מדרש אויף במדבר 3:12

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.

“And stand it before Aaron, the priest, and they shall serve him” – they shall serve him in his service and he will appoint treasurers and overseers from among them. “They shall serve him” – in their regard the verse says: “My eyes are on the faithful of the land; they will dwell with Me. He who walks in the path of integrity, it is he who will serve Me…” (Psalms 101:6).
“They shall keep his commission.… They shall safeguard all the vessels of the Tent of Meeting…” (Numbers 3:7–8) – they would encamp around the Tent of Meeting, and they would carry its vessels and load them. “You shall give the Levites to Aaron…” (Numbers 3:9) – is it perhaps that they shall serve him in his service, that they should perform his labor? The verse states: “I have hereby taken [the Levites]…and the Levites [shall be] Mine” (Numbers 3:12). “Given for the Lord” (Numbers 18:6) – they are given for the Lord to the priests, and not to perform his labor, as they were gatekeepers and singers, and safeguarded all the vessels of the Tent of Meeting, carrying them, and loading them. “You shall count Aaron and his sons, [and they shall observe their priesthood]” (Numbers 3:10) – just as the Levites were commanded, so, the priests were commanded regarding their service, and all of them by Moses. “The commoner who approaches shall be put to death” (Numbers 3:10) – this is the punishment.

“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: I have hereby taken the Levites from among the children of Israel in place of every firstborn, first issue of the womb from the children of Israel, and the Levites shall be Mine. For every firstborn is Mine; on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified to Me every firstborn in Israel, from man to animal; they shall be Mine; I am the Lord” (Numbers 3:11–13).
“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: I have hereby taken…”: “I [vaani]” – joyfully, “hereby [hineh]” – willingly; the statement of Rabbi Yishmael. His students said to him: Our teacher, because it says: “I [vaani] am hereby [hineni] bringing the flood, water” (Genesis 6:17), do I hear that there is joy before the Omnipresent? He said to them: There is joy before the Omnipresent when those who anger Him are eradicated. Likewise it says: “With the good of the righteous the city exults…” (Proverbs 11:10); and it says: “You have broken the teeth of the wicked…” (Psalms 3:8); and it says: “Salvation belongs to the Lord…” (Psalms 3:9); and it says: “The Lord is King forever and ever; [nations have] perished [from His land]” (Psalms 10:16); and it says: “May sinners be eliminated [from the earth, and may the wicked be no more]” (Psalms 104:35); and it says: “And with the eradication of the wicked there is singing” (Proverbs 11:10).
Rabbi Natan says: “I [vaani]” – I add to their love.¹⁵That is, God’s love for them. Hineh – joyfully; likewise it says: “Behold [hineh], he too is going out to meet you, and he will see you and rejoice in his heart” (Exodus 4:14). The Rabbis say: Everywhere that vaani is stated, it is, as it were, the Holy One blessed be He and His court. The paradigm of them all: “And the Lord [vadonai] spoke evil of you” (I Kings 22:23).¹⁶I Kings 22:19–22 contains a description of the heavenly court.