1)

What does the Torah mean when it writes "ve'Lo Ya'avod Od" and continues "Ve'Sheires es Echav ... "?

1.

Rashi #1: It means that, at the age of fifty, a Ben Levi retires from the Avodah of carrying, and returns to lock the gates, sing 1 and load the wagons. 2

2.

Rashi #2 (in Avos, 5:21): It means that, at the age of fifty, the ben Levi returns to advise the (younger) Levi'im and to teach them how to carry out their duties. 3

3.

Ramban (citing the Sifri) and Rashbam: It means that he returns to the Avodah of guarding the gates and the Avodah of the B'nei Gershon - loading the wagons, 4 but not to the Avodah of singing. 5


1

See answer #3 and note 2, and refer to 8:25:152. Refer also to 4:47:151:1.

2

The lighter work of the B'nei Gershon and Merari. Refer also to 8:25:153:1. Oznayim la'Torah, citing the Riva notes that by the same token, when the B'nei Gershon and the B'nei Merari reach the age of fifty, they cease heavy work.

3

See Mishnah there.

4

Refer also to 8:24:2:3.

5

Ramban: Which was the main Avodah, but which they synchronized with the Avodah of carrying (See Ramban DH 've'Od', who elaborates further with regard to Avodas ha'Shir). Moshav Zekenim: The Gemara in Chulin, 24a, states that only [in the desert] when they carried, are they disqualified from Shir, but not in Shiloh.

QUESTIONS ON RASHI

2)

Rashi writes that after 50, he ceases carrying and returns to Shirah. The Sifri says only that he returns to guard and load (Ramban). In Chulin (24a), it says that only [in the Midbar] when they carried, they are disqualified from Shir, but not in Shilo! (Moshav Zekenim)

3)

Rashi writes that after the age of fifty, the Levi returns to Shirah, whereas Above in Bamidbar, 4:47, he said that Avodas Avodah is Shir with cymbals, and the Pasuk permits only until fifty?

1.

Refer to 4:47:151:1.

4)

Rashi writes that after the age of fifty, the Levi returns to load the wagons and sing. If so, the B'nei Gershon and B'nei Merari are not disqualified at all through age!

1.

Riva: Rashi means that the B'nei K'has cease carrying and begin loading, whereas the B'nei Gershon and B'nei Merari who had been loading the wagons from the beginning of their Avodah, when they reach fifty, they cease loading, and begin singing and guarding. 1


1

Oznayim la'Torah: And the Torah concludes "Kachah Ta'aseh la'Levi'im be'Mishmerosam" to stress that Pasuk 24 is not confined to the B'nei K'has, but extends to the B'nei Gershon and Merari as well.

5)

Rashi writes that after the age of fifty, the Levi returns to locking the gates. But there were no gates in the Mishkan?

1.

Riva: Locking the gates applies to Shiloh and the Beis ha'Mikdash, loading the wagons, to the Midbar.

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