We're in the Book of Numbers, Bamidbar (7:18), where the heads of the tribes are bringing offerings to the Tabernacle. It says, "On the second day, Nethanel ben Tzuar, the chief of Yissachar, presented." Then, a verse later, it repeats: "He presented (hikriv) his offering." Why the repetition? That's what the Rabbis wanted to know.
The Sifrei Bamidbar tells us there was a bit of…well, let’s call it tribal enthusiasm! Reuven, the eldest, wasn't too pleased that Judah had gone first. He pipes up, "Hey, it's enough that Judah got to go before me! Let me present now, according to birth order!" Basically, "I'm the oldest! It’s my turn!"
But Moses, our ever-patient leader, had to gently set him straight. The Holy One, Kadosh Baruch Hu, had instructed him to arrange the offerings according to the order of their journeying. And the text emphasizes this point with the command "hakrev" – "Present!" It was an imperative, a directive. Not about age, but about divine instruction.
So, where does Nethanel come in? Why is his offering mentioned twice? Because, the text explains, Nethanel merited in counsel. He was instrumental in advising about the presentation of these offerings. Because of his wise counsel, Scripture accounts it to him as if he had presented first. It's a reward for his insight and guidance.
And it gets even better! Nethanel, representing the tribe of Yissachar, also merited a bequest of binah – understanding. This is profound! We see this echoed in I Chronicles (12:33), "And of the sons of Yissachar, knowers of understanding for the times." They weren't just smart; they understood the deeper meaning of things. They had wisdom to discern the right course of action.
This quality of Yissachar is further highlighted in Judges (5:15) "And the leaders of Yissachar (the Sanhedrin) were with Devorah, and as Yissachar, so, Barak, in the valley." The Sanhedrin, the high court, were with Devorah, displaying leadership and understanding.
Even in Egypt, Scripture praises Yissachar for their role in the batei-din, the houses of judgment. The text mentions "Yashuv, the family of the Yashuvi," and connects "yishuv" to beth-din, citing Ezekiel (33:31) where people come to sit in judgment. Yissachar was associated with justice and wise counsel from the very beginning.
We even see this theme in Deuteronomy (33:18), "Rejoice Zevulun on your going forth (to trade), and Yissachar in your tents (of Torah)." Zevulun prospers through trade, while Yissachar finds joy and prosperity in the tents of Torah, in learning and understanding. This echoes the idea found in Genesis (25:27) where Jacob is described as a "whole" man, sitting in the tents of learning.
So, what’s the takeaway here? It’s not just about who goes first or birth order. It's about recognizing and valuing wisdom, understanding, and good counsel. Nethanel and the tribe of Yissachar are remembered not for demanding their place in line, but for their insightful contributions. True honor, it seems, comes from the wisdom we offer, not the position we hold. It's a reminder that sometimes, the greatest contributions are the ones that happen behind the scenes, guiding and shaping the actions of others. What kind of contribution are we making?