Left-Handed People in the Bible: Is there a genetic link to Benjamite lefties?

BAR ^ | August 13, 2020 | Biblical Archaeology Society Staff

[SunkenCiv]

There are only three mentions of left-handed people in the Bible -- and all of them refer to members of the tribe of Benjamin, including their deadly accurate slingers (see drawing above). Were these people from the tribe of Benjamin left-handed by nature or nurture? Modern studies in the genetics of left-handedness may be able to shed light on this curious case.

The Hebrew Bible mentions left-handed people on three occasions: the story of Ehud's assassination of the Moabite king (Judges 3:12–30), the 700 Benjamites who could use the sling with deadly accuracy (Judges 20:16) and the two-dozen ambidextrous warriors who came to support David in Hebron (1 Chronicles 12:2). All of these stories of left-handed people in the Bible appear in military contexts, and, curiously, all involve members of the tribe of Benjamin...

Benjamites may have been genetically disposed to left-handedness at birth, but the trait may also have been encouraged in soldiers to give them a strategic advantage in combat -- somewhat like left-handed baseball pitchers today -- against right-handed opponents who were unaccustomed to fighting "lefties." Warriors from the tribe of Benjamin might have been trained to be equally or more effective with their left hands.

Then again, perhaps the Biblical writers simply enjoyed a bit of word play. The name Benjamin means "son of (my) right hand." Perhaps the irony of left-handed "sons of right-handers" caused the Biblical authors to take note in these cases.

[SunkenCiv]

I can make a draw man argument. ;^)

[COBOL2Java]

3 kids and hubby are all lefties. Not one of them can use scissors properly.

Get them Left-handed scissors

[COBOL2Java]

I’m a lefty, and have left-handed scissors. Once at the office a right-handed co-worker expressed skepticism about the “so-called” problem with leftys using scissors - she said it was just some genetic clumsiness.

I gave her my left-handed scissors and invited her to cut some paper. After struggling with it, she realized the true nature of the problem.

[pnut22]

We tried left handed scissors. It helped a bit but they still preferred the right handed ones. By the way, these 3 lefties have given me 5 wonderful RIGHT handed grand kids. Maybe leftism skips a generation?

[Preachin']

My mom is left-handed, and I got a little of it, myself. I eat, write and drink from a cup with my left-hand. I play guitar right-handed, and there are a number of things I can do with both hands. I throw and bat naturally right-handed, but did teach myself to switch-hit in baseball. I refer to myself as left-handed, but I still have to explain it to people. My brother does most things the opposite hand from me.