If that were the end of the passage, we would understand that Levites retire entirely at the age of 50. However, the next verse continues:

(26) However, they shall minister with their brothers in the Tent of Meeting, to perform the duty, but they shall do no service. You shall do thus to the Levites concerning their duties."

This is a little confusing. Are they to minister in the Tabernacle after the age of fifty, or not?

Notice, the verse tells Moses to Take the Levites because the firstborn are holy. That doesn’t make sense.

Shouldn’t it say take the Levites because the Levites are holy or it should saythe firstborn are holy, so take them?

Surely, it does not make sense to take the tribe of Levi for God because the firstborns were saved in Egypt!

Sources: Num. 3: 12, Bemidbar Rabbah 3:5

What does the im, supposedly "if" really mean? The Sages tell us it means something much more meaningful than just "if." This word opens our Torah portion and contains within it so much more.

Take three minutes to the Parsha Pick-Me-Up to learn more.

Source: Avoda 5a.

God chose the 7th day of the week and the 7th year of the Shmitah cycle to be special for Him but the special nature of these Sabbaths is dependent upon us.

Take three minutes to listen to the Parsha Pick-Me-Up to learn more.

Our Torah portion begins with our deepest hope and greatest fear: getting credit for our children or receiving opprobrium.

Our verse functions as a sort of warning: don’t turn to false gods, since, in the end, you may come to think that they are real.

Notably, this is not the usual uniform of the High Priest, clothed generally in gold, jewels, and wool. Rashi explains that the gold, reminiscent as it was of the sin of the golden calf, would have been problematic.

Some stupendous humility may be called for in such a case. Perhaps the teacher of all of the priests is not a priest. Then, that teacher will never be able to declare tzara’at, though his students could. A surprising lesson is contained here.

Listen to the Parsha Pick-Me-Up to learn more.