Torah Portion for 08/26/2023

This passage lists the numbers of registered soldiers from each tribe of Israel. The Levites were not included in the count because they were chosen to serve as priests. The sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, died for offering strange fire before Yahweh. Eleazar and Ithamar became priests in their place. Yahweh instructed Moses to bring the tribe of Levi to serve Aaron and the congregation. The Levites were chosen to replace the firstborns of Israel, who were spared during the plague in Egypt. They were to serve Yahweh and guard the tent of appointment. Numbers 2.14-3.13 Then the tribe of Gad, and the leader of the children of Gad, Eliaseph son of Reuel, and his army with their registered ones, 45,650. All the registered ones of the camp of Reuben, according to their divisions, 151,450, and they are the second to depart. And the tenth of appointment, the camp of the Levites, shall move out in the middle of the camps. As they camp, so they move out, every one in his place, by their banners. On the west side, the banner of the camp of Ephraim, according to their divisions, and the leader of the children of Ephraim, Elishamah son of Ammihud, and his army with their registered ones, 40,500. And next to him, the tribe of Manasseh, and the leader of the children of Manasseh, Gamliel son of Peddesur, and his army with their registered ones, 32,200. Then the tribe of Benyamin, and the leader of the children of Benyamin, Abidan son of Gidoni, and his army with their registered ones, 35,400. All the registered ones of the camp of Ephraim, according to their divisions, 108,100. And they are the third to depart. On the north side, the banner of the camp of Dan, according to their divisions, and the leader of the children of Dan, Ahizer son of Amishadai, and his army with their registered ones, 62,700. And those who camp next to him, the tribe of Asher, and the leader of the children of Asher, Pahiel son of Okron, and his army with their registered ones, 41,500. Then the tribe of Nathali, and the leader of the children of Nathali, Ahira son of Inan, and his army with their registered ones, 53,400. All the registered ones of the camp of Dan, 157,600. They depart last with their banners. These were registered ones of the children of Israel by their father's houses, all who were registered according to their divisions of the camps, 603,550. But the Levites were not registered among the children of Israel, as Yahweh had commanded Moshe, and the children of Israel did according to all that Yahweh commanded Moshe. So they camped by their banners, and so they departed, each one by his clan, according to their father's houses. And these are the generations of Aaron and Moshe, when Yahweh spoke with Moshe on Mount Sinai. And these are the names of the sons of Aaron, Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ephemar. These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed priest, whom he ordained to act as priest. And Nadab and Abihu had died before Yahweh, when they brought strange fire before Yahweh in the wilderness of Sinai. And they had no children, so Eleazar and Ephemar acted as priests in the presence of Aaron their father. And Yahweh spoke to Moshe, saying, Bring the tribe of Lehi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, and they shall serve him. And shall guard his duty, and the duty of all the congregation, before the tent of appointment, to do the service of the dwelling place. And they shall guard all the furnishings of the tent of appointment, and the duty of the children of Israel, to do the service of the dwelling place. And you shall give the Levites to Aaron and his sons, they are the given ones, given to him from among the children of Israel. And appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall guard their priesthood. And the stranger who comes near shall be put to death. And Yahweh spoke to Moshe, saying, Now look, I myself have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel, instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the children of Israel. And the Levites shall be mine, because all the firstborn are mine. On the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Mitzrayim, I set apart to myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They are mine, I am Yahweh. Amen. Amen.