Who was Abidan in the Bible?

Abidan was the son of Gideoni and served as the leader and representative of the tribe of Benjamin during the Israelites' wilderness wanderings after the Exodus from Egypt (Numbers 1:11, 2:22).

What was Abidan's role among the Israelites?

As a tribal leader, Abidan was responsible for the military census of his tribe and commanded the army of the tribe of Benjamin, which camped on the west side of the Tabernacle (Numbers 10:24). His role was one of governance and leadership during a critical period in Israel's history.

Why is Abidan mentioned in the Bible?

Abidan is listed to document the organized structure of the Israelite nation during its formation. His inclusion shows how each tribe had a designated leader appointed by God, contributing to the historical record of Israel's journey (Numbers 1:1-16).

Abidan

Old TestamentEgypt & WildernessMaleLeader

Abidan, son of Gideoni, was the leader of the tribe of Benjamin during the Israelites' journey through the wilderness.

Abidan

Biography

Abidan, son of Gideoni, served as the appointed leader and representative of the tribe of Benjamin during Israel's formative wilderness period following the Exodus from Egypt. He is named in Numbers 1:11 as the tribal head who assisted Moses and Aaron in conducting the first census of Israel, and in Numbers 2:22 he is designated to lead Benjamin's division in the tribal encampment. Benjamin's numbered force of 35,400 men placed the tribe among the mid-sized contingents of Israel. Abidan also participated in the dedication of the tabernacle, presenting the offerings of his tribe on the ninth day (Numbers 7:60–65). His tribal offering, a silver plate, a silver basin, golden incense, and burnt and sin offerings, matched precisely those of the other tribal leaders, expressing the equal covenant standing of all Israel's tribes before God.

Significance

Abidan's faithful representation of Benjamin during Israel's wilderness journey speaks to the importance of accountable leadership within God's covenant community. The census he helped conduct was not merely administrative; it was an act of covenant recognition, establishing each Israelite male as a participant in God's redemptive march toward the promised land. Benjamin, the youngest of Jacob's sons and tribe of Israel's first king Saul, held a complicated place in the nation's identity. Abidan's honorable service at the tabernacle dedication, precisely mirroring every other tribal leader's offering, signals Benjamin's full and equal participation in the worship of Israel's God.

Verse Appearances (5)

Numbers

Numbers 1:11 Numbers 2:22 Numbers 7:60 Numbers 7:65 Numbers 10:24

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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