Bamidbar

By:  Rabbi Moshe Yakoby

“Hashem spoke to Moshe saying, “But you shall not count the tribe of Levi, and you shall not take a census of them among the children of Israel” (Bamidbar 1:49).
The commentaries of the Chumash try to expound on the difficulty raised by this verse as to why Hashem left out the chosen tribe from being counted among their brothers.
This difficulty is further fueled by Rashi’s explanation as to why Hashem commanded Moshe to count the nation. Rashi (Bamidbar1:1) explains “Because Hashem loves the Jewish nation, he counted them several times.”. This is analogous to one who counts and recounts his wealth out of excitement.
If so, one wonders why then not the Levi’im?  One can imagine how hurt and sad the Levi’im felt, knowing that they were left out of Hashem’s portrayal of love to the nation.
However, once again Rashi comes to our rescue. In his commentary to our verse, he explains that Hashem did not want to count the Levi’im knowing full well that everyone who was part of this counting would perish in the 40 years in the desert due to the sin of the crying when the spies spoke negatively  about entering the land of Israel. The Levi’im, however, are the chosen tribe because months before they did not join the nation when they worshiped the Golden Calf.  Therefore, Hashem chose to save them from death in the desert.
Had the Levi’im known that in just 69 days from the counting there would be a decree on whoever was included in it, they would have made a big thanksgiving ceremony to Hashem for not taking part in the census

Shabat Shalom.

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