Midrash sobre Números 3:54

(Numb. 16:1:) “Now Korah betook himself.” This text is related (to Prov. 18:19), “A brother offended (rt.: psh') is more formidable than a fortified city; [such] contentions are like a castle bar.” The brother offended is Korah, in that he sided against Moses.¹Numb. R. 18:1, 14. So he rebelled and sank from whatever glory that he possessed. Now offended (rt: psh') can only imply rebellion, since it is stated (in II Kings 3:7), “The king of Moab has rebelled (psh') against me.” It also says (in II Kings 8:22), “then did Libnah rebel (rt.: psh').” (Prov. 18:19:) “[Such] contentions are like a castle bar.” [The earth raised its bars against him like a castle.] (Prov. 18:19:) “Like a castle bar.” [These words also refer to Korah,] who sided against Moses and against the Omnipresent.²See the commentary of Enoch Zundel on Tanh., Numb.5:1. This explanation is also given by Issachar Berman Ashkenazi in his commentary, Mattenot Kehunnah, on Numb. R. 18:1. (Numb. 16:1:) “[Now Korah …] took.”³In this and some of the following sections, the midrash is explaining the fact that the transitive verb, TOOK, has no object. Biblical translations offer solutions such as translating the verb intransitively, e.g., BETOOK HIMSELF, or by supplying an object, e.g., TOOK MEN. “Took” can only be a word for "attracting with persuasive words," in that he attracted all the leaders of Israel and the sanhedraot [to follow] after him.⁴Numb. R. 18:2. Concerning Moses it is written (in Numb. 1:17), “So Moses and Aaron took these men.” And similarly it is written (in Numb. 8:2), “Take Aaron and his sons with him.” And so does it say (in Hos. 14:3), “Take words with you and repent….” And so does it [also] say (in Genesis 12:15), “and the woman was taken to the house of Pharaoh.” Ergo (in Numb. 16:1) “Now Korah […] took,” in that he drew (i.e., took) their hearts with persuasive words. (Numb. 16:1:) “Now Korah […] betook himself.” Because of what did he dissent? Because of Elizaphan, the son of his father's brother, who had been appointed prince (nasi) over his clan. So it says (in Numb. 3:30), “And the prince of the ancestral house for the Kohathite clan was Elizaphan ben Uzziel.” Korah said, “Father had four brothers.” It is so stated (according to Exod. 6:18), “And the sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.” “As for Amram, the first-born; his son Aaron and his sons attained the high priesthood, and his brother Moses [attained] the kingship. So who deserves to get second [place]? Should it not be the second [son]? Now I am Izhar's son. I deserved to be prince of my clan, but he has appointed the son of Uzziel. Should the youngest of father's brothers become superior to me? See, I am dissenting and declaring everything invalid, whatever he had done.” Therefore, there was dissent.

R. Samuel b. Nachmeni in the name of R. Jonathan said: "He who teaches the Torah to the son of his neighbor, Scripture considers him as if he begot him, as it is said (Num. 3, 1) And these are the generations of Aaron and Moses; and the following verse reads: And these are the names of the sons of Aaron, to teach you that Aaron begot [his sons] but Moses taught them, therefore they are recorded under his name." (Is. 29, 22) Therefore thus hath said the Lord unto the house of Jacob, he who hath redeemed Abraham. Where do we find that Jacob redeemed Abraham? R. Juda said: "He redeemed him from the trouble of rearing children. And this is what is meant by the passage (Ib) Not now shall Jacob be ashamed, and not now shall his face he made pale — i.e., he shall not be ashamed of his father and his face shall not become pale because of his grandfather."

7...

Our Rabbis taught: A man shall always be as patient as Hillel and not as excitable as Shammai. Once it happened that two men laid a wager with one another (Fol. 31a) that whichever would succeed in putting Hillel out of temper should receive four hundred zouzim "I shall go and put him out of temper." said one. It was on Friday afternoon, and Hillel was washing Himself, when the man passed by the door of his house, shouting: "Does Hillel live here? Does Hillel live here?" Hillel wrapped his mantle round him and went out to meet him. "My son," he said to him, "what do you wish?" "I have a question to ask," was the reply. "Ask, my son, ask,"' said Hillel. "Why are the heads of the Babylonians round?" the man asked. "A great question hast thou asked, my son. Because they have no trained midwives." The man went away and after a while, returned calling out, "Does Hillel live here? Does Hillel live here?" Hillel again wrapped his mantle round him and went out to meet him. "My son," he said, "what do you wish?" "A great question have I to ask," he said. "Ask, my son, ask," said Hillel. "Why are the, people of Tarmod (Palmyra) weak-eyed?" asked he. Hillel said: "Thou hast asked a great question. Because they live in a sandy country." The man went away, and after waiting a while, came back shouting: "Does Hillel live here? Does Hillel live here?" Hillel wrapped his mantle round him and went out to meet him. "My son," he said, "what do you wish?" "I have a question to ask." said the man. "Ask. my son, ask.," said Hillel. "Why are the feet of the Africans so broad?" "Thou hast asked a great question! Because they live in marshy land." "I have many more questions to ask," said the man, "but I am afraid lest I shall make thee angry." Hillel, drawing his mantle around him, sat down before the man, saying to him: "All the questions thou hast to ask, please ask." "Art thou Hillel," said he., "who is called Prince of Israel?" "Yes," answered Hillel. "If thou art the one, then I pray there may not be many more in Israel like thee." "Why is that, my son?" asked Hillel. "Because," said the man, "I have lost four hundred zouzim through thee." "Be cautious with thy temper," said Hillel. "Better is it that thou shouldst lose four hundred zouzim, and four hundred more zouzim, but that Hillel should not become excited." Our Rabbis taught that a heathen once came before Shammai and said: "How many Torahs have you?" Shammai replied: "We have two; the written Torah and the oral Torah." The heathen then said to him: "In the written Torah I believe thee, but in the oral Torah I do not believe thee. Make me, therefore, a proselyte on condition that you teach me the written Torah only." Shammai rebuked him sharply and sent him away angry. The heathen then appeared before Hillel, and the latter made him a proselyte. On the first day, Hillel taught him the Aleph, Beth, Gimel, Daleth. On the morrow, Hillel reversed the order of these letters (beginning with the last letter). "Thou didst not teach me so yesterday," said the proselyte to him. "True," said Hillel. "Dost thou not rely upon me? Why then dost thou not rely upon me with the oral Torah?" On another occasion it happened that a heathen appeared before Shammai and said: "Convert me to Judaism but on condition that thou teachest me the whole Torah, while I am standing upon one leg." Shammai drove him off with the builder's cubit (measure) which he held in his hand. Then the heathen appeared before Hillel, and he made him a proselyte, and said unto him: "That which is hateful to thee do not do unto thy neighbor, this is the whole Torah, and the rest is merely its commentary." Again it happened that while a heathen passed by the rear of a synagogue he heard the voice of a scribe who was saying, And these are the garments which they shall make; a breast-plate and an Ephod and a robe. (Ex. 28, 4). "For whom are these?" asked the heathen. "For the High Priest," replied the scribe." So the heathen said to himself: "I shall go and become a proselyte on condition that I be made a High Priest." He came before Shammai and said to him: "Make me a proselyte upon condition that you make me a High Priest." Shammai drove him away with the builders cubit which he held in his hand. The heathen then came before Hillel; the latter made him a proselyte, and said to him: "Is it possible for one to be made a king unless he knows the court ceremonials? Go, study first the court ceremonials." The proselyte thereupon went and learned the Torah. When he came to the passage (Num. 3, 10.) And the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death, he asked: "For whom is that passage meant?" "Even for David, the King of Israel," Hillel replied. Then the proselyte came to the following conclusion: "If for Israelites, who are called the sons of God and who on account of God's love shown to them, were called (Ex. 4. 22), My son, my first-born, Israel, a warning is written, And the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death, how much more does this apply to the mere proselyte who came with but his staff and traveling bag?" He went to Shammai and said to him: "Am I then eligible to be a High Priest? Behold! It is written in the Torah, And the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death." He then went to Hillel and said to him: "O thou forbearing Hillel, may blessings rest upon thy head, because thou hast brought me under the wings of the Shechina." Later all the three proselytes happened to meet in one place and they said: "Oh, the impatience of Shammai could drive us out of this world, but the patience of Hillel brought us under the wings of the Shechina!"

2) The limitations: (Bamidbar 7:89): "And when Moses came to the ohel moed (for the L–rd) to speak to 1 him, that he heard the voice speaking to 2 him … and He spoke to him." (Shemoth 25:22): "And I will be appointed for you there, and I will speak to you … all that I will charge you with to the children of Israel." (Shemoth 29:42): "… where I shall appoint a time for you (plural) to speak to you (singular) there." (Shemoth 30:6):

2) R. Shimon b. Gamliel said in the name of R. Elazar b. Azaryah: It is written (Bamidbar 3:4): "And Nadav and Avihu died before the L–rd in offering a strange fire before the L–rd in the desert of Sinai; and they did not have sons. And Elazar and Ithamar officiated as priests in the presence of Aaron their father." For if they did have sons, they would have taken precedence to Elazar and Ithamar. For all who take precedence in inheritance take precedence in (assuming a position of) honor. If so, why is it written "his remaining sons"? Moses said to them: Should you not observe (i.e., imprint upon your minds) what happened to these (Nadav and Avihu) because they did not take counsel (see Miluim Shemini 32) and they were swept away? R. Eliezer says: They were close to being swept away (because of the sin of the golden calf made by Aaron), but the L–rd pitied Aaron (and left a "remnant" for him).

2) "when they drew near before the L–rd and they died": R. Yossi Haglili says: They died because of the drawing near (and entering the holy of holies without permission), and not because of the incense offering. R. Akiva says: They died because of the offering and not because of the drawing near. One verse (our verse) states "when they drew near before the L–rd and they died," and another verse states (Vayikra 11:1) "and they offered before the L–rd a strange fire." The resolution (Bamidbar 3:4) "when they drew near (with) a strange fire before the L–rd" — They died because of the drawing near and not because of the offering. R. Elazar b. Azaryah says: The offering is sufficient (for death) unto itself, and the drawing near is sufficient unto itself.

2) Variantly: "Take Aaron and his sons with him": What is the intent of this? In many places the "taking" of men is mentioned in respect to Moses, viz. (Numbers 3:41): "And you shall take the Levites for Me — I am the L–rd." (Numbers 11:16): "And you shall take them (the seventy elders) to the tent of meeting." (Numbers 1:17): "and Moses… took these men who were designated by name." (Numbers 27:18): "Take for yourself Joshua the son of Nun." Now did Moses "string men over his shoulders"? (The intent is that) the Holy One Blessed be He said to him: "Take" them with words so that their hearts not be tied to other things.

A righteous person will flourish like a date palm. No part of the date palm is wasted: Its dates are eaten; its young branches are used for ritual blessing [of the lulav on sukkot]; its fronds cover the Sukkah; its fibers are used to make ropes; its leaves are used for sieves; its planed trunks are used for roof beams. So too there are none worthless in Israel: Some are versed in the Bible; others know Mishnah; some are masters of aggadah [storytelling]; others do good deeds; still others promote social equity.

Another [explanation]: "Bring close the tribe of Levi, etc." - this is [the meaning of] what is written (Psalms 65:5), "Happy is the one whom You have chosen and You have brought close": Happy is the one whom the Holy One, blessed be He, has chosen, even though he has not brought him close. And happy is the man that He has brought close, even though He has not chosen him. And who is the one whom He has chosen? That is Avraham, as it is stated (Nehemiah 9:7), "You are He, Lord God, Who chose Avram." But He did not bring him close, but rather he brought himself close. The Holy One, blessed be He, chose Yaakov, as it is stated (Psalms 135:4), "For Yaakov did the Lord choose." And so [too] it says (Isaiah 41:8), "Yaakov whom You have chosen." But He did not bring him close, but rather he brought himself close, as it is stated (Genesis 25:27), "Yaakov was a simple man that sat in tents." He chose Moshe, as it is stated (Psalms 106:23), "were it not for Moshe, His chosen"; but He did not bring him close. Happy are those that the Holy One, blessed be He, chose, even though He did not bring them close. Come and see - the Holy One, blessed be He, brought Yitro close, but He did not choose him. He brought Rachav the prostitute close but He did not choose her. Happy are these that whom He brought close, even though He did not choose them. A [Roman] matron asked Rabbi Yose, "[Does] your God bring close whomever He wants (arbitrarily)?" [So] he brought a basket of figs in front of her and she would choose a nice one, she would choose it and eat it. He said to her, "You know how to choose, [does] the Holy One, blessed be He not know how to choose? The one whom He sees has good deeds, He chooses him and brings him close." Rabbi Nechemiah [said] in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Rabbi Yitschak, "Not all who are close are close, and not all who are distant are distant. There is one who is chosen and pushed off and brought close, [and] there is one who is chosen and pushed off and not brought close. Aharon was chosen - (I Samuel 2:28) 'And I chose him from all the tribes of Israel for Me as a priest.' And he was pushed off - (Deuteronomy 9:20) 'And with Aharon did the Lord get angry.' And it is written [after the event that the last verse cited was referring to] (Exodus 28:1), 'And you should bring close to you Aharon your brother.' Shaul was chosen - (I Samuel 10:24) 'Have you seen the one that the Lord chose?' And he was pushed off - (ibid., 15:11) 'I have regretted that I have crowned Shaul, etc.' And he was not brought close [again] - (ibid., 16:1) 'And I have been disgusted with him from ruling over Israel.' David was chosen - (Psalms 78:70) 'And He chose David, His servant.' And he was pushed off - (II Samuel 15:16-17) 'And the king went out, and all of household on his heels,... and they stood in Beit Merchak.'" Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said, "They excommunicated him. Nonetheless, he accepted his excommunication. This is [the meaning] of that which is written, (II Samuel 15:30) 'and David went up to the Ascent of Olives, he went up and cried, and his head was covered.'" "And he was brought close [again]." Rabbi Yudan said, "Eira Hayairi, the teacher of David, brought him close. This is what David says (Psalms 119:79), 'Let those that fear You (yeirecha) return to me, and they that know Your testimonies' - ['they that know'] is written as 'he that knows,' [meaning that] Eira Hayairi was his teacher and brought [David] close." Rabbi Yehoshua of Sakhnin said in the name of Rabbi Levi, "There are six that were chosen: the priesthood; the order of Levi; Israel; the monarchy of the house of David; Jerusalem; [and] the Temple. From where [do we know this about] the priesthood? Since it is written (I Samuel 2:28), 'And I chose him from all the tribes of Israel for Me as a priest.' From where [do we know this about] the order of Levi? As it is stated (Deuteronomy 18:5), 'As he was chosen by the Lord, your God.' From where [do we know this about]Israel? As it is stated (Ibid., 7:6), 'the Lord, your God, chose you.' From where [do we know this about] the monarchy of the house of David? As it is stated (Psalms 78:70), 'And He chose David, His servant.' From where [do we know this about] Jerusalem? As it is stated (I Kings 11:32), 'the city that you chose.' From where [do we know this about] the Temple? As it stated (II Chronicles 7:16), 'I have chosen and sanctified this house.'" David [meant to say in Psalms 65:5], "Happy is the one whom the Holy One, blessed be He, has chosen, and happy is the one that He has brought close. And who is the one who is doubly happy? The one that the Holy One, blessed be He, chose and brought close." And who is that? That is Aharon and [the tribe of] Levi. From where [do we know this about] Aharon? Since it is written (I Samuel 2:28), "And I chose him from all the tribes of Israel for Me as a priest." And from where [do we know] that He brought him close? As it is stated (Exodus 28:1), "And you should bring close to you Aharon your brother." The Holy One, blessed be He chose Levi, as it is stated (Deuteronomy 18:5), "As he was chosen by the Lord, your God." And from where [do we know] that He brought him close? As it is stated [here], "Bring close the tribe of Levi, and stand [it up]." And about them the verse (Psalms 65:5) says, "Happy is the one whom You have chosen and You have brought close, who dwells in your courtyards"; as you say (Numbers 3:7), "And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation, etc." [The continuation of Psalms 65:5 is:] "let us be satiated from the good of Your house" - that thy would eat from the tithes that were brought to the [Temple], as you would say (Numbers 18:21), "To the house of Levi, behold, I have given all tithe in Israel for an inheritance, etc."

Another [explanation]: "Bring close the tribe of Levi, etc." - this is [the meaning of] what is written (Psalms 65:5), "Happy is the one whom You have chosen and You have brought close": Happy is the one whom the Holy One, blessed be He, has chosen, even though he has not brought him close. And happy is the man that He has brought close, even though He has not chosen him. And who is the one whom He has chosen? That is Avraham, as it is stated (Nehemiah 9:7), "You are He, Lord God, Who chose Avram." But He did not bring him close, but rather he brought himself close. The Holy One, blessed be He, chose Yaakov, as it is stated (Psalms 135:4), "For Yaakov did the Lord choose." And so [too] it says (Isaiah 41:8), "Yaakov whom You have chosen." But He did not bring him close, but rather he brought himself close, as it is stated (Genesis 25:27), "Yaakov was a simple man that sat in tents." He chose Moshe, as it is stated (Psalms 106:23), "were it not for Moshe, His chosen"; but He did not bring him close. Happy are those that the Holy One, blessed be He, chose, even though He did not bring them close. Come and see - the Holy One, blessed be He, brought Yitro close, but He did not choose him. He brought Rachav the prostitute close but He did not choose her. Happy are these that whom He brought close, even though He did not choose them. A [Roman] matron asked Rabbi Yose, "[Does] your God bring close whomever He wants (arbitrarily)?" [So] he brought a basket of figs in front of her and she would choose a nice one, she would choose it and eat it. He said to her, "You know how to choose, [does] the Holy One, blessed be He not know how to choose? The one whom He sees has good deeds, He chooses him and brings him close." Rabbi Nechemiah [said] in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Rabbi Yitschak, "Not all who are close are close, and not all who are distant are distant. There is one who is chosen and pushed off and brought close, [and] there is one who is chosen and pushed off and not brought close. Aharon was chosen - (I Samuel 2:28) 'And I chose him from all the tribes of Israel for Me as a priest.' And he was pushed off - (Deuteronomy 9:20) 'And with Aharon did the Lord get angry.' And it is written [after the event that the last verse cited was referring to] (Exodus 28:1), 'And you should bring close to you Aharon your brother.' Shaul was chosen - (I Samuel 10:24) 'Have you seen the one that the Lord chose?' And he was pushed off - (ibid., 15:11) 'I have regretted that I have crowned Shaul, etc.' And he was not brought close [again] - (ibid., 16:1) 'And I have been disgusted with him from ruling over Israel.' David was chosen - (Psalms 78:70) 'And He chose David, His servant.' And he was pushed off - (II Samuel 15:16-17) 'And the king went out, and all of household on his heels,... and they stood in Beit Merchak.'" Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said, "They excommunicated him. Nonetheless, he accepted his excommunication. This is [the meaning] of that which is written, (II Samuel 15:30) 'and David went up to the Ascent of Olives, he went up and cried, and his head was covered.'" "And he was brought close [again]." Rabbi Yudan said, "Eira Hayairi, the teacher of David, brought him close. This is what David says (Psalms 119:79), 'Let those that fear You (yeirecha) return to me, and they that know Your testimonies' - ['they that know'] is written as 'he that knows,' [meaning that] Eira Hayairi was his teacher and brought [David] close." Rabbi Yehoshua of Sakhnin said in the name of Rabbi Levi, "There are six that were chosen: the priesthood; the order of Levi; Israel; the monarchy of the house of David; Jerusalem; [and] the Temple. From where [do we know this about] the priesthood? Since it is written (I Samuel 2:28), 'And I chose him from all the tribes of Israel for Me as a priest.' From where [do we know this about] the order of Levi? As it is stated (Deuteronomy 18:5), 'As he was chosen by the Lord, your God.' From where [do we know this about]Israel? As it is stated (Ibid., 7:6), 'the Lord, your God, chose you.' From where [do we know this about] the monarchy of the house of David? As it is stated (Psalms 78:70), 'And He chose David, His servant.' From where [do we know this about] Jerusalem? As it is stated (I Kings 11:32), 'the city that you chose.' From where [do we know this about] the Temple? As it stated (II Chronicles 7:16), 'I have chosen and sanctified this house.'" David [meant to say in Psalms 65:5], "Happy is the one whom the Holy One, blessed be He, has chosen, and happy is the one that He has brought close. And who is the one who is doubly happy? The one that the Holy One, blessed be He, chose and brought close." And who is that? That is Aharon and [the tribe of] Levi. From where [do we know this about] Aharon? Since it is written (I Samuel 2:28), "And I chose him from all the tribes of Israel for Me as a priest." And from where [do we know] that He brought him close? As it is stated (Exodus 28:1), "And you should bring close to you Aharon your brother." The Holy One, blessed be He chose Levi, as it is stated (Deuteronomy 18:5), "As he was chosen by the Lord, your God." And from where [do we know] that He brought him close? As it is stated [here], "Bring close the tribe of Levi, and stand [it up]." And about them the verse (Psalms 65:5) says, "Happy is the one whom You have chosen and You have brought close, who dwells in your courtyards"; as you say (Numbers 3:7), "And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation, etc." [The continuation of Psalms 65:5 is:] "let us be satiated from the good of Your house" - that thy would eat from the tithes that were brought to the [Temple], as you would say (Numbers 18:21), "To the house of Levi, behold, I have given all tithe in Israel for an inheritance, etc."

Speak unto the children of Israel, that they take for Me an offering (ibid., v. 2). Each time the Holy One, blessed be He, says for Me in the Torah, both this world and the world-to-come are included. For example, For the land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is for Me (Lev. 25:23). Here and in the time-to-come. For all the firstborn are for Me (Num. 3:13); that is in this world and in the time-to-come. The Levites are for Me (ibid. 8:14); in this world and in the time-to-come. Israel, as it is written: And ye shall be for Me a kingdom of priests (Exod. 19:6); in this world and the world-to-come. Hence, That they take for Me an offering alludes to the present and the time-to-come.

3) "… where I shall be appointed for you." (Vayikra 7:38): "… which the L–rd commanded Moses on the day that He charged him unto the children of Israel…" (Shemoth 34:35): "… until he came, [for the L–rd] to speak to 10 him." [(Shemoth 6:28): "… It was Moses and Aaron," immediately followed by] (Shemoth 6:29): "And it was on the day that the L–rd spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt." (Bamidbar 3:1): "And these are the generations of Aaron and Moses on the day that the L–rd spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai." (Vayikra 1:1): "And He called to Moses, and the L–rd spoke to him." — Aaron is excluded from all.

(Numb. 16:1:) “[Korah who is] the son of Izhar [who is] the son of Kohath [who is] the son of Levi betook himself.” But there is not written "the son of Jacob" [or] "the son of Israel."¹⁸Numb. R. 18:5; cf.Gen. R. 98:5. This text is related (to Gen. 49:6), “Let not my soul come into their council,” i.e., that of the spies; “and let not my glory be joined with their congregation,” i.e., that of Korah. Jacob said to the Holy One, blessed be He, “Master of the world, with reference to the spies and with reference to the dissension of Korah, let not my name be mentioned [in connection with] those evil men, who are going to cause provocation. So when should my name (Israel) be joined upon them? When they are joined together to stand on the dais (as Levitical singers), as stated (I Chron. 6:[17,] 22–23) ‘[These are the ones whom David put in charge of song in the house of the Lord….] The son of Assir [who is] the son of Ebiasaph [who is] the son of Korah [who is] the son of Izhar [who is] the son of Kohath [who is] the son of Levi [who is] the son of Israel.’” (Numb. 16:1, cont.:) “Along with Dathan and Abiram.” From here the sages said, “Woe to the wicked one, [and] woe to his neighbor.”¹⁹Numb. R. 18:5, cont.; see Neg. 12:6; Sifra to Lev.14:40 (157: Metsora‘, pereq 4); ARN, A, 9; cf. ARN, B, 16; Numb.R. 3:12; Suk. 56b; above, Numb.1:13. As see that Dathan and Abiram were destroyed by the dissent of Korah, because they were neighbors of Korah. As he was dwelling to the south (of the tabernacle), as stated (in Numb. 3:29), “The families of the Children of Kohath were to camp along the side of the tabernacle to the south.” The standard of Reuben was near them, as stated (in Numb. 2:10), “The standard of the camp of Reuben shall be to the south.” However, the standard of Judah was in the east, and with him were Issachar and Zebulun, as stated (in Numb. 2:3), “Now these camping in front to the east shall be the standard of the camp of Judah.” And near them were Moses, Aaron, and his children, as written (in Numb. 3:38), “Those who camped before the tabernacle, in front before the tent of meeting to the east, were Moses, Aaron, and his children.” Because these were near the Torah, they were therefore worthy to be Torah scholars, as written (in Ps. 60:9), “Judah is my lawgiver.”²⁰Mehoqeq. Most translations render the word as scepter, since kingship was what Judah actually attained. And it is [also] written (in I Chron. 12:33), “And from the Children of Issachar, those who had an understanding of the times.” And it is [also] written (in Jud. 5:14), “and from Zebulon those who wield the scribal pen.” But Dathan and Abiram, who were neighbors to Korah – the one responsible for the dissent – were struck with him and perished from the world. (Numb. 16:19:) “And Korah gathered [the whole community] against them.” He said to them (in Numb. 16:3), “’You have gone too far, for all the congregation are holy, every one of them.’²¹Numb. R. 18:6. Moreover, every one of them heard on Sinai (in Exod. 20:2 = Deut. 5:6), ‘I am the Lord your God.’ (Numb. 16:3, cont.:) ‘So why do you elevate yourselves?’” Immediately Moses trembled, because it was already the fourth transgression on their hands. It is comparable to a king's son who had transgressed against his father. Now his friend effected a reconciliation with him once,²²Rt.: PSY. See the Gk.: peithein, peisai in the aorist. twice, and three times. When he transgressed a fourth time, the king's friend became discouraged. He said, “How many times shall I bother the king?” So also [it was with] Moses towards Israel. They had sinned with the calf, and (according to Exod. 32:11) “Moses implored.” In the case of the murmurers, (according to Numb. 11:2) “Moses prayed.” In the case of the spies, (according to Numb. 14:13), “Moses said unto the Lord, when the Egyptians hear [what happened].” [So] in the case of Korah's dissension, he became discouraged. He said, “How often can I bother the Omnipresent?” Therefore (in Numb. 16:4), “When Moses heard this, he fell on his face.”

Another interpretation: "Number all the first-born males..." (Numbers 3:40) This is what is written (Song of Songs 6:8-9): "There are threescore queens ... My dove, my undefiled, is but one ..." Compare in parable to a person who had a sales-bundle of glass stones and would bring them them to the market, but would not notice their number, since he would not bring them out by number. He would go in to put them away and would not put them away by number, since he would not care about them, as they were glass. But he had one sales-bundle of precious pearls, and he would take it and bring it out by number and put it away by number. Similarly, so to speak, the Holy One Blessed be He said to the nations of the world, "I have not assigned a number. Why? Because they are not important to me at all. As it says (Isaiah 40:17), 'All the nations are as nothing before Him.' But you are My children, as it says, (Isaiah 46:3), 'that are borne [by Me] from the birth ...' Therefore, I count you all the time." Therefore, it is said "Number all the first-born males." That is: "There are threescore queens ... My dove, my undefiled, is but one ..." - these are Israel.

"And take the Leviim for me" (Numbers 3:41), that they will be taken for My Name. "I am the Eternal" (ibid.), I am trusted to pay a good reward that they are taken for my name. "In place of every firstborn among the Children of Israel" (ibid.), since the firstborns are Mine, as it says (Numbers 8:17) "For Mine is every firstborn [...] on the day that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt... [I consecrated them to Myself]", the Holy Blessed One says, for the sake of their obligation of Israel I changed the order of the world. With which side did I write in the Torah that a donkey may be redeemed with a lamb, as it says (Exodus 13:13) "The firstborn [lit. "opening"] of every donkey you shall redeem with a sheep"? I didn't do this; rather, I redeemed a sheep with a donkey. The Egyptians are called a donkey, as it says (Ezekiel 20:2) "That the flesh of donkeys is their flesh" and Israel is called a sheep, as it says (Jeremiah 50:17) "Israel is a scattered sheep". And I murdered their firstborn, and I sanctified the firstborn of Israel, as it says "For Mine is every firstborn among the children of Israel ... on the day that I struck all the firstborn ... [of Egypt]" (Numbers 3:41). And the animals of the Leviim in place of all the firstborns amongst the animals of the Children of Israel, that they you brought out to kill the place the firstborn of the animals of Egypt, and saved the animals of Israel, and therefore sanctified to His Name the firstborn of the animals of Israel, and since he says "For Mine is every firstborn among the children of Israel ... on the day that I struck all the firstborn ... [of Egypt]" (Numbers 3:41).

4) R. Yossi Haglili says: In three places, the Torah limits dibbur to Moses — the land of Egypt, Mount Sinai, the ohel moed — the entire Torah! The land of Egypt — "And it was on the day that the L–rd spoke (dibber) to Moses in the land of Egypt" — Aaron is excluded from the dibroth of the land of Egypt. Mount Sinai — "And these are the generations of Aaron and Moses on the day that the L–rd spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai." The ohel moed — "And He called to Moses." Aaron is excluded from the dibroth of the ohel moed. He spoke to Moses and not to Aaron.

4) (Vayikra 1:5) "and the sons of Aaron, the Cohanim, shall present (vehikrivu) the blood": I might think that this refers to z'rikah (dashing the blood on the altar). But z'rikah is already mentioned (following). How, then, am I to understand "vehikrivu"? As referring to the receiving of the blood — that it be done only by a Cohein kasher, and with a ministering vessel. R. Akiva said: Whence is it derived that the receiving of the blood be done only by a Cohein kasher? Kihun (priesthood) is mentioned here ("the sons of Aaron, the Cohanim"), and it is mentioned elsewhere [(Bamidbar 3:3): "These are the names of the sons of Aaron, whom he invested lechahein"]. Just as the kihun there is with a Cohein kasher and ministering vessels, so, the kihun here (in respect to the receiving of the blood).

Scripture states elsewhere: Moreover, they reckoned not with the men, into whose hand they delivered the money to give to them that did the work; for they dealt faithfully (II Kings 12:16). This verse refers to the generation of Joash. Our sages teach us: One should not enter the Sanctuary with an offering while wearing a bordered cloak, a money belt, or felt shoes, for the people may say of him: “If he becomes wealthy, he acquired his wealth from the Temple treasury.” Just as a man must be morally pure in the sight of heaven, so must he be above suspicion among his fellowmen, as it is said: Then ye shall be clean before the Lord, and before Israel (Num. 3:22). Yet Moses alone was in charge of the Tabernacle treasury. At the time that the Holy One, blessed be He, told Moses: Let them make Me a Sanctuary, that I may dwell among them (Exod. 25:8), it is written: And Moses assembled all the congregation and said: “Take ye from among you an offering unto the Lord” (Exod. 35:1, 5).

(Lev. 16:1:) “After the death of Aaron's two sons.” It was taught in a baraita in the name of R. Eliezer:³⁷In y‘Eruv. 6:1 (31c); yGit. 1:2 (39c); ‘Eruv. 63b. Nadab and Abihu died only because they had taught halakhah in the presence of their master, Moses.³⁸Lev. R. 20:7; PRK 26(27):6/7; yShevi. 6:1 (36c); yGit. 1:2 (43c). There is a story about a disciple that taught halakhah before his master. So his colleague said to his wife, Mamma Shalom, “This man will not live out the year.” And indeed he did not live out the year. His disciples said to him, “O our master, are you a prophet?” He said to them (in the words of Amos 7:14), “’I am neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet.’ Rather this was handed down to me from my masters, ‘Whoever teaches halakhah in the presence of his master is under sentence of death.’” According to a baraita a disciple is forbidden to teach halakhah in the presence of his master until he is twelve mil³⁹Lat.: mille, i.e., a “thousand” paces. away from him, [a distance] corresponding to the [extent of] the camp of Israel.⁴⁰Lev. R. 20:7. This is what is written (in Numb. 33:49), “They encamped by the Jordan from Beth-Jeshimoth as far as Abel-Shittim.” R. Nahum bar Jeremiah was in [Hefer]. They would ask him, and he would teach. They said to him, “Rabbi, have we not learned thus: A student is forbidden to teach halakhah in the presence of his master until he is twelve mil away from him, [a distance] corresponding to the camp of Israel? And your master, R. Mani, dwells in Sepphoris.” He said to them, “Surely if I had known [of his presence], I would not have taught.” From that time on he did not teach [there]. In four places [Scripture] mentions the death of Aaron's sons,⁴¹In Lev. 10:2-3; 16:1; Numb. 3:4; 26:61. and it also mentions their transgression. And why all this?⁴²PRK 26(27):8; Lev. R. 20:8; Numb. R. 2:24. To inform you that they had only this sin on their hands. R. Eleazar of Modim said, “Go out and see how grievous the death of Aaron's sons was for the Holy One, blessed be He; for in every place that [Scripture] mentions their death, it mentions their transgression. And why all this? So as not to give those who come into the world a pretext for saying, ‘Disgraceful acts were secretly done by them, because of which they died.’” Bar Qappara said in the name of R. Jeremiah bar Eleazar, “Aaron's sons died because of four things: For the drawing near, for the sacrificing, for alien fire, and for not taking advice from each other.⁴³Numb. R. 2:23. For drawing near, in that they entered the innermost sanctuary. For the sacrificing, in that they offered a sacrifice, which they had not been commanded [to offer]. For alien fire, in that they had brought fire from a cookhouse (instead of from off the altar). And for not taking advice from each other.” R. Mani of Sha'av and R. Joshua of Sikhnin said in the name of R. Levi, “Aaron's sons died because of four things, and [a sentence of] death is recorded in connection with all of them.⁴⁴PRK 26 (27):9; Lev. R. 20:9. Because they entered without washing hands and feet, and it says (in Exod. 30:20), ‘When they come unto the tent of meeting, they shall wash with water lest they die.’ Because they entered while lacking [the proper priestly] clothes, and it says (in Exod. 28:43), ‘And they shall be upon Aaron and his sons in their coming to the tent of meeting….’” And what did they lack? R. Levi said, “They were lacking a robe, and [a sentence of] death is recorded in connection with [that lack], where it is stated (in Exod. 28:35), ‘And it (the robe with golden bells and pomegranates) shall be upon Aaron for officiating, so that the sound of it shall be heard, [when he comes into the sanctuary]… [lest he die].’” “And because they had no children, and [a sentence of] death is recorded in connection with [that lack], where it is stated (in Numb. 3:4), ‘But Nadab and Abihu died…; and they had no children.’ Because they entered and had drunk wine, and it says (in Lev. 10:9), ‘Drink no wine or intoxicating liquor… lest you die.’” Abba Hanin says, “Because they had no wives, and it is recorded (in Lev. 16:6), ‘and he shall make atonement for himself and for his household.’” R. Levi said, “They had a lot of arrogance and were saying, ‘Which woman is worthy of us?’⁴⁵Lev. R. 20:10; below, Lev. 6:13. A lot of women were remaining unmarried and waiting for them. But they were saying, ‘Our father’s brother is king, our father is high priest, our mother's brother is prince, [and] we are deputy high priests. Which woman is worthy of us?’” R. Menahama [said] in the name of R. Joshua bar Hanina, “[It is] about them [that] it says (in Ps. 78:63), ‘Fire devoured their young men, and their maidens had no nuptial song.’ Why had fire devoured their young men? Because of their maidens, who had no nuptial song.” And moreover, [their arrogance may be inferred] from this (i.e., from Exod. 24:1), “Then He said unto Moses, ‘Go up unto the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu.’” This teaches that Moses and Aaron walked first, while Nadab and Abihu came after them; but still they were saying, “When will these two old men die, and we shall assume authority over the community in their place?”⁴⁶See below, Lev. 6:13. R. Judan said in the name of R. Ayyevu, “They said it to each other with their mouths, they said it in front of [Moshe and Aharon].” R. Pinhas said, “They pondered it in their hearts.” R. Berekhyah said, “The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them (in Prov. 27:1), ‘Do not boast of tomorrow, since you do not know what will be born today’; a lot of colts have died, and their skins have been made into coverings for their mothers’ backs.” And in addition [their transgression may be inferred] from this (i.e., from Exod. 24:11), “But He (i.e., the Holy One, blessed be He,) still did not raise His hand against the nobles of the Children of Israel.” From here [it follows] that they deserved to have a hand raised [against them]. R. Hosha'ya said, “Did cellaria⁴⁷The word is Latin. (i.e., provisions) go up with them to Sinai, since it says (ibid., cont.), ‘they beheld God, [and they ate and drank]?’ It is simply that they feasted their eyes on the Divine Presence. [Hence they were] like someone who beholds his colleague in the midst of eating and drinking.” R. Johanan said, “[There was] actual eating [and drinking], since it is written (in Prov. 16:15), ‘In the light of the king's face there is life; His favor is like a rain cloud in spring.’” R. Tanhuma said, “[Exod. 24:11] teaches that they became bold in their hearts and stood on their feet, [while] they feasted their eyes on the Divine Presence.” R. Joshua of Sikhnin said in the name of R. Levi, “Moses did not feast his eyes on the Divine Presence, as stated (in Exod. 3:6), ‘Moses hid his face….’ In reward for (Exodus 3:6, cont.) ‘and he feared,’ he merited (Exod. 34:30), ‘and they feared to approach him’; in reward for (Exodus 3:6, cont.) ‘from gazing,’ he merited (Numbers 12:8) ‘and he gazed [at] the picture of the Lord’; in reward for ‘Moses hid his face,’ he merited (Exod. 34:30), ‘and behold, his skin of his face shone.‘ But Nadav and Avihu feasted their eyes on the Divine Presence, but did not benefit from the Divine Presence.” And in addition, [the boldness of Aaron's sons may be inferred] from this (i.e., from Numb. 3:4), “But Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord […].” R. Johanan, said, “Was it before the Lord that they died? [The verse] simply teaches that it is grievous for the Omnipresent when children of righteous people pass away during their [parents'] lifetime.” R. Nahman asked in front of R. Pinhas bar Hama beRabbi Simon, “Here (Numb. 3:40), ‘before the Lord’ [occurs] two times. But later (I Chronicles 24:2), ‘in the presence of their father’ [occurs only] one time.” It is simply that it teaches that it was twice as grievous for the Holy One, blessed be He, as for their father. (Numb. 4:3:) “In the Sinai Desert.” R. Meir said, “Did they die in the Sinai Desert? It is simply that from Mount Sinai they received their sentence of death.⁴⁸Their death actually took place at the Tent of Meeting. [The situation is comparable] to a king who was marrying off his daughter, when there was found something obscene in his bridal agent.⁴⁹Gk.: syskenos (“comrade”). The king said, ‘If I kill him now, I shall impede my daughter's joy. Tomorrow my joy is coming, and I will kill him. It is better [to kill him] during my own joyous celebration, and not during my daughter's joyous celebration.’ Similarly the Holy One, blessed be He, said, ‘If I kill Nadab and Abihu now, I shall impede the joyous celebration of the Torah. Tomorrow My own joyous celebration is coming. It is better [to kill them] during My own joyous celebration, and not during the joyous celebration of the Torah.’ This is what is written (in Cant. 3:11), ‘on his wedding day,’ i.e., the day of the giving of Torah; ‘in the day of his joyful heart,’ i.e., in the tent of meeting.”

(Numb. 3:4:) “And they had no children.” R. Jacob bar Abin said in the name of R. Aha, “If they had had children, they would have taken precedence over Eleazar and Ithamar, since whoever takes precedence with respect to inheritance takes precedence with respect to honor, provided that he follows the behavior of his forebears.”⁵⁰PRK 26(27):10; Lev. R. 20:11; Numb. R. 2:26. (Ibid.:) “So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests in the presence of ('al-pene) their father Aaron.” R. Isaac said, “During his lifetime”; but R. Hiyya bar Abba said, “At his death.” According to the opinion of R. Isaac, who said, “During his lifetime,” 'al-pene is mentioned here, and pene is also mentioned elsewhere (in Gen. 11:28), “And Haran died in the lifetime of ('al-pene) his father Terah.” If pene as used elsewhere (i.e., in Gen. 11:28) [means] during his lifetime, pene as used here (in Numb. 3:4) also [means] during his lifetime. According to the opinion of R. Hiyya bar Abba, who said, “At his death,” pene is used here (in Numb. 3:4) and pene is used elsewhere (in Gen. 23:3), “Then Abraham arose from beside ('al-pene) his dead (i.e., his dead wife).” If pene as used elsewhere (in Gen. 23:3) [means] at his death, pene as used here (in Numb. 3:4) also [means] at his death. Now according to the opinion of R. Isaac, who said, “during his lifetime,” [when] uncleanness befell Aaron, Eleazar ministered; [when] uncleanness befell Eleazar, Ithamar ministered. There is a story about Simeon ben Gimhit,⁵¹He was high priest in 17-18 C.E. that he went out to speak with the king of the Arabians.⁵²TYoma 4(3):20; yYoma 1:1 (38d); yMeg. 1:12(10) (72a); yHor. 3:3/5(2) (47d): Yoma 47a; ARN, A 35:4. When a streak of saliva squirted from [the king's] mouth onto his clothes and rendered him unclean, his brother Judah entered and ministered in the high priesthood in his place. That day Gimhit saw two of her sons as high priests. They said, “Gimhit had seven sons, and all of them ministered in the high priesthood.” The sages entered her home and said to her, “Tell us what good deeds you have to your credit?” She said to them, “By the Temple service, the rafters of my house have never seen the hair of my head.” They say, “All flours (qimhayya) are flour (qimhin), but the flour of Gimhit is fine flour.” In reference to her they read this verse (Ps. 45:14), “All glorious is the king's daughter within; her clothing is of gold brocade.” Now according to the opinion of R. Hiyya bar Abba, who said, “At his death,” when Aaron died, Eleazar ministered; when Eleazar died, Ithamar served in his place. R. Abba bar Abbina said, “For what reason is the parashah [about the death of] of Miriam (Numb. 20:1) near the parashah of the ashes of the [red] heifer (Numb. 19:1ff.)?⁵³PRK 26(27):11; Lev. R. 20:12; yYoma 1:1 (38b); MQ 28a. Simply to teach that just as the ashes of the [red] heifer atones, so does the death of the righteous atone.” R. Judan said, “For what reason is the death of Aaron (Deut. 10:6) near the breaking of the tablets (Deut. 9:17)? To teach that the death of the righteous is as grievous to the Holy One, blessed be He, as the breaking of the tablets.” R. Hiyya bar Abba said, “The sons of Aaron died on the first of Nisan.⁵⁴According to Lev. 10:1, they died at the time of the dedication of the Tabernacle; and according to Exod. 40:17, the dedication began with its erection on the first day of the first month, i.e., on the first of Abib, which came to be called Nisan. For what reason does it mention their death on the Day of Atonement (in Lev. 16:1)? It is simply to teach that, just as the Day of Atonement atones, so does the death of the righteous atone.” And where is it shown that the Day of Atonement atones? Where it is stated (in Lev. 16:30), “For on this day atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you.” And where it is shown that the death of the righteous atones? Where it is stated (in II Sam. 21:14), “Then they buried the bones of Saul […] and God responded to the plea of the land thereafter.”

(Exod. 30:13:) A HALF SHEKEL. R. Judah and R. Nehemiah differ. R. Judah says: Because (in the matter of the calf) they sinned in the middle of the day, they would give the half shekel. But R. Nehemiah said: Because they sinned for six hours in the day, they would give the half shekel,²²ySheq. 2:4 or 3 (46d); see Tanh., Exod. 9:10. See also below, Exod. 9:13. since it consists of six grammata.²³The Greek word (gramma in the singular) denotes a small weight of 1/24 ounce. R. Judah bar Nehemiah said in the name of R. Johanan ben Zakkay: Because Israel transgressed (rt.: 'BR) the Ten Commandments, they would give ten gerahs.²⁴Cf. Exod. 30:13 = Numb. 3:47: THE SHEKEL IS TWENTY GERAHS. Similarly Lev. 27:25; Numb. 18:16; Ezek. 45:12. R. Berekhyah said in the name of Resh Laqish: You sold Rachel's first-born for twenty <pieces of> silver (according to Gen. 37:28); therefore, in the case of every first-born that you shall have, his redemption shall be five shekels of silver, as stated (in Numb. 3:47): YOU SHALL TAKE FIVE <SHEKELS> EACH.

R. Mani of Sha'av and R. Joshua of Sikhnin said in the name of R. Levi: Aaron's sons died because of four things, and < a sentence of > death is recorded in connection with all of them.⁴⁷PRK 26 (27):9; Lev. R. 20:9. Because they entered and had drunk wine, and it says (in Lev. 10:9): DRINK NO WINE OR INTOXICATING LIQUOR…, LEST YOU DIE. Because they entered without washing hands and feet, and it says (in Exod. 30:20): WHEN THEY COME UNTO THE TENT OF MEETING, THEY SHALL WASH WITH WATER LEST THEY DIE. Because they entered while lacking < the proper > clothes. And what did they lack? R. Levi said: They were lacking a robe, and < a sentence of > death is recorded in connection with < that lack >, where it is stated (in Exod. 28:35): AND IT (the robe with golden bells and pomegranates) SHALL BE UPON AARON FOR OFFICIATING, SO THAT THE SOUND OF IT SHALL BE HEARD, < WHEN HE COMES INTO THE SANCTUARY >…, [LEST HE DIE]. And because they had no children, and < a sentence of > death is recorded in connection with < that lack >, where it is stated (in Numb. 3:4): BUT NADAB AND ABIHU DIED…; AND THEY HAD NO CHILDREN. Abba Hanan says: Because they had no wives, and it is recorded (in Lev. 16:6): AND HE SHALL MAKE ATONEMENT FOR HIMSELF AND FOR HIS HOUSEHOLD. R. Levi said: They had a lot of arrogance and were saying: Which woman is worthy of us?⁴⁸Lev. R. 20:10; below, Lev. 6:13. A lot of women were remaining unmarried and waiting for them. But they were saying: Our father is high priest, our father's brother is prince, < and > we are deputy high priests. Which woman is worthy of us? R. Menahama [said] in the name of R. Joshua bar Hanina: < It is > about them < that > it says (in Ps. 78:63): FIRE DEVOURED THEIR YOUNG MEN, AND THEIR MAIDENS HAD NO NUPTIAL SONG. Why had FIRE DEVOURED THEIR YOUNG MEN? Because of THEIR MAIDENS, who HAD NO NUPTIAL SONG. And moreover, < their arrogance may be inferred > from this (i.e., from Exod. 24:1): THEN HE SAID UNTO MOSES: GO UP UNTO THE LORD, YOU AND AARON, NADAB AND ABIHU, < AND THE SEVENTY ELDERS OF ISRAEL >. This teaches that Moses and Aaron walked first, while Nadab and Abihu came after them; but still they were saying: These two old men shall die, and we shall assume authority over the community in their place.⁴⁹See below, Lev. 6:13. {R. Ayyevu said:} [R. Judan said in the name of R. Ayyevu:] They said it to each other with their mouths, < while > R. Pinhas said: they pondered it in their hearts. R. Berekhyah said: The Holy One said to them (in Prov. 27:1): DO NOT BOAST OF TOMORROW…. A lot of colts have died, and their skins have been made into coverings for their mother's backs. And in addition < their arrogance may be inferred > from this (i.e., from Exod. 24:11): BUT HE (i.e., the Holy One) STILL DID NOT RAISE HIS HAND AGAINST THE NOBLES OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. From here < it follows > that they deserved to have a hand raised < against them >. R. Hosha'ya said: Did cellaria⁵⁰The word is Latin. (i.e., provisions) go up with them to Sinai, since it says (ibid., cont.): THEY BEHELD GOD, < AND THEY ATE AND DRANK >. It is simply that they feasted their eyes on the Divine Presence. < They were > like someone who beholds his colleague in the midst of eating and drinking. R. Johanan said: < There was > actual eating [and drinking], since it is written (in Prov. 16:15): IN THE LIGHT OF THE KING'S FACE THERE IS LIFE. R. Tanhuma said: < Exod. 24:11 > teaches that they became bold in their hearts and stood on their feet, < while > they feasted their eyes on the Divine Presence. R. Joshua of Sikhnin said in the name of R. Levi: Moses did not feast his eyes on the Divine Presence, as stated (in Exod. 3:6): MOSES HID HIS FACE…. And in addition, < the boldness of Aaron's sons may be inferred > from this (i.e., from Numb. 3:4): BUT NADAB AND ABIHU DIED BEFORE THE LORD. Was it BEFORE THE LORD that they died? < The verse > simply teaches that it is grievous for the Omnipresent when children of righteous people pass away during their < parents' > lifetime.

5. R. Shimon Ben Yochai taught: Moses could not have known the exact moment, nor the approximate minute, nor the general time at night. This is why he said “About midnight.” (Ex 11:4) However, the Kadosh Baruch Hu knew the exact moment, and the approximate minute, and the general time at night. That is why God entered [without being early or late] by a hair's breadth. So who was it that divided [the hours of the night]? R. Benjamin bar Jafet in the name of R. Yohanan, the night divided itself. Our Rabbis say that the Creator divided it. Here it says, “And it came to pass at midnight” (Ex 12:29) and elsewhere it says, “And he divided the night against them.” (Gen 14:15) Rabbi Tanchuma said: Your father set out with Me at midnight, and I will set out with his children and midnight. The Rabbis said: the Kadosh Baruch Hu said, “your father set out with Me from last night until midnight, and I will set out with his children from midnight until the morning.” R. Yonatan said: The angel guarding over Egypt cannot fall except during the day. What is the reasoning? [From the verse] At Tehaphnehes also the day shall withdraw itself, when I shall break there the yokes of Egypt, and the pride of her power shall cease in her; [as for her, a cloud shall cover her, and her daughters shall go into captivity.](Ez 30:18) [Elsewhere it also] says, In that day there shall be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language [of Canaan, and swear to the LORD of hosts; one shall be called the city of destruction. ] (Is 19:18) Which five cities are these? R. Hilkiah said in the name of R. Simon: Noa, Noph, Tehaphnehes, the City of Destruction, and the City of the Sun; Noa is Alexandria, Noph is Memphis, Tehaphnehes is Hophnias, the City of Destruction is Sharakani, and the City of the Sun is Heliopolis. R. Yohanan ben Zakkai said: We have found both night and day referred to as “day,” as it is written: And there was evening and there was morning, one day. (Gen 1:5) R. Joshua bar R. Nechamah understood [the same claim] from this: Even the darkness is not too dark for Thee, but the night shineth as the day; the darkness is even as the light.(Ps 139:12) Darkness is [the same as] lightness to Me, and [only] human beings consider it night. This is what is meant [by saying] it was on the day that the firstborn of Egypt died [although it was midnight]. This is how [it happened]: They were afflicted with the deadly curse in evening time, then their bodies shook all night, and then they died in the day time. What is the reasoning? [Because] It is not written “All of us have all died,” but rather “All of us are dying ” (Ex 12:33) Then they went and died . As it is written: On the day that I struck down all the first-born [of the Land of Egypt] (Num 3:13), and further on it says, on the day that I sanctified all the firstborn to Me (paraphrase of Num 8:17 ). On this basis one may conclude that it was on the very same day that the firstborn of Egypt died, which [God said], “on this day I have sanctified to me the firstborn [of the Israelites].”

R. Nahman of Joppa said in the name of R. Pinhas < who spoke > in the name of R. ≠ Simon: (Numb. 3:40 < BUT NADAB AND ABIHU DIED > BEFORE THE LORD, < WHEN THEY OFFERED ALIEN FIRE > BEFORE THE LORD < IN THE SINAI DESERT >…. < SO ELEAZAR AND ITHAMAR SERVED AS PRIESTS IN THE PRESENCE OF THEIR FATHER AARON >. < BEFORE THE LORD occurs > two times. < IN THE PRESENCE OF THEIR FATHER AARON occurs > one time. It is simply that it was twice as grievous for the Holy One as for their father.

Why was it written about everything: And thou shalt make, except in the case of the ark, where it says: Thou shalt make upon it? It is to teach us that if a man is worthy of the Torah, he is worthy of everything. And it states also: And their charge the ark, and the table, and the candlesticks, and the altar (Num. 3:31) to teach you that no-one is more important for you than one who devotes himself to the law.

(Exod. 29:1:) AND THIS IS THE THING WHICH YOU SHALL DO TO THEM. To them you shall do it and not to others.⁴³Tanh., Exod. 8:13. He began to teach them how they would keep <themselves> in a state of purity and eat the sacrifices, how they would immerse and eat the priestly share. (Ibid., cont.:) TO SANCTIFY THEM FOR SERVING ME (li) AS PRIESTS. R. Mani said in the name of R. Eliezer: Wherever TO ME (li) is stated, <it means> "forever and forevermore."⁴⁴Cf. above, Exod. 7:3; below, Numb. 3:20; Tanh., Exod. 7:3. The first-born < remains > forever, since it is stated (in Numb. 3:13 = 8:17): FOR ALL THE FIRST-BORN ARE MINE (li). Silver and gold <remain> forever, since it is stated (in Hag. 2:8): THE SILVER IS MINE (li), AND THE GOLD IS MINE (li). The kingship <remains> forever, since it is stated (in I Sam. 16:1): FOR I HAVE CHOSEN A KING FOR MYSELF (li) AMONG HIS (Jesse's) SONS. The land <remains> forever, since it is stated (in Lev. 25:23): FOR THE LAND BELONGS TO ME (li). Israel <remains> forever, since it is stated (in Lev. 25:55): FOR TO ME (li) THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL <ARE SERVANTS>. The Levites <remain> forever, since it is stated (Numb. 3:12): AND THE LEVITES SHALL BE MINE (li). The priesthood <remains> forever, since it is stated (Exod. 29:1): FOR SERVING ME (li) AS PRIESTS.

(Exod. 29:1:) AND THIS IS THE THING WHICH YOU SHALL DO TO THEM. To them you shall do it and not to others.⁴³Tanh., Exod. 8:13. He began to teach them how they would keep <themselves> in a state of purity and eat the sacrifices, how they would immerse and eat the priestly share. (Ibid., cont.:) TO SANCTIFY THEM FOR SERVING ME (li) AS PRIESTS. R. Mani said in the name of R. Eliezer: Wherever TO ME (li) is stated, <it means> "forever and forevermore."⁴⁴Cf. above, Exod. 7:3; below, Numb. 3:20; Tanh., Exod. 7:3. The first-born < remains > forever, since it is stated (in Numb. 3:13 = 8:17): FOR ALL THE FIRST-BORN ARE MINE (li). Silver and gold <remain> forever, since it is stated (in Hag. 2:8): THE SILVER IS MINE (li), AND THE GOLD IS MINE (li). The kingship <remains> forever, since it is stated (in I Sam. 16:1): FOR I HAVE CHOSEN A KING FOR MYSELF (li) AMONG HIS (Jesse's) SONS. The land <remains> forever, since it is stated (in Lev. 25:23): FOR THE LAND BELONGS TO ME (li). Israel <remains> forever, since it is stated (in Lev. 25:55): FOR TO ME (li) THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL <ARE SERVANTS>. The Levites <remain> forever, since it is stated (Numb. 3:12): AND THE LEVITES SHALL BE MINE (li). The priesthood <remains> forever, since it is stated (Exod. 29:1): FOR SERVING ME (li) AS PRIESTS.

(Numb. 3:4:) AND THEY HAD NO CHILDREN. R. Jacob bar Abbayi said in the name of R. Aha: If they had had children, they would have taken precedence over Eleazar and Ithamar, since whoever takes precedence {in dignity} [with respect to inheritance] takes precedence with respect to honor, provided that he follows the behavior of his forebears.⁵³Tanh., Lev. 6:7; PRK 26(27):10; Lev. R. 20:11; Numb. R. 2:26.

The Rabbis interpret the verse regarding those who departed from Egypt. “There are sixty queens,” these are the six hundred thousand [men] from the age of twenty and above who departed [from Egypt]. “And eighty concubines,” these are the eight hundred thousand Israelites from the age of twenty and below who departed. “And young women without number,” there is no limit and no tally of the proselytes.
Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Levi: The nations of the world have enumeration but do not have a tally.³⁰At times the Torah lists their descendants, but it does not give a total number. They have enumeration:“the children of Yefet, Gomer and Magog” (Genesis 10:2). But Israel has enumeration and a tally, as it is written: “Their count according to the number of every male…[their count was seven thousand five hundred]” (Numbers 3:22); “their count,” this is the enumeration, “according to the number,” this is the tally.
Likewise, “Yoav gave the sum of the number of the census to the king…” (II Samuel 24:9), “sum,” this is the enumeration, “census,” this is the tally. If you say that we are testifying about ourselves, did not the wicked Bilam testify in our regard, as it is written: “Who has counted the dust of Jacob,” this is the enumeration, “or tallied one quarter of Israel” (Numbers 23:10), this is the tally.

10) "which the L–rd commanded Moses in Mount Sinai (on the day, etc."): From here we derive that the commands in the desert of Sinai were stated only in the daytime. And whence do we derive that the commands in Egypt were stated only in the daytime? From (Shemoth 6:28): "And it was on the day that the L–rd spoke to Moses in the Land of Egypt." And whence is it derived that the commands in the tent of meeting were stated only in the daytime? From (Bamidbar 1:1): ("And the L–rd said to Moses) in the desert of Sinai in the tent of meeting." The commands in the tent of meeting are hereby likened to the commands in the desert of Sinai. Just as the commands in the desert of Sinai were stated only in the daytime, so, the commands in the tent of meeting.

11) Now if you make the sixtieth year "below it" for stringency (of liability) would you make the fifth year as the twentieth year "below it" for leniency (of liability)! It is, therefore, written "year" - "year" for a gezeirah shavah (identity) — Just as "year" written in respect to the sixtieth year is "below it," so "year" written in respect to the fifth year and the twentieth year is "below it" — whether for leniency or for stringency. R. Eliezer says; Whence is it derived that one month and one day (above the sixtieth year) is regarded as the sixtieth year? From (Vayikra 27:7) ("And if from sixty years) and above." It is written here "and above," and elsewhere (Bamidbar 3:15) "and above." Just as "and above" elsewhere is one month and one day after the month, so, here, one day and one month after the month is regarded as the sixtieth year.

11) Now if you make the sixtieth year "below it" for stringency (of liability) would you make the fifth year as the twentieth year "below it" for leniency (of liability)! It is, therefore, written "year" - "year" for a gezeirah shavah (identity) — Just as "year" written in respect to the sixtieth year is "below it," so "year" written in respect to the fifth year and the twentieth year is "below it" — whether for leniency or for stringency. R. Eliezer says; Whence is it derived that one month and one day (above the sixtieth year) is regarded as the sixtieth year? From (Vayikra 27:7) ("And if from sixty years) and above." It is written here "and above," and elsewhere (Bamidbar 3:15) "and above." Just as "and above" elsewhere is one month and one day after the month, so, here, one day and one month after the month is regarded as the sixtieth year.

How were they encamped? The Levites camped around the Tabernacle of Witness, with Moses, Aaron, and his children on the east.⁷⁶Tanh., 1:12, cont.; see Numb. R. 2:10. It is so stated (in Numb. 3:38): THOSE WHO CAMPED BEFORE THE TABERNACLE, IN FRONT BEFORE THE TENT OF MEETING TO THE EAST, WERE MOSES, AARON, AND HIS CHILDREN. And adjacent to them were Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. Hence they said: Blessed is the righteous person and blessed are his neighbors.⁷⁷Suk. 56b. See below, Numb. 5:8. This refers to the three tribes (rt.: ShBT) which were adjacent to Moses and Aaron.⁷⁸Gen. R. 3:13; Numb. R. 3:12. They became great in the Torah, as stated (in Gen. 49:10): THE SCEPTER (ShBT) SHALL NOT DEPART FROM JUDAH […. In the case of Issachar it is written] (in I Chron. 12:33 [32]): AND FROM THE CHILDREN OF ISSACHAR, THOSE WHO HAD AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE TIMES,⁷⁹The midrash regards UNDERSTANDING as synonymous with Torah. TO KNOW WHAT ISRAEL SHOULD DO; THEIR HEADS NUMBERED TWO HUNDRED. These were two hundred heads of <tribal> sanhedria⁸⁰Gk.: synedria. that would come out of Issachar. [(Ibid., cont.:) AND ALL THEIR KINDRED UNDER THEIR COMMAND ('al pihem), <i.e., because they harmonize law (halakhah) at their command ('al pihem). Of Zebulun it is written] (in Jud. 5:14): AND FROM ZEBULUN THOSE WHO WIELD THE SCRIBAL PEN. Because they were neighbors of Torah, they all became children of Torah (i.e., Torah scholars). Now on the south were the children of Kohath (ben Levi), and adjacent to them were Reuben, Simeon, and Gad. Hence they say: Woe to the wicked person; and woe to his neighbor.⁸¹Suk. 56b; Numb. R. 18:5; ARN, A, 9:1; see Avot 1:7. These are the three tribes which were neighbors of Korah (the grandson of Kohath) and his community in the South. These were destroyed with him in his dissension (as stated in Numb. 16:32): AND THE EARTH OPENED ITS MOUTH AND SWALLOWED THEM, THEIR HOUSEHOLDS, <EVERY PERSON THAT BELONGED TO KORAH, AND THEIR PROPERTY>…. On the west were the children of Gershom (i.e., Gershon ben Levi), with Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin being adjacent to them; and on the North also were the children of Merari (ben Levi), with Dan, Naphtali, and Asher being adjacent to them. [Seven] clouds of glory were surrounding them, and this was their <method> of travel. There was a sign⁸²Gk.: semeion. for Moses in the cloud when it departed. When it departed, he would say (in Numb. 10:35): RISE UP, O LORD, AND MAY YOUR ENEMIES BE SCATTERED. Then the cloud would depart. When the cloud departed, they all prepared to travel and put away their implements. Whoever had a domestic beast <put them on it>⁸³The bracketed words are from the parallel in Tanh., Numb. 1:12.; and if <a person> had none, the cloud took the remainder. When they were settled, they blew the trumpets. Then Judah and its standard moved out, first its prince and his tribe after him.⁸⁴CF. Numb. R. 2:7. And as signs for each and every prince there was a flag.⁸⁵Lat. (from the Punic): mappa. [And from them the empire learned to make a flag.] <There was> also a color for each and every flag, like the color of the precious stones which were on the heart of Aaron. Each and every tribe had its flag dyed like the color of its stone. Then over them were the clouds. {Until they were settled, they blew the trumpets. They traveled, and likewise <the clouds> traveled over them.} Moreover, something like a kind of beam came out of the cloud, so that they would know in which direction they would be traveling. So was the journey of each and every standard. <When> they finished going to where it wanted them to camp, <since> that cloud which appeared like a kind of beam had, as it were, been traveling independently, they knew that they would camp in that place. <When> clouds of glory stood still for them, they began putting <things> away in their tents where they were to rest. Then the cloud which was over the Tabernacle, moved over the camp of the Levites in the middle of the camps. First it stood still. When it stood still, the children of Kohath and the children of Levi set up the Tabernacle in the presence of all the camps before they came, as stated (in Numb. 10:21): AND THEY WOULD SET UP THE TABERNACLE BEFORE THEY CAME. When they had set up the Tabernacle, each and every one set up <camp> in his <proper> place. Then the clouds of glory stood over them. This was grandeur in the hands of Moses, for the cloud of the glorious Divine Presence did not come down to the Tabernacle, until Moses had said (in Numb. 10:36): RETURN, O LORD, TO THE MYRIAD THOUSANDS OF ISRAEL. Then the clouds of glory encompassed them. Moreover, the Holy Spirit says through Solomon (in Cant. 6:4): YOU ARE AS BEAUTIFUL, MY DARLING, AS TIRZAH. What is the meaning of AS TIRZAH (KTRTsH, rt.: RTsH)? That I am pleasing (MTRTsH, rt.: RTsH) to you.⁸⁶Numb. R. 2:5.

Our masters say: < It was > because their eyes strayed away from the Divine Presence. They (i.e., Nadab and Abihu) said: Moses did not do so, when (according to Exod. 24:9–10) he went into the firmament and beheld the Divine Presence; for he had no need of either eating or drinking. With us also, when we behold the Divine Presence, we shall have no need of either eating or drinking. Even so, (according to vs. 11): THEY BEHELD GOD, but they did need to eat and drink, as stated (ibid., cont.): AND THEY ATE AND DRANK. From that time the Holy One sought to stretch out his hand against them. The Holy One said: I shall wait until the Tabernacle is made. Then when they enter to sacrifice (rt.: QRB), I shall carry out the divine judgment upon them. Thus it is stated (in Lev. 16:1, cont.): WHEN THEY DREW NEAR (rt.: QRB) BEFORE THE LORD, THEY DIED. BEFORE THE LORD is written two times (in Numb. 3:4): BUT NADAB AND ABIHU DIED BEFORE THE LORD, WHEN THEY OFFERED ALIEN FIRE [BEFORE THE LORD]. Why two times? The Holy One said: Bring out the dead from before me, for so it is written (in Lev. 10:4): DRAW NEAR AND CARRY YOUR BROTHERS AWAY FROM BEFORE THE SANCTUARY. When Israel, as it were, is in trouble, he also is with them; for so it is written (in Is. 63:9): IN ALL THEIR TROUBLE, IT TROUBLED HIM. R. Meir said (concerning Exod. 14:30): SO THE LORD SAVED (WYWSh', voweled as wayyosha') < ISRAEL > ON THAT DAY: The written text (ketiv) < reads > SO < THE LORD > WAS SAVED (WYWSh', voweled wayyiwwasha') < ON THAT DAY WITH ISRAEL >.⁷⁰Below, 6:18; below, Numb. 1:10; Tanh. Lev. 6:12; Numb. R. 2:2; cf. Exod. R. 30:24. R. Abbahu said: See what is written (in Ps. 80:3 [2]): BEFORE EPHRAIM AND MANASSEH⁷¹The Masoretic Text reads: BEFORE EPHRAIM, BENJAMIN, AND MANASSEH. STIR UP YOUR MIGHT AND COME TO SAVE US. To you and to us belongs the redemption. The Holy One said: In the world to come I will redeem you. Then you shall be happy, and I will be happy. [It is so stated] (in Ps. 104:31): MAY THE LORD BE HAPPY IN HIS WORKS. (Ps. 149:2:) LET {THE LORD} [ISRAEL] BE HAPPY IN ITS MAKER.]

Moses introduced priestcraft, priesthood, sacrifice, and the law. He introduced priestcraft when he officiated as priest for seven days during the inauguration (of the priesthood); priesthood when He appointed Elazar the son of Aaron to the office of priest in the Temple, as it is said: And the chief over the princes of the Levites was Elazar the son of Aaron the priest (Num. 3:32); sacrifice, for it is said: And Moses made the whole head ram smoke upon the altar; it was a burnt offering (Lev. 8:20); and law, for it is written: And I will give to thee the tablets of stone and the law and the commandments (Exod. 24:12). Balaam instituted gambling, plaiting the hair, sorcery, and unchastity. Hence, Noah was one of four men who introduced four things.

Another explanation, "at the front of the menorah, let the seven lights give light" (Numbers 8:2), so that they shouldn't dishonour the menorah. (Zechariah 4:10) "Does anyone scorn a day of small [beginnings]? When they see the stone of distinction in the hand of Zerubavel they shall rejoice over these seven". "These" -- this is the menorah. "Seven" -- these are the seven lights, corresponding to the seven stars that wander in all the land [planets?]. So they are beloved that they are not disgraced on them, for this it says "at the front of the menorah let the seven lights give light" -- so that they should not become mistaken to you, and you should need to say that He needs light, see that which is written of windows (Ezekiel 40:16) "The recesses—and their supports—had windows with frames on the interior [of the gate complex on both sides]" etc., and so "the interiors [of the vestibules also had windows on both sides]" (ibid.) were like these windows. 'Like windows' is not written here, rather, "like the windows", that they should be wide from the outside and narrow from within, so that they would bring in light from outside. Rabbi Berachyah the kohen said in the name of Rabbi, this lightning is offspring of the fire from above, and it comes out and lights the whole world, as it says (Ezekiel 1:13) "Such then was the appearance of the creatures. With them was something that looked like burning coals of fire. This fire, suggestive of torches, kept moving about among the creatures; the fire had a radiance, and lightning issued from the fire." And lights the whole world, and I need their light. And why did I tell you? To deceive you. Rabbi Chanina said, the Holy Blessed one said "Eyes have black and white [parts] in them, and you don't see from the white but rather from the black [parts], and so if your eyes that have black and white within them only see with the black, the Holy Blessed One is entirely Light and needs to light them. Another explanation, "at the front of the menorah", flesh and blood kindle a light from another light, since they are unable to create light from darkness, as it says (Genesis 1:2) "Darkness was over the face of the deep". Why is it written after this (Genesis 1:3) "And God said, "Let there be light"" and from the midst of the darkness brought forth light. And I need to light them, and I didn't say to you except to bring you up -- (Exodus 27:20) "to set up the eternal light" .

17 Thus has R. Tanhuma bar Abba interpreted. (Numb. 11:16) “Then the Lord said unto Moses, ‘Gather Me seventy men from the elders of Israel….” A legal teaching: Within how many cubits is one obligated to stand up in the presence of an elder? Thus have our masters taught: Within four cubits one is obligated to stand up in the presence of an elder.²⁹Qid 33b; cf also yBik. 3:3 (65c). Thus it is stated (in Lev. 19:32), “You shall rise in the presence of³⁰To be in one’s presence is to be within four cubits. a gray head [...].” One also asks after his welfare [when] within four cubits. And about which honor did the Torah say (ibid. cont.), “you shall honor the presence of an elder?” That one should not stand in his place or sit in his place or contradict his words. Also when one asks [about] a law (halakhah), one should ask with reverence and not rush to respond or interrupt his words. Whoever does not behave toward his teacher (rav) according to all these rules is labeled a wicked person before the Omnipresent, his learning is forgotten, his years are shortened, and in the end he comes to poverty, as stated (in Eccl. 8:13), “It shall not go well with the wicked one, nor shall he prolong his days; [they are] like a shadow, because he is not in fear before God.” In regard to this fear I do not know [exactly] what it is; [but] when it says (in Lev. 19:32), “You shall rise in the presence of a gray head, [you shall honor the presence of an elder,] and you shall fear your God,” note that it is [really] saying, this is the fear of [students toward] sages.³¹Since GRAY HEAD and ELDER are understood to refer to the sages. [But I might say that this is a fear of] usury and of [false] weights, as fear is stated about them [also].³²In Lev. 25:36; 19:36. So why say that it refers to a sage? It is simply that R. Elazar has said, “It is stated here, ‘[you shall honor] the presence (pny) of the elder, and you shall fear your God’; while it is stated in the other passage (in Eccl. 8:13), ‘he is not in fear before (pny) God.’” Hence, one is obligated to greet him before everyone when entering and leaving and to treat him with fear and honor. It is so stated (in Deut. 6:13), “You shall fear (et)³³This word generally denotes that what follows is a direct object but at times the word means “along with.” In this latter sense the et implies that one should honor someone along with the Lord your God. For an example of et indicating further inclusions, see Tanh. (Buber) Gen. 1:8. the Lord your God.” And we have learned, “[The et must refer] to [fear of] the master scholars of Torah since you have no other trait like it.” And so it says (in Deut. 1:15), “[So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and well-known people,] and appointed them heads over you.” From here you learn that you should treat him in a princely manner, [i.e.,] stand in his presence, and give him precedence in every matter of dignity. R. Abba bar Pappa the Priest said, “When I would see a certain group of people, I would walk by another route so as not to be a bother for them, lest they see me and stand for me. [However] when I told of the matter to R. Jose ben R. Zevida, he said to me, ‘You must pass before them, so that they will see you and stand in your presence. Then you will bring them to the point of fearing Heaven, as stated (in Lev. 19:32), “You shall rise in the presence of a gray head, [you shall honor the presence of an elder,] and you shall fear your God.”’” Why? Because the rise of the righteous is a rise in which there is no decline. But the rise of Esau³⁴Esau stands for any Roman. the wicked is a rise which is wholly decline. Today he is a governor;³⁵Gk.: eparchos. tomorrow an assistant [governor]; the next day a captain.³⁶Gk.: stratiotes (“citizen soldier”). And thus it is with all their great ones. So also the prophet says (in Obad. 1:4), “Though you make your abode as high as the eagle, [and though your nest is set among the stars, I will bring you down from there].” The rise of Jacob, however, is a rise which has no decline, and their holiness is never desecrated. And so you find that the elders are one of thirteen things which are written down [as belonging] to the name of the Holy One, blessed be He. These [thirteen] are the following: (1) The silver and gold, (2) the priests, (3) the Levites, (4) Israel, (5) the first-born, (6) the altar, (7) the priestly share, (8) the oil for anointing, (9) the tent of meeting, (10) the Davidic dynasty, (11) the offerings, (12) the Land of Israel, and (13) the elders. Where is it shown in reference to silver and gold? As stated (in Hag. 2:8), “The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine.” Where is it shown in reference to the priests? As stated (in Exod. 29:1), “to sanctify them for serving Me as priests.” Where is it shown in reference to the Levites? As stated (in Numb. 3:12), “and the Levites shall be Mine.” Where is it shown in reference to Israel? As stated (in Lev. 25:55), “For to Me the Children of Israel [are servants].” Where is it shown in reference to the first-born? As stated (in Numb. 3:13 = 8:17), “For all the first-born are Mine.” Where is it shown in reference to the altar? As stated (in Exod. 20:21), “An altar of earth you shall make for Me.” Where is it shown in reference to the priestly share? As stated (in Exod. 25:2), “And let them take for Me a priestly share.” Where is it shown in reference to the oil for anointing? As stated (in Exod. 30:31), “This oil for anointing shall be holy to Me.” Where is it shown in reference to the tent of meeting? As stated (in Exod. 25:8), “And let them make Me a sanctuary.” Where is it shown in reference to offerings? As stated (in Numb. 28:2), “My offering, My bread for My fire offering.”⁴⁰Note that this reference to offerings and the following reference to the Davidic dynasty are reversed in order from the list given above. Where is it shown in reference to the Davidic dynasty? As stated (in I Sam. 16:1), “for I have chosen a king for Myself among his (i.e. Jesse's) sons.” Where is it shown in reference to the Land [of Israel]? As stated (in Lev. 25:23), “for the land belongs to Me.” Where is it shown in reference to the elders? As stated (in Numb. 11:16), “Gather Me seventy men [from the elders of Israel].”

17 Thus has R. Tanhuma bar Abba interpreted. (Numb. 11:16) “Then the Lord said unto Moses, ‘Gather Me seventy men from the elders of Israel….” A legal teaching: Within how many cubits is one obligated to stand up in the presence of an elder? Thus have our masters taught: Within four cubits one is obligated to stand up in the presence of an elder.²⁹Qid 33b; cf also yBik. 3:3 (65c). Thus it is stated (in Lev. 19:32), “You shall rise in the presence of³⁰To be in one’s presence is to be within four cubits. a gray head [...].” One also asks after his welfare [when] within four cubits. And about which honor did the Torah say (ibid. cont.), “you shall honor the presence of an elder?” That one should not stand in his place or sit in his place or contradict his words. Also when one asks [about] a law (halakhah), one should ask with reverence and not rush to respond or interrupt his words. Whoever does not behave toward his teacher (rav) according to all these rules is labeled a wicked person before the Omnipresent, his learning is forgotten, his years are shortened, and in the end he comes to poverty, as stated (in Eccl. 8:13), “It shall not go well with the wicked one, nor shall he prolong his days; [they are] like a shadow, because he is not in fear before God.” In regard to this fear I do not know [exactly] what it is; [but] when it says (in Lev. 19:32), “You shall rise in the presence of a gray head, [you shall honor the presence of an elder,] and you shall fear your God,” note that it is [really] saying, this is the fear of [students toward] sages.³¹Since GRAY HEAD and ELDER are understood to refer to the sages. [But I might say that this is a fear of] usury and of [false] weights, as fear is stated about them [also].³²In Lev. 25:36; 19:36. So why say that it refers to a sage? It is simply that R. Elazar has said, “It is stated here, ‘[you shall honor] the presence (pny) of the elder, and you shall fear your God’; while it is stated in the other passage (in Eccl. 8:13), ‘he is not in fear before (pny) God.’” Hence, one is obligated to greet him before everyone when entering and leaving and to treat him with fear and honor. It is so stated (in Deut. 6:13), “You shall fear (et)³³This word generally denotes that what follows is a direct object but at times the word means “along with.” In this latter sense the et implies that one should honor someone along with the Lord your God. For an example of et indicating further inclusions, see Tanh. (Buber) Gen. 1:8. the Lord your God.” And we have learned, “[The et must refer] to [fear of] the master scholars of Torah since you have no other trait like it.” And so it says (in Deut. 1:15), “[So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and well-known people,] and appointed them heads over you.” From here you learn that you should treat him in a princely manner, [i.e.,] stand in his presence, and give him precedence in every matter of dignity. R. Abba bar Pappa the Priest said, “When I would see a certain group of people, I would walk by another route so as not to be a bother for them, lest they see me and stand for me. [However] when I told of the matter to R. Jose ben R. Zevida, he said to me, ‘You must pass before them, so that they will see you and stand in your presence. Then you will bring them to the point of fearing Heaven, as stated (in Lev. 19:32), “You shall rise in the presence of a gray head, [you shall honor the presence of an elder,] and you shall fear your God.”’” Why? Because the rise of the righteous is a rise in which there is no decline. But the rise of Esau³⁴Esau stands for any Roman. the wicked is a rise which is wholly decline. Today he is a governor;³⁵Gk.: eparchos. tomorrow an assistant [governor]; the next day a captain.³⁶Gk.: stratiotes (“citizen soldier”). And thus it is with all their great ones. So also the prophet says (in Obad. 1:4), “Though you make your abode as high as the eagle, [and though your nest is set among the stars, I will bring you down from there].” The rise of Jacob, however, is a rise which has no decline, and their holiness is never desecrated. And so you find that the elders are one of thirteen things which are written down [as belonging] to the name of the Holy One, blessed be He. These [thirteen] are the following: (1) The silver and gold, (2) the priests, (3) the Levites, (4) Israel, (5) the first-born, (6) the altar, (7) the priestly share, (8) the oil for anointing, (9) the tent of meeting, (10) the Davidic dynasty, (11) the offerings, (12) the Land of Israel, and (13) the elders. Where is it shown in reference to silver and gold? As stated (in Hag. 2:8), “The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine.” Where is it shown in reference to the priests? As stated (in Exod. 29:1), “to sanctify them for serving Me as priests.” Where is it shown in reference to the Levites? As stated (in Numb. 3:12), “and the Levites shall be Mine.” Where is it shown in reference to Israel? As stated (in Lev. 25:55), “For to Me the Children of Israel [are servants].” Where is it shown in reference to the first-born? As stated (in Numb. 3:13 = 8:17), “For all the first-born are Mine.” Where is it shown in reference to the altar? As stated (in Exod. 20:21), “An altar of earth you shall make for Me.” Where is it shown in reference to the priestly share? As stated (in Exod. 25:2), “And let them take for Me a priestly share.” Where is it shown in reference to the oil for anointing? As stated (in Exod. 30:31), “This oil for anointing shall be holy to Me.” Where is it shown in reference to the tent of meeting? As stated (in Exod. 25:8), “And let them make Me a sanctuary.” Where is it shown in reference to offerings? As stated (in Numb. 28:2), “My offering, My bread for My fire offering.”⁴⁰Note that this reference to offerings and the following reference to the Davidic dynasty are reversed in order from the list given above. Where is it shown in reference to the Davidic dynasty? As stated (in I Sam. 16:1), “for I have chosen a king for Myself among his (i.e. Jesse's) sons.” Where is it shown in reference to the Land [of Israel]? As stated (in Lev. 25:23), “for the land belongs to Me.” Where is it shown in reference to the elders? As stated (in Numb. 11:16), “Gather Me seventy men [from the elders of Israel].”

(Numb. 2:2:) EACH WITH HIS STANDARD, UNDER THE BANNERS [….<THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SHALL CAMP,> SHALL CAMP AROUND THE TENT OF MEETING AT A DISTANCE.] What is the meaning of AT A DISTANCE?⁹⁰Tanh., Numb. 1:14; cf. Numb. R. 2:9. R. Isaac said: At a distance of a mile.⁹¹Lat.: mille. The Holy One said: Israel shall be at a distance of two thousand cubits from the ark, as stated (in Josh. 3:4): YET THERE SHALL BE A DISTANCE BETWEEN YOU AND IT OF ABOUT TWO THOUSAND CUBITS. But Moses and Aaron shall be near to it, as stated (in Numb. 3:38): THOSE WHO CAMPED BEFORE THE TABERNACLE, [IN FRONT BEFORE THE TENT OF MEETING TO THE EAST, WERE MOSES, AARON, AND HIS CHILDREN….] Why were Moses and Aaron near it? It is simply that the Holy One had said: If I become angry with my children, they will mediate between me and my children. For that reason they are near it, but the tribes (according to Numb. 2:2) SHALL CAMP AROUND THE TENT OF MEETING AT A DISTANCE.

(Numb. 3:15:) ENROLL THE CHILDREN OF LEVI…. This text is related (to Ps. 92:13 [12]): THE RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL FLOURISH LIKE THE PALM, <LIKE A CEDAR OF LEBANON SHALL HE GROW>. Just as the palm <casts> its shadow <only> at a distance⁹³Because the long trunk of the palm has no branches.; so the reward of the righteous is at a distance <from them>.⁹⁴Tanh., Numb. 1:15; Numb. R. 3:1; Gen. R. 40(41):1; M. Pss. 92:11; cf. above, Gen. 3:9. Just as the palm produces <ripe> dates and produces unripenable dates; so it is with Israel. It has Torah scholars within it, and it has ignoramuses ('amme ha'arets) within it. Just as the palm has within it unripenable dates, which never enter the storehouse, yet produces ripe dates, and these do enter the store house; so it was with Israel in the wilderness. Some of them did enter the land of Israel; yet some of them did not enter.

2 (Numb. 16:1) “[Now Korah …] took”:²In this and some of the following sections, the midrash is explaining the fact that the transitive verb, TOOK, has no object. Biblical translations offer solutions such as translating the verb intransitively, e.g., BETOOK HIMSELF, or by supplying an object, e.g., TOOK MEN. “Took” can only be a word for "attracting with persuasive words," in that he attracted all the leaders of Israel and the sanhedraot [to follow] after him. Concerning Moses it is written (in Numb. 1:17), “So Moses and Aaron took these men.” And similarly it is written (in Numb. 8:2), “Take Aaron and his sons with him.” And so does it say (in Hos. 14:3), “Take words with you.” And so does it [also] say (in Genesis 12:15), “and the woman was taken to the house of Pharaoh.” Ergo (in Numb. 16:1) “Now Korah […] took,” in that he drew (i.e., took) their hearts with persuasive words. (Numb. 16:1) “Now Korah […] betook himself”: Because of what did he dissent? Because of Elizaphan, the son of his father's brother, who had been appointed prince (nasi) over his clan. So it says (in Numb. 3:30), “And the prince of the ancestral house for the Kohathite clan was Elizaphan ben Uzziel.” Korah said, “Father had four brothers.” It is so stated (according to Exod. 6:18), “And the sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.” “As for Amram, the first-born; his son Aaron attained greatness, and his brother Moses [attained] the kingship. So who deserves to get second [place]? Should it not be the second [son]? Now I am Izhar's son. I deserved to be prince of my clan, but he has appointed the son of Uzziel. Should the youngest of father's brothers become superior to me? See, I am dissenting and declaring everything invalid, whatever he had done.” Therefore, (in Numb. 16:1) “Now Korah […] took.”

5 (Numb. 16:1) “[Korah who is] the son of Izhar [who is] the son of Kohath [who is] the son of Levi betook himself”: But why is it not written "the son of Jacob" [or] "the son of Israel?"¹³ Cf.Gen. R. 98:5. This text is related (to Gen. 49:6), “Let not my soul come into their council,” i.e., that of the spies; “and let not my glory be joined with their congregation,” i.e., that of Korah. Jacob said to the Holy One, blessed be He, “Master of the world, with reference to the spies and with reference to the dissension of Korah, let not my name be mentioned [in connection with] those evil men, who are going to cause provocation. So when should my name (Israel) be joined upon them? When they are joined together to stand on the dais (as Levitical singers), as stated (I Chron. 6:[17,] 22–23) ‘[These are the ones whom David put in charge of song in the house of the Lord….] The son of Assir [who is] the son of Ebiasaph [who is] the son of Korah [who is] the son of Izhar [who is] the son of Kohath [who is] the son of Levi [who is] the son of Israel.’” (Numb. 16:1, cont.) “Along with Dathan and Abiram”: From here the sages said, “Woe to the wicked one, [and] woe to his neighbor.”¹⁴See Neg. 12:6; Sifra to Lev.14:40 (157: Metsora‘, pereq 4); ARN, A, 9; cf. ARN, B, 16; Numb.R. 3:12; Suk. 56b; above, Numb.1:13. Dathan and Abiram [were destroyed by the dissent of Korah], because they were neighbors of Korah. As he was dwelling to the south (of the tabernacle), as stated (in Numb. 3:29), “The families of the Children of Kohath were to camp along the side of the tabernacle to the south.” The standard of Reuben was near them, as stated (in Numb. 2:10), “The standard of the camp of Reuben shall be to the south.” However, the standard of Judah was in the east, and with him were Issachar and Zebulun, as stated (in Numb. 2:3), “Now these camping in front to the east shall be the standard of the camp of Judah.” And near them were Moses and Aaron, as written (in Numb. 3:38), “Those who camped before the tabernacle, in front before the tent of meeting to the east, were Moses, Aaron, and his children.” Because these were near the Torah, they were therefore worthy to be Torah scholars, as written (in Ps. 60:9), “Judah is my lawgiver.”¹⁵Mehoqeq. Most translations render the word as scepter, since kingship was what Judah actually attained. And it is [also] written (in I Chron. 12:33), “And from the Children of Issachar, those who had an understanding of the times.” And it is [also] written (in Jud. 5:14), “and from Zebulon those who wield the scribal pen.” But Dathan and Abiram, who were neighbors to Korah – the one responsible for the dissent – were struck with him and perished from the world.

5 (Numb. 16:1) “[Korah who is] the son of Izhar [who is] the son of Kohath [who is] the son of Levi betook himself”: But why is it not written "the son of Jacob" [or] "the son of Israel?"¹³ Cf.Gen. R. 98:5. This text is related (to Gen. 49:6), “Let not my soul come into their council,” i.e., that of the spies; “and let not my glory be joined with their congregation,” i.e., that of Korah. Jacob said to the Holy One, blessed be He, “Master of the world, with reference to the spies and with reference to the dissension of Korah, let not my name be mentioned [in connection with] those evil men, who are going to cause provocation. So when should my name (Israel) be joined upon them? When they are joined together to stand on the dais (as Levitical singers), as stated (I Chron. 6:[17,] 22–23) ‘[These are the ones whom David put in charge of song in the house of the Lord….] The son of Assir [who is] the son of Ebiasaph [who is] the son of Korah [who is] the son of Izhar [who is] the son of Kohath [who is] the son of Levi [who is] the son of Israel.’” (Numb. 16:1, cont.) “Along with Dathan and Abiram”: From here the sages said, “Woe to the wicked one, [and] woe to his neighbor.”¹⁴See Neg. 12:6; Sifra to Lev.14:40 (157: Metsora‘, pereq 4); ARN, A, 9; cf. ARN, B, 16; Numb.R. 3:12; Suk. 56b; above, Numb.1:13. Dathan and Abiram [were destroyed by the dissent of Korah], because they were neighbors of Korah. As he was dwelling to the south (of the tabernacle), as stated (in Numb. 3:29), “The families of the Children of Kohath were to camp along the side of the tabernacle to the south.” The standard of Reuben was near them, as stated (in Numb. 2:10), “The standard of the camp of Reuben shall be to the south.” However, the standard of Judah was in the east, and with him were Issachar and Zebulun, as stated (in Numb. 2:3), “Now these camping in front to the east shall be the standard of the camp of Judah.” And near them were Moses and Aaron, as written (in Numb. 3:38), “Those who camped before the tabernacle, in front before the tent of meeting to the east, were Moses, Aaron, and his children.” Because these were near the Torah, they were therefore worthy to be Torah scholars, as written (in Ps. 60:9), “Judah is my lawgiver.”¹⁵Mehoqeq. Most translations render the word as scepter, since kingship was what Judah actually attained. And it is [also] written (in I Chron. 12:33), “And from the Children of Issachar, those who had an understanding of the times.” And it is [also] written (in Jud. 5:14), “and from Zebulon those who wield the scribal pen.” But Dathan and Abiram, who were neighbors to Korah – the one responsible for the dissent – were struck with him and perished from the world.

Another interpretation (of Numb. 3:15): ENROLL THE CHILDREN OF LEVI. But it is written in another place (i.e., in Numb. 1:49): HOWEVER, YOU SHALL NOT ENROLL THE TRIBE OF LEVI, NOR SHALL YOU TAKE A CENSUS OF THEM.¹⁰¹Tanh., Numb., 1:16, cont.; cf. Numb. R. 3:7. It is simply that the Holy One said: In as much as they have given their souls to me, go and number them separately. Now when had they given their souls to the Holy One? When Israel had committed that act (of the golden calf). It is so stated (in Exod. 32:26): SO MOSES STOOD UP IN THE GATE OF THE CAMP [AND SAID: WHOEVER IS FOR THE LORD, <COME> TO ME. THEN ALL THE CHILDREN OF LEVI GATHERED UNTO HIM]. The Holy One said to Moses: In as much as they are standing in their blemishes,¹⁰²Bemumehen. Cf. Buber, n. 154, who notes that the Oxford MS, Michael 577, No. 155 (described on pp. 141-142 of his introduction), reads, betsidqam, i.e., “in their righteousness.” Buber, however, prefers the better-attested reading, bemumehen, which can also mean “by some things of theirs” and which he interprets as the equivalent of “by their vow.” Still the simple translation, “in their blemishes” could mean that the Levites were deficient in not having been enrolled for the Holy One and that their enrollment now made them whole. go and number them. (In the words of Numb. 3:15): ENROLL THE CHILDREN OF LEVI. R. Judah bar Shallum says: The Holy One is accustomed to numbering <the children of> this tribe in every case while they are young.¹⁰³Numb. R. 3:8. How is it shown? When the Holy One told Jacob to go down to Egypt, at that time he numbered Israel and his children; and all of them were found <to number> sixty-six, [as stated (in Gen. 46:26): AND ALL THE SOULS… WERE SIXTY-SIX.] In addition were Joseph's two sons, plus Joseph, for a total of seventy minus one. But it says (in vs. 27): ALL THE SOULS OF THE HOUSE OF JACOB, WHICH CAME TO EGYPT, WERE SEVENTY. R. Levi said: R. Samuel bar Nahman said: The Holy One customarily numbers this tribe while they are in their mother's womb.¹⁰⁴Gen. R. 94:9 and M. Pss. 92:12. R. Berekhyah [the Priest Berabbi] said: There is not enough resin to flow out before they collect it.¹⁰⁵Rt.: SPG; cf. the Gk.: spoggos (“sponges”). So it was in the case of Jochebed. Her mother was pregnant with her; and while she was in her mother's womb, she was numbered together with her. Resh Laqish said: While her mother was entering the gate of Egypt, her mother gave birth to her. The statement is therefore made concerning seventy souls (in Gen. 46:27). And also concerning her children's children, the Holy One said to Moses (in Numb. 3:15): [YOU SHALL ENROLL] EVERY MALE FROM THE AGE OF A MONTH AND UPWARD. Moses said to him: Am I able to persevere and go around into their courtyards and into the midst of their houses to number each and every one of them, when you say (ibid.): EVERY MALE FROM THE AGE OF A MONTH AND UPWARD?¹⁰⁶Numb. R. 1:9. The Holy One said to Moses: You do your <part>, and I will do my <part>. R. Judah bar Shallum the Levite said: Moses would go and stand at the gate of the tent <in question>. Then the Divine Presence would draw near and say to him: There are five infants in this tent; there are ten infants in that tent. Where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Numb. 3:16): SO MOSES ENROLLED THEM ACCORDING TO THE WORD (literally: ACCORDING TO THE MOUTH) OF THE LORD AS HE HAD BEEN COMMANDED, <i.e.,> just as the Divine Presence told him.

Another interpretation (of Numb. 3:40), “enroll every first-born male.” This text is related (to Cant. 6:8-9), “There are sixty queens, eighty concubines, and maidens without number; [but only] One is My dove, My perfect one….” [The matter] is comparable to a certain merchant,¹⁰²Gk.: pragmateutes (“business representative”). who had glass beads,¹⁰³Numb. R. 4:2. which he would bring to market; but he paid no attention to their number (minyan), because he had brought them out without counting (minyan) [them]. So when he came in to put them away, he put them away without counting. Because they were [made] of glass, he did not pay attention to them. However, he had a certain string¹⁰⁴Lat.: linea. of fine pearls;¹⁰⁵Gk. margelis. and this he would take and bring out with a count, then put away with a count. Similarly, as it were, the Holy One, blessed be He, said [in regard] to the nations of the world, “I have not given them a count, because none of them is important to me, as stated (in Is. 40:17), ‘All the nations are as nothing before Him; they are considered by Him as less than nothing and void.’ But as for you, you are My children, [as stated (in Is. 46:3)], ‘the ones who have been borne by Me from birth, carried from the womb.’ I therefore count you on every occasion.” It is therefore stated (in Numb. 3:40), “enroll every first-born male.” Ergo (in Cant. 6:8-9), “There are sixty queens […]; [but only] One is My dove, My perfect one….” This is Israel. Another interpretation (of Numb. 3:40), “enroll every first-born male.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said, “Because of the love for Israel I have altered the [natural] order of the world.¹⁰⁶Numb. R. 4:5. How? I had written in My Torah that an ass should be redeemed with a lamb, as stated (in Exod. 34:20), “But the firstling of an ass you shall redeem with a lamb (seh) ….” But I did not do so. Instead I redeemed a lamb (seh) with an ass. The Egyptians are likened to an ass, where it is stated (in Ezek. 23:20), “whose flesh is like the flesh of asses”; and Israel is called a lamb (seh), where it is stated (in Jer. 50:17), “Israel is a scattered flock (seh).” Then I slew the first-born of the Egyptians and sanctified the first-born of Israel, as stated (in Numb. 3:13), “For every first-born belongs to Me on the day that I smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt,” I sanctified them for Myself. He therefore said to him (in Numb. 3:40), “enroll every first-born male among the Children of Israel.”

Where is it shown in reference to silver and gold? Where it is stated (in Hag. 2:8): THE SILVER IS MINE, AND THE GOLD IS MINE.⁷⁵See above Exod. 8:9.
[Where is it shown] in reference to the priests? [Where it is stated] (in Exod. 29:1): TO SANCTIFY THEM FOR SERVING ME AS PRIESTS.
[Where is it shown] in reference to the Levites? [Where it is stated] (in Numb. 3:12): AND THE LEVITES SHALL BE MINE.
[Where is it shown] in reference to Israel? [Where it is stated] (in Lev. 25:55): FOR TO ME THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL <ARE SERVANTS>.
[Where is it shown] in reference to the first-born? [Where it is stated (in Numb. 3:13 = 8:17): FOR ALL THE FIRST-BORN ARE MINE.
[Where is it shown] in reference to the altar? [Where it is stated] (in Exod. 20:24): AN ALTAR OF EARTH YOU SHALL MAKE FOR ME.
[Where is it shown] in reference to the priestly share? [Where it is stated(in Exod. 25:2): AND LET THEM TAKE FOR ME A PRIESTLY SHARE.
[Where is it shown] in reference to the oil for anointing [Where it is stated] (in Exod. 30:31): THIS <OIL FOR ANOINTING> SHALL BE HOLY TO ME.
[Where is it shown] in reference to the tent of meeting? [Where it is stated] (in Exod. 25:8): AND LET THEM MAKE ME A SANCTUARY.
[Where is it shown] in reference to offerings? [Where it is stated] (in Numb. 28:2): MY OFFERING, MY BREAD FOR MY FIRE OFFERING, [MY SWEET AROMA, YOU SHALL TAKE HEED TO OFFER ME <IN ITS DUE SEASON>].⁷⁶Note that this reference to offerings and the following reference to the Davidic dynasty are reversed in order from the list given above. Note also that the Buber text omits the second square bracket.
[Where is it shown] in reference to the Davidic dynasty? [Where it is stated] (in I Sam. 16:1): FOR I HAVE CHOSEN A KING FOR MYSELF AMONG HIS (i.e. Jesse's) SONS.
[Where is it shown] in reference to the land [of Israel? Where it is stated (in Lev. 25:23): FOR THE LAND BELONGS TO ME.
[Where is it shown] in reference to the elders? From what they read on the subject (in Numb. 11:16): GATHER ME <SEVENTY PEOPLE FROM THE ELDERS OF ISRAEL>.

Moses was first with the priesthood, with the pulpit, with the sacrifices, and with the Torah.
• [With the priesthood, when he served in the high priesthood for the seven days during the consecration (of Aaron and his sons.)]⁷³yYoma 1:1 (38b); Lev. R. 11:7; PRK 4:5; PR 14:11.
• With the pulpit, when he had Eleazar stand on the pulpit. Thus it is stated (in Numb. 3:32): AND THE PRINCE OF THE LEVITE PRINCES WAS ELEAZAR….⁷⁴As a Levite he would officiate from a pulpit.
• With the sacrifices: Where is it shown? (Lev. 8:21): MOSES SACRIFICED THE [WHOLE] RAM UPON THE ALTAR (during the consecration of Aaron and his sons).
• With the Torah: Where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Exod. 24:12): COME UP TO ME ON THE MOUNTAIN [AND BE THERE, AND I WILL GIVE YOU STONE TABLETS WITH TORAH AND THE COMMANDMENTS WHICH I HAVE WRITTEN FOR THEIR INSTRUCTION].

(Numb. 3:40:) AND THE LORD SAID UNTO MOSES: ENROLL EVERY [FIRST-BORN] MALE…. Let our master instruct us: When an infant is born at eight months, does one profane the Sabbath for it?¹¹²Tanh., Numb. 1:18; Numb. R. 4:3. Thus have our masters taught: When an infant is born at eight months one does not profane the Sabbath for it, cut its umbilical cord, bury its placenta, or move it from place to place; however, its mother does lean over it to suckle it.¹¹³TShab. 15[16]:5; Shab. 135a. And in the case of one moving it on the Sabbath, it is as though he were moving a stone. <When there is> doubt <whether it is> an eight-month infant or a seven-month infant, one does not profane the Sabbath for it, cut its umbilical cord, bury its placenta, or move it from place to place. But if it is a sure thing that it is <an infant of> seven months, one does profane the Sabbath for it, cut its umbilical cord, bury its placenta, and move it from place to place. And why does one profane the Sabbath for one born, when it is born at seven <months from conception>? Because it is capable of life. However, in the case of one born at eight <months>, it has not <completed> its months and is not capable of life. For that reason one does not profane the Sabbath for it. They asked R. Abbahu: Where is it shown that one born at seven months will live?¹¹⁴yYev. 4:2 (5d); Gen. R. 14:2; 20:6. He said to them: In the Greek¹¹⁵YWNYT. Cf. Gk.; Iones. language zeta¹¹⁶This letter name sounds like word, zete, a Gk. pres. pl. imperative, which means, “live.” is hepta (the Greek number seven); eta¹¹⁷This letter sounds like the Gk. word, ite, a pres. pl. imperative, which means, “go.” The corresponding imperfect form (ete) is even closer. is okto (the Greek number eight). Now which is <an infant> of eight months? Anyone whose hair and nails are undeveloped. R. Simeon b. Gamaliel says: whoever does not live thirty days has not <completed> his months, but is a miscarriage.¹¹⁸Shab. 135b; Yev. 36b, 80b. And on what did the knowledge of Rabban [Simeon ben] Gamaliel depend? On the word of Torah, because the first-born were only redeemed after thirty days, [as stated] (in Numb. 18:16): AND THEIR REDEMPTION MONEY — FROM A MONTH OF AGE <AND OLDER> YOU SHALL REDEEM THEM. Therefore, the Holy One said to Moses that the first-born should only be redeemed FROM A MONTH OF AGE <AND OLDER>. Where is it shown? From what they have read on the matter (in Numb. 3:40): AND THE <LORD SAID UNTO MOSES: > ENROLL EVERY FIRST-BORN MALE AMONG THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL A MONTH OF AGE AND OLDER….

Another interpretation (of Gen. 27:33): Why did he tremble? Because he had blessed the younger before the elder; for he had intended to bless both of them. So he called Esau in order to bless him first, since he was the elder. Then afterwards, < he would call > Jacob. So he intended. Why? Because before the Holy One it is difficult to supplant a genealogical chain, to replace primogeniture. So note that he only called Esau. On what basis do you say that he wished to bless Jacob? On the basis of what Jacob said, {and he said} [to his mother] (in Gen. 27:12): THEN I WILL BRING UPON MYSELF A CURSE INSTEAD OF A BLESSING. He said to her: Even the blessing which he was going to give me, in the end he will not give me. Isaac only trembled when he said: What sin is on my hands that the genealogical chain should be ruined at my hands, for me to bless the younger < first > and the elder afterwards? And so you find: In every place Moses comes before Aaron;⁹²Cf. Mekhilta de Rabbi Ishmael, Pisha, 1. but when it comes to genealogy, Aaron is before Moses. Thus it is stated (in Numb. 3:1): NOW THESE ARE THE DESCENDANTS OF AARON AND MOSES. R. Abba said in the name of R. Johanan of the Bet Guvrin: In the case of Reuben also, when that event (the selling of Joseph) happened at his hands, his father gave his birthright to Joseph. Thus it is stated (in I Chron. 5:1): AND THE SONS OF REUBEN, THE FIRST-BORN OF ISRAEL. NOW HE IS FIRST-BORN; BUT, WHEN HE HAD DEFILED HIS FATHER'S BED, HIS BIRTHRIGHT WAS GIVEN TO (JOSEPH) [THE SONS JOSEPH BEN ISRAEL]. Hence the birthright belonged to Joseph. In the genealogy, however, he was not able to keep his birthright away from him, as stated (in Exod. 6:14): THE SONS OF REUBEN THE FIRST-BORN OF ISRAEL. "Now he was the first-born" is not written here (in I Chron. 5:1), but: NOW HE IS THE FIRST-BORN. So also in the case of the sons of Noah, Japheth was the oldest: but because Shem was more righteous, < Scripture > counts him first in every place.⁹³See above, 2:19. Thus it is stated (in Gen. 9:18): AND THE CHILDREN OF NOAH WHO WENT FORTH FROM THE ARK WERE SHEM, HAM, AND JAPHETH. In regard to genealogy, however, < Scripture > mentions Japheth as being the eldest. Thus it is stated (in Gen. 10:21): AND UNTO SHEM THERE WERE CHILDREN BORN. HE WAS ALSO FATHER TO ALL THE CHILDREN OF EBER < AND > THE BROTHER OF JAPHETH, WHO WAS THE OLDEST.⁹⁴The last eight words can be, and commonly are, translated: THE ELDER BROTHER OF JAPHETH. See Gen. R. 37:7. R. Tanhuma said: But you also have to learn < through > greater insight, that Shem was second to Japheth. Therefore, you find that Noah sired a son at < an age of > five hundred years. It is written (in Gen. 5:32): AND NOAH WAS FIVE HUNDRED YEARS OLD; < AND NOAH BEGOT SHEM, HAM, AND JAPHETH >. Now the flood took place (according to Gen. 7:11): IN THE SIX HUNDREDTH YEAR OF NOAH'S LIFE…. {Since} it is also written of Shem that he sired a son at < the age of > a hundred years, {he was lacking two} [two years after the flood). It is so stated (in Gen. 11:10): THESE ARE THE DESCENDANTS OF SHEM: SHEM WAS A HUNDRED YEARS OLD WHEN HE BEGOT ARPACHSHAD, TWO YEARS AFTER THE FLOOD. If he had been the eldest, it would have been necessary to say only: HE BEGOT ARPACHSHAD, TWO YEARS AFTER THE FLOOD. You also learn from here that Japheth was two years older than Shem according to the reckoning of my calculation. Here also (in Gen. 27:33), Isaac only trembled when he said: What sin is there on my hands that I have blessed the younger before the elder and have changed the order? Jacob went out and Esau came in, as stated (in Gen. 27:30): AND JACOB HAD JUST GONE OUT…. He (Esau) said to his father (in vs. 32): I AM [YOUR SON], YOUR FIRST-BORN, ESAU. His father began saying: Who is this one who entered and received the blessings? The Holy Spirit said to him: It was Jacob. He said to him (in vs. 33): AND I HAVE EATEN OF EVERYTHING. R. Isaac said: In that dish Isaac had a taste OF EVERYTHING that the Holy One had created during the six days of creation.⁹⁵Tanh., Gen. 6:11; Gen. R. 67:2. Also R. Judah b. R. Shallum said in the name of R. Ayyevu: In that dish Isaac had a taste of whatever is stored up for the righteous in the days to come. [Isaac said to him: In that dish I tasted everything that the Holy One has created]. Esau said to him: Daddy, [tell me:] What is that dish? Isaac said to him: < Whatever I ask for >. I asked for pheasant;⁹⁶Gk.: phasianos. I tasted it. Esau said to him: Daddy, tell me the basic < ingredient >. He said to him: It was meat. R. Hananyah b. R. Isaac said: When Esau heard this, he began striking his face. He said: Woe to that man, as stated (in Gen. 27:34): AND HE LET OUT A GREAT AND BITTER CRY…. Esau said: He fed me pottage of lentils, and I gave him my birthright. Now he has fed Daddy meat. You must know with what blessings he blessed him! HE BEGAN TO CRY AND SAY: IS HE NOT RIGHTLY NAMED JACOB (rt.: 'QB)? [FOR HE HAS CHEATED (rt.: 'QB) ME THESE TWO TIMES. HE TOOK MY BIRTHRIGHT; AND, SEE, NOW HE HAS TAKEN MY BLESSING.] His father said to him: So what should I do for you? He said to him: He has already taken my birthright. Isaac said to him: Over this matter I was sorry. He also said: Perhaps I transgressed a commandment of the Law in blessing the younger before the elder. Now that I have already blessed him, (according to Gen. 27:33:) HE SHALL ALSO BE BLESSED.

Another interpretation (of Gen. 5:1): THIS IS THE BOOK < OF THE GENERATIONS OF ADAM >. This text is related (to Is. 41:2): WHO HAS WROUGHT AND DONE IT? THE ONE WHO NAMED THE GENERATIONS FROM THE BEGINNING. If the generations were worthy, the Holy One gave them their names just as he had given names to Adam and Eve. Thus it is stated (in Gen. 5:2): AND HE GAVE THEM THE NAME ADAM. You also find that when the Holy One sees a righteous one born, he gives him his name as a mark of honor. He named Noah because he was righteous, as stated (in Gen. 5:29): AND HE CALLED HIS NAME NOAH. He named Abraham, as stated (in Gen. 17:5): BUT YOUR NAME SHALL BE ABRAHAM. So also with Isaac, Jacob, Solomon, and Josiah. Thus it is stated (in I Kings 13:2): BEHOLD, A SON SHALL BE BORN UNTO THE HOUSE OF DAVID; JOSIAH SHALL BE HIS NAME. If the generations were worthy, he would give a name to each and every one; and from his name he would make known his works. Our masters have said:⁹⁰Cf. Yoma 83b; yRH 3:9 (59a). When R. Me'ir would see a person, he would learn his name, and from his name he would know his works. Once upon a time two students came to him, and one had the name Kidor. R. Me'ir said to his students: Beware of this Kidor. They said to him: He is a Torah scholar. He said to them: [Nevertheless], you yourselves beware of him. One day they went to the bathhouse and deposited their clothes with Kidor. He took their clothes and went away. When they came out, they did not find < him >. They went to their houses and put on other clothes. They came to R. Me'ir. R. Me'ir said to them: Why did you change your clothes? They said to him: We went to the bathhouse and deposited our clothes with Kidor, but he took them. He said to them: Did I not say to you: Beware of this man? They said to him: O our master, if you please, < tell us > how you knew. He said to them: From his name, for it is written (in Deut. 32:20): FOR (Ki) A GENERATION (dor) OF PERVERSITY ARE THEY…. So also you find in Egypt (in Numb. 3:21): THE LIBNITE FAMILY. At what time did he give them their names? When Pharaoh arose and worked them with clay and brick (rt.: LBN). Ergo: THE LIBNITE (rt.: LBN) FAMILY. (Deut. 32:20, cont.:) AND THE SHIMEITE (rt.: ShM') FAMILY. When they complained of the servitude, the Holy One heard (rt.: ShM') their prayer. (Deut. 32:27:) AND THE HEBRONITE (rt.: HBR) FAMILY, to whom the Divine Presence was allied (rt.: HBR). <These examples > are to teach you that if the generations were worthy, the Holy One would give them their names, as stated (in Is. 41:4): THE ONE WHO NAMED THE GENERATIONS….

[Another interpretation (of Numb. 4:18:) DO NOT CUT OFF.] And so he says in another place (i.e., in Numb. 3:15): ENROLL THE CHILDREN OF LEVI. But he has also said (in Numb. 1:49): HOWEVER, YOU SHALL NOT ENROLL THE TRIBE OF LEVI. But he only spoke to him <with reference to numbering them in> the midst of the children of Israel and did not tell him to exempt them from the decree <itself>.¹⁵⁸Tanh., Numb. 26, cont.; Numb. R. 1:12; 3:7. The Holy One <did so> because he foresaw that Israel was going to provoke him and said to them (in Numb. 14:29): IN THIS DESERT SHALL YOUR CARCASSES DROP. Therefore, the Holy One said: The children of Levi shall not be <part of> this decree, as stated (in Numb. 1:49, cont.): NOR SHALL YOU TAKE A CENSUS OF THEM AS PART OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. Why? Because they are mine (according to Numb. 3:12): AND THE LEVITES SHALL BE MINE. Thus when anyone offers (rt.: QRB) a little of himself, they advance (rt.: QRB) him a lot. Now they had offered (rt.: QRB) themselves, when Moses said (in Exod. 32:26): WHOEVER IS FOR THE LORD, <COME TO ME>. And not only that, BUT (according to Numb. 1:50) YOU SHALL ENROLL THE LEVITES TO BE OVER THE TABERNACLE OF THE TESTIMONY. Thus when someone is tested in <one> area and found trustworthy, the Holy One trusts him forever; for so you find in the case of Joshua.¹⁵⁹Numb. R. 1:12. When he was tested with Amalek, he prevailed against him according to the law and according to the commandment. It is so stated (in Exod. 17:13): AND JOSHUA DEFEATED <AMALEK AND HIS PEOPLE>…. The Holy One said to him: From your tribe (Ephraim) I am raising up one to exact punishment from Amalek, as stated (in Jud. 5:14): OUT OF EPHRAIM CAME THOSE WHOSE ROOT IS IN AMALEK…. [What is the meaning of OUT OF (MNY) EPHRAIM?] He appointed (MNH) Ephraim in his heart¹⁶⁰Cf. the parallel in Tanh., Numb. 1:26, which reads, “Ephraim alone….” to destroy the seed of Amalek. The Holy One said to him (ibid., cont.): [AFTER YOU,] BENJAMIN WITH YOUR PEOPLES, <i.e.,> leave him for Saul ben Kish, the Benjamite; he will serve him.¹⁶¹Cf. the parallel in Tanh., Numb. 1:26, which reads, “He will uproot him.”

33) (Vayikra 8:30): "And Moses took of the oil of anointment and of the blood which was upon the altar, and he sprinkled it upon Aaron, upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon the garments of his sons with him. And he sanctified Aaron, his garments, and his sons, and the garments of his sons with him.": The three "bloods" mentioned in this section (the bullock of the sin-offering, the ram of the burnt-offering, and the ram of the miluim) are not alike. The first requires six applications; the second, two; and the third, thirteen. The first (the bullock of the sin-offering) requires sprinkling, application roundabout (on the four corners of the altar), purification (chitui, by application of the blood on the roof of the altar, viz. Shemoth 29:36) and spilling (yetzikah, of the blood at the base of the altar). The second (the ram of the burnt-offering) requires sprinkling and application roundabout. The third (the ram of the miluim) requires six "thumb" applications: three on Aaron (on the thumb of his hand, the big toe of his foot, and the tnuch of his ear), and three (respectively) on (each of) his sons. Others say: nine ("thumb" applications): three on Aaron and six on his sons. Others say: fifteen: three on Aaron and twelve on his four sons, viz. (Bamidbar 3:3): "These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed Cohanim, whom he invested to minister." And it required (one) sprinkling on the altar (in sum, thirteen applications: six "thumb" applications, one altar sprinkling, and six sprinklings on Aaron and on his sons).

(Bamidbar 7:89) "And when Moses came to the tent of meeting": (Why is this mentioned? We already know that the L-rd spoke to him from the tent of meeting.) From (Vayikra 1:1) "and the L-rd spoke to him from the tent of meeting," I understand directly from the tent of meeting. It is, therefore, written (Shemot 25:22) "And I will be appointed for you (to speak to you) there, and I will speak to you from above the kaporeth (the ark cover)." It is impossible to say from the tent of meeting, for it is already written "from above the kaporeth," and it is impossible to say "from above the kaporeth," for it is already written "from the tent of meeting." How, then, are these two verses to be reconciled? This is a rule in the Torah: Two verses which contradict each other are to "remain in their place" until a third verse comes and reconciles them, (the third verse, in this instance, being) "And when Moses came to the tent of meeting." Scripture hereby tells us that Moses would enter and stand in the tent of meeting, and the Voice would descend from the heaven of heavens to between the two cherubs (on the ark cover) and he would hear the Voice speaking to him from within. R. Yehudah b. Betheira says: Thirteen utterances were addressed to (both) Moses and Aaron, and, corresponding to these, thirteen "exclusions" (i.e., Aaron being excluded), to teach that they were not addressed to Aaron, but only to Moses to tell to Aaron. They are; (Shemot 25:22) "And I will be appointed for you there, and I will speak with you, all that I shall command you," (Shemot 30:6) "where I will be appointed for you," (Ibid.) "to speak to you there," (Shemot 31:18) "to speak with him," (Vayikra 7:38) "on the day that he commanded," (Bamidbar 7:89) "And when Moses came to the tent of meeting to speak with Him," (Ibid.) "speaking with him," (Vayikra 1:1) "And the L-rd spoke to him," and one in Egypt (Shemot 6:28) "And it was on the day that the L-rd spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt," and one in Sinai (Bamidbar 3:1) "on the day the L-rd spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai," and one in the tent of meeting (Bamidbar 7:89) "And He spoke to him." — Thirteen exclusions, Aaron being excluded in all instances.

(Bamidbar 3:24) "This is what applies to the Levites. From the age of twenty-five, etc." "Years" (i.e., a deficiency in years) disqualify them (from Levitical service), but blemishes do not. For it would follow (otherwise), viz.: If where years do not disqualify (i.e., with the Cohanim), blemishes do disqualify, then where years do disqualify, how much more so should blemishes disqualify! It is, therefore, written "This is what applies to the Levites, etc." "Years" disqualify the Levites, but not blemishes. (Bamidbar 8:24) "From the age of twenty-five and up, etc.": One verse states "From the age of twenty-five and up," and another (Ibid. 4:23) "From thirty years and up." How are these two verses to be reconciled? From the age of twenty-five for learning (the Levitical service), and from the age of thirty, for serving.