HaShem tells Moshe that the time has come to exact retribution against Midian for the role they played in the Jewish People’s sinning, which had resulted in 24,000 Jews dying in a plague. Moshe then speaks to the People, instructing them to arm themselves and to form a battalion with each tribe providing a thousand men.
“A thousand from a tribe, a thousand from a tribe, for all the tribes of Israel shall you send to the legion”
The first question that arises is if Moshe has asked for the People to give a thousand men per tribe, why does he seemingly need to emphasize that ALL tribes were to provide a thousand men – is it not obvious that he means all tribes without exception?
The next verse relates Bnei Yisrael’s adherence to Moshe’s request: “There were delivered from the thousands of Israel, a thousand from each tribe, twelve thousand armed for the legion”
Another couple of points to note:
Firstly, what is the implication of the word ויַמ ִָּסרְ וּ – “so there were delivered”? Did they not want to go?
Secondly, we are aware that there were 12 tribes and the arithmetic of 12 tribes multiplied by 1,000 men is relatively simple so why do we need to be told that the army totaled 12,000 soldiers?
Rashi, commenting on verse 4, says that the reason that we are told that all tribes were asked to provide a thousand men is inform us that the tribe of Levi was included. However, when the next verse tells us that a total of 12,000 were sent to war, does that mean that the tribes of Ephraim and Menashe were treated for this purpose as only one tribe? If so, would we not have expected Rashi to tell us that fact too?
There are many suggested answers:
- The emphasis on the word “all of the Shevatim” to include the tribe of Levi even though they were not to receive a portion on the land of Eretz Yisrael. (Mizrachi)
- There were only 12,000. Although the tribe of Levi was included but this meant that the tribes of Menashe and Efrayim, both sons of Yosef, are counted only as one tribe of Yosef. (Maskil Ledavid).
- There were really 13,000 including the tribe of Levi. The possuk that says 12,000 is speaking about the soldiers handed over unwillingly, while the 1,000 from the tribe of Levi went willingly. (Imrei Shefer)
- There were only 12,000 and although the tribe of Levi was included but the tribe of Shimon were excluded since they were the ones who had sinned with the daughters of Midyan and therefore it was not appropriate for them to join. (ibid)
- 12,000 did not include the tribe of Efrayim. Moshe’s death was to follow after this battle and his successor, Yehoshua, came from Efrayim. In order that people should not say that the tribe of Efrayim were eager to fight this battle in order to make the new leader from their tribe step in. (Biurei Mahara”i).
- Therefore, the tribe of Efrayim’s 1,000 soldiers were replaced by the tribe of Levi. (Abarbanel)
- 12,000 were from all the tribes while from the tribe of Levi there were more soldiers but not the same number of 1,000 (Imrei Noam).
- 12,000 soldiers went armed while the 1,000 from the tribe of Levi were different going unarmed but escorted by the Aron. (Gur Aryeh)
- There are some who say that each Shevet sent 2,000 soldiers, and others say that each Shevet sent 3,000 soldiers - there were 12,000 (1,000 from each Shevet x 12 Shevatim) who watched כליהם – their vessels, and 12,000 for Tefilah. It says, “אלף למטה 1,000 – ”אלף למטה and 1,000 and then the next Posuk says, “וימסרו מאלפי ישראל אלף למטה ” – which is another 1,000 – for a total of 3,000 per Shevet. What does, “ וימסרו ” - “They were given over” mean? One P’shat is that they were paired up with each other. Another P’shat is that they were given over against their will because the revenge of Midyan was connected to the death of Moshe. They did not want to fight Midyan, so that Moshe would remain alive. A Gorel was performed to decide who would go, and they were forced to go (Medrash Rabbah)
- A total of 24,000 (2,000 from each tribe) went to war against Midyan, corresponding to the 24,000 Jews whose death they caused. (Rokeiach)
- The verse begins with an “Alef” and ends with an “Alef.” (Baal haTurim)
