Torah Reading for Bamidbar

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First Portion

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 1

1God spoke to Moses in the Sinai Desert, in the Tent of Meeting, on the first day of the second month of the second year after their exodus from Egypt, saying:		אוַיְדַבֵּ֨ר יְהוָֹ֧ה אֶל־משֶׁ֛ה בְּמִדְבַּ֥ר סִינַ֖י בְּאֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד בְּאֶחָד֩ לַחֹ֨דֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִ֜י בַּשָּׁנָ֣ה הַשֵּׁנִ֗ית לְצֵאתָ֛ם מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם לֵאמֹֽר:
וידבר. בְּמִדְבַּר סִינַי בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ וגו' - [God] spoke…in the Sinai Desert…on the first day of the [second] month. Because the Israelites are so dear to God, He counts them at every point: When they left Egypt, He counted them, and when some of them fell during the incident of the Golden Calf, He counted them to know how many remained, and now, once He came to rest His Presence among them, he counted them: on the first of Nisan the Tabernacle was erected, and on the first of Iyar He counted them.		וידבר. בְּמִדְבַּר סִינַי בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ וגו'. מִתּוֹךְ חִבָּתָן לְפָנָיו מוֹנֶה אוֹתָם כָּל שָׁעָה — כְּשֶׁיָּצְאוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם מְנָאָן, וּכְשֶׁנָּפְלוּ בָּעֵגֶל מְנָאָן לֵידַע מִנְיַן הַנּוֹתָרִים, כְּשֶׁבָּא לְהַשְׁרוֹת שְׁכִינָתוֹ עֲלֵיהֶם מְנָאָם, בְּאֶחָד בְּנִיסָן הוּקַם הַמִּשְׁכָּן וּבְאֶחָד בְּאִיָּר מְנָאָם:
2“Take a census of the entire community of the Israelites by families, by their paternal houses, by the number of their names, a head count of every male.		בשְׂא֗וּ אֶת־רֹאשׁ֙ כָּל־עֲדַ֣ת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם בְּמִסְפַּ֣ר שֵׁמ֔וֹת כָּל־זָכָ֖ר לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָֽם:
לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם - By families - to know the number of each tribe by adding up the family totals.		לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם. לֵידַע מִנְיַן כָּל שֵׁבֶט וָשֵׁבֶט:
לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם - By their paternal houses - i.e., one whose father is from one tribe and his mother from another belongs to the tribe of his father.		לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם. מִי שֶׁאָבִיו מִשֵּׁבֶט אֶחָד וְאִמּוֹ מִשֵּׁבֶט אַחֵר יָקוּם עַל שֵׁבֶט אָבִיו (עי' בבא בתרא ק"ט):
לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָֽם - A head count - i.e., indirectly, by taking shekels – a beka per head.		לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָֽם. עַל יְדֵי שְׁקָלִים — בֶּקַע לַגֻּלְגֹּלֶת:
3You and Aaron must count all those in Israel 20 years old and over, all those fit to serve in the army, by their tribal troops.		גמִבֶּ֨ן עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה כָּל־יֹצֵ֥א צָבָ֖א בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל תִּפְקְד֥וּ אֹתָ֛ם לְצִבְאֹתָ֖ם אַתָּ֥ה וְאַֽהֲרֹֽן:
כָּל־יֹצֵא צָבָא - All those fit to serve in the army. This tells us that one does not serve in the army if under 20 years old.		כָּל־יֹצֵא צָבָא. מַגִּיד שֶׁאֵין יוֹצֵא בַּצָּבָא פָּחוּת מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים:
4There must be one man with you from each tribe, the one who is head of his paternal house.		דוְאִתְּכֶ֣ם יִֽהְי֔וּ אִ֥ישׁ אִ֖ישׁ לַמַּטֶּ֑ה אִ֛ישׁ רֹ֥אשׁ לְבֵית־אֲבֹתָ֖יו הֽוּא:
וְאִתְּכֶם יִֽהְיוּ - (lit.) They must be…with you. This form indicates that they must all be present together: when you count them, the prince of every tribe must be with you.		וְאִתְּכֶם יִֽהְיוּ. כְּשֶׁתִּפְקְדוּ אוֹתָם יִהְיוּ עִמָּכֶם נְשִׂיא כָל שֵׁבֶט וָשֵׁבֶט:
5These are the names of the men who must stand with you: for Reuben, Elitzur son of Shedei’ur;		הוְאֵ֨לֶּה֙ שְׁמ֣וֹת הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַֽעַמְד֖וּ אִתְּכֶ֑ם לִרְאוּבֵ֕ן אֱלִיצ֖וּר בֶּן־שְׁדֵיאֽוּר:
6for Simeon, Shelumi’el son of Tzurishadai;		ולְשִׁמְע֕וֹן שְׁלֻֽמִיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־צוּרִֽישַׁדָּֽי:
7for Judah, Nachshon son of Aminadav;		זלִֽיהוּדָ֕ה נַחְשׁ֖וֹן בֶּן־עַמִּֽינָדָֽב:
8for Issachar, Netan’el son of Tzu’ar;		חלְיִ֨שָּׂשכָ֔ר נְתַנְאֵ֖ל בֶּן־צוּעָֽר:
9for Zebulun, Eli’av son of Chelon;		טלִזְבוּלֻ֕ן אֱלִיאָ֖ב בֶּן־חֵלֹֽן:
10for the descendants of Joseph: for Ephraim, Elishama son of Amihud; for Manasseh, Gamli’el son of Pedahtzur;		ילִבְנֵ֣י יוֹסֵ֔ף לְאֶפְרַ֕יִם אֱלִֽישָׁמָ֖ע בֶּן־עַמִּיה֑וּד לִמְנַשֶּׁ֕ה גַּמְלִיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־פְּדָהצֽוּר:
11for Benjamin, Avidan son of Gid’oni;		יאלְבִ֨נְיָמִ֔ן אֲבִידָ֖ן בֶּן־גִּדְעֹנִֽי:
12for Dan, Achi’ezer son of Amishadai;		יבלְדָ֕ן אֲחִיעֶ֖זֶר בֶּן־עַמִּֽישַׁדָּֽי:
13for Asher, Pag’i’el son of Ochran;		יגלְאָשֵׁ֕ר פַּגְעִיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־עָכְרָֽן:
14for Gad, Elyasaf son of De’u’el;		ידלְגָ֕ד אֶלְיָסָ֖ף בֶּן־דְּעוּאֵֽל:
15for Naphtali, Achira son of Einan.”		טולְנַ֨פְתָּלִ֔י אֲחִירַ֖ע בֶּן־עֵינָֽן:
16These men were the ones summoned from the community as the princes of the tribes of their fathers; they became the heads of the thousands of Israel.		טזאֵ֚לֶּה קְרוּאֵ֣י (כתיב קריאי) הָֽעֵדָ֔ה נְשִׂיאֵ֖י מַטּ֣וֹת אֲבוֹתָ֑ם רָאשֵׁ֛י אַלְפֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל הֵֽם:
אֵלֶּה קרואי הָֽעֵדָה - These were the ones summoned from the community - i.e., those who are summoned for every important matter in the community to represent the people collectively.		אֵלֶּה קרואי הָֽעֵדָה. הַנִּקְרָאִים לְכָל דְּבַר חֲשִׁיבוּת שֶׁבָּעֵדָה:
17Moses and Aaron took these men, who had been designated by their names.		יזוַיִּקַּ֥ח משֶׁ֖ה וְאַֽהֲרֹ֑ן אֵ֚ת הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִקְּב֖וּ בְּשֵׁמֽוֹת:
הָֽאֲנָשִׁים הָאֵלֶּה - These men - i.e., these twelve princes.		הָֽאֲנָשִׁים הָאֵלֶּה. אֶת שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר נְשִׂיאִים הַלָּלוּ:
אֲשֶׁר נִקְּבוּ - who had been designated. to Moses here by name, to install them in this new capacity and office.		אֲשֶׁר נִקְּבוּ. לוֹ כָּאן בשמות:
18They assembled the entire community on the first day of the second month, and they registered their lineage according to their families, according to their fathers’ houses, by the number of their names, a head count of every male 20 years old and over.		יחוְאֵ֨ת כָּל־הָֽעֵדָ֜ה הִקְהִ֗ילוּ בְּאֶחָד֙ לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִ֔י וַיִּתְיַֽלְד֥וּ עַל־מִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם בְּמִסְפַּ֣ר שֵׁמ֗וֹת מִבֶּ֨ן עֶשְׂרִ֥ים שָׁנָ֛ה וָמַ֖עְלָה לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָֽם:
וַיִּתְיַֽלְדוּ עַל־מִשְׁפְּחֹתָם - They registered their lineage according to their families - i.e., they brought the records of their lineage and witnesses to their accepted status of birth so that each person establish his lineage as being from the particular tribe.		וַיִּתְיַֽלְדוּ עַל־מִשְׁפְּחֹתָם. הֵבִיאוּ סִפְרֵי יִחוּסֵיהֶם וְעֵדֵי חֶזְקַת לֵדָתָם, כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד לְהִתְיַחֵס עַל הַשֵּׁבֶט (עי' ילקוט תרפ"ד):
19As God commanded Moses, so did he count them in the Sinai desert.		יטכַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָֹ֖ה אֶת־משֶׁ֑ה וַיִּפְקְדֵ֖ם בְּמִדְבַּ֥ר סִינָֽי:

Second Portion

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 1

20This was the tally of the tribe of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel—their descendants counted according to their families, according to their fathers’ houses, by the number of individual names, and according to the head count of every male 20 years old and over, all who were fit to serve in the army:		כוַיִּֽהְי֤וּ בְנֵֽי־רְאוּבֵן֙ בְּכֹ֣ר יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל תּֽוֹלְדֹתָ֥ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם בְּמִסְפַּ֤ר שֵׁמוֹת֙ לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָ֔ם כָּל־זָכָ֗ר מִבֶּ֨ן עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה כֹּ֖ל יֹצֵ֥א צָבָֽא:
21the tally of the tribe of Reuben was 46,500.		כאפְּקֻֽדֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַטֵּ֣ה רְאוּבֵ֑ן שִׁשָּׁ֧ה וְאַרְבָּעִ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וַֽחֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת:
22This was the tally of the tribe of Simeon—their descendants counted according to their families, according to their fathers’ houses, by the number of individual names, and according to the head count of every male 20 years old and over, all who were fit to serve in the army:		כבלִבְנֵ֣י שִׁמְע֔וֹן תּֽוֹלְדֹתָ֥ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם פְּקֻדָ֗יו בְּמִסְפַּ֤ר שֵׁמוֹת֙ לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָ֔ם כָּל־זָכָ֗ר מִבֶּ֨ן עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה כֹּ֖ל יֹצֵ֥א צָבָֽא:
23the tally of the tribe of Simeon was 59,300.		כגפְּקֻֽדֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַטֵּ֣ה שִׁמְע֑וֹן תִּשְׁעָ֧ה וַֽחֲמִשִּׁ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וּשְׁל֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת:
24This was the tally of the tribe of Gad—their descendants counted according to their families, according to their fathers’ houses, and by the number of individual names, 20 years old and over, all who were fit to serve in the army:		כדלִבְנֵ֣י גָ֔ד תּֽוֹלְדֹתָ֥ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם בְּמִסְפַּ֣ר שֵׁמ֗וֹת מִבֶּ֨ן עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה כֹּ֖ל יֹצֵ֥א צָבָֽא:
25the tally of the tribe of Gad was 45,650.		כהפְּקֻֽדֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַטֵּ֣ה גָ֑ד חֲמִשָּׁ֤ה וְאַרְבָּעִים֙ אֶ֔לֶף וְשֵׁ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת וַֽחֲמִשִּֽׁים:
26This was the tally of the tribe of Judah—their descendants counted according to their families, according to their fathers’ houses, and by the number of individual names, 20 years old and over, all who were fit to serve in the army:		כולִבְנֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה תּֽוֹלְדֹתָ֥ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם בְּמִסְפַּ֣ר שֵׁמֹ֗ת מִבֶּ֨ן עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה כֹּ֖ל יֹצֵ֥א צָבָֽא:
27the tally of the tribe of Judah was 74,600.		כזפְּקֻֽדֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַטֵּ֣ה יְהוּדָ֑ה אַרְבָּעָ֧ה וְשִׁבְעִ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וְשֵׁ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת:
28This was the tally of the tribe of Issachar—their descendants counted according to their families, according to their fathers’ houses, and by the number of individual names, 20 years old and over, all who were fit to serve in the army:		כחלִבְנֵ֣י יִשָּׂשכָ֔ר תּֽוֹלְדֹתָ֥ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם בְּמִסְפַּ֣ר שֵׁמֹ֗ת מִבֶּ֨ן עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה כֹּ֖ל יֹצֵ֥א צָבָֽא:
29the tally of the tribe of Issachar was 54,400.		כטפְּקֻֽדֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַטֵּ֣ה יִשָּׂשכָ֑ר אַרְבָּעָ֧ה וַֽחֲמִשִּׁ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וְאַרְבַּ֥ע מֵאֽוֹת:
30This was the tally of the tribe of Zebulun—their descendants counted according to their families, according to their fathers’ houses, and by the number of individual names, 20 years old and over, all who were fit to serve in the army:		ללִבְנֵ֣י זְבוּלֻ֔ן תּֽוֹלְדֹתָ֥ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם בְּמִסְפַּ֣ר שֵׁמֹ֗ת מִבֶּ֨ן עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה כֹּ֖ל יֹצֵ֥א צָבָֽא:
31the tally of the tribe of Zebulun was 57,400.		לאפְּקֻֽדֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַטֵּ֣ה זְבוּלֻ֑ן שִׁבְעָ֧ה וַֽחֲמִשִּׁ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וְאַרְבַּ֥ע מֵאֽוֹת:
32For the tribe of Joseph: this was the tally of the tribe of Ephraim—their descendants counted according to their families, according to their fathers’ houses, and by the number of individual names, 20 years old and over, all who were fit to serve in the army:		לבלִבְנֵ֤י יוֹסֵף֙ לִבְנֵ֣י אֶפְרַ֔יִם תּֽוֹלְדֹתָ֥ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם בְּמִסְפַּ֣ר שֵׁמֹ֗ת מִבֶּ֨ן עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה כֹּ֖ל יֹצֵ֥א צָבָֽא:
33the tally of the tribe of Ephraim was 40,500.		לגפְּקֻֽדֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַטֵּ֣ה אֶפְרָ֑יִם אַרְבָּעִ֥ים אֶ֖לֶף וַֽחֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת:
34This was the tally of the tribe of Manasseh—their descendants counted according to their families, according to their fathers’ houses, and by the number of individual names, 20 years old and over, all who were fit to serve in the army:		לדלִבְנֵ֣י מְנַשֶּׁ֔ה תּֽוֹלְדֹתָ֥ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם בְּמִסְפַּ֣ר שֵׁמ֗וֹת מִבֶּ֨ן עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה כֹּ֖ל יֹצֵ֥א צָבָֽא:
35the tally of the tribe of Manasseh was 32,200.		להפְּקֻֽדֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַטֵּ֣ה מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה שְׁנַ֧יִם וּשְׁלשִׁ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וּמָאתָֽיִם:
36This was the tally of the tribe of Benjamin—their descendants counted according to their families, according to their fathers’ houses, and by the number of individual names, 20 years old and over, all who were fit to serve in the army:		לולִבְנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֔ן תּֽוֹלְדֹתָ֥ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם בְּמִסְפַּ֣ר שֵׁמֹ֗ת מִבֶּ֨ן עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה כֹּ֖ל יֹצֵ֥א צָבָֽא:
37the tally of the tribe of Benjamin was 35,400.		לזפְּקֻֽדֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַטֵּ֣ה בִנְיָמִ֑ן חֲמִשָּׁ֧ה וּשְׁלשִׁ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וְאַרְבַּ֥ע מֵאֽוֹת:
38This was the tally of the tribe of Dan—their descendants counted according to their families, according to their fathers’ houses, and by the number of individual names, 20 years old and over, all who were fit to serve in the army:		לחלִבְנֵ֣י דָ֔ן תּֽוֹלְדֹתָ֥ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם בְּמִסְפַּ֣ר שֵׁמֹ֗ת מִבֶּ֨ן עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה כֹּ֖ל יֹצֵ֥א צָבָֽא:
39the tally of the tribe of Dan was 62,700.		לטפְּקֻֽדֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַטֵּ֣ה דָ֑ן שְׁנַ֧יִם וְשִׁשִּׁ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וּשְׁבַ֥ע מֵאֽוֹת:
40This was the tally of the tribe of Asher—their descendants counted according to their families, according to their fathers’ houses, and by the number of individual names, 20 years old and over, all who were fit to serve in the army:		מלִבְנֵ֣י אָשֵׁ֔ר תּֽוֹלְדֹתָ֥ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם בְּמִסְפַּ֣ר שֵׁמֹ֗ת מִבֶּ֨ן עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה כֹּ֖ל יֹצֵ֥א צָבָֽא:
41the tally of the tribe of Asher was 41,500.		מאפְּקֻֽדֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַטֵּ֣ה אָשֵׁ֑ר אֶחָ֧ד וְאַרְבָּעִ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וַֽחֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת:
42This was the tally of the tribe of Naphtali—their descendants counted according to their families, according to their fathers’ houses, and by the number of individual names, 20 years old and over, all who were fit to serve in the army:		מבבְּנֵ֣י נַפְתָּלִ֔י תּֽוֹלְדֹתָ֥ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם בְּמִסְפַּ֣ר שֵׁמֹ֗ת מִבֶּ֨ן עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה כֹּ֖ל יֹצֵ֥א צָבָֽא:
43the tally of the tribe of Naphtali was 53,400.		מגפְּקֻֽדֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַטֵּ֣ה נַפְתָּלִ֑י שְׁלשָׁ֧ה וַֽחֲמִשִּׁ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וְאַרְבַּ֥ע מֵאֽוֹת:
44These are the tallies counted by Moses and Aaron and the princes of Israel—12 men, each representing his fathers’ house.		מדאֵ֣לֶּה הַפְּקֻדִ֡ים אֲשֶׁר֩ פָּקַ֨ד משֶׁ֤ה וְאַֽהֲרֹן֙ וּנְשִׂיאֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל שְׁנֵ֥ים עָשָׂ֖ר אִ֑ישׁ אִֽישׁ־אֶחָ֥ד לְבֵֽית־אֲבֹתָ֖יו הָיֽוּ:
45These are the tallies of all the Israelites according to their fathers’ houses, 20 years old and over, all those in Israel who were fit to serve in the army:		מהוַיִּֽהְי֛וּ כָּל־פְּקוּדֵ֥י בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם מִבֶּ֨ן עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה כָּל־יֹצֵ֥א צָבָ֖א בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
46the sum of all the tallies was 603,550.		מווַיִּֽהְיוּ֙ כָּל־הַפְּקֻדִ֔ים שֵׁשׁ־מֵא֥וֹת אֶ֖לֶף וּשְׁל֣שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֑ים וַֽחֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת וַֽחֲמִשִּֽׁים:
47But the Levites, according to their fathers’ tribe, were not numbered among them.		מזוְהַֽלְוִיִּ֖ם לְמַטֵּ֣ה אֲבֹתָ֑ם לֹ֥א הָתְפָּֽקְד֖וּ בְּתוֹכָֽם:
48God spoke to Moses, saying:		מחוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָֹ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר:
49“However, you must neither tally the tribe of Levi nor count them among the Israelites.		מטאַ֣ךְ אֶת־מַטֵּ֤ה לֵוִי֙ לֹ֣א תִפְקֹ֔ד וְאֶת־רֹאשָׁ֖ם לֹ֣א תִשָּׂ֑א בְּת֖וֹךְ בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
אַךְ אֶת־מַטֵּה לֵוִי לֹא תִפְקֹד - However, you must neither tally the tribe of Levi - for the King’s legion is worthy to be counted separately. Another explanation: The Holy One, blessed be He, foresaw that there was to be a decree upon all those counted from 20 years old and over, namely, that they die in the desert. He therefore said: “These must not be among them, for they were loyal to Me by not erring during the incident of the Golden Calf.”		אַךְ אֶת־מַטֵּה לֵוִי לֹא תִפְקֹד. כְּדַאי הוּא לִגְיוֹן שֶׁל מֶלֶךְ לִהְיוֹת נִמְנֶה לְבַדּוֹ (תנחומא); דָּבָר אַחֵר, צָפָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁעֲתִידָה לַעֲמֹד גְּזֵרָה עַל כָּל הַנִּמְנִין מִבֶּן עֶשְֹרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה שֶׁיָּמוּתוּ בַמִּדְבָּר, אָמַר אַל יִהְיוּ אֵלּוּ בִכְלָל, לְפִי שֶׁהֵם שֶׁלִּי, שֶׁלֹּא טָעוּ בָעֵגֶל (שם; בבא בתרא קכ"א):
50You must put the Levites in charge of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, over all its furnishings and over all that pertains to it. They must carry the Tabernacle and all its furnishings; they must serve in it, and they must encamp around the Tabernacle.		נוְאַתָּ֡ה הַפְקֵ֣ד אֶת־הַֽלְוִיִּם֩ עַל־מִשְׁכַּ֨ן הָֽעֵדֻ֜ת וְעַ֣ל כָּל־כֵּלָיו֘ וְעַ֣ל כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ֒ הֵ֜מָּה יִשְׂא֤וּ אֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּן֙ וְאֶת־כָּל־כֵּלָ֔יו וְהֵ֖ם יְשָֽׁרְתֻ֑הוּ וְסָבִ֥יב לַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן יַֽחֲנֽוּ:
וְאַתָּה הַפְקֵד אֶת־הַֽלְוִיִּם - You must put the Levites in charge. הַפְקֵד here means as Onkelos translates it: מַנִּי, a term denoting appointment to a position of authority over the thing of which he is in charge, as in: וְיַפְקֵד הַמֶּלֶךְ פְּקִידִים “Let the king appoint officials.” 1		וְאַתָּה הַפְקֵד אֶת־הַֽלְוִיִּם. כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ "מַנִּי", לְשׁוֹן מִנּוּי שְׂרָרָה עַל דָּבָר שֶׁהוּא מְמֻנֶּה עָלָיו, כְּמוֹ "וְיַפְקֵד הַמֶּלֶךְ פְּקִידִים" (אסתר ב'):
51Whenever the Tabernacle is set to travel, the Levites must dismantle it, and whenever the Tabernacle camps, the Levites must erect it; any lay-person who approaches and tries to do this will be put to death.		נאוּבִנְסֹ֣עַ הַמִּשְׁכָּ֗ן יוֹרִ֤ידוּ אֹתוֹ֙ הַֽלְוִיִּ֔ם וּבַֽחֲנֹת֙ הַמִּשְׁכָּ֔ן יָקִ֥ימוּ אֹת֖וֹ הַֽלְוִיִּ֑ם וְהַזָּ֥ר הַקָּרֵ֖ב יוּמָֽת:
יוֹרִידוּ אֹתוֹ - Must dismantle it. Its meaning is as Onkelos translates it: יְפָרְקוּן “they must dismantle.” When they were about to travel in the desert from one station to another, they would dismantle its construction and carry it wherever the cloud would rest, and camp there, whereupon they would erect it.		יוֹרִידוּ אֹתוֹ. כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ "יְפָרְקוּן", כְּשֶׁבָּאִין לִסַּע בַּמִּדְבָּר מִמַּסָּע לְמַסָּע הָיוּ מְפָרְקִין אוֹתוֹ מֵהֲקָמָתוֹ, וְנוֹשְׂאִין אוֹתוֹ עַד מָקוֹם אֲשֶׁר יִשְׁכֹּן שָׁם הֶעָנָן, וְיַחֲנוּ שָׁם וּמְקִימִין אוֹתוֹ:
וְהַזָּר הַקָּרֵב - Any lay-person who approaches - to perform this service of theirs.		וְהַזָּר הַקָּרֵב. לַעֲבוֹדָתָם זוֹ:
יוּמָֽת - Will be put to death - by a heavenly act.		יוּמָֽת. בִּידֵי שָׁמַיִם:
52The Israelites must camp according to their tribal troops, each man by his tribe’s division, and each man by his division’s banner,		נבוְחָנ֖וּ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אִ֧ישׁ עַל־מַֽחֲנֵ֛הוּ וְאִ֥ישׁ עַל־דִּגְל֖וֹ לְצִבְאֹתָֽם:
ואישׁ עַל־דִּגְלוֹ - And each man by his banner - in the way the banners are arranged in this book – three tribes to each banner.		ואישׁ עַל־דִּגְלוֹ. כְּמוֹ שֶׁהַדְּגָלִים סְדוּרִים בְּסֵפֶר זֶה – שְׁלֹשָׁה שְׁבָטִים לְכָל דֶּגֶל:
53but the Levites must encamp around the Tabernacle of the Testimony, so that no Divine wrath be directed against the community of the Israelites. The Levites must guard the Tabernacle of the Testimony.”		נגוְהַֽלְוִיִּ֗ם יַֽחֲנ֤וּ סָבִיב֙ לְמִשְׁכַּ֣ן הָֽעֵדֻ֔ת וְלֹא־יִֽהְיֶ֣ה קֶ֔צֶף עַל־עֲדַ֖ת בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְשָֽׁמְרוּ֙ הַֽלְוִיִּ֔ם אֶת־מִשְׁמֶ֖רֶת מִשְׁכַּ֥ן הָֽעֵדֽוּת:
וְלֹא־יִֽהְיֶה קֶצֶף - So that no [Divine] wrath will be - i.e., if you do as I have commanded, ensuring that the Tabernacle be separated from the other tribes, there will be no Divine wrath; but if not – to the extent that laypersons break this boundary and venture into this service of theirs – there will be Divine wrath, which will result in punishment, as we find in the incident of Korach: כִּי יָצָא הַקֶּצֶף וגו׳ “for Divine wrath has gone forth….” 2		וְלֹא־יִֽהְיֶה קֶצֶף. אִם תַּעֲשׂוּ כְּמִצְוֹתַי לֹא יִהְיֶה קֶצֶף, וְאִם לָאו, שֶׁיִּכָּנְסוּ זָרִים בַּעֲבוֹדָתָם זוֹ, יִהְיֶה קֶצֶף, כְּמוֹ שֶׁמָּצִינוּ בְמַעֲשֵׂה קֹרַח (במדבר י"ז), כִּי יָצָא הַקֶּצֶף וְגוֹ':
54The Israelites did this; they did according to all that God had commanded Moses.		נדוַיַּֽעֲשׂ֖וּ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כְּ֠כֹ֠ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֧ה יְהוָֹ֛ה אֶת־משֶׁ֖ה כֵּ֥ן עָשֽׂוּ:

Footnotes

Esther 2:3.

Numbers 17:11.

Third Portion

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 2

1God spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying:		אוַיְדַבֵּ֣ר יְהוָֹ֔ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה וְאֶל־אַֽהֲרֹ֖ן לֵאמֹֽר:
2“The Israelites must camp each man by his division’s banner, by the insignias on the banners of their fathers’ houses. They must encamp around the Tent of Meeting at a distance.		באִ֣ישׁ עַל־דִּגְל֤וֹ בְאֹתֹת֙ לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֔ם יַֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מִנֶּ֕גֶד סָבִ֥יב לְאֹֽהֶל־מוֹעֵ֖ד יַֽחֲנֽוּ:
בְאֹתֹת - By the insignias. Each banner must have an insignia, i.e., a colored cloth hanging from it, the color of one not being like the color of the other – the color of each being the color of the corresponding tribe’s stone fixed in the Breastplate, by which each person would recognize his banner. Another explanation: בְּאֹתֹת לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם means: according to the sign (אוֹת) that their father Jacob gave them when he instructed them regarding how they were to carry his coffin from Egypt, as it says: “Jacob’s sons did for him just as he had instructed them,” 1 i.e., Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun were to carry him on the east, Reuben, Simeon, and Gad on the south, etc., as stated in Midrash Tanchuma 2 on this parashah.		בְאֹתֹת. כָּל דֶּגֶל יִהְיֶה לוֹ אוֹת מַפָּה צְבוּעָה תְלוּיָה בוֹ, צִבְעוֹ שֶׁל זֶה לֹא כְצִבְעוֹ שֶׁל זֶה, צֶבַע כָּל אֶחָד כִּגְוַן אַבְנוֹ הַקְּבוּעָה בַחֹשֶׁן, וּמִתּוֹךְ כָּךְ יַכִּיר כָּל אֶחָד אֶת דִּגְלוֹ; דָּבָר אַחֵר: בְּאוֹתוֹת לְבֵית אֲבוֹתָם, בְּאוֹת שֶׁמָּסַר לָהֶם יַעֲקֹב אֲבִיהֶם כְּשֶׁנְּשָׂאוּהוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית נ') "וַיַּעֲשׂוּ בָנָיו לוֹ כֵּן כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּם", יְהוּדָה וְיִשָּׂשכָר וּזְבוּלוּן יִשָּׂאוּהוּ מִן הַמִּזְרָח, וּרְאוּבֵן וְשִׁמְעוֹן וְגָד מִן הַדָּרוֹם וְכוּ', כִּדְאִיתָא בְתַנְחוּמָא בְּפַרָשָׁה זוֹ:
מִנֶּגֶד - At a distance - This word implies they camped at the maximum practical distance, i.e., a mil (2,000 cubits) – as it says in the Book of Joshua: 3 “However, there must be a distance of 2,000 cubits between you and the Holy Ark” – in order that they be able to come to the Tent of Meeting on the Sabbath. Moses, Aaron and his sons, and the Levites camped close to the Tabernacle.		מִנֶּגֶד. מֵרָחוֹק מִיל, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בִּיהוֹשֻׁעַ "אַךְ רָחוֹק יִהְיֶה בֵּינֵיכֶם וּבֵנָיו כְּאַלְפַּיִם אַמָּה" (יהושע ג'), שֶׁיּוּכְלוּ לָבֹא בְּשַׁבָּת; מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו וְהַלְוִיִּם חוֹנִים בְּסָמוּךְ לוֹ:
3Those camping in front, to the east, will be under the banner of the division of Judah, organized according to their troops. The prince of the tribe of Judah is Nachshon son of Aminadav;		גוְהַֽחֹנִים֙ קֵ֣דְמָה מִזְרָ֔חָה דֶּ֛גֶל מַֽחֲנֵ֥ה יְהוּדָ֖ה לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וְנָשִׂיא֙ לִבְנֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה נַחְשׁ֖וֹן בֶּן־עַמִּֽינָדָֽב:
קֵדְמָה - i.e., to the front, which is called קֶדֶם. Which side is that? It is the east side, and the west is called “the back.”		קֵדְמָה. לְפָנִים הַקְּרוּיָה קֶדֶם: וְאֵיזוֹ זוֹ רוּחַ מִזְרָחִית, וְהַמַּעֲרָב קָרוּי אָחוֹר:
4the tally for his troop is 74,600.		דוּצְבָא֖וֹ וּפְקֻֽדֵיהֶ֑ם אַרְבָּעָ֧ה וְשִׁבְעִ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וְשֵׁ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת:
5Camping next to the tribe of Judah will be the tribe of Issachar. The prince of the tribe of Issachar is Netan’el son of Tzu’ar;		הוְהַֽחֹנִ֥ים עָלָ֖יו מַטֵּ֣ה יִשָּׂשכָ֑ר וְנָשִׂיא֙ לִבְנֵ֣י יִשָּׂשכָ֔ר נְתַנְאֵ֖ל בֶּן־צוּעָֽר:
6the tally for his troop is 54,400.		ווּצְבָא֖וֹ וּפְקֻדָ֑יו אַרְבָּעָ֧ה וַֽחֲמִשִּׁ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וְאַרְבַּ֥ע מֵאֽוֹת:
7Next to the tribe of Issachar will be the tribe of Zebulun. The prince of the tribe of Zebulun is Eli’av son of Chelon;		זמַטֵּ֖ה זְבוּלֻ֑ן וְנָשִׂיא֙ לִבְנֵ֣י זְבוּלֻ֔ן אֱלִיאָ֖ב בֶּן־חֵלֹֽן:
8the tally for his troop is 57,400.		חוּצְבָא֖וֹ וּפְקֻדָ֑יו שִׁבְעָ֧ה וַֽחֲמִשִּׁ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וְאַרְבַּ֥ע מֵאֽוֹת:
9The total sum for the division of Judah according to their troops is 186,400; these must set out first.		טכָּל־הַפְּקֻדִ֞ים לְמַֽחֲנֵ֣ה יְהוּדָ֗ה מְאַ֨ת אֶ֜לֶף וּשְׁמֹנִ֥ים אֶ֛לֶף וְשֵֽׁשֶׁת־אֲלָפִ֥ים וְאַרְבַּע־מֵא֖וֹת לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם רִֽאשֹׁנָ֖ה יִסָּֽעוּ:
רִֽאשֹׁנָה יִסָּֽעוּ - These must set out first - i.e., when they would see the cloud ascending, the priests would blow the trumpets and the camp of Judah would travel first. And when they would move, they would move in the same formation that they camped: the Levites with the wagons transporting the Tabernacle in the middle, the division of Judah to the east, that of Reuben to the south, that of Ephraim to the west, and that of Dan to the north.		רִֽאשֹׁנָה יִסָּֽעוּ. כְּשֶׁרוֹאִין הֶעָנָן מִסְתַּלֵּק, תּוֹקְעִין הַכֹּהֲנִים בַּחֲצוֹצְרוֹת, וְנוֹסֵעַ מַחֲנֵה יְהוּדָה תְחִלָּה, וּכְשֶׁהוֹלְכִין הוֹלְכִין כְּדֶרֶךְ חֲנִיָּתָן — הַלְוִיִּם וְהָעֲגָלוֹת בָּאֶמְצָע, דֶּגֶל יְהוּדָה בַּמִּזְרָח, וְשֶׁל רְאוּבֵן בַּדָּרוֹם, וְשֶׁל אֶפְרַיִם בַּמַּעֲרָב, וְשֶׁל דָּן בַּצָּפוֹן:
10Those camping under the banner of the division of Reuben will be to the south, organized according to their troops. The prince of the tribe of Reuben is Elitzur son of Shedei’ur;		ידֶּ֣גֶל מַֽחֲנֵ֧ה רְאוּבֵ֛ן תֵּימָ֖נָה לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וְנָשִׂיא֙ לִבְנֵ֣י רְאוּבֵ֔ן אֱלִיצ֖וּר בֶּן־שְׁדֵיאֽוּר:
11the tally for his troop is 46,500.		יאוּצְבָא֖וֹ וּפְקֻדָ֑יו שִׁשָּׁ֧ה וְאַרְבָּעִ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וַֽחֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת:
12Camping next to the tribe of Reuben will be the tribe of Simeon. The prince of the tribe of Simeon is Shelumi’el son of Tzurishadai;		יבוְהַֽחוֹנִ֥ם עָלָ֖יו מַטֵּ֣ה שִׁמְע֑וֹן וְנָשִׂיא֙ לִבְנֵ֣י שִׁמְע֔וֹן שְׁלֻֽמִיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־צוּרִֽישַׁדָּֽי:
13the tally for his troop is 59,300.		יגוּצְבָא֖וֹ וּפְקֻֽדֵיהֶ֑ם תִּשְׁעָ֧ה וַֽחֲמִשִּׁ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וּשְׁל֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת:
14Next to the tribe of Simeon will be the tribe of Gad. The prince of the tribe of Gad is Elyasaf son of Re’u’el, who was mentioned previously as De’u’el;		ידוּמַטֵּ֖ה גָּ֑ד וְנָשִׂיא֙ לִבְנֵ֣י גָ֔ד אֶלְיָסָ֖ף בֶּן־רְעוּאֵֽל:
15the tally for his troop is 45,650.		טווּצְבָא֖וֹ וּפְקֻֽדֵיהֶ֑ם חֲמִשָּׁ֤ה וְאַרְבָּעִים֙ אֶ֔לֶף וְשֵׁ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת וַֽחֲמִשִּֽׁים:
16The total sum for the division of Reuben according to their troops is 151,450; they must set out second.		טזכָּל־הַפְּקֻדִ֞ים לְמַֽחֲנֵ֣ה רְאוּבֵ֗ן מְאַ֨ת אֶ֜לֶף וְאֶחָ֨ד וַֽחֲמִשִּׁ֥ים אֶ֛לֶף וְאַרְבַּע־מֵא֥וֹת וַֽחֲמִשִּׁ֖ים לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וּשְׁנִיִּ֖ם יִסָּֽעוּ:
17Then the Tent of Meeting must set out, together with the Levite camp, in the center of the other camps. Just as they camp, so must they travel, each man in his place, by their banners.		יזוְנָסַ֧ע אֹֽהֶל־מוֹעֵ֛ד מַֽחֲנֵ֥ה הַֽלְוִיִּ֖ם בְּת֣וֹךְ הַמַּֽחֲנֹ֑ת כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֤ר יַֽחֲנוּ֙ כֵּ֣ן יִסָּ֔עוּ אִ֥ישׁ עַל־יָד֖וֹ לְדִגְלֵיהֶֽם:
וְנָסַע אֹֽהֶל־מוֹעֵד - Then the Tent of Meeting must set out - after these two divisions.		וְנָסַע אֹֽהֶל־מוֹעֵד. לְאַחַר שְׁנֵי דְגָלִים הַלָּלוּ:
כַּֽאֲשֶׁר יַֽחֲנוּ כֵּן יִסָּעוּ - Just as they camp, so must they travel - as I explained, their traveling was in the same way as they camped, each division walking to the direction assigned for it.		כַּֽאֲשֶׁר יַֽחֲנוּ כֵּן יִסָּעוּ. כְּמוֹ שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִּי, הֲלִיכָתָן כַּחֲנִיָּתָן, כָּל דֶּגֶל מְהַלֵּךְ לָרוּחַ הַקָּבוּעַ לוֹ:
עַל־יָדוֹ - means here “at his place.” Although it is translated here as “place,” the term יָד still means “hand,” for the direction of one’s side is “at his hand,” the closest within the entire reach of his hand; “en son aise” in old French.		עַל־יָדוֹ. עַל מְקוֹמוֹ, וְאֵין לְשׁוֹן יָד זָז מִמַּשְׁמָעוֹ, רוּחַ שֶׁל צִדּוֹ קָרוּי עַל יָדוֹ – הַסְּמוּכָה לוֹ לְכָל הוֹשָׁטַת יָדוֹ, אינשו"ן איש"א בְּלַעַז:
18Those camping under the banner of the division of Ephraim will be to the west, organized according to their troops. The prince of the tribe of Ephraim is Elishama son of Amihud;		יחדֶּ֣גֶל מַֽחֲנֵ֥ה אֶפְרַ֛יִם לְצִבְאֹתָ֖ם יָ֑מָּה וְנָשִׂיא֙ לִבְנֵ֣י אֶפְרַ֔יִם אֱלִֽישָׁמָ֖ע בֶּן־עַמִּיהֽוּד:
19the tally for his troop is 40,500.		יטוּצְבָא֖וֹ וּפְקֻֽדֵיהֶ֑ם אַרְבָּעִ֥ים אֶ֖לֶף וַֽחֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת:
20Next to the tribe of Ephraim will be the tribe of Manasseh. The prince of the tribe of Manasseh is Gamli’el son of Pedahtzur;		כוְעָלָ֖יו מַטֵּ֣ה מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה וְנָשִׂיא֙ לִבְנֵ֣י מְנַשֶּׁ֔ה גַּמְלִיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־פְּדָהצֽוּר:
וְעָלָיו - means as Onkelos translates it: וְדִסְמִיכִין עֲלוֹהִי “And those next to it.”		וְעָלָיו. כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ "וְדִסְמִיכִין עֲלוֹהִי":
21the tally for his troop is 32,200.		כאוּצְבָא֖וֹ וּפְקֻֽדֵיהֶ֑ם שְׁנַ֧יִם וּשְׁלשִׁ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וּמָאתָֽיִם:
22Next to the tribe of Manasseh will be the tribe of Benjamin. The prince of the tribe of Benjamin is Avidan son of Gid’oni;		כבוּמַטֵּ֖ה בִּנְיָמִ֑ן וְנָשִׂיא֙ לִבְנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֔ן אֲבִידָ֖ן בֶּן־גִּדְעֹנִֽי:
23the tally for his troop is 35,400.		כגוּצְבָא֖וֹ וּפְקֻֽדֵיהֶ֑ם חֲמִשָּׁ֧ה וּשְׁלשִׁ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וְאַרְבַּ֥ע מֵאֽוֹת:
24The total sum for the division of Ephraim according to their troops is 108,100; they must set out third.		כדכָּל־הַפְּקֻדִ֞ים לְמַֽחֲנֵ֣ה אֶפְרַ֗יִם מְאַ֥ת אֶ֛לֶף וּשְׁמֹֽנַת־אֲלָפִ֥ים וּמֵאָ֖ה לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וּשְׁלִשִׁ֖ים יִסָּֽעוּ:
25Those camping under the banner of the division of Dan will be to the north, organized according to their troops. The prince of the tribe of Dan is Achi’ezer son of Amishadai;		כהדֶּ֣גֶל מַֽחֲנֵ֥ה דָ֛ן צָפֹ֖נָה לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וְנָשִׂיא֙ לִבְנֵ֣י דָ֔ן אֲחִיעֶ֖זֶר בֶּן־עַמִּֽישַׁדָּֽי:
26the tally for his troop is 62,700.		כווּצְבָא֖וֹ וּפְקֻֽדֵיהֶ֑ם שְׁנַ֧יִם וְשִׁשִּׁ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וּשְׁבַ֥ע מֵאֽוֹת:
27Camping next to the tribe of Dan will be the tribe of Asher. The prince of the tribe of Asher is Pagi’el son of Ochran;		כזוְהַֽחֹנִ֥ים עָלָ֖יו מַטֵּ֣ה אָשֵׁ֑ר וְנָשִׂיא֙ לִבְנֵ֣י אָשֵׁ֔ר פַּגְעִיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־עָכְרָֽן:
28the tally for his troop is 41,500.		כחוּצְבָא֖וֹ וּפְקֻֽדֵיהֶ֑ם אֶחָ֧ד וְאַרְבָּעִ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וַֽחֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת:
29Next to the tribe of Asher will be the tribe of Naphtali. The prince of the tribe of Naphtali is Achira son of Einan;		כטוּמַטֵּ֖ה נַפְתָּלִ֑י וְנָשִׂיא֙ לִבְנֵ֣י נַפְתָּלִ֔י אֲחִירַ֖ע בֶּן־עֵינָֽן:
30the tally for his troop is 53,400.		לוּצְבָא֖וֹ וּפְקֻֽדֵיהֶ֑ם שְׁלשָׁ֧ה וַֽחֲמִשִּׁ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וְאַרְבַּ֥ע מֵאֽוֹת:
31The total sum for the division of Dan is 157,600; they must set out last, according to their banners.”		לאכָּל־הַפְּקֻדִים֙ לְמַ֣חֲנֵה דָ֔ן מְאַ֣ת אֶ֗לֶף וְשִׁבְעָ֧ה וַֽחֲמִשִּׁ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וְשֵׁ֣שׁ מֵא֑וֹת לָאַֽחֲרֹנָ֥ה יִסְע֖וּ לְדִגְלֵיהֶֽם:
32These are the tallies of the Israelites according to their fathers’ houses. The sum of all the tallies of the divisions according to their troops was 603,550.		לבאֵ֛לֶּה פְּקוּדֵ֥י בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם כָּל־פְּקוּדֵ֤י הַמַּֽחֲנֹת֙ לְצִבְאֹתָ֔ם שֵׁשׁ־מֵא֥וֹת אֶ֨לֶף֙ וּשְׁל֣שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֔ים וַֽחֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת וַֽחֲמִשִּֽׁים:
33The Levites were not counted with the rest of the Israelites, as God commanded Moses.		לגוְהַ֨לְוִיִּ֔ם לֹ֣א הָתְפָּֽקְד֔וּ בְּת֖וֹךְ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָֹ֖ה אֶת־משֶֽׁה:
34The Israelites did all that God had commanded Moses; they encamped by their banners, and they journeyed each man with his family, according to his paternal house.		לדוַיַּֽעֲשׂ֖וּ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כְּ֠כֹ֠ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֨ה יְהוָֹ֜ה אֶת־משֶׁ֗ה כֵּן־חָנ֤וּ לְדִגְלֵיהֶם֙ וְכֵ֣ן נָסָ֔עוּ אִ֥ישׁ לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖יו עַל־בֵּ֥ית אֲבֹתָֽיו:

Footnotes

Genesis 50:12.

Tanchuma 12.

Joshua 3:4.

Fourth Portion

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 3

1These are the descendants of Aaron and Moses on the day that God spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai.		אוְאֵ֛לֶּה תּֽוֹלְדֹ֥ת אַֽהֲרֹ֖ן וּמשֶׁ֑ה בְּי֗וֹם דִּבֶּ֧ר יְהוָֹ֛ה אֶת־משֶׁ֖ה בְּהַ֥ר סִינָֽי:
וְאֵלֶּה תּֽוֹלְדֹת אַֽהֲרֹן וּמשֶׁה - These are the descendants of Aaron and Moses. Scripture mentions only the sons of Aaron, yet they are called the descendants of Moses, because Moses taught them Torah. This teaches us that regarding anyone who teaches the son of his colleague Torah, Scripture ascribes it as if he fathered him.		וְאֵלֶּה תּֽוֹלְדֹת אַֽהֲרֹן וּמשֶׁה. וְאֵינוֹ מַזְכִּיר אֶלָּא בְנֵי אַהֲרֹן וְנִקְרְאוּ תוֹלְדוֹת מֹשֶׁה, לְפִי שֶׁלִּמְּדָן תּוֹרָה, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁכָּל הַמְלַמֵּד אֶת בֶּן חֲבֵרוֹ תּוֹרָה מַעֲלֶה עָלָיו הַכָּתוּב כְּאִלּוּ יְלָדוֹ (סנהדרין י"ט):
בְּיוֹם דִּבֶּר ה' אֶת־משֶׁה - On the day that God spoke to Moses - they became his descendants, for he taught them what he had learned from the Almighty at the Giving of the Torah.		בְּיוֹם דִּבֶּר ה' אֶת־משֶׁה. נַעֲשׂוּ אֵלּוּ הַתּוֹלָדוֹת שֶׁלּוֹ, שֶׁלִּמְּדָן מַה שֶּׁלָּמַד מִפִּי הַגְּבוּרָה:
2These are the names of Aaron’s sons: Nadav, the firstborn; Avihu; Eleazar; and Itamar.		בוְאֵ֛לֶּה שְׁמ֥וֹת בְּנֵי־אַֽהֲרֹ֖ן הַבְּכֹ֣ר \| נָדָ֑ב וַֽאֲבִיה֕וּא אֶלְעָזָ֖ר וְאִֽיתָמָֽר:
3These are the names of Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests, whom Moses consecrated to serve as priests.		גאֵ֗לֶּה שְׁמוֹת֙ בְּנֵ֣י אַֽהֲרֹ֔ן הַכֹּֽהֲנִ֖ים הַמְּשֻׁחִ֑ים אֲשֶׁר־מִלֵּ֥א יָדָ֖ם לְכַהֵֽן:
4Nadav and Avihu died before God when they brought an unauthorized fire before God in the Sinai desert, and they had no children. Eleazar and Itamar, however, served as priests during their father Aaron’s lifetime.		דוַיָּ֣מָת נָדָ֣ב וַֽאֲבִיה֣וּא לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָֹ֡ה בְּהַקְרִבָם֩ אֵ֨שׁ זָרָ֜ה לִפְנֵ֤י יְהוָֹה֙ בְּמִדְבַּ֣ר סִינַ֔י וּבָנִ֖ים לֹֽא־הָי֣וּ לָהֶ֑ם וַיְכַהֵ֤ן אֶלְעָזָר֙ וְאִ֣יתָמָ֔ר עַל־פְּנֵ֖י אַֽהֲרֹ֥ן אֲבִיהֶֽם:
עַל־פְּנֵי אַֽהֲרֹן - (lit.) Upon the face of Aaron - means during his lifetime.		עַל־פְּנֵי אַֽהֲרֹן. בְּחַיָּיו:
5God spoke to Moses, saying:		הוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָֹ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר:
6“Bring forth the tribe of Levi and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may serve him.		והַקְרֵב֙ אֶת־מַטֵּ֣ה לֵוִ֔י וְהַֽעֲמַדְתָּ֣ אֹת֔וֹ לִפְנֵ֖י אַֽהֲרֹ֣ן הַכֹּהֵ֑ן וְשֵֽׁרְת֖וּ אֹתֽוֹ:
וְשֵֽׁרְתוּ אֹתוֹ - That they may serve him. And what is the nature of the service? “They must help him keep his charge,” for he is responsible to guard the Sanctuary so that no layperson approach to serve in it, as was said to Aaron: “You, your sons, and your paternal house must bear the iniquity associated with the Sanctuary,” 1 and these Levites must assist them. That is their service to the priests.		וְשֵֽׁרְתוּ אֹתוֹ. וּמַהוּ הַשֵּׁרוּת? "ושמרו אֶת־משמרתו" לְפִי שֶׁשְּׁמִירַת הַמִּקְדָּשׁ עָלָיו שֶׁלֹּא יִקְרַב זָר, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "אַתָּה וּבָנֶיךָ וּבֵית אָבִיךָ אִתָּךְ תִּשְׂאוּ אֶת עֲוֹן הַמִּקְדָּשׁ (במדבר י"ח), וְהַלְוִיִּם הַלָּלוּ מְסַיְּעִין אוֹתָם, זוֹ הִיא הַשֵּׁרוּת:
7They must help him keep his charge, that is, the charge of the entire community in front of the Tent of Meeting, to perform the service of the Tabernacle.		זוְשָׁמְר֣וּ אֶת־מִשְׁמַרְתּ֗וֹ וְאֶת־מִשְׁמֶ֨רֶת֙ כָּל־הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה לִפְנֵ֖י אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד לַֽעֲבֹ֖ד אֶת־עֲבֹדַ֥ת הַמִּשְׁכָּֽן:
וְשָׁמְרוּ אֶת־מִשְׁמַרְתּוֹ - They must [help him] keep his charge. Every appointment of which a person is in charge and which he is responsible to fulfill is called מִשְׁמֶרֶת, both throughout Scripture and in Mishnaic Hebrew, as is stated regarding Bigtan and Teresh: וַהֲלֹא אֵין מִשְׁמַרְתִּי וּמִשְׁמַרְתְּךָ שָׁוָה “Surely my duty and your duty is not the same,” 2 and similarly, מִשְׁמְרוֹת כְּהֻנָּה וּלְוִיָּה “the weekly shifts of the priests and the Levites.”		וְשָׁמְרוּ אֶת־מִשְׁמַרְתּוֹ. כָּל מִנּוּי שֶׁהָאָדָם מְמֻנֶּה עָלָיו וּמֻטָּל עָלָיו לַעֲשׂוֹתוֹ קָרוּי מִשְׁמֶרֶת בְּכָל הַמִּקְרָא וּבִלְשׁוֹן הַמִּשְׁנָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמוּר בְּבִגְתָן וָתֶרֶשׁ "וַהֲלֹא אֵין מִשְׁמַרְתִּי וּמִשְׁמַרְתְּךָ שָׁוָה" (מגילה י"ג), וְכֵן מִשְׁמְרוֹת כְהֻנָּה וּלְוִיָּה:
8They must keep the charge of all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting, the charge of the Israelites, to perform the service of the Tabernacle.		חוְשָֽׁמְר֗וּ אֶת־כָּל־כְּלֵי֙ אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד וְאֶת־מִשְׁמֶ֖רֶת בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לַֽעֲבֹ֖ד אֶת־עֲבֹדַ֥ת הַמִּשְׁכָּֽן:
וְאֶת־מִשְׁמֶרֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - The charge of the Israelites. This must be referring to a different charge than in the previous verse, namely that all the Israelites ought to carry out the requirements of the Sanctuary, i.e., transport it and sing and play music in it, but the Levites act in their place on their behalf, and for this reason they receive the tithes from them as payment, as it says regarding this: “for it is your wage in exchange for your service.” 3		וְאֶת־מִשְׁמֶרֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. שֶׁכֻּלָּן הָיוּ זְקוּקִין לְצָרְכֵי הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, אֶלָּא שֶׁהַלְוִיִּם בָּאִים תַּחְתֵּיהֶם בִּשְׁלִיחוּתָם, לְפִיכָךְ לוֹקְחִים מֵהֶם הַמַּעַשְׂרוֹת בִּשְׂכָרָן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "כִּי שָׂכָר הוּא לָכֶם חֵלֶף עֲבֹדַתְכֶם" (במדבר י"ח):
9You must give over the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are given, yes, given over to him from among the Israelites.		טוְנָֽתַתָּה֙ אֶת־הַֽלְוִיִּ֔ם לְאַֽהֲרֹ֖ן וּלְבָנָ֑יו נְתוּנִ֨ם נְתוּנִ֥ם הֵ֨מָּה֙ ל֔וֹ מֵאֵ֖ת בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
נְתוּנִם הֵמָּה לוֹ - They are given…over to him. to help him ensure that the laity not enter the Tabernacle.		נְתוּנִם הֵמָּה לוֹ. לְעֶזְרָה:
מֵאֵת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵֽל - From the Israelites. means here “from among the Israelites,” i.e., they were separated from the rest of the community for this purpose by decree of the Omnipresent, who gave them to Aaron, as it says: “I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the Israelites….” 4		מֵאֵת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵֽל. כְּמוֹ מִתּוֹךְ בְּנֵי יִשׂרָאֵל, כְּלוֹמַר מִשְּׁאָר כָּל הָעֵדָה נִבְדְּלוּ לְכָךְ בִּגְזֵרַת הַמָּקוֹם וְהוּא נְתָנָם לוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וָאֶתְּנָה אֶת הַלְוִיִּם נְתֻנִים" וְגוֹ' (במדבר ח'):
10You must direct Aaron and his sons to guard their priesthood. Any non-priest who approaches to participate in the priestly duties will be put to death.”		יוְאֶת־אַֽהֲרֹ֤ן וְאֶת־בָּנָיו֙ תִּפְקֹ֔ד וְשָֽׁמְר֖וּ אֶת־כְּהֻנָּתָ֑ם וְהַזָּ֥ר הַקָּרֵ֖ב יוּמָֽת:
וְאֶת־אַֽהֲרֹן וְאֶת־בָּנָיו תִּפְקֹד - You must direct Aaron and his sons. תִּפְקֹד here has the meaning “directing” and not the meaning “counting.”		וְאֶת־אַֽהֲרֹן וְאֶת־בָּנָיו תִּפְקֹד. לְשׁוֹן פְּקִידוּת, וְאֵינוֹ לְשׁוֹן מִנְיָן:
וְשָֽׁמְרוּ אֶת־כְּהֻנָּתָם - To guard their priesthood - i.e., receiving the blood of the sacrifices, dashing it against the Altar, and burning the designated parts upon the Altar (although similar acts had been performed by the laity when the Passover offering was brought in Egypt), and the services assigned exclusively to the priests, so that no Israelite or even Levite perform them.		וְשָֽׁמְרוּ אֶת־כְּהֻנָּתָם. קַבָּלַת דָּמִים וּזְרִיקָה וְהַקְטָרָה וַעֲבוֹדוֹת הַמְּסוּרוֹת לַכֹּהֲנִים:
11God spoke to Moses, saying:		יאוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָֹ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר:
12“As for Me, I have taken the Levites from the Israelites in place of all the firstborn of the Israelites who have opened the womb, so the Levites will be Mine.		יבוַֽאֲנִ֞י הִנֵּ֧ה לָקַ֣חְתִּי אֶת־הַֽלְוִיִּ֗ם מִתּוֹךְ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל תַּ֧חַת כָּל־בְּכ֛וֹר פֶּ֥טֶר רֶ֖חֶם מִבְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְהָ֥יוּ לִ֖י הַֽלְוִיִּֽם:
וַֽאֲנִי הִנֵּה לָקַחְתִּי - As for Me, I have taken. And by what right have I taken them.		וַֽאֲנִי הִנֵּה לָקַחְתִּי. וַאֲנִי מֵהֵיכָן זָכִיתִי בָהֶן :
מִתּוֹךְ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - from the Israelites. that the Israelites should hire them to be their representatives in performing My service? Through the firstborn I claimed the right to them, as I took the Levites in exchange for them; for the Divine service was originally performed by the firstborn, but since they sinned with the Golden Calf, they became disqualified, and the Levites, who did not serve idols, were chosen in their stead.		מִתּוֹךְ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. שֶׁיִּהְיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל שׂוֹכְרִין אוֹתָן לְשֵׁרוּת שֶׁלִּי? עַל יְדֵי הַבְּכוֹרוֹת זָכִיתִי בָהֶם וּלְקַחְתִּים תְּמוּרָתָם. לְפִי שֶׁהָיְתָה הָעֲבוֹדָה בַּבְּכוֹרוֹת, וּכְשֶׁחָטְאוּ בָעֵגֶל נִפְסְלוּ, וְהַלְוִיִּם שֶׁלֹּא עָבְדוּ עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה נִבְחֲרוּ תַחְתֵּיהֶם (עי' זבחים קי"ב):
13For all the firstborn are Mine: on the day I killed every firstborn in Egypt, I sanctified for Myself every firstborn in Israel by sparing them, both man and beast. They will be Mine; I am God.”		יגכִּ֣י לִי֘ כָּל־בְּכוֹר֒ בְּיוֹם֩ הַכֹּתִ֨י כָל־בְּכ֜וֹר בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֗יִם הִקְדַּ֨שְׁתִּי לִ֤י כָל־בְּכוֹר֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מֵֽאָדָ֖ם עַד־בְּהֵמָ֑ה לִ֥י יִֽהְי֖וּ אֲנִ֥י יְהוָֹֽה:

Footnotes

Numbers 18:1.

Megilah 13b.

Numbers 18:31.

Numbers 8:19.

Fifth Portion

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 3

14God spoke to Moses in the Sinai desert, saying:		ידוַיְדַבֵּ֤ר יְהוָֹה֙ אֶל־משֶׁ֔ה בְּמִדְבַּ֥ר סִינַ֖י לֵאמֹֽר:
15“Tally the Levites according to their fathers’ houses, according to their families; count all males one month old and over.”		טופְּקֹד֙ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י לֵוִ֔י לְבֵ֥ית אֲבֹתָ֖ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֑ם כָּל־זָכָ֛ר מִבֶּן־חֹ֥דֶשׁ וָמַ֖עְלָה תִּפְקְדֵֽם:
מִבֶּן־חֹדֶשׁ וָמַעְלָה - One month old and over - i.e., once he is no longer in the category of possibly being unviable, he may already be counted and be called “a keeper of the charge of the Sanctuary.” Rabbi Yehudah son of Rabbi Shalom said: There is precedent for this tribe being counted even from the womb, as it says regarding Yocheved: “whom Levi’s wife had borne to Levi in Egypt,” 1 i.e., as she entered the gates of Egypt, she gave birth to Yocheved, and yet Yocheved was counted among the 70 people of Jacob’s family who came to Egypt – for when you calculate their total you find that they are only 69, and she completed the number.		מִבֶּן־חֹדֶשׁ וָמַעְלָה. מִשֶּׁיָּצָא מִכְּלַל נְפָלִים הוּא נִמְנֶה לִקָּרֵא שׁוֹמֵר מִשְׁמֶרֶת הַקֹּדֶשׁ; אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בְּרַבִּי שָׁלוֹם לָמוּד הוּא אוֹתוֹ הַשֵּׁבֶט לִהְיוֹת נִמְנֶה מִן הַבֶּטֶן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "אֲשֶׁר יָלְדָה אֹתָהּ לְלֵוִי בְּמִצְרָיִם" (במדבר כ״ו:נ״ט), — עִם כְּנִיסָתָהּ בְּפֶתַח מִצְרַיִם יָלְדָה אוֹתָהּ וְנִמְנֵית בְּשִׁבְעִים נֶפֶשׁ, שֶׁכְּשֶׁאַתָּה מוֹנֶה חֶשְׁבּוֹנָם לֹא תִמְצָאֵם אֶלָּא שִׁבְעִים חָסֵר אֶחָד, וְהִיא הִשְׁלִימָה אֶת הַמִּנְיָן (תנחומא):
16Moses tallied them according to God’s word, just as he was commanded.		טזוַיִּפְקֹ֥ד אֹתָ֛ם משֶׁ֖ה עַל־פִּ֣י יְהוָֹ֑ה כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֖ר צֻוָּֽה:
עַל־פִּי ה' - According to God’s word. Moses said before the Holy One, the blessed be He: “How can I enter their private tents in order to know the number of their nursing babies?” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: “Do your part and I will do Mine!” Moses went and stood at the entrance of each tent and the Divine Presence went before him, and a heavenly voice emanated from the tent saying: There is such-and-such an amount of children in this tent. Therefore it says: “according to God’s word.”		עַל־פִּי ה'. אָמַר מֹשֶׁה לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, הֵיאַךְ אֲנִי נִכְנָס לְתוֹךְ אָהֳלֵיהֶם לָדַעַת מִנְיַן יוֹנְקֵיהֶם? אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, עֲשֵׂה אַתָּה שֶׁלְּךְ וַאֲנִי אֶעֱשֶׂה שֶׁלִּי, הָלַךְ מֹשֶׁה וְעָמַד עַל פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל וְהַשְּׁכִינָה מַקְדֶּמֶת לְפָנָיו, וּבַת קוֹל יוֹצְאָה מִן הָאֹהֶל וְאוֹמֶרֶת כָּךְ וָכָךְ תִּינוֹקוֹת יֵשׁ בְּאֹהֶל זֶה, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר עַל פִּי ה':
17These were the sons of Levi, by name: Gershon, Kehat, and Merari.		יזוַיִּֽהְיוּ־אֵ֥לֶּה בְנֵֽי־לֵוִ֖י בִּשְׁמֹתָ֑ם גֵּֽרְשׁ֕וֹן וּקְהָ֖ת וּמְרָרִֽי:
18The names of the sons of Gershon according to their families were Livni and Shim’i.		יחוְאֵ֛לֶּה שְׁמ֥וֹת בְּנֵי־גֵֽרְשׁ֖וֹן לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֑ם לִבְנִ֖י וְשִׁמְעִֽי:
19The sons of Kehat according to their families were Amram, Yitzhar, Chevron, and Uzi’el.		יטוּבְנֵ֥י קְהָ֖ת לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֑ם עַמְרָ֣ם וְיִצְהָ֔ר חֶבְר֖וֹן וְעֻזִּיאֵֽל:
20The sons of Merari according to their families were Machli and Mushi. These were the families of Levi according to their fathers’ houses.		כוּבְנֵ֧י מְרָרִ֛י לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם מַחְלִ֣י וּמוּשִׁ֑י אֵ֥לֶּה הֵ֛ם מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת הַלֵּוִ֖י לְבֵ֥ית אֲבֹתָֽם:
21For Gershon, Moses tallied the family of Livni and the family of Shim’i, these being the families of Gershon.		כאלְגֵ֣רְשׁ֔וֹן מִשְׁפַּ֨חַת֙ הַלִּבְנִ֔י וּמִשְׁפַּ֖חַת הַשִּׁמְעִ֑י אֵ֣לֶּה הֵ֔ם מִשְׁפְּחֹ֖ת הַגֵּֽרְשֻׁנִּֽי:
לְגֵרְשׁוֹן מִשְׁפַּחַת הַלִּבְנִי - For Gershon, the family of Livni - i.e., for Gershon, those counted were the family of Livni and the family of Shim’i, and their tally was such and such.		לְגֵרְשׁוֹן מִשְׁפַּחַת הַלִּבְנִי. כְּלוֹמַר, לְגֵרְשׁוֹן הָיוּ הַפְּקוּדִים מִשְׁפַּחַת הַלִּבְנִי וּמִשְׁפַּחַת הַשִּׁמְעִי — פְּקוּדֵיהֶם כָּךְ וְכָךְ:
22Their tally was the number of males one month old and over, whose tally was 7,500.		כבפְּקֻֽדֵיהֶם֙ בְּמִסְפַּ֣ר כָּל־זָכָ֔ר מִבֶּן־חֹ֖דֶשׁ וָמָ֑עְלָה פְּקֻ֣דֵיהֶ֔ם שִׁבְעַ֥ת אֲלָפִ֖ים וַֽחֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת:
23God told Moses that the families of Gershon must camp behind the Tabernacle, to the west;		כגמִשְׁפְּחֹ֖ת הַגֵּֽרְשֻׁנִּ֑י אַֽחֲרֵ֧י הַמִּשְׁכָּ֛ן יַֽחֲנ֖וּ יָֽמָּה:
24that the prince of the paternal house of the families of Gershon would be Elyasaf son of La’el;		כדוּנְשִׂ֥יא בֵית־אָ֖ב לַגֵּֽרְשֻׁנִּ֑י אֶלְיָסָ֖ף בֶּן־לָאֵֽל:
25and that the charge of the clan of Gershon in transporting the Tent of Meeting would be the Tabernacle, the Tent, its cover, the Screen for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting,		כהוּמִשְׁמֶ֤רֶת בְּנֵי־גֵֽרְשׁוֹן֙ בְּאֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן וְהָאֹ֑הֶל מִכְסֵ֕הוּ וּמָסַ֕ךְ פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד:
הַמִּשְׁכָּן - The Tabernacle - i.e., the lower tapestries.		הַמִּשְׁכָּן. יְרִיעוֹת הַתַּחְתּוֹנוֹת:
וְהָאֹהֶל - The Tent - i.e., the sheets of goats’ hair that were made as a roof over the lower tapestries.		וְהָאֹהֶל. יְרִיעוֹת עִזִּים הָעֲשׂוּיוֹת לְגַג:
מִכְסֵהוּ - Its cover - i.e., both the rams’ and tachash skins.		מִכְסֵהוּ. עוֹרוֹת אֵילִים וּתְחָשִׁים:
וּמָסַךְ פֶּתַח - The Screen for the entrance. This is the curtain.		וּמָסַךְ פֶּתַח. הוּא הַוִּילוֹן:
26the nettings of the Courtyard, the Screen at the entrance to the Courtyard that enclosed the Tabernacle and the Altar, and its ropes, for all its work.		כווְקַלְעֵ֣י הֶֽחָצֵ֗ר וְאֶת־מָסַךְ֙ פֶּ֣תַח הֶֽחָצֵ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֧ר עַל־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֛ן וְעַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ סָבִ֑יב וְאֵת֙ מֵֽיתָרָ֔יו לְכֹ֖ל עֲבֹֽדָתֽוֹ:
וְאֶת־מֵֽיתָרָיו - And its ropes - i.e., those used to fasten the covers of the Tabernacle and the Tent, but not those used to hang the nettings of the Courtyard.		וְאֶת־מֵֽיתָרָיו. שֶׁל הַמִשְׁכָּן וְהָאֹהֶל, וְלֹא שֶׁל חָצֵר:
27For Kehat, Moses tallied the family of Amram, the family of Yitzhar, the family of Chevron, and the family of Uzi’el, all these being the families of Kehat.		כזוְלִקְהָ֗ת מִשְׁפַּ֤חַת הָֽעַמְרָמִי֙ וּמִשְׁפַּ֣חַת הַיִּצְהָרִ֔י וּמִשְׁפַּ֨חַת֙ הַֽחֶבְרֹנִ֔י וּמִשְׁפַּ֖חַת הָֽעָזִּֽיאֵלִ֑י אֵ֥לֶּה הֵ֖ם מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת הַקְּהָתִֽי:
28The number of all males one month old and over was 8,600; they were the keepers of the charge of the Sanctuary.		כחבְּמִסְפַּר֙ כָּל־זָכָ֔ר מִבֶּן־חֹ֖דֶשׁ וָמָ֑עְלָה שְׁמֹנַ֤ת אֲלָפִים֙ וְשֵׁ֣שׁ מֵא֔וֹת שֹֽׁמְרֵ֖י מִשְׁמֶ֥רֶת הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ:
29God told Moses that the families of the clan of Kehat must camp to the south side of the Tabernacle;		כטמִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת בְּנֵֽי־קְהָ֖ת יַֽחֲנ֑וּ עַ֛ל יֶ֥רֶךְ הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן תֵּימָֽנָה:
מִשְׁפְּחֹת בְּנֵֽי־קְהָת יַֽחֲנוּ … תֵּימָֽנָה - The families of the clan of Kehat must camp to the south - and close to them was the division of Reuben, who camped to the south. “Woe to the wicked, and woe to his neighbor!” Thus, from among them, Dathan and Aviram and the 250 men were punished with Korach and his congregation, being drawn in with them and participating in their dispute with Moses.		מִשְׁפְּחֹת בְּנֵֽי־קְהָת יַֽחֲנוּ … תֵּימָֽנָה. וּסְמוּכִין לָהֶם דֶּגֶל רְאוּבֵן הַחוֹנִים תֵּימָנָה — אוֹי לָרָשָׁע אוֹי לִשְׁכֵנוֹ, לְכָךְ לָקוּ מֵהֶם דָּתָן וַאֲבִירָם וּמָאתַיִם וַחֲמִשִּׁים אִישׁ עִם קֹרַח וַעֲדָתוֹ, שֶׁנִּמְשְׁכוּ עִמָּהֶם בְּמַחֲלָקְתָּם (תנחומא):
30that the prince of the paternal house of the families of Kehat would be Elitzafan son of Uzi’el;		לוּנְשִׂ֥יא בֵית־אָ֖ב לְמִשְׁפְּחֹ֣ת הַקְּהָתִ֑י אֱלִֽיצָפָ֖ן בֶּן־עֻזִּיאֵֽל:
31and that their charge would be the Ark, the Table, the Candelabrum, the Altars, the utensils of the Sanctuary with which they would minister, the partition Curtain, and all its work.		לאוּמִשְׁמַרְתָּ֗ם הָֽאָרֹ֤ן וְהַשֻּׁלְחָן֙ וְהַמְּנֹרָ֣ה וְהַמִּזְבְּחֹ֔ת וּכְלֵ֣י הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְשָֽׁרְת֖וּ בָּהֶ֑ם וְהַ֨מָּסָ֔ךְ וְכֹ֖ל עֲבֹֽדָתֽוֹ:
וְהַמָּסָךְ - (lit.) The Screen. This refers to the Curtain, for it is also called פָּרֹכֶת הַמָּסָךְ “the partition Curtain.” 2		וְהַמָּסָךְ. הִיא הַפָּרֹכֶת, שֶׁאַף הִיא קְרוּיָה פָּרֹכֶת הַמָּסָךְ:
32God told Moses that the prince over all the princes of the Levites would be Eleazar son of Aaron the priest; his job would be the appointment of the keepers of the charge of the Sanctuary.		לבוּנְשִׂיא֙ נְשִׂיאֵ֣י הַלֵּוִ֔י אֶלְעָזָ֖ר בֶּן־אַֽהֲרֹ֣ן הַכֹּהֵ֑ן פְּקֻדַּ֕ת שֹֽׁמְרֵ֖י מִשְׁמֶ֥רֶת הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ:
וּנְשִׂיא נְשִׂיאֵי הַלֵּוִי - The prince over all the princes of the Levites - i.e., the one who was appointed over all of them. And with regard to what was his authority? “the appointment of the keepers of the charge of the Sanctuary” i.e., he delegated tasks for all of them.		וּנְשִׂיא נְשִׂיאֵי הַלֵּוִי. מְמֻנֶּה עַל כֻּלָּם, וְעַל מַה הִיא נְשִׂיאוּתוֹ פְּקֻדַּת שֹֽׁמְרֵי מִשְׁמֶרֶת עַל יָדוֹ הִיא פְּקֻדַּת כֻּלָּם: —
33For Merari, Moses tallied the family of Machli and the family of Mushi, these being the families of Merari.		לגלִמְרָרִ֕י מִשְׁפַּ֨חַת֙ הַמַּחְלִ֔י וּמִשְׁפַּ֖חַת הַמּוּשִׁ֑י אֵ֥לֶּה הֵ֖ם מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת מְרָרִֽי:
34Their tally, the number of males one month old and over, was 6,200.		לדוּפְקֻֽדֵיהֶם֙ בְּמִסְפַּ֣ר כָּל־זָכָ֔ר מִבֶּן־חֹ֖דֶשׁ וָמָ֑עְלָה שֵׁ֥שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֖ים וּמָאתָֽיִם:
35God told Moses that the prince of the paternal house of the families of Merari would be Tzuri’el son of Avichayil; that they must camp on the north side of the Tabernacle;		להוּנְשִׂ֤יא בֵית־אָב֙ לְמִשְׁפְּחֹ֣ת מְרָרִ֔י צֽוּרִיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־אֲבִיחָ֑יִל עַ֣ל יֶ֧רֶךְ הַמִּשְׁכָּ֛ן יַֽחֲנ֖וּ צָפֹֽנָה:
36and that the appointed charge of the clan of Merari would be the planks of the Tabernacle, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, all the utensils used in it, all its work,		לווּפְקֻדַּ֣ת מִשְׁמֶ֘רֶת֘ בְּנֵ֣י מְרָרִי֒ קַרְשֵׁי֙ הַמִּשְׁכָּ֔ן וּבְרִיחָ֖יו וְעַמֻּדָ֣יו וַֽאֲדָנָ֑יו וְכָ֨ל־כֵּלָ֔יו וְכֹ֖ל עֲבֹֽדָתֽוֹ:
37the pillars of the surrounding Courtyard, their sockets, and their stakes and ropes.		לזוְעַמֻּדֵ֧י הֶֽחָצֵ֛ר סָבִ֖יב וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֑ם וִיתֵֽדֹתָ֖ם וּמֵֽיתְרֵיהֶֽם:
38God told Moses that those who must camp in front of the Tabernacle, in front of the Tent of Meeting to the east, would be Moses, Aaron and his sons. They would be the keepers of the charge of the Sanctuary as a trust for the Israelites, for any outsider who approached to participate would be put to death.		לחוְהַֽחֹנִ֣ים לִפְנֵ֣י הַמִּשְׁכָּ֡ן קֵ֣דְמָה לִפְנֵי֩ אֹֽהֶל־מוֹעֵ֨ד \| מִזְרָ֜חָה משֶׁ֣ה \| וְאַֽהֲרֹ֣ן וּבָנָ֗יו שֹֽׁמְרִים֙ מִשְׁמֶ֣רֶת הַמִּקְדָּ֔שׁ לְמִשְׁמֶ֖רֶת בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְהַזָּ֥ר הַקָּרֵ֖ב יוּמָֽת:
משֶׁה וְאַֽהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו - Moses, Aaron and his sons - and near them was the banner of the division of Judah, and those who camped next to them – Issachar and Zebulun. “Good for the righteous one, and good for his neighbor!” I.e., since they were the neighbors of Moses, who occupied himself with the study of the Torah, they, too, became great Torah scholars, as it says: “Judah is my lawgiver”; 3 “And from the descendants of Issachar: those who had comprehension…” 4 – referring to 200 heads of Sanhedrin; “and out of Zebulun came those who ply the scribal quill.” 5		משֶׁה וְאַֽהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו. וּסְמוּכִין לָהֶם דֶּגֶל מַחֲנֵה יְהוּדָה, וְהַחוֹנִים עָלָיו יִשָּׂשכָר וּזְבוּלֻן — טוֹב לַצַּדִיק טוֹב לִשְׁכֵנוֹ, לְפִי שֶׁהָיוּ שְׁכֵנָיו שֶׁל מֹשֶׁה שֶׁהָיָה עוֹסֵק בַּתּוֹרָה, נַעֲשׂוּ גְדוֹלִים בַּתּוֹרָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "יְהוּדָה מְחֹקְקִי" (תהלים ס, ט), "וּמִבְּנֵי יִשָּׂשכָר יוֹדְעֵי בִינָה וְגוֹ' מָאתַיִם" (דהי"א י"ב) — רָאשֵׁי סַנְהֶדְרָאוֹת, "וּמִזְּבוּלֻן מֹשְׁכִים בְּשֵׁבֶט סֹפֵר" (שופטים ה, יד) (תנחומא):
39The sum of all the tallies of the male Levites, according to their families, one month old and over, whom Moses and Aaron counted according to the word of God, was 22,000.		לטכָּל־פְּקוּדֵ֨י הַֽלְוִיִּ֜ם אֲשֶׁר֩ פָּקַ֨ד משֶׁ֧ה וְ֗אַֽ֗הֲ֗רֹ֛֗ן֗ עַל־פִּ֥י יְהוָֹ֖ה לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֑ם כָּל־זָכָר֙ מִבֶּן־חֹ֣דֶשׁ וָמַ֔עְלָה שְׁנַ֥יִם וְעֶשְׂרִ֖ים אָֽלֶף:
אֲשֶׁר פָּקַד משֶׁה וְאַֽהֲרֹן - Whom Moses and Aaron counted. There are dots over the word וְאַהֲרֹן to indicate that he was not included in the count of the Levites, despite being the prince of their tribe.		אֲשֶׁר פָּקַד משֶׁה וְאַֽהֲרֹן. נָקוּד עַל וְאַהֲרֹן, לוֹמַר שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה בְּמִנְיַן הַלְוִיִּם (בכורות ד'):
שְׁנַיִם וְעֶשְׂרִים אָֽלֶף - 22,000 - but if you consult their enumeration listed above, you find 300 extra: the sons of Gershon – 7,500; the sons of Kehat – 8,600; and the sons of Merari – 6,200, making 22,300 in total. Why, then, were they not included in the total with the others to redeem the firstborn, and then the 273 firstborn who exceeded the number of Levites would not have needed monetary redemption? Our rabbis stated in Tractate Bechorot: 6 These 300 Levites were themselves firstborn, and it was sufficient for them that they exempted themselves from redemption; they could not substitute for an additional firstborn as well.		שְׁנַיִם וְעֶשְׂרִים אָֽלֶף. וּבִפְרָטָן אַתָּה מוֹצֵא שְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת יְתֵרִים — בְּנֵי גֵּרְשׁוֹן שִׁבְעַת אֲלָפִים וַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת, בְּנֵי קְהָת שְׁמוֹנַת אֲלָפִים וְשֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת, בְּנֵי מְרָרִי שֵׁשֶׁת אֲלָפִים וּמָאתָיִם; וְלָמָּה לֹא כְלָלָן עִם הַשְּׁאָר וְיִפְדּוּ אֶת הַבְּכוֹרוֹת וְלֹא יִהְיוּ זְקוּקִים הַשְּׁלֹשָׁה וְשִׁבְעִים וּמָאתַיִם בְּכוֹרוֹת הָעוֹדְפִים עַל הַמִּנְיָן לְפִדְיוֹן? אָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ בְמַסֶּכֶת בְּכוֹרוֹת (דף ה'), אוֹתָן שְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת לְוִיִּם בְּכוֹרוֹת הָיוּ, וְדַיָּם שֶׁיַּפְקִיעוּ עַצְמָם מִן הַפִּדְיוֹן:

Footnotes

Sixth Portion

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 3

40God said to Moses, “Tally all the firstborn Israelite males one month old and over, and take a census of their names.		מוַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָֹ֜ה אֶל־משֶׁ֗ה פְּקֹ֨ד כָּל־בְּכֹ֤ר זָכָר֙ לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מִבֶּן־חֹ֖דֶשׁ וָמָ֑עְלָה וְשָׂ֕א אֵ֖ת מִסְפַּ֥ר שְׁמֹתָֽם:
פְּקֹד כָּל־בְּכֹר זָכָר מִבֶּן־חֹדֶשׁ וָמָעְלָה - Tally all the firstborn [Israelite] males one month old and over - i.e., once he is no longer in the category of possibly being unviable.		פְּקֹד כָּל־בְּכֹר זָכָר מִבֶּן־חֹדֶשׁ וָמָעְלָה. מִשֶּׁיָּצָא מִכְּלַל סְפֵק נְפָלִים:
41You must take the Levites for Me—I am God—in place of all the Israelite firstborn, and the Levites’ animals in place of all the firstborn animals of the Israelites.”		מאוְלָֽקַחְתָּ֙ אֶת־הַֽלְוִיִּ֥ם לִי֙ אֲנִ֣י יְהוָֹ֔ה תַּ֥חַת כָּל־בְּכֹ֖ר בִּבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְאֵת֙ בֶּֽהֱמַ֣ת הַֽלְוִיִּ֔ם תַּ֣חַת כָּל־בְּכ֔וֹר בְּבֶֽהֱמַ֖ת בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
42Moses counted all the Israelite firstborn, as God had commanded him.		מבוַיִּפְקֹ֣ד משֶׁ֔ה כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָֹ֖ה אֹת֑וֹ אֶת־כָּל־בְּכ֖וֹר בִּבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
43The tally of the firstborn males one month old and over, according to the number of names, was 22,273.		מגוַיְהִי֩ כָל־בְּכ֨וֹר זָכָ֜ר בְּמִסְפַּ֥ר שֵׁמֹ֛ת מִבֶּן־חֹ֥דֶשׁ וָמַ֖עְלָה לִפְקֻֽדֵיהֶ֑ם שְׁנַ֤יִם וְעֶשְׂרִים֙ אֶ֔לֶף שְׁלשָׁ֥ה וְשִׁבְעִ֖ים וּמָאתָֽיִם:
44God spoke to Moses, saying:		מדוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָֹ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר:
45“Take the Levites in place of all the Israelite firstborn and the Levites’ animals in place of their animals, and the Levites will be Mine; I am God.		מהקַ֣ח אֶת־הַֽלְוִיִּ֗ם תַּ֤חַת כָּל־בְּכוֹר֙ בִּבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאֶת־בֶּֽהֱמַ֥ת הַֽלְוִיִּ֖ם תַּ֣חַת בְּהֶמְתָּ֑ם וְהָֽיוּ־לִ֥י הַֽלְוִיִּ֖ם אֲנִ֥י יְהוָֹֽה:
וְאֶת־בֶּֽהֱמַת הַֽלְוִיִּם וגו' - And the Levites’ animals… The Levites’ animals did not redeem the firstborn of Israel’s animals of permitted species, which were given to the priests, but only their firstling donkeys, and one Levite lamb could exempt several Israelite firstling donkeys. You can know that this is so, for Scripture enumerates how many firstborns were in excess of the Levites among the men, but does not enumerate those in excess among the animals.		וְאֶת־בֶּֽהֱמַת הַֽלְוִיִּם וגו'. לֹא פָדוּ בְהֵמוֹת הַלְוִיִּם אֶת בְּכוֹרֵי בְהֵמָה טְהוֹרָה שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶלָּא אֶת פִּטְרֵי חֲמוֹרֵיהֶם, וְשֶׂה אֶחָד שֶׁל בֶּן לֵוִי פָּטַר כַּמָּה פִטְרֵי חֲמוֹרִים שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל. תֵּדַע, שֶׁהֲרֵי מָנָה הָעוֹדְפִים בָּאָדָם וְלֹא מָנָה הָעוֹדְפִים בַּבְּהֵמָה (שם ד'):
46As for those to be redeemed—the 273 Israelite firstborn who are in excess of the Levites—		מווְאֵת֙ פְּדוּיֵ֣י הַשְּׁלשָׁ֔ה וְהַשִּׁבְעִ֖ים וְהַמָּאתָ֑יִם הָעֹֽדְפִים֙ עַל־הַֽלְוִיִּ֔ם מִבְּכ֖וֹר בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
וְאֵת פְּדוּיֵי הַשְּׁלשָׁה וגו' - (lit.) And those redeemed of the three…. i.e., the firstborn among them who are required to be redeemed – these 273 who are over and above the number of Levites – from them you must take five shekels per head. Such was the sale price of Joseph – 20 silver pieces – who was the firstborn of Rachel.		וְאֵת פְּדוּיֵי הַשְּׁלשָׁה וגו'. וְאֶת הַבְּכוֹרוֹת הַצְּרִיכִין לְהִפָּדוֹת בָּהֶם, אֵלּוּ שְׁלֹשָׁה וְשִׁבְעִים וּמָאתַיִם הָעֹדְפִים בָּהֶם יְתֵרִים עַל הַלְוִיִּם, מֵהֶם תִּקַּח חמשת שקלים לגלגלת; כָּךְ הָיְתָה מְכִירָתוֹ שֶׁל יוֹסֵף, עֶשְׂרִים כֶּסֶף, שֶׁהָיָה בְּכוֹרָהּ שֶׁל רָחֵל (ב"ר פ"ד):
47you must take five shekels per head. Take them according to the sacred shekel, by which the shekel is 20 gerah.		מזוְלָֽקַחְתָּ֗ חֲמֵ֧שֶׁת חֲמֵ֛שֶׁת שְׁקָלִ֖ים לַגֻּלְגֹּ֑לֶת בְּשֶׁ֤קֶל הַקֹּ֨דֶשׁ֙ תִּקָּ֔ח עֶשְׂרִ֥ים גֵּרָ֖ה הַשָּֽׁקֶל:
48You must give the money to Aaron and his sons, as redemption for those who are in excess of them.”		מחוְנָֽתַתָּ֣ה הַכֶּ֔סֶף לְאַֽהֲרֹ֖ן וּלְבָנָ֑יו פְּדוּיֵ֕י הָעֹֽדְפִ֖ים בָּהֶֽם:
49Moses collected the redemption money from those in excess of those redeemed by the Levites.		מטוַיִּקַּ֣ח משֶׁ֔ה אֵ֖ת כֶּ֣סֶף הַפִּדְי֑וֹם מֵאֵת֙ הָעֹ֣דְפִ֔ים עַ֖ל פְּדוּיֵ֥י הַֽלְוִיִּֽם:
הָעֹדְפִים עַל פְּדוּיֵי הַֽלְוִיִּֽם - Those in excess of those redeemed by the Levites - i.e., those whom the Levites redeemed person for person.		הָעֹדְפִים עַל פְּדוּיֵי הַֽלְוִיִּֽם. עַל אוֹתָן שֶׁפָּדוּ הַלְוִיִּם בְּגוּפָן:
50He took the money from the firstborn of the Israelites: 1,365 sacred shekels.		נמֵאֵ֗ת בְּכ֛וֹר בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לָקַ֣ח אֶת־הַכָּ֑סֶף חֲמִשָּׁ֨ה וְשִׁשִּׁ֜ים וּשְׁל֥שׁ מֵא֛וֹת וָאֶ֖לֶף בְּשֶׁ֥קֶל הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ:
חֲמִשָּׁה וְשִׁשִּׁים וּשְׁלשׁ מֵאוֹת וָאֶלֶף - 1,365. This is the total calculation: five shekels per head for 200 firstborn is 1,000 shekels; for 70 firstborn – 350 shekels; for three firstborn – 15 shekels. Moses said: “How should I proceed? Any firstborn to whom I say, ‘Give me five shekels,’ will answer me, ‘I am one of those redeemed by the Levites!’” What did he do to solve this problem? He brought 22,000 tickets and wrote on them: “Levite,” and another 273 tickets, on which he wrote: “five shekels.” He mixed them together and placed them into a box. He then told them: “Come and draw your tickets by lot.”		חֲמִשָּׁה וְשִׁשִּׁים וּשְׁלשׁ מֵאוֹת וָאֶלֶף. כָּךְ סְכוּם הַחֶשְׁבּוֹן: חֲמֵשֶׁת שְׁקָלִים לַגֻּלְגֹּלֶת — לְמָאתַיִם בְּכוֹרוֹת אֶלֶף שֶׁקֶל, לְשִׁבְעִים בְּכוֹרוֹת שְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת וַחֲמִשִּׁים שֶׁקֶל, וְשָׁלֹשׁ בְּכוֹרוֹת חֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר שֶׁקֶל; אָמַר, כֵּיצַד אֶעֱשֶׂה? בְּכוֹר שֶׁאֹמַר לוֹ תֵּן חֲמֵשֶׁת שְׁקָלִים, יֹאמַר לִי "אֲנִי מִפְּדוּיֵי הַלְוִיִּם". מֶה עָשָׂה? הֵבִיא שְׁנַיִם וְעֶשְׂרִים אֶלֶף פְּתָקִין וְכָתַב עֲלֵיהֶם "בֶּן לֵוִי" וּמָאתַיִם וְשִׁבְעִים וּשְׁלֹשָׁה פְּתָקִין כָּתַב עֲלֵיהֶן "חֲמֵשֶׁת שְׁקָלִים", בְּלָלָן וּנְתָנָן בַּקַּלְפִּי, אָמַר לָהֶם, בּוֹאוּ וּטְלוּ פִתְקֵיכֶם לְפִי הַגּוֹרָל (סנהדרין י"ז):
51Moses then gave the money of the redeemed Israelites to Aaron and his sons, in accordance with the word of God, as God had commanded Moses.		נאוַיִּתֵּ֨ן משֶׁ֜ה אֶת־כֶּ֧סֶף הַפְּדֻיִּ֛ם לְאַֽהֲ֥רֹן וּלְבָנָי֖ו עַל־פִּ֣י יְהוָֹ֑ה כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָֹ֖ה אֶת־משֶֽׁה:

Seventh Portion

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:
קְּעָרֹת וְכַּפֹּת וְקְשׂוֹת וְמְּנַקִּיֹּת - 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		קְּעָרֹת וְכַּפֹּת וְקְשׂוֹת וְמְּנַקִּיֹּת. 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:
מַּחְתֹּת - 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.		מַּחְתֹּת. שֶׁבָּהֶם חוֹתִין גֶּחָלִים לִתְרוּמַת הַדֶּשֶׁן, הָעֲשׂוּיָה כְּמִין מַחֲבַת שֶׁאֵין לָהּ אֶלָּא שָׁלֹשׁ מְחִצּוֹת, וּמִלְּפָנֶיהָ שׁוֹאֶבֶת אֶת הַגְּחָלִים:
מִּזְלָגֹת - 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.		מִּזְלָגֹת. צִנּוֹרִיּוֹת שֶׁל נְחֹשֶׁת שֶׁבָּהֶן מַכִּין בָּאֵבָרִים שֶׁעַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ לְהָפְכָן, כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּתְעַכְּלוּ יָפֶה וּמַהֵר:
יָעִים - are shovels, called “vadil” in Old French. They are made of copper, and were used to sweep off the ashes from the Altar.		יָעִים. 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:
וּמִנְחַת הַתָּמִיד - 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.		וּמִנְחַת הַתָּמִיד. 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.		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:

Footnotes

Avot 5:21.

Exodus 25:29.

Numbers 4:28 and 33.

Maftir Portion

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 4

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.		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:

Haftarah

Shmuel I (I Samuel) Chapter 20

18And Jonathan said to him, "Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be remembered, for your seat will be vacant.		יחוַיֹּֽאמֶר־ל֥וֹ יְהוֹנָתָ֖ן מָחָ֣ר חֹ֑דֶשׁ וְנִפְקַ֕דְתָּ כִּ֥י יִפָּקֵ֖ד מוֹשָׁבֶֽךָ:
Tomorrow is the new moon. and it is the custom of all those who eat at the king’s table to come on the festive day to the table.		מחר חדש. ודרך כל אוכלי שולחן המלך לבא ביום מועד אל השולחן:
and you will be remembered. My father will remember you, and ask where you are.		ונפקדת. אבי יפקדך וישאל היכן אתה:
for your seat will be vacant. for your seat in which you sit, will be vacant, and so did Jonathan render: and you will be sought, for your seat will be vacant.		כי יפקד מושבך. שיהיה מושבך חסר, שאתה יושב בו וכן תרגם יונתן: ותתבעי ארי יהי מרוח בית אסחרותך:
and you will be remembered. [ונפקדת is] an expression of remembering.		ונפקדת. לשון זכרון:
will be vacant. [יפקד is] an expression of lacking.		כי יפקד. לשון חסרון:
19And for three days, you shall hide very well, and you shall come to the place where you hid on the day of work, and you shall stay beside the traveler's stone.		יטוְשִׁלַּשְׁתָּ֙ תֵּרֵ֣ד מְאֹ֔ד וּבָאתָ֙ אֶל־הַמָּק֔וֹם אֲשֶׁר־נִסְתַּ֥רְתָּ שָּׁ֖ם בְּיּ֣וֹם הַֽמַּעֲשֶֹ֑ה וְיָ֣שַׁבְתָּ֔ אֵ֖צֶל הָאֶ֥בֶן הָאָֽזֶל:
And for three days you shall hide very well. And you shall triple the days, and then you shall descend very much, i.e., when the third day arrives, you shall descend into a secret place, and hide very well, for then they will seek you. And you shall come to this secret place, wherein you are hiding today, which is a workday. And so did Jonathan render: on the weekday, for he hid on that day, as it is stated: (infra v. 24) “And David hid in the field;” immediately, “and it was the new moon” on the morrow.		ושלשת. שלשת ימים, ואז תרד מאוד, כלומר לכשתגיע היום השלישי, תרד במקום סתר ותתחבא הרבה, כי אז יבקשוך, ובאת אל המקום הסתר הזה אשר אתה נסתר בו היום, שהוא יום מעשה מלאכה וכן תרגם יונתן: ביומא דחולא, שאותו היום נסתר, כמה שנאמר (פסוק כד): 'ויסתר דוד בשדה' מיד, 'ויהי החדש' מחר:
the travelers’ stone. (Heb. ‘even-ha azel,’ lit., the going stone, i.e.) a stone which was a sign (a landmark) for travelers.		האבן האזל. אבן שהיתה אות להולכי דרכים:
Ha-azel. those who go on the road. And so did Jonathan render: even atha, the stone which was a sign.		האזל. הולכי הדרך, וכן תרגם יונתן: אבן אתא, אבן האות:
20And I shall shoot three arrows to the side, as though I shot at a mark.		כוַאֲנִ֕י שְׁל֥שֶׁת הַחִצִּ֖ים צִדָּ֣ה אוֹרֶ֑ה לְשַֽׁלַּֽח־לִ֖י לְמַטָּרָֽה:
to the side, I shall shoot. This is not a ‘mappiq-heh’ (aspirate ‘heh’). צדה is to be interpreted like לצד, to a side, for every word which requires a ‘lamed’ as a prefix, the Scripture gives a ‘he’ as a suffix. (Jeb. 13b) At the side of that stone, I shall shoot arrows to a mark, so that the youth will not understand, and this sign shall be for you to divine whether you must flee.		צדה אורה. לא מפיק ה"א, ופתרון צדה כמו לצד, כל תיבה שצריכה למ"ד בתחלתה, הטיל לה ה"א בסופה, בצד אותה אבן, אורה חצים למטרה, כדי שלא יבין הנער, וזה סימן יהיה לך לנחש אם אתה צריך לברוח:
21And behold, I shall send the youth, (saying,) 'Go, find the arrows.' If I say to the youth, 'Behold, the arrows are on this side of you,' take it and come, for it is well with you, and there is nothing the matter, as the Lord lives.		כאוְהִנֵּה֙ אֶשְׁלַ֣ח אֶת־הַנַּ֔עַר לֵ֖ךְ מְצָ֣א אֶת־הַחִצִּ֑ים אִם־אָמֹר֩ אֹמַ֨ר לַנַּ֜עַר הִנֵּ֥ה הַחִצִּ֣ים \| מִמְּךָ֣ וָהֵ֗נָּה קָחֶ֧נּוּ \| וָבֹ֛אָה כִּֽי־שָׁל֥וֹם לְךָ֛ וְאֵ֥ין דָּבָ֖ר חַי־יְהֹוָֽה:
And behold, I shall send, etc.. And it is customary for one who seeks an arrow which has been shot, to go to the place where he sees the arrow flying, but he cannot ascertain exactly. Sometimes he searches for it, and the arrow is beyond him, and sometimes he goes beyond the arrow and searches for it, and you shall have this sign.		והנה אשלח וגו'. ודרך המבקש חץ הירוי, הולך עד מקום שרואה שהחץ הולך, ואינו יכול לכוין יפה, פעמים שהוא מחפשה והחץ להלן ממנו, ופעמים שהוא הולך להלן מן החץ ומחפשה, והניחוש הזה יהיה לך:
If I say to the youth… take it and come. you yourself emerge from your hiding place, and take it, and come to me, for you have not to fear, for it is well with you. The Holy One Blessed be He, desires that you be here, and even if I have heard evil from Father.		אם אמור אומר לנער וגו' קחנו ובואה. צא אתה בעצמך ממקום מחבואך, וקחנו ובוא אלי, כי אין לך לירא, כי שלום לך, הקב"ה חפץ שתהא כאן ולא תירא, ואפילו שמעתי מאבא רעה:
22But, if I say thus to the youth, 'Behold, the arrows are beyond you,' go! For the Lord has sent you away.		כבוְאִם־כֹּ֚ה אֹמַר֙ לָעֶ֔לֶם הִנֵּ֥ה הַחִצִּ֖ים מִמְּךָ֣ וָהָ֑לְאָה לֵ֕ךְ כִּ֥י שִֽׁלַּחֲךָ֖ יְהֹוָֽה:
But, if I say thus… Go! For the Lord has sent you away. The Holy One Blessed be He tells you to flee and escape.		ואם כה אומר וגו' לך כי שלחך. הקב"ה אומר לך לברוח ולהמלט:
23And (concerning) the matter which we have spoken, I and you, behold, the Lord is between me and you forever."		כגוְהַ֨דָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּ֖רְנוּ אֲנִ֣י וָאָ֑תָּה הִנֵּ֧ה יְהֹוָ֛ה בֵּינִ֥י וּבֵינְךָ֖ עַד־עוֹלָֽם:
And concerning the matter which we have spoken. the covenant which we made together.		והדבר אשר דברנו. ברית שכרתנו יחד:
behold, the Lord is between me and you. as Witness concerning that matter.		הנה ה' ביני וביניך. עד על אותו דבר:
24And David hid in the field, and when it was the new moon, Saul sat down to the meal to eat.		כדוַיִּסָּתֵ֥ר דָּוִ֖ד בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה וַיְהִ֣י הַחֹ֔דֶשׁ וַיֵּ֧שֶׁב הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ אֶל־ (כתיב עֶל־) הַלֶּ֖חֶם לֶאֱכֽוֹל:
25And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, upon the seat by the wall, and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat down beside Saul, and David's place was vacant.		כהוַיֵּ֣שֶׁב הַ֠מֶּלֶךְ עַל־מ֨וֹשָׁב֜וֹ כְּפַ֣עַם \| בְּפַ֗עַם אֶל־מוֹשַׁב֙ הַקִּ֔יר וַיָּ֙קָם֙ יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב אַבְנֵ֖ר מִצַּ֣ד שָׁא֑וּל וַיִּפָּקֵ֖ד מְק֥וֹם דָּוִֽד:
the seat by the wall. at the head of the couch beside the wall.		אל מושב הקיר. בראש המטה אצל הקיר:
and Jonathan arose. He got up from his place, since it is not proper for a son to recline beside his father. Since their custom was to eat reclining on couches and David would recline between Jonathan and Saul, now that David did not come, Jonathan did not recline until Abner sat down beside Saul, and afterwards, Jonathan sat beside Abner. And if you say that he did not sit at all, the Scripture states: (infra v. 34) “And Jonathan arose from the table,” implying that he had been sitting.		ויקם יהונתן. עמד ממקומו, לפי שאין דרך הבן להיות מיסב אצל אביו, שדרכן היה לאכול מסובין על המטות, והיה דוד מיסב בין יהונתן ובין שאול, עכשיו שלא בא דוד, לא היסב יהונתן, עד שישב אבנר מצד שאול, ואחר כך ישב יהונתן מצד אבנר ואם תאמר לא ישב כלל, הרי הוא אומר (פסוק לד): ויקם יהונתן מעל השלחן, מכלל שישב:
26And Saul did not say anything on that day, for he thought, "It is an incident; he is not clean, for he is not clean."		כווְלֹֽא־דִבֶּ֥ר שָׁא֛וּל מְא֖וּמָה בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא כִּ֚י אָמַר֙ מִקְרֶ֣ה ה֔וּא בִּלְתִּ֥י טָה֛וֹר ה֖וּא כִּֽי־לֹ֥א טָהֽוֹר:
It is an incident. He has experienced a seminal emission.		מקרה הוא. קרי ראה:
he is not clean. and he has not yet immersed himself, for had he immersed himself for the uncleanness of his emission, he would not have to wait until sunset in order to eat ordinary food.		בלתי טהור הוא. ועדיין לא טבל לקריו, שאלו טבל לקריו, אין צריך הערב שמש לחולין:
for he is not clean. This clause gives the reason for the matter; i.e., since he is not clean, he, therefore, did not come, lest he contaminate the feast.		כי לא טהור. זו היא נתינת טעם לדבר, לפי שאינו טהור, לפיכך לא בא, שלא יטמא את הסעודה:
27And it was, on the morrow of the new moon, the second (day of the month), that David's place was vacant, and Saul said to Jonathan, his son, "Why has not the son of Jesse come to the meal either yesterday or today?"		כזוַיְהִ֗י מִֽמָּחֳרַ֚ת הַחֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ הַשֵּׁנִ֔י וַיִּפָּקֵ֖ד מְק֣וֹם דָּוִ֑ד ס וַיֹּ֚אמֶר שָׁאוּל֙ אֶל־יְהוֹנָתָ֣ן בְּנ֔וֹ מַדּ֜וּעַ לֹא־בָ֧א בֶן־יִשַׁ֛י גַּם־תְּמ֥וֹל גַּם־הַיּ֖וֹם אֶל־הַלָּֽחֶם:
on the morrow of the new moon. on the morrow of the renewal of the moon.		ממחרת החדש. ממחרת חידוש הלבנה:
the second. on the second day of the month.		השני. ביום שני לחדש:
28And Jonathan answered Saul, "David asked leave of me (to go) to Bethlehem.		כחוַיַּ֥עַן יְהוֹנָתָ֖ן אֶת־שָׁא֑וּל נִשְׁאֹ֨ל נִשְׁאַ֥ל דָּוִ֛ד מֵעִמָּדִ֖י עַד־בֵּ֥ית לָֽחֶם:
29And he said, 'Let me go away now, for we have a family sacrifice in the city, and he, my brother, commanded me, and now, if I have found favor in your eyes, let me slip away now, and see my brothers. ' He, therefore, did not come to the king's table."		כטוַיֹּ֡אמֶר שַׁלְּחֵ֣נִי נָ֡א כִּ֣י זֶבַח֩ מִשְׁפָּחָ֨ה לָ֜נוּ בָּעִ֗יר וְה֚וּא צִוָּֽה־לִי֙ אָחִ֔י וְעַתָּ֗ה אִם־מָצָ֚אתִי חֵן֙ בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ אִמָּ֥לְטָה נָּ֖א וְאֶרְאֶ֣ה אֶת־אֶחָ֑י עַל־כֵּ֣ן לֹא־בָ֔א אֶל־שֻׁלְחַ֖ן הַמֶּֽלֶךְ:
and he, my brother, commanded me. The eldest of the house, commanded me that I be there. And he is my brother Eliab.		והוא צוה לי אחי. גדול הבית צוה לי שאהיה שם, והוא אחי אליאב:
let me slip away. ‘Escamoter’ in French. I shall go away for one day and come back.		אמלטה. אשקמוצי"ד בלע"ז, אלך יום אחד ואבוא:
30And Saul's wrath was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, "You son of a straying woman deserving of punishment! Did I not know that you choose the son of Jesse, to your shame and to the shame of your mother's nakedness?		לוַיִּֽחַר־אַ֚ף שָׁאוּל֙ בִּיה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֔וֹ בֶּֽן־נַעֲוַ֖ת הַמַּרְדּ֑וּת הֲל֣וֹא יָדַ֗עְתִּי כִּֽי־בֹחֵ֚ר אַתָּה֙ לְבֶן־יִשַׁ֔י לְבָ֨שְׁתְּךָ֔ וּלְב֖שֶׁת עֶרְוַ֥ת אִמֶּֽךָ:
a straying woman, deserving of punishment. (בן נעות המרדות) An expression of straying and wandering, נע ונד, a gadding woman. Just as you say זעוה from זע, and the ‘tav’ is for the construct state, for it is connected to the word המרדות.		נעות המרדות. לשון נע, אשה נעה ונדה, יוצאנית, כאשר תאמר 'זעוה' מן 'זע', כן תאמר 'נעוה' מן 'נע', והתי"ו מן הדיבוק, שהוא דבוק למרדות:
deserving of punishment. (Heb. המרדות), who deserves to be chastised and disciplined. Another explanation is as follows: When the men of Benjamin grabbed the girls of Shiloh, who came out to dance in the vineyards (Jud. 21:21), Saul was bashful, and did not want to grab [a girl], until she came herself, behaving insolently, and pursued him.		המרדות. שהיא ראויה לרדות ולייסר דבר אחר: כשחטפו בני בנימן מבנות שילה שיצאו לחול בכרמים, היה שאול ביישן ולא רצה לחטוף, עד שבאתה היא עצמה והעיזה פניה ורדפה אחריו:
straying woman. because of the vineyards. And that is a winepress, like (the Talmudical passage): Purge the winepress (which was used for forbidden wine) (Ab. Zarah 74b); His winepresses will drip with wine (Targum Onkelos, Gen. 40:12)….(The last three words of Rashi are incomprehensible, and are probably erroneous. The correct version is unknown to us.)		נעות. על שם הכרמים, והיא גת, כמו (עבודה זרה עד ב): נעוה ארתחו. יטופון נעווהי בחמר (תרגום פרשת ויחי פסוק חכלילי עינים (בראשית מט יב)), ולא מן השם:
31For all the days that the son of Jesse is living on the earth, you and your kingdom will not be established. And now, send and take him to me, for he is condemned to death."		לאכִּ֣י כָל־הַיָּמִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֚ר בֶּן־יִשַׁי֙ חַ֣י עַל־הָאֲדָמָ֔ה לֹ֥א תִכּ֖וֹן אַתָּ֣ה וּמַלְכוּתֶ֑ךָ וְעַתָּ֗ה שְׁלַ֨ח וְקַ֚ח אֹתוֹ֙ אֵלַ֔י כִּ֥י בֶן־מָ֖וֶת הֽוּא:
32And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said to him, "Why should he be put to death? What has he done?"		לבוַיַּ֙עַן֙ יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן אֶת־שָׁא֖וּל אָבִ֑יו וַיֹּ֧אמֶר אֵלָ֛יו לָ֥מָּה יוּמַ֖ת מֶ֥ה עָשָֹֽה:
33And Saul cast the spear upon him to strike him; and Jonathan knew that it had been decided upon by his father, to put David to death.		לגוַיָּ֨טֶל שָׁא֧וּל אֶֽת־הַחֲנִ֛ית עָלָ֖יו לְהַכֹּת֑וֹ וַיֵּ֙דַע֙ יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן כִּֽי־כָ֥לָה הִ֛יא מֵעִ֥ם אָבִ֖יו לְהָמִ֥ית אֶת־דָּוִֽד:
34And Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger; and he did not eat any food on the second day of the new moon, for he was grieved concerning David, for his father had put him to shame.		לדוַיָּ֧קָם יְהוֹנָתָ֛ן מֵעִ֥ם הַשֻּׁלְחָ֖ן בָּחֳרִי־אָ֑ף וְלֹא־אָכַ֞ל בְּיוֹם־הַחֹ֚דֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִי֙ לֶ֔חֶם כִּ֚י נֶעְצַב֙ אֶל־דָּוִ֔ד כִּ֥י הִכְלִמ֖וֹ אָבִֽיו:
he was grieved (lit.) to David. concerning David.		נעצב אל דוד. בשביל דוד:
for his father had put him to shame. concerning David.		כי הכלימו אביו. בשביל דוד:
35And it was in the morning, that Jonathan went out at David's appointed time, and a small boy was with him.		להוַיְהִ֣י בַבֹּ֔קֶר וַיֵּצֵ֧א יְהוֹנָתָ֛ן הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה לְמוֹעֵ֣ד דָּוִ֑ד וְנַ֥עַר קָטֹ֖ן עִמּֽוֹ:
at David’s appointed time. at the time which David had set for him.		למועד דוד. למועד אשר קבע לו דוד:
36And he said to his boy, "Run, find now the arrows which I shoot." The boy ran; and he shot the arrow to cause it to go beyond him.		לווַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְנַעֲר֔וֹ רֻ֗ץ מְצָ֥א נָא֙ אֶת־הַ֣חִצִּ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י מוֹרֶ֑ה הַנַּ֣עַר רָ֔ץ וְהֽוּא־יָרָ֥ה הַחֵ֖צִי לְהַעֲבִרֽוֹ:
to cause it to go beyond him.. The arrow went beyond the boy.		להעבירו. החצי עבר את הנער:
37And the lad came up to the place of the arrow, which Jonathan had shot. And Jonathan called after the lad, and said, "Isn't the arrow beyond you?"		לזוַיָּבֹ֚א הַנַּ֙עַר֙ עַד־מְק֣וֹם הַחֵ֔צִי אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָרָ֖ה יְהוֹנָתָ֑ן וַיִּקְרָ֨א יְהוֹנָתָ֜ן אַחֲרֵ֚י הַנַּ֙עַר֙ וַיֹּ֔אמֶר הֲל֥וֹא הַחֵ֖צִי מִמְּךָ֥ וָהָֽלְאָה:
38And Jonathan called after the lad, "Quickly, hasten, do not stand!" And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.		לחוַיִּקְרָ֚א יְהֽוֹנָתָן֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י הַנַּ֔עַר מְהֵרָ֥ה ח֖וּשָׁה אַֽל־תַּעֲמֹ֑ד וַיְלַקֵּ֞ט נַ֚עַר יְהֽוֹנָתָן֙ אֶת־הַ֣חִצִּ֔ים (כתיב הַ֣חִצִּ֔י) וַיָּבֹ֖א אֶל־אֲדֹנָֽיו:
39And the lad knew nothing; only Jonathan and David knew the matter.		לטוְהַנַּ֖עַר לֹֽא־יָדַ֣ע מְא֑וּמָה אַ֚ךְ יְהֽוֹנָתָן֙ וְדָוִ֔ד יָדְע֖וּ אֶת־הַדָּבָֽר:
40And Jonathan gave his weapons to his boy, and said to him, "Go, bring (them) to the city."		מוַיִּתֵּ֚ן יְהֽוֹנָתָן֙ אֶת־כֵּלָ֔יו אֶל־הַנַּ֖עַר אֲשֶׁר־ל֑וֹ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֔וֹ לֵ֖ךְ הָבֵ֥יא הָעִֽיר:
41The lad departed, and David arose from (a place) toward the south; and he fell upon his face to the ground three times, and prostrated himself three times. And they kissed one another, and wept one with the other, until David exceeded.		מאהַנַּעַר֘ בָּא֒ וְדָוִ֗ד ֤קָם מֵאֵ֣צֶל הַנֶּ֔גֶב וַיִּפֹּ֨ל לְאַפָּ֥יו אַ֛רְצָה וַיִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ שָׁל֣שׁ פְּעָמִ֑ים וַֽיִּשְּׁק֣וּ \| אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־רֵעֵ֗הוּ וַיִּבְכּוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־רֵעֵ֔הוּ עַד־דָּוִ֖ד הִגְדִּֽיל:
from a place toward the south. (lit., from by the south. Jonathan renders:) from the side of the travelers’ (or sign) stone which was toward the south.		מאצל הנגב. (תרגום:) מסטר אבן אתא דלקבל דרומא:
until David exceeded. He cried more.		עד דוד הגדיל. הרבה לבכות:
42And Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace! (And bear in mind) that we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, 'May the Lord be between me and you, and between my descendants and your descendants forever.' "		מבוַיֹּ֧אמֶר יְהוֹנָתָ֛ן לְדָוִ֖ד לֵ֣ךְ לְשָׁל֑וֹם אֲשֶׁר֩ נִשְׁבַּ֨עְנוּ שְׁנֵ֜ינוּ אֲנַ֗חְנוּ בְּשֵׁ֚ם יְהֹוָה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר יְהֹוָ֞ה יִֽהְיֶ֣ה \| בֵּינִ֣י וּבֵינֶ֗ךָ וּבֵ֥ין זַרְעִ֛י וּבֵ֥ין זַרְעֲךָ֖ עַד־עוֹלָֽם:
Go in peace!. And the oath which we have sworn, may the Lord be witness thereon forever.		לך לשלום. והשבועה אשר נשבענו, ה' יהיה עד עליה עד עולם:

Translation of Chumash and Rashi courtesy Chabad House Publications’ forthcoming English Chumash with an annotated translation of Rashi based on the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, published by Kehot Publications Society. Translated and adapted by Rabbi Moshe Wisnefsky, Editor-in-Chief. Rabbi Chaim N. Cunin, Director and General Editor.

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