The old stories, the aggadah, are full of fascinating hints. Take the way He kept track of the Israelites back in the desert.
It's said that God, in His infinite love, insisted on frequent censuses of the Israelites. Why? So He could accurately appreciate and cherish what was His. Think about that for a moment. He wanted to know exactly who and how many were part of His people. It’s like knowing every star by name, every grain of sand on the shore.
And it wasn’t just a one-time thing. According to Ginzberg’s retelling in Legends of the Jews, in less than six months, they were counted not once, but twice! The first time was just before the Tabernacle, the Mishkan, was built, and the second a mere month after its dedication.
Now, imagine Moses getting the word on the first day of Iyyar. He’s told to count every man over twenty, those strong enough to fight. But he wasn't alone in this monumental task. God knew it was a big job.
God instructed Moses to enlist Aaron as his assistant. "Two are better than one," right? The idea was that Aaron could catch anything Moses might miss.
But it didn't stop there. Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons, were brought in as subordinate assistants, along with twelve men, one from each tribe. These weren't just number crunchers, though. They had a heavy responsibility. These men were tasked with the spiritual well-being of their tribes. As Legends of the Jews tells us, the sins of their tribes would weigh on their heads if they didn't do everything in their power to prevent them. A serious job!
Even with all this authority, Moses and Aaron made sure to caution the tribal princes. Despite their high status, they were told not to tyrannize the people. Power corrupts, as they say. And, on the flip side, the people were reminded to respect those in positions of leadership. A delicate balance.
It makes you wonder, doesn't it? About the care and attention to detail, the balance of power and responsibility. About what it means to truly cherish a people. It's more than just counting heads; it's about knowing each individual, and caring for their well-being. And it reminds us that even leaders are accountable, and that respect flows both ways. What does it mean to count, to be counted, to be seen and valued?