וַיִּֽהְיוּ֙ פְּקֻ֣דֵיהֶ֔ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם אַלְפַּ֕יִם וְשֵׁ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת וּשְׁלֹשִֽׁים׃
comptés par familles, selon leurs maisons paternelles, leur nombre fut de deux mille six cent trente.
Bamidbar Rabbah
“Do not cut off the tribe of the Kehatite families from among the Levites” (Numbers 4:18).
“Do not cut off the tribe of the Kehatite families from among the Levites” (Numbers 4:18). That is what is written: “Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who await His kindness, to deliver them from death, and to sustain them in famine” (Psalms 33:18–19). “Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,” this is the tribe of Levi, who sit and hope for the kindness of the Holy One blessed be He. Do all people not long for the kindness of the Holy One blessed be He? It is, rather, more so regarding the tribe of Levi, as they did not receive a portion in the Land. Rather, they sit and pray that the Land of Israel will produce its produce so they can take tithes, as they have nothing in the world other than the kindness of the Holy One blessed be He. That is, “on those who await His kindness.” “To deliver them from death,” from death itself, “and to sustain them in famine,” these are twenty-four gifts of the priesthood, which were given to the tribe of Levi: ten in the Temple, ten in the provinces, and four in Jerusalem. That is, “and to sustain them in famine.”
Rabbi Elazar ben Pedat said: From what death were they delivered? If it was from death of this world, there is no creature that does not die. What is “to deliver them from death”? It is from death by the Ark. How so? Rabbi Elazar ben Pedat said in the name of Rabbi Yosei ben Zimra: When Israel was traveling, two sparks of fire would emerge from the midst of the two staves of the Ark in order to smite their enemies. From where is it derived? It is as Moses said to Israel: ‘Why do you fear the giants; are they tougher than those who would come against us and the Ark would burn them?’1See Deuteronomy 9:1–3 where Moses tell Israel not to fear the giants because of the devouring fire which passes before them. Likewise, it says: “You shall know today that the Lord your God is He who passes before you, [a devouring fire]” (Deuteronomy 9:3). From here, you expound that two sparks would precede them. He said to them: “He will destroy them, and He will subdue them before you” (Deuteronomy 9:3). Since the sparks would emerge, the fire would graze the bearers of the Ark and they would be burned and decrease in number.
From where is it derived that the tribe of Kehat diminished in number? You find that three families would bear all the Tabernacle vessels. [The family of] Gershon bore all the woven materials: sheets, curtain, the screen, and the hangings. The family of Kehat would bear the Ark, the table, the candelabrum, the altars, and the sacred vessels. [The family of] Merari would bear the beams, the bars, the pillars, and the bases. You find that these four2The fourth family was Moses, Aaron and his children, who camped by themselves to the east of the Tabernacle. They were included in the count of Kehat. families were counted from one month old and from thirty years old. When he counts the Gershonites, he counts them from one month old, and finds them “seven thousand five hundred” (Numbers 3:22). He then counted them from thirty years old and finds them “two thousand six hundred and thirty” (Numbers 4:40). They were one hundred and thirty more than one-third. Likewise, Merari, he counts them from one month old, and their total comes to “six thousand two hundred” (Numbers 3:34). When he attributes them from thirty years old, he finds them “three thousand two hundred” (Numbers 4:44). They were one hundred more than half of them. But the family of Kehat, you find them most numerous of all the families, as from one month old he counts them and finds them “eight thousand six hundred” (Numbers 3:28). When he came from thirty years old, he finds them “two thousand seven hundred and fifty” (Numbers 4:36). They were less than one-third, by one hundred and seventeen. Why was it so? It is, rather, as Rabbi Elazar ben Pedat said in the name of Rabbi Yosei ben Zimra: When Israel was traveling; two sparks of fire would emerge from the midst of the two staves and graze the bearers of the Ark and they would decrease in number. Each and every one of them was running; this one would take the table, this one would take the candelabrum, this one would take the altars, but they would flee from the Ark because it would harm them. It was as though the Ark was treated with contempt and the Holy One blessed be He would become angry with them, and again they would be eradicated. The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘How am I killing the sons of Kehat?I If they bear it, they decrease in number, if they do not bear it, there is anger directed at them.’ The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses and to Aaron: ‘Institute a remedy for the sons of Kehat so they will not be cut off from the world, so they will not abandon and flee. “Do not cut off the tribe …” Rather, let Aaron and his sons come: “Assign them, each man to his service and to his burden” (Numbers 4:19), so that they will be unable to switch from service to service and from burden to burden.’ That is what is written: “But do this for them, and they will live, [and will not die upon their approaching the Holy of Holies. Aaron and his sons shall come, and assign them, each man to his service and to his burden]” (Numbers 4:19).
Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: God forbid, the sons of Kehat would not abandon the Ark and run to the table and the candelabrum; rather, even though they would decrease in number, they would give their lives for the sake of the Ark. If so, why was He cautioning them: “Do not cut off the tribe…”? Rather, it was because they knew that anyone who bears the Ark, his reward is great; they would abandon the table, the candelabrum, and the altars, and they would all run to the Ark to receive a reward. As a result, this one would quarrel and say: ‘I will bear here,’ and that one would quarrel and say: ‘I will bear here,’ and as a result, they would act with levity and the Divine Presence would harm them. God said to Moses: ‘Institute a remedy for the sons of Kehat so they will not be eradicated from the world. “Do not cut off…” Rather, have them assigned to their service and to their burden so they will not quarrel with one another.’ Moses instituted a remedy, but they were quarreling with one another: This one would say: ‘I will bear the Ark,’ and that one would say: ‘I will bear it,’ and one would not know what was fixed for him, what was his burden. The Holy One blessed be He said, and consequently Aaron and his sons would enter and give each and every one his burden, as it is stated: “Aaron and his sons shall come, and assign them...”
“Do not cut off the tribe of the Kehatite families from among the Levites” (Numbers 4:18). That is what is written: “Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who await His kindness, to deliver them from death, and to sustain them in famine” (Psalms 33:18–19). “Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,” this is the tribe of Levi, who sit and hope for the kindness of the Holy One blessed be He. Do all people not long for the kindness of the Holy One blessed be He? It is, rather, more so regarding the tribe of Levi, as they did not receive a portion in the Land. Rather, they sit and pray that the Land of Israel will produce its produce so they can take tithes, as they have nothing in the world other than the kindness of the Holy One blessed be He. That is, “on those who await His kindness.” “To deliver them from death,” from death itself, “and to sustain them in famine,” these are twenty-four gifts of the priesthood, which were given to the tribe of Levi: ten in the Temple, ten in the provinces, and four in Jerusalem. That is, “and to sustain them in famine.”
Rabbi Elazar ben Pedat said: From what death were they delivered? If it was from death of this world, there is no creature that does not die. What is “to deliver them from death”? It is from death by the Ark. How so? Rabbi Elazar ben Pedat said in the name of Rabbi Yosei ben Zimra: When Israel was traveling, two sparks of fire would emerge from the midst of the two staves of the Ark in order to smite their enemies. From where is it derived? It is as Moses said to Israel: ‘Why do you fear the giants; are they tougher than those who would come against us and the Ark would burn them?’1See Deuteronomy 9:1–3 where Moses tell Israel not to fear the giants because of the devouring fire which passes before them. Likewise, it says: “You shall know today that the Lord your God is He who passes before you, [a devouring fire]” (Deuteronomy 9:3). From here, you expound that two sparks would precede them. He said to them: “He will destroy them, and He will subdue them before you” (Deuteronomy 9:3). Since the sparks would emerge, the fire would graze the bearers of the Ark and they would be burned and decrease in number.
From where is it derived that the tribe of Kehat diminished in number? You find that three families would bear all the Tabernacle vessels. [The family of] Gershon bore all the woven materials: sheets, curtain, the screen, and the hangings. The family of Kehat would bear the Ark, the table, the candelabrum, the altars, and the sacred vessels. [The family of] Merari would bear the beams, the bars, the pillars, and the bases. You find that these four2The fourth family was Moses, Aaron and his children, who camped by themselves to the east of the Tabernacle. They were included in the count of Kehat. families were counted from one month old and from thirty years old. When he counts the Gershonites, he counts them from one month old, and finds them “seven thousand five hundred” (Numbers 3:22). He then counted them from thirty years old and finds them “two thousand six hundred and thirty” (Numbers 4:40). They were one hundred and thirty more than one-third. Likewise, Merari, he counts them from one month old, and their total comes to “six thousand two hundred” (Numbers 3:34). When he attributes them from thirty years old, he finds them “three thousand two hundred” (Numbers 4:44). They were one hundred more than half of them. But the family of Kehat, you find them most numerous of all the families, as from one month old he counts them and finds them “eight thousand six hundred” (Numbers 3:28). When he came from thirty years old, he finds them “two thousand seven hundred and fifty” (Numbers 4:36). They were less than one-third, by one hundred and seventeen. Why was it so? It is, rather, as Rabbi Elazar ben Pedat said in the name of Rabbi Yosei ben Zimra: When Israel was traveling; two sparks of fire would emerge from the midst of the two staves and graze the bearers of the Ark and they would decrease in number. Each and every one of them was running; this one would take the table, this one would take the candelabrum, this one would take the altars, but they would flee from the Ark because it would harm them. It was as though the Ark was treated with contempt and the Holy One blessed be He would become angry with them, and again they would be eradicated. The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘How am I killing the sons of Kehat?I If they bear it, they decrease in number, if they do not bear it, there is anger directed at them.’ The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses and to Aaron: ‘Institute a remedy for the sons of Kehat so they will not be cut off from the world, so they will not abandon and flee. “Do not cut off the tribe …” Rather, let Aaron and his sons come: “Assign them, each man to his service and to his burden” (Numbers 4:19), so that they will be unable to switch from service to service and from burden to burden.’ That is what is written: “But do this for them, and they will live, [and will not die upon their approaching the Holy of Holies. Aaron and his sons shall come, and assign them, each man to his service and to his burden]” (Numbers 4:19).
Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: God forbid, the sons of Kehat would not abandon the Ark and run to the table and the candelabrum; rather, even though they would decrease in number, they would give their lives for the sake of the Ark. If so, why was He cautioning them: “Do not cut off the tribe…”? Rather, it was because they knew that anyone who bears the Ark, his reward is great; they would abandon the table, the candelabrum, and the altars, and they would all run to the Ark to receive a reward. As a result, this one would quarrel and say: ‘I will bear here,’ and that one would quarrel and say: ‘I will bear here,’ and as a result, they would act with levity and the Divine Presence would harm them. God said to Moses: ‘Institute a remedy for the sons of Kehat so they will not be eradicated from the world. “Do not cut off…” Rather, have them assigned to their service and to their burden so they will not quarrel with one another.’ Moses instituted a remedy, but they were quarreling with one another: This one would say: ‘I will bear the Ark,’ and that one would say: ‘I will bear it,’ and one would not know what was fixed for him, what was his burden. The Holy One blessed be He said, and consequently Aaron and his sons would enter and give each and every one his burden, as it is stated: “Aaron and his sons shall come, and assign them...”
Bamidbar Rabbah
“And the counted of the sons of Gershon, by their families, and by their patrilineal house” (Numbers 4:38).
“And the counted of the sons of Gershon,” just as he counted the sons of Kehat at the directive of the Lord, so he counted the sons of Gershon.
“From thirty years old and above until fifty years old, everyone who enlisted for duty, for work in the Tent of Meeting” (Numbers 4:39).
“From thirty years old,” in the Tent of Meeting they were disqualified from fifty years and onward, but when they entered the Land of Israel, they were disqualified only on the basis of voice.17Only if their voices were not fit to join the Levites in their song in the Temple service.
“Their counted by their families, by their patrilineal house, were two thousand and six hundred and thirty” (Numbers 4:40).
“Their counted,” this is what they said, that the sons of Gershon, because they were not among the bearers of the Ark, that is why they were not lacking two-thirds from the first census, but rather, they were one hundred and thirty more than one-third.
“These are the counted of the families of the sons of Gershon, all who worked in the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron counted according to the directive of the Lord” (Numbers 4:41).
“These are the counted of the families….” Why, in the census of the Kehatites, are “the sons of Kehat” not mentioned, just as it is stated regarding the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, but “the Kehatite [haKehati]” is written? Because their census was for the purpose of bearing the Ark, the Holy One blessed be He appended His name to theirs, so they would not be eradicated; a heh at the beginning and a yod at the end. That is ya; so as to say that ya will deliver them from death, to realize what is stated: “To deliver them from death” (Psalms 33:19).
“Whom Moses and Aaron counted according to the directive of the Lord.” Why is it not stated in the census of the sons of Gershon “at the hand of Moses,” as it is stated in the census of the sons of Kehat? It is because regarding the sons of Kehat, the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses that Aaron should count with Moses. The Holy One blessed be He mentioned Aaron at the beginning of the census with the intent that he should count all the Levites with Moses. However, when Moses heard that the Holy One blessed be He mentioned Aaron in the census of the sons of Kehat but did not mention him subsequently, neither in the census of the sons of Gershon nor in the census of the sons of Merari, Moses thought to himself and said: ‘This is why the Holy One blessed be He said to me, that Aaron should count the sons of Kehat with me; it is because all their burden and all their service is performed under his direction. But the service of the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, that are not performed under his direction, He does not want him to count with me.’ That is why he said to Aaron that he should count the sons of Kehat with him, in the name of the Holy One blessed be He, and that is why it is written in the census of the sons of Kehat: “According to the directive of the Lord at the hand of Moses” (Numbers 4:37). But when he came to count the sons of Gershon, Moses did not say to Aaron in the name of the Holy One blessed be He that he should count the sons of Gershon with him, but rather, he accorded him honor because he was his older brother, and took him with him and included him with him for the census. That is why “at the hand of Moses” is not stated. Even though it was the intent of the Holy One blessed be He that Aaron should count all the Levites with him, and it was with that intent that He mentioned Aaron at the beginning of the census, because Moses did not say to Aaron that he should count the sons of Gershon with him in the name of the Holy One blessed be He, he omitted here “at the hand of Moses.”
“And the counted of the sons of Gershon,” just as he counted the sons of Kehat at the directive of the Lord, so he counted the sons of Gershon.
“From thirty years old and above until fifty years old, everyone who enlisted for duty, for work in the Tent of Meeting” (Numbers 4:39).
“From thirty years old,” in the Tent of Meeting they were disqualified from fifty years and onward, but when they entered the Land of Israel, they were disqualified only on the basis of voice.17Only if their voices were not fit to join the Levites in their song in the Temple service.
“Their counted by their families, by their patrilineal house, were two thousand and six hundred and thirty” (Numbers 4:40).
“Their counted,” this is what they said, that the sons of Gershon, because they were not among the bearers of the Ark, that is why they were not lacking two-thirds from the first census, but rather, they were one hundred and thirty more than one-third.
“These are the counted of the families of the sons of Gershon, all who worked in the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron counted according to the directive of the Lord” (Numbers 4:41).
“These are the counted of the families….” Why, in the census of the Kehatites, are “the sons of Kehat” not mentioned, just as it is stated regarding the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, but “the Kehatite [haKehati]” is written? Because their census was for the purpose of bearing the Ark, the Holy One blessed be He appended His name to theirs, so they would not be eradicated; a heh at the beginning and a yod at the end. That is ya; so as to say that ya will deliver them from death, to realize what is stated: “To deliver them from death” (Psalms 33:19).
“Whom Moses and Aaron counted according to the directive of the Lord.” Why is it not stated in the census of the sons of Gershon “at the hand of Moses,” as it is stated in the census of the sons of Kehat? It is because regarding the sons of Kehat, the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses that Aaron should count with Moses. The Holy One blessed be He mentioned Aaron at the beginning of the census with the intent that he should count all the Levites with Moses. However, when Moses heard that the Holy One blessed be He mentioned Aaron in the census of the sons of Kehat but did not mention him subsequently, neither in the census of the sons of Gershon nor in the census of the sons of Merari, Moses thought to himself and said: ‘This is why the Holy One blessed be He said to me, that Aaron should count the sons of Kehat with me; it is because all their burden and all their service is performed under his direction. But the service of the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, that are not performed under his direction, He does not want him to count with me.’ That is why he said to Aaron that he should count the sons of Kehat with him, in the name of the Holy One blessed be He, and that is why it is written in the census of the sons of Kehat: “According to the directive of the Lord at the hand of Moses” (Numbers 4:37). But when he came to count the sons of Gershon, Moses did not say to Aaron in the name of the Holy One blessed be He that he should count the sons of Gershon with him, but rather, he accorded him honor because he was his older brother, and took him with him and included him with him for the census. That is why “at the hand of Moses” is not stated. Even though it was the intent of the Holy One blessed be He that Aaron should count all the Levites with him, and it was with that intent that He mentioned Aaron at the beginning of the census, because Moses did not say to Aaron that he should count the sons of Gershon with him in the name of the Holy One blessed be He, he omitted here “at the hand of Moses.”