Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 4

1God spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying:   אוַיְדַבֵּ֣ר יְהוָֹ֔ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה וְאֶל־אַֽהֲרֹ֖ן לֵאמֹֽר:
2“Take a census of the clan of Kehat from among the Levites by their families, according to their fathers’ houses,   בנָשׂ֗א אֶת־רֹאשׁ֙ בְּנֵ֣י קְהָ֔ת מִתּ֖וֹךְ בְּנֵ֣י לֵוִ֑י לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לְבֵ֥ית אֲבֹתָֽם:
נָשׂא אֶת־רֹאשׁ וגו' - Take a census…. i.e., count those of them who are fit for the service of carrying, which are those between 30 and 50 years old. One who is under 30 has not reached his full strength, and based on this our sages said: “At 30 one reaches full strength.” 1 And one who is over 50, his strength has begun to wane.   נָשׂא אֶת־רֹאשׁ וגו'.  מְנֵה מֵהֶם אֶת הָרְאוּיִין לַעֲבוֹדַת מַשָּׂא, וְהֵם מִבֶּן שְׁלֹשִׁים וְעַד בֶּן חֲמִשִּׁים שָׁנָה, וְהַפָּחוּת מִשְּׁלֹשִׁים לֹא נִתְמַלֵּא כֹחוֹ, מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ (אבות פ"ה) "בֶּן שְׁלֹשִׁים לַכֹּחַ", וְהַיּוֹתֵר עַל בֶּן חֲמִשִּׁים כֹּחוֹ מַכְחִישׁ מֵעַתָּה:
3from the age of 30 until the age of 50, all who are eligible for the troop, to do work in the Tent of Meeting.   גמִבֶּ֨ן שְׁלשִׁ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה וְעַ֖ד בֶּן־חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים שָׁנָ֑ה כָּל־בָּא֙ לַצָּבָ֔א לַֽעֲשׂ֥וֹת מְלָאכָ֖ה בְּאֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד:
4The following is the service of the clan of Kehat in transporting the Tent of Meeting: they will carry the holiest of the holy furnishings.   דזֹ֛את עֲבֹדַ֥ת בְּנֵֽי־קְהָ֖ת בְּאֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד קֹ֖דֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִֽׁים:
קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִֽׁים - (lit.) Holy of Holies - means here the holiest of all the articles: the Holy Ark, the Table, the Candelabrum, the Altars, the Curtain, and the service utensils associated with them.   קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִֽׁים.  הַמְקֻדָּשׁ שֶׁבְּכֻלָּן – הָאָרוֹן וְהַשֻּׁלְחָן וְהַמְּנוֹרָה וְהַמִּזְבְּחוֹת וְהַפָּרֹכֶת וּכְלֵי שָׁרֵת:
5When the camp is about to travel, Aaron and his sons must come and take down the partition Curtain and cover the Ark of the Testimony with it.   הוּבָ֨א אַֽהֲרֹ֤ן וּבָנָיו֙ בִּנְסֹ֣עַ הַמַּֽחֲנֶ֔ה וְהוֹרִ֕דוּ אֵ֖ת פָּרֹ֣כֶת הַמָּסָ֑ךְ וְכִ֨סּוּ־בָ֔הּ אֵ֖ת אֲרֹ֥ן הָֽעֵדֻֽת:
וּבָא אַֽהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו וגו' - Aaron and his sons must come…. i.e., they must put each of the furnishings into the covering prescribed for it in this passage, so that the Levite clan of Kehat will only need to carry them.   וּבָא אַֽהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו וגו'.  יַכְנִיסוּ כָל כְּלִי וּכְלִי לְנַרְתֵּקוֹ הַמְפֹרָשׁ לוֹ בְּפָרָשָׁה זוֹ, וְלֹא יִצְטָרְכוּ הַלְוִיִּם בְּנֵי קְהָת אֶלָּא לָשֵׂאת:
בִּנְסֹעַ הַמַּֽחֲנֶה - (lit.) When the camp travels - i.e., when the cloud ascends, they know that they are to travel.   בִּנְסֹעַ הַמַּֽחֲנֶה.  כְּשֶׁהֶעָנָן מִסְתַּלֵּק, הֵן יוֹדְעִין שֶׁיִּסְּעוּ:
6They must put a covering of tachash-skin on it, and on top of that they must spread a cloth bag made of wool completely dyed turquoise. Then they must put its poles in place.   ווְנָֽתְנ֣וּ עָלָ֗יו כְּסוּי֙ ע֣וֹר תַּ֔חַשׁ וּפָֽרְשׂ֧וּ בֶֽגֶד־כְּלִ֛יל תְּכֵ֖לֶת מִלְמָ֑עְלָה וְשָׂמ֖וּ בַּדָּֽיו:
7They must spread a turquoise-wool cloth bag on the showbread Table, and they must place on it the bread-forms, spoons, supporting frames, and covering shelving tubes, the continual showbread remaining upon it.   זוְעַ֣ל | שֻׁלְחַ֣ן הַפָּנִ֗ים יִפְרְשׂוּ֘ בֶּ֣גֶד תְּכֵ֒לֶת֒ וְנָֽתְנ֣וּ עָ֠לָ֠יו אֶת־הַקְּעָרֹ֤ת וְאֶת־הַכַּפֹּת֙ וְאֶת־הַמְּנַקִּיֹּ֔ת וְאֵ֖ת קְשׂ֣וֹת הַנָּ֑סֶךְ וְלֶ֥חֶם הַתָּמִ֖יד עָלָ֥יו יִֽהְיֶֽה:
קערת וכפת וקשות ומנקית - Bread-forms, spoons, shelving tubes, and supporting frames. I have already explained what these objects are in the account of the construction of the Tabernacle. 2   קערת וכפת וקשות ומנקית.  כְּבָר פֵּרַשְׁתִּי בִּמְלֶאכֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן:
הַנָּסֶךְ - this denotes a covering, related to מָסָךְ “screen,” as it is written: אֲשֶׁר יֻסַּךְ בָּהֶן “with which the bread will be covered.” 3   הַנָּסֶךְ.  הַכִּסּוּי, לְשׁוֹן מָסָךְ, כְּדִכְתִיב "אֲשֶׁר יֻסַּךְ בָּהֵן" (שמות כ"ה):
8They must spread a scarlet-wool cloth bag on them and cover that with a covering of tachash-skin. Then they must put its poles into place.   חוּפָֽרְשׂ֣וּ עֲלֵיהֶ֗ם בֶּ֚גֶד תּוֹלַ֣עַת שָׁנִ֔י וְכִסּ֣וּ אֹת֔וֹ בְּמִכְסֵ֖ה ע֣וֹר תָּ֑חַשׁ וְשָׂמ֖וּ אֶת־בַּדָּֽיו:
9They must take a turquoise-wool cloth bag and cover the Candelabrum of illumination, its lamps, its tongs, its ash pans, and all its oil vessels they use in performing its service.   טוְלָֽקְח֣וּ | בֶּ֣גֶד תְּכֵ֗לֶת וְכִסּ֞וּ אֶת־מְנֹרַ֤ת הַמָּאוֹר֙ וְאֶת־נֵ֣רֹתֶ֔יהָ וְאֶת־מַלְקָחֶ֖יהָ וְאֶת־מַחְתֹּתֶ֑יהָ וְאֵת֙ כָּל־כְּלֵ֣י שַׁמְנָ֔הּ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְשָֽׁרְתוּ־לָ֖הּ בָּהֶֽם:
מַלְקָחֶיהָ - are a type of tongs with which he draws the wick to any direction he wishes.   מַלְקָחֶיהָ.  כְּמִין צְבַת שֶׁמּוֹשֵׁךְ בָּהּ אֶת הַפְּתִילָה לְכָל צַד שֶׁיִּרְצֶה:
מַחְתֹּתֶיהָ - are a type of small bowl, the bottom of which is flat, not rounded, and which has no wall at its front but only at its sides. The priest would scoop the ashes in the lamps with it when cleaning them out.   מַחְתֹּתֶיהָ.  כְּמִין כַּף קְטַנָּה, וְשׁוּלֶיהָ פְשׁוּטִין וְלֹא סְגַלְגַּלִּים, וְאֵין לָהּ מְחִצָּה לְפָנֶיהָ אֶלָּא מִצִּדֶּיהָ, וְחוֹתֶה בָהּ אֶת דֶּשֶׁן הַנֵּרוֹת כְּשֶׁמְּטִיבָן:
נֵרֹתֶיהָ - Its lamps. “Luces” in Old French; i.e., the receptacles into which the oil and the wicks are placed.   נֵרֹתֶיהָ.  לוצי"ש בְּלַעַז, שֶׁנּוֹתְנִים בָּהֶן הַשֶּׁמֶן וְהַפְּתִילוֹת:
10They must put it and all its utensils into a covering of tachash-skin and place them on a pole.   יוְנָֽתְנ֤וּ אֹתָהּ֙ וְאֶת־כָּל־כֵּלֶ֔יהָ אֶל־מִכְסֵ֖ה ע֣וֹר תָּ֑חַשׁ וְנָֽתְנ֖וּ עַל־הַמּֽוֹט:
אֶל־מִכְסֵה עוֹר תָּחַשׁ - Into a covering of tachash-skin. The term “into” indicates that it was a kind of bag.   אֶל־מִכְסֵה עוֹר תָּחַשׁ.  כְּמִין מַרְצוּף:
11They must spread a turquoise-wool cloth bag over the golden Altar and cover it with a covering of tachash-skin, and then set its poles in place.   יאוְעַ֣ל | מִזְבַּ֣ח הַזָּהָ֗ב יִפְרְשׂוּ֙ בֶּ֣גֶד תְּכֵ֔לֶת וְכִסּ֣וּ אֹת֔וֹ בְּמִכְסֵ֖ה ע֣וֹר תָּ֑חַשׁ וְשָׂמ֖וּ אֶת־בַּדָּֽיו:
12They must then take all the utensils they use in the Sanctuary, put them into a turquoise-wool cloth bag, cover them with a covering of tachash-skin, and put them onto a pole.   יבוְלָֽקְחוּ֩ אֶת־כָּל־כְּלֵ֨י הַשָּׁרֵ֜ת אֲשֶׁ֧ר יְשָֽׁרְתוּ־בָ֣ם בַּקֹּ֗דֶשׁ וְנָֽתְנוּ֙ אֶל־בֶּ֣גֶד תְּכֵ֔לֶת וְכִסּ֣וּ אוֹתָ֔ם בְּמִכְסֵ֖ה ע֣וֹר תָּ֑חַשׁ וְנָֽתְנ֖וּ עַל־הַמּֽוֹט:
אֶת־כָּל־כְּלֵי הַשָּׁרֵת אֲשֶׁר יְשָֽׁרְתוּ־בָם בַּקֹּדֶשׁ - All the utensils they use in the Sanctuary - i.e., within the Tabernacle, which is holy. These utensils are the incense vessels that are used for the service on the Inner Altar.   אֶת־כָּל־כְּלֵי הַשָּׁרֵת אֲשֶׁר יְשָֽׁרְתוּ־בָם בַּקֹּדֶשׁ.  בְּתוֹךְ הַמִּשְׁכָּן שֶׁהוּא קֹדֶשׁ, וְהֵן כְּלֵי הַקְּטֹרֶת שֶׁמְּשָׁרְתִין בָּהֶם בְּמִּזְבֵּחַ הַפְּנִימִי:
13They must remove the ashes from the Altar and spread a purple-wool cloth bag over it.   יגוְדִשְּׁנ֖וּ אֶת־הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ וּפָֽרְשׂ֣וּ עָלָ֔יו בֶּ֖גֶד אַרְגָּמָֽן:
וְדִשְּׁנוּ אֶת־הַמִּזְבֵּחַ - They must remove the ashes from the Altar - i.e., the copper Altar.   וְדִשְּׁנוּ אֶת־הַמִּזְבֵּחַ.  מִזְבַּח הַנְּחֹשֶׁת:
וְדִשְּׁנוּ - means they must remove the ashes from upon it.   וְדִשְּׁנוּ.  יִטְּלוּ אֶת הַדֶּשֶׁן מֵעָלָיו:
וּפָֽרְשׂוּ עָלָיו בֶּגֶד אַרְגָּמָֽן - And spread a purple-wool cloth over it. The fire that descended from heaven lay crouched like a lion beneath the cloth while they traveled, and it did not burn the cloth because they placed a large copper bowl over it and covered this bowl with the cloth.   וּפָֽרְשׂוּ עָלָיו בֶּגֶד אַרְגָּמָֽן.  וְאֵשׁ שֶׁיָּרְדָה מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם רְבוּצָה תַּחַת הַבֶּגֶד כַּאֲרִי בִּשְׁעַת הַמַּסָּעוֹת, וְאֵינָהּ שׂוֹרַפְתּוֹ, שֶׁהָיוּ כוֹפִין עָלֶיהָ פְּסַכְתֵּר שֶׁל נְחֹשֶׁת (יומא כ"א):
14They must place on it all the utensils with which they minister upon it: the fire pans, the flesh hooks, the scoops, and the basins—all the implements of the Altar. Then they must spread over it a covering of tachash-skin and set its poles into place.   ידוְנָֽתְנ֣וּ עָ֠לָ֠יו אֶת־כָּל־כֵּלָ֞יו אֲשֶׁ֣ר יְשָֽׁרְת֧וּ עָלָ֣יו בָּהֶ֗ם אֶת־הַמַּחְתֹּ֤ת אֶת־הַמִּזְלָגֹת֙ וְאֶת־הַיָּעִ֣ים וְאֶת־הַמִּזְרָקֹ֔ת כֹּ֖ל כְּלֵ֣י הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ וּפָֽרְשׂ֣וּ עָלָ֗יו כְּס֛וּי ע֥וֹר תַּ֖חַשׁ וְשָׂמ֥וּ בַדָּֽיו:
מחתת - Fire pans - with which coals were scooped for “the lifting of the ashes.” It was shaped like a pan that has only three sides, and scoops the coals on its front side.   מחתת.  שֶׁבָּהֶם חוֹתִין גֶּחָלִים לִתְרוּמַת הַדֶּשֶׁן, הָעֲשׂוּיָה כְּמִין מַחֲבַת שֶׁאֵין לָהּ אֶלָּא שָׁלֹשׁ מְחִצּוֹת, וּמִלְּפָנֶיהָ שׁוֹאֶבֶת אֶת הַגְּחָלִים:
מזלגת - are copper prongs, used to strike the limbs that are on the Altar and turn them over, so that they would be consumed thoroughly and quickly.   מזלגת.  צִנּוֹרִיּוֹת שֶׁל נְחֹשֶׁת שֶׁבָּהֶן מַכִּין בָּאֵבָרִים שֶׁעַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ לְהָפְכָן, כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּתְעַכְּלוּ יָפֶה וּמַהֵר:
יעים - are shovels, called “vadil” in Old French. They are made of copper, and were used to sweep off the ashes from the Altar.   יעים.  הֵם מַגְרֵפוֹת, וּבְלַעַז וודי"ל, וְהֵן שֶׁל נְחֹשֶׁת, וּבָהֶן מְכַבְּדִין אֶת הַדֶּשֶׁן מֵעַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ:
15Aaron and his sons must finish covering the holy furnishings and all the utensils of the Sanctuary when the camp is set to travel, and only afterwards must the clan of Kehat come to carry them. But the clan of Kehat must not touch the sacred objects, for then they will die. These furnishings are the burden of the clan of Kehat in transporting the Tent of Meeting.   טווְכִלָּ֣ה אַֽהֲרֹן־וּ֠בָנָ֠יו לְכַסֹּ֨ת אֶת־הַקֹּ֜דֶשׁ וְאֶת־כָּל־כְּלֵ֣י הַקֹּ֘דֶשׁ֘ בִּנְסֹ֣עַ הַמַּֽחֲנֶה֒ וְאַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֗ן יָבֹ֤אוּ בְנֵֽי־קְהָת֙ לָשֵׂ֔את וְלֹֽא־יִגְּע֥וּ אֶל־הַקֹּ֖דֶשׁ וָמֵ֑תוּ אֵ֛לֶּה מַשָּׂ֥א בְנֵֽי־קְהָ֖ת בְּאֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד:
לְכַסֹּת אֶת־הַקֹּדֶשׁ - (lit.) Covering the Sanctuary - i.e., the Ark and the Altar.   לְכַסֹּת אֶת־הַקֹּדֶשׁ.  הָאָרוֹן וְהַמִּזְבֵּחַ:
וְאֶת־כָּל־כְּלֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ - And all the utensils of the Sanctuary - i.e., the Candelabrum and the service utensils.   וְאֶת־כָּל־כְּלֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ.  הַמְּנוֹרָה וּכְלֵי שָׁרֵת:
וָמֵתוּ - They will die - i.e., if they touch them, they are liable for death by a heavenly act.   וָמֵתוּ.  שֶׁאִם יִגְּעוּ — חַיָּבִין מִיתָה בִידֵי שָׁמַיִם:
16The charge of Eleazar son of Aaron the priest is the oil for lighting, the spice incense, the daily grain-offering, and the anointing oil. His is the charge of the entire Tabernacle and all that is in it, among the holy things and among its furnishings.”   טזוּפְקֻדַּ֞ת אֶלְעָזָ֣ר | בֶּן־אַֽהֲרֹ֣ן הַכֹּהֵ֗ן שֶׁ֤מֶן הַמָּאוֹר֙ וּקְטֹ֣רֶת הַסַּמִּ֔ים וּמִנְחַ֥ת הַתָּמִ֖יד וְשֶׁ֣מֶן הַמִּשְׁחָ֑ה פְּקֻדַּ֗ת כָּל־הַמִּשְׁכָּן֙ וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר־בּ֔וֹ בְּקֹ֖דֶשׁ וּבְכֵלָֽיו:
וּפְקֻדַּת אֶלְעָזָר - The charge of Eleazar - i.e., that he is appointed to carry them himself: the lighting oil, the spice incense, and the anointing oil;   וּפְקֻדַּת אֶלְעָזָר.  שֶׁהוּא מְמֻנֶּה עֲלֵיהֶם לָשֵֹאת אוֹתָם, שֶׁמֶן וּקְטֹרֶת וְשֶׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה:
ומנחת התמיד - and regarding the daily grain-offering - he was responsible to give orders and ensure that it be offered up during the time they were encamped.   ומנחת התמיד.  עָלָיו מֻטָּל לְצַוּוֹת וּלְזָרֵז וּלְהַקְרִיב בְּעֵת חֲנִיָּתָן (תלמוד ירושלמי שבת פ"י):
פְּקֻדַּת כָּל־הַמִּשְׁכָּן - The charge of the entire Tabernacle - i.e., he was also in charge of what the clan of Kehat were to carry, to command each person regarding his task and his load. all those set out above in this passage. However, the burden of the clans of Gershon and Merari, which was not of the holiest articles, was directed by Itamar, as stated in parashat Naso. 4   פְּקֻדַּת כָּל־הַמִּשְׁכָּן.  וְעוֹד הָיָה מְמֻנֶּה עַל מַשָּׂא בְנֵי קְהָת, לְצַוּוֹת אִישׁ עַל עֲבוֹדָתוֹ וְעַל מַשָּׂאוֹ, וְהוּא המשכן וכל אשר בו, כָּל הַסְּדוּרִים לְמַעְלָה בְּפָרָשָׁה זוֹ, אֲבָל מַשָּׂא בְנֵי גֵרְשׁוֹן וּמְרָרִי שֶׁאֵינָהּ מִקֹּדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים עַל פִּי אִיתָמָר הָיָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב בְּפָרָשַׁת נָשֹׂא:
17God spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying:   יזוַיְדַבֵּ֣ר יְהוָֹ֔ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה וְאֶל־אַֽהֲרֹ֖ן לֵאמֹֽר:
18“Do not let the tribe of the families of Kehat be eliminated from among the Levites.   יחאַל־תַּכְרִ֕יתוּ אֶת־שֵׁ֖בֶט מִשְׁפְּחֹ֣ת הַקְּהָתִ֑י מִתּ֖וֹךְ הַֽלְוִיִּֽם:
אַל־תַּכְרִיתוּ - (lit.) Do not cut off - means: do not cause them to die.   אַל־תַּכְרִיתוּ.  אַל תִּגְרְמוּ לָהֶם שֶׁיָּמוּתוּ:
19Do this for them, so they should live and not die when they approach the holiest of the holy things: Aaron and his sons must first come and appoint each man individually to his task and his load.   יטוְזֹ֣את | עֲשׂ֣וּ לָהֶ֗ם וְחָיוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א יָמֻ֔תוּ בְּגִשְׁתָּ֖ם אֶת־קֹ֣דֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁ֑ים אַֽהֲרֹ֤ן וּבָנָיו֙ יָבֹ֔אוּ וְשָׂמ֣וּ אוֹתָ֗ם אִ֥ישׁ אִ֛ישׁ עַל־עֲבֹֽדָת֖וֹ וְאֶל־מַשָּׂאֽוֹ:
20They must not come in to see when the holy furnishings are being wrapped up, lest they inadvertently touch them and die.”   כוְלֹֽא־יָבֹ֧אוּ לִרְא֛וֹת כְּבַלַּ֥ע אֶת־הַקֹּ֖דֶשׁ וָמֵֽתוּ:
וְלֹֽא־יָבֹאוּ לִרְאוֹת כְּבַלַּע אֶת־הַקֹּדֶשׁ - They must not come in to see when the holy [furnishings] are being wrapped up - into their covering, as explained above in this section: “they must spread such-and-such a cloth over it”; “they must cover it with such-and-such a covering.” It is considered “wrapped” only when inside this second covering, as the initial cloth is subsidiary to the particular vessel. End of parashat Bemidbar   וְלֹֽא־יָבֹאוּ לִרְאוֹת כְּבַלַּע אֶת־הַקֹּדֶשׁ.  לְתוֹךְ נַרְתֵּק שֶׁלּוֹ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִּי לְמַעְלָה בְּפָרָשָׁה זוֹ, וּפָרְשׂוּ עָלָיו בֶּגֶד פְּלוֹנִי וְכִסּוּ אוֹתוֹ בְּמִכְסֶה פְּלוֹנִי, וּבִלּוּעַ שֶׁלּוֹ הוּא כִסּוּיוֹ: