Numbers 3:34 - Levi's sacred census count

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Hebrew Text

וּפְקֻדֵיהֶם בְּמִסְפַּר כָּל־זָכָר מִבֶּן־חֹדֶשׁ וָמָעְלָה שֵׁשֶׁת אֲלָפִים וּמָאתָיִם׃

English Translation

And those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand two hundred.

Transliteration

Ufkudeihem bemispar kol-zakhar miben-chodesh vama'ala sheshet alafim u'matayim.

Hebrew Leining Text

וּפְקֻדֵיהֶם֙ בְּמִסְפַּ֣ר כׇּל־זָכָ֔ר מִבֶּן־חֹ֖דֶשׁ וָמָ֑עְלָה שֵׁ֥שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֖ים וּמָאתָֽיִם׃

Parasha Commentary

Context of the Verse

This verse (Numbers 3:39) appears in the Torah portion of Bamidbar, where the Levites are counted separately from the rest of the Israelites. The verse specifies the total number of male Levites from one month old and upward, totaling 6,200. This counting is distinct from the general census of the Israelites, which only included males from 20 years and older (Numbers 1:3).

Rashi's Explanation

Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) comments that the Levites were counted from one month old because they were designated for holy service from birth. Unlike the rest of Israel, who were only counted from 20 years old (the age of military service), the Levites' sanctity began at a young age. Rashi further explains that the number 6,200 refers specifically to the family of Gershon, one of the three Levite clans (along with Kehat and Merari).

Rambam's Perspective

Rambam (Maimonides) in Hilchot Klei HaMikdash (Laws of Temple Vessels 3:12) discusses the unique role of the Levites. He emphasizes that their early counting reflects their inherent sanctity and their lifelong dedication to serving in the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and later the Beit HaMikdash (Temple). Their service was not contingent on age but on their tribal lineage.

Midrashic Insights

The Midrash Tanchuma (Bamidbar 6) notes that the Levites were counted separately because they were chosen to replace the firstborns after the sin of the Golden Calf. Their early counting symbolizes their purity and their role as spiritual substitutes.
The Sifrei (a halachic Midrash) highlights that the phrase "from one month old" teaches that even infants were included in the Levite's sanctified status, underscoring the idea that holiness is not dependent on maturity or merit but on divine selection.

Significance of the Number

The number 6,200 is relatively small compared to the other Israelite tribes. The Kli Yakar (Rabbi Shlomo Ephraim Luntschitz) explains that this reflects the Levites' unique role: they were not meant to be numerous but to serve as a spiritual elite, dedicated entirely to Torah and divine service. Their smaller number emphasizes quality over quantity.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is not quoted in the Talmud.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does Numbers 3:34 mean when it counts males from one month old?
A: Numbers 3:34 counts the male descendants of Merari, one of the Levite families, starting from one month old. Unlike other tribes where counting began at age 20 for military service (Numbers 1:3), Levites were counted from infancy because their role was sacred service in the Mishkan (Tabernacle). Rashi explains that this highlights the inherent holiness of the Levites from a young age.

Q: Why were the Levites counted separately in the Torah?
A: The Levites were counted separately because they were chosen for special service to Hashem in the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and later the Temple. Rambam (Hilchot Klei HaMikdash 3:1) explains that the Levites had unique responsibilities, such as transporting and guarding the Mishkan. Their census emphasized their distinct role as substitutes for the firstborns saved during the Exodus (Numbers 3:12-13).

Q: What is the significance of the number 6,200 in Numbers 3:34?
A: The number 6,200 represents the male Levites from the family of Merari, one of the three Levite clans. Each clan had different Mishkan duties: Merari carried its structural components (Numbers 3:36-37). The precise count teaches the importance of every individual’s role in communal service, as the Midrash (Bamidbar Rabbah 3:12) notes that even infants were included to show the continuity of holiness.

Q: How does the counting of the Levites apply to us today?
A: While we no longer have the Mishkan or Levitical service, the principle remains relevant: every Jew has a unique role in serving Hashem. The Talmud (Arachin 11b) derives from the Levites’ census that children should be raised with Torah values from infancy. Today, this teaches parents to educate children early in mitzvot and communal responsibility, as their potential for holiness is innate.