## Sforno on Numbers Chapter 8

###### Sforno on Numbers 8:2:1
[Sforno on Numbers 8:2:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/8:2:1)

**בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ אֶת הַנֵּרוֹת.** כְּשֶׁתַּדְלִיק אֶת שֵׁשׁ הַנֵּרוֹת.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
בהעלותך את הנרות, when you kindle the six lamps,


###### Sforno on Numbers 8:2:2
[Sforno on Numbers 8:2:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/8:2:2)

**אֶל מוּל פְּנֵי הַמְּנוֹרָה.** שֶׁהוּא הַקָּנֶה הָאֶמְצָעִי, וְזֶה כְּשֶׁתַּפְנֶה שַׁלְהֶבֶת כָּל אֶחָד מֵהַשִּׁשָּׁה נֵרוֹת אֶל הַקָּנֶה הָאֶמְצָעִי אָז.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
אל מול פני המנורה, facing the lamp on the center shaft; this means that the wick is to be inclined towards this center shaft so that the flames will point in this direction from the respective sides of the menorah. Then, and only then,


###### Sforno on Numbers 8:2:3
[Sforno on Numbers 8:2:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/8:2:3)

**יָאִירוּ שִׁבְעַת הַנֵּרוֹת.** כָּל הַשִּׁבְעָה יָאִירוּ וְיַשְׁפִּיעוּ אוֹר עֶלְיוֹן לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁיּוֹרוּ הֱיוֹת אוֹר הַיְמָנִים וְאוֹר הַשְּׂמָאלִים מְכֻוָּן וּפוֹנֶה אֶל אוֹר הַקָּנֶה הָאֶמְצָעִי שֶׁהוּא עִקַּר הַמְּנוֹרָה. וְשֶׁכֵּן רָאוּי שֶׁכַּוָּנַת הַמַּיְמִינִים הָעוֹסְקִים בְּחַיֵּי עוֹלָם, וְהַמַּשְׂמְאִילִים הָעוֹסְקִים בְּחַיֵּי שָׁעָה הָעוֹזְרִים לַמַּיְמִינִים, כְּאָמְרָם ״אִלְמָלֵי עִלָּיָא לָא מִתְקַיְּימֵי אַתְכְּלִיָּא״ (חולין צב.), תִּהְיֶה לְהָפִיק רְצוֹן הָאֵל יִתְבָּרַךְ בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁיּוּשַּׂג מְכֻוָּנוֹ בֵּין כֻּלָּם, וִירוֹמְמוּ אֶת שְׁמוֹ יַחְדָּו, כְּמוֹ שֶׁקִּבְּלוּ עֲלֵיהֶם כַּאֲשֶׁר הֵעִיד בְּאָמְרוֹ ״וַיַּעֲנוּ כָל הָעָם יַחְדָּו וַיֹּאמְרוּ כֹּל אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר ה׳ נַעֲשֶׂה״ (שמות יט:ח), כְּלוֹמַר בֵּין כֻּלָּנוּ נַשְׁלִים כַּוָּנָתוֹ.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
יאירו שבעת הנרות, all seven lamps will fulfill their function of illuminating and being the conduits of spiritual light descending on to the Jewish people. [obviously, the individual lamps would be able to provide physical light before being positioned in the manner described. Ed.]
 The mussar, allegorical lesson conveyed by the lights of the menorah is us that only by the “right” side representing preoccupation with eternal values, life in the future, working together with the “left” side which represents the concerns with physical life on our planet, will we be able to attain our purpose on earth. Our sages in Chulin 92 phrased it thus: אלמלי עלייא לא מתקיימא אתכליא, “if not for the input from celestial regions, spiritual input, the creatures on earth would not be able to survive at all.” [I have not found this precise quote, but it means more literally that if there were no wise people who could tutor the ignorant, the world as we know it would collapse. Ed.] In order for this universe to function as G’d wanted it to, all social levels of the people have to make their respective contributions. 
A major function of the combined activity by the “tutored and the ignorant” is to ensure that G’d’s name would be hailed, revered and enthusiastically acknowledged by every segment of mankind, all of His creatures. An example of such a thing happening is found in Exodus 19,8 ויענו כל העם יחדו ויאמרו כל אשר דבר ה' נעשה, the emphasis here being on the word יחדו, i.e. all the people in unison would combine to carry out G’d’s will.


###### Sforno on Numbers 8:4:1
[Sforno on Numbers 8:4:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/8:4:1)

**וְזֶה מַעֲשֵׂה הַמְּנוֹרָה מִקְשָׁה.** וְזֶה הַתַּכְלִית בְּעַצְמוֹ הַמְכֻוָּן בְּהַדְלָקַת הַנֵּרוֹת אֶל מוּל פְּנֵי הַמְּנוֹרָה, הוּא בְּעַצְמוֹ מְכֻוָּן בְּעִנְיַן חִיּוּב הֱיוֹת הַמְּנוֹרָה מִקְשָׁה, לְהוֹרוֹת הָאַחְדוּת הַמְכֻוָּן לְתַכְלִית אֶחָד בְּעַצְמוֹ.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
וזה מעשה המנורה מקשה, the very composition of the menorah as a single chunk of gold, with all its lights facing the lamp on the central shaft, symbolises this united endeavour to serve G’d, i.e. to look towards the spiritual light as symbolised by that in the center of the menorah, its “trunk.” המנורה מקשה, to underline the unity, the whole people jointly striving to attain the same spiritual objective.


###### Sforno on Numbers 8:14:1
[Sforno on Numbers 8:14:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/8:14:1)

**וְהִבְדַּלְתָּ אֶת הַלְוִיִּם.** תַּבְדִּיל בַּחֲנִיָּתָם אֶת הַלְוִיִּם אֲשֶׁר הֵם חַיִּים עֲדַנָּה.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
והבדלת את הלוים, this “separation” will express itself in their having separate areas in which they would encamp, i.e. the Levites who were members of the people who had participated in the Exodus and their children growing up in the desert;


###### Sforno on Numbers 8:14:2
[Sforno on Numbers 8:14:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/8:14:2)

**וְהָיוּ לִי הַלְוִיִּם.** הֵם וְזַרְעָם יִהְיוּ נְכוֹנִים לַעֲבוֹדָתִי.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
והיו לי הלוים, and both they and their descendants, (when they would not all live next to the Temple) would be for “Me,” i.e. ready and prepared to carry out their duties as Levites.


###### Sforno on Numbers 8:15:1
[Sforno on Numbers 8:15:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/8:15:1)

**וְאַחֲרֵי כֵן יָבֹאוּ הַלְוִיִּם.** הַהֹווִים עַתָּה.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
ואחרי כן יבאו הלוים, the ones existing now.


###### Sforno on Numbers 8:16:1
[Sforno on Numbers 8:16:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/8:16:1)

**כִּי נְתוּנִים נְתוּנִים הֵמָּה לִי.** נְתוּנִים מֵעַצְמָם שֶׁנָּתְנוּ אֶת עַצְמָם לַעֲבוֹדָתִי, כְּמוֹ שֶׁהֵעִיד בְּאָמְרוֹ ״מִי לַה׳ אֵלָי״, וַיֵּאָסְפוּ אֵלָיו כָּל בְּנֵי לֵוִי (שמות לב:כו).

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
כי נתונים נתונים המה לי, they have devoted themselves to me and My service, as the Torah testified in Exodus 32,26 when all of them responded to Moses’ call that whoever was for the Lord should assemble around him. מתוך בני ישראל, they are also “נתונים” by the Children of Israel who will provide them with a livelihood by means of giving them their tithes, i.e. the מעשר ראשון 10% of their harvest after hey had set aside the t’rumah for the priests.


###### Sforno on Numbers 8:16:2
[Sforno on Numbers 8:16:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/8:16:2)

וּנְתוּנִים גַּם כֵּן **מִתּוֹךְ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל.** שֶׁיִּתְּנוּ מִחְיַת הַלְוִיִּם בְּמַעֲשֵׂר רִאשׁוֹן חֵלֶף עֲבוֹדָתָם, לְמַעַן תִּהְיֶה עֲבוֹדָתִי נַעֲשֵׂית בֵּין כֻּלָּם.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
תחת פטרה כל רחם, who had originally been assigned the duties now assumed by the Levites.


###### Sforno on Numbers 8:16:3
[Sforno on Numbers 8:16:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/8:16:3)

**תַּחַת פִּטְרַת כָּל רֶחֶם.** שֶׁהָיְתָה הָעֲבוֹדָה מֻטֶּלֶת עֲלֵיהֶם.


###### Sforno on Numbers 8:17:1
[Sforno on Numbers 8:17:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/8:17:1)

**כִּי לִי כָל בְּכוֹר.** שֶׁהָיְתָה מִקֶּדֶם הָעֲבוֹדָה בַּבְּכוֹרוֹת, מִפְּנֵי הֱיוֹתָם הַנִּכְבָּדִים בְּבֵיתָם וְלָהֶם מִשְׁפַּט הָעֲבוֹדָה.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
כי לי כל בכור, I had already owned the firstborn whose duty it had been to perform the tasks now given to the Levites. The reason that the firstborn had originally been charged with the duties was that they were the most distinguished members of their respective families and one delegates those to represent one before one’s lord and master, before G’d.


###### Sforno on Numbers 8:17:2
[Sforno on Numbers 8:17:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/8:17:2)

**בְּיוֹם הַכּוֹתִי כָל בְּכוֹר. הִקְדַּשְׁתִּי.** אֲבָל מַה שֶּׁהִצְרַכְתִּי אוֹתָם לְפִדְיוֹן, הָיָה הַטַּעַם בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁבְּיוֹם הַכּוֹתִי הִקְדַּשְׁתִּים לִי שֶׁלֹּא יִתְעַסְּקוּ בַּעֲבוֹדַת הֶדְיוֹט כְּלָל, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָסַרְתִּי גִּזָּה וַעֲבוֹדָה בִּבְכוֹר בְּהֵמָה. וְזֶה עָשִׂיתִי כְּדֵי לְהַצִּילָם בְּתוֹרַת הַקֹּדֶשׁ, שֶׁלֹּא הָיוּ רְאוּיִים לְהִנָּצֵל מִנִּגְעֵי מִשְׁלַחַת מַלְאֲכֵי רָעִים (תהלים עח:מט), בִּהְיוֹת הֵם הַנִּכְבָּדִים בָּעָם וְקוֹלַר כֻּלָּם תָּלוּי בָּהֶם. וְאָמַרְתִּי שֶׁיִּפָּדוּ כְּדֵי שֶׁיֵּצְאוּ לְחֻלִּין, בָּזֶה שֶׁיִּהְיוּ מֻתָּרִים בַּעֲבוֹדַת הֶדְיוֹט.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
ביום הכותי כל בכור בארץ מצרים הקדשתי, the reason why I required them now to undergo the procedure of being redeemed from their sanctity and the duties that were part of this that from the day I had sanctified them, was that they were not supposed to engage in mundane activities, such as earning a livelihood, at all.
 Firstborn male animals that are acceptable as sacrifices on the altar may not be used for mundane purposes, i.e their owners must neither let them perform work, not shear their wool and use it for themselves. This was in order for Me to have demonstrated their holy character. These regulations were imposed in order to justify these firstborn not being killed along the firstborn of the rest of the Egyptians and their herds. Having been part of the Egyptian culture, and having been the most distinguished in their respective families, they should, ordinarily, have become part of Psalms 78,49 calls the משלחת מלאכי רעים, “the wrath inflicted by the band of deadly messengers.” The surviving firstborn humans and their offspring, in order not to lead a life of idleness, therefore have to be “redeemed,” so that they can at least lead normal lives. G’d therefore accomplished this by the stratagem known as פדיון, redemption.


###### Sforno on Numbers 8:18:1
[Sforno on Numbers 8:18:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/8:18:1)

**וָאֶקַּח אֶת הַלְוִיִּם תַּחַת כָּל בְּכוֹר.** בְּאוֹתוֹ הַדּוֹר בִּלְבַד, כַּמְבֹאָר לְמַעְלָה.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
ואקח את הלוים תחת כל בכור, a regulation applicable only during the generation addressed by Moses at the time, a one-time procedure, as we explained previously.


###### Sforno on Numbers 8:19:1
[Sforno on Numbers 8:19:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/8:19:1)

**וָאֶתְּנָה אֶת הַלְוִיִּם.** וּמֵאַחַר שֶׁהֵם נְתוּנִים מֵעַצְמָם לַעֲבוֹדָתִי, נְתַתִּים לַעֲבוֹדָתִי לְאַהֲרֹן וּלְבָנָיו.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
ואתנה את הלוים, since they are by themselves “given” to perform service for Me, they are now at the disposal of Aaron and his sons, My delegates on earth.


###### Sforno on Numbers 8:19:2
[Sforno on Numbers 8:19:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/8:19:2)

**לַעֲבֹד אֶת עֲבֹדַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד.** לַעֲבֹד אוֹתָהּ הָעֲבוֹדָה שֶׁהָיְתָה רְאוּיָה לִבְכוֹרֵיהֶם.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
לעבוד את עבודת בני ישראל באהל מועד, to perform the very duties which, previously, it had been the duty of the firstborn to perform on behalf of the Children of Israel.


###### Sforno on Numbers 8:19:3
[Sforno on Numbers 8:19:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/8:19:3)

**וּלְכַפֵּר עַל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל.** בְּקַבְּלָם אֶת הַמַּעַשְׂרוֹת מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל כְּדֵי שֶׁיּוּכְלוּ לַעֲבוֹד אֶת הָאֵל יִתְבָּרַךְ, יְכַפְּרוּ עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁגָּרְמוּ כֻלָּם בָּעֵגֶל שֶׁאֶמְאַס אֶת בְּכוֹרֵיהֶם.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
ולכפר על בני ישראל, and to be the instrument of the people’s atonement by their accepting the tithes tendered them by the people so that they would be free to perform the duties G’d has now assigned to them. G’d had come to despise the firstborn, seeing that they participated also in the sin of the golden calf which had caused G’d so much grief.


###### Sforno on Numbers 8:19:4
[Sforno on Numbers 8:19:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/8:19:4)

**וְלֹא יִהְיֶה בִּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל נֶגֶף.** בַּלְוִיִּם וּבִשְׁאָר יִשְׂרָאֵל.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
ולא יהיה בבני ישראל נגף, both among the Israelites and among the Levites.


###### Sforno on Numbers 8:19:5
[Sforno on Numbers 8:19:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/8:19:5)

**בְּגֶשֶׁת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל הַקֹּדֶשׁ.** שֶׁבָּזֶה יֶחֶטְאוּ הַזָּרִים הַנִּגָּשִׁים, וְהַלְוִיִּם שֶׁיַּנִּיחוּ אֶת הַזָּרִים לָגֶשֶׁת, וְיִתְחַיְּבוּ כֻלָּם כְּעִנְיַן אָמְרוֹ ״וְלֹא יָמֻתוּ גַּם הֵם גַּם אַתֶּם״ (במדבר יח:ג).

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
בגשת בני ישראל אל הקודש, the Israelites’ sin would be that of entering domains out of bounds to them, whereas the Levites’ sin would be allowing them to do so without trying to prevent them from entering holy precincts. All of them would make themselves guilty and would die at the hands of G’d as spelled out in 18,3.


###### Sforno on Numbers 8:20:1
[Sforno on Numbers 8:20:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/8:20:1)

**וַיַּעַשׂ מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן וְכָל עֲדַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לַלְוִיִּם.** עָשׂוּ בִּשְׁבִיל הַלְוִיִּם וּלְעֶזְרָתָם עִנְיַן הַגִּלּוּחַ וְכִבּוּס הַבְּגָדִים וְהַקָּרְבָּן.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
ויעש משה ואהרן וכל עדת בני ישראל ללוים, the prefix ל in the word ללוים means “on behalf of, in aid of them.” They assisted with the shaving, the laundering of their clothing, as well as in preparation of the requisite offering.


###### Sforno on Numbers 8:20:2
[Sforno on Numbers 8:20:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/8:20:2)

**כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה ה׳ אֶת מֹשֶׁה לַלְוִיִּם.** כְּמוֹ שֶׁצִּוָּה לְמֹשֶׁה שֶׁיְּצַוֶּה לַלְוִיִּם שֶׁיַּעֲשׂוּ.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
ככל אשר צוה ה' את משה ללוים. As G’d had commanded Moses that he, in turn, should command the Levites to do.


###### Sforno on Numbers 8:20:3
[Sforno on Numbers 8:20:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/8:20:3)

**כֵּן עָשׂוּ לָהֶם בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל.** הִזְדָּרְזוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לַעֲשׂוֹת בִּשְׁבִילָם, כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיֶה רְצוֹן קוֹנָם נַעֲשֶׂה.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
כן עשו להם בני ישראל, the wording reflects how promptly these instructions were carried out. They were so eager to please their Maker.


###### Sforno on Numbers 8:22:1
[Sforno on Numbers 8:22:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/8:22:1)

**כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה ה׳ אֶת מֹשֶׁה עַל הַלְוִיִּם.** לְמַעְלָה שֶׁצִּוָּה שֶׁתִּהְיֶינָה מִשְׁמְרוֹתָם לַעֲבֹד וּלְמַשָּׂא וּלְשִׁיר עַל פִּי אַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
כאשר צוה ה' את משה על הלוים, G’d had commanded that the task of the Levites would be to stand guard, to form the choir chanting the psalms and to carry the parts of the Tabernacle whenever the situation called for this. They would be assigned their immediate duties by Aaron and his sons.


###### Sforno on Numbers 8:22:2
[Sforno on Numbers 8:22:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/8:22:2)

**כֵּן עָשׂוּ לָהֶם.** אַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו לְסַדְּרָם בְּמִשְׁמְרוֹתָם.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
כן עשו להם, Aaron and his sons would organise them, allocate to them their specific duties.