Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the significance of Avidan bringing an offering on the ninth day in Numbers 7:60?
A: In Numbers 7, each tribal leader (nasi) brought identical offerings over twelve days to dedicate the Mishkan (Tabernacle). Avidan, representing Binyamin, brought his offering on the ninth day. The order was determined by Divine instruction (Rashi on Numbers 7:11), showing that every tribe had equal importance in contributing to the Mishkan's sanctity.
Q: Why does the Torah list each tribal leader's offering separately if they were all the same?
A: Although the offerings were identical, the Torah lists each one individually (as seen with Avidan in Numbers 7:60) to honor every tribe and its leader. The Midrash (Bamidbar Rabbah 13:14) teaches that this emphasizes the unique value of each tribe's contribution and their shared commitment to the Mishkan.
Q: Who was Avidan ben Gidoni mentioned in Numbers 7:60?
A: Avidan ben Gidoni was the tribal leader (nasi) of Binyamin during the dedication of the Mishkan. Though not much else is recorded about him, his role highlights the importance of leadership in serving Hashem and uniting the tribe in sacred service (Rambam, Hilchot Klei HaMikdash 3:4).
Q: What lesson can we learn from Avidan's offering in this verse?
A: Avidan's offering teaches that every individual’s contribution to a holy cause—no matter how similar to others—is cherished by Hashem. The Talmud (Sotah 37b) notes that collective unity (like the tribes’ offerings) does not diminish personal merit; each act of service stands on its own.
Q: How does the dedication of the Mishkan apply to us today?
A: Just as Avidan and the tribes dedicated their offerings to the Mishkan, we are taught (based on the Talmud, Berachot 55a) that every Jew contributes uniquely to communal holiness—whether through prayer, charity, or Torah study. The Mishkan’s model inspires us to unite in serving Hashem while valuing each person’s role.
Context in the Torah
This verse appears in Bamidbar (Numbers) 7:60, detailing the offerings brought by the tribal leaders (nesi'im) during the dedication of the Mishkan. Avidan ben Gidoni, representing the tribe of Binyamin, brought his offering on the ninth day.
Rashi's Explanation
Rashi (Bamidbar 7:60) notes that the sequence of offerings followed the order of the tribes' encampment around the Mishkan, as described in Bamidbar 2. Binyamin was positioned with Yehuda and Yissachar on the east side, but the offerings were brought in an order that alternated between the different directions. Rashi also emphasizes that each leader's offering was identical, yet the Torah repeats the details for each one to honor every tribe individually.
Symbolism of the Ninth Day
The Midrash (Bamidbar Rabbah 13:14) highlights that the ninth day corresponds to the ninth of Av (Tisha B'Av), the day the Beit HaMikdash was later destroyed. However, Avidan's offering on this day symbolizes future redemption—just as Binyamin's descendant, Mordechai, would later play a key role in the Purim miracle, which brought salvation to Klal Yisrael.
Avidan ben Gidoni's Name
The Tribe of Binyamin's Role
The Kli Yakar (Bamidbar 7:60) explains that Binyamin's offering, though identical to the others, carried unique significance because the tribe was entrusted with the area of the Beit HaMikdash (see Yehoshua 18:16). Their dedication foreshadowed the future sanctity of Yerushalayim.