1)

What are the connotations of the words "al-Pi Hashem"?

1.

Rashi: When Moshe asked Hashem how he could possibly enter the Levi'im's tents 1 to find out how many children they had, Hakadosh-Baruch-Hu replied 'You do what you have to do, and leave the rest to Me!' Moshe then went and stood outside the Levi's tents, whilst the Shechinah went in and let him know via a Bas Kol how many children there were in each tent. Therefore the Torah writes "By the mouth of Hashem". 2

2.

Oznayim la'Toorah: Having told Yisrael in 1:29 "Ach es Mateh Levi Lo Sifkod", he needed to inform them here that he was counting them here not on his own volition but "al-Pi Hashem" - since he was not cointing them together with Yisrael but independently.

1

Since, as opposed to the counting of the other tribes, Moshe was told to go and count them - and not for the people to come to him.

2

And Hashem only did this with regard to the tents of the Levi'im, whom He was bringing close via this census, but not by the Bechorim, whom He was rejecting.

Sefer: Perek: Pasuk:
Month: Day: Year:
Month: Day: Year:

KIH Logo
D.A.F. Home Page
Sponsorships & Donations • Readers' Feedback • Mailing Lists • Talmud Archives • Ask the Kollel • Dafyomi Weblinks • Dafyomi Calendar • Other Yomi calendars