The Torah, specifically the book of Numbers (Bamidbar in Hebrew), gives us a glimpse into just how much the Holy One, Blessed be He, values the people of Israel. And it's all about… counting.

Sounds mundane, right? But think about it. "These are those who were counted of the children of Israel…" (Numbers 2:32). Bamidbar Rabbah, a classical collection of rabbinic teachings and interpretations on the Book of Numbers, illuminates something beautiful here. It points out that God "wrote a tally of Israel four times in the context of the banners; twice individually and twice generally." What’s the significance?

The text goes on to say that God counts each banner, both as a whole and individually, "in order to inform how beloved they are before Him." They are His hosts, His army, and He wants to keep track of them, always. The Midrash draws a parallel to someone with a precious treasure. What do they do? They count it, and recount it, reveling in the knowledge of its worth. This constant counting isn't about mere accounting; it's an expression of profound love and joy. God, according to Bamidbar Rabbah, rejoices in mentioning the tally of Israel, declaring, "I have such and such hosts in My world who perform my will," and finding comfort in them.

But here's where it gets even more interesting. We read, "And the Levites were not counted among the children of Israel, as the Lord commanded Moses" (Numbers 2:33). Wait, what? Why weren't the Levites counted? Doesn’t that contradict the whole idea of counting being an act of love?

Bamidbar Rabbah sheds light on this seeming contradiction. It connects this exclusion to the earlier tally, noting, "Just as it says in Israel’s tally: ‘As the Lord commanded Moses’ (Numbers 1:19), as there was joy before the Omnipresent because the Levites were not counted with them, so that they would not be eliminated with them in the decree."

What decree is that? Here the commentaries, like that of Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki, better known as Rashi, clarify. Rashi, and many others, explain this references the decree that came about after the sin of the spies. The spies, sent to scout out the land of Canaan, returned with a discouraging report, leading the Israelites to lose faith. As punishment, that entire generation was condemned to die in the wilderness, never reaching the Promised Land. The Levites, by not being counted in the initial census that led to this decree, were spared from this collective punishment.

So, the Levites' exclusion from the count, far from being a sign of diminished love, was actually an act of protection, of divine grace! It was as if God was saying, "I cherish you so much that I will even not count you if it means safeguarding you from harm." This highlights a profound truth about divine love: it's not always about grand gestures or constant affirmation, but sometimes about quiet acts of protection and preservation.

The whole passage from Bamidbar Rabbah reveals a multifaceted understanding of God's relationship with Israel. It's a relationship built on love, joy, and a deep, abiding concern for their well-being. It's a reminder that even in the seemingly mundane act of counting, there can be profound meaning and a powerful expression of love. And it reminds us, perhaps, to look for those less obvious expressions of love in our own lives, the quiet protections and blessings that we might otherwise overlook.