Parshat Bamidbar

This week we start reading from sefer Bamidbar. It’s worth comparing the name that the Christians gave to this book with the name that Chazal gave. The Christians call this book “The Book of Numbers” while Chazal called this book “Chumash Hapikkudim.”

Both of these names reflect the fact that the Jews are counted twice in this book, but they emphasize different attitudes towards the act of counting a nation.

The Book of Numbers emphasizes the sum arrived at by the census. There is a natural tendency to be impressed by large numbers, and the Christians who read the Chumash did not see beyond the number of potential soldiers that the Jewish people possessed in the desert.

But Hashem warns us against being impressed by large numbers in general and our own numbers in particular. Shortly after the second census was performed Moshe Rabbeinu told the people (Devarim 7:7) “Not because of your multitudes did Hashem desire you and choose you…” In Tehillim (33:17,18) we read that, “It is false that the cavalry will save and that with his vast army he will escape.”

So why did Chazal name this book Chumah Hapikkudim?” The Netziv explains out in his introduction to this book that Chazal’s title emphasizes the act of counting. This is the book in which the Jews were counted twice. Rashi says in his opening remarks to Shmot, that Hashem counts us because we are so precious to Him. The census of the Torah is the antithesis of a contemporary census. In our time a census is conducted for the collection of data and truly the individual is reduced to a number. But the Torah’s count is a far cry from this impersonal collection of figures. The Ramban (1:3 on the words tifkidu otam) points out that the verb “tifkdu” does not mean “to count.” It means “pay attention.” The census was an opportunity for Moshe Rabbeinu to see every member of the community and to learn the needs of each family. Another benefit of the census according to the Ramban (1:45) was that it provided an opportunity for each person to see Moshe Rabbeinu and Aharon (which in itself is wonderful) and then the two leaders could offer a prayer on each person’s behalf.