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Numbers 4:35 - Prime years for sacred service?

Numbers 4:35 - במדבר 4:35

Hebrew Text

מִבֶּן שְׁלֹשִׁים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה וְעַד בֶּן־חֲמִשִּׁים שָׁנָה כָּל־הַבָּא לַצָּבָא לַעֲבֹדָה בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד׃

English Translation

from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, everyone that enters into the service, for work in the Tent of Meeting:

Transliteration

Miben shloshim shana va'ma'la ve'ad ben-chamishim shana kol-haba latzava la'avoda be'ohel mo'ed.

Hebrew Leining Text

מִבֶּ֨ן שְׁלֹשִׁ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה וְעַ֖ד בֶּן־חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים שָׁנָ֑ה כׇּל־הַבָּא֙ לַצָּבָ֔א לַעֲבֹדָ֖ה בְּאֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃
מִבֶּ֨ן שְׁלֹשִׁ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה וְעַ֖ד בֶּן־חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים שָׁנָ֑ה כׇּל־הַבָּא֙ לַצָּבָ֔א לַעֲבֹדָ֖ה בְּאֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃

🎵 Listen to leining

Parasha Commentary

Age Parameters for Service in the Mishkan

The verse (Bamidbar 4:3) establishes the age range of 30 to 50 years for those eligible to serve in the Mishkan (Tent of Meeting). Rashi explains that this refers specifically to the Levites who carried the Mishkan's vessels during travel. The age of 30 marks full physical maturity, while 50 is when strength begins to wane (Rashi, Bamidbar 4:3).

Spiritual Significance of the Age Range

The Midrash (Bamidbar Rabbah 6:3) teaches that 30 years represents the age of full wisdom and understanding, as seen with Yosef who became viceroy at 30 (Bereishit 41:46). The Rambam (Hilchot Klei HaMikdash 3:8) notes this age range ensures service is performed with proper strength and dignity.

Halachic Implications

  • The Talmud (Chullin 24a) derives from this verse that sacrificial service requires full physical capacity.
  • Rabbi Ovadia Sforno explains that this age bracket represents peak years when one can serve with both physical vigor and spiritual maturity.
  • The Kli Yakar emphasizes that these years represent the balance between youthful enthusiasm and mature restraint.

Contemporary Lessons

The Netziv (Ha'amek Davar) suggests this teaches that sacred service requires both physical capability and life experience. The age parameters remind us that spiritual leadership demands both the energy of youth and the wisdom that comes with years.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

The verse is referenced in a discussion about the age limits for Levitical service, comparing it to other age-related halachic principles.
📖 Arachin 19b
Cited in a discussion about the valuation of persons for Temple service, noting the age range specified for Levites.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why does the Torah specify ages 30 to 50 for service in the Tent of Meeting?
A: According to Rashi and other commentators, the age range of 30 to 50 represents the peak of a person's physical and mental strength. The service in the Mishkan (Tabernacle) required both wisdom and physical ability, which are most developed during these years. The Talmud (Chullin 24a) also notes that this was the age when the Levites reached full maturity for their sacred duties.
Q: What kind of work did the Levites do in the Tent of Meeting?
A: The Levites were responsible for transporting, assembling, and maintaining the Mishkan and its vessels during the Israelites' travels in the wilderness. This included carrying the Ark, Table, Menorah, Altars, and other sacred items (as described in Numbers 4:5-15). The Rambam explains in Hilchot Klei HaMikdash that this required both physical strength and great care due to the holiness of these objects.
Q: Does this age restriction apply to Jewish service today?
A: While we no longer have the Mishkan service, the principle of dedicating one's mature years to sacred service remains important. The Mishnah (Avot 5:21) outlines different life stages, noting that age 30 is when 'strength becomes firm.' Today, this teaches us that our prime working years should be dedicated to meaningful spiritual contributions to the community.
Q: Why does the verse say 'enters into the service' instead of just 'serves'?
A: The phrasing 'enters into the service' (הבא לצבא) teaches that this wasn't automatic - it required conscious decision and preparation. The Sforno explains that one had to voluntarily enter this sacred service with proper intention, not just reach the right age. This teaches us that meaningful spiritual service requires both qualification and proper mindset.