Parshas Bamidbar 5786
- Torah Tavlin
- May 14
- 2 min read
שאו את ראש כל עדת בני ישראל למשפחתם לבית אבתם במספר שמות ... (א-ב)
Sefer Bamidbar begins with Moshe Rabbeinu counting Klal Yisroel. Yet, in his waning days, Dovid HaMelech instructed his life-long general, Yoav, to take a census and the result was a devastating plague. Meforshim ponder the integral difference.
The Malbim explains that in Tanach there are several terms used for counting, each with a distinct interpretation. "מספר" is a simple numerical count; one, two, three. "פקד" refers to tallying an amount in general numbers, used for organizational purposes, such as assigning a number of soldiers to a single general. "מנה" means counting to ensure nothing is missing from a total number. And finally, the word "נשא", which literally translates “to lift up”, to elevate and recognize the importance of each individual, is also an expression of counting. When Hashem commands Moshe to count Klal Yisroel, the Torah says, "שאו את ראש כל עדת ישראל". This was not just a census. It was an expression of love and greatness. Hashem was telling the Yidden, that after all your travels and challenges in the Midbar, every single one of you remains precious and accounted for. Chazal say, the name "ישראל" is a mnemonic for "יש ששים רבוא אותיות לתורה" - every Jew is essential to the Torah. The world depends on Torah, and the Torah is complete only when every member of our nation is present and accounted for.
Comparatively, Dovid’s count was described very differently. He started with "לך מנה את ישראל" and he then instructed Yoav "ופקדו את העם". After concluding his mission, the posuk states "ויתן יואב את מספר מפקד העם". Three terms are used, but "נשא" is conspicuously absent. Why? because following Avshalom’s rebellion, Dovid was uncertain of Klal Yisroel’s loyalty. In earlier years, people willingly rallied with him. But now he felt the nation had lost devotion to Malchus Bais Dovid and subsequently to the Ribono Shel Olam. As such, he felt compelled to determine how many soldiers he had as military assets. But his count didn’t include the inherent holiness and immeasurable value of every Yid. This omission was the root of such a tragedy. A proper counting is one of a collective group, each person a cherished individual, part of a larger nation serving Hashem.