במדבר, פרק א׳, פסוק י״א

The names carried by tribal leaders often serve as living records of a family's history, preserving the memory of significant past events. For the tribe of Benjamin, the chosen leader and his father bear names that echo the dramatic and painful moments surrounding the birth of the tribe's founder.

As Rachel was dying in childbirth, she wanted to name her newborn son out of her deep sorrow and mourning. The leader's name, Abidan, reflects how Jacob, the father of the family, carefully weighed and judged this tragic request. Similarly, the father's name, Gideoni, carries a subtle echo of Rachel's mournful cry. Rather than accepting a legacy rooted in tragedy, Jacob sought to change the child's destiny. He chose to call his son Benjamin as a hopeful prayer, asking that the boy would grow up healthy and possess the strength of a right hand [פענח רזא].