Ages of Levite Workers/2
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Ages of Levite Workers
Exegetical Approaches
Different Levels of Obligation
Only Levites aged 30 and up were fully obligated to work in the Mishkan. Those younger were either in training or simply volunteers.
Training or Volunteering – These sources disagree whether under the age of thirty the Levites wee obligated to practice, or whether they were simply allowed to volunteer for certain tasks:
- Train – Most of these sources claim that the Levites were obligated to begin training at 25.
- Volunteer – Ramban, instead, suggests that the verse is speaking only of volunteer work. From the age of 25, any Levite who wanted could help in the work whenever he wanted; he simply could not be in charge of any specific task.
לִצְבֹא צָבָא בַּעֲבֹדַת אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד – Ramban1 suggests that the contrast in formulation between Chapters 4 and 8 might support Rashi's reading. Throughout Chapter 4 the verses speak explicitly of the Levites doing work, "לִצְבֹא צָבָא לַעֲבֹד עֲבֹדָה בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד" while in Bemidbar 8, instead, the verses write only "לִצְבֹא צָבָא בַּעֲבֹדַת אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד", without including the verb "לַעֲבֹד", since they are not actually obligated to work, only "לִצְבֹא צָבָא" - to gather together with the others who are working.
David's era – HaKetav VeHaKabbalah suggests that the obligation to train began at 25, but if one wanted to, he could train earlier as well. As, such in David's time even those aged 20 gathered.
Ezra's era
Different Tasks
The heavy work of carrying was assigned only to those thirty and above, but other tasks were given to those that were younger.
What tasks? These commentators disagree regarding which tasks were fuflilled by those under 30:
- Guard duty - Rashbam assumes that the tasks of those above 50 and below 30 were identical, and therefore learns from Bemidbar 8:26 "וְשֵׁרֵת אֶת אֶחָיו בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד לִשְׁמֹר מִשְׁמֶרֶת" that at these ages the Levites were assigned to guard the Mikdash.
- General work in the Mishkan - Ibn Ezra asserts that the Levites helped erect the Mishkan, make bread,
