Pgs. 240- 251
Ch. 1-4
THE PALESTINIAN TARGUM
ON
THE BOOK OF NUMBERS.
SECTION OF THE TORAH XXXIV.
BEMIDBAR.
I. AND the Lord spake with Mosheh in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of ordinance, on the first of the month Ijar, which was the second month of the second year from the time of their coming forth from the land of Mizraim, saying: Take the account of the whole congregation of the Beni Israel, according to the families of their fathers' house, by the number of the names of all the males by their capitations. From each son twenty years and upwards, every one going out in the host in Israel; thou and Aharon number them by their hosts. And let there be with you a man of each tribe, a chief of his father's house. And these are the names of the men who shall stand with you. Of Reuben, Elizur bar Shedeur: of Shemeon, the leader,[1] Shelumiel bar Zuri‑Shaddai: the prince of Jehudah, Nachshon bar Amminadab: the prince of Issakar, Nathaniel bar Zuar : the prince of Zebulon, Eliab bar Chelon: the prince of the Beni Joseph, of Ephraim, Elishama bar Ammihud: the prince of Menasheh, Gamliel bar Pedazur: the prince of Benjamin, Abidan bar Gideoni: the prince of Dan, Achiezer bar Ammi‑shadai: the prince of Asher, Pagiel bar Achran: the prince of Gad, Eljasaph bar Dehuel: the prince of Naphtali, Achira bar Enan. These (were) the notables of the congregation of the people, chiefs of their fathers' tribes, heads of thousands in Israel these. And Mosheh and Aharon took these men who are expressed by their names: and they assembled all the congregation on the first day of the month Ijar, which is the second month, and recensed them by the families of their fathers' house, by the number of their names, from twenty years old and upward by their capitations. As the Lord commanded Mosheh, they numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.
And the sons of Reuben, the first‑born of Israel by the families of the generations of their fathers' house, in the number of their names by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all going forth in the host, the sum of the tribe of Reuben, forty‑six thousand Five hundred. [JERUSALEM. Their sum.] Of the families of the Beni Shemeon, after the generations of their fathers' house in the number of their names by their polls, every male from twenty years and upward, every one going forth in the host, the sum of the tribe of Shemeon, fifty‑nine thousand three hundred: of the family of the Beni Gad, after the generation of their fathers' house, in the number of their names by their polls, every male from twenty years and upward, forty-five thousand six hundred and fifty. The sum of the tribe of Jehudah seventy‑four thousand six hundred:[2] of Issakar, fifty‑four thousand four hundred: of Zebulon, fifty‑seven thousand four hundred: of Ephraim, forty thousand five hundred: Of Menasheh, thirty‑two thousand two hundred: Benjamin, thirty five thousand four hundred: Dan, sixty‑two thousand seven hundred: Asher, forty-one thousand five hundred: Naphtali, fifty‑three thousand four hundred.
These are the sums of the numbered ones which Mosheh and Aharon, and the princes of Israel, twelve men, a man for each house of their fathers, did number. And all the sums of the numbered of the Beni Israel were six hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty. But the Levites after their father's tribe were not numbered among them. For the Lord had spoken with Mosheh, saying: Nevertheless, the tribe of Levi thou shalt not number, nor take their sum among the children of Israel: but thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony, and over all its vessels, and whatever things pertain unto it. They shall carry the tabernacle and all its vessels, and do service in it; and round about the tabernacle shall they dwell. And when the tabernacle is to go forward, the Levites shall take it apart; and when the tabernacle is to be stationary, the Levites are to uprear it: the common person who draweth near will be slain by a flaming fire from before the Lord.
And the sons of Israel shall encamp every one by the place of his own company, every one under his standard according to their hosts. But the Levites shall encamp round about the tabernacle of the testimony, that there may not be wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel; and the Levites shall keep charge of the tabernacle of testimony. And the sons of Israel did according to all that the Lord commanded Mosheb, so did they.
II. And the Lord spake with Mosheh and with Aharon, saying: Every man of the Beni Israel shall encamp by his standard, by the ensign which is signified upon the standards of their fathers' house over against the tabernacle of ordinance shall they encamp round about. The length of the camp of Israel shall be twelve miles, and its breadth twelve miles. And they who encamp eastward to the sunrise shall be of the standard of the camp of Jehudah by their hosts, spreading over four miles. And his standard shall be of silk, of three colours, corresponding with (those of) the precious stones which are in the breastplate,--sardius, topaz, and carbuncle; and upon it shall be expressed and set forth the names of the three tribes of Jehudah, Issakar, and Zebulon; and in the midst shall be written : Arise, 0 Lord, and let Thine enemies be scattered, and Thine adversaries be driven away before Thee; and upon it shall be set forth the figure of a young lion. And the Rabba of the Beni Jehudah shall be Nachshon bar Amminadab. And the sum of the hosts of that tribe was seventy‑four thousand six hundred.
And they who encamp next by him shall be the tribe of Issakar, and the Rabba appointed over the host of the Beni Issakar, Nathaniel bar Zuar: and the sum of the host of the tribe fifty‑four thousand four hundred. The tribe of Zebulon,--the Rabba, Eliab bar Chelon; the number, fifty‑seven thousand four hundred. All the numbered ones of the camp of Jehudah, one hundred and eighty‑six thousand four hundred, by their hosts; they shall go forward in front.
(By) the standard of the camp of Reuben they, shall encamp southward by their hosts, spreading over four miles. And his standard shall be of silk, of three colours, corresponding with (those of) the precious stones that are in the breastplate, azmorad, sapphire, and adamant: on it shall be expressed and set forth the names of the three tribes of Reuben, Shemeon, Gad; and in the midst of it be written, Hear, Israel, the Lord our God is One; and upon it shall be set forth the figure of a stag. Some would have thought there should have been upon it the figure of a young ox; but Mosheh the prophet altered it, that the sin of the calf might not be remembered against them. And the Rabba set over the host of the tribe Reuben was Elizur bar Shedeur. And his host and the numbered of his tribe were fifty‑nine thousand three hundred. The tribe of Gad: the Rabba set over the host of the tribe of the Beni Gad was Eljasaph bar Dehuel. And his host and the number of his tribe, forty‑five thousand six hundred. All the sum of the numbered ones of the camp of Reuben, one hundred and fifty one thousand four hundred and fifty by their hosts; and they went forward secondly,
But the tabernacle shall go with the host of the Levites, in the midst of their host; and their camp spreadeth over four miles, in the midst are they to be: as they encamp, so shall they go, every man going in his appointed place, by their standard.
The camp of Ephraim by the standard of their hosts shall pitch on the west; their camp spreadeth over four miles; and their standard is of silk of three colours, corresponding with the precious stones in the breastplate, ligure, agate, and amethyst; and upon it expressed and set forth the names of the three tribes, Ephraim, Menasheh and Benjamin, having written in the midst, And the Cloud of the Lord was over them, in the going forward of the host; and upon it was set forth the figure of a young man. And the Rabba set over the tribe of Ephraim, Elishama bar Ammihud; and the sum of his host, forty thousand five hundred. And next to him were the tribe of Menasheh: the Rabba, Gamliel bar Pedashur; their number, thirty‑two thousand two hundred. Of the tribe of Benjamin the Rabba was Abidan bar Gideoni, and the number of his host thirty-five thousand four hundred. The Sum of the camp of Ephraim was one hundred and eight thousand one hundred; and they went forward thirdly.
The standard of the camp of Dan shall be to the north with their hosts; and the space of their camp shall spread over four miles. His standard shall be of silk of three colours, corresponding with the stones in the breastplate, chrysolite, beryl, and jasper; in it shall be expressed and set forth the names of the three tribes, Dan, Naphtali, and Asher; and upon it shall be expressed: And in his encampment shall he say, Return, 0 Lord, and dwell in Thy glory in the midst of the myriads of Israel; and upon it shall also be set forth the figure of a basilisk serpent. (Gen. xlix. 17.) The Rabba set over the hosts of Dan was Achiezer bar Aminishaddai, and the number of his tribe sixty‑two thousand seven hundred. They who encamp next to him shall be the tribe of Asher; the Rabbi was Paghiel bar Achran, and the numbers forty‑one thousand five hundred. Of the tribe Naphtali, the Rabba, Achira bar Enan; and the numbers, fifty‑three thousand four hundred. The sum of the hosts of Dan was one hundred and fifty-seven thousand six hundred: and these went forward last with their ensigns.
This is the amount of the numbers of the Beni Israel, according to the house of their fathers; all the sums of the camps by their hosts were six hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty. But the Levites were not numbered among the sons of Israel, as the Lord commanded Mosheh. And the sons of Israel did according to all that the Lord commanded Mosheh; so did they encamp by their standards, and so went they forward, every man with his family by the house of his fathers.
III. These are the generations of Aharon and Mosheb, who were genealogized in the day that the Lord spake with Mosheh in the mountain of Sinai. And these are the names of the Beni Aharon the priests, the disciples of Moses, the Rabbi of Israel; and they were called by his name in the day that they were anointed to minister in offering their oblations. But Nadab and Abihu died by the flaming fire at the time of their offering the strange fire from their own tents; and they had no children. And Elazar and Ithamar ministered before Aharon their father.
And the Lord spake with Mosheh, saying: Bring the tribe of Levi near, and appoint them before Aharon the priest to minister with him, (or, to do him service;) and let them be divided into twenty and four parties, and they shall keep his charge, and the charge of all the congregation before the tabernacle of ordinance, to perform the work of the tabernacle; and they shall have charge of all the vessels of the tabernacle of ordinance, and the charge of the sons of Israel to do the service of the tabernacle. And I have given the Levites unto Aharon and his sons; a gift are they given and delivered to him from among the sons of Israel; and number thou Aharon and his soils, that they may keep their priesthood; and the stranger who cometh near shall be slain by the flame from. before the Lord.
And the Lord spake with Mosheh, saying: And I, behold, I have brought nigh the Levites from among the sons of Israel, instead of all the first‑born who open the womb among the sons of Israel; and the Levites shall minister before Me. For every first‑born among the sons of Israel is Mine, from the day when. I slew every first-born in the land of Mizraim; I have sanctified before Me every first‑born in Israel; from man to animal, they are Mine: I am the Lord.
And the Lord spake with Mosheh in the wilderness of Sinai, saying: Number the sons of Levi according to the house of their fathers and their families; every male from a month old and upward shalt thou number them. Moses therefore numbered them according to the mouth of the Word of the Lord, as he had been commanded. And these were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, Kehath, and Merari. And these are the names of the Beni Gershon, according to their families, Libni and Shemei. And the Beni Kehath by their families, Amram, Jizhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. And the Beni Merari by their families, Machli, and Mushi: these are the families of the Levites after the house of their fathers.
Of Gershon, the family of Libni, and the family of Shemei; these are the families of Gershon. The sum of them, by the numbers of all the males from a month old and upward, seven thousand five hundred. The two families who spring from Gershon shall encamp after the tabernacle westward; and the Rab of the house of the fathers set over the two families shall be Eljasaph bar Lael. And the charge of the Beni Gershon in the tabernacle of ordinance shall be the tent, and the covering that overspreadeth, and the hanging of the door of the tabernacle of ordinance, and the curtains of the court, and the hanging which is at the gate of the court by the tabernacle, and the altar round about, and the cords of it, for all the service thereof.
Of Kehath was the family of Amram, and the family of Izbar, and of Hebron, and Uzziel: these are the families of Kehath, the numbers eight thousand six hundred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary. The four families that spring from Kehath shall encamp by the south side of the tabernacle; the Rab shall be Elizaphan bar Uzziel, and their charge, the ark, the table, the candelabrum, the altars, the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister, and the veil, and that which pertaineth to its service. And the Amarkol set over the chiefs of the Levites shall be Elazar bar Aharon the priest, who inquireth by Uraya and Thumaya; and under his hand shall they be appointed who keep the charge of the sanctuary.
Of Merari, the families of Machli and Mushi, their number six thousand two hundred, and the Rab Zeruel bar Abichael: they shall encamp by the tabernacle northward; and that delivered to their charge shall be the boards of the tabernacle, its bars, pillars, and sockets, and all (that pertains to) the service thereof. The pillars of the court also round about, their sockets, pins, and cords.
But they who encamp before the tabernacle of ordinance eastward (shall be) Mosheh and Aharon, and his sons; keeping charge of the sanctuary and of Israel; and the stranger who draweth near shall be slain by flaming fire from before the Lord. The sum of the Levites whom Mosheh and Aharon numbered by the mouth of the Word of the Lord was twenty‑two thousand.
And the Lord said unto Mosheh, Number all the first‑bon males among the sons of Israel, from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names. And bring near the Levites before me--I am the Lord--instead of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel, and all the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstling cattle of the children of Israel. And Mosheh numbered, as the Lord commanded him, all the firstborn of the sons of Israel: the sum of their number was twenty-two thousand two hundred and seventy‑three.
And the Lord spake with Mosheh, saying: Bring near the Levites instead of every first‑born among Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle, that the Levites may minister before me: I am the Lord. And for the redemption of the two hundred and seventy and three of the first‑born of the Beni Israel, who are more (than the number of) the Levites, thou shalt take of each five shekels by poll, in the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take, twenty mahin to the shekel. And thou shalt give the Shekel unto Aharon, and to his sons, as the redemption of them who are more than they. Arid Mosheh took the redemption (money) of them who were above those who were released by the Levites, one thousand three hundred and sixty‑five shekels; and Mosheh gave the redemption silver to Aharon, and to his sons, according to the mouth of the Word of the Lord, as the Lord commanded Mosheh.
IV. And the Lord spake with Mosheh, saying: Take the account of the sons of Kehath from among the Beni Levi, from thirty years and upwards to fifty years, every one who cometh by the band to do the work in the tabernacle of ordinance. This is the service of the Beni Kehath, in the tabernacle of ordinance (with) the most holy things. But whenever the camp is to be removed, Aharon and his sons shall enter, and unloose the veil that is spread, and cover up the Ark of the Testimony, and put over it the covering of hyacinthine skin, and overspread it with a wrapper of twined work, and inset its staves. And over the table of the presence bread they shall spread a wrapper of purple, and set upon it the vials, and the spoons, and the vases, [JERUSALEM. Vials,] and the libation cups; but the bread shall be upon it evermore. And they shall spread upon it a wrapper of scarlet, and cover it with a covering of hyacinthine skin, and inset its staves. And they shall take a purple wrapper, and cover the candelabrum that lighteth, and its lamps, its tongs, its snuff‑dishes, and all the vessels of service by which they attend it. [JERUSALEM. Snuffers.] And they shall put it and all its vessels in a covering of hyacinthine skin, and place it upon a rest. [JERUSALEM. Upon a beam.] And upon the golden altar they shall spread a purple vest, and cover it with a covering of hyacinthine skin, and inset its staves. And they shall take all the vessels, of the service with which they minister in the sanctuary, and wrap them in a covering of hyacinthine skins, and place it upon a beam.
And they shall remove the cinders from the altar, and overspread it with a covering of crimson. [JERUSALEM. And they shall take away from the altar,] and put upon it all its vessels with which it is served, the cinder‑holders, flesh‑hooks, prongs, and basins, even all the vessels of the altar, and spread upon it a covering of hyacinthine skin, and inset its staves.
And after Aharon and his sons have completed to cover the sanctuary, and all the vessels thereof, when the camp is to go forward, then the sons of Kehath may enter in to carry: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die by the flaming fire. This is the burden of the sons of Kehath in the tabernacle of ordinance. And that delivered to Elazar bar Aharon the priest shall be the oil for the light, the aromatic incense, the perpetual mincha, the oil of anointing, and the custody of all the tabernacle, and whatever is in it in the sanctuary and its vessels.
And the Lord spake with Mosheh, saying: Thou shalt not give occasion for the tribe of the family of Kehath to perish among the Levites. But this appointment make thou for them, that they may live the life of the just, and die not by the flaming fire; they shall turn away their eyes from the Most Holy Place at the time they approach thither. Aharon and his sons shall enter, and appoint them man by man to his service and his burden. But they shall not go in to gaze, when the priests go in to cover the vessels of the sanctuary, that they die not by the flaming fire. [JERUSALEM. And the Levites shall not go in to gaze when the priests cover the vessels of the holy house, lest they die.]
[1] Amarkol. See Glossary
[1] The same form of words is given with each tribe; in the remaining ones I have omitted the preamble, and rendered the numbers only