Bamidbar – Page 10 – Peninim on the Torah

Hashem spoke to Moshe and Aharon saying, “The Bnei Yisrael shall encamp, each man by his banner according to the insignias of their fathers’ household, at a distance surrounding the Ohel Moed shall they encamp.” (2:1,2)

An inconsistency seems to be manifest in the text of this pasuk. Hashem enjoins Klal Yisrael to camp “mineged,” at a distance, and “saviv“, surrounding. Are they to camp mineged or saviv? If it is opposite it is not close. The Satmar Rebbe, zl, cites his father in his sefer, “Yetev Lev.” He explains this apparent contradiction in light of Rashi’s interpretation of the phrase, “b’osos l’bais avosam,” “according to the insignias of their fathers’ household,” as a reference to the signs that Yaakov gave his sons, regarding the formation of his sons when they were to serve as his…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5759, Bamidbar

Hashem spoke to Moshe and Aharon saying: “The Bnei Yisrael shall encamp, each man by his banner according to the insignias of their fathers’ household.” (2:1,2)

The Midrash discusses the remarkable level of sanctity achieved by Klal Yisrael as a result of their degalim, banners. Indeed, Chazal cite a dialogue between the gentile nations in which they attempt to dissuade Klal Yisrael from maintaining their allegiance to Hashem. Klal Yisrael’s response to the gentiles’ negativity was the beauty and sanctity of the degalim that evoked their pride in being Jewish. We must endeavor to understand what it is about the degalim that engendered such feelings of self – esteem and pride. Horav Mordechai Rogov, zl, offers two responses to this question. He explains that Torah and…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5759, Bamidbar

So did they encamp by their standards, and so did they journey, each one according to his families, by the house of his fathers. (2:34)

Horav S.R. Hirsch, zl, explains the practical/symbolic meaning behind the formation of the tribes as they camped and traveled. In the front, to the east, under the degel of Yehudah, were the tribes of Yehudah, Yissachar and Zevullun. To the right, in the south, under the degel of Reuven, were Reuven, Shimon and Gad. To the left, in the north, under the degel of Dan, were the tribes of Dan, Asher and Naftali. Last, in the back, opposite Shevet Yehudah, under the degel of Efraim, were Efraim, Menashe, and Binyamin. Each of the three tribes which form the leading camp…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5759, Bamidbar

Count the Bnei Levi (according to their fathers’ household, according to their families) every male from one month of age and up shall you count them. Moshe counted them according to the word of Hashem as he had been commanded. (3:15,16)

Rashi cites a dialogue between Moshe Rabbeinu and Hashem. Moshe asked the Almighty, “How do I enter the tents to determine the number of infants in their home?” It would have been improper for Moshe to enter the Levite tents to count the number of suckling infants. Hashem responded, “You do yours and I will do mine.” Moshe would go to the entrance of each tent and wait outside while the Shechinah preceded him, after which a Heavenly voice would proclaim the number of babies in the tent. We must understand how it was that Moshe decided to do things…

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Bamidbar

Count the heads of the whole of the congregation of Bnei Yisrael. (1:2)

When it was necessary to conduct a census, the vehicle of counting was the contribution of a half – shekel coin to be used for the construction and maintenance of the Mishkan. The people elevated their status by contributing to charity. Hence, we understand the word “seu”, “raise up/elevate the heads”. The counting also served as a means to elevate the people. Horav S.R. Hirsch, zl, supplements this idea with a profound thought. By using a contribution as the symbol of counting, the Torah is telling them that a Jew is ‘counted’ as belonging to the congregation of Klal Yisrael…

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Bamidbar

Their count, for the tribe of Menashe; thirty two thousand, two hundred. (1:35)

The count for shevet Menashe was about thirty-two thousand men. There is no doubt that every census was determined by Hashem. Consequently, there must have been a reason that the number thirty-two played such a prominent role in Menashes’ census. Horav Chaim Pardes, Shlita, expounds on the significance of the number thirty-two through the perspective of Chazal. The Talmud Yevamos 62b states that Rabbi Akiva’s twenty four thousand students died during the period between Pesach and Shavuous because they were not accustomed to showing proper kavod, honor/esteem, one for another. The Maharal M’Prague makes a profound statement in regard to…

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Bamidbar

These are the offspring of Moshe and Aharon…These are the names of the sons of Aharon…(3:1,2)

The Torah is about to enumerate Moshe and Aharons’ offspring. The pasuk, however, mentions only the sons of Aharon. In the Talmud Sanhedrin 96, Chazal infer that one who teaches Torah to someone else’s children is regarded as if he has begotten them. Moshe was their rebbe; he taught them the Torah, which would sustain them. He was like their father. This idea applies to anyone who imparts his Torah knowledge to others. Our influence is far-reaching; our ability to inspire is unlimited. Moshe was mentor and spiritual father to Aharon’s sons. What about the rest of Klal Yisrael? …

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Bamidbar

The families of Bnei Kehas would encamp on the side of the Mishkan, to the south. (3:29)

Rashi notes that shevet Reuven camped nearby. This close proximity between Shevet Reuven and shevet Kehas is what caused Dasan and Aviram of the tribe of Reuven to be “pulled” along, to be influenced by Korach. His vilification of Moshe Rabbeinu and Aharon Hakohen gave him the distinction of being the first one to rebel against Moshe Rabbeinu’s leadership. Dasan and Aviram stood at the forefront of Korach’s ill-fated group of followers. They were “nimshach”, pulled along, by Korach because they were near him. Rashi’s use of the word “nimshichu”, they were pulled, as opposed to any other phrase denoting…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Bamidbar

And Hashem spoke to Moshe in the wilderness of Sinai. (1:1)

Chazal emphasize the fact that Klal Yisrael received the Torah in a barren wilderness. The desert is a desolate place, void of any amenities. One must subsist on the bare minimum and not indulge himself in empty physical pleasures if he is to succeed in filling his mind and heart with Torah. The emptiness of the desert also symbolizes Klal Yisrael’s reliance upon the Almighty. We were provided with food from Heaven, water from a stone; Hashem’s miracles addressed our every need. We must realize that Hashem determines success in life, both spiritual and physical. The conditions under which…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Bamidbar

Those encamping near him are therefore the tribe of Yissachar…the tribe of Zevulun… (2:5,7)

Yehudah, Yissachar, and Zevulun were grouped together under one banner. The commentators cite various reasons for the connection between these three tribes. Rabbenu Bachya contends that since the members of these three tribes were accomplished Torah scholars, it would seem appropriate that they camp in close proximity to one another. This explanation seems puzzling, in light of the fact that Zevulun was known to engage in commerce so that his brother Yissachar could devote all of his time to Torah study. Zevulun undoubtedly appreciated Torah study. Was he, however, as scholarly as Yissachar and Yehudah?Yehudah, Yissachar, and Zevulun were grouped…

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Hashem spoke to Moshe and Aharon saying, “The Bnei Yisrael shall encamp, each man by his banner according to the insignias of their fathers’ household, at a distance surrounding the Ohel Moed shall they encamp.” (2:1,2)

Hashem spoke to Moshe and Aharon saying: “The Bnei Yisrael shall encamp, each man by his banner according to the insignias of their fathers’ household.” (2:1,2)

So did they encamp by their standards, and so did they journey, each one according to his families, by the house of his fathers. (2:34)

Count the Bnei Levi (according to their fathers’ household, according to their families) every male from one month of age and up shall you count them. Moshe counted them according to the word of Hashem as he had been commanded. (3:15,16)

Count the heads of the whole of the congregation of Bnei Yisrael. (1:2)

Their count, for the tribe of Menashe; thirty two thousand, two hundred. (1:35)

These are the offspring of Moshe and Aharon…These are the names of the sons of Aharon…(3:1,2)

The families of Bnei Kehas would encamp on the side of the Mishkan, to the south. (3:29)

And Hashem spoke to Moshe in the wilderness of Sinai. (1:1)

Those encamping near him are therefore the tribe of Yissachar…the tribe of Zevulun… (2:5,7)

YEARS

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