Hasidut untuk Bilangan 7:2

Numbers 7,2. ‎בהעלותך את הנרות‎, “when you are about to ‎kindle the lights, etc.;” it happens on occasion that a ‎‎tzaddik has fallen from his spiritual level. Seeing that G’d is ‎the essence of loving kindness He wishes for the “sparks” from ‎the Shechinah that have at different times fallen into our ‎domain of the ‎קליפות‎, “the peels,” i.e. ritually impure parts of the ‎globe to facilitate their rehabilitation and return to their habitat. ‎He uses the proximity of the “fallen” tzaddik, who is still ‎firmly attached to his holy roots and therefore will make ‎strenuous efforts at doing penance, to be the means by which ‎this will be brought about.
Our verse is an allegorical description of such an event. The ‎נרות‎, “lights,” referred to, are the fallen sparks which are facing ‎the menorah, the source of their light before they had fallen ‎off the Shechina, when the penitent sinner kindles the ‎‎menorah he will also include the “penitent sparks” who use ‎this opportunity to restore the Shechinah to its former ‎glory when all of its seven lights were burning.‎ ‎

“the princes” (a term that appears again and again ‎from Numbers 7,2-7,84) The leader of each tribe was accorded the title ‎נשיא‎, ‎‎“chieftain or prince.” The word is derived from the root ‎נשא‎, “to ‎carry, lift, elevate,” suggests that it was the task of these tribal ‎leaders to elevate the people spiritually so that they would serve ‎the Lord better.
This is also the meaning of Deuteornomy 7,2: “those who ‎were in charge of the people who had been counted.” We ‎have explained previously that the root ‎פקד‎ describes something ‎that was missing, lacking, empty (Samuel I 20,27.) The righteous ‎are perceived as standing fast, i.e. ‎העומדים‎ like an iron wall seeing ‎to it that the common people not become guilty of sins of ‎omission. If we were to ask what merit did the princes possess ‎which resulted in their occupying such high office? The answer is ‎that instead of complimenting themselves on their elevated ‎status they were constantly concerned that they would not lack ‎any of the attributes that are necessary for people occupying ‎such high office.‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

And in the Midrash (Vayikra Rabbah 8:3), "'This is the offering of Aharon' (Leviticus 6:13) - the offering of Aharon was considered as beloved as the offering of the chieftains, as it is written (Numbers 7:17), 'This was the offering of Nachshon, etc.'" And the idea is that the princes' dedication [of the tabernacle] was so that the enlightenment of the rebirth that occurred with the erection of the tabernacle would remain. For it is written (Numbers 7:2), "And the chieftains of Israel offered (hikrivu, which more literally means, brought close)" - that they felt a coming close in their souls to the Holy One, blessed be He. And the dedication was so that an impression of this would remain for future generations. However Aharon the priest was always cleaving to this rebirth. And this is what Scripture was consoling him with, "Yours lasts forever" - see there in the Midrash of Behaalotekha - to say, that he does not need the dedication, since he feels rebirth every day. This is as it is written (about Aharon), "This is the offering" - and that is as if it is pointing with the finger that this thing does not get old for him. And in fact we see that the tribe of Levi did not volunteer during the dedication of the tabernacle. And at first glance, this is a wonder! For the bringing of their offerings began from themselves, with the advice of Netanel ben Tzuar. If so, why did the tribe of Levi not also participate in this? Hence it appears that the tribe of Levi, which was not involved in the sin of the [golden] calf did not feel excitement about the erection of the tabernacle, like the other tribes did. For their level was above the construction of the tabernacle, just like the Children of Israel were [all] prepared to be before that sin. But behold they themselves are the servants of the tabernacles, so that they are called the vessels of the tabernacle and the temple. But the other tribes did bring offerings, so that the enlightenment of the erection of the tabernacle would remain with them forever. So does it appear to me.