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Rishon
- Hashem commands Moshe to take a census of the Jewish people:
- When: Hashem spoke to Moshe in the Sinai desert in the Ohel Moed on the first day of the second month [i.e. 1st of Iyar] in the second year of leaving Egypt.
- Who is counted: He commanded him to count the Jewish people according to their families, counting every male who is twenty years of age and above.
- Choosing tribal leaders: One leader and representative of each tribe shall count with you. The following are the names of these leaders:
- Reuvein: Elitzur Ben Shedeur
- Shimon: Shelumiel Ben Tzurishadai
- Yehuda: Nachshon Ben Amminadav
- Yissachar: Nisanel Ben Tzuar
- Zevulun: Eliav Ben Cheilon
- Ephraim: Elishama Ben Ammihud
- Minasheh: Gamliel Ben Pedahtzur
- Binyamin: Avidan Ben Gideoni.
- Dan: Achiezer Ben Amishaddai
- Asher: Pagiel Ben Ochran
- Gad: Eliasaf Ben Deuel
- Naftali: Achira Ben Einan
- Moshe took all the above-mentioned individuals and he gathered the entire congregation on the first of the second month and the genealogy of each family was established. All men above 20 years of age were counted as Hashem commanded Moshe.
📘 Rashi Q&A — Bamidbar 1:1–19
1:1 — God Counts Israel
Q1. Why does Scripture state the exact time and place: “in the Sinai Desert…on the first day of the second month”?
A: Because Israel is dear to God, He counts them repeatedly:
- When they left Egypt
- After many fell at the Golden Calf
- And now, after the Divine Presence rested among them
The Mishkan was erected on 1 Nisan, and they were counted on 1 Iyar.
1:2 — Taking the Census
Q2. What is meant by “לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם”?
A: By families, in order to determine the population of each tribe by summing its family totals.
Q3. What does “לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם” teach?
A: Tribal affiliation follows the father’s tribe, not the mother’s.
Q4. What does “לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָם” mean?
A: A head count conducted indirectly, by collecting half‑shekels (bekah per head).
1:3 — Eligible for the Army
Q5. Who is included in “כָּל־יֹצֵא צָבָא”?
A: Males 20 years old and above, since one does not serve in the army before that age.
1:4 — Tribal Representation
Q6. What does “וְאִתְּכֶם יִהְיוּ” imply?
A: All tribal leaders must be present together when the census is conducted.
Q7. Who is appointed from each tribe?
A: The head of his paternal house, i.e., the tribal prince.
1:5–15 — The Tribal Princes
Q8. What is the purpose of listing each prince by name?
A: These specific men were designated by God to serve in leadership for the census.
1:16 — Leaders of the Community
Q9. What does “קְרוּאֵי הָעֵדָה” mean?
A: Men who are summoned for all major communal affairs, representing the people collectively.
Q10. What does “רָאשֵׁי אַלְפֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל” mean?
A: They were leaders over thousands in Israel.
1:17 — Moses and Aaron Act
Q11. What is meant by “הָאֲנָשִׁים הָאֵלֶּה”?
A: The twelve princes listed earlier.
Q12. What does “אֲשֶׁר נִקְּבוּ בְשֵׁמוֹת” mean?
A: They were explicitly named by God to Moses for this appointment.
1:18 — Establishing Lineage
Q13. What does “וַיִּתְיַֽלְדוּ עַל־מִשְׁפְּחֹתָם” mean?
A: Each person proved his lineage, producing genealogical records and witnesses to establish his tribal identity.
Q14. Why was lineage verification necessary?
A: So every man could be correctly assigned to his tribe.
1:19 — Obedience to God’s Command
Q15. What does verse 19 emphasize?
A: Moses carried out the census exactly as God commanded, in the Sinai Desert.