Let's dive into a story about counting, pride, and a very special relationship.

The story begins with Moses, fresh from his encounter with God on Mount Sinai. He comes down with the Ten Commandments, radiating… literally. The Israelites, still reeling from their sin of the Golden Calf, are awestruck, even a little intimidated by the light emanating from his face. "We were humbled by God because of our sin," they say to Moses, as recounted in Ginzberg's Legends of the Jews. "God has forgiven us, but you, Moses, have been exalted, while we remain humbled."

Moses, ever the advocate for his people, takes their concerns straight to God. "When you humbled them, you humbled me too," he pleads. "If you've raised me up, shouldn't you raise them up as well?"

And God responds with reassurance. "Truly, as I have exalted thee, so will I exalt them also," He says, according to the tale. But then comes a peculiar request: "Record their number, and through this show the world how near to My heart is the nation that before all others acknowledged Me as their king."

Now, this is where it gets interesting. Moses balks. "O Lord of the world!" he exclaims, "You have so many nations, but you don't bother counting them. Why single out Israel?"

God's response is powerful. "All these multitudes do not belong to Me," He says, "they are doomed to the destruction of Gehenna" – often translated as hell, but perhaps better understood as a place of purification. "But Israel is My possession. And as a man most prizes the possession he paid for most dearly, so is Israel most dear to Me, because I have with great exertions made it My own."

Think about that for a moment. God sees Israel as a precious possession, something painstakingly acquired. It's a relationship built on effort, on both sides.

But Moses isn't done questioning. He reminds God of the promise to Abraham: "I will make thy seed as the stars in the heavens," – an uncountable multitude. How can he reconcile that promise with the command to count them?

God, in His infinite wisdom, provides a unique solution. "Thou needest not actually count them," He explains. "But if thou wouldst determine their number, add together the numerical value of the names of the tribes, and the result will be their number."

This is a fascinating insight into Jewish thought. In Hebrew, each letter also represents a number. This system, called gematria, allows for hidden meanings and connections to be revealed through numerical analysis.

So, Moses does as instructed. He adds up the numerical values of the tribes' names and arrives at a total. But here's the kicker: the total is sixty myriads (hundreds of thousands) less three thousand. According to the story, those three thousand were lost to the plague that followed the sin of the Golden Calf.

This detail highlights the difference between the first census at the Exodus and the second one. It's a reminder that actions have consequences, even for a chosen people.

The Midrash Rabbah uses an analogy to illustrate God's actions: "God treated Israel as did that king his herd, who ordered the shepherds tell the tale of the sheep when he heard that wolves had been among them and had killed some, having this reckoning made in order to determine the amount of his loss."

So, what does it all mean? On one level, it's a story about the special relationship between God and Israel. God's desire to count them, even in a symbolic way, reflects His deep affection and investment in their well-being. It's also a story about accountability. Even in a relationship built on love and promise, actions matter.

Perhaps the story also hints at the idea that being "chosen" isn't always easy. It comes with expectations, with responsibilities. The Israelites are singled out, yes, but not just for blessings. They're also held to a higher standard. And maybe, just maybe, that's what makes them so special in God's eyes.