Audio Summaries of the daily Chumash portions In loving memory of Ousher Zelig ben Myer HaLevi Z”L

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About the Levites

On the day of the plague of the firstborn sons in Egypt, G-d sanctified all first borns - human males and livestock.

Then, after the sin of the Golden Calf, this sanctification passed to the Levites instead.

Thus the Levites became "given over" to G-d for carrying the Mishkan and its accessories, as well as singing in the Mishkan and assisting the Kohanim.

This protected the nation from plague - since if the regular Israelites would have approached the Mishkan this would have brought a plague however since the Levites did the necessary work there, others didn't have to.

So the ceremony of the sanctification of the Levites was carried out in accordance with G-d's plan: Moshe positioned them in the right place, Aaron performed the waving ceremony, and the Israelites lay their hands upon them. None of the Israelites resisted in spite of them not being chosen as the Levites were, and none of the Levites resisted, in spite of the danger that was inherent in their neglecting their services to do this ceremony and they did not resist being shaved either.

G-d instructs Moshe that only Levites aged 25-50 should actively participate in their Temple responsibilities.

At the age of 25 they should begin learning the relevant laws for what they'll need to do, and then five years later* they are to begin with actually serving.

*Side note: From here we learn an idea that if a student does not see success in his studies after 5 years, he won't see success.

After the age of 50, a Levite is no longer to carry the Mishkan and its accessories however he is still responsible to lock the temple gates, sing the temple songs, load the wagons and dismantle the Mishkan before the Israelites would embark on their next journey.

Unlike the Kohanim, Levites were not disqualified due to physical blemishes. Only age was a constraining factor for their service.