Parashas Bamidbar

Our Shabbos Parsha is Parashas Bamidbar , starting out the Fourth Book Of The Torah . Seeing as this Shabbos comes the day before Rosh Chodesh Sivan , we read the Haftorah for Shabbos Erev Rosh Chodesh which is 1 Samuel 20 : 18 - 42 , which starts with a reference to the following day being the New Moon Chodesh , just as this Shabbos is Erev Rosh Chodesh .
This Parsha starts out with HaShem Speaking to Moshe in the " Bamidbar " - " In the Wilderness " of Sinai , in the Tent of Meeting , on the first of Iyar ( the Hebrew Month after Nissan ) , in the second year after leaving Mitzrayim . 
HaShem Tells Moshe to take a census of the entire Assembly of the Children of Israel , according to their families , according to their Father's household , by number of the names , every male according to the head count , from twenty years and up , everyone who goes out to the Legion in Israel , Moshe and Aharon are to count them according to their Legions , and with Moshe while they are counted , must also be present , the Prince - Leader of each Tribe , representing their Tribe . HaShem Then Gives Moshe the names of the Leaders of the Tribes who are to stand with him . 
This was the third time that we were counted . The first time was when we left Egypt . The next time was after the Chayit Ha Eigel - the Incident of the Golden Calf . And now we were counted again . The First count showed How HaShem Had Blessed our Tribes in Egypt to grow Miraculously . The second count was to ascertain the amount of those left after the golden calf and now HaShem Had us counted again . So why Did HaShem Count us at this particular time ? Ramban offers a few reasons . Ramban says that after 210 years of slavery , HaShem Had us counted , to show His Love for each and every one of us , that HaShem Increased our numbers , from the original 70 members , that first entered Egypt , in Yaakov's time . Also , to HaShem , each and every one of us is important , and thus we each had an opportunity to come and be counted as a person of individual worth . Also , the word " Legion " is used here , so another reason for the counting now at this juncture , was because we were about to enter at that time , Eretz Yisrael , and thus a count had to take place to prepare ourselves , first of all for the military campaign ( in our " Legions " that would ensue as we entered the Land , for those battles we might have to fight , and also for the apportioning of the Land of Israel , between and to each Tribe and their families , for this time was before the Spies had brought back a bad report , and so , we were , at that time , still about to enter the Land now , before we were punished for the incident of the Spies , which had us wander in the " Bamidbar " - " Wilderness , " for forty years . HaShem Loves each and every one of us and Holds each and every one of us precious , and so , like we would count and take note of every precious item we have , so did HaShem Have us counted .
Moshe also invited the Elders too , out of respect for them , when he did the counting , which he did as soon as HaShem Asked him to , showing his great love for HaShem and his eagerness to fulfill HaShem's Word Straight away . Each person that was counted , was counted via half a shekel coin . Jews are not to be counted directly . HaShem Values the life of each and every Jew and so , each and every Jew , has a purpose in Creation . We are not just Physical beings , but have a Spirtual Neshoma within . The Physicality , that is our clothing in this Physical World , is prone to temptation , since the sin of Adam ve Chava , and so , does was the negativity brought into this World . That negativity , as a force , seeks to count us for Judgement , which is a totally fair action , for even that negative force , whether we call it Yetzer Horah , or its Malach Samael or Satan , still works for HaShem , in ensuring that we get tempted , so as to test our love for HaShem . If we love HaShem enough , we will overcome the tests and temptations put on us . These forces , seek to have us judged for the wrong that we do . That is one of their tasks . We need to be tested so as to better ourselves and show HaShem greater love than what we might do , if we just went along fulfilling our own desires . Seeing as these forces have special abilities to seek where we need Judgement , our very actions stand out to HaShem and them , and so , out of HaShem's Mercy for us , so that we and our negative actions don't stand out to negative entities , for HaShem , Who Knows of our negative actions , Tries To Show us Mercy , so we don't count our people directly , but rather use an object of counting instead , like a coin , or words of a Psalm , which we use when counting for a Minyan . So HaShem Instructed that the count be made with a half shekel coin per person .
We note that When HaShem Asked that a " Census " be taken , HaShem Said In Torah , " S'u Es Rosh Kol Adas B'nei Yisrael , " - " Take a census of the entire assembly of the Children of Israel . " The word for ' Census ' in Hebrew , is ' Mifkad ' ( Compact up to date English Hebrew Hebrew English Dictionary - Shimon Zilberman ) yet here in Torah , HaShem Uses the word " S'u , " which means ' to lift up , " which gives a deeper meaning of HaShem's Intention here . HaShem Was Thus Saying , ' lift up in holiness " Es Rosh " each one's head - each one's Physicality , to higher Spirtual and Holy Heights and Ways . Thus when we get counted , HaShem Shows That He Acknowledges us and our purpose in Creation , that is a Holy one , and that we are being called to attention to work up toward Him , and improve ourselves in Holiness . The words " Lift up the head , " can also have an opposite connotation , where our head is actually lifted off from us , as if being beheaded , which shows , that by keeping HaShem's Mitzvos , we grow higher Spiritually , but if we don't , the result , is like our head being lifted off , which spells death . Our very lives , are in the hands of the very actions we do . If we keep Torah , we go on the path of and towards life , but if we stray and don't keep Torah Laws , Chas Ve Shalom , we go away from life , toward death and destroying our very selves and our purpose in Creation , which is to Serve HaShem and Work also for the common good and not just ourselves . Just like a Shofet , a Judge , when Judging , must always think that there is a sword above his head , so that he must judge correctly , so must we think the same . Our very lives , are in the hands of our actions and obedience to HaShem and His Laws for our good .
We must always account ourselves among those who keep the Torah of HaShem's Laws . 
The Sedra then continues with the count of each Tribe and the total .
HaShem Then Instructs on the Placements and Formations of all the Tribes , as we rest and travel . Three Tribes were put in all four directions around the Camp , three per a direction , and within them , were the Levites and then Moshe and Aharon and in the Centre of our Camp , was the Ark of the Covenant and within It , The Shechinah Of HaShem . This showed how we , at all times , are to be a Nation unto HaShem , and to always keep HaShem , within our midst . HaShem Makes All of Creation . HaShem's Love Is Within Everything that is . We are Physically to always be surrounded by Holiness , and so , keep HaShem Always within us , and Always within our midst . The way we set ourselves up in the Tribal Formations , when we were in the " Bamidbar , " - " Wilderness , " was exactly how we had our formation , when we were in our Tribes , at the time of going to Canaan , to bury our holy Fore - Father Yaakov , in Yosef's time . So did we keep the same Formation . Our Formations also were , as we were traveling in the " Bamidbar , " - " Wilderness , " exactly how the Malachim Angels have their Formations Up Above , around HaShem and His Throne of Glory . 
We were each to encamp and travel within our Tribe , by our Banners and Insignias of our Father's Household . These Banners for each Tribe , were of the same colour for each Tribe , as the colour of the Stone that represented that Tribe , on the Kohein Gadol's Breast-Plate . The Insignias and Banners , represented a picture of something that had a representation for each Tribe , like Yehudah's Tribe was the Lion . Three Tribes each were grouped together in each of the four directions . And each of the four groups , had their own banner , that represented the four creatures , that were in Yechezkiel's Revelation , further on in Tanach . To the East and the first set of three Tribes to travel , was the Group of Yehudah , which included the Tribes of Yehudah , Issachar and Zevulun . The East , is the direcion , from which Light Comes to the World , and so , Yehudah , and his group of Issachar , the Torah Scholars and Zevulun , who supports him , were put together . To the South , was the group of Reuvein , which included the Tribe of Reuvein , Simeon and Gad , and from the South , Comes Spiritual Blessings of Rain and Dew , representing Repentance and Mercy From HaShem , and so , Reuvein ( Yaakov's son ) , who was a repentant man who acknowledged his mistake , was deserving to be in this direction . With him , was put the powerful Tribal men of Gad , and with then was the Tribe of Simeon , where both Reuvein and Gad , would keep him in check . To the West , is the place of HaShem's Shechinah , and it is also the place where harsh elements of snow and hail come and so the set of three Tribes in this direction , would have the Holiness to withstand it . In this group of Three Tribes , under the banner of Ephraim , was the Tribe of Ephraim , from which Yehoshuah came , the Tribe of Manasseh , both sons of Yosef , and also the Tribe of Binyamin , in whose portion in Israel , the Temple would stand . To the North , from which hidden and dark forces come , was the group Tribe of Dan , in which the Tribe of Dan was ( where later in years , from this Tribe king Yeravam came , who set up an idol ) and also the Tribe of Dan was strong , where Moshe had called this Tribe a Lion ( Kli Yakar ) so we would thus have a Lion's strength in our forefront with the Tribe of Yehudah and in our rear , with the Tribe of Dan , so was this group a strong protector from the rear . Also with this group , was the Tribe of Asher , who brought Holiness and Light , in their Olive Oil , that would Illuminate the Menorah , thus dispelling the darkness and also in this group was the Tribe of Naftali , known for its Torah Scholars . 
HaShem Instructs Moshe to then count the Levites separately , Aharon , being the Leader of the Tribe of Levi . We note that when HaShem Talks of Aharon's children here , they are referred to as the children of Moshe and Aharon . This teaches that as Moshe taught Aharon's children Torah , straight from The Almighty , so did they become like his children too and so our Sages say that one is a parent to a child not only by conceiving them , but also through teaching them Torah . 
Due to the sin of the Firstborn at the Chait Ha Eigel , The Levites replaced them and were counted instead for the work of the Avodah . The Levites were counted , but unlike the rest of the Tribes , who were counted from the age of twenty , the Levites were counted from the age from one month of age and up , for their holiness and avodah had to start at an earlier age to grow into holy men for the service they were to perform . The Firstborn were also counted and there was a difference in numbers between the Levites and Firstborn totals , for the Firstborn outnumbered the Levites by 273 . HaShem Instructed That every Levite and Firstborn were to stand before Moshe , who said out loud , that this Levite redeemed this firstborn . Another opinion is that a lot was cast . The 273 in excess , of Firstborn , were redeemed with five shekels each , the amount in Torah to redeem a Firstborn . It is interesting that if we take the number 273 and put it to it's Gematrical letters in the Hebrew Alphabet , we get the word ' Gara ' ( with an Ayin ) which means ' lack or deficit or less ' ( Silberman's Dictionary ) and this number of 273 , was exactly the amount of Levites that were less than the Firstborn amount . The number of Levites in total , was much less than the total of any other Tribe . The reason for this , is that in Egypt , the Levites did not do slave labor , which the Egyptians had put on the other Tribes , so as to try decrease their numbers , and so HaShem Blessed the other Tribes to Grow , to counteract the attempts of Egypt to try to diminish us , Chas Ve Shalom . The Tribe of Levi , thus did not receive this Blessing there , as the Egyptians had made no attempt to put them to work and so their numbers were not diminished by the evil attempts of Pharaoh to diminish them , and so did not need that same Blessing to counteract Egypt's attempt to diminish them .
The Torah then continues with the divisions of work given to the Levites , who were divided into the three sons of Levi , thus three groups of Levites , being Gershon , Kohath and Merari . The Kohathites were in the South and they were to carry The Ark and all its holy vessels ; The Gershonites were in the West and they were to carry the Tabernacle and the Tent and the Merarites were in the North and they were to carry the implements of holy things ( Ramban ) . In this Parsha , It starts telling us of the work of Kohath , whose task it was , when we were to journey , to come and cover the Holy Vessels . The Ark of the Covenant , when covered , by Aharon and his sons , was not to be looked at , out of respect for the Shechinah . When these vessels were carried , it would be the sons of Kohath who would carry them , as I mentioned . Aharon's son Elazar , was to carry the Oil of Illunination , the Incense Spices , the Meal - Offering and the Anointment Oil , which he , with HaShem's Help , carried Miraculously all at once . He also had charge of the whole Tabernacle and all that was in it , the Sanctuary and its utensils . The Ark when carried , Carried Itself and those holding It , for It traveled in the Air , Above the ground . Infact the ones who held It's poles , had to face It all the time and not turn their back to It , thus the ones in the forward direction , actually walked forward , backwards facing a backwards direction . Even when the Ark came into Canaan , the Levites that carried It , were carried across in mid air , when those that carried It , had to go over the Jordan river , after it too had split for us , so our people could go over into Canaan . The Ark Carries Itself . It is not us who carry the Torah , but the Torah , through time , Carries us . Moshe also appointed Levites as Ma'amados , to guard the Sanctuary Ark . He appointed 8 groups to keep changing . King David did this too , appointing 24 Ma'amados . 
The Sedra ends With HaShem Reminding that those assigned , when they approach the Holy of Holies , shall not come and look at the Holy , as it is inserted , lest they die . So ends the Parsha .
The Parsha of " Bamidbar " - " Wilderness " as I mentioned , starts out the Book of Bamidbar , called Numbers , for countings and Numbers start out the Book and are a part of the first few Chapters of this Holy Fourth Book of The Torah . 
But " Bamidbar " refers to and means " Wilderness , " the place we spent forty years traveling through , on our way to Canaan . The reference is made to the " Bamidbar Sinai " - " Wilderness of Sinai , " which shows a reference to Sinai , the humble Mountain on which we were given The Revelation of HaShem on the date of Shavuos , coming to us in just over a week , When HaShem Came Down to us and on which Mountain , we received the Ten Commandments . The reason HaShem Chose this particular Mountain , was that it was the most humble of mountains , for when the Spirtual essence of the other mountains heard that HaShem Was Going To Come down On a Mountain , as the Psalm says , ' they skipped like lambs ' which means that they put themselves forward to be chosen as the place of HaShem's Revelation , but Mount Sinai , remained quiet and humble , feeling unworthy and totally undeserving to be the mountain on which HaShem Would Come Down On . Another reason why this mountain was Chosen By HaShem , was that on all the other Mountains , the other nations had performed Avodah Zorah Idol Worship on them , but Mount Sinai , remained pure , and on it , not acts of idol worship were ever performed on its peak . So HaShem Chose this Humble Mountain as the Place of His Revelation . The same is with a " Bamidbar , " - " Wilderness " for it is an ownerless place , that no other nation has claimed for itself , and thus remains totally humble and ownerless , clearly seen , as HaShem's Possession , unclaimed by other humans , even though all Is Owned By HaShem . This is how we can gain in Torah Knowledge and Learning and Wisdom , by being humble and open to learning , with no preconceived ideas of and from strange ways , but being totally ' ownerless ' - totally ' humble ' - totally open to Torah Ways . It is in such a surroundings , where Torah can truly Speak to us , It's Everlasting Truth From HaShem . Dovid Ha Melech knew this , for at times , in his life , he would go into the desert alone , and spend days and nights alone , with HaShem , away from other people , humbling himself and opening himself up in total humility , to HaShem and HaShem's Wisdom . Such is what is a " Bamidbar , " - " Wilderness . " In fact , within the word " Bamidbar , " are the words ' Ba Me Daber , ' - ' Come and I Will Speak ' to you . It is when we make ourselves totally humble , then can we open ourselves up totally to hearing HaShem Speaking to us . The very fact that Torah was Given In a Wilderness , that is ownerless , shows that Torah is not just owned by a select few . Torah is open to all , who want to come and learn , HaShem Awaits us all , as His Creation , to come close to Him , through Torah Humble Learning . It is then that we can truly , have our ' heads lifted and raised ' to Holiness , and be ' counted , ' as HaShem's Special Ones . It is then , that we can be who HaShem Wants us to be , humble always , in the Legion of HaShem , Ha Kadosh Baruch Hu , HaShem The Holy One Blessed Be He . 
I wish HaShem With all my deepest Love , a Very Special and Beautiful Shabbos Kodesh and Chodesh Tov With Deepest and Eternal Love , and to all my fellow Jews , and to all of Creation , a Very Special and Beautiful Shabbos Kodesh and Chodesh Tov with love .