פרשת במדבר — חמישי (Aliyah 5)

Parashat Bemidbar | Numbers 3:14–3:39 | Aliyah 5 of 7

קלאוד על הפרשה

The fifth aliyah (3:14-39) executes the census of the Levi’im — but according to a strikingly different metric than the count of the twelve tribes. Where the secular tribes were counted from twenty years old and up, the Levi’im are counted mi-ben chodesh va-ma’lah — from one month old and up. Rashi explains: the Levi’im’s count is for substitution of the firstborn (established at the end of aliyah 4), and a firstborn is considered viable from the thirtieth day of life (the yotzei dofen halakhic threshold). The Ramban draws a deeper contrast: the twelve tribes were counted as a fighting force, hence only the war-eligible age; the Levi’im were counted as a sanctified replacement for the firstborn, and Jewish identity from the womb suffices for that purpose.

The aliyah carefully presents the three Levite clans by founder and by encampment-position around the Mishkan. Gershon (son of Levi’s eldest) encamps on the west behind the Mishkan, has 7,500 males, and is in charge of yeri’ot ha-Mishkan, ha-Ohel, mikseihu — the curtains, the tent-covering, and its outer cover, plus the entrance-screen of the Mishkan and the courtyard curtains. Kehat (whose descendant Aharon was the founder of the Kohanim — making this the most prestigious clan) encamps on the south, has 8,600 males, and is responsible for the most sacred items: ha-Aron, ha-Shulchan, ha-Menorah, ha-mizbe’achot — the Aron, the Shulchan, the Menorah, and the altars (the inner gold mizbe’ach for ketoret and the outer copper mizbe’ach for korbanot). Merari encamps on the north, has 6,200 males, and is in charge of the structural elements: karshei ha-Mishkan u-vrichav, amudav va-adanav — the boards, bars, pillars, and sockets. The aliyah concludes by noting that Moshe, Aharon, and his sons encamp on the east before the Mishkan — the most honored position, facing the entrance and the rising sun, the place from which the priestly service was supervised.

The Sforno highlights the symbolic geometry: the four most sacred positions around the Mishkan are occupied by four distinct groups — Moshe and the priests on the east (the highest), Kehat on the south, Gershon on the west, Merari on the north — forming a Levitical inner ring exactly surrounding the Mishkan. The grand total of Levi’im from one month old and up: 22,000. (The Or HaChaim observes a famous puzzle here: the three sub-totals — 7,500 + 8,600 + 6,200 — add up to 22,300, not 22,000. The Talmud and Rashi resolve this: the 300 ‘extras’ were themselves firstborn Levi’im, who cannot substitute for other firstborn since they are already obligated as firstborns themselves — leaving 22,000 actual substitutes for 22,273 firstborn Israelites, with 273 firstborn unable to find a Levite-substitute and required to pay the five-shekel redemption in the next aliyah.) The arithmetic is elegant; the theological substitution is exact.

Numbers 3:14–3:39 · במדבר ג:יד–ג:לט

פסוק ג:יד · 3:14

Hebrew:

וַיְדַבֵּ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה בְּמִדְבַּ֥ר סִינַ֖י לֵאמֹֽר׃

English:

יהוה spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying:

פסוק ג:טו · 3:15

Hebrew:

פְּקֹד֙ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י לֵוִ֔י לְבֵ֥ית אֲבֹתָ֖ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֑ם כׇּל־זָכָ֛ר מִבֶּן־חֹ֥דֶשׁ וָמַ֖עְלָה תִּפְקְדֵֽם׃

English:

Record the descendants of Levi by ancestral house and by clan; record every male among them from the age of one month up.

פסוק ג:טז · 3:16

Hebrew:

וַיִּפְקֹ֥ד אֹתָ֛ם מֹשֶׁ֖ה עַל־פִּ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר צֻוָּֽה׃

English:

So Moses recorded them at the command of יהוה, as he was bidden.

פסוק ג:יז · 3:17

Hebrew:

וַיִּֽהְיוּ־אֵ֥לֶּה בְנֵֽי־לֵוִ֖י בִּשְׁמֹתָ֑ם גֵּרְשׁ֕וֹן וּקְהָ֖ת וּמְרָרִֽי׃

English:

These were the sons of Levi by name: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

פסוק ג:יח · 3:18

Hebrew:

וְאֵ֛לֶּה שְׁמ֥וֹת בְּֽנֵי־גֵרְשׁ֖וֹן לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֑ם לִבְנִ֖י וְשִׁמְעִֽי׃

English:

These were the names of the sons of Gershon by clan: Libni and Shimei.

פסוק ג:יט · 3:19

Hebrew:

וּבְנֵ֥י קְהָ֖ת לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֑ם עַמְרָ֣ם וְיִצְהָ֔ר חֶבְר֖וֹן וְעֻזִּיאֵֽל׃

English:

The sons of Kohath by clan: Amram and Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.

פסוק ג:כ · 3:20

Hebrew:

וּבְנֵ֧י מְרָרִ֛י לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם מַחְלִ֣י וּמוּשִׁ֑י אֵ֥לֶּה הֵ֛ם מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת הַלֵּוִ֖י לְבֵ֥ית אֲבֹתָֽם׃

English:

The sons of Merari by clan: Mahli and Mushi. These were the clans of the Levites within their ancestral houses:

פסוק ג:כא · 3:21

Hebrew:

לְגֵ֣רְשׁ֔וֹן מִשְׁפַּ֙חַת֙ הַלִּבְנִ֔י וּמִשְׁפַּ֖חַת הַשִּׁמְעִ֑י אֵ֣לֶּה הֵ֔ם מִשְׁפְּחֹ֖ת הַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּֽי׃

English:

To Gershon belonged the clan of the Libnites and the clan of the Shimeites; those were the clans of the Gershonites.

פסוק ג:כב · 3:22

Hebrew:

פְּקֻדֵיהֶם֙ בְּמִסְפַּ֣ר כׇּל־זָכָ֔ר מִבֶּן־חֹ֖דֶשׁ וָמָ֑עְלָה פְּקֻ֣דֵיהֶ֔ם שִׁבְעַ֥ת אֲלָפִ֖ים וַחֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת׃

English:

The recorded entries of all their males from the age of one month up, as recorded, came to 7,500.

פסוק ג:כג · 3:23

Hebrew:

מִשְׁפְּחֹ֖ת הַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּ֑י אַחֲרֵ֧י הַמִּשְׁכָּ֛ן יַחֲנ֖וּ יָֽמָּה׃

English:

The clans of the Gershonites were to camp behind the Tabernacle, to the west.

פסוק ג:כד · 3:24

Hebrew:

וּנְשִׂ֥יא בֵֽית־אָ֖ב לַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּ֑י אֶלְיָסָ֖ף בֶּן־לָאֵֽל׃

English:

The chieftain of the ancestral house of the Gershonites was Eliasaph son of Lael.

פסוק ג:כה · 3:25

Hebrew:

וּמִשְׁמֶ֤רֶת בְּנֵֽי־גֵרְשׁוֹן֙ בְּאֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן וְהָאֹ֑הֶל מִכְסֵ֕הוּ וּמָסַ֕ךְ פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃

English:

The duties of the Gershonites in the Tent of Meeting comprised: the tabernacle,*tabernacle Here (set in lower case) the lowest of the covers of the Tabernacle; cf. Exod. 26.1. the tent, its covering, and the screen for the entrance of the Tent of Meeting;

פסוק ג:כו · 3:26

Hebrew:

וְקַלְעֵ֣י הֶֽחָצֵ֗ר וְאֶת־מָסַךְ֙ פֶּ֣תַח הֶֽחָצֵ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֧ר עַל־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֛ן וְעַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ סָבִ֑יב וְאֵת֙ מֵֽיתָרָ֔יו לְכֹ֖ל עֲבֹדָתֽוֹ׃ {ס}        

English:

the hangings of the enclosure, the screen for the entrance of the enclosure which surrounds the Tabernacle, the cords thereof, and the altar—all the service connected with these.

פסוק ג:כז · 3:27

Hebrew:

וְלִקְהָ֗ת מִשְׁפַּ֤חַת הַֽעַמְרָמִי֙ וּמִשְׁפַּ֣חַת הַיִּצְהָרִ֔י וּמִשְׁפַּ֙חַת֙ הַֽחֶבְרֹנִ֔י וּמִשְׁפַּ֖חַת הָעׇזִּֽיאֵלִ֑י אֵ֥לֶּה הֵ֖ם מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת הַקְּהָתִֽי׃

English:

To Kohath belonged the clan of the Amramites, the clan of the Izharites, the clan of the Hebronites, and the clan of the Uzzielites; those were the clans of the Kohathites.

פסוק ג:כח · 3:28

Hebrew:

בְּמִסְפַּר֙ כׇּל־זָכָ֔ר מִבֶּן־חֹ֖דֶשׁ וָמָ֑עְלָה שְׁמֹנַ֤ת אֲלָפִים֙ וְשֵׁ֣שׁ מֵא֔וֹת שֹׁמְרֵ֖י מִשְׁמֶ֥רֶת הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃

English:

All the listed males from the age of one month up came to 8,600, attending to the duties of the sanctuary.

פסוק ג:כט · 3:29

Hebrew:

מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת בְּנֵי־קְהָ֖ת יַחֲנ֑וּ עַ֛ל יֶ֥רֶךְ הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן תֵּימָֽנָה׃

English:

The clans of the Kohathites were to camp along the south side of the Tabernacle.

פסוק ג:ל · 3:30

Hebrew:

וּנְשִׂ֥יא בֵֽית־אָ֖ב לְמִשְׁפְּחֹ֣ת הַקְּהָתִ֑י אֱלִיצָפָ֖ן בֶּן־עֻזִּיאֵֽל׃

English:

The chieftain of the ancestral house of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan son of Uzziel.

פסוק ג:לא · 3:31

Hebrew:

וּמִשְׁמַרְתָּ֗ם הָאָרֹ֤ן וְהַשֻּׁלְחָן֙ וְהַמְּנֹרָ֣ה וְהַֽמִּזְבְּחֹ֔ת וּכְלֵ֣י הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְשָׁרְת֖וּ בָּהֶ֑ם וְהַ֨מָּסָ֔ךְ וְכֹ֖ל עֲבֹדָתֽוֹ׃

English:

Their duties comprised: the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, and the sacred utensils that were used with them, and the screen*screen I.e., the screening curtain; cf. 4.5. —all the service connected with these.

פסוק ג:לב · 3:32

Hebrew:

וּנְשִׂיא֙ נְשִׂיאֵ֣י הַלֵּוִ֔י אֶלְעָזָ֖ר בֶּן־אַהֲרֹ֣ן הַכֹּהֵ֑ן פְּקֻדַּ֕ת שֹׁמְרֵ֖י מִשְׁמֶ֥רֶת הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃

English:

The head chieftain of the Levites was Eleazar son of Aaron the priest, in charge of those attending to the duties of the sanctuary.

פסוק ג:לג · 3:33

Hebrew:

לִמְרָרִ֕י מִשְׁפַּ֙חַת֙ הַמַּחְלִ֔י וּמִשְׁפַּ֖חַת הַמּוּשִׁ֑י אֵ֥לֶּה הֵ֖ם מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת מְרָרִֽי׃

English:

To Merari belonged the clan of the Mahlites and the clan of the Mushites; those were the clans of Merari.

פסוק ג:לד · 3:34

Hebrew:

וּפְקֻדֵיהֶם֙ בְּמִסְפַּ֣ר כׇּל־זָכָ֔ר מִבֶּן־חֹ֖דֶשׁ וָמָ֑עְלָה שֵׁ֥שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֖ים וּמָאתָֽיִם׃

English:

The recorded entries of all their males from the age of one month up came to 6,200.

פסוק ג:לה · 3:35

Hebrew:

וּנְשִׂ֤יא בֵֽית־אָב֙ לְמִשְׁפְּחֹ֣ת מְרָרִ֔י צוּרִיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־אֲבִיחָ֑יִל עַ֣ל יֶ֧רֶךְ הַמִּשְׁכָּ֛ן יַחֲנ֖וּ צָפֹֽנָה׃

English:

The chieftain of the ancestral house of the clans of Merari was Zuriel son of Abihail. They were to camp along the north side of the Tabernacle.

פסוק ג:לו · 3:36

Hebrew:

וּפְקֻדַּ֣ת מִשְׁמֶ֘רֶת֮ בְּנֵ֣י מְרָרִי֒ קַרְשֵׁי֙ הַמִּשְׁכָּ֔ן וּבְרִיחָ֖יו וְעַמֻּדָ֣יו וַאֲדָנָ֑יו וְכׇ֨ל־כֵּלָ֔יו וְכֹ֖ל עֲבֹדָתֽוֹ׃

English:

The assigned duties of the Merarites comprised: the planks of the Tabernacle, its bars, posts, and sockets, and all its furnishings—all the service connected with these;

פסוק ג:לז · 3:37

Hebrew:

וְעַמֻּדֵ֧י הֶחָצֵ֛ר סָבִ֖יב וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֑ם וִיתֵדֹתָ֖ם וּמֵֽיתְרֵיהֶֽם׃

English:

also the posts around the enclosure and their sockets, pegs, and cords.

פסוק ג:לח · 3:38

Hebrew:

וְהַחֹנִ֣ים לִפְנֵ֣י הַמִּשְׁכָּ֡ן קֵ֣דְמָה לִפְנֵי֩ אֹֽהֶל־מוֹעֵ֨ד ׀ מִזְרָ֜חָה מֹשֶׁ֣ה ׀ וְאַהֲרֹ֣ן וּבָנָ֗יו שֹֽׁמְרִים֙ מִשְׁמֶ֣רֶת הַמִּקְדָּ֔שׁ לְמִשְׁמֶ֖רֶת בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְהַזָּ֥ר הַקָּרֵ֖ב יוּמָֽת׃

English:

Those who were to camp before the Tabernacle, in front—before the Tent of Meeting, on the east—were Moses and Aaron and his sons, attending to the duties of the sanctuary, as a duty on behalf of the Israelites; and any outsider who encroached was to be put to death.

פסוק ג:לט · 3:39

Hebrew:

כׇּל־פְּקוּדֵ֨י הַלְוִיִּ֜ם אֲשֶׁר֩ פָּקַ֨ד מֹשֶׁ֧ה וְׄאַׄהֲׄרֹ֛ׄןׄ עַל־פִּ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֑ם כׇּל־זָכָר֙ מִבֶּן־חֹ֣דֶשׁ וָמַ֔עְלָה שְׁנַ֥יִם וְעֶשְׂרִ֖ים אָֽלֶף׃ {ס}        

English:

All the Levites who were recorded, whom at יהוה’s command Moses and Aaron recorded by their clans, all the males from the age of one month up, came to 22,000.

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