15 Jul PINCHAS: HASHEM ARRANGES EVERYTHING FOR THE GOOD

In this week’s
parashah, the shevatim
are counted, and we
find the count of Shevet
Levi (see 26:57-62)
to be much less than
the other shevatim. The
Rishonim asks, “Why
should they be a smaller
tribe than the others”?
(The next smallest shevet
is Shimon, numbering
22,200. Levi had 23,000,
but even so, Shimon was
a larger tribe than Levi
because Shimon was
counted from the age
of twenty, while Levi was counted from one
month old.)
The Meshech Chachmah answers that the
immense growth of the other shevatim was
miraculous. Shevet Levi, however, multiplied
according to the rules of nature, which is
why they were a smaller tribe. The Meshech
Chachmah writes that this was for their benefit.
He explains, “In my opinion, it could be that
Hashem designed this since Shevet Levi won’t
own their property in Eretz Yisrael. Instead,
they will live in the arei miklat, spread out
throughout Eretz Yisrael. If Shevet Levi grew
to be a large tribe, they would complain, ‘Why
don’t we have a portion of land?’ And it would

also be a burden on Bnei Yisrael to support
such a large tribe. Therefore, Hashem in His
wisdom made sure that they don’t become
miraculously large (like the other shevatim);
rather, they increased according to the rules
of nature and became twenty-three thousand,
counting from a month and up.”
The Meshech Chachmah says that this lesson
is alluded to in the following words (26:62):

“And those counted of [Levi] were twenty-
three thousand.” They were the smallest tribe,

even smaller than Shimon’s, because they
were counted from a month, unlike Shimon,
who was counted from twenty years old. So,
their 23 thousand was a smaller tribe than
Shimon’s 22 thousand. The reason they were
a small tribe is because “no inheritance was
given to them among Bnei Yisrael.” They
weren’t granted a portion of land but will live
in arei miklat. If they multiplied and become
a large Shevet like the others, they would
be distressed that they don’t have their own
land. It would also be a great burden for Bnei
Yisrael to support them. It was for everyone’s
benefit that they did not increase miraculously,
like the other shevatim.
Let us learn a great lesson from this. Sometimes,
people think that they lack something and
wonder why they can’t have what others have,
but each person always receives the portion
that is best for him. Everything that happens is
always for our good.

When counting and naming the family of
Reuven, the pasuk writes (26:8) “And the sons
of Palu were Eliav.” Palu means concealed (see
Devarim 17:8). Which hints at the times that
Hashem’s kindness is concealed and darkness
covers the earth. When we don’t understand
how the matters that are happening to us are

for our good, then we must believe that Eli-
Av, it is from my G-d, from my compassionate

Father. Even if we don’t see how it is good
right now, everything will turn around very
soon, and we will see how it was all Hashem’s
compassion.
These topics are appropriate for this time
of year when we mourn the churban Beis
HaMikdash. The mourning is intense, but at
the same time, we know that everything that
occurred is our good. The Midrash (Eichah
Rabba 4:14) states the churban was a great
favor for Bnei Yisrael. Hashem poured out
His wrath on wood and stones and not on His
nation, chalilah.
Rebbe Yitzchak of Neshchiz zt’l (Toldos
Yitzchak) writes, “During the days of Bein
HaMetzarim, each year, a clear manifestation
of Hashem’s chesed is revealed. For it is
known that it was all for the benefit of Bnei
Yisrael. Hashem poured out His anger on
wood and stones and didn’t destroy Bnei
Yisrael. This occurred because Hashem’s love
for Bnei Yisrael was aroused from a very high
place in the upper world. This occurs every

year during this time. When these days arrive,
Hashem’s immense love for us is awakened,
and Hashem’s kindness and compassion come
to us and all Yisrael.”
The Arizal teaches that each month of the year
represents a part of the face, and the months
Tamuz and Av are represented by the two
eyes. Imrei Noam says that this tells us that
Hashem is watching us and caring for us, even
during these challenging times. “We shouldn’t
think that Hashem abandoned His hashgachah
pratis, His compassion, and His caring eye
during these days. The root of [the churban]
was a lot of compassion, only it is concealed
and isn’t revealed to all.”
It is this emunah that we must hold onto and
remember through everything that happens
to us. Sometimes our situation appears full
of midas hadin, but it is always for our good.
The churban was for our good, palu, those
concealed matters Bnei Eliav, are from our
compassionate Father, and as we discussed,
we saw from Levi’s small family that it was
for their benefit.