וְזֹ֣את ׀ עֲשׂ֣וּ לָהֶ֗ם וְחָיוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א יָמֻ֔תוּ בְּגִשְׁתָּ֖ם אֶת־קֹ֣דֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁ֑ים אַהֲרֹ֤ן וּבָנָיו֙ יָבֹ֔אוּ וְשָׂמ֣וּ אוֹתָ֗ם אִ֥ישׁ אִ֛ישׁ עַל־עֲבֹדָת֖וֹ וְאֶל־מַשָּׂאֽוֹ׃
но так поступай с ними, чтобы они могли жить, а не умереть, когда приблизятся к самым святым вещам: войдет Аарон и его сыновья и назначат их всех на службу и на бремя его;
Bamidbar Rabbah
“Do not cut off the tribe of the Kehatite families from among the Levites” (Numbers 4:18).
“Do not cut off the tribe of the Kehatite families from among the Levites” (Numbers 4:18). That is what is written: “Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who await His kindness, to deliver them from death, and to sustain them in famine” (Psalms 33:18–19). “Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,” this is the tribe of Levi, who sit and hope for the kindness of the Holy One blessed be He. Do all people not long for the kindness of the Holy One blessed be He? It is, rather, more so regarding the tribe of Levi, as they did not receive a portion in the Land. Rather, they sit and pray that the Land of Israel will produce its produce so they can take tithes, as they have nothing in the world other than the kindness of the Holy One blessed be He. That is, “on those who await His kindness.” “To deliver them from death,” from death itself, “and to sustain them in famine,” these are twenty-four gifts of the priesthood, which were given to the tribe of Levi: ten in the Temple, ten in the provinces, and four in Jerusalem. That is, “and to sustain them in famine.”
Rabbi Elazar ben Pedat said: From what death were they delivered? If it was from death of this world, there is no creature that does not die. What is “to deliver them from death”? It is from death by the Ark. How so? Rabbi Elazar ben Pedat said in the name of Rabbi Yosei ben Zimra: When Israel was traveling, two sparks of fire would emerge from the midst of the two staves of the Ark in order to smite their enemies. From where is it derived? It is as Moses said to Israel: ‘Why do you fear the giants; are they tougher than those who would come against us and the Ark would burn them?’1See Deuteronomy 9:1–3 where Moses tell Israel not to fear the giants because of the devouring fire which passes before them. Likewise, it says: “You shall know today that the Lord your God is He who passes before you, [a devouring fire]” (Deuteronomy 9:3). From here, you expound that two sparks would precede them. He said to them: “He will destroy them, and He will subdue them before you” (Deuteronomy 9:3). Since the sparks would emerge, the fire would graze the bearers of the Ark and they would be burned and decrease in number.
From where is it derived that the tribe of Kehat diminished in number? You find that three families would bear all the Tabernacle vessels. [The family of] Gershon bore all the woven materials: sheets, curtain, the screen, and the hangings. The family of Kehat would bear the Ark, the table, the candelabrum, the altars, and the sacred vessels. [The family of] Merari would bear the beams, the bars, the pillars, and the bases. You find that these four2The fourth family was Moses, Aaron and his children, who camped by themselves to the east of the Tabernacle. They were included in the count of Kehat. families were counted from one month old and from thirty years old. When he counts the Gershonites, he counts them from one month old, and finds them “seven thousand five hundred” (Numbers 3:22). He then counted them from thirty years old and finds them “two thousand six hundred and thirty” (Numbers 4:40). They were one hundred and thirty more than one-third. Likewise, Merari, he counts them from one month old, and their total comes to “six thousand two hundred” (Numbers 3:34). When he attributes them from thirty years old, he finds them “three thousand two hundred” (Numbers 4:44). They were one hundred more than half of them. But the family of Kehat, you find them most numerous of all the families, as from one month old he counts them and finds them “eight thousand six hundred” (Numbers 3:28). When he came from thirty years old, he finds them “two thousand seven hundred and fifty” (Numbers 4:36). They were less than one-third, by one hundred and seventeen. Why was it so? It is, rather, as Rabbi Elazar ben Pedat said in the name of Rabbi Yosei ben Zimra: When Israel was traveling; two sparks of fire would emerge from the midst of the two staves and graze the bearers of the Ark and they would decrease in number. Each and every one of them was running; this one would take the table, this one would take the candelabrum, this one would take the altars, but they would flee from the Ark because it would harm them. It was as though the Ark was treated with contempt and the Holy One blessed be He would become angry with them, and again they would be eradicated. The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘How am I killing the sons of Kehat?I If they bear it, they decrease in number, if they do not bear it, there is anger directed at them.’ The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses and to Aaron: ‘Institute a remedy for the sons of Kehat so they will not be cut off from the world, so they will not abandon and flee. “Do not cut off the tribe …” Rather, let Aaron and his sons come: “Assign them, each man to his service and to his burden” (Numbers 4:19), so that they will be unable to switch from service to service and from burden to burden.’ That is what is written: “But do this for them, and they will live, [and will not die upon their approaching the Holy of Holies. Aaron and his sons shall come, and assign them, each man to his service and to his burden]” (Numbers 4:19).
Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: God forbid, the sons of Kehat would not abandon the Ark and run to the table and the candelabrum; rather, even though they would decrease in number, they would give their lives for the sake of the Ark. If so, why was He cautioning them: “Do not cut off the tribe…”? Rather, it was because they knew that anyone who bears the Ark, his reward is great; they would abandon the table, the candelabrum, and the altars, and they would all run to the Ark to receive a reward. As a result, this one would quarrel and say: ‘I will bear here,’ and that one would quarrel and say: ‘I will bear here,’ and as a result, they would act with levity and the Divine Presence would harm them. God said to Moses: ‘Institute a remedy for the sons of Kehat so they will not be eradicated from the world. “Do not cut off…” Rather, have them assigned to their service and to their burden so they will not quarrel with one another.’ Moses instituted a remedy, but they were quarreling with one another: This one would say: ‘I will bear the Ark,’ and that one would say: ‘I will bear it,’ and one would not know what was fixed for him, what was his burden. The Holy One blessed be He said, and consequently Aaron and his sons would enter and give each and every one his burden, as it is stated: “Aaron and his sons shall come, and assign them...”
“Do not cut off the tribe of the Kehatite families from among the Levites” (Numbers 4:18). That is what is written: “Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who await His kindness, to deliver them from death, and to sustain them in famine” (Psalms 33:18–19). “Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,” this is the tribe of Levi, who sit and hope for the kindness of the Holy One blessed be He. Do all people not long for the kindness of the Holy One blessed be He? It is, rather, more so regarding the tribe of Levi, as they did not receive a portion in the Land. Rather, they sit and pray that the Land of Israel will produce its produce so they can take tithes, as they have nothing in the world other than the kindness of the Holy One blessed be He. That is, “on those who await His kindness.” “To deliver them from death,” from death itself, “and to sustain them in famine,” these are twenty-four gifts of the priesthood, which were given to the tribe of Levi: ten in the Temple, ten in the provinces, and four in Jerusalem. That is, “and to sustain them in famine.”
Rabbi Elazar ben Pedat said: From what death were they delivered? If it was from death of this world, there is no creature that does not die. What is “to deliver them from death”? It is from death by the Ark. How so? Rabbi Elazar ben Pedat said in the name of Rabbi Yosei ben Zimra: When Israel was traveling, two sparks of fire would emerge from the midst of the two staves of the Ark in order to smite their enemies. From where is it derived? It is as Moses said to Israel: ‘Why do you fear the giants; are they tougher than those who would come against us and the Ark would burn them?’1See Deuteronomy 9:1–3 where Moses tell Israel not to fear the giants because of the devouring fire which passes before them. Likewise, it says: “You shall know today that the Lord your God is He who passes before you, [a devouring fire]” (Deuteronomy 9:3). From here, you expound that two sparks would precede them. He said to them: “He will destroy them, and He will subdue them before you” (Deuteronomy 9:3). Since the sparks would emerge, the fire would graze the bearers of the Ark and they would be burned and decrease in number.
From where is it derived that the tribe of Kehat diminished in number? You find that three families would bear all the Tabernacle vessels. [The family of] Gershon bore all the woven materials: sheets, curtain, the screen, and the hangings. The family of Kehat would bear the Ark, the table, the candelabrum, the altars, and the sacred vessels. [The family of] Merari would bear the beams, the bars, the pillars, and the bases. You find that these four2The fourth family was Moses, Aaron and his children, who camped by themselves to the east of the Tabernacle. They were included in the count of Kehat. families were counted from one month old and from thirty years old. When he counts the Gershonites, he counts them from one month old, and finds them “seven thousand five hundred” (Numbers 3:22). He then counted them from thirty years old and finds them “two thousand six hundred and thirty” (Numbers 4:40). They were one hundred and thirty more than one-third. Likewise, Merari, he counts them from one month old, and their total comes to “six thousand two hundred” (Numbers 3:34). When he attributes them from thirty years old, he finds them “three thousand two hundred” (Numbers 4:44). They were one hundred more than half of them. But the family of Kehat, you find them most numerous of all the families, as from one month old he counts them and finds them “eight thousand six hundred” (Numbers 3:28). When he came from thirty years old, he finds them “two thousand seven hundred and fifty” (Numbers 4:36). They were less than one-third, by one hundred and seventeen. Why was it so? It is, rather, as Rabbi Elazar ben Pedat said in the name of Rabbi Yosei ben Zimra: When Israel was traveling; two sparks of fire would emerge from the midst of the two staves and graze the bearers of the Ark and they would decrease in number. Each and every one of them was running; this one would take the table, this one would take the candelabrum, this one would take the altars, but they would flee from the Ark because it would harm them. It was as though the Ark was treated with contempt and the Holy One blessed be He would become angry with them, and again they would be eradicated. The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘How am I killing the sons of Kehat?I If they bear it, they decrease in number, if they do not bear it, there is anger directed at them.’ The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses and to Aaron: ‘Institute a remedy for the sons of Kehat so they will not be cut off from the world, so they will not abandon and flee. “Do not cut off the tribe …” Rather, let Aaron and his sons come: “Assign them, each man to his service and to his burden” (Numbers 4:19), so that they will be unable to switch from service to service and from burden to burden.’ That is what is written: “But do this for them, and they will live, [and will not die upon their approaching the Holy of Holies. Aaron and his sons shall come, and assign them, each man to his service and to his burden]” (Numbers 4:19).
Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: God forbid, the sons of Kehat would not abandon the Ark and run to the table and the candelabrum; rather, even though they would decrease in number, they would give their lives for the sake of the Ark. If so, why was He cautioning them: “Do not cut off the tribe…”? Rather, it was because they knew that anyone who bears the Ark, his reward is great; they would abandon the table, the candelabrum, and the altars, and they would all run to the Ark to receive a reward. As a result, this one would quarrel and say: ‘I will bear here,’ and that one would quarrel and say: ‘I will bear here,’ and as a result, they would act with levity and the Divine Presence would harm them. God said to Moses: ‘Institute a remedy for the sons of Kehat so they will not be eradicated from the world. “Do not cut off…” Rather, have them assigned to their service and to their burden so they will not quarrel with one another.’ Moses instituted a remedy, but they were quarreling with one another: This one would say: ‘I will bear the Ark,’ and that one would say: ‘I will bear it,’ and one would not know what was fixed for him, what was his burden. The Holy One blessed be He said, and consequently Aaron and his sons would enter and give each and every one his burden, as it is stated: “Aaron and his sons shall come, and assign them...”
Bamidbar Rabbah
Another matter, “do not cut off,” what is written before it? “The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron” (Numbers 4:17). Rabbi Levi said: What matter does Aaron have, that he is mentioned here? It is, rather, that He is providing an allusion to the sons of Kehat and saying to them: ‘Focus your attention to ensure that you will not conduct yourselves with levity and enter before the Ark. If you conducted yourselves with levity in its regard, learn from the sons of Aaron.’ He said: The sons of Aaron, because they entered without permission, what is written in their regard? “Fire emerged from before the Lord, and consumed them” (Leviticus 10:2). You, too, focus your attention, so what befell the sons of Aaron will not befall you. That is why He wrote: “The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron.”
Our Rabbis say: Why is Aaron written here? It is because when the sons of Kehat were commanded regarding the bearing of the Ark, they became afraid. They began shouting at Moses and saying: ‘We are going to die just as the sons of Aaron died.’ The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘Just as you instituted a remedy for Aaron [when he enters the Holy of Holies], as it is stated: “With this Aaron shall come into the Holy of Holies” (Leviticus 16:3), so, institute a remedy for the Kehatite families so they will not die.’ That is what is written: “Do not cut off…”
“But do this for them, [and they will live, and will not die]” (Numbers 4:19). Do not wonder about this that the Holy One blessed be He instituted a remedy for them so they would not die, as even for the wicked we have found that He instituted a remedy for them so they would not die. When the Holy One blessed be He detailed for Moses the thirty-six instances of karet in the Torah, Moses said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘Master of the universe, if a person sins in these, will he be eliminated in that way?’ The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Let them be flogged forty lashes and thereby satisfy the obligation of their karet.’ That is what we learned: All those liable to receive karet who were flogged are exempted from their karet, as it is stated: “And your brother shall be debased before your eyes” (Deuteronomy 25:3). Once he is flogged he is as your brother. This is the statement of Rabbi Ḥananya ben Gamliel.5Makkot 23a. If one violates one transgression, his soul is taken for it, one who performs one mitzva, all the more so that his soul will be given to him. Why did the Torah require to flog him with forty lashes? It is because he violated the Torah that was given in forty days, and he caused death to himself, who was formed in forty days.6The fetus, for certains purposes, is not viewed as a child before forty days of development. (Yevamot 69:2) Let him be flogged forty lashes and thereby satisfy the obligation of his karet. Just as it was done to Adam the first man, who sinned and incurred liability to die, and was stricken with forty blows, as the world was cursed forty curses due to his sin: Ten for Adam, ten for Eve, ten for the serpent, and ten for the earth. The Holy One blessed be He extended the day for him, as it is stated: “As on the day that you eat of it you will die” (Genesis 2:17), but he lived nine hundred and thirty years. He did not complete the day of the Holy One blessed be He.7Based on the verse: “As one thousand years in Your eyes are like yesterday gone by” (Psalms 90:4). If for the wicked He instituted a remedy, all the more so for the righteous. That is, “do not cut off…”
Our Rabbis say: Why is Aaron written here? It is because when the sons of Kehat were commanded regarding the bearing of the Ark, they became afraid. They began shouting at Moses and saying: ‘We are going to die just as the sons of Aaron died.’ The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘Just as you instituted a remedy for Aaron [when he enters the Holy of Holies], as it is stated: “With this Aaron shall come into the Holy of Holies” (Leviticus 16:3), so, institute a remedy for the Kehatite families so they will not die.’ That is what is written: “Do not cut off…”
“But do this for them, [and they will live, and will not die]” (Numbers 4:19). Do not wonder about this that the Holy One blessed be He instituted a remedy for them so they would not die, as even for the wicked we have found that He instituted a remedy for them so they would not die. When the Holy One blessed be He detailed for Moses the thirty-six instances of karet in the Torah, Moses said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘Master of the universe, if a person sins in these, will he be eliminated in that way?’ The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Let them be flogged forty lashes and thereby satisfy the obligation of their karet.’ That is what we learned: All those liable to receive karet who were flogged are exempted from their karet, as it is stated: “And your brother shall be debased before your eyes” (Deuteronomy 25:3). Once he is flogged he is as your brother. This is the statement of Rabbi Ḥananya ben Gamliel.5Makkot 23a. If one violates one transgression, his soul is taken for it, one who performs one mitzva, all the more so that his soul will be given to him. Why did the Torah require to flog him with forty lashes? It is because he violated the Torah that was given in forty days, and he caused death to himself, who was formed in forty days.6The fetus, for certains purposes, is not viewed as a child before forty days of development. (Yevamot 69:2) Let him be flogged forty lashes and thereby satisfy the obligation of his karet. Just as it was done to Adam the first man, who sinned and incurred liability to die, and was stricken with forty blows, as the world was cursed forty curses due to his sin: Ten for Adam, ten for Eve, ten for the serpent, and ten for the earth. The Holy One blessed be He extended the day for him, as it is stated: “As on the day that you eat of it you will die” (Genesis 2:17), but he lived nine hundred and thirty years. He did not complete the day of the Holy One blessed be He.7Based on the verse: “As one thousand years in Your eyes are like yesterday gone by” (Psalms 90:4). If for the wicked He instituted a remedy, all the more so for the righteous. That is, “do not cut off…”
Bamidbar Rabbah
“But do this for them, and they will live, and will not die upon their approaching the Holy of Holies. Aaron and his sons shall come and assign them, each man to his service and to his burden” (Numbers 4:19).
“But do this [vezot] for them, and they will live, and will not die….” “But do this for them,” just as it wrote “this [zot]” regarding Aaron, “with this [bezot] Aaron shall come…” (Leviticus 16:3), here, too, zot is written. Just as He instituted a remedy for Aaron, so He did for them: “And they will live and will not die.”
The Holy One blessed be He said to them: ‘Institute a remedy for the sons of Kehat so that they will live and will not die upon their approaching the Ark, as were it not for them, Israel would not survive.’ Why? It is because these four families, Gershon, Kehat, Merari, and Aaron and his sons, surround the Tent of Meeting. If Israel were sullied with a matter, and punishment came to emerge from the Tent of Metting due to the Divine Presence, immediately, the sons of Kehat, who were encamped near the Tent of Meeting, would stand and curb it, so it would not emerge against them. From where is it derived? From the verse: “The Levites shall encamp around the [Tabernacle of the testimony, and there shall not be rage against the congregation of the children of Israel]” (Numbers 1:53).
Rabbi Pinḥas HaKohen bar Ḥama said: If you do not derive it from here, you have from elsewhere to derive it. When Koraḥ came to dispute Moses, the angel of death came to emerge against Israel and to damage them. Had it emerged, it would have killed all of Israel. Moses was encamped near the Tent of Meeting, as he was a member of the sons of Kehat. He sensed that it sought to emerge against Israel. Immediately, he said to Aaron: ‘“Take the fire pan, and place fire upon it from on the altar…and atone for them” (Numbers 17:11). Quickly, with alacrity, hurry, why are you standing and dallying? “Go quickly to the congregation”’ (Numbers 17:11). Aaron said to him: ‘What have you seen?’ He said to him: ‘I saw the angel of death who emerged to afflict the enemies of Israel:12A euphemism for Israel. “For the rage has emerged from before the Lord”’ (Numbers 17:11). You learn that the Levites would curb the punishments, among them the sons of Kehat, who were the bearers of the Ark. The Holy One blessed be He said to them: ‘They suffer with Israel all this suffering, and you do not institute a remedy for them?’
“But do this [vezot] for them, and they will live, and will not die….” “But do this for them,” just as it wrote “this [zot]” regarding Aaron, “with this [bezot] Aaron shall come…” (Leviticus 16:3), here, too, zot is written. Just as He instituted a remedy for Aaron, so He did for them: “And they will live and will not die.”
The Holy One blessed be He said to them: ‘Institute a remedy for the sons of Kehat so that they will live and will not die upon their approaching the Ark, as were it not for them, Israel would not survive.’ Why? It is because these four families, Gershon, Kehat, Merari, and Aaron and his sons, surround the Tent of Meeting. If Israel were sullied with a matter, and punishment came to emerge from the Tent of Metting due to the Divine Presence, immediately, the sons of Kehat, who were encamped near the Tent of Meeting, would stand and curb it, so it would not emerge against them. From where is it derived? From the verse: “The Levites shall encamp around the [Tabernacle of the testimony, and there shall not be rage against the congregation of the children of Israel]” (Numbers 1:53).
Rabbi Pinḥas HaKohen bar Ḥama said: If you do not derive it from here, you have from elsewhere to derive it. When Koraḥ came to dispute Moses, the angel of death came to emerge against Israel and to damage them. Had it emerged, it would have killed all of Israel. Moses was encamped near the Tent of Meeting, as he was a member of the sons of Kehat. He sensed that it sought to emerge against Israel. Immediately, he said to Aaron: ‘“Take the fire pan, and place fire upon it from on the altar…and atone for them” (Numbers 17:11). Quickly, with alacrity, hurry, why are you standing and dallying? “Go quickly to the congregation”’ (Numbers 17:11). Aaron said to him: ‘What have you seen?’ He said to him: ‘I saw the angel of death who emerged to afflict the enemies of Israel:12A euphemism for Israel. “For the rage has emerged from before the Lord”’ (Numbers 17:11). You learn that the Levites would curb the punishments, among them the sons of Kehat, who were the bearers of the Ark. The Holy One blessed be He said to them: ‘They suffer with Israel all this suffering, and you do not institute a remedy for them?’