Commentary for Numbers 8:20

ויעש משה ואהרן וכל עדת וגו׳ AND MOSES AND AARON AND ALL THE CONGREGATION … DID [TO THE LEVITES ACCORDING UNTO ALL THAT THE LORD COMMANDED MOSES] — i.e. Moses presented them (v. 13), Aaron made the waving with them (v. 11) and the Israelites put their hands (v. 10) upon the Levites’ heads (cf., however, Ibn Ezra).

ויעש משה ואהרן וכל עדת בני ישראל ללוים, the prefix ל in the word ללוים means “on behalf of, in aid of them.” They assisted with the shaving, the laundering of their clothing, as well as in preparation of the requisite offering.

ויעש משה…וכל עדת בני ישראל..כן עשו להם בני ישראל. And Moses and Aaron and the whole congregation of Israel did….so the children of Israel did to them (the Levites). Why did the Torah have to repeat the line: "so they did?" Why did the Torah speak about the "whole community of the children of Israel" at the beginning of the verse, whereas at its conclusion it only speaks of "the children of Israel?" It appears that the line כן עשו בני ישראל is repeated as it is a reference to the firstborn who are being complimented for agreeing to their new status seeing they were the ones who lost many privileges due to this change. This is also the reason that at the end of the verse the Torah did not speak of "the whole community of Israel," since only the firstborn of the Israelites were meant.

ויעש משה ואהרן וכל עדת בני ישראל ללוים, “and Moses and Aaron together with the whole congregation of the Children of Israel did to the Levites, etc.” Moses was putting the Levites on their feet, whereas Aaron was “waving” them. This is the meaning of the words in verse 13 והעמדת את הלוים לפני אהרן ולפני בניו. The fact that Aaron performed the “waving” is mentioned specifically in verse 11 והניף אהרן את הלוים תנופה לפני ה’. This procedure consisted of Aaron personally lifting up each individual Levite, waving him in different directions. This reflected the fact that Aaron possessed exceptional physical strength. [It was one of the 5 qualifying attributes of a High Priest that he be physically strong. Ed] Lifting 22,000 people individually all in one day was certainly no mean accomplishment. Alternatively, the entire procedure took place with a heavenly assist, i.e. a miracle. Aaron may have been able to call upon such assistance as he represented the attribute of Mercy and was able to command assistance from the attribute of חסד as well as that of גבורה. The attribute of Mercy is composed of large parts of חסד, and a smaller part of גבורה. (Compare author’s comment on Leviticus 21,10 under the heading “a kabbalistic approach”) This is also the meaning of the words in Malachi 2,6 בשלום ובמישור הלך אתי, “he (Aaron) walked with Me in peace and equity.” The reason that Aaron at the time had chosen the zodiac sign of the ox was also that this was the chayah which appeared to the prophet Ezekiel on the left in his famous vision of the merkavah, the divine entourage. He used to atone for the iniquities of the people of Israel, sins which had their origin in the North [Compare our author’s explanation on Exodus 32,4. Ed.]
The Israelites placed their hands on these Levites investing them with the authority to be their “agents.” This is the meaning of verse 10: “the Israelites shall place their hands on the Levites.” It is most likely that the entire procedure relied heavily on G’d’s miraculous assist.

The Israelites rested their hands. So that you not say that all of them stood the Levites up, or that all of them waved them or all of them rested their hands. Rather the word “did” refers to the specific action of each one — Moshe placed them…

כן עשו להם בני ישראל, “so did the Children of Israel.” They placed their weight with their hands upon them.

ככל אשר צוה ה' את משה ללוים. As G’d had commanded Moses that he, in turn, should command the Levites to do.

כן עשו להם בני ישראל, the wording reflects how promptly these instructions were carried out. They were so eager to please their Maker.