Midrash sa Mga Bilang 1:53: Bamidbar Rabbah

Another matter: “However, the tribe of Levi you shall not count” (Numbers 1:49) – why were they not counted with Israel? It is because the tribe of Levi was the palace guard. This is analogous to a king who had several legions, and he said to his chief of staff: Go count the legions, except for the legion that stands before me. That is why the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: “However, the tribe of Levi [you shall not count]…among the children of Israel” (Numbers 1:49). Among the children of Israel you shall not count them, but by themselves, count them, as it is not in keeping with the king’s honor that his legion should be counted with the legions. That is why Israel was counted by itself and the tribe of Levi was counted by itself.
From where do you say that it is for that reason that He said it to him? It is because it is written thereafter: “And you, appoint the Levites over the Tabernacle of the Testimony…” (Numbers 1:50). When the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: “However, the tribe of Levi you shall not count…” (Numbers 1:49), Moses grew afraid and said: Is there perhaps a disqualification in my tribe, due to which the Holy One blessed be He does not wish me to count them? The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: I said so to you only to exclude them from the decree, so that they will not die with them. That is what is written: “And you shall not take a census of them [ve’et rosham lo tisa] among the children of Israel” (Numbers 1:49). Why? It is because the Levites are Mine: “The Levites shall be Mine” (Numbers 3:12, 45). As, anyone who draws Me near, I draw him near. They drew near to Me, as it is stated: “Moses…said: Whoever is for the Lord, come to me; and all the sons of Levi gathered to him” (Exodus 32:26). They drew Me near, and I draw them near: “The Levites shall be Mine.” Moreover, because they were found to be loyal to Me, as they observed my admonition: “You shall have no other gods…” (Exodus 20:3), therefore, they are worthy to be the trustees of My house. “And you, appoint the Levites [over the Tabernacle of the Testimony…and they shall encamp around the Tabernacle]” – likewise it says: “My eyes are on the faithful of the land; they will dwell with Me.” (Psalms 101:6).
You find that anyone who is put to the test regarding a matter,¹⁷And he passes the test. the Holy One blessed be He loves him forever. As, you find regarding Joshua that he was put to the test with Amalek, and he performed there in accordance with the Torah and the mitzva, as it is stated: “Joshua weakened [Amalek and its people by sword]” (Exodus 17:13). The Omnipresent said to him: From your tribe, I will establish one who will exact retribution against Amalek forever: “From Ephraim came those who uprooted Amalek” (Judges 5:14). Saul, who was put to the test but did not properly fulfill his command, but rather: “Saul and the people spared [Agag…and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them]” (I Samuel 15:9), He caused him to fall back [le’aḥorav], and his kingdom was taken from him: “After you [aḥarekha], Benjamin” (Judges 5:14).
This tribe, too, I put them to the test, and they were found observant, and they gave their lives for sanctification of My name, as it is stated: “Each man, place his sword upon his thigh…[and each slay his brother, each his neighbor, each his relative]. The sons of Levi acted in accordance with the word of Moses…” (Exodus 32:27–28); “Who said of his father, and of his mother: [I did not see him, and his brothers he did not recognize, and his children he did not know, because they observed Your saying, and Your covenant they upheld]” (Deuteronomy 33:9). Here, too, I will draw them near and make them My palace guard, and I entrust My sanctity and the function of My house to them. That is what is written: “And you, appoint the Levites [over the Tabernacle of the Testimony]” (Numbers 1:50). Why? It is because they are loyal to Me. During its dismantling and its erecting, too, I do not want others to dismantle it and erect it, only them. That is what is written: “And when the Tabernacle travels, [the Levites shall dismantle it, and when the Tabernacle encamps, the Levites shall erect it]” (Numbers 1:51). Is it possible that the mitzva is incumbent upon the Levites, but if an Israelite did so it is permitted? The verse stated: “And the stranger who approaches shall be put to death” (Numbers 1:51). Likewise it says: I hate doers of perversity” (Psalms 101:3) – this is Israel that strayed from after the Omnipresent and crafted the calf, and the Holy One blessed be He despised them from being His trustees.
Do not say that it was that Israel would not touch it [only] during the journeys, rather, also during the encampments, only the children of Levi would approach it. That is what is written: “The children of Israel shall encamp, each in his camp.… And the Levites shall encamp around the Tabernacle of the Testimony” (Numbers 1:52–53). Why do I caution them that Israel should distance themselves from the Tabernacle? It is so there would not be fury upon them, as they are unworthy to approach it. That is what is written: “And there will not be fury against the congregation of the children of Israel” (Numbers 1:53). But the Levites will protect it; that is what is written: “The Levites will protect the watch of the Tabernacle of the Testimony” (Numbers 1:53). “The children of Israel did according to everything that the Lord commanded Moses, so they did” (Numbers 1:54) – as they distanced themselves from the Tabernacle and provided room for the Levites to encamp around the Tabernacle.

“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?’