In the beginning of Parshat Bamidbar (1:2), Hashem commands Moshe to take a census of Bnei Yisrael. The Torah records the exact number counted, in verses 45-46: “…The sum of all those who were counted was: 603,550.”
This census takes place in the second year, in the second month (Iyar), after the construction of the Mishkan. The first census of Am Yisrael was taken about seven months before this, in the first year following the Mishkan’s construction—when they collected the donations for the Mishkan (after Yom Kippur). There, the Torah records the exact number of the count (Shemot 38:26): “…for the 603,550.”
It is exactly the same number: 603,550!
How can this be? How can it be that seven months have passed, and yet the number of people in the nation remained identical? How can it be that not a single person died during this time period?
The Ramban (Shemot 30:12) gives two possible answers:
1. Is it possible that during those seven months, the exact same number of people died as those who turned 20 and thus could now be counted? “This is what actually happened,” says the Ramban. That is to say, the number of boys who turned 20—between Tishrei and Iyar—matched the number of people who died in that time period.
2. In the first count, they also included the tribe of Levi, whereas in the second count they did not (verse 47). Thus, the number of people who had turned 20 during those seven months matched the number of Levi’im from the first count. Even according to this answer, it is obvious that the fact that the numbers were identical is nothing short of miraculous.
There is an additional question. If one looks at the amount of children that the tribes had in Bereishit, and compares that to how many they have at present, 200 years later, we also see something amazing.
The average size of each tribe was approximately 50,000 people per tribe. In Bereishit (46:21), Binyamin had 10 children. Nonetheless, at present, the size of the tribe of Binyamin stands at 35,400! In contrast, Yehuda started off with three children (46:12) and now stands at 74,600! The most astonishing of all is the tribe of Dan. Dan had one child (46:23): “And the sons of Dan: Hushim”—and he now has 62,700!
It seems that the answer to all of these questions is as follows: The creation of Am Yisrael does not go according to the laws of nature. Am Yisrael is a natural creation that is always being directed, protected and overseen by HaKadosh Baruch Hu. Even if it seems that according to the laws of nature the tribe of Dan should have been the smallest and Binyamin should have been the largest, hashgacha pratit (Divine providence) decreed otherwise.
Divine providence determined that the total number of Hashem’s nation, at the beginning of its journey, would be 603,550. And since Am Yisrael is run by a fusion of the natural world together with hashgacha pratit, they maintained this number at the beginning of their existence as a nation.
Am Yisrael, together with the entire world, finds itself in a reality that is both difficult and complicated. We cannot understand Hashem’s plans. However, we can hope and pray that He is taking Am Yisrael, and the whole world, to a better, more pure place.
From our parsha we can learn that Hashem is always protecting and watching over us. Hashem’s supervision and guidance is very reassuring and heartwarming. With Hashem’s help we will continue to do His will in this world, in the best way possible—to fix and perfect the world through God’s kingship.
Translated by Rebbetzin Sara Krengel.
Rav Yosef Zvi Rimon is founder and chairman of Sulamot, and serves as rosh yeshiva of Lev Academic Center (JCT) and rabbi of Alon Shvut South. He is the head of World Mizrachi’s educational advisory board and a member of Mizrachi’s Speakers Bureau ( www.mizrachi.org/speakers ).
