Bamidbar
Bamidbar, Aliyah 5 במדבר, חמישי
Part of: BamidbarBamidbar, Aliyah 5Chapter 3Petuchah, Numbers 3:14Setumah, Numbers 3:27
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Bamidbar 3
וַיְדַבֵּר יְהֹוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה בְּמִדְבַּר סִינַי לֵאמֹֽר׃
Adonoy spoke to Moshe in the Sinai desert, saying;
Adonoy spoke to Moshe in the Sinai desert, saying;
פְּקֹד אֶת־בְּנֵי לֵוִי לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם כׇּל־זָכָר מִבֶּן־חֹדֶשׁ וָמַעְלָה תִּפְקְדֵֽם׃
Count the sons of Levi according to their fathers’ houses according to their families. All males from the age of one month and above, you shall count them.
Count the sons of Levi according to their fathers’ houses according to their families. All males from the age of one month and above, you shall count them.
Rashi
וַיִּפְקֹד אֹתָם מֹשֶׁה עַל־פִּי יְהֹוָה כַּאֲשֶׁר צֻוָּֽה׃
Moshe counted them according to the word of Adonoy, just as he was commanded.
Moshe counted them according to the word of Adonoy, just as he was commanded.
Rashi
על פי ה'. אָמַר מֹשֶׁה לִפְנֵי הַקָּבָּ"ה, הֵיאַךְ אֲנִי נִכְנָס לְתוֹךְ אָהֳלֵיהֶם לָדַעַת מִנְיַן יוֹנְקֵיהֶם? אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּבָּ"ה, עֲשֵׂה אַתָּה שֶׁלְּךְ וַאֲנִי אֶעֱשֶׂה שֶׁלִּי, הָלַךְ מֹשֶׁה וְעָמַד עַל פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל וְהַשְּׁכִינָה מַקְדֶּמֶת לְפָנָיו, וּבַת קוֹל יוֹצְאָה מִן הָאֹהֶל וְאוֹמֶרֶת כָּךְ וָכָךְ תִּינוֹקוֹת יֵשׁ בְּאֹהֶל זֶה, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר עַל פִּי ה':
According to the word of Adonoy. Moshe said before the Holy One, Blessed is He, ”How can I enter into their tents to determine the number of their nursing infants”? The Holy One, Blessed is He, replied, “Do yours, and I will do Mine”! Moshe proceeded, and stood at the door of the tent, whereupon the Divine Presence preceded him [and entered the tent]. A voice then echoed from the tent, announcing, “There are so many and so many nursing infants in this tent”! This is why it is said, “. . . according to the word of God . . .”
וַיִּֽהְיוּ־אֵלֶּה בְנֵֽי־לֵוִי בִּשְׁמֹתָם גֵּרְשׁוֹן וּקְהָת וּמְרָרִֽי׃
These were sons of Levi according to their names, Gershon, Kehos and Merori.
These were sons of Levi according to their names, Gershon, Kehos and Merori.
וְאֵלֶּה שְׁמוֹת בְּֽנֵי־גֵרְשׁוֹן לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לִבְנִי וְשִׁמְעִֽי׃
These are the names of Gershon’s sons according to their families; Livni and Shim’i.
These are the names of Gershon’s sons according to their families; Livni and Shim’i.
וּבְנֵי קְהָת לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם עַמְרָם וְיִצְהָר חֶבְרוֹן וְעֻזִּיאֵֽל׃
The sons of Kehos, according to their families were; Amram, Yitzhar Chevron and Uziel.
The sons of Kehos, according to their families were; Amram, Yitzhar Chevron and Uziel.
וּבְנֵי מְרָרִי לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם מַחְלִי וּמוּשִׁי אֵלֶּה הֵם מִשְׁפְּחֹת הַלֵּוִי לְבֵית אֲבֹתָֽם׃
The sons of Merori, according to their families were; Machli and Mushi. These are the families of Levi according to their fathers’ houses.
The sons of Merori, according to their families were; Machli and Mushi. These are the families of Levi according to their fathers’ houses.
לְגֵרְשׁוֹן מִשְׁפַּחַת הַלִּבְנִי וּמִשְׁפַּחַת הַשִּׁמְעִי אֵלֶּה הֵם מִשְׁפְּחֹת הַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּֽי׃
Of Gershon, the family of Livni and the family of Shim’i. These are the families of the Gershonites.
Of Gershon, the family of Livni and the family of Shim’i. These are the families of the Gershonites.
Rashi
לגרשון משפחת הלבני. כְּלוֹמַר, לְגֵרְשׁוֹן הָיוּ הַפְּקוּדִים מִשְׁפַּחַת הַלִּבְנִי וּמִשְׁפַּחַת הַשִּׁמְעִי — פְּקוּדֵיהֶם כָּךְ וְכָךְ:
Of Gershon, the family of Livni. Meaning, of Gershon, those who were counted [was] the family of Livni and the family of Shim’i — their numbers were so many and so many.
פְּקֻדֵיהֶם בְּמִסְפַּר כׇּל־זָכָר מִבֶּן־חֹדֶשׁ וָמָעְלָה פְּקֻדֵיהֶם שִׁבְעַת אֲלָפִים וַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאֽוֹת׃
Their numbers, in a count of every male of one month and above; their numbers are seven thousand five hundred.
Their numbers, in a count of every male of one month and above; their numbers are seven thousand five hundred.
מִשְׁפְּחֹת הַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּי אַחֲרֵי הַמִּשְׁכָּן יַחֲנוּ יָֽמָּה׃
The families of the Gershonites shall camp behind the Mishkon on the west side.
The families of the Gershonites shall camp behind the Mishkon on the west side.
וּנְשִׂיא בֵֽית־אָב לַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּי אֶלְיָסָף בֶּן־לָאֵֽל׃
The leader of the household of the Gershonites is Elyasaf the son of Lael.
The leader of the household of the Gershonites is Elyasaf the son of Lael.
וּמִשְׁמֶרֶת בְּנֵֽי־גֵרְשׁוֹן בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד הַמִּשְׁכָּן וְהָאֹהֶל מִכְסֵהוּ וּמָסַךְ פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃
The guardianship of the sons of Gershon in the Tent of Meeting [was]; the Mishkon and the Tent, its cover and the Curtain for the entrance of the Tent of Meeting,
The guardianship of the sons of Gershon in the Tent of Meeting [was]; the Mishkon and the Tent, its cover and the Curtain for the entrance of the Tent of Meeting,
Rashi
המשכן. יְרִיעוֹת הַתַּחְתּוֹנוֹת:
The Mishkon. The lower [ceiling] drapes.
והאהל. יְרִיעוֹת עִזִּים הָעֲשׂוּיוֹת לְגַג:
And the Tent. The goats’ hair drapes, made [to serve] as the roof.
מכסהו. עוֹרוֹת אֵילִים וּתְחָשִׁים:
Its Cover. Ram skins and tachash skins.
ומסך פתח. הוּא הַוִּילוֹן:
And the curtain for the entrance This is the drape.
וְקַלְעֵי הֶֽחָצֵר וְאֶת־מָסַךְ פֶּתַח הֶֽחָצֵר אֲשֶׁר עַל־הַמִּשְׁכָּן וְעַל־הַמִּזְבֵּחַ סָבִיב וְאֵת מֵֽיתָרָיו לְכֹל עֲבֹדָתֽוֹ׃ {ס}
The hanging Curtains of the courtyard and the Curtain at the entrance of the courtyard which is around the Mishkon and Altar, and its ropes, for all of the work involving these things.
The hanging Curtains of the courtyard and the Curtain at the entrance of the courtyard which is around the Mishkon and Altar, and its ropes, for all of the work involving these things.
Rashi
ואת מיתריו. שֶׁל הַמִשְׁכָּן וְהָאֹהֶל, וְלֹא שֶׁל חָצֵר:
And its ropes. Of the Mishkon and the tent, but not the enclosure.
וְלִקְהָת מִשְׁפַּחַת הַֽעַמְרָמִי וּמִשְׁפַּחַת הַיִּצְהָרִי וּמִשְׁפַּחַת הַֽחֶבְרֹנִי וּמִשְׁפַּחַת הָעׇזִּֽיאֵלִי אֵלֶּה הֵם מִשְׁפְּחֹת הַקְּהָתִֽי׃
Of Kehos, was the family of Amram, the family of Yitzhar, the family of Chevron and the family of Uziel, these are the families of the Kehosites.
Of Kehos, was the family of Amram, the family of Yitzhar, the family of Chevron and the family of Uziel, these are the families of the Kehosites.
בְּמִסְפַּר כׇּל־זָכָר מִבֶּן־חֹדֶשׁ וָמָעְלָה שְׁמֹנַת אֲלָפִים וְשֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת שֹׁמְרֵי מִשְׁמֶרֶת הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃
The number of every male from one month and above is eight thousand six hundred. [They were] the guardians of the sacred vessels.
The number of every male from one month and above is eight thousand six hundred. [They were] the guardians of the sacred vessels.
מִשְׁפְּחֹת בְּנֵי־קְהָת יַחֲנוּ עַל יֶרֶךְ הַמִּשְׁכָּן תֵּימָֽנָה׃
The families of the children of Kehos shall camp on the south side of the Mishkon.
The families of the children of Kehos shall camp on the south side of the Mishkon.
Rashi
משפחת בני קהת יחנו … תימנה. וּסְמוּכִין לָהֶם דֶּגֶל רְאוּבֵן הַחוֹנִים תֵּימָנָה — אוֹי לָרָשָׁע אוֹי לִשְׁכֵנוֹ, לְכָךְ לָקוּ מֵהֶם דָּתָן וַאֲבִירָם וּמָאתַיִם וַחֲמִשִּׁים אִישׁ עִם קֹרַח וַעֲדָתוֹ, שֶׁנִּמְשְׁכוּ עִמָּהֶם בְּמַחֲלָקְתָּם (תנחומא):
The families of the children of Kehos shall camp . . . on the south. Near them [was] the banner of Reuven, who camped to the south. Woe to the wicked, woe to his neighbor! This is why [Reuven’s constituents] were punished — Doson, Avirom, and two hundred and fifty men — together with Korach and his assembly, because they (the Reuvenites) were drawn, with them, into the dispute.
וּנְשִׂיא בֵֽית־אָב לְמִשְׁפְּחֹת הַקְּהָתִי אֱלִיצָפָן בֶּן־עֻזִּיאֵֽל׃
The leader of the household of the families of the Kehosites, is Elitzafan the son of Uziel.
The leader of the household of the families of the Kehosites, is Elitzafan the son of Uziel.
וּמִשְׁמַרְתָּם הָאָרֹן וְהַשֻּׁלְחָן וְהַמְּנֹרָה וְהַֽמִּזְבְּחֹת וּכְלֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר יְשָׁרְתוּ בָּהֶם וְהַמָּסָךְ וְכֹל עֲבֹדָתֽוֹ׃
Their guardianship is the Ark, the Table, the Menorah, the Altars and the sacred utensils with which they serve. And the Curtain, and all of the work involving these things.
Their guardianship is the Ark, the Table, the Menorah, the Altars and the sacred utensils with which they serve. And the Curtain, and all of the work involving these things.
Rashi
והמסך. הִיא הַפָּרֹכֶת, שֶׁאַף הִיא קְרוּיָה פָּרֹכֶת הַמָּסָךְ:
And the curtain. This is the Paroches, as it was also called “. . . the Paroches screen . . .”
וּנְשִׂיא נְשִׂיאֵי הַלֵּוִי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן־אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֵן פְּקֻדַּת שֹׁמְרֵי מִשְׁמֶרֶת הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃
The leader of the leaders of Levi shall be Elazar, the son of Aharon, the kohein [who is] in charge of the appointment of the guardians to safeguard the holy [Sanctuary].
The leader of the leaders of Levi shall be Elazar, the son of Aharon, the kohein [who is] in charge of the appointment of the guardians to safeguard the holy [Sanctuary].
Rashi
ונשיא נשיאי הלוי. מְמֻנֶּה עַל כֻּלָּם, וְעַל מַה הִיא נְשִׂיאוּתוֹ —
The leader of the leaders of Levi. [He was] appointed over all of them. Over what was his leadership?
פקדת שמרי משמרת — עַל יָדוֹ הִיא פְּקֻדַּת כֻּלָּם:
The appointment of the guardians to safeguard — They were all appointed by him.
לִמְרָרִי מִשְׁפַּחַת הַמַּחְלִי וּמִשְׁפַּחַת הַמּוּשִׁי אֵלֶּה הֵם מִשְׁפְּחֹת מְרָרִֽי׃
Of Merori, was the family of Machli and the family and Mushi; these are the families of the Merorites.
Of Merori, was the family of Machli and the family and Mushi; these are the families of the Merorites.
וּפְקֻדֵיהֶם בְּמִסְפַּר כׇּל־זָכָר מִבֶּן־חֹדֶשׁ וָמָעְלָה שֵׁשֶׁת אֲלָפִים וּמָאתָֽיִם׃
Their numbers, in a count of every male of one month and above, is six thousand two hundred.
Their numbers, in a count of every male of one month and above, is six thousand two hundred.
וּנְשִׂיא בֵֽית־אָב לְמִשְׁפְּחֹת מְרָרִי צוּרִיאֵל בֶּן־אֲבִיחָיִל עַל יֶרֶךְ הַמִּשְׁכָּן יַחֲנוּ צָפֹֽנָה׃
The leader of the household of the families of the Merorites is Tzuriel the son of Avichail, they shall camp on the north side of the Mishkon.
The leader of the household of the families of the Merorites is Tzuriel the son of Avichail, they shall camp on the north side of the Mishkon.
וּפְקֻדַּת מִשְׁמֶרֶת בְּנֵי מְרָרִי קַרְשֵׁי הַמִּשְׁכָּן וּבְרִיחָיו וְעַמֻּדָיו וַאֲדָנָיו וְכׇל־כֵּלָיו וְכֹל עֲבֹדָתֽוֹ׃
The appointed task of the guardianship of the sons of Merori shall be the beams of the Mishkon, its bars, pillars and sockets; all of its utensils, and all of the work involving these things.
The appointed task of the guardianship of the sons of Merori shall be the beams of the Mishkon, its bars, pillars and sockets; all of its utensils, and all of the work involving these things.
וְעַמֻּדֵי הֶחָצֵר סָבִיב וְאַדְנֵיהֶם וִיתֵדֹתָם וּמֵֽיתְרֵיהֶֽם׃
Also the pillars of the surrounding courtyard and their sockets, pegs and ropes.
Also the pillars of the surrounding courtyard and their sockets, pegs and ropes.
וְהַחֹנִים לִפְנֵי הַמִּשְׁכָּן קֵדְמָה לִפְנֵי אֹֽהֶל־מוֹעֵד ׀ מִזְרָחָה מֹשֶׁה ׀ וְאַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו שֹֽׁמְרִים מִשְׁמֶרֶת הַמִּקְדָּשׁ לְמִשְׁמֶרֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְהַזָּר הַקָּרֵב יוּמָֽת׃
Those who camped in front of the Mishkon in the forefront, in front of the Tent of Meeting on the east side [are]; Moshe, Aharon and his sons, guardians of the guardianship of the Sanctuary to guard on behalf of Bnei Yisroel. Any outsider (non-kohein) who comes near, shall be put to death.
Those who camped in front of the Mishkon in the forefront, in front of the Tent of Meeting on the east side [are]; Moshe, Aharon and his sons, guardians of the guardianship of the Sanctuary to guard on behalf of Bnei Yisroel. Any outsider (non-kohein) who comes near, shall be put to death.
Rashi
משה ואהרן ובניו. וּסְמוּכִין לָהֶם דֶּגֶל מַחֲנֵה יְהוּדָה, וְהַחוֹנִים עָלָיו יִשָּׂשכָר וּזְבוּלֻן — טוֹב לַצַּדִיק טוֹב לִשְׁכֵנוֹ, לְפִי שֶׁהָיוּ שְׁכֵנָיו שֶׁל מֹשֶׁה שֶׁהָיָה עוֹסֵק בַּתּוֹרָה, נַעֲשׂוּ גְדוֹלִים בַּתּוֹרָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "יְהוּדָה מְחֹקְקִי" (תהלים ס, ט), "וּמִבְּנֵי יִשָּׂשכָר יוֹדְעֵי בִינָה וְגוֹ' מָאתַיִם" (דהי"א י"ב) — רָאשֵׁי סַנְהֶדְרָאוֹת, "וּמִזְּבוּלֻן מֹשְׁכִים בְּשֵׁבֶט סֹפֵר" (שופטים ה, יד) (תנחומא):
Moshe, Aharon and his sons. Near them [was] the banner of the camp of Yehudah, and those who camped near him, Yissachar and Zevulun. Good fortune to the righteous, good fortune to his neighbor! Because they were neighbors of Moshe, who engaged in Torah [study], they became great Torah scholars, as it is said, “Yehudah my lawgiver”; “From the sons of Yissachar of sagacious knowledge, etc.” — [this refers to] two hundred heads of Sanhedrin; “and from Zevulun, came those that handle the scribe’s quill.”
כׇּל־פְּקוּדֵי הַלְוִיִּם אֲשֶׁר פָּקַד מֹשֶׁה וְׄאַׄהֲׄרֹׄןׄ עַל־פִּי יְהֹוָה לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם כׇּל־זָכָר מִבֶּן־חֹדֶשׁ וָמַעְלָה שְׁנַיִם וְעֶשְׂרִים אָֽלֶף׃ {ס}
The number of all the Levites whom Moshe and Aharon counted at the word of Adonoy according to their families; every male from one month and above was twenty-two thousand.
The number of all the Levites whom Moshe and Aharon counted at the word of Adonoy according to their families; every male from one month and above was twenty-two thousand.
Rashi
אשר פקד משה ואהרן. נָקוּד עַל וְאַהֲרֹן, לוֹמַר שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה בְּמִנְיַן הַלְוִיִּם (בכורות ד'):
Whom Moshe and Aharon counted. There are dots over [the word] וְאַהֲרֹן, to teach that he was not included in the counting of the Levites.
שנים ועשרים אלף. וּבִפְרָטָן אַתָּה מוֹצֵא שְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת יְתֵרִים — בְּנֵי גֵּרְשׁוֹן שִׁבְעַת אֲלָפִים וַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת, בְּנֵי קְהָת שְׁמוֹנַת אֲלָפִים וְשֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת, בְּנֵי מְרָרִי שֵׁשֶׁת אֲלָפִים וּמָאתָיִם; וְלָמָּה לֹא כְלָלָן עִם הַשְּׁאָר וְיִפְדּוּ אֶת הַבְּכוֹרוֹת וְלֹא יִהְיוּ זְקוּקִים הַשְּׁלֹשָׁה וְשִׁבְעִים וּמָאתַיִם בְּכוֹרוֹת הָעוֹדְפִים עַל הַמִּנְיָן לְפִדְיוֹן? אָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ בְמַסֶּכֶת בְּכוֹרוֹת (דף ה'), אוֹתָן שְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת לְוִיִּם בְּכוֹרוֹת הָיוּ, וְדַיָּם שֶׁיַּפְקִיעוּ עַצְמָם מִן הַפִּדְיוֹן:
Twenty two thousand. When counting them individually, however, one discovers three hundred extra: the sons of Gershon, seven thousand five hundred; the sons of Kehos, eight thousand six hundred; the sons of Merori, six thousand two hundred [hence, twenty two thousand three hundred]. Why aren’t they included among the rest to redeem the firstborn, thus exempting the two hundred seventy three overlapping firstborn from redemption? Our sages answered, in Maseches Bechoros, that the three hundred Levites were, themselves, firstborn. It was sufficient for them to release themselves from redemption.
מבן חדש ומעלה. מִשֶּׁיָּצָא מִכְּלַל נְפָלִים הוּא נִמְנֶה לִקָּרֵא שׁוֹמֵר מִשְׁמֶרֶת הַקֹּדֶשׁ; אָ"רַ יְהוּדָה בְּרַבִּי שָׁלוֹם לָמוּד הוּא אוֹתוֹ הַשֵּׁבֶט לִהְיוֹת נִמְנֶה מִן הַבֶּטֶן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "אֲשֶׁר יָלְדָה אֹתָהּ לְלֵוִי בְּמִצְרָיִם" (במדבר כ״ו:נ״ט), — עִם כְּנִיסָתָהּ בְּפֶתַח מִצְרַיִם יָלְדָה אוֹתָהּ וְנִמְנֵית בְּשִׁבְעִים נֶפֶשׁ, שֶׁכְּשֶׁאַתָּה מוֹנֶה חֶשְׁבּוֹנָם לֹא תִמְצָאֵם אֶלָּא שִׁבְעִים חָסֵר אֶחָד, וְהִיא הִשְׁלִימָה אֶת הַמִּנְיָן (תנחומא):
From the age of one month and above. When he (the infant) can no longer be categorized as stillborn, he is listed among those entitled “guardian of the sacred watch.” R’ Yehudah B’rabi Shalom said, “This [Levite] tribe is regularly counted from the womb, as it is said, “. . . [Yocheved, Levi’s daughter] . . . whom she (Levi’s wife) bore to Levi in Egypt . . .” While entering the portals of Egypt, she bore her (Yocheved). yet she is counted among the seventy souls [who came down to Egypt]. for, when one tallies their total, one finds only sixty-nine and she completed the total.