## Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Pinchas

###### Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Pinchas 6:1
[Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Pinchas 6:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Midrash%20Tanchuma%20Buber/s/Pinchas/r/6:1)

ויהי אחרי המגפה (במדבר כה יט). שאו את ראש (שם כו ב). כל זמן שנופןין הוזקקו למנין, משל לזאב שנכנס לתוך הצאן, הוצרך בעל הצאן למנותם לידע כמה חסרו.

**Midrash Tanhuma, S. Buber Recension; trans. by John T. Townsend, 1989.:**
(Numb. 25:19–26:2 [26:1–2]:) AND IT CAME TO PASS AFTER THE PLAGUE THAT THE LORD SAID UNTO MOSES AND UNTO ELEAZAR BEN AARON THE PRIEST, SAYING: TAKE A CENSUS. Every time that they fell, they were required to be numbered.²⁶., Numb. 8:4; Numb. R. 21:7. The matter is comparable to the wolf who went into the midst of the flock. The owner of the flock was obliged to count them to know how many were missing.

footnotes:
²⁶ Tanh


###### Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Pinchas 6:2
[Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Pinchas 6:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Midrash%20Tanchuma%20Buber/s/Pinchas/r/6:2)

ד"א למה מנה אותם, משל לרועה שמסר לו בעל הבית צאנו במנין, השלים שמירתו כשמחזירן צריך למנותן, וכשיצאו ישראל ממצרים מסרן למשה במנין, דכתיב וידבר ה' אל משה במדבר סיני [וגו'], שאו את ראש [וגו'] (שם א א ב), ואף כשיצאו כתיב ויסעו בני ישראל מרעמסס סכותה כשש מאות אלף רגלי (שמות יב לז), הרי קיבלן במנין, בא להפטר בערבות מואב החזירן במנין.

**Midrash Tanhuma, S. Buber Recension; trans. by John T. Townsend, 1989.:**
Another interpretation (of Numb. 26:2): Why did he count them? The matter is comparable to a shepherd to whom the householder has delivered a flock after numbering the sheep. After he has fulfilled his guardianship, when he returns them, it is necessary for them to be numbered. Thus when Israel went out from Egypt the Holy One delivered them to Moses after numbering them, as stated (in Numb. 1:1–2): THEN THE LORD SPOKE UNTO MOSES IN THE SINAI DESERT …: TAKE A CENSUS…. So also, when they went out, it is written (in Exod. 12:37): THEN THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL TRAVELED FROM RAMASES TO SUCCOTH, ABOUT SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND MEN ON FOOT. Ergo, he received them with a numbering. When he was about to pass away in the plains of Moab (after completing his guardianship), he returned them with a numbering.