Bamidbar 3:12 · EXTRA 1 — I have taken the Levites EXTRA

Parashas Bamidbar · Side page (no TT primary unit)

The Complete Passuk

וַאֲנִ֞י הִנֵּ֧ה לָקַ֣חְתִּי אֶת־הַלְוִיִּ֗ם מִתּוֹךְ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל תַּ֧חַת כׇּל־בְּכ֛וֹר פֶּ֥טֶר רֶ֖חֶם מִבְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְהָ֥יוּ לִ֖י הַלְוִיִּֽם׃

I hereby take the Levites from among the Israelites in place of all the male first-born, the first issue of the womb among the Israelites: the Levites shall be Mine.

Chabad.org — 3:12

Source Citation

Bamidbar Rabbah / Bechoros parallels — EXTRA.

Core Text of Chazal / Classic Source

Core Text

ואני הנה לקחתי את הלוים —\ldots תחת כל בכור.

English: “And I have taken the Levites” — \ldots in place of every firstborn.

On the midrash / in context: The substitution of the entire tribe for the firstborn of Israel is the theological heart of the Levitical appointment.

Type of Learning

Custom

What Is Learned

Chazal frame the Levites as the permanent replacement for the firstborn who were consecrated at the Exodus.