Rishon
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
📘 Rashi Q&A — Bamidbar 1:20–54 (Aliyah Sheini · Shrunk)
Q1. Who is counted in this census?
A: Males aged 20 and above, fit for military service.
Q2. How is each tribe counted?
A: Separately, under its tribal prince.
Q3. Why is Reuven listed first?
A: Because of firstborn status, despite loss of leadership.
Q4. Why is Yehudah’s number the largest?
A: Destiny of kingship.
Q5. Why is Ephraim listed before Menasheh?
A: Spiritual precedence, despite younger age.
Q6. Why is Yosef split into two tribes?
A: Double inheritance.
Q7. What is the total number counted?
A: 603,550.
Q8. Who is excluded from this total?
A:
- Women
- Children
- Tribe of Levi
Q9. Why is Levi not counted with the tribes?
A: Levi is designated for Mishkan service, not war.
Q10. What danger would inclusion cause?
A: Unauthorized approach to the Mishkan would bring death.
Q11. What is Levi’s role?
A:
- Carrying
- Assembling
- Guarding the Mishkan
Q12. Why do they camp around the Mishkan?
A: To shield Israel from Divine wrath.
Q13. What does the final verse emphasize?
A: Israel carried out the census exactly as God commanded.
Q1. How were the Israelites instructed to camp?
A: Each tribe camped by its banner, with unique colors and symbols inherited from Jacob.
Q2. Where was the Mishkan located?
A: At the center of the camp.
Q3. How far did the tribes camp from the Mishkan?
A: 2,000 cubits, enabling approach on Shabbat.
Q4. Which tribes camped to the east?
A: Judah, Issachar, Zebulun
Q5. Why does Judah lead?
A: Because of kingship.
Q6. Who traveled first when the camp moved?
A: The eastern camp.
Q7. Which tribes camped to the south?
A: Reuven, Shimon, Gad
Q8. Why is Reuven not first despite being firstborn?
A: He lost leadership due to past actions.
Q9. Where did the Levites camp?
A: Around the Mishkan, between it and the tribes.
Q10. Why are they placed there?
A: To guard the Mishkan and prevent unauthorized access.
Q11. When did the Levites travel?
A: After the eastern and southern camps, and before the western and northern camps.
Q12. Which tribes camped to the west?
A: Ephraim, Menasheh, Benjamin
Q13. Why does Ephraim lead this camp?
A: Spiritual precedence over Menasheh.
Q14. Which tribes camped to the north?
A: Dan, Asher, Naphtali
Q15. Why is Dan last?
A: Though last, Dan is strong and acts as the rear guard.
Q16. How many were counted in all camps?
A: 603,550, excluding Levites.
Q17. What does the final verse emphasize?
A: Israel camped and traveled exactly as God commanded.
📘 Rashi Q&A — Bamidbar 3:1–13 (Aliyah Revi‘i · Shrunk)
3:1 — “These are the generations of Aaron and Moses”
Q1. Why are Aaron’s sons listed but not Moses’ sons?
A: Because one who teaches another’s child Torah is considered to have begotten him; Aaron’s sons are called Moses’ offspring since Moses taught them.
3:2–3 — Names of Aaron’s Sons
Q2. Why is Nadav listed first?
A: Because he was the firstborn.
Q3. Why are Nadav and Avihu emphasized as “anointed”?
A: To show their greatness, despite their later death.
3:4 — Death of Nadav and Avihu
Q4. Why does Scripture repeat their death here?
A: To teach that they died for offering unauthorized fire before God.
Q5. What does “before their father” imply?
A: Their death caused lifelong mourning to Aaron.
3:5–10 — Appointment of the Levites
Q6. Why are the Levites brought near Aaron?
A: To assist him in Temple service.
Q7. What does “שְׁמִירַת מִשְׁמֶרֶת” mean?
A: Guarding the Mishkan and its vessels.
Q8. Why must Levites serve instead of firstborns?
A: Because the firstborn sinned with the Golden Calf.
3:11–13 — Levites Replace the Firstborn
Q9. Why does God say “the Levites are Mine”?
A: They are taken in place of the firstborn, whom God sanctified in Egypt.
Q10. How were the firstborn originally sanctified?
A: When God struck Egypt’s firstborn and spared Israel’s.
Q11. What is the main idea of this section?
A: Transfer of sacred service from the firstborn to the Levites.
📘 Rashi Q&A —Bamidbar 3:14–39
3:14–15 — Counting the Levites
Q1. Why are the Levites counted separately?
A: They are God’s army, designated for Mishkan service, not warfare.
Q2. From what age are Levites counted?
A: One month old and above, since they serve by replacement, not strength.
Q3. Why does Moses personally count the Levites?
A: Because the count was done by God’s command, conferring sanctity.
Q4. Who are Levi’s three sons?
A: Gershon, Kehat, Merari
Q5. What did the family of Gershon carry?
A:
- Curtains
- Coverings
- Entrance screens
Q6. Where did Gershon camp?
A: West of the Mishkan.
Q7. What was Kehat’s responsibility?
A:
- Ark
- Table
- Menorah
- Altars
- Sacred vessels
Q8. Why was Kehat’s role most dangerous?
A: The vessels were most holy and uncovered.
Q9. Where did Kehat camp?
A: South of the Mishkan.
Q10. What did Merari carry?
A:
- Beams
- Bars
- Pillars
- Sockets
Q11. Where did Merari camp?
A: North of the Mishkan.
Q12. Where did Moses, Aaron, and their sons camp?
A: East of the Mishkan.
Q13. Why were they placed there?
A: To guard the entrance and prevent unauthorized access.
Q14. What was the total number of Levites?
A: 22,000
Q15. Why does the Torah emphasize the total?
A: To prepare for the exchange with the firstborn.
📘 Rashi Q&A — Bamidbar 3:40–51
Q1. Why are firstborn counted from one month old?
A: Because below one month he is possibly non‑viable.
3:41–45 — Levites Replace Firstborn
Q2. What replaces the Israelite firstborns?
A: The Levites.
Q3. What about animals?
A: Levite animals replace Israel’s firstborn donkeys, not kosher animals.
Q4. How do we know this?
A: Torah does not count animal surplus, only human.
Q5. How many firstborn were there?
A: 22,273.
Q6. How many firstborn exceeded the Levites?
A: 273.
Q7. What must be done with them?
A: They must be redeemed with money.
Q8. Why five shekels?
A: Allusion to sale of Yosef (20 silver pieces ÷ brothers).
Q9. How much money was collected?
A: 1,365 shekels.
Q10. How is it calculated?
A: 273 × 5 = 1,365.
Q11. How did Moshe determine who pays?
A: By lottery tickets:
- “Levite” (free)
- “5 shekels” (pay)
Q12. To whom was the money given?
A: Aaron and his sons.
Q13. What does the verse emphasize?
A: Everything was done exactly as God commanded.
📘 Rashi Q&A — Vayikra 27:1–15
4:2–3 — Counting Kehat
Q1. Which ages are counted for service?
A: 30–50 years old.
Q2. Why this age range?
A:
- Under 30: not at full strength
- Over 50: strength declines
4:4 — Kehat’s Role
Q3. What is “קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים” here?
A: The holiest vessels: Ark, Table, Menorah, Altars, Curtain, utensils.
4:5 — Covering the Vessels
Q4. Who covers the vessels?
A: Aaron and his sons.
Q5. Why don’t Kehat do it?
A: They only carry, not handle directly.
4:5–14 — Covering Details
Q6. What signals travel?
A: The cloud lifting.
Q7. What is covered first?
A: The Ark, with the Parochet.
Q8. What layers cover the vessels?
A:
- Inner cloth (often תְּכֵלֶת / colored cloth)
- Outer tachash skin
Q9. What remains on the Table?
A: The showbread stays during travel.
Q10. What are: מַלְקָחֶיהָ / מַחְתֹּתֶיהָ?
A:
- Tongs (adjust wicks)
- Ash‑pans
Q11. What happens to the outer Altar fire?
A: Fire stays like a lion beneath cover, not burning it.
4:15 — Kehat Carries
Q12. When may Kehat approach?
A: Only after covering is complete.
Q13. What if they touch uncovered holy items?
A: Death by Heaven.
4:16 — Elazar’s Role
Q14. What is Elazar in charge of?
A:
- Oil
- Incense
- Anointing oil
- Daily offering supervision
- Directing Kehat’s tasks
4:18–20 — Warning to Kehat
Q15. What does “אַל־תַּכְרִיתוּ” mean?
A: Do not cause their death.
Q16. What must be done to protect them?
A: Assign each person specific item + load.
Q17. What is forbidden even before carrying?
A: Seeing the vessels while being wrapped.
