What are the connotations of the words "Tifk'du osam"?
Ramban: It means 'Remember and take note of them!' 1 In other words, Moshe was not just commanded to count Yisrael but to know their numbers by accepting their half-Shekalim as an atonement, so that they should not be subject to a plague that ensues when Yisrael are counted S'tam. 2
Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan: It means simply, 'You shall count them!'
Ramban: It is a Lashon of 'Hashgachah' (supervision), and is similar to the Pasuk in Vayeira, Bereishis 21:1 "va'Hashem Pakad es Sarah'.
Ramban: Similar to David ha'Melech, about whom the Pasuk writes in Shmuel 2, 24:9, "Mispar Mifkad ha'Am". See Ramban, who takes for granted that David ha'Melech too, counted the people via half-Shekalim, and goes into detail to explain David's sin that caused the ensuing plague.
"Kol Yotz'ei Tzava be'Yisrael Tifk'du osam". What are the connotations of the words "Tifk'du osam"?
Ramban: It means 'Remember and take note of them!' 1 In other words, Moshe was not just commanded to count Yisrael but to know their numbers by accepting their half-Shekalim as an atonement, so that they should not be subject to a plague that ensues when Yisrael are counted S'tam. 2
Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan: It means simply, 'You shall count them!'
Ramban: It is a Lashon of 'Hashgachah' (supervision), and is similar to the Pasuk in Vayeira, Bereishis 21:1 "va'Hashem Pakad es Sarah".
Ramban: Similar to David ha'Melech, about whom the Pasuk writes in Shmuel 2, 24:9, "Mispar Mifkad ha'Am". See Ramban, who takes for granted that David ha'Melech too, counted the people via half-Shekalim, and goes into detail to explain David's sin that caused the ensuing plague.
"Kol Yotz'ei Tzava be'Yisrael ? ". What are the implications of the word "be'Yisrael"?
R. Bachye: It precludes the Eirev Rav from being counted (and from serving in the army).
"Kol Yotz'ei Tzava be'Yisrael Tifk'du osam". Why does the Torah write "Tifk'du osam" and not 'Tisp'ru osam'?
R. Bachye: Because they were not allowed to count them in the conventional manner, only to take note of them by way of the half-Shekalim.
Why is Aharon mentioned here, but not in the census at the beginning of Ki Sisa?
Ba'al ha'Turim: Because the census in Ki Sisa was instituted as a result of the Eigel, 1 for which Aharon was considered responsible, therefore it was inappropriate for him to have a hand in the counting.
To ascertain how many remained alive after the plague (Rashi on Pasuk 1).
"Tifk'du osam ? le'Tziv'osam". What are the connotations of "Le'Tziv'osam"?
R. Bachye #1: Refer to 1:2:4.1:1*.
R. Bachye #2: The Torah uses a Lashon of "Tzeva'os" because in total, they comprised a large number, and each each tribe comprised large numbers of hosts.
Why were Yisrael counted from the age of twenty?
According to the Ramban: Because, with reference to 1:3:2:1, one is only punished bi'Yedei Shamayim from the age of twenty.
R. Bachye: Because a person is only stong enough to fight wars from the age of twenty. 1
Moshav Zekenim: Because a man of twenty has many Mitzvos - from five he learns Mikra, from ten he learns Mishnah, from thirteen he is obligated to keep Mitzvos, from fifteen he learns Gemara. At twenty he has many Mitzvos which enable him to chase [the enemy] in war.
R. Bachye: As the Mishnah states in Avos end of Perek 5 'Ben Esrim Lirdof'.
