민수기 4:15 미드라쉬: Bamidbar Rabbah

What did the Omnipresent see to command them so, the Ark first, then the table, after it the candelabrum, after it the golden altar, and after it the altar of the burnt offering? Our Rabbis said: Their dismantling at the time of the journeys was like their establishment at the time of encampment. Just as at the time of the erection of the Tabernacle²⁶Likewise every time the Tabernacle was erected at the end of a journey. the Ark was first, as it is written: “He brought the Ark…” (Exodus 40:21); then, “he placed the table” (Exodus 40:22); then, “he placed the candelabrum” (Exodus 40:24); then, “he placed the golden altar” (Exodus 40:26); and then, “and the altar of the burnt offering, [he placed]” (Exodus 40:29), so in their dismantling: the Ark first, after it the table, after it the candelabrum, after it the golden altar, and after it the altar of the burnt offering.
“Aaron and his sons shall conclude to cover the sacred, and all the sacred vessels, when the camp travels. Thereafter, the sons of Kehat shall come to bear, and they shall not touch the sacred and die. These are the burden of the sons of Kehat in the Tent of Meeting” (Numbers 4:15).
“Aaron and his sons shall conclude to cover the sacred” – this is the Ark; “and all the sacred vessels” – these are the table, candelabrum, and the two altars and all their utensils. “When the camp travels” – they would do so only at the time of the journeys.

“Thereafter, the sons of Kehat shall come to bear…” – Moses said before God: Is the blood of the sons of Kehat safeguarded and the blood of the sons of Aaron unprotected? The Holy One blessed be He said to him: No; rather, Aaron is of the most sacred order, as it is stated: “Aaron was set apart to sanctify him as of the most sacred order” (I Chronicles 23:13), and the Ark is of the most sacred order. The most sacred order does not harm the most sacred order. However, the sons of Kehat are not of the most sacred order, but the Ark and all the vessels situated within are of the most sacred order, and they harm them. Therefore, the sons of Aaron must direct their attention so that the sons of Kehat will not die.
“These are the burden of the sons of Kehat in the Tent of Meeting” – these are borne, but the rest of the vessels are not borne, but rather are in wagons. Likewise it says: “But to the sons of Kehat he did not give, [because the sacred service is upon them; they shall bear on the shoulder]” (Numbers 7:9).

“Moses, Aaron, and the princes of the congregation counted the sons of the Kehatites by their families, and by their patrilineal house” (Numbers 4:34).
“Moses, Aaron…counted.” Immediately Moses and Aaron acted, and they counted the sons of the Kehatites first, just as the Holy One blessed be He said to them. From where is it derived that the Holy One blessed be He said to both of them to count them? It is as it is stated: “The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron saying: Take a census of the sons of Kehat” (Numbers 4:1–2).
Why is speech stated regarding Kehat and Gershon, but is not stated regarding Merari?¹⁶The verses contain direct speech by God to Moses and Aaron referring to two of the sons (Numbers 4:1-2, 21-22), but only an indirect reference for the third (Numbers 4:29). It is in order to accord honor to Gershon and to liken him to Kehat. Why is Aaron not stated in the speech regarding the sons of Gershon as it is stated regarding the sons of Kehat? It is because Aaron is excluded from all the speeches that were stated to Moses, as the Divine Presence did not speak with Aaron. Why, then, are there several places where Aaron is written? It is not that the speech was with Aaron, but rather, in every portion that relates to Aaron, “Aaron saying” is written. The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses, so that he would say to Aaron. This is why Aaron is written in the speech to the sons of Kehat. It is because every burden of the sons of Kehat and all their service was given to them by Aaron and his sons, as they were not permitted to touch the Ark and all the vessels until Aaron and his sons would cover them, just as it says: “Aaron and his sons shall conclude to cover the sacred [the Ark], [and all the sacred vessels…and then, the sons of Kehat shall come to bear…]” (Numbers 4:15). That is why Aaron is written in the speech regarding the sons of Kehat, as he is commanded regarding their service and their burden. But regarding the sons of Gershon, you do not find that Aaron did anything there; rather, it is under his direction the sons of Gershon would do everything that they do, and their actions were under the supervision of Itamar, as he would assign to each and every one of them his service and his burden. That is why Aaron is not written in the speech in the portion of the sons of Gershon.