Saadia's Tafsir on Bamidbar 1 (Parashat Bamidbar)

Bamidbar 1:2

שְׂאוּ אֶת-רֹאשׁ כָּל-עֲדַת בְּנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם--בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמוֹת כָּל-זָכָר לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָם

. . .

Raise the total count of the congregation of the sons of Israel, by their clans and their fathers' houses, by the enumeration of names — every male according to their heads.

Bamidbar 1:3

מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה כָּל-יֹצֵא צָבָא בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל--תִּפְקְדוּ אֹתָם לְצִבְאֹתָם אַתָּה וְאַהֲרֹן

. .

From twenty years of age and upward — all who go forth to the hosts of the sons of Israel — you shall count them by their hosts, you and Aaron.

Bamidbar 1:4

וְאִתְּכֶם יִהְיוּ אִישׁ אִישׁ לַמַּטֶּה--אִישׁ רֹאשׁ לְבֵית-אֲבֹתָיו הוּא

. .

And there shall be with you, from each tribe, a man; and that man is the chief of his father's house.

Bamidbar 1:5

וְאֵלֶּה שְׁמוֹת הָאֲנָשִׁים אֲשֶׁר יַעַמְדוּ אִתְּכֶם לִרְאוּבֵן אֱלִיצוּר בֶּן-שְׁדֵיאוּר

. .

And these are the names of the men who shall stand with you: from Reuben — Elizur son of Shedeur;

Bamidbar 1:6

לְשִׁמְעוֹן שְׁלֻמִיאֵל בֶּן-צוּרִישַׁדָּי

.

and from Simeon — Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai;

Bamidbar 1:7

לִיהוּדָה נַחְשׁוֹן בֶּן-עַמִּינָדָב

.

and from Judah — Nahshon son of Amminadab;

Bamidbar 1:8

לְיִשָּׂשכָר נְתַנְאֵל בֶּן-צוּעָר

.

and from Issachar — Nethanel son of Zuar;

Bamidbar 1:9

לִזְבוּלֻן אֱלִיאָב בֶּן-חֵלֹן

.

and from Zebulun — Eliab son of Helon;

Bamidbar 1:10

לִבְנֵי יוֹסֵף--לְאֶפְרַיִם אֱלִישָׁמָע בֶּן-עַמִּיהוּד לִמְנַשֶּׁה גַּמְלִיאֵל בֶּן-פְּדָהצוּר

. . . .

and from the sons of Joseph: from Ephraim — Elishama son of Ammihud; and from Manasseh — Gamliel son of Pedahzur;

Bamidbar 1:11

לְבִנְיָמִן אֲבִידָן בֶּן-גִּדְעֹנִי

.

and from Benjamin — Abidan son of Gideoni;

Bamidbar 1:12

לְדָן אֲחִיעֶזֶר בֶּן-עַמִּישַׁדָּי

.

and from Dan — Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai;

Bamidbar 1:13

לְאָשֵׁר פַּגְעִיאֵל בֶּן-עָכְרָן

.

and from Asher — Pagiel son of Ochran;

Bamidbar 1:14

לְגָד אֶלְיָסָף בֶּן-דְּעוּאֵל

.

and from Gad — Eliasaph son of Deuel;

Bamidbar 1:15

לְנַפְתָּלִי אֲחִירַע בֶּן-עֵינָן

.

and from Naphtali — Ahira son of Enan.

Bamidbar 1:16

אֵלֶּה קריאי (קְרוּאֵי) הָעֵדָה נְשִׂיאֵי מַטּוֹת אֲבוֹתָם רָאשֵׁי אַלְפֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הֵם

. .

These are the summoners of the congregation — the nobles of the tribes of their fathers, the heads of the thousands of the sons of Israel.

Bamidbar 1:17

וַיִּקַּח מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן אֵת הָאֲנָשִׁים הָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר נִקְּבוּ בְּשֵׁמֹת

.

And Moses and Aaron took these men, whose names had been set forth.

Bamidbar 1:18

וְאֵת כָּל-הָעֵדָה הִקְהִילוּ בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִי וַיִּתְיַלְדוּ עַל-מִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמוֹת מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה--לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָם

. . . . .

And they assembled the rest of the congregation on the first day of the second month; and they registered themselves by their clans and their fathers' houses, by the enumeration of names, from twenty years of age and upward, according to their heads.

Bamidbar 1:19

כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶת-מֹשֶׁה וַיִּפְקְדֵם בְּמִדְבַּר סִינָי

.

As God had commanded Moses — he counted them in the wilderness of Sinai.

Bamidbar 1:20

וַיִּהְיוּ בְנֵי-רְאוּבֵן בְּכֹר יִשְׂרָאֵל תּוֹלְדֹתָם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמוֹת לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָם--כָּל-זָכָר מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה כֹּל יֹצֵא צָבָא

. . . . .

And the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel — their generations by their clans, by their fathers' houses, by the enumeration of names according to their heads — every male from twenty years of age and upward, all who go forth in their hosts:

Bamidbar 1:21

פְּקֻדֵיהֶם לְמַטֵּה רְאוּבֵן--שִׁשָּׁה וְאַרְבָּעִים אֶלֶף וַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת

.

those counted accordingly from them — forty-six thousand and five hundred.

Bamidbar 1:22

לִבְנֵי שִׁמְעוֹן תּוֹלְדֹתָם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם פְּקֻדָיו בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמוֹת לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָם--כָּל-זָכָר מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה כֹּל יֹצֵא צָבָא

. . . . . .

For the sons of Simeon — their generations by their clans, by their fathers' houses, their number by the enumeration of names according to their heads — every male from twenty years of age and upward, all who go forth in their hosts:

Bamidbar 1:23

פְּקֻדֵיהֶם לְמַטֵּה שִׁמְעוֹן--תִּשְׁעָה וַחֲמִשִּׁים אֶלֶף וּשְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת

.

those counted accordingly from them — fifty-nine thousand and three hundred.

Bamidbar 1:24

לִבְנֵי גָד תּוֹלְדֹתָם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמוֹת מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה--כֹּל יֹצֵא צָבָא

. . . .

For the sons of Gad — their generations by their clans, by their fathers' houses, by the enumeration of names, from twenty years of age and upward, all who go forth in their hosts:

Bamidbar 1:25

פְּקֻדֵיהֶם לְמַטֵּה גָד--חֲמִשָּׁה וְאַרְבָּעִים אֶלֶף וְשֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת וַחֲמִשִּׁים

. .

those counted accordingly from them — forty-five thousand, six hundred and fifty.

Bamidbar 1:26

לִבְנֵי יְהוּדָה תּוֹלְדֹתָם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמֹת מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה--כֹּל יֹצֵא צָבָא

. . . .

And the sons of Judah — their generations by their clans, by their fathers' houses, by the enumeration of names, from twenty years of age and upward, all who go forth in their hosts:

Bamidbar 1:27

פְּקֻדֵיהֶם לְמַטֵּה יְהוּדָה--אַרְבָּעָה וְשִׁבְעִים אֶלֶף וְשֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת

.

those counted accordingly from them — seventy-four thousand and six hundred.

Bamidbar 1:28

לִבְנֵי יִשָּׂשכָר תּוֹלְדֹתָם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמֹת מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה--כֹּל יֹצֵא צָבָא

. . . .

And the sons of Issachar — their generations by their clans, by their fathers' houses, by the enumeration of names, from twenty years of age and upward, all who go forth in their hosts:

Bamidbar 1:29

פְּקֻדֵיהֶם לְמַטֵּה יִשָּׂשכָר--אַרְבָּעָה וַחֲמִשִּׁים אֶלֶף וְאַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת

.

those counted accordingly from them — fifty-four thousand and four hundred.

Bamidbar 1:30

לִבְנֵי זְבוּלֻן תּוֹלְדֹתָם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמֹת מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה--כֹּל יֹצֵא צָבָא

. . . .

And the sons of Zebulun — their generations by their clans, by their fathers' houses, by the enumeration of names, from twenty years of age and upward, all who go forth in their hosts:

Bamidbar 1:31

פְּקֻדֵיהֶם לְמַטֵּה זְבוּלֻן--שִׁבְעָה וַחֲמִשִּׁים אֶלֶף וְאַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת

.

those counted accordingly from them — fifty-seven thousand and four hundred.

Bamidbar 1:32

לִבְנֵי יוֹסֵף לִבְנֵי אֶפְרַיִם תּוֹלְדֹתָם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמֹת מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה--כֹּל יֹצֵא צָבָא

. . . .

For the sons of Joseph, for the sons of Ephraim — their generations by their clans, by their fathers' houses, by the enumeration of names, from twenty years of age and upward, all who go forth in their hosts:

Bamidbar 1:33

פְּקֻדֵיהֶם לְמַטֵּה אֶפְרָיִם--אַרְבָּעִים אֶלֶף וַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת

.

those counted accordingly from them — forty thousand and five hundred.

Bamidbar 1:34

לִבְנֵי מְנַשֶּׁה תּוֹלְדֹתָם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמוֹת מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה--כֹּל יֹצֵא צָבָא

. . .

And the sons of Manasseh — their generations by their clans, by their fathers' houses, by the enumeration of names, from twenty years of age and upward, all who go forth in their hosts:

Bamidbar 1:35

פְּקֻדֵיהֶם לְמַטֵּה מְנַשֶּׁה--שְׁנַיִם וּשְׁלֹשִׁים אֶלֶף וּמָאתָיִם

.

those counted accordingly from them — thirty-six thousand and two hundred.

Bamidbar 1:36

לִבְנֵי בִנְיָמִן תּוֹלְדֹתָם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמֹת מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה--כֹּל יֹצֵא צָבָא

. . . .

And the sons of Benjamin — their generations by their clans, by their fathers' houses, by the enumeration of names, from twenty years of age and upward, all who go forth in their hosts:

Bamidbar 1:37

פְּקֻדֵיהֶם לְמַטֵּה בִנְיָמִן--חֲמִשָּׁה וּשְׁלֹשִׁים אֶלֶף וְאַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת

.

those counted accordingly from them — thirty-five thousand and four hundred.

Bamidbar 1:38

לִבְנֵי דָן תּוֹלְדֹתָם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמֹת מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה--כֹּל יֹצֵא צָבָא

. . . .

And the sons of Dan — their generations by their clans, by their fathers' houses, by the enumeration of names, from twenty years of age and upward, all who go forth in their hosts:

Bamidbar 1:39

פְּקֻדֵיהֶם לְמַטֵּה דָן--שְׁנַיִם וְשִׁשִּׁים אֶלֶף וּשְׁבַע מֵאוֹת

.

those counted accordingly from them — sixty-two thousand and seven hundred.

Bamidbar 1:40

לִבְנֵי אָשֵׁר תּוֹלְדֹתָם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמֹת מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה--כֹּל יֹצֵא צָבָא

. . .

And the sons of Asher — their generations by their clans, by their fathers' houses, by the enumeration of names, from twenty years of age and upward, all who go forth in their hosts:

Bamidbar 1:41

פְּקֻדֵיהֶם לְמַטֵּה אָשֵׁר--אֶחָד וְאַרְבָּעִים אֶלֶף וַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת

.

those counted accordingly from them — forty-one thousand and five hundred.

Bamidbar 1:42

בְּנֵי נַפְתָּלִי תּוֹלְדֹתָם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמֹת מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה--כֹּל יֹצֵא צָבָא

. . . .

The sons of Naphtali — their generations by their clans, by their fathers' houses, by the enumeration of names, from twenty years of age and upward, all who go forth in their hosts:

Bamidbar 1:43

פְּקֻדֵיהֶם לְמַטֵּה נַפְתָּלִי--שְׁלֹשָׁה וַחֲמִשִּׁים אֶלֶף וְאַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת

. .

those counted accordingly from them — fifty-three thousand and four hundred.

Bamidbar 1:44

אֵלֶּה הַפְּקֻדִים אֲשֶׁר פָּקַד מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן וּנְשִׂיאֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל--שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר אִישׁ אִישׁ-אֶחָד לְבֵית-אֲבֹתָיו הָיוּ

. . .

These are those counted, whom Moses and Aaron and the nobles of the house of Israel counted — twelve men, each one of them the noble of his father's house.

Bamidbar 1:45

וַיִּהְיוּ כָּל-פְּקוּדֵי בְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה כָּל-יֹצֵא צָבָא בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל

. . .

And those who were counted from them — traced to their fathers' houses, from twenty years of age and upward, all who go forth in their hosts —

Bamidbar 1:46

וַיִּהְיוּ כָּל-הַפְּקֻדִים--שֵׁשׁ-מֵאוֹת אֶלֶף וּשְׁלֹשֶׁת אֲלָפִים וַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת וַחֲמִשִּׁים

. .

the total of those counted was six hundred thousand and three thousand, and five hundred and fifty.

Bamidbar 1:47

וְהַלְוִיִּם לְמַטֵּה אֲבֹתָם--לֹא הָתְפָּקְדוּ בְּתוֹכָם

.

But the Levites were not counted among them, by the tribe of their fathers.

Bamidbar 1:48

וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר

Then God spoke to Moses directly.

Bamidbar 1:49

אַךְ אֶת-מַטֵּה לֵוִי לֹא תִפְקֹד וְאֶת-רֹאשָׁם לֹא תִשָּׂא בְּתוֹךְ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל

. .

'As for the tribe of Levi — do not count it, and do not raise their total among the sons of Israel.

Bamidbar 1:50

וְאַתָּה הַפְקֵד אֶת-הַלְוִיִּם עַל-מִשְׁכַּן הָעֵדֻת וְעַל כָּל-כֵּלָיו וְעַל כָּל-אֲשֶׁר-לוֹ--הֵמָּה יִשְׂאוּ אֶת-הַמִּשְׁכָּן וְאֶת-כָּל-כֵּלָיו וְהֵם יְשָׁרְתֻהוּ וְסָבִיב לַמִּשְׁכָּן יַחֲנוּ

. . . .

But you — appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and its vessels, and all that belongs to it; they shall carry the tabernacle and all its vessels, and they shall serve it, and around it they shall encamp.

Bamidbar 1:51

וּבִנְסֹעַ הַמִּשְׁכָּן יוֹרִידוּ אֹתוֹ הַלְוִיִּם וּבַחֲנֹת הַמִּשְׁכָּן יָקִימוּ אֹתוֹ הַלְוִיִּם וְהַזָּר הַקָּרֵב יוּמָת

. .

And when it sets out, they shall take it apart; and when it encamps, they shall set it up; and any outsider who approaches it shall be put to death.

Bamidbar 1:52

וְחָנוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אִישׁ עַל-מַחֲנֵהוּ וְאִישׁ עַל-דִּגְלוֹ לְצִבְאֹתָם

. .

And the sons of Israel shall encamp — each tribe in its encampment and in its position — by their hosts.

Bamidbar 1:53

וְהַלְוִיִּם יַחֲנוּ סָבִיב לְמִשְׁכַּן הָעֵדֻת וְלֹא-יִהְיֶה קֶצֶף עַל-עֲדַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְשָׁמְרוּ הַלְוִיִּם אֶת-מִשְׁמֶרֶת מִשְׁכַּן הָעֵדוּת

. . .

And the Levites shall encamp around the tabernacle of testimony, so that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the sons of Israel; and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony.'

Bamidbar 1:54

וַיַּעֲשׂוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶת-מֹשֶׁה--כֵּן עָשׂוּ

.

And the sons of Israel did according to all that God had commanded Moses — so they did.