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“And the charge of Elazer the son of Aharon the Kohen, shall be the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, and the Tamid meal offering, and the anointing oil, the charge of all the Mishkan. And of all that is therein over the Mishkan and over its vessels.” (4:16)

The Midrash notes that while Elazar was appointed overseer of Bnei Kehas, he personally transported the heavy articles mentioned in the above pasuk. There is a difference of opinion among the commentators whether Elazer was very strong or whether this was a miraculous feat. The Midrash also emphasizes Elazar’s self-effacing attitude. Despite his inherent right as Aharon’s son to delegate the transport of these articles to others, Elazer took upon himself to perform this relatively menial service personally. This Midrash teaches a valuable lesson, especially for those who are involved in leadership roles. One who has responsibility should not merely…

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“All that were numbered of the Leviim, whom Moshe and Aharon numbered… All the males from a month old and upward, were twenty two thousand.” (3:39)

Ramban takes note of the fact that the members of the tribe of Levi were fewer than the other tribes in number. Although they had been counted from the age of a month old and above (unlike the other tribes who were counted only from the age of twenty years and over), they still numbered only twenty two thousand. It is astonishing that Hashem’s servants and pious devotees should not be blessed to the extreme that the rest of the people were. Ramban suggests that this is a confirmation of Chazal’s statement in Midrash Tanchuma that the tribe of Levi…

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“Count the children of Levi… every male from the age of one month and above.” (3:15)

The Leviim were an exception to the rule that men below the age of twenty were not counted in the census. Hashem instructed Moshe to count the male members of the tribe of Levi from the age of one month, since prior to thirty days old an infant’s viability is uncertain. The distinction between the tribe of Levi and the other tribes is notable. Why were the infants of the Leviim counted, despite their inability to perform any type of service? The commentators offer various reasons. We suggest that the Leviim serve as the paradigm of the individual who devotes…

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“And they gathered the entire nation on the first of the second month… according to the number of names.” (1:18)

Moshe is enjoined to take a census of Bnei Yisrael by counting the “number of names.” Ramban explains that the concept of counting the “number of names” is specifically emphasized in order to preserve the honor and dignity of each individual Jew. It would have been easier for each head of household to provide the number of children in his family. This would have denied the individual, however, his opportunity to pass before Moshe to receive his due honor. The census has a practical purpose, to count a nation’s population. The most efficient method is to gather together the data…

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