“On the ninth day, prince of the children of Benjamin, Avidan son of Gidoni” (Numbers 7:60). “On the ninth day, prince of the children of Benjamin, Avidan son of Gidoni” – why did Benjamin present his offering after Joseph’s sons? It is because, just as the Divine Presence was in Joseph’s portion in Shilo, so, it rested in Benjamin’s portion in the Temple in Jerusalem. Alternatively, it is based on what the verse said: “Rouse Your might before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, and come to our rescue” (Psalms 80:3).56The midrash here is based on the fact that Ephraim and Manasseh cannot be separated; see section 6.
“His offering was one silver dish, its weight one hundred and thirty; one silver basin of seventy shekels, in the sacred shekel; both of them full of high-quality flour mixed with oil as a meal offering” (Numbers 7:61). “His offering was one silver dish [kaarat]…” – do not read it as kaarat, but rather as akeret, corresponding to Rachel, who was the pillar of the household; she was the principal [ikar] of Jacob’s household, as it is stated: “The sons of Rachel, Jacob’s wife: Joseph and Benjamin” (Genesis 46:19).
And it says: “Rachel died on me” (Genesis 48:7). “One silver” – as on the basis of her prayer, Benjamin was born, as it is stated: “She called his name Joseph, saying: May the Lord add another son for me” (Genesis 30:24). In her regard it is stated: “The tongue of the righteous is choice silver” (Proverbs 10:20) – the tongue of a righteous woman. “Its weight one hundred and thirty” – as Benjamin was born when Jacob was one hundred years old.
That is why he was named Benjamin [Binyamin],57Son of yamin, whose numerical value is: Yod – 10; mem – 40; nun – 50; which sum to 100. In many verses there is only one yod in the word Binyamin. as he was born when his father was one hundred years old. And he was thirty years old when he descended to Egypt. That is one hundred and thirty.
“One silver basin” – it is a basin, it is a goblet, corresponding to Joseph, who assessed the righteousness of his brothers regarding Benjamin by means of the goblet. When Joseph saw that Judah sacrificed himself on behalf of Benjamin, he recognized his brothers’ righteousness and made himself known to them. Because Joseph would drink wine [yayin], whose numerical value is seventy,58Yod – 10; yod – 10; nun – 50; which sum to 70. from the goblet, therefore, the weight of the basin was “seventy…in the sacred shekel.”
“Both of them full” – both of them were equal, Joseph and Benjamin, as the Tabernacle was established in Joseph’s portion in Shilo, and the Temple in Benjamin’s portion in Jerusalem. That is, “high-quality flour mixed with oil as a meal offering.” “One gold ladle of ten shekels, filled with incense” (Numbers 7:62). “One gold ladle of ten shekels, filled with incense” – corresponding to ten sons that Benjamin had when he descended to Egypt, as it is stated: “The sons of Benjamin: Bela, and Bekher, [and Ashbel, Gera, and Naaman, Eḥi, and Rosh, Mupim, and Hupim, and Ard]” (Genesis 46:21), and they were all righteous.
That is, “filled with incense.” “One young bull, one ram, one lamb in its first year, as a burnt offering” (Numbers 7:63). “One goat as a sin offering” (Numbers 7:64). “One young bull, [one ram, one lamb]” – these are three species of burnt offering corresponding to the three times that the Temple is built in his portion: one in the era of Solomon, one in the era of those who ascended from the exile, and the third, in the Messianic Era.
“One goat as a sin offering” – it corresponds to the structure that Herod built, which was built by a sinful king, and whose construction served as atonement for him for having killed the Sages of Israel.59See Bava Batra 4a. “And for the peace offering, two bulls, five rams, five goats, five lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Avidan son of Gidoni” (Numbers 7:65). “And for the peace offering, two bulls” – corresponding to two kings who emerged from Benjamin, Saul and Ish Boshet.
Alternatively, it corresponds to the two redeemers who emerged from him, Mordekhai and Esther. “Five rams, five goats, five lambs in their first year” – there are three species, five of each, corresponding to the three advantages of five each that Benjamin received; they were: “Benjamin’s gift was five times greater that the gifts of all of them” (Genesis 43:34). “To Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of garments” (Genesis 45:22).
The third, this is Mordekhai, who was from Benjamin, and who was privileged to don five royal garments, as it is stated: “Mordekhai went out from before the king in royal garments of sky-blue and white, with a great golden crown, and a cloak of fine linen and purple wool” (Esther 8:15). “This was the offering of Avidan…” – since he presented the offering in this order, the Holy One blessed be He began lauding his offering: “This was the offering of Avidan…”