Bamidbar 1:49 · EXTRA 1 — only the tribe of Levi you shall not count EXTRA

Parashas Bamidbar · Side page (no TT primary unit)

The Complete Passuk

אַ֣ךְ אֶת־מַטֵּ֤ה לֵוִי֙ לֹ֣א תִפְקֹ֔ד וְאֶת־רֹאשָׁ֖ם לֹ֣א תִשָּׂ֑א בְּת֖וֹךְ בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

Do not on any account enroll the tribe of Levi or take a census of them with the Israelites.

Bamidbar Rabbah 1:12 — EXTRA.

Core Text

אך את מטה לוי לא תפקד —\ldots לפי שהם ממונים על המשכן.

English: “Only the tribe of Levi you shall not count” — \ldots because they are appointed over the Mishkan.

On the midrash / in context: The Levites are set apart from the military census so their sole focus remains the service of the sanctuary.

Custom

Chazal explain the exclusion of Levi as protecting their exclusive dedication to the Mishkan.