Why did Binyamin merit to have 10 sons, more than any other Shevet?
Hadar Zekenim (to 44:31): Yosef was supposed to have 12 sons. He lost 10, due to the 10 times that he heard "your servant" (about his father, and he did not protest; refer to 43:28:1:1). 1 Some say that Yosef lost 10 sons due to the semen that came out of his fingertips when Potifar's wife tried to seduce him (and he stuck his fingers in the ground). In either case, Binyamin fathered 2 the missing 10, and called all of them names based on Yosef. 3
Some also say that Yosef died early due to this. Refer also to 50:25:151:1 and the note there.
But Binyamin fathered them before Yosef heard and failed to protest (refer to 43:30:1:1)! We must say that this is because Hashem knew that Yosef would hear....
Compare to Maharal (Chidushei Agados Vol. 2, p. 73, to Sotah 36b); also refer to 43:30:1.1:1.
What are the reasons behind these names?
Rashi (to 43:30): Binyamin said, I have ten [sons]... all named after my brother, and the troubles 1 that befell him. Bela - because he was swallowed up among the nations; Becher - he was the Bechor of his mother; Ashbel - Hashem caused him to be captured; Gera - he was a stranger; Na'aman - he was exceptionally pleasing; Echi and Rosh - he was my brother and my leader; Mupim - he learned Torah from my father; 2 Chupim - he did not see my Chupah, nor did I see his; Ard - he descended 3 among the nations.
Gur Aryeh (to 43:30): Although five of the names allude to Yosef's greatness, and only five directly to his troubles; the distress that was caused by those sorrows was magnified, because it came after such greatness. Gur Aryeh (ibid.) further divides the names into five corresponding pairs, and explains that their order is not haphazard (refer to 43:30:1.3:1, and 43:30:1.3:1 2
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Gur Aryeh expands upon these three names; refer to 43:30:1.4:1; 43:30:1.5:1; and 43:30:1.6:1.
Maharal (Chidushei Agados Vol. 2, p. 74, to Sotah 36b): Alternatively, "Ard" comes from the word Vered (a rose); Yosef's face resembled a rose. (Thus, six of the names allude to Yosef's greatness, and only four to his troubles.) Also, Mupim stems from the term Yofi (beauty), and extends the idea of the name Chupim - "I did not see his Chupah, when the groom is very beautiful."
