וּצְבָא֖וֹ וּפְקֻדֵיהֶ֑ם אַרְבָּעָ֧ה וְשִׁבְעִ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וְשֵׁ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת׃
at ang kanyang hukbo, at ang mga nabilang sa kanila, ay pitumpu't apat na libo at anim na raan.
Bamidbar Rabbah
“The Lord said to Moses: Count every firstborn male of the children of Israel from one month old and above, and take the number of their names” (Numbers 3:40).
“The Lord said to Moses: Count every firstborn male of the children of Israel…” – that is what is written: “Since you were precious in My eyes, you were honored…” (Isaiah 43:4). The Holy One blessed be He said to Jacob: Jacob, you are exceedingly precious in My eyes, as, as it were, I have affixed your visage to my Throne, and the angels laud Me in your Name and say: “Blessed is the Lord, God of Israel, from eternity to eternity” (Psalms 41:14). That is, “since you were precious in My eyes, you were honored…”
Another matter: “Since you were precious in My eyes, you were honored” – the Holy One blessed be He said to Jacob: You are exceedingly precious in My eyes, as, as it were, I and My ministering angels emerged to greet you upon your departure to go to Padan Aram and upon your return. When you departed, what is written: “Jacob departed.… he encountered the place.… he dreamed, and behold, a ladder…[and behold, the angels of God].… And behold, the Lord stood over him… (Genesis 28:10–13). Rabbi Hoshaya said: Happy is one born of a woman who saw this, the King and His entourage standing over him and protecting him. From where is it derived upon his return? It is as it is stated: “Jacob went on his way, [and the angels of God encountered him]” (Genesis 32:2). Those are the angels; the Divine Presence, from where is it derived? “God appeared to Jacob again, upon his return [from Padan Aram]” (Genesis 35:9). That is, “since you were precious in My eyes, you were honored.”
Another matter: “Since you were precious in My eyes…” – the Holy One blessed be He said to Jacob: You are precious in My eyes, as for all the nations of the world, I did not provide a census, but for you, I provided a census. This is analogous to a king who had many granaries and they were all foul and filled with black kernels. He was not particular about their number. He had one granary that he saw that it was fine. He said to a member of his household: ‘Those granaries are foul and filled with black kernels; therefore, do not be particular about their number. But ascertain how many kor are in this one, how many sacks, how many measures are in it.’ So, the king, this is the King of kings, the Holy One blessed be He. The granary, this is Israel: “It is like My threshing floor, the product of my granary” (Isaiah 21:10). Likewise, it says: “Israel is sacred to the Lord, the first of His crop” (Jeremiah 2:3). The member of his household, this is Moses, as it is stated: “Not so My servant Moses; in all My house he is faithful” (Numbers 12:7). The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘The idol worshippers are foul,’ as it is stated: “Peoples will be as burnings of lime, cut thorns…” (Isaiah 33:12); ‘therefore, do not be particular about their number. But Israel, they are righteous; their groups are all wheat,’ as it is stated: “Your people, they are all righteous” (Isaiah 60:21). Likewise it says: “All of you is fair, my love, and there is no blemish in you” (Song of Songs 4:7). ‘That is why you shall be particular about their number.’ So, Moses did; he counted them, how many kor are in it, as it is stated: “Take a census of the entire congregation of the children of Israel” (Numbers 1:2); how many sacks: “its host and those counted” (Numbers 2:4); how many measures, as it is stated: “Count every…male.”
“The Lord said to Moses: Count every firstborn male of the children of Israel…” – that is what is written: “Since you were precious in My eyes, you were honored…” (Isaiah 43:4). The Holy One blessed be He said to Jacob: Jacob, you are exceedingly precious in My eyes, as, as it were, I have affixed your visage to my Throne, and the angels laud Me in your Name and say: “Blessed is the Lord, God of Israel, from eternity to eternity” (Psalms 41:14). That is, “since you were precious in My eyes, you were honored…”
Another matter: “Since you were precious in My eyes, you were honored” – the Holy One blessed be He said to Jacob: You are exceedingly precious in My eyes, as, as it were, I and My ministering angels emerged to greet you upon your departure to go to Padan Aram and upon your return. When you departed, what is written: “Jacob departed.… he encountered the place.… he dreamed, and behold, a ladder…[and behold, the angels of God].… And behold, the Lord stood over him… (Genesis 28:10–13). Rabbi Hoshaya said: Happy is one born of a woman who saw this, the King and His entourage standing over him and protecting him. From where is it derived upon his return? It is as it is stated: “Jacob went on his way, [and the angels of God encountered him]” (Genesis 32:2). Those are the angels; the Divine Presence, from where is it derived? “God appeared to Jacob again, upon his return [from Padan Aram]” (Genesis 35:9). That is, “since you were precious in My eyes, you were honored.”
Another matter: “Since you were precious in My eyes…” – the Holy One blessed be He said to Jacob: You are precious in My eyes, as for all the nations of the world, I did not provide a census, but for you, I provided a census. This is analogous to a king who had many granaries and they were all foul and filled with black kernels. He was not particular about their number. He had one granary that he saw that it was fine. He said to a member of his household: ‘Those granaries are foul and filled with black kernels; therefore, do not be particular about their number. But ascertain how many kor are in this one, how many sacks, how many measures are in it.’ So, the king, this is the King of kings, the Holy One blessed be He. The granary, this is Israel: “It is like My threshing floor, the product of my granary” (Isaiah 21:10). Likewise, it says: “Israel is sacred to the Lord, the first of His crop” (Jeremiah 2:3). The member of his household, this is Moses, as it is stated: “Not so My servant Moses; in all My house he is faithful” (Numbers 12:7). The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘The idol worshippers are foul,’ as it is stated: “Peoples will be as burnings of lime, cut thorns…” (Isaiah 33:12); ‘therefore, do not be particular about their number. But Israel, they are righteous; their groups are all wheat,’ as it is stated: “Your people, they are all righteous” (Isaiah 60:21). Likewise it says: “All of you is fair, my love, and there is no blemish in you” (Song of Songs 4:7). ‘That is why you shall be particular about their number.’ So, Moses did; he counted them, how many kor are in it, as it is stated: “Take a census of the entire congregation of the children of Israel” (Numbers 1:2); how many sacks: “its host and those counted” (Numbers 2:4); how many measures, as it is stated: “Count every…male.”
Shemot Rabbah
“This month shall be for you the first of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you” (Exodus 12:2).
Another interpretation: “This month shall be for you” – that is what is written: “Who is she who appears like the dawn [shaḥar], [beautiful as the moon, pure as the sun, fearsome as banners of a host?]” (Song of Songs 6:10). There are four terms of praise of Israel here, corresponding to the four exiles. For during the four exiles that Israel experienced, they did not deny the Holy One blessed be He. In the Babylonian exile, from where [can this be seen]? It is as it is stated: “Who is she who appears like the dawn?” Nebuchadnezzar prostrated himself to the sun, as it is stated: “How have you fallen from the heavens, glowing morning [shaḥar] star” (Isaiah 14:12).18“Morning star” refers to Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel19Daniel lived during the Babylonian exile. would rise early [shoḥer] and pray to the Omnipresent, as it is stated: “And windows were open for him in his upper chamber facing Jerusalem” (Daniel 6:11), evening, morning, and noon. Why would he rise early and pray? It was so the Holy One blessed be He would have mercy upon Israel. In his regard, Solomon said: “He who seeks [shoḥer] good seeks favor” (Proverbs 11:27). God was present for them in their time of distress, as it is stated: “I love those who love me…” (Proverbs 8:17).
Likewise, we find, when Daniel was cast into the lions’ den, he was not harmed, as it is stated; “God sent His angel and closed the lions’ mouths, and they did not harm me” (Daniel 6:23). Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya were cast into the fiery furnace and were not harmed, as it is stated: “The hair of their heads was not singed [. . .] and the odor of fire did not cover them” (Daniel 3:27). Rather, they illuminated the world like the dawn, which illuminates the world. Therefore, “who appears like the dawn.” They caused the idolaters to acknowledge the Holy One blessed be He and to praise Him, as Nebuchadnezzar said when Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya emerged from the furnace: “Blessed is the God of Shadrakh, Meshakh, and Aved Nego” (Daniel 3:28),20These are the Babylonian names of Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya. “the servants of the exalted God” (Daniel 3:26). Likewise, Darius said after Daniel fell into the lions’ den “to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, who is the living God” (Daniel 6:27); therefore, it is written: “Who is she who appears like the dawn?”
“Beautiful as the moon” (Song of Songs 6:10) – in the Median [Persian] exile; you find during the night that if the moon is not seen in the sky, there is darkness in the world, and a person is unable to walk, even in the city. When the moon is seen in the sky, everyone is glad, and they walk on the road. So, during the days of Aḥashverosh, when they decreed against the Jews to “destroy, to kill, and to eliminate” (Esther 3:13), and Esther came and illuminated for Israel, as it is stated: “The Jews had light and gladness, [and joy and honor]” (Esther 8:16); that is why it is written: “Beautiful as the moon,” about the Median exile. If your wish is to know why Esther was likened to the moon: Just as the moon is reborn after thirty days, so too, Esther said: “But I have not been summoned to the king these thirty days” (Esther 4:11); that is why “beautiful as the moon” is in the Median exile.
“Pure as the sun” (Song of Songs 6:10) – during the Greek kingdom. Sandrios eim Ulios:21This phrase is in corrupted Greek, and two interpretations of it have been given. (1) The Sanhedrin against the sun, i.e., the Jewish Sanhedrin stands in opposition to the Greeks, represented by the sun (Mirkin); and (2) Alexander, son of Helios, i.e., Alexander the original Macedonian emperor, is the son of the god of the sun, Helios (Jastrow). The sun [ḥama] is its name, and the sun is called a strong man [gibor], as it is stated: “Rejoices as a strong man [gibor] to run its course” (Psalms 19:6).22The verse is referring to the movement of the sun on its course. During the summer, who can withstand the sun; everyone flees from it, as it is stated: “And nothing hides from its heat [meḥamato]” (Psalms 19:7). So, with regard to the Greek kingdom, everyone fled from it, and Matitya the priest and his sons were steadfast in their faith in the Holy One blessed be He, and the troops of Greece fled from before them and were all killed. So, the Holy One blessed be He said to them: “Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears; the weak will say: I am mighty [gibor]” (Joel 4:10). And it says: “So may all Your enemies perish, Lord…” (Judges 5:31), to fulfill what is stated: “Pure as the sun.”
“Fearsome as banners” (Song of Songs 6:10) – in [reference to the hegemony of] Edom [Rome]; why is it [Israel] called fearsome? It is because it remains steadfast in a kingdom that inspires fear, as it is stated: “And behold a fourth beast, dreadful and fearsome, and strong” (Daniel 7:7). What is “fearsome as banners?” You find that there are twelve constellations in the sky. Just as the heavens cannot endure without the twelve constellations, so, the world cannot endure without the twelve tribes, as it is stated: “If [these] statutes depart [from before Me, says the Lord, then the descendants of Israel will also cease from being a nation before Me forever]” (Jeremiah 31:35).
“Fearsome as banners” – banners are nothing other than armies, as it is stated: “The banner of the camp…and their host and their numbered” (Numbers 2:3–4). Likewise, the banners of the heavens are the angels, and the banners of the earth are Israel. The hosts of the heavens are angels, as it is stated: “And the entire host of the heavens standing…” (II Chronicles 18:18). The hosts of the earth are Israel, as it is stated: “All the hosts of the Lord emerged from the land of Egypt” (Exodus 12:41). The Master of them both is the Holy One blessed be He. Just as everyone fears the Holy One blessed be He and the angels, so too, the idolaters fear Israel, as it is stated: “And all the peoples of the land will see that the name of the Lord [is called upon you, and they will fear you]” (Deuteronomy 28:10). This is why it is stated: “Fearsome as banners,” because the Holy One blessed be He likened Israel to the angels.
Regarding angels it is stated: “Seraphim were standing above Him” (Isaiah 6:2), and regarding Israel it is stated: “You are standing today” (Deuteronomy 29:9). The angels say each day: “Holy, holy, holy [is the Lord of hosts]” (Isaiah 6:3), and Israel says: The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.23At the beginning of the Amida prayer. Both the angels and Israel praise God with a threefold prayer. Angels are called fire, as it is written: “The flaming fire His servants” (Psalms 104:4), and Israel likewise, as it is written: “The house of Jacob will be fire” (Obadiah 1:18). Angels are renewed every morning, and praise the Holy One blessed be He and then return to the river of fire from which they emerged; and the Holy One blessed be He again renews them and restores them as they had been initially, as it is stated: “They are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:23). So, [the people of] Israel sink into iniquities due to the evil inclination that is in their bodies, and they repent. Each year, God forgives their iniquities and renews their hearts to fear Him, as it is stated: “I will give you a new heart” (Ezekiel 36:26). That is why it is written: “Fearsome as banners.”
Another interpretation: “This month shall be for you” – that is what is written: “Who is she who appears like the dawn [shaḥar], [beautiful as the moon, pure as the sun, fearsome as banners of a host?]” (Song of Songs 6:10). There are four terms of praise of Israel here, corresponding to the four exiles. For during the four exiles that Israel experienced, they did not deny the Holy One blessed be He. In the Babylonian exile, from where [can this be seen]? It is as it is stated: “Who is she who appears like the dawn?” Nebuchadnezzar prostrated himself to the sun, as it is stated: “How have you fallen from the heavens, glowing morning [shaḥar] star” (Isaiah 14:12).18“Morning star” refers to Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel19Daniel lived during the Babylonian exile. would rise early [shoḥer] and pray to the Omnipresent, as it is stated: “And windows were open for him in his upper chamber facing Jerusalem” (Daniel 6:11), evening, morning, and noon. Why would he rise early and pray? It was so the Holy One blessed be He would have mercy upon Israel. In his regard, Solomon said: “He who seeks [shoḥer] good seeks favor” (Proverbs 11:27). God was present for them in their time of distress, as it is stated: “I love those who love me…” (Proverbs 8:17).
Likewise, we find, when Daniel was cast into the lions’ den, he was not harmed, as it is stated; “God sent His angel and closed the lions’ mouths, and they did not harm me” (Daniel 6:23). Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya were cast into the fiery furnace and were not harmed, as it is stated: “The hair of their heads was not singed [. . .] and the odor of fire did not cover them” (Daniel 3:27). Rather, they illuminated the world like the dawn, which illuminates the world. Therefore, “who appears like the dawn.” They caused the idolaters to acknowledge the Holy One blessed be He and to praise Him, as Nebuchadnezzar said when Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya emerged from the furnace: “Blessed is the God of Shadrakh, Meshakh, and Aved Nego” (Daniel 3:28),20These are the Babylonian names of Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya. “the servants of the exalted God” (Daniel 3:26). Likewise, Darius said after Daniel fell into the lions’ den “to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, who is the living God” (Daniel 6:27); therefore, it is written: “Who is she who appears like the dawn?”
“Beautiful as the moon” (Song of Songs 6:10) – in the Median [Persian] exile; you find during the night that if the moon is not seen in the sky, there is darkness in the world, and a person is unable to walk, even in the city. When the moon is seen in the sky, everyone is glad, and they walk on the road. So, during the days of Aḥashverosh, when they decreed against the Jews to “destroy, to kill, and to eliminate” (Esther 3:13), and Esther came and illuminated for Israel, as it is stated: “The Jews had light and gladness, [and joy and honor]” (Esther 8:16); that is why it is written: “Beautiful as the moon,” about the Median exile. If your wish is to know why Esther was likened to the moon: Just as the moon is reborn after thirty days, so too, Esther said: “But I have not been summoned to the king these thirty days” (Esther 4:11); that is why “beautiful as the moon” is in the Median exile.
“Pure as the sun” (Song of Songs 6:10) – during the Greek kingdom. Sandrios eim Ulios:21This phrase is in corrupted Greek, and two interpretations of it have been given. (1) The Sanhedrin against the sun, i.e., the Jewish Sanhedrin stands in opposition to the Greeks, represented by the sun (Mirkin); and (2) Alexander, son of Helios, i.e., Alexander the original Macedonian emperor, is the son of the god of the sun, Helios (Jastrow). The sun [ḥama] is its name, and the sun is called a strong man [gibor], as it is stated: “Rejoices as a strong man [gibor] to run its course” (Psalms 19:6).22The verse is referring to the movement of the sun on its course. During the summer, who can withstand the sun; everyone flees from it, as it is stated: “And nothing hides from its heat [meḥamato]” (Psalms 19:7). So, with regard to the Greek kingdom, everyone fled from it, and Matitya the priest and his sons were steadfast in their faith in the Holy One blessed be He, and the troops of Greece fled from before them and were all killed. So, the Holy One blessed be He said to them: “Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears; the weak will say: I am mighty [gibor]” (Joel 4:10). And it says: “So may all Your enemies perish, Lord…” (Judges 5:31), to fulfill what is stated: “Pure as the sun.”
“Fearsome as banners” (Song of Songs 6:10) – in [reference to the hegemony of] Edom [Rome]; why is it [Israel] called fearsome? It is because it remains steadfast in a kingdom that inspires fear, as it is stated: “And behold a fourth beast, dreadful and fearsome, and strong” (Daniel 7:7). What is “fearsome as banners?” You find that there are twelve constellations in the sky. Just as the heavens cannot endure without the twelve constellations, so, the world cannot endure without the twelve tribes, as it is stated: “If [these] statutes depart [from before Me, says the Lord, then the descendants of Israel will also cease from being a nation before Me forever]” (Jeremiah 31:35).
“Fearsome as banners” – banners are nothing other than armies, as it is stated: “The banner of the camp…and their host and their numbered” (Numbers 2:3–4). Likewise, the banners of the heavens are the angels, and the banners of the earth are Israel. The hosts of the heavens are angels, as it is stated: “And the entire host of the heavens standing…” (II Chronicles 18:18). The hosts of the earth are Israel, as it is stated: “All the hosts of the Lord emerged from the land of Egypt” (Exodus 12:41). The Master of them both is the Holy One blessed be He. Just as everyone fears the Holy One blessed be He and the angels, so too, the idolaters fear Israel, as it is stated: “And all the peoples of the land will see that the name of the Lord [is called upon you, and they will fear you]” (Deuteronomy 28:10). This is why it is stated: “Fearsome as banners,” because the Holy One blessed be He likened Israel to the angels.
Regarding angels it is stated: “Seraphim were standing above Him” (Isaiah 6:2), and regarding Israel it is stated: “You are standing today” (Deuteronomy 29:9). The angels say each day: “Holy, holy, holy [is the Lord of hosts]” (Isaiah 6:3), and Israel says: The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.23At the beginning of the Amida prayer. Both the angels and Israel praise God with a threefold prayer. Angels are called fire, as it is written: “The flaming fire His servants” (Psalms 104:4), and Israel likewise, as it is written: “The house of Jacob will be fire” (Obadiah 1:18). Angels are renewed every morning, and praise the Holy One blessed be He and then return to the river of fire from which they emerged; and the Holy One blessed be He again renews them and restores them as they had been initially, as it is stated: “They are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:23). So, [the people of] Israel sink into iniquities due to the evil inclination that is in their bodies, and they repent. Each year, God forgives their iniquities and renews their hearts to fear Him, as it is stated: “I will give you a new heart” (Ezekiel 36:26). That is why it is written: “Fearsome as banners.”
Midrash Tanchuma
(Numb. 3:40:) “Enroll every first-born male.” This text is related (to Is. 43:4), “Because you are precious in my eyes, you are honored, and I love you….” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Jacob, “Jacob, you are exceedingly precious in My eyes.97Numb. R. 4:1. Why? Because I, as it were, have installed your image98Gk.: eikonion. on My glorious throne, and in your name the angels praise Me and say (in Ps. 41:14), “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,99Israel here is the patriarch Jacob, not the people. from everlasting to everlastings.” Ergo (in Is. 43:4), “Because you are precious in my eyes, you are honored.” Another interpretation (of Is. 43:4), “Because you are precious….” The Holy One, blessed be He, said, “Jacob, you are precious in my eyes because I and my angels were, as it were, standing over you when you set out for Paddan-Aram and when you came back.” It is so stated (in Gen. 28:10-13), “And Jacob set out…. When he came across a certain place…. Then he dreamed that there was a ladder [placed on earth with its top reaching to the heavens; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.] And behold, the Lord stood over him….” R. Hosha'ya said, “Blessed is the one born of woman who has seen the King and his household100Lat.: familia. standing over him and ministering to him.” But where is it shown in reference to his coming back? Where it is stated (in Gen. 32:2), “So Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.” So much for the angels, but where is it shown for the Divine Presence? (Gen. 35:9), “Now God appeared unto Jacob again….” It is therefore stated (in Is. 43:4), “Because you are precious in My eyes.” Another interpretation (of Is. 43:4), “Because you are precious in My eyes, you are honored.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said, “You are precious in my eyes, because to all the nations I gave no numbering (minyan), but to you I did give a numbering.” To what is this comparable? It is comparable to a king of flesh and blood who had a lot of granaries, but all of them were dirty and full of darnel; so he was not meticulous about their numbering. [There was,] however, this granary [which had] beautiful wheat. He said to his household, “Those granaries that are dirty and full of darnel; I will not be meticulous about their numbering. But this granary has beautiful wheat. I therefore want to be meticulous in numbering how many kor101One kor is equivalent to somewhat under 400 liters. there are, how many sacks there are in it, [and] how many measures there are in it.” Similarly this king is the Supreme King of kings, the Holy One, blessed be He; and this granary (goren) is Israel, since it is stated (in Is. 21:10), “My threshing, and the product (literally: the child) of My threshing floor (goren).” It also says (in Jer. 2:3), “Israel is the Lord's sanctuary, the beginning of His harvest.” The child of His house is Moses, as stated (in Numb. 12:7), “he is trusted in all My house.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, The nations are [comparable to thorns], as stated (in Is. 33:12), “And the peoples shall become burnings of lime, thorns cut down that are burned in the fire.” Therefore, you shall not be meticulous about numbering them, but Israel is righteous, chosen wheat, as stated (in Is. 60:21), “And all of your people are righteous.” It also says (in Cant. 4:7), “You are beautiful all over, My beloved, and there is no blemish in you.” Therefore, be meticulous in counting Israel. Moses did so. He numbered them [to determine] how many kor there were, as stated (in Numb. 1:2), “Take a census…”; how many sacks there were, as stated (in Numb. 2:4), “Its host and those of them enrolled”; and how many measures there were, as stated (in Numb. 3:40), “enroll every first-born male.”