Shabbat Parashat Beha'alotecha - 5785

Shabbat Parashat Beha'alotecha - 5785

Rabbi Hal Miller

  God spoke to Moshe saying, speak to Aharon and say to him, when you kindle

  the lamps, toward the face of the Menorah shall the seven lamps cast light. [Bamidbar 8:1-2]

In the prior chapter the Torah describes the offerings of the princes of the tribes. From verse 5 until the end of chapter 8, it discusses the role of the Levites. What is this four-verse section about kindling the Menorah doing in the middle?

Rav Hirsch explains that rather than plopping these four verses in the middle of something else, in fact this is a return to the story line that was interrupted in Shemot 34 with the golden calf incident. According to this, it is the chapters from there to here that might require explanation, not these verses. Ibn Ezra also thinks that our verses are not out of order here, although for a different reason. He says they are juxtaposed to the prior chapter to explain that with the lit Menorah, God would appear to Moshe during the night as well as the day, a change from the past. However, Chazal in Mechilta disagree and say that God continued to speak to Moshe only during the day.

Rashi asks our question directly, and answers  that "when Aharon saw the inauguration (offerings) of the princes he felt badly about it for neither he nor his tribe was with them in the inauguration." Rashi explains that God response here is telling Aharon that his role is greater than that of the tribal princes, demonstrated by way of kindling the Menorah.

Ramban disagrees and asks why the kindling would be chosen for that purpose rather than the offering of incense or the Yom Kippur sacrifices. Both of those would equate to the offerings of the princes and are specified as belonging to the Kohanim. Ramban continues by asking why Aharon would have been disheartened over sacrifices at all since he already had been bringing them, and in greater number than the other princes.

Rav Soloveitchik says like Rashi that God is here telling Aharon that his contribution "will shine forever", and the Rav compares it to Rachel the wife of Rabbi Akiva who was pushed aside yet played a significant role in the history of the Jewish people. Perhaps the Rav is pointing to the idea that both Aharon and Rachel were very humble, and that humble people are often the greatest contributors.

We can also understand these verses, not as a separate topic between two unrelated ones, but as an introduction to what follows, the dedication of and assignment of the full tribe of Levi. Since they were to serve the Kohanim, the entire chapter is actually about what the combined Kohen/Levi tribe is to do, with the Menorah lighting being the first of many items to be discussed.