shall overtake all those that hate thee;233Psalms 21:9. The right hand of the Eternal is exalted.234Ibid., 118:16. Jacob wanted to call him by the name his mother had called him, for all his children were called by the names their mothers had called them, and he thus rendered it to good and to strength.
Now I have seen in Bereshith Rabbah:23582:10. “Ben oni, ‘the son of my sorrow.’ And his father called him Benjamin, i.e., in the Sacred Language.” I do not know what this means for it is all the Sacred Language, and so are the names of all his sons in the Sacred Language. However, the Rabbis have alluded to that which I have said, namely, that Jacob rendered the expression so that it signified good.
But I do not understand this claim that the Land of Israel lies to the south of Aram-naharaim for Aram is eastward of the Land of Israel, as it is written, And he came to the land of the children of the east,223Above, 29:1. and it is further written, From Aram Balak bringeth me, the king of Moab from the mountains of the East,224Numbers 23:7. and Jacob crossed the Jordan which is to the east of the Land of Israel, and he returned by way of Edom which is south of the Land of Israel. Thus you find that Aram is south-east of the Land of Israel, and the Land of Israel is to its north. However, if Benjamin was born within the border of Bethlehem Ephrathah which is in the land of Judah — as it is written, Bethlehem in Judah,225Judges 19:2. and it is further written, But thou, Bethlehem Ephratha, which art little to be among the thousands of Judah217Micah 5:1. — this was in the south of the Land of Israel, and he was thus born between Beth-el and Bethlehem Ephrath. And if the place was in the hill country of Ephraim, then it is in the north of the Land of Israel, as it is written, Judah shall abide in his border on the south, and the house of Joseph shall abide in their border on the north.226Joshua 18:5. And if it was in the portion of Benjamin, it was also not in the south, for it is written, And their border was on the north side.227Ibid., Verse 12. Thus in any case there was no reason to call Benjamin “a son of the south.”
The correct interpretation appears to me to be that his mother called him ben oni, and she meant to say, “the son of my mourning,” similar in expression to: bread of ‘onim’ (mourners);228Hosea 9:4. I have not eaten thereof ‘b’oni’ (in my mourning).229Deuteronomy 26:14. And his father understood the word oni in the sense of “my strength,” similar in expression to: the first-fruits of ‘oni’ (my strength);230Genesis 49:3. And to those who have no ‘onim’ (power).231Isaiah 40:29. And therefore he called him Binyamin, “the son of power” or “the son of strength,” for in the right hand (yamin) there is strength and success, just as it is written: A wise man’s understanding is at his right hand;232Ecclesiastes 10:2. Thy right hand shall overtake all those that hate thee;233Psalms 21:9. The right hand of the Eternal is exalted.234Ibid., 118:16. Jacob wanted to call him by the name his mother had called him, for all his children were called by the names their mothers had called them, and he thus rendered it to good and to strength.
Now I have seen in Bereshith Rabbah:23582:10. “Ben oni, ‘the son of my sorrow.’ And his father called him Benjamin, i.e., in the Sacred Language.” I do not know what this means for it is all the Sacred Language, and so are the names of all his sons in the Sacred Language. However, the Rabbis have alluded to that which I have said, namely, that Jacob rendered the expression so that it signified good.