Become a Member
Sidrah

Bemidbar

"Take a census of the entire Israelite community. Do it by families following the paternal line, according to the name of each male…every male over 20 years old, who is fit for service" Numbers 1:2-3

June 9, 2016 13:37

ByMaureen Kendler, Maureen Kendler

1 min read

You would be forgiven, reading the entire parashah, for thinking that no women had come out of Egypt. Those that are to be counted, the census-takers, leaders and representatives of the camp are all Israelite males.

The Israelites at this point are preparing to conquer the land. When the numbers are given for each tribe, the text repeats that these are the numbers of "males over 20, fit for service [tzavah]".

Tzavah is usually understood to mean military service and the English translation often used is "war". Rashi and Saadia interpret it this way. So the complete absence of women being mentioned would make sense.

This would mean that the opening of the verse - about taking a census of all the community - means that quite literally, women, the less able-bodied and young people do not count. The only heads counted are those of potential soldiers.