Ages of Levite Workers/2

Ages of Levite Workers

Exegetical Approaches

This topic has not yet undergone editorial review

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 only "לִצְבֹא צָבָא בַּעֲבֹדַת אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד", without including the verb "לַעֲבֹד", since they are not actually obligated to work.

לִצְבֹא צָבָא

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.

Sources:RashbamBemidbar 8:24-26About R. Shemuel b. Meir, Ibn EzraBemidbar 4:3Bemidbar 4:24Bemidbar 8:24-26About R. Avraham ibn Ezra, R. Yosef Bekhor ShorBemidbar 4:3Bemidbar 4:47Bemidbar 8:24-26About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor

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,