The following is a brief summary of a thought said over by R' Frand in his shiur this evening. I have attempted to reproduce this vort to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.
Parshas Bamidbar begins with Hashem commanding Moshe to count the Jewish people. Rashi notes that this is the third time since the Jews left Egypt that Hashem orders that they be counted. Rashi explains that the Jews are dear to Hashem and so He counts them over and over, much like a person who has something dear to him will count those objects over and over.
Rabbi Frand noted that Bamidbar 1:2 uses an odd word for counting - "Siu". Normally, counting in Hebrew uses the verb "Moneh" or "Siphor" or "Pikod" (although there is at least one other instance of the word "Siu" as this is the basis of the command to count in Ki Sisa). Rabbi Frand explained that the word "Siu" generally means "lift up" and that this is the purpose of Hashem asking for the count. Could one actually believe that Hashem needed Moshe to count the Jews because Hashem did not know their number? Rather Hashem wanted each Jew to feel special and by having them individually counted, their stature in their own eyes was raised.
Rabbi Frand then quoted the Chasam Sofer who notes that at Bamidbar 1:48, Hashem specifically commands that the Levi'im should not be counted. The Torah uses a double language "Don't count" (using Pikod) and "don't take their census" (using Siu). Isn't this redundant? The Chasam Sofer explains that Hashem was concerned that since shevet Levi held a special role, they might think highly of themselves and become haughty. Therefore, Hashem spelled out that the Levi'im should not be counted using the Siu terminology as well.
Following the command not to the count the Levi'im, the Torah briefly discusses the role of the Levi'im in the carrying of the Mishkan, before digressing to the way that the nation travelled and the individual flags. Following this, the Torah again reaches the issue of the Levi'im and their role in carrying the Mishkan (Bamidbar 3:5-10). Rabbi Frand then asked - why have a partial discussion of the role of the Levi'm in carrying the Mishkan, and then interrupt it, before dealing with it in more detail in the third perek?
Rabbi Frand answered, but first prefaced the answer with a thought from R' Yaakov Kaminetzky. R' Yaakov noted that the rules of flag movement occurred in the second year that the Jews were in the midbar. But why did this wait until the second year? He answered that the use of flags is very diversifying as the individual tribes would identify with their own flag. In order to prevent dissension and pirud, Hashem waited until there was a unifying source in the middle - the Mishkan - before assigning the flags to the tribes. Since the Mishkan which united all the Jews was in the middle, they were protected from pirud.
Rabbi Frand then answered his earlier question (in the name of the Shemen Hatov). The reason that a little bit about the Levi'im and their role in carrying the Mishkan was mentioned early, was as a sign that the Mishkan was now assembled and was going to be at the center and a source of protection against dissension when the tribes subsequently got their flags.
Rabbi Frand closed by quoting a Medrash which states that the Jews saw that each angel in Heaven had its own flag and that the Jews strongly desired flags. Rabbi Frand explained that the reason that the angel had its own flag was that the flag identified the angel's role and it is well known that each angel had exactly one task to perform. The Jews yearned for their flag because they wanted to know their job, since every person wants to know their role in life.
If you have seen this post being carried on another site such as JBlog, please feel free to click here to find other articles on the kosherbeers blogsite. Hey its free and you can push my counter numbers up!
Parshas Bamidbar begins with Hashem commanding Moshe to count the Jewish people. Rashi notes that this is the third time since the Jews left Egypt that Hashem orders that they be counted. Rashi explains that the Jews are dear to Hashem and so He counts them over and over, much like a person who has something dear to him will count those objects over and over.
Rabbi Frand noted that Bamidbar 1:2 uses an odd word for counting - "Siu". Normally, counting in Hebrew uses the verb "Moneh" or "Siphor" or "Pikod" (although there is at least one other instance of the word "Siu" as this is the basis of the command to count in Ki Sisa). Rabbi Frand explained that the word "Siu" generally means "lift up" and that this is the purpose of Hashem asking for the count. Could one actually believe that Hashem needed Moshe to count the Jews because Hashem did not know their number? Rather Hashem wanted each Jew to feel special and by having them individually counted, their stature in their own eyes was raised.
Rabbi Frand then quoted the Chasam Sofer who notes that at Bamidbar 1:48, Hashem specifically commands that the Levi'im should not be counted. The Torah uses a double language "Don't count" (using Pikod) and "don't take their census" (using Siu). Isn't this redundant? The Chasam Sofer explains that Hashem was concerned that since shevet Levi held a special role, they might think highly of themselves and become haughty. Therefore, Hashem spelled out that the Levi'im should not be counted using the Siu terminology as well.
Following the command not to the count the Levi'im, the Torah briefly discusses the role of the Levi'im in the carrying of the Mishkan, before digressing to the way that the nation travelled and the individual flags. Following this, the Torah again reaches the issue of the Levi'im and their role in carrying the Mishkan (Bamidbar 3:5-10). Rabbi Frand then asked - why have a partial discussion of the role of the Levi'm in carrying the Mishkan, and then interrupt it, before dealing with it in more detail in the third perek?
Rabbi Frand answered, but first prefaced the answer with a thought from R' Yaakov Kaminetzky. R' Yaakov noted that the rules of flag movement occurred in the second year that the Jews were in the midbar. But why did this wait until the second year? He answered that the use of flags is very diversifying as the individual tribes would identify with their own flag. In order to prevent dissension and pirud, Hashem waited until there was a unifying source in the middle - the Mishkan - before assigning the flags to the tribes. Since the Mishkan which united all the Jews was in the middle, they were protected from pirud.
Rabbi Frand then answered his earlier question (in the name of the Shemen Hatov). The reason that a little bit about the Levi'im and their role in carrying the Mishkan was mentioned early, was as a sign that the Mishkan was now assembled and was going to be at the center and a source of protection against dissension when the tribes subsequently got their flags.
Rabbi Frand closed by quoting a Medrash which states that the Jews saw that each angel in Heaven had its own flag and that the Jews strongly desired flags. Rabbi Frand explained that the reason that the angel had its own flag was that the flag identified the angel's role and it is well known that each angel had exactly one task to perform. The Jews yearned for their flag because they wanted to know their job, since every person wants to know their role in life.
If you have seen this post being carried on another site such as JBlog, please feel free to click here to find other articles on the kosherbeers blogsite. Hey its free and you can push my counter numbers up!
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