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וַיְדַבֵּר יְהֹוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה בְּמִדְבַּר סִינַי בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִי בַּשָּׁנָה הַשֵּׁנִית לְצֵאתָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם לֵאמֹר׃
The Third Census
GOD spoke to Moses in the Sinai Desert, in the Tent of Meeting, on the first day of Iyar 2449 – the second month of the second year after their exodus from Egypt – saying:
שְׂאוּ אֶת־רֹאשׁ כׇּל־עֲדַת בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמוֹת כׇּל־זָכָר לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָם׃
“Take a census of all the adult males of the community of the Israelites by families and then add up the family totals to arrive at the total for each tribe. The people’s tribal lineage will follow their paternal houses. Do not count them directly, but indirectly: take a half-shekel from each in accordance with the number of their names, one for each. Thus you will have an exact head count of every male.
מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה כׇּל־יֹצֵא צָבָא בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל תִּפְקְדוּ אֹתָם לְצִבְאֹתָם אַתָּה וְאַהֲרֹן׃
You and Aaron must count all those males in Israel 20 years old and over up to age 60 – for only males between 20 and 60 are fit to serve in the army – by their tribal troops.
וְאִתְּכֶם יִהְיוּ אִישׁ אִישׁ לַמַּטֶּה אִישׁ רֹאשׁ לְבֵית־אֲבֹתָיו הוּא׃
Throughout the census there must be one man with you from each tribe: i.e., the prince of that tribe, the one who is the head of his paternal house. All 12 princes must assist you in counting each tribe.
וְאֵלֶּה שְׁמוֹת הָאֲנָשִׁים אֲשֶׁר יַעַמְדוּ אִתְּכֶם לִרְאוּבֵן אֱלִיצוּר בֶּן־שְׁדֵיאוּר׃
The Princes
These are the names of the men who must stand with you: for Reuben, Elitzur son of Shedei’ur;
לְשִׁמְעוֹן שְׁלֻמִיאֵל בֶּן־צוּרִישַׁדָּי׃
for Simeon, Shelumi’eil son of Tzurishadai;
לִיהוּדָה נַחְשׁוֹן בֶּן־עַמִּינָדָב׃
for Judah, Nachshon son of Aminadav;
לְיִשָּׂשכָר נְתַנְאֵל בֶּן־צוּעָר׃
for Issachar, Netan’eil son of Tzu’ar;
לִזְבוּלֻן אֱלִיאָב בֶּן־חֵלֹן׃
for Zebulun, Eli’av son of Cheilon;
לִבְנֵי יוֹסֵף לְאֶפְרַיִם אֱלִישָׁמָע בֶּן־עַמִּיהוּד לִמְנַשֶּׁה גַּמְלִיאֵל בֶּן־פְּדָהצוּר׃
for the descendants of Joseph: for Ephraim, Elishama son of Amihud; for Manasseh, Gamli’eil son of Pedahtzur;
לְבִנְיָמִן אֲבִידָן בֶּן־גִּדְעֹנִי׃
for Benjamin, Avidan son of Gid’oni;
לְדָן אֲחִיעֶזֶר בֶּן־עַמִּישַׁדָּי׃
for Dan, Achi’ezer son of Amishadai;
לְאָשֵׁר פַּגְעִיאֵל בֶּן־עׇכְרָן׃
for Asher, Pag’i’eil son of Ochran;
לְגָד אֶלְיָסָף בֶּן־דְּעוּאֵל׃
for Gad, Elyasaf son of De’u’eil;
לְנַפְתָּלִי אֲחִירַע בֶּן־עֵינָן׃
for Naphtali, Achira son of Einan.”
אֵלֶּה (קריאי) [קְרוּאֵי] הָעֵדָה נְשִׂיאֵי מַטּוֹת אֲבוֹתָם רָאשֵׁי אַלְפֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הֵם׃
These men were until now simply the heads of their respective tribes. By appointing them to assist Moses collectively in conducting the census, God promoted them to be the ones summoned from the community to represent the people collectively in all important matters as the princes of the tribes of their fathers; thus, they all became the heads of the thousands of Israel.
וַיִּקַּח מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן אֵת הָאֲנָשִׁים הָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר נִקְּבוּ בְּשֵׁמֹת׃
So Moses and Aaron took these men, who had been designated by God by their names, and installed them in their new capacity and office.
וְאֵת כׇּל־הָעֵדָה הִקְהִילוּ בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִי וַיִּתְיַלְדוּ עַל־מִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמוֹת מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָם׃
Moses and Aaron assembled the entire community of adult male Israelites on the same day, the first day of the second month, and they all registered their lineage according to their families and according to their fathers’ houses by producing their family records and bringing witnesses regarding the social acceptance of their family ties. They then counted them by the number of their names, i.e., first making sure each gave one half-shekel and then counting these half-shekels. Thus they had a head count of every male 20 years old and over.
כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהֹוָה אֶת־מֹשֶׁה וַיִּפְקְדֵם בְּמִדְבַּר סִינָי׃ {ס}
As GOD commanded Moses, so did he count them in the Sinai desert. They found that miraculously, the tally of each tribe was divisible by 50, as follows:
וַיִּהְיוּ בְנֵי־רְאוּבֵן בְּכֹר יִשְׂרָאֵל תּוֹלְדֹתָם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמוֹת לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָם כׇּל־זָכָר מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה כֹּל יֹצֵא צָבָא׃
Reuben
This was the tally of the tribe of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel – their descendants who were counted according to their families, according to their fathers’ houses, by the number of individual names, and according to the head count of every male 20 years old and over, all who were fit to serve in the army:
פְּקֻדֵיהֶם לְמַטֵּה רְאוּבֵן שִׁשָּׁה וְאַרְבָּעִים אֶלֶף וַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת׃ {פ}
the tally of the tribe of Reuben was 46,500.
לִבְנֵי שִׁמְעוֹן תּוֹלְדֹתָם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם פְּקֻדָיו בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמוֹת לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָם כׇּל־זָכָר מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה כֹּל יֹצֵא צָבָא׃
Simeon
This was the tally of the tribe of Simeon – their descendants who were counted according to their families, according to their fathers’ houses, by the number of individual names, and according to the head count of every male 20 years old and over, all who were fit to serve in the army:
פְּקֻדֵיהֶם לְמַטֵּה שִׁמְעוֹן תִּשְׁעָה וַחֲמִשִּׁים אֶלֶף וּשְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת׃ {פ}
the tally of the tribe of Simeon was 59,300.
לִבְנֵי גָד תּוֹלְדֹתָם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמוֹת מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה כֹּל יֹצֵא צָבָא׃
Gad
This was the tally of the tribe of Gad – their descendants who were counted according to their families, according to their fathers’ houses, and by the number of individual names, 20 years old and over, all who were fit to serve in the army:
פְּקֻדֵיהֶם לְמַטֵּה גָד חֲמִשָּׁה וְאַרְבָּעִים אֶלֶף וְשֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת וַחֲמִשִּׁים׃ {פ}
the tally of the tribe of Gad was 45,650.
לִבְנֵי יְהוּדָה תּוֹלְדֹתָם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמֹת מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה כֹּל יֹצֵא צָבָא׃
Judah
This was the tally of the tribe of Judah – their descendants who were counted according to their families, according to their fathers’ houses, and by the number of individual names, 20 years old and over, all who were fit to serve in the army:
פְּקֻדֵיהֶם לְמַטֵּה יְהוּדָה אַרְבָּעָה וְשִׁבְעִים אֶלֶף וְשֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת׃ {פ}
the tally of the tribe of Judah was 74,600.
לִבְנֵי יִשָּׂשכָר תּוֹלְדֹתָם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמֹת מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה כֹּל יֹצֵא צָבָא׃
Issachar
This was the tally of the tribe of Issachar – their descendants who were counted according to their families, according to their fathers’ houses, and by the number of individual names, 20 years old and over, all who were fit to serve in the army:
פְּקֻדֵיהֶם לְמַטֵּה יִשָּׂשכָר אַרְבָּעָה וַחֲמִשִּׁים אֶלֶף וְאַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת׃ {פ}
the tally of the tribe of Issachar was 54,400.
לִבְנֵי זְבוּלֻן תּוֹלְדֹתָם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמֹת מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה כֹּל יֹצֵא צָבָא׃
Zebulun
This was the tally of the tribe of Zebulun – their descendants who were counted according to their families, according to their fathers’ houses, and by the number of individual names, 20 years old and over, all who were fit to serve in the army:
פְּקֻדֵיהֶם לְמַטֵּה זְבוּלֻן שִׁבְעָה וַחֲמִשִּׁים אֶלֶף וְאַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת׃ {פ}
the tally of the tribe of Zebulun was 57,400.
לִבְנֵי יוֹסֵף לִבְנֵי אֶפְרַיִם תּוֹלְדֹתָם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמֹת מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה כֹּל יֹצֵא צָבָא׃
Ephraim
For the tribe of Joseph: this was the tally of the tribe of Ephraim – their descendants who were counted according to their families, according to their fathers’ houses, and by the number of individual names, 20 years old and over, all who were fit to serve in the army:
פְּקֻדֵיהֶם לְמַטֵּה אֶפְרָיִם אַרְבָּעִים אֶלֶף וַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת׃ {פ}
the tally of the tribe of Ephraim was 40,500.
לִבְנֵי מְנַשֶּׁה תּוֹלְדֹתָם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמוֹת מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה כֹּל יֹצֵא צָבָא׃
Manasseh
This was the tally of the tribe of Manasseh – their descendants who were counted according to their families, according to their fathers’ houses, and by the number of individual names, 20 years old and over, all who were fit to serve in the army:
פְּקֻדֵיהֶם לְמַטֵּה מְנַשֶּׁה שְׁנַיִם וּשְׁלֹשִׁים אֶלֶף וּמָאתָיִם׃ {פ}
the tally of the tribe of Manasseh was 32,200.
לִבְנֵי בִנְיָמִן תּוֹלְדֹתָם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמֹת מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה כֹּל יֹצֵא צָבָא׃
Benjamin
This was the tally of the tribe of Benjamin – their descendants who were counted according to their families, according to their fathers’ houses, and by the number of individual names, 20 years old and over, all who were fit to serve in the army:
פְּקֻדֵיהֶם לְמַטֵּה בִנְיָמִן חֲמִשָּׁה וּשְׁלֹשִׁים אֶלֶף וְאַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת׃ {פ}
the tally of the tribe of Benjamin was 35,400.
לִבְנֵי דָן תּוֹלְדֹתָם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמֹת מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה כֹּל יֹצֵא צָבָא׃
Dan
This was the tally of the tribe of Dan – their descendants who were counted according to their families, according to their fathers’ houses, and by the number of individual names, 20 years old and over, all who were fit to serve in the army:
פְּקֻדֵיהֶם לְמַטֵּה דָן שְׁנַיִם וְשִׁשִּׁים אֶלֶף וּשְׁבַע מֵאוֹת׃ {פ}
the tally of the tribe of Dan was 62,700.
לִבְנֵי אָשֵׁר תּוֹלְדֹתָם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמֹת מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה כֹּל יֹצֵא צָבָא׃
Asher
This was the tally of the tribe of Asher – their descendants who were counted according to their families, according to their fathers’ houses, and by the number of individual names, 20 years old and over, all who were fit to serve in the army:
פְּקֻדֵיהֶם לְמַטֵּה אָשֵׁר אֶחָד וְאַרְבָּעִים אֶלֶף וַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת׃ {פ}
the tally of the tribe of Asher was 41,500.
בְּנֵי נַפְתָּלִי תּוֹלְדֹתָם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמֹת מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה כֹּל יֹצֵא צָבָא׃
Naphtali
This was the tally of the tribe of Naphtali – their descendants who were counted according to their families, according to their fathers’ houses, and by the number of individual names, 20 years old and over, all who were fit to serve in the army:
פְּקֻדֵיהֶם לְמַטֵּה נַפְתָּלִי שְׁלֹשָׁה וַחֲמִשִּׁים אֶלֶף וְאַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת׃ {פ}
the tally of the tribe of Naphtali was 53,400.
אֵלֶּה הַפְּקֻדִים אֲשֶׁר פָּקַד מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן וּנְשִׂיאֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר אִישׁ אִישׁ־אֶחָד לְבֵית־אֲבֹתָיו הָיוּ׃
The Totals
These are the tallies counted by Moses and Aaron and the princes of Israel – 12 men, each representing his fathers’ house.
וַיִּהְיוּ כׇּל־פְּקוּדֵי בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה כׇּל־יֹצֵא צָבָא בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל׃
These are the tallies of all the Israelites according to their fathers’ houses, 20 years old and over, all those in Israel who were fit to serve in the army:
וַיִּהְיוּ כׇּל־הַפְּקֻדִים שֵׁשׁ־מֵאוֹת אֶלֶף וּשְׁלֹשֶׁת אֲלָפִים וַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת וַחֲמִשִּׁים׃
the sum of all the tallies was 603,550.
וְהַלְוִיִּם לְמַטֵּה אֲבֹתָם לֹא הׇתְפָּקְדוּ בְּתוֹכָם׃ {פ}
The Levites
But the Levites, according to their fathers’ tribe, were not numbered among them, despite the fact that the reason for this census was (a) to express the people’s integral relationship with the Tabernacle, and the Levites were the Tabernacle’s officiants, and (b) to express how God values each Jew individually, and the Levites had proven themselves to be the tribe most loyal to God in the incident of the Golden Calf!
וַיְדַבֵּר יְהֹוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר׃
So GOD spoke to Moses, explaining why the Levites were not included, by saying:
אַךְ אֶת־מַטֵּה לֵוִי לֹא תִפְקֹד וְאֶת־רֹאשָׁם לֹא תִשָּׂא בְּתוֹךְ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל׃
“The Levites are indeed part of the people; however, they are My private legion. Therefore, you must not tally the tribe of Levi the same way you counted the other Israelites, and you must not add the results of their census to that of the other Israelites, for they deserve their own census. Moreover, you must not tally the tribe of Levi at all; I will count them for you Myself, for reasons that will become clear later. And even once you know how many there are of them, you must not add the results of their census to that of the other Israelites.”
וְאַתָּה הַפְקֵד אֶת־הַלְוִיִּם עַל־מִשְׁכַּן הָעֵדֻת וְעַל כׇּל־כֵּלָיו וְעַל כׇּל־אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ הֵמָּה יִשְׂאוּ אֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּן וְאֶת־כׇּל־כֵּלָיו וְהֵם יְשָׁרְתֻהוּ וְסָבִיב לַמִּשְׁכָּן יַחֲנוּ׃
Explaining how the Levites are His private legion, God continued, “Rather than having them serve in the army like the rest of the people, you must put the Levites in charge of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, over all its furnishings and over all that pertains to it. They must carry the Tabernacle and all its furnishings when you travel, they must serve in it, and they must encamp around the Tabernacle.
וּבִנְסֹעַ הַמִּשְׁכָּן יוֹרִידוּ אֹתוֹ הַלְוִיִּם וּבַחֲנֹת הַמִּשְׁכָּן יָקִימוּ אֹתוֹ הַלְוִיִּם וְהַזָּר הַקָּרֵב יוּמָת׃
Whenever the Tabernacle is set to travel, the Levites must dismantle it, and whenever the Tabernacle camps, the Levites must erect it; any outsider (i.e., non-Levite) who approaches and tries to do this will be put to death by an act of God.
וְחָנוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אִישׁ עַל־מַחֲנֵהוּ וְאִישׁ עַל־דִּגְלוֹ לְצִבְאֹתָם׃
Because of this danger, the Israelites must camp in a specific formation – according to their tribal troops, each man by his tribe’s division, three tribes per division, and each man by his division’s banner, as will be detailed presently –
וְהַלְוִיִּם יַחֲנוּ סָבִיב לְמִשְׁכַּן הָעֵדֻת וְלֹא־יִהְיֶה קֶצֶף עַל־עֲדַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְשָׁמְרוּ הַלְוִיִּם אֶת־מִשְׁמֶרֶת מִשְׁכַּן הָעֵדוּת׃
but the Levites must encamp around the Tabernacle of the Testimony, separating it from the other tribes, so that none of them will approach the Tabernacle intending to erect, dismantle, carry, guard, or serve in it. If the Levites preserve this separation carefully, no Divine wrath will be directed against the community of the Israelites – Divine anger, if the Levites and the laity fail to dwell in separate camps; or Divine corrective punishment, if a lay Israelite attempts to perform a Levite function. The Levites must guard the Tabernacle of the Testimony for this purpose.”
וַיַּעֲשׂוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהֹוָה אֶת־מֹשֶׁה כֵּן עָשׂוּ׃ {פ}
The Israelites did this; they did exactly according to all that GOD had commanded Moses. Thus, the people encamped in three concentric camps: the Tabernacle and its Courtyard was the innermost camp, known as “the camp of the Divine presence”; surrounding this was the middle camp, that of the Levites; and surrounding both was the outermost camp, that of the lay Israelites.
וַיְדַבֵּר יְהֹוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה וְאֶל־אַהֲרֹן לֵאמֹר׃
The Camp
God then gave the details regarding how the camp was to be organized and how this organized camp was to travel. GOD spoke to Moses, instructing him to convey His words to Aaron, saying:
אִישׁ עַל־דִּגְלוֹ בְאֹתֹת לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם יַחֲנוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִנֶּגֶד סָבִיב לְאֹהֶל־מוֹעֵד יַחֲנוּ׃
“The Israelites must camp each man by his division’s banner, each of which will be a unique color, and by the insignias on the banners of their fathers’ houses, i.e., their tribes, each of whose banners will be the color of the tribe’s stone in the high priest’s breastplate. Their order around the Tabernacle will be the same as the order in which Jacob told his sons to carry his coffin. They must encamp around the Tent of Meeting at the maximum distance practical, in order to minimize the possibility that any layperson enter the Tabernacle precincts. This maximum practical distance is 2,000 cubits from the outer extremity of the Tabernacle’s precincts, because it is prohibited to walk more than this distance from one inhabited area to another on the Sabbath.
וְהַחֹנִים קֵדְמָה מִזְרָחָה דֶּגֶל מַחֲנֵה יְהוּדָה לְצִבְאֹתָם וְנָשִׂיא לִבְנֵי יְהוּדָה נַחְשׁוֹן בֶּן־עַמִּינָדָב׃
The Division of Judah
Those camping in front, to the east, will be under the banner of the division of Judah, organized according to their troops. The prince of the tribe of Judah is Nachshon son of Aminadav;
וּצְבָאוֹ וּפְקֻדֵיהֶם אַרְבָּעָה וְשִׁבְעִים אֶלֶף וְשֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת׃
the tally for his troop is 74,600.
וְהַחֹנִים עָלָיו מַטֵּה יִשָּׂשכָר וְנָשִׂיא לִבְנֵי יִשָּׂשכָר נְתַנְאֵל בֶּן־צוּעָר׃
Camping next to the tribe of Judah will be the tribe of Issachar. The prince of the tribe of Issachar is Netan’eil son of Tzu’ar;
וּצְבָאוֹ וּפְקֻדָיו אַרְבָּעָה וַחֲמִשִּׁים אֶלֶף וְאַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת׃
the tally for his troop is 54,400.
מַטֵּה זְבוּלֻן וְנָשִׂיא לִבְנֵי זְבוּלֻן אֱלִיאָב בֶּן־חֵלֹן׃
Next to the tribe of Issachar will be the tribe of Zebulun. The prince of the tribe of Zebulun is Eli’av son of Cheilon;
וּצְבָאוֹ וּפְקֻדָיו שִׁבְעָה וַחֲמִשִּׁים אֶלֶף וְאַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת׃
the tally for his troop is 57,400.
כׇּל־הַפְּקֻדִים לְמַחֲנֵה יְהוּדָה מְאַת אֶלֶף וּשְׁמֹנִים אֶלֶף וְשֵׁשֶׁת־אֲלָפִים וְאַרְבַּע־מֵאוֹת לְצִבְאֹתָם רִאשֹׁנָה יִסָּעוּ׃ {ס}
The total sum for the division of Judah according to their troops is 186,400; these must set out first.
דֶּגֶל מַחֲנֵה רְאוּבֵן תֵּימָנָה לְצִבְאֹתָם וְנָשִׂיא לִבְנֵי רְאוּבֵן אֱלִיצוּר בֶּן־שְׁדֵיאוּר׃
The Division of Reuben
Those camping under the banner of the division of Reuben will be to the south, organized according to their troops. The prince of the tribe of Reuben is Elitzur son of Shedei’ur;
וּצְבָאוֹ וּפְקֻדָיו שִׁשָּׁה וְאַרְבָּעִים אֶלֶף וַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת׃
the tally for his troop is 46,500.
וְהַחוֹנִם עָלָיו מַטֵּה שִׁמְעוֹן וְנָשִׂיא לִבְנֵי שִׁמְעוֹן שְׁלֻמִיאֵל בֶּן־צוּרִישַׁדָּי׃
Camping next to the tribe of Reuben will be the tribe of Simeon. The prince of the tribe of Simeon is Shelumi’eil son of Tzurishadai;
וּצְבָאוֹ וּפְקֻדֵיהֶם תִּשְׁעָה וַחֲמִשִּׁים אֶלֶף וּשְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת׃
the tally for his troop is 59,300.
וּמַטֵּה גָּד וְנָשִׂיא לִבְנֵי גָד אֶלְיָסָף בֶּן־רְעוּאֵל׃
Next to the tribe of Simeon will be the tribe of Gad. The prince of the tribe of Gad is Elyasaf son of Re’u’el, who was mentioned previously as De’u’eil;
וּצְבָאוֹ וּפְקֻדֵיהֶם חֲמִשָּׁה וְאַרְבָּעִים אֶלֶף וְשֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת וַחֲמִשִּׁים׃
the tally for his troop is 45,650.
כׇּל־הַפְּקֻדִים לְמַחֲנֵה רְאוּבֵן מְאַת אֶלֶף וְאֶחָד וַחֲמִשִּׁים אֶלֶף וְאַרְבַּע־מֵאוֹת וַחֲמִשִּׁים לְצִבְאֹתָם וּשְׁנִיִּם יִסָּעוּ׃ {ס}
The total sum for the division of Reuben according to their troops is 151,450; they must set out second.
וְנָסַע אֹהֶל־מוֹעֵד מַחֲנֵה הַלְוִיִּם בְּתוֹךְ הַמַּחֲנֹת כַּאֲשֶׁר יַחֲנוּ כֵּן יִסָּעוּ אִישׁ עַל־יָדוֹ לְדִגְלֵיהֶם׃ {ס}
Then the Tent of Meeting must set out, together with the Levite camp, in the center of the other camps. Just as they camp, so must they travel, each man in his place, by their banners.
דֶּגֶל מַחֲנֵה אֶפְרַיִם לְצִבְאֹתָם יָמָּה וְנָשִׂיא לִבְנֵי אֶפְרַיִם אֱלִישָׁמָע בֶּן־עַמִּיהוּד׃
The Division of Ephraim
Those camping under the banner of the division of Ephraim will be to the west, organized according to their troops. The prince of the tribe of Ephraim is Elishama son of Amihud;
וּצְבָאוֹ וּפְקֻדֵיהֶם אַרְבָּעִים אֶלֶף וַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת׃
the tally for his troop is 40,500.
וְעָלָיו מַטֵּה מְנַשֶּׁה וְנָשִׂיא לִבְנֵי מְנַשֶּׁה גַּמְלִיאֵל בֶּן־פְּדָהצוּר׃
Next to the tribe of Ephraim will be the tribe of Manasseh. The prince of the tribe of Manasseh is Gamli’eil son of Pedahtzur;
וּצְבָאוֹ וּפְקֻדֵיהֶם שְׁנַיִם וּשְׁלֹשִׁים אֶלֶף וּמָאתָיִם׃
the tally for his troop is 32,200.
וּמַטֵּה בִּנְיָמִן וְנָשִׂיא לִבְנֵי בִנְיָמִן אֲבִידָן בֶּן־גִּדְעֹנִי׃
Next to the tribe of Manasseh will be the tribe of Benjamin. The prince of the tribe of Benjamin is Avidan son of Gid’oni;
וּצְבָאוֹ וּפְקֻדֵיהֶם חֲמִשָּׁה וּשְׁלֹשִׁים אֶלֶף וְאַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת׃
the tally for his troop is 35,400.
כׇּל־הַפְּקֻדִים לְמַחֲנֵה אֶפְרַיִם מְאַת אֶלֶף וּשְׁמֹנַת־אֲלָפִים וּמֵאָה לְצִבְאֹתָם וּשְׁלִשִׁים יִסָּעוּ׃ {ס}
The total sum for the division of Ephraim according to their troops is 108,100; they must set out third.
דֶּגֶל מַחֲנֵה דָן צָפֹנָה לְצִבְאֹתָם וְנָשִׂיא לִבְנֵי דָן אֲחִיעֶזֶר בֶּן־עַמִּישַׁדָּי׃
Those camping under the banner of the division of Dan will be to the north, organized according to their troops. The prince of the tribe of Dan is Achi’ezer son of Amishadai;
וּצְבָאוֹ וּפְקֻדֵיהֶם שְׁנַיִם וְשִׁשִּׁים אֶלֶף וּשְׁבַע מֵאוֹת׃
the tally for his troop is 62,700.
וְהַחֹנִים עָלָיו מַטֵּה אָשֵׁר וְנָשִׂיא לִבְנֵי אָשֵׁר פַּגְעִיאֵל בֶּן־עׇכְרָן׃
Camping next to the tribe of Dan will be the tribe of Asher. The prince of the tribe of Asher is Pagi’eil son of Ochran;
וּצְבָאוֹ וּפְקֻדֵיהֶם אֶחָד וְאַרְבָּעִים אֶלֶף וַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת׃
the tally for his troop is 41,500.
וּמַטֵּה נַפְתָּלִי וְנָשִׂיא לִבְנֵי נַפְתָּלִי אֲחִירַע בֶּן־עֵינָן׃
Next to the tribe of Asher will be the tribe of Naphtali. The prince of the tribe of Naphtali is Achira son of Einan;
וּצְבָאוֹ וּפְקֻדֵיהֶם שְׁלֹשָׁה וַחֲמִשִּׁים אֶלֶף וְאַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת׃
the tally for his troop is 53,400.
כׇּל־הַפְּקֻדִים לְמַחֲנֵה דָן מְאַת אֶלֶף וְשִׁבְעָה וַחֲמִשִּׁים אֶלֶף וְשֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת לָאַחֲרֹנָה יִסְעוּ לְדִגְלֵיהֶם׃ {פ}
The total sum for the division of Dan is 157,600; they must set out last, according to their banners.”
אֵלֶּה פְּקוּדֵי בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם כׇּל־פְּקוּדֵי הַמַּחֲנֹת לְצִבְאֹתָם שֵׁשׁ־מֵאוֹת אֶלֶף וּשְׁלֹשֶׁת אֲלָפִים וַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת וַחֲמִשִּׁים׃
These are the tallies of the Israelites according to their fathers’ houses. The sum of all the tallies of the divisions according to their troops was 603,550.
וְהַלְוִיִּם לֹא הׇתְפָּקְדוּ בְּתוֹךְ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהֹוָה אֶת־מֹשֶׁה׃
The Levites were not counted with the rest of the Israelites, as GOD commanded Moses.
וַיַּעֲשׂוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּה יְהֹוָה אֶת־מֹשֶׁה כֵּן־חָנוּ לְדִגְלֵיהֶם וְכֵן נָסָעוּ אִישׁ לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָיו עַל־בֵּית אֲבֹתָיו׃ {פ}
The Israelites did all that GOD had commanded Moses; they encamped by their banners, and they journeyed each man with his family, according to his paternal house.
וְאֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדֹת אַהֲרֹן וּמֹשֶׁה בְּיוֹם דִּבֶּר יְהֹוָה אֶת־מֹשֶׁה בְּהַר סִינָי׃
The Census of the Levites
The Torah now turns to the census of the tribe of Levi – the priests and the Levites – and their assignments when the people would travel. It first defines the priestly clan. These are the descendants of Aaron, physically, and Moses, figuratively. Aaron’s sons are figuratively considered to be also Moses’ sons because Moses made special efforts to teach them the Torah. In this sense, they became his sons on the day that GOD spoke to Moses and gave the Torah at Mount Sinai.
וְאֵלֶּה שְׁמוֹת בְּנֵי־אַהֲרֹן הַבְּכֹר ׀ נָדָב וַאֲבִיהוּא אֶלְעָזָר וְאִיתָמָר׃
These are the names of Aaron’s sons: Nadav, the firstborn; Avihu; Eleazar; and Itamar.
אֵלֶּה שְׁמוֹת בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֲנִים הַמְּשֻׁחִים אֲשֶׁר־מִלֵּא יָדָם לְכַהֵן׃
These are the names of Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests, whom Moses consecrated to serve as priests.
וַיָּמׇת נָדָב וַאֲבִיהוּא לִפְנֵי יְהֹוָה בְּהַקְרִבָם אֵשׁ זָרָה לִפְנֵי יְהֹוָה בְּמִדְבַּר סִינַי וּבָנִים לֹא־הָיוּ לָהֶם וַיְכַהֵן אֶלְעָזָר וְאִיתָמָר עַל־פְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן אֲבִיהֶם׃ {פ}
Nadav and Avihu died before GOD when they brought an unauthorized fire before GOD in the Sinai desert, and they had no children. Eleazar and Itamar, however, served as priests during their father Aaron’s lifetime.
וַיְדַבֵּר יְהֹוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר׃
GOD spoke to Moses, saying:
הַקְרֵב אֶת־מַטֵּה לֵוִי וְהַעֲמַדְתָּ אֹתוֹ לִפְנֵי אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֵן וְשֵׁרְתוּ אֹתוֹ׃
“Bring forth the tribe of Levi and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may serve him, as follows:
וְשָׁמְרוּ אֶת־מִשְׁמַרְתּוֹ וְאֶת־מִשְׁמֶרֶת כׇּל־הָעֵדָה לִפְנֵי אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד לַעֲבֹד אֶת־עֲבֹדַת הַמִּשְׁכָּן׃
They must help him keep his charge, that is, the charge given him regarding the entire lay community in front of the Tent of Meeting, which is to perform the service of the Tabernacle by keeping the laity from serving in it.
וְשָׁמְרוּ אֶת־כׇּל־כְּלֵי אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וְאֶת־מִשְׁמֶרֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לַעֲבֹד אֶת־עֲבֹדַת הַמִּשְׁכָּן׃
In addition to helping the priests in this way, the Levites must also keep the charge given to them alone, which concerns all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting, that is, the charge they perform on behalf of the lay Israelites, which is to perform the service of the Tabernacle by transporting it and singing and playing music in it.
וְנָתַתָּה אֶת־הַלְוִיִּם לְאַהֲרֹן וּלְבָנָיו נְתוּנִם נְתוּנִם הֵמָּה לוֹ מֵאֵת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל׃
But even though you must give over the Levites to Aaron and his sons – for they are given, yes, given over to him from among the Israelites in order to help him ensure that the laity not enter the Tabernacle –
וְאֶת־אַהֲרֹן וְאֶת־בָּנָיו תִּפְקֹד וְשָׁמְרוּ אֶת־כְּהֻנָּתָם וְהַזָּר הַקָּרֵב יוּמָת׃ {פ}
you must direct Aaron and his sons to guard their priesthood from the Levites as well, because any non-priest – even a Levite – who approaches to participate in the priestly duties will be put to death by an act of God.”
וַיְדַבֵּר יְהֹוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר׃
GOD then explained by what right He had appointed the Levites as representatives of the general populace and had given them to the priests. He spoke to Moses, saying:
וַאֲנִי הִנֵּה לָקַחְתִּי אֶת־הַלְוִיִּם מִתּוֹךְ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל תַּחַת כׇּל־בְּכוֹר פֶּטֶר רֶחֶם מִבְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְהָיוּ לִי הַלְוִיִּם׃
“As for Me, I have taken the Levites from the other Israelites as their surrogates, in place of all the firstborn of the Israelites who have opened the womb, so the Levites will be Mine.
כִּי לִי כׇּל־בְּכוֹר בְּיוֹם הַכֹּתִי כׇל־בְּכוֹר בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם הִקְדַּשְׁתִּי לִי כׇל־בְּכוֹר בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאָדָם עַד־בְּהֵמָה לִי יִהְיוּ אֲנִי יְהֹוָה׃ {פ}
For all the firstborn are Mine: on the day I killed every firstborn in Egypt, I sanctified for Myself every firstborn in Israel by sparing them, both man and beast. But since the firstborn participated in the sin of the Golden Calf, they became disqualified to act as priests or as their assistants. In their stead, the tribe of Levi, who did not participate in this sin, will be Mine; I am GOD.”
וַיְדַבֵּר יְהֹוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה בְּמִדְבַּר סִינַי לֵאמֹר׃
The Levites and the Firstborn
GOD spoke to Moses in the Sinai desert, saying:
פְּקֹד אֶת־בְּנֵי לֵוִי לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם כׇּל־זָכָר מִבֶּן־חֹדֶשׁ וָמַעְלָה תִּפְקְדֵם׃
“The Levites are to take the place of the firstborn on a head-for-head basis. Therefore, you must tally both the Levites and the lay firstborn. First, tally the Levites according to their fathers’ houses, according to their families. When I killed the Egyptians’ firstborn, I killed them all, regardless of their age, so I therefore sanctified all the firstborn of Israel, regardless of their age. Nonetheless, you should count only all males one month old and over, for only from this age is a baby considered viable.”
וַיִּפְקֹד אֹתָם מֹשֶׁה עַל־פִּי יְהֹוָה כַּאֲשֶׁר צֻוָּה׃
Moses protested, “How can I enter their private tents and count the nursing babies?” God told him to stand at the entrance of each tent and He would announce how many babies were inside. So Moses tallied them according to GOD’s word as He announced the count of children in each tent, just as he was commanded. Here, too, the tallies were miraculously all divisible by 50.
וַיִּהְיוּ־אֵלֶּה בְנֵי־לֵוִי בִּשְׁמֹתָם גֵּרְשׁוֹן וּקְהָת וּמְרָרִי׃
These were the sons of Levi, by name: Gershon, Kehat, and Merari.
וְאֵלֶּה שְׁמוֹת בְּנֵי־גֵרְשׁוֹן לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לִבְנִי וְשִׁמְעִי׃
The names of the sons of Gershon according to their families were Livni and Shim’i.
וּבְנֵי קְהָת לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם עַמְרָם וְיִצְהָר חֶבְרוֹן וְעֻזִּיאֵל׃
The sons of Kehat according to their families were Amram, Yitzhar, Chevron, and Uzi’eil.
וּבְנֵי מְרָרִי לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם מַחְלִי וּמוּשִׁי אֵלֶּה הֵם מִשְׁפְּחֹת הַלֵּוִי לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם׃
The sons of Merari according to their families were Machli and Mushi. These were the families of Levi according to their fathers’ houses.
לְגֵרְשׁוֹן מִשְׁפַּחַת הַלִּבְנִי וּמִשְׁפַּחַת הַשִּׁמְעִי אֵלֶּה הֵם מִשְׁפְּחֹת הַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּי׃
The Clan of Gershon
For Gershon, Moses tallied the family of Livni and the family of Shim’i, these being the families of Gershon.
פְּקֻדֵיהֶם בְּמִסְפַּר כׇּל־זָכָר מִבֶּן־חֹדֶשׁ וָמָעְלָה פְּקֻדֵיהֶם שִׁבְעַת אֲלָפִים וַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת׃
Their tally was the number of males one month old and over, whose tally was 7,500.
מִשְׁפְּחֹת הַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּי אַחֲרֵי הַמִּשְׁכָּן יַחֲנוּ יָמָּה׃
God told Moses that the families of Gershon must camp behind the Tabernacle, to the west;
וּנְשִׂיא בֵית־אָב לַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּי אֶלְיָסָף בֶּן־לָאֵל׃
that the prince of the paternal house of the families of Gershon would be Elyasaf son of La’eil;
וּמִשְׁמֶרֶת בְּנֵי־גֵרְשׁוֹן בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד הַמִּשְׁכָּן וְהָאֹהֶל מִכְסֵהוּ וּמָסַךְ פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד׃
and that the charge of the clan of Gershon in transporting the Tent of Meeting would be three coverings that served as its roof, i.e., the bottom cover of tapestries draped over the Tabernacle, the middle Tent of goat skins placed on top of this, and the topmost cover of ram skins and tachash-skins over it; the Screen for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting;
וְקַלְעֵי הֶחָצֵר וְאֶת־מָסַךְ פֶּתַח הֶחָצֵר אֲשֶׁר עַל־הַמִּשְׁכָּן וְעַל־הַמִּזְבֵּחַ סָבִיב וְאֵת מֵיתָרָיו לְכֹל עֲבֹדָתוֹ׃ {ס}
the nettings of the Courtyard; the Screen at the entrance to the Courtyard that enclosed the Tabernacle and the Altar; the ropes used to fasten the two lower covers draped over the Tabernacle (the bottom, tapestry cover and the middle, goat-skin cover) to the ground; the ropes used to fasten the nettings of the Courtyard to the ground; and all the work involved in dismantling, carrying, and erecting these items.
וְלִקְהָת מִשְׁפַּחַת הַעַמְרָמִי וּמִשְׁפַּחַת הַיִּצְהָרִי וּמִשְׁפַּחַת הַחֶבְרֹנִי וּמִשְׁפַּחַת הָעׇזִּיאֵלִי אֵלֶּה הֵם מִשְׁפְּחֹת הַקְּהָתִי׃
The Clan of Kehat
For Kehat, Moses tallied the family of Amram, the family of Yitzhar, the family of Chevron, and the family of Uzi’eil, all these being the families of Kehat.
בְּמִסְפַּר כׇּל־זָכָר מִבֶּן־חֹדֶשׁ וָמָעְלָה שְׁמֹנַת אֲלָפִים וְשֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת שֹׁמְרֵי מִשְׁמֶרֶת הַקֹּדֶשׁ׃
The number of all males one month old and over was 8,600; they were the keepers of the charge of the Sanctuary.
מִשְׁפְּחֹת בְּנֵי־קְהָת יַחֲנוּ עַל יֶרֶךְ הַמִּשְׁכָּן תֵּימָנָה׃
God told Moses that the families of the clan of Kehat must camp to the south side of the Tabernacle;
וּנְשִׂיא בֵית־אָב לְמִשְׁפְּחֹת הַקְּהָתִי אֱלִיצָפָן בֶּן־עֻזִּיאֵל׃
that the prince of the paternal house of the families of Kehat would be Elitzafan son of Uzi’eil;
וּמִשְׁמַרְתָּם הָאָרֹן וְהַשֻּׁלְחָן וְהַמְּנֹרָה וְהַמִּזְבְּחֹת וּכְלֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר יְשָׁרְתוּ בָּהֶם וְהַמָּסָךְ וְכֹל עֲבֹדָתוֹ׃
and that their charge in transporting the Tabernacle would be the Ark, the Table, the Candelabrum, the Altars, the utensils of the Sanctuary with which they would minister, the partition Curtain that divided between the outer and inner chambers of the Tent of Meeting, and all the work involved in dismantling, carrying, and erecting these items.
וּנְשִׂיא נְשִׂיאֵי הַלֵּוִי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן־אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֵן פְּקֻדַּת שֹׁמְרֵי מִשְׁמֶרֶת הַקֹּדֶשׁ׃
God further told Moses that the prince over all the princes of the Levites would be Eleazar son of Aaron the priest; his job would be the appointment of the keepers of the charge of the Sanctuary.
לִמְרָרִי מִשְׁפַּחַת הַמַּחְלִי וּמִשְׁפַּחַת הַמּוּשִׁי אֵלֶּה הֵם מִשְׁפְּחֹת מְרָרִי׃
The Clan of Merari
For Merari, Moses tallied the family of Machli and the family of Mushi, these being the families of Merari.
וּפְקֻדֵיהֶם בְּמִסְפַּר כׇּל־זָכָר מִבֶּן־חֹדֶשׁ וָמָעְלָה שֵׁשֶׁת אֲלָפִים וּמָאתָיִם׃
Their tally, the number of males one month old and over, was 6,200.
וּנְשִׂיא בֵית־אָב לְמִשְׁפְּחֹת מְרָרִי צוּרִיאֵל בֶּן־אֲבִיחָיִל עַל יֶרֶךְ הַמִּשְׁכָּן יַחֲנוּ צָפֹנָה׃
God told Moses that the prince of the paternal house of the families of Merari would be Tzuri’eil son of Avichayil; that they must camp on the north side of the Tabernacle;
וּפְקֻדַּת מִשְׁמֶרֶת בְּנֵי מְרָרִי קַרְשֵׁי הַמִּשְׁכָּן וּבְרִיחָיו וְעַמֻּדָיו וַאֲדָנָיו וְכׇל־כֵּלָיו וְכֹל עֲבֹדָתוֹ׃
and that the appointed charge of the clan of Merari in transporting the Tabernacle would be the planks of the Tabernacle; its bars; its pillars; its sockets; all the utensils used in dismantling and erecting it; all the work of dismantling, carrying, and erecting it;
וְעַמֻּדֵי הֶחָצֵר סָבִיב וְאַדְנֵיהֶם וִיתֵדֹתָם וּמֵיתְרֵיהֶם׃
the pillars of the surrounding Courtyard; their sockets; and their stakes and ropes used to hang the nettings of the Courtyard from its pillars.
וְהַחֹנִים לִפְנֵי הַמִּשְׁכָּן קֵדְמָה לִפְנֵי אֹהֶל־מוֹעֵד ׀ מִזְרָחָה מֹשֶׁה ׀ וְאַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו שֹׁמְרִים מִשְׁמֶרֶת הַמִּקְדָּשׁ לְמִשְׁמֶרֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְהַזָּר הַקָּרֵב יוּמָת׃
Moses and Aaron
God then told Moses that those who must camp in front of the Tabernacle, in front of the Tent of Meeting to the east, would be Moses, Aaron and his sons. They would be the keepers of the charge of the Sanctuary as a trust for the Israelites, for any outsider who approached to participate would be put to death by an act of God.
כׇּל־פְּקוּדֵי הַלְוִיִּם אֲשֶׁר פָּקַד מֹשֶׁה וְׄאַׄהֲׄרֹׄןׄ עַל־פִּי יְהֹוָה לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם כׇּל־זָכָר מִבֶּן־חֹדֶשׁ וָמַעְלָה שְׁנַיִם וְעֶשְׂרִים אָלֶף׃ {ס}
The sum of all the tallies of the male Levites, according to their families, one month old and over, whom Moses and Aaron counted according to the word of GOD, was 22,300. Of these, 300 were firstborn. Thus, there were only 22,000 Levites who were not firstborn. For the procedure of redeeming the Israelite firstborn, which will be described presently, only these Levites were considered.
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה פְּקֹד כׇּל־בְּכֹר זָכָר לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִבֶּן־חֹדֶשׁ וָמָעְלָה וְשָׂא אֵת מִסְפַּר שְׁמֹתָם׃
GOD said to Moses, “Now, tally all the firstborn Israelite males one month old and over, and take a census of their names.
וְלָקַחְתָּ אֶת־הַלְוִיִּם לִי אֲנִי יְהֹוָה תַּחַת כׇּל־בְּכֹר בִּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאֵת בֶּהֱמַת הַלְוִיִּם תַּחַת כׇּל־בְּכוֹר בְּבֶהֱמַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל׃
Counting the Firstborn
And you must take the Levites for Me – I am GOD – in place of all the Israelite firstborn, head for head, and the Levites’ lambs in place of all the firstborn donkeys of the Israelites. The substitution of Levite lambs for lay donkeys, however, is not on a head-for-head basis; one Levite lamb may redeem any number of lay donkeys. And there is no redemption for the firstborn cattle, sheep, or goats of the lay Israelites; they must give these to the priests.”
וַיִּפְקֹד מֹשֶׁה כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהֹוָה אֹתוֹ אֶת־כׇּל־בְּכוֹר בִּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל׃
So Moses counted all the Israelite firstborn, as GOD had commanded him. He did not need God’s assistance as he did when he counted the Levites, since he only had to enter the laity’s tents if the firstborn of a particular family was still a nursing baby.
וַיְהִי כׇל־בְּכוֹר זָכָר בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמֹת מִבֶּן־חֹדֶשׁ וָמַעְלָה לִפְקֻדֵיהֶם שְׁנַיִם וְעֶשְׂרִים אֶלֶף שְׁלֹשָׁה וְשִׁבְעִים וּמָאתָיִם׃ {פ}
The tally of the firstborn males one month old and over, according to the number of names, was 22,273. Of the 22,300 Levites, 300 were firstborn, as we saw; these 300 substituted (as Levites) for themselves (as firstborn), and could therefore not substitute for first born lay Israelites. There were thus 273 more firstborn Israelites than there were Levites that could redeem them.
וַיְדַבֵּר יְהֹוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר׃
Substituting the Levites for the Firstborn
GOD spoke to Moses, saying:
קַח אֶת־הַלְוִיִּם תַּחַת כׇּל־בְּכוֹר בִּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאֶת־בֶּהֱמַת הַלְוִיִּם תַּחַת בְּהֶמְתָּם וְהָיוּ־לִי הַלְוִיִּם אֲנִי יְהֹוָה׃
“Take the Levites in place of all the Israelite firstborn and the Levites’ lambs in place of the Israelites’ firstborn donkeys, and the Levites will be Mine; I am GOD.
וְאֵת פְּדוּיֵי הַשְּׁלֹשָׁה וְהַשִּׁבְעִים וְהַמָּאתָיִם הָעֹדְפִים עַל־הַלְוִיִּם מִבְּכוֹר בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל׃
As for those yet to be redeemed – the 273 Israelite firstborn who are in excess of the Levites –
וְלָקַחְתָּ חֲמֵשֶׁת חֲמֵשֶׁת שְׁקָלִים לַגֻּלְגֹּלֶת בְּשֶׁקֶל הַקֹּדֶשׁ תִּקָּח עֶשְׂרִים גֵּרָה הַשָּׁקֶל׃
you must take five shekels per head from each of them. Take them according to the sacred shekel, by which the shekel is 20 geirahs. This ‘price’ for a firstborn was established when Rachel’s firstborn, Joseph, was sold by his brothers for 20 pieces of silver, which equaled five shekels.
וְנָתַתָּה הַכֶּסֶף לְאַהֲרֹן וּלְבָנָיו פְּדוּיֵי הָעֹדְפִים בָּהֶם׃
You must give the money to Aaron and his sons, as redemption for the firstborn who are in excess of them.”
וַיִּקַּח מֹשֶׁה אֵת כֶּסֶף הַפִּדְיוֹם מֵאֵת הָעֹדְפִים עַל פְּדוּיֵי הַלְוִיִּם׃
Moses used a lottery to determine which of the Israelite firstborn would be redeemed head-for-head by a Levite and which ones would have to pay the five-shekel redemption fee. Moses then collected the redemption money from those 273 Israelite firstborn who were in excess of those redeemed by the Levites head-for-head.
מֵאֵת בְּכוֹר בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לָקַח אֶת־הַכָּסֶף חֲמִשָּׁה וְשִׁשִּׁים וּשְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת וָאֶלֶף בְּשֶׁקֶל הַקֹּדֶשׁ׃
He took the money from the firstborn of the Israelites: 1,365 (= 5 × 273) sacred shekels.
וַיִּתֵּן מֹשֶׁה אֶת־כֶּסֶף הַפְּדֻיִם לְאַהֲרֹן וּלְבָנָיו עַל־פִּי יְהֹוָה כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהֹוָה אֶת־מֹשֶׁה׃ {פ}
Moses then gave the money of the redeemed Israelites to Aaron and his sons, in accordance with the word of GOD, as GOD had commanded Moses.
וַיְדַבֵּר יְהֹוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה וְאֶל־אַהֲרֹן לֵאמֹר׃
GOD now told Moses to count the Levites who were able to transport the Tabernacle and its furnishings, clan by clan. He spoke to Moses, instructing him to convey His words to Aaron, saying:
נָשֹׂא אֶת־רֹאשׁ בְּנֵי קְהָת מִתּוֹךְ בְּנֵי לֵוִי לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם׃
The Charge of the Clan of Kehat
“Take a separate census of the clan of Kehat from among the Levites by their families, according to their fathers’ houses,
מִבֶּן שְׁלֹשִׁים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה וְעַד בֶּן־חֲמִשִּׁים שָׁנָה כׇּל־בָּא לַצָּבָא לַעֲשׂוֹת מְלָאכָה בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד׃
from the age of 30 until the age of 50, all who are strong enough to lift heavy things and are thus eligible for the troop, to do work in the Tent of Meeting.
זֹאת עֲבֹדַת בְּנֵי־קְהָת בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים׃
The following is the service of the clan of Kehat in transporting the Tent of Meeting: they will carry the holiest of the holy furnishings, i.e., the Ark, the dividing Screen, the showbread Table, the Candelabrum, the two Altars, and all their utensils.
וּבָא אַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו בִּנְסֹעַ הַמַּחֲנֶה וְהוֹרִדוּ אֵת פָּרֹכֶת הַמָּסָךְ וְכִסּוּ־בָהּ אֵת אֲרֹן הָעֵדֻת׃
The Ark
But before they approach these furnishings, the priests will cover them, as follows: When the cloud moves forward, indicating that the camp is about to travel, Aaron and his sons must come and take down the partition Curtain and cover the Ark of the Testimony with it.
וְנָתְנוּ עָלָיו כְּסוּי עוֹר תַּחַשׁ וּפָרְשׂוּ בֶגֶד־כְּלִיל תְּכֵלֶת מִלְמָעְלָה וְשָׂמוּ בַּדָּיו׃
They must put a covering of tachash-skin on it, and on top of that they must spread a cloth bag made of wool completely dyed turquoise. Then they must put its poles in place.
וְעַל ׀ שֻׁלְחַן הַפָּנִים יִפְרְשׂוּ בֶּגֶד תְּכֵלֶת וְנָתְנוּ עָלָיו אֶת־הַקְּעָרֹת וְאֶת־הַכַּפֹּת וְאֶת־הַמְּנַקִּיֹּת וְאֵת קְשׂוֹת הַנָּסֶךְ וְלֶחֶם הַתָּמִיד עָלָיו יִהְיֶה׃
The Table
They must spread a fitted, turquoise-wool cloth bag on the showbread Table, and they must place on it the bread-forms, spoons, supporting frames, and covering shelving tubes, the continual showbread remaining upon it.
וּפָרְשׂוּ עֲלֵיהֶם בֶּגֶד תּוֹלַעַת שָׁנִי וְכִסּוּ אֹתוֹ בְּמִכְסֵה עוֹר תָּחַשׁ וְשָׂמוּ אֶת־בַּדָּיו׃
They must then spread a fitted, scarlet-wool cloth bag on them and cover that with a covering of tachash-skin. Then they must put its poles into place.
וְלָקְחוּ ׀ בֶּגֶד תְּכֵלֶת וְכִסּוּ אֶת־מְנֹרַת הַמָּאוֹר וְאֶת־נֵרֹתֶיהָ וְאֶת־מַלְקָחֶיהָ וְאֶת־מַחְתֹּתֶיהָ וְאֵת כׇּל־כְּלֵי שַׁמְנָהּ אֲשֶׁר יְשָׁרְתוּ־לָהּ בָּהֶם׃
The Candelabrum
They must take a fitted, turquoise-wool cloth bag and cover the Candelabrum of illumination, its lamps, its tongs, its ash pans, and all its oil vessels they use in performing its service.
וְנָתְנוּ אֹתָהּ וְאֶת־כׇּל־כֵּלֶיהָ אֶל־מִכְסֵה עוֹר תָּחַשׁ וְנָתְנוּ עַל־הַמּוֹט׃
They must put it and all its utensils into a covering of tachash-skin and place the bag and its cover on a pole, since the Candelabrum has no poles with which it can be carried.
וְעַל ׀ מִזְבַּח הַזָּהָב יִפְרְשׂוּ בֶּגֶד תְּכֵלֶת וְכִסּוּ אֹתוֹ בְּמִכְסֵה עוֹר תָּחַשׁ וְשָׂמוּ אֶת־בַּדָּיו׃
The Inner Altar
They must spread a fitted, turquoise-wool cloth bag over the golden, Inner Altar and cover it with a covering of tachash-skin, and then set its poles in place.
וְלָקְחוּ אֶת־כׇּל־כְּלֵי הַשָּׁרֵת אֲשֶׁר יְשָׁרְתוּ־בָם בַּקֹּדֶשׁ וְנָתְנוּ אֶל־בֶּגֶד תְּכֵלֶת וְכִסּוּ אוֹתָם בְּמִכְסֵה עוֹר תָּחַשׁ וְנָתְנוּ עַל־הַמּוֹט׃
They must then take all the service utensils they use for the golden Altar, which is inside the Sanctuary, put them into a turquoise-wool cloth bag, cover them with a covering of tachash-skin, and put this bag and its cover onto a pole in order to carry it.
וְדִשְּׁנוּ אֶת־הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וּפָרְשׂוּ עָלָיו בֶּגֶד אַרְגָּמָן׃
The Outer Altar
They must remove the ashes from the Outer Altar and spread a fitted, purple-wool cloth bag over it. The heavenly fire will be covered with a copper bowl so that it does not burn this wool bag.
וְנָתְנוּ עָלָיו אֶת־כׇּל־כֵּלָיו אֲשֶׁר יְשָׁרְתוּ עָלָיו בָּהֶם אֶת־הַמַּחְתֹּת אֶת־הַמִּזְלָגֹת וְאֶת־הַיָּעִים וְאֶת־הַמִּזְרָקֹת כֹּל כְּלֵי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וּפָרְשׂוּ עָלָיו כְּסוּי עוֹר תַּחַשׁ וְשָׂמוּ בַדָּיו׃
They must place on it all the utensils with which they minister upon it: the fire pans, the flesh hooks, the scoops, and the basins – all the implements of the Altar. Then they must spread over it a covering of tachash-skin and set its poles in place.
וְכִלָּה אַהֲרֹן־וּבָנָיו לְכַסֹּת אֶת־הַקֹּדֶשׁ וְאֶת־כׇּל־כְּלֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ בִּנְסֹעַ הַמַּחֲנֶה וְאַחֲרֵי־כֵן יָבֹאוּ בְנֵי־קְהָת לָשֵׂאת וְלֹא־יִגְּעוּ אֶל־הַקֹּדֶשׁ וָמֵתוּ אֵלֶּה מַשָּׂא בְנֵי־קְהָת בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד׃
Aaron and his sons must finish covering the holy furnishings and all the utensils of the Sanctuary when the camp is set to travel, and only afterwards must the clan of Kehat come to carry them. But the clan of Kehat must not touch the sacred objects themselves, for then they will die. These furnishings are the burden of the clan of Kehat in transporting the Tent of Meeting.
וּפְקֻדַּת אֶלְעָזָר ׀ בֶּן־אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֵן שֶׁמֶן הַמָּאוֹר וּקְטֹרֶת הַסַּמִּים וּמִנְחַת הַתָּמִיד וְשֶׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה פְּקֻדַּת כׇּל־הַמִּשְׁכָּן וְכׇל־אֲשֶׁר־בּוֹ בְּקֹדֶשׁ וּבְכֵלָיו׃ {פ}
Eleazar
The charge of Eleazar son of Aaron the priest is as follows: he must carry the oil for lighting and the spice incense; he must ensure the daily grain-offering is offered up when they make camp; and he must carry the anointing oil. In addition, he has the charge of supervising the work of the clan of Kehat, assigning each one of them what they should carry from the entire Tabernacle and all that is in it, that is, from the holy things and from all the Tabernacle’s furnishings.”
וַיְדַבֵּר יְהֹוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה וְאֶל־אַהֲרֹן לֵאמֹר׃
GOD spoke to Moses, instructing him to convey His words to Aaron, saying:
אַל־תַּכְרִיתוּ אֶת־שֵׁבֶט מִשְׁפְּחֹת הַקְּהָתִי מִתּוֹךְ הַלְוִיִּם׃
“Do not let the tribe of the families of Kehat be eliminated from among the Levites.
וְזֹאת ׀ עֲשׂוּ לָהֶם וְחָיוּ וְלֹא יָמֻתוּ בְּגִשְׁתָּם אֶת־קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים אַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו יָבֹאוּ וְשָׂמוּ אוֹתָם אִישׁ אִישׁ עַל־עֲבֹדָתוֹ וְאֶל־מַשָּׂאוֹ׃
Do this for them, so they should live and not die when they approach the holiest of the holy things in order to carry them, as was just described: Aaron and his sons must first come and appoint each man individually to his task and his load.
וְלֹא־יָבֹאוּ לִרְאוֹת כְּבַלַּע אֶת־הַקֹּדֶשׁ וָמֵתוּ׃ {פ}
But the clan of Kehat must not come in to see when the holy furnishings are being wrapped up, lest they inadvertently touch them and die.”
