Parshas Naso: Gifts with Thought
Dedicated to a refuah shelaima for Masha Frayda bas Goldie, Chana Zelda bat Gittel Yita, Chaya Sarah bas Esther Leah, Moshe Aaron ben Necha Itta, Binyamin ben Simcha, and Yaakov ben Esther Malka.
Parshas Naso is the parsha at the end of which the Princes of the Tribes of Israel bring their gifts to the Mishkan. The gifts are, well, they are a bit of a challenge to read through because they repeat, and repeat, and repeat. As is well known, each of the princes of the tribes gave the exact same gift.
They brought both a silver bowl and a silver basin filled with fine flour with oil, a gold spoon with incense, a young bull, a ram, a 1-year lamb, and a 1-year he-goat, as well as two bulls, five rams, five he-goats and five lambs.
It is, of course, important to know what the princes brought since this was part of the momentous occasion, but why did Hashem want it written over and over. Once for each prince who brought the exact same thing. Why not just say ‘and each of the princes brought their own gift of:…’ there could even have been a concluding line pointing out how each one was exactly the same. Instead, it repeats what seems to be exact same 5 pasukim 12 times – which is 638 (58 x 11 repeats) words in a text that we usually speak of as having no excess words.
Some commentators say that the exactness of the repetition is precisely the point, that it expresses the chashivus given to each prince and his offering, so none was more important than the other. Others say that since the Torah does not waste words, we can learn that while the offerings appeared exactly the same, there was something that made each one unique. And, of course, there is the conversation about how the equality of the recording of the princes’ gifts is a reminder that there is no stratification between the tribes of Bnei Yisrael.
This is an obvious launching point for an examination of Klal Yisrael’s need to unify and look at each other as equals. ______(dramatic pause)___________ Ok, well, you all know that. Actually, what seems fascinating when looking at the parsha is to notice that before the great big hullabaloo of the princes’ gift giving, one can easily miss the fact that the princes brought something else. As is noted in Bamidbar 7:13, they also brought six draught carts and twelve oxen - a cart for every two chieftains and an ox for each one. These things, however, were given by all of the princes together. So one cart, two princes with an ox of each drawing the cart.
The carts, it seems obvious to say, were bringing the gifts of both princes, and one could just assume that this was basic, mundane utility – which, it seems Moshe did, because, as recorded in the next pasuk, Hashem literally had to tell Moshe to accept the carts as part of the offering, not to just unload them as meaningless transport. And this was what the tribal princes had in mind, according to many commentaries. They recognized that all of the artifacts of the Mishkan had to be moved from place to place.
As may be remembered, the princes brought their gifts now after having declared that they would wait until everyone donated and then give what ever else was needed, but nothing was needed because Bnei Yisrael gave so generously from their hearts. None of the materials for the mishkan were needed, but what about something mundane, like the ability to transport the mishkan.
The silver bowls and golden spoons and perfect animals for karbanos were the gifts of the princes – the stately gifts that represented their status as leaders and their understanding of the foundations of the people’s avodah. Their intentional delivery of these gifts in ox drawn carts that they also planned to give was a demonstration of thinking one step beyond, one step toward “how can I help my brethren;” for, indeed, these carts were intended for the Leviim from the start of the princes’ planning. But Hashem had to instruct Moshe to see it and recognize it, and this, in many ways, made the carts more valuable than the offerings.
It is also interesting that the conversation about the carts and the oxen is recorded when the wagons are still laden with the princes’ gifts. Logically, it would make sense that after the carts were empty, after all those repeated verses, and before they were taken away, they were then presented as a gift to the mishkan. Perhaps the order is a subtle reminder of the well-known idea that Hashem values actions that are bein adam lchavero over actions that are bein adam lmakom.
Perhaps, as well, we have a little lesson hear on the impact of thoughtful giving – giving when one looks and sees a need and does or gives. It sounds simple, even obvious, but seeing an unstated need takes thought and consideration, which is the ideal way to approach everything we do in this world.
