Bamidbar 4 · Pshat

4:1

וַיְדַבֵּר יְהֹוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה וְאֶֽל־אַהֲרֹן לֵאמֹֽר׃

Adonoy spoke to Moshe and to Aharon, saying;

4:2

נָשֹׂא אֶת־רֹאשׁ בְּנֵי קְהָת מִתּוֹךְ בְּנֵי לֵוִי לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לְבֵית אֲבֹתָֽם׃

Take the count of the sons of Kehos from among the sons of Levi according to their families according to the house of their fathers.

Rashi

נשא את ראש וגו'. מְנֵה מֵהֶם אֶת הָרְאוּיִין לַעֲבוֹדַת מַשָּׂא, וְהֵם מִבֶּן שְׁלֹשִׁים וְעַד בֶּן חֲמִשִּׁים שָׁנָה, וְהַפָּחוּת מִשְּׁלֹשִׁים לֹא נִתְמַלֵּא כֹחוֹ, מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ (אבות פ"ה) "בֶּן שְׁלֹשִׁים לַכֹּחַ", וְהַיּוֹתֵר עַל בֶּן חֲמִשִּׁים כֹּחוֹ מַכְחִישׁ מֵעַתָּה:

Take the count . . . etc. Count those among them suited for the service of carrying, the ones from thirty to fifty years of age. Someone younger than thirty, has not reached prime strength. From here they (the Rabbis) derive “[the age of] thirty for strength” and after fifty, one’s strength diminishes.

4:3

מִבֶּן שְׁלֹשִׁים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה וְעַד בֶּן־חֲמִשִּׁים שָׁנָה כׇּל־בָּא לַצָּבָא לַעֲשׂוֹת מְלָאכָה בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃

From thirty years and above until fifty years, all who enter into the division to perform service in the Tent of Meeting.

4:4

זֹאת עֲבֹדַת בְּנֵי־קְהָת בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִֽׁים׃

This is the service of the sons of Kehos in the Tent of Meeting, the Holy of Holies.

Rashi

קדש הקדשים. הַמְקֻדָּשׁ שֶׁבְּכֻלָּן – הָאָרוֹן וְהַשֻּׁלְחָן וְהַמְּנוֹרָה וְהַמִּזְבְּחוֹת וְהַפָּרֹכֶת וּכְלֵי שָׁרֵת:

The Holy of Holies. The Holiest of all; the Ark, the Table, the Menorah, the Altars, the Paroches, and the service vessels.

4:5

וּבָא אַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו בִּנְסֹעַ הַֽמַּחֲנֶה וְהוֹרִדוּ אֵת פָּרֹכֶת הַמָּסָךְ וְכִסּוּ־בָהּ אֵת אֲרֹן הָעֵדֻֽת׃

Aharon and his sons shall enter when the camp is about to travel, and take down the screening curtain and, with it they shall cover the Ark of the Testimony.

Rashi

ובא אהרן ובניו וגו'. יַכְנִיסוּ כָל כְּלִי וּכְלִי לְנַרְתֵּקוֹ הַמְפֹרָשׁ לוֹ בְּפָרָשָׁה זוֹ, וְלֹא יִצְטָרְכוּ הַלְוִיִּם בְּנֵי קְהָת אֶלָּא לָשֵׂאת:

Aharon and his sons shall enter . . . etc. They shall place each vessel into the sheath specified for it in this chapter, so that the Levite sons of Kehos need do nothing but carry [them].

בנסע המחנה. כְּשֶׁהֶעָנָן מִסְתַּלֵּק, הֵן יוֹדְעִין שֶׁיִּסְּעוּ:

When the camp is about to travel. When the cloud rises, they know that they are to depart.

4:6

וְנָתְנוּ עָלָיו כְּסוּי עוֹר תַּחַשׁ וּפָרְשׂוּ בֶֽגֶד־כְּלִיל תְּכֵלֶת מִלְמָעְלָה וְשָׂמוּ בַּדָּֽיו׃

They shall place upon it a covering of tachash -hide and spread an entirely blue woolen cloth on top of it, and put its [carrying] poles [in place].

4:7

וְעַל ׀ שֻׁלְחַן הַפָּנִים יִפְרְשׂוּ בֶּגֶד תְּכֵלֶת וְנָתְנוּ עָלָיו אֶת־הַקְּעָרֹת וְאֶת־הַכַּפֹּת וְאֶת־הַמְּנַקִּיֹּת וְאֵת קְשׂוֹת הַנָּסֶךְ וְלֶחֶם הַתָּמִיד עָלָיו יִהְיֶֽה׃

On the Show Table they shall spread a blue woolen cloth and they shall place upon it the molds, spoons, rods and the covering props, and the continual bread shall be upon it.

Rashi

קערת וכפת וקשות ומנקית. כְּבָר פֵּרַשְׁתִּי בִּמְלֶאכֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן:

Molds, spoons, rods, covering props. I have explained this in [the chapter dealing with] the work of the Mishkon.

הנסך. הַכִּסּוּי, לְשׁוֹן מָסָךְ, כְּדִכְתִיב "אֲשֶׁר יֻסַּךְ בָּהֵן" (שמות כ"ה):

Covering. Covering, from the word מָסָךְ, cover, as it is written, “. . . by which they (the breads) shall be covered.”

4:8

וּפָרְשׂוּ עֲלֵיהֶם בֶּגֶד תּוֹלַעַת שָׁנִי וְכִסּוּ אֹתוֹ בְּמִכְסֵה עוֹר תָּחַשׁ וְשָׂמוּ אֶת־בַּדָּֽיו׃

They shall spread upon them a cloth of crimson thread and they shall cover it with a covering of tachash -hide and put its [carrying] poles [in place].

4:9

וְלָקְחוּ ׀ בֶּגֶד תְּכֵלֶת וְכִסּוּ אֶת־מְנֹרַת הַמָּאוֹר וְאֶת־נֵרֹתֶיהָ וְאֶת־מַלְקָחֶיהָ וְאֶת־מַחְתֹּתֶיהָ וְאֵת כׇּל־כְּלֵי שַׁמְנָהּ אֲשֶׁר יְשָׁרְתוּ־לָהּ בָּהֶֽם׃

They shall take a blue woolen cloth and they shall cover the Menorah that illuminates and its lamps, its tongs and its scoops and all of its oil vessels; those with which you use to perform its service.

Rashi

מלקחיה. כְּמִין צְבַת שֶׁמּוֹשֵׁךְ בָּהּ אֶת הַפְּתִילָה לְכָל צַד שֶׁיִּרְצֶה:

Its tongs. A type of pliers with which they pull the wick in any desired direction.

מחתתיה. כְּמִין כַּף קְטַנָּה, וְשׁוּלֶיהָ פְשׁוּטִין וְלֹא סְגַלְגַּלִּים, וְאֵין לָהּ מְחִצָּה לְפָנֶיהָ אֶלָּא מִצִּדֶּיהָ, וְחוֹתֶה בָהּ אֶת דֶּשֶׁן הַנֵּרוֹת כְּשֶׁמְּטִיבָן:

Its scoops. A type of small spoon with a flat, uncurved bottom, unwalled at the front — only at the sides, with which he rakes the ashes from the lamps when cleaning them.

נרתיה. לוצי"ש בְּלַעַז, שֶׁנּוֹתְנִים בָּהֶן הַשֶּׁמֶן וְהַפְּתִילוֹת:

It lamps. Loces, lamps, in Old French, in which the oil and wicks are placed.

4:10

וְנָתְנוּ אֹתָהּ וְאֶת־כׇּל־כֵּלֶיהָ אֶל־מִכְסֵה עוֹר תָּחַשׁ וְנָתְנוּ עַל־הַמּֽוֹט׃

They shall put it and all of its utensils into the covering of the tachash -hide and put it on the carrying frame.

Rashi

אל מכסה עור תחש. כְּמִין מַרְצוּף:

Into the covering of the tachash — hide. A type of sack.

4:11

וְעַל ׀ מִזְבַּח הַזָּהָב יִפְרְשׂוּ בֶּגֶד תְּכֵלֶת וְכִסּוּ אֹתוֹ בְּמִכְסֵה עוֹר תָּחַשׁ וְשָׂמוּ אֶת־בַּדָּֽיו׃

On top of the golden Altar they shall spread a blue woolen cloth and they shall cover it with a covering of tachash -hide, and put its [carrying] poles in place.

4:12

וְלָקְחוּ אֶת־כׇּל־כְּלֵי הַשָּׁרֵת אֲשֶׁר יְשָֽׁרְתוּ־בָם בַּקֹּדֶשׁ וְנָֽתְנוּ אֶל־בֶּגֶד תְּכֵלֶת וְכִסּוּ אוֹתָם בְּמִכְסֵה עוֹר תָּחַשׁ וְנָתְנוּ עַל־הַמּֽוֹט׃

They shall take all the service utensils with which they serve in the Sanctuary and they shall put them inside a blue woolen cloth, and they shall cover them with a covering of tachash -hide, and put it on the carrying frame.

Rashi

את כל כלי השרת אשר ישרתו בם בקדש. בְּתוֹךְ הַמִּשְׁכָּן שֶׁהוּא קֹדֶשׁ, וְהֵן כְּלֵי הַקְּטֹרֶת שֶׁמְּשָׁרְתִין בָּהֶם בְּמִּזְבֵּחַ הַפְּנִימִי:

All the service utensils with which they serve in the Sanctuary. Inside the Mishkon, which is Holy. These are the incense vessels, with which they serve on the inner altar.

4:13

וְדִשְּׁנוּ אֶת־הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וּפָרְשׂוּ עָלָיו בֶּגֶד אַרְגָּמָֽן׃

They shall remove the ashes from [atop] the Altar and they shall spread upon it a cloth of purple [wool].

Rashi

ודשנו את המזבח. מִזְבַּח הַנְּחֹשֶׁת:

They shall remove the ashes from the Altar. The copper altar.

ודשנו. יִטְּלוּ אֶת הַדֶּשֶׁן מֵעָלָיו:

They shall remove the ashes. They shall take the ashes away from it.

ופרשו עליו בגד ארגמן. וְאֵשׁ שֶׁיָּרְדָה מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם רְבוּצָה תַּחַת הַבֶּגֶד כַּאֲרִי בִּשְׁעַת הַמַּסָּעוֹת, וְאֵינָהּ שׂוֹרַפְתּוֹ, שֶׁהָיוּ כוֹפִין עָלֶיהָ פְּסַכְתֵּר שֶׁל נְחֹשֶׁת (יומא כ"א):

And spread upon it a cloth of purple [wool]. The fire which descended from heaven lay below the cloth like a lion when they traveled. It didn’t burn it (the cloth), because they arched a copper vessel over it.

4:14

וְנָתְנוּ עָלָיו אֶֽת־כׇּל־כֵּלָיו אֲשֶׁר יְֽשָׁרְתוּ עָלָיו בָּהֶם אֶת־הַמַּחְתֹּת אֶת־הַמִּזְלָגֹת וְאֶת־הַיָּעִים וְאֶת־הַמִּזְרָקֹת כֹּל כְּלֵי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וּפָרְשׂוּ עָלָיו כְּסוּי עוֹר תַּחַשׁ וְשָׂמוּ בַדָּֽיו׃

They shall put upon it all of its utensils which they use in service, those that are used on the Altar-top; the firepans, forks, scoops and sprinklers, all the utensils of the Altar. They shall spread upon it a covering of tachash -hide, and put its [carrying] poles in place.

Rashi

מחתת. שֶׁבָּהֶם חוֹתִין גֶּחָלִים לִתְרוּמַת הַדֶּשֶׁן, הָעֲשׂוּיָה כְּמִין מַחֲבַת שֶׁאֵין לָהּ אֶלָּא שָׁלֹשׁ מְחִצּוֹת, וּמִלְּפָנֶיהָ שׁוֹאֶבֶת אֶת הַגְּחָלִים:

Firepans. With these they raked the coals for the lifting of the ashes. This was made like a pan with only three sides, and the front was used to draw the coals.

מזלגת. צִנּוֹרִיּוֹת שֶׁל נְחֹשֶׁת שֶׁבָּהֶן מַכִּין בָּאֵבָרִים שֶׁעַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ לְהָפְכָן, כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּתְעַכְּלוּ יָפֶה וּמַהֵר:

Forks. Copper hooks with which they prodded the limbs on the altar, turning them so that they would be completely consumed quickly.

יעים. הֵם מַגְרֵפוֹת, וּבְלַעַז וודי"ל, וְהֵן שֶׁל נְחֹשֶׁת, וּבָהֶן מְכַבְּדִין אֶת הַדֶּשֶׁן מֵעַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ:

Scoops. These were scrapers, In Old French, Wadil, scoops. They were made of copper, and used to sweep the ashes from the Altar.

4:15

וְכִלָּה אַֽהֲרֹן־וּבָנָיו לְכַסֹּת אֶת־הַקֹּדֶשׁ וְאֶת־כׇּל־כְּלֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ בִּנְסֹעַ הַֽמַּחֲנֶה וְאַחֲרֵי־כֵן יָבֹאוּ בְנֵי־קְהָת לָשֵׂאת וְלֹֽא־יִגְּעוּ אֶל־הַקֹּדֶשׁ וָמֵתוּ אֵלֶּה מַשָּׂא בְנֵֽי־קְהָת בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃

Aharon and his sons shall complete the covering of the Sanctuary and all of the holy utensils whenever the camp is about to travel, and after that, the sons of Kehos shall come to carry [these items], and they shall not touch the Holy [objects] and they will [not] die. These are what the sons of Kehos must carry for the Tent of Meeting.

Rashi

לכסת את הקדש. הָאָרוֹן וְהַמִּזְבֵּחַ:

Covering of the Sanctuary. The Ark and the Altar.

ואת כל כלי הקדש. הַמְּנוֹרָה וּכְלֵי שָׁרֵת:

And all of the holy utensils. The Menorah and the service vessels.

ומתו. שֶׁאִם יִגְּעוּ — חַיָּבִין מִיתָה בִידֵי שָׁמַיִם:

And they will [not] die. Since, if they touch, they will be subject to death by Heavenly decree.

4:16

וּפְקֻדַּת אֶלְעָזָר ׀ בֶּן־אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֵן שֶׁמֶן הַמָּאוֹר וּקְטֹרֶת הַסַּמִּים וּמִנְחַת הַתָּמִיד וְשֶׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה פְּקֻדַּת כׇּל־הַמִּשְׁכָּן וְכׇל־אֲשֶׁר־בּוֹ בְּקֹדֶשׁ וּבְכֵלָֽיו׃ {פ}

Encharged to Elazar, the son of Aharon the kohein, is the oil for illumination, the incense of spices the continual [daily] meal-offering and the anointing oil; the charge of the entire Mishkon and all of its contents in the Sanctuary, and its utensils.

Rashi

ופקדת אלעזר. שֶׁהוּא מְמֻנֶּה עֲלֵיהֶם לָשֵֹאת אוֹתָם, שֶׁמֶן וּקְטֹרֶת וְשֶׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה, ומנחת התמיד — עָלָיו מֻטָּל לְצַוּוֹת וּלְזָרֵז וּלְהַקְרִיב בְּעֵת חֲנִיָּתָן (תלמוד ירושלמי שבת פ"י):

Encharged to Elazar. He was assigned to carry them; oil, incense, and anointing oil. The continual [daily] meal-offering. His responsibility was to issue orders, to urge [the others], and to offer it [on the altar] when they camped.

פקדת כל המשכן. וְעוֹד הָיָה מְמֻנֶּה עַל מַשָּׂא בְנֵי קְהָת, לְצַוּוֹת אִישׁ עַל עֲבוֹדָתוֹ וְעַל מַשָּׂאוֹ, וְהוּא המשכן וכל אשר בו, כָּל הַסְּדוּרִים לְמַעְלָה בְּפָרָשָׁה זוֹ, אֲבָל מַשָּׂא בְנֵי גֵרְשׁוֹן וּמְרָרִי שֶׁאֵינָהּ מִקֹּדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים עַ"פִּ אִיתָמָר הָיָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב בְּפָרָשַׁת נָשֹׂא:

The charge of the entire Mishkon. In addition, he was assigned to [oversee] the load of the sons of Kehos — to issue orders for everyone’s work and load. This is [what is meant by] “the Mishkon and all of its contents,” everything listed above in this chapter. But the load of the sons of Gershon and Merori, which did not consist of the holy of holies, was by order of Isamar, as is written in the portion of נָשׂא .

4:17

וַיְדַבֵּר יְהֹוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה וְאֶֽל־אַהֲרֹן לֵאמֹֽר׃

Adonoy spoke to Moshe and to Aharon, saying:

4:18

אַל־תַּכְרִיתוּ אֶת־שֵׁבֶט מִשְׁפְּחֹת הַקְּהָתִי מִתּוֹךְ הַלְוִיִּֽם׃

Do not cut off the tribe of the families of the Kehosites, from among the Levites.

Rashi

אל תכריתו. אַל תִּגְרְמוּ לָהֶם שֶׁיָּמוּתוּ:

Do not cut off. Do not cause them to die.

4:19

וְזֹאת ׀ עֲשׂוּ לָהֶם וְחָיוּ וְלֹא יָמֻתוּ בְּגִשְׁתָּם אֶת־קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים אַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו יָבֹאוּ וְשָׂמוּ אוֹתָם אִישׁ אִישׁ עַל־עֲבֹדָתוֹ וְאֶל־מַשָּׂאֽוֹ׃

This is what you must do for them, that they may live and not die when they approach the Holy of Holies; Aharon and his sons shall [first] come and appoint them each man individually, to [perform] his own service, and to carry his own load.

4:20

וְלֹא־יָבֹאוּ לִרְאוֹת כְּבַלַּע אֶת־הַקֹּדֶשׁ וָמֵֽתוּ׃ {פ}

They shall not come in to see when the holy is being covered and [they will not] die.

Rashi

ולא יבאו לראות כבלע את הקדש. לְתוֹךְ נַרְתֵּק שֶׁלּוֹ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִּי לְמַעְלָה בְּפָרָשָׁה זוֹ, וּפָרְשׂוּ עָלָיו בֶּגֶד פְּלוֹנִי וְכִסּוּ אוֹתוֹ בְּמִכְסֶה פְּלוֹנִי, וּבִלּוּעַ שֶׁלּוֹ הוּא כִסּוּיוֹ:

They shall not come in to see when the holy is being covered. [When placed] into its sheath, as specified above in this chapter, they shall spread over it a certain cloth, they shall cover it with a certain cover. Its “ בִּלּוּעַ “ refers to the covering of it.

4:21

וַיְדַבֵּר יְהֹוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹֽר׃

And Adonoy spoke to Moshe, saying;

4:22

נָשֹׂא אֶת־רֹאשׁ בְּנֵי גֵרְשׁוֹן גַּם־הֵם לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָֽם׃

Take the count of the sons of Gershon as well, according to the house of their fathers according to their families.

Rashi

נשא את ראש בני גרשון גם הם. כְּמוֹ שֶׁצִּוִּיתִיךָ עַל בְּנֵי קְהָת, לִרְאוֹת כַּמָּה יֵשׁ שֶׁהִגִּיעוּ לִכְלַל עֲבוֹדָה:

Take the count of the sons of Gershon, as well. Just as I commanded you conce ning the sons of Kehos, to determine how many have reached the working category.

4:23

מִבֶּן שְׁלֹשִׁים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה עַד בֶּן־חֲמִשִּׁים שָׁנָה תִּפְקֹד אוֹתָם כׇּל־הַבָּא לִצְבֹא צָבָא לַעֲבֹד עֲבֹדָה בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃

From thirty years and above, until fifty years, you shall count them; all those who enter the division to serve in the Tent of Meeting.

4:24

זֹאת עֲבֹדַת מִשְׁפְּחֹת הַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּי לַעֲבֹד וּלְמַשָּֽׂא׃

This is the service of the families of the Gershonites to serve, and to carry.

4:25

וְנָשְׂאוּ אֶת־יְרִיעֹת הַמִּשְׁכָּן וְאֶת־אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד מִכְסֵהוּ וּמִכְסֵה הַתַּחַשׁ אֲשֶׁר־עָלָיו מִלְמָעְלָה וְאֶת־מָסַךְ פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃

They shall carry the tapestries of the Mishkon and [of] the Tent of Meeting, its covering and the covering of tachash which is on top of it, and the screen for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting,

Rashi

את יריעת המשכן. עֶשֶׂר תַּחְתּוֹנוֹת:

The tapestries of the Mishkon. The ten lower ones.

ואת אהל מועד. יְרִיעֹת עִזִּים הָעֲשׂוּיוֹת לְאֹהֶל עָלָיו:

And the Tent of Meeting. The goat-hair tapestries, made as a tent over it (the Mishkon).

מכסהו. עוֹרוֹת אֵילִים מְאָדָּמִים:

Its covering. The red dyed rams’ skins.

מסך פתח. וִילוֹן הַמִּזְרָחִי:

The screen for the entrance. The eastern curtain.

4:26

וְאֵת קַלְעֵי הֶֽחָצֵר וְאֶת־מָסַךְ ׀ פֶּתַח ׀ שַׁעַר הֶחָצֵר אֲשֶׁר עַל־הַמִּשְׁכָּן וְעַל־הַמִּזְבֵּחַ סָבִיב וְאֵת מֵֽיתְרֵיהֶם וְאֶֽת־כׇּל־כְּלֵי עֲבֹדָתָם וְאֵת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁר יֵעָשֶׂה לָהֶם וְעָבָֽדוּ׃

the hanging [tapestries] of the courtyard, the screen for the entrance to the gate of the courtyard which are over the Mishkon and altar on all sides, their ropes and all of their service utensils and all that will be given to them, and thus shall they serve.

Rashi

אשר על המשכן. כְּלוֹמַר הַקְּלָעִים וְהַמָּסָךְ שֶׁל חָצֵר, הַסּוֹכְכִים וּמְגִנִּים עַל הַמִּשְׁכָּן וְעַל מִזְבַּח הַנְּחֹשֶׁת סָבִיב:

Which are over the Mishkon. As if it had said, “The curtains and screen of the courtyard enclosure which protect and guard over the Mishkon and the copper altar on all sides.”

ואת כל אשר יעשה להם. כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ "וְיָת כָּל דִּי יִתְּמְסַר לְהוֹן" — לִבְנֵי גֵּרְשׁוֹן:

And all that will be given [lit. made] to them. As Targum [Onkelos] translates, ”all that will be given to them” — to the sons of Gershon.

4:27

עַל־פִּי אַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו תִּהְיֶה כׇּל־עֲבֹדַת בְּנֵי הַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּי לְכׇל־מַשָּׂאָם וּלְכֹל עֲבֹדָתָם וּפְקַדְתֶּם עֲלֵהֶם בְּמִשְׁמֶרֶת אֵת כׇּל־מַשָּׂאָֽם׃

By instruction of Aharon and [one of] his sons shall be all the services of the sons of the Gershonites for all that they carry and for all their service. You shall fix specified appointments for them for everything they carry.

Rashi

על פי אהרון ובניו. וְאֵיזֶה מֵהַבָּנִים מְמֻנֶּה עֲלֵיהֶם? ביד איתמר בן אהרון הכהן:

By instruction of Aharon and [one of] his sons. Which of his sons is appointed over them? Under the supervision of Isamar, son of Aharon, the kohein.