5783/2023
The third Perek of BeMidbar begins with a list of the
children of Moshe and Aharon. A few questions could be
asked on these opening pesukim. Why does the Torah say
the mention only and) 3:1 BeMidbar (ְוֵ֛אֶּלה ּתֹו ְל֥דֹת ַא ֲה֖רֹן ּומֶֹׁשֶׁ֑שה
sons of Aharon and not the sons of Moshe Rabbeinu?
Why does the pasuk tell us that the Nevuah took place on
Har Sinai? Why does it mention again that Nadav and
Avihu died if we already knew this? Why does the word
הןֵ֤כַ ְויַ appear in the singular if it's referring to Elazar and
Etamar?
Rashi quoting the Gemera explains that anyone who
teaches another person Torah is as if he gave birth to him.
Since Moshe taught Aharon’s sons Torah it is as if they are
Moshe’s sons as well.
The Abarbanel adds that the Torah repeats Nadav and
Avihu dying without children to show that there were
very few Kohanim and they needed the help of the Leviim
in the Mishkan. This is why Nadav VaAvihu’s deaths are
mentioned right before the Leviim are commanded to work in the Mishkan. The Pasuk includes the location of the
Nevuah to teach us that Hashem chose the Kohanim at Har
Sinai and didn’t choose the Leviim until now to work in the
Mishkan. The Abarbanal explains further that since Elazar will
become the Kohen Gadol after his father Aharon, the word הןֵ֤כַ ְויַ
is in singular because it refers to him.
The Netziv gives a different explanation for the word הןֵ֤כַ ְויַ. The
Netziv explains that both Elazar and Etamar were fit to be the
next Kohen Gadol but both wanted to give the other the
opportunity to be Kohen Gadol and therefore the Pasuk says it
in the singular.
The common underlying message from these Mefarshim is the
importance of helping and doing good for others. Whether it's
teaching someone else Torah like Moshe Rabbeinu or helping
others in need like the Leviim or giving up important
opportunities to someone else like Elazar and Etamar, we see
the importance of helping others.
This message is important to us because we are in the middle
of counting Sefirat HaOmer and mourning the deaths of the
students of Rabi Akiva. We know that they were lacking in their
Bein Adam LeChaveiro. We should all try to follow these
examples from the Parashah and improve our Bein Adam
LeChaveiro and ultimately correct the actions of Rabi Akiva’s
students.