The second year after the exodus from Egypt, G-d commanded Moshe to take a census of all the Jewish men eligible for the army, between twenty and sixty years old.
The commentaries explain the purpose of this census was to portray G-d’s intense love and concern for the Jewish people. A person counts and spends time with something that he loves and cherishes. This was especially important after the sin of the Golden Calf, when the nation had fallen in disgrace. G-d wanted to show the people He had forgiven them for the sin. For this reason the Levites were not counted as they did not sin by the Calf, and thus never needed that reassurance that the rest of the nation needed. (Although the Levites too would be counted later, it was for a different reason, to be able to redeem the firstborn Israelites. Each firstborn needed one Levite to redeem him.)
The sum total of the census was around six hundred thousand people. Considering the fact that this number was approximately the same as the number of Jews that had first left Egypt, it was a comfort to them. Despite G-d’s anger and His punishment, they were not in any danger of being decimated.
Another reason for the census was to give each Jew the opportunity to spend a few moments with Moshe, to see a role model to emulate. The census reminded them that each Jew has a unique mission to fulfill, and that he must strive to achieve his best. The people were counted from age twenty, since that was when they were mature enough to fulfill their mission. (The tribe of Levi was counted from thirty days old, since their mission was different than the rest of the nation. Their mere presence as a family of priests was reason enough to be counted.)
The camp was arranged in a quadrilateral shape, with the Levites and the Mishkan in the center. A group of three tribes camped on each side, with one of the tribes serving as a leader for each grouping.
Just as each tribe was counted by itself, each tribe also had its own place to camp. These specific positions were maintained throughout the forty years in the desert for various reasons. Certain tribes were placed next to others because they shared complementary missions. Each of the tribes was equidistant from the Tabernacle in the middle. This showed that no tribe was more important than another, and that only in conjunction with one another could they accomplish their mission as a whole unit together.
“...The Tent of Meeting, the camp of the Levites, will journey in the middle of the camps...” (Num. 2:17)
The Tent of meeting contained the Ark, and was at the epicenter of the camp. This symbolizes Torah which is also central to the life of a Jew. The Chafetz Chaim compared Torah to the heart, which is located in the center of a person’s body, yet pumps blood throughout the body. Torah, too, provides spiritual lifeblood to the entire nation.
Rav Yitzchak Hutner once commented that the greatest public service a person can do for the Jewish people is to sit and learn Torah. Through Torah study a person becomes part of the heart of the Jewish nation and helps provide spiritual life to everyone.
Did You Know...
It is customary for a bride and groom to be escorted to the chuppah, the marriage canopy, with candlelight. The reason for this is to recall the fiery smoke at Mount Sinai when the Jewish people were wedded to G-d. Another reason offered is that the candles suggest a prayer to G-d to illuminate the way for the bride and groom as they face the unknown challenges of life.The groom is led to the chuppah before the bride. This is also reminiscent of Mount Sinai, where the Torah relates that G-d, the Groom, preceded the Jewish people, the bride, to the mountain.
