Sometimes the pieces don’t quite fit at first glance. Take, for instance, the tribe of Levi.
In the Book of Numbers – Bamidbar in Hebrew – we find two seemingly opposing instructions regarding the Levites. First, in Numbers 1:49, God says, "However, the tribe of Levi [you shall not count]." But then, just a few chapters later, in Numbers 3:15, we’re told, "Count the children of Levi." So, which is it? Are they in or are they out?
This apparent contradiction has puzzled scholars for ages. As Rabbi Yehuda bar Shalom points out in Bamidbar Rabbah, there’s a profound reason why the Levites were treated differently. It all boils down to the tragic story of the Israelites' lack of faith and their punishment: not being allowed to enter the Promised Land after their exodus from Egypt.
The Israelites who left Egypt, those twenty years and older, were decreed to die in the wilderness, as we read in Numbers 14:29: “Your carcasses will fall in this wilderness…” The fear was that if the Levites had been included in the general census, they too would have been subject to the same decree.
But why were the Levites spared? According to Bamidbar Rabbah, the Levites remained righteous both in Egypt and in the desert. They even risked their lives for God during the infamous episode of the Golden Calf. Remember that story? When Moses descended from Mount Sinai and saw the Israelites worshipping a golden idol, he called out, "Whoever is for the Lord, come to me!" (Exodus 32:26). And who answered the call? "All the sons of Levi gathered to him."
Their unwavering devotion, their willingness to stand up for what was right, set them apart. And this dedication continued even after they entered the Land of Israel. The Midrash tells us that in the days of Joshua, the Levites continued to teach Israel to worship God, as it says in Joshua 24:31: “Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua [and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua].” Bamidbar Rabbah identifies these elders as none other than the children of Levi! Alternatively, Rabbi Berekhya ben Rabbi Ḥelbo, citing Abba Semukeyad, suggests they were Eldad and Medad.
But here’s another intriguing question: How do we know for sure that all the Levites actually made it into the Promised Land? After all, Numbers 26:65 states that none of the Israelites who were counted "remained of them except Caleb son of Yefuneh and Joshua son of Nun."
The Midrash anticipates this question. Doesn't Elazar the priest, son of Aaron, also enter the land? After all, Joshua 19:51 tells us that he helped apportion the land. The answer lies in a principle derived from the Baraita of Rabbi Yishmael. Elazar serves as an example for his entire tribe. If he entered, they all entered. If he didn't, then neither did they. Since he demonstrably entered, so did the rest of the Levites.
Rabbi Tanhuma bar Rabbi Abba even recounts a fascinating debate he had with Rabbi Abba Huna HaKohen bar Rabbi Avin about this very point. Rabbi Tanhuma argued that the decree only applied to those twenty years and older. Rabbi Abba countered that Elazar could have been younger than twenty. Tanhuma then pointed out that Elazar was married in Egypt (Exodus 6:25) and served in the Tent of Meeting before the decree was issued. According to Numbers 4:39, priests had to be at least thirty years old to serve! Faced with this compelling evidence, Rabbi Huna conceded that the entire tribe of Levi must have entered the Land.
So, what’s the takeaway here? The Holy One, blessed be He, recognizing that the tribe of Levi would indeed enter the Land while the rest of that generation of Israelites would not, instructed Moses to count them separately. As Bamidbar Rabbah concludes, "However, the tribe of Levi you shall not count…you do not count them with Israel, but you count them separately. That is what is written: 'Count the children of Levi.'"
This story is a powerful reminder that even in the face of collective challenges, individual righteousness and dedication can make all the difference. The Levites, through their unwavering commitment to God, carved out a different destiny for themselves and, in doing so, left an enduring legacy for generations to come. What does their story inspire in you?