Shevet Levi, the tribe of Levi, had proven their fidelity to Hashem during– and after– the sin of the Golden Calf. This earned them the appellation ligyono shel Melech, the legion of the King/Hashem, which was an elevated status. This new status warranted them being counted separately and differently from the rest of the nation. While the rest of the nation was counted from the age of twenty-years old, Shevet Levi was counted as infants, thirty days and older. In commenting on Rashi’s statement: “It is appropriate that the King’s legion be counted alone,” Sifsei Chachamim writes that this is…