Ages of Levite Workers/2

Ages of Levite Workers

Exegetical Approaches

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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.

Sources:Tosefta ShekalimShekalim 3:16About the Tosefta, Sifre Bemidbar8:24About Sifre Bemidbar, Bavli ChulinChulin 24aAbout the Bavli, RashiBemidbar 8:24-26About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki, RambanBemidbar 8:24-26About R. Moshe b. Nachman, HaKetav VeHaKabbalahBemidbar 8:24About R. Yaakov Mecklenburg

Training or Volunteering

לִצְבֹא צָבָא בַּעֲבֹדַת אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד – Ramban 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 "לִצְבֹא צָבָא בַּעֲבֹדַת אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד", without including the verb "לַעֲבֹד".

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.