As we read Benjamin’s discourse, it will be this event that becomes more fully discussed, and which provides a greater impact than the change in the ruler. The question is why it is needed. What might a name do?
In the ancient world names were often descriptive of the person, particularly collective names. The identification with the name indicated who one was. Knowing that one was of the house of Israel meant that those people were distinguished against all of those who were not of that lineage. However, it wasn’t the lineage, but rather the religion and the practices involved.
The name that Benjamin would give them was specifically to distinguish his people from all the people which Jehovah had brought from the land of Jerusalem. This is very specific. It does not refer to the existing populations into which the early children of Jerusalem had merged. It did not designate the Jaredites. It refers to only two peoples, both of whom were living side by side in the city of Zarahemla. The division between the two peoples had created the contentions that preceded this event. Benjamin is suggesting that they abandon their divisive loyalties to the past and join into a newly unified people. It is a tremendous effort, especially at the end of a difficult internal dissention. It will work, but only for a little while.