Bamidbar Rabbah, the rabbinic commentary on the Book of Numbers, dives right into this question with a surprisingly poetic starting point.

The verse we're looking at is "The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai" (Numbers 1:1). But instead of jumping straight into legal interpretations, the Rabbis take a detour through the Song of Songs (7:3), a book filled with love poetry: "Your navel is a moon-shaped goblet." What’s going on here?

The Midrash, in its characteristic way, sees hidden connections. That "moon-shaped goblet" isn't just a pretty image. It's an analogy for the Sanhedrin, the ancient Jewish high court! This court was situated in the Chamber of Hewn Stone within the Temple itself. And the connection to the navel? Just as the navel is located in the center of the body, the Sanhedrin was located in the center of the Temple. A center of wisdom, judgment, and spiritual life.

But there's more. The verse continues, "May it not lack blended wine [al yeḥsar hamazeg]" (Song of Songs 7:3). This phrase, al yeḥsar hamazeg, is interpreted in a couple of interesting ways. First, it's taken to mean that the Sanhedrin always had to have a minimum number of members present – never less than one-third of the total. The Sanhedrin had seventy members. Therefore, there could not be less than twenty-three.

The Midrash then offers a practical explanation for al yeḥsar hamazeg: it refers to the proper way to dilute wine. A good blend, according to the Rabbis, is one-third wine and two-thirds water. This image is connected to the work of the Sanhedrin. The members would convene daily, from the morning offering until the afternoon offering, fully dedicated to their task. Imagine that level of commitment! According to the text, no one would leave to tend to his own affairs unless a count revealed that at least twenty-three members were still present.

So, why this emphasis on numbers and presence?

The verse shifts again: "Your belly is a pile of wheat" (Song of Songs 7:3). Here, Israel is likened to a pile of wheat. And just like wheat is carefully counted and measured when it enters the storehouse, God wants Israel to be counted at all times. The Bamidbar Rabbah sees this as a sign of importance. Something valuable is always worth counting.

The commentary then draws a sharp contrast. Straw and stubble? They aren't counted or measured. And, according to the Midrash, the nations of the world are likened to straw and stubble. We find this comparison in verses like "Like stubble before the wind" (Psalms 83:14) and "The house of Esau to stubble" (Obadiah 1:18). Why this seemingly harsh comparison?

The text tells us that God derives no pleasure from straw and stubble, as it is stated: "All the nations are as nothing before Him" (Isaiah 40:17). But Israel? The Holy One, blessed be He, derives pleasure from them. They recite the Shema, they pray, and they bless the name of the King of kings every day. That's why they are counted at all times, and that's why they are likened to wheat.

So, what’s the takeaway here?

This passage from Bamidbar Rabbah isn't just about numbers or agricultural metaphors. It's about value, purpose, and the relationship between God and His people. It's a reminder that what we value, what we count, reflects our priorities and our understanding of what truly matters. Are we striving to be wheat, carefully measured and valued? Or are we content to be like stubble, blown away by the wind?