Parshat Bamidbar, 3rd Portion (Numbers 2:1-2:34), May 20, 2014

Much organization of the camps. There are four divisions: Ephraim, Reuben, Judah, and Dan. Each of the divisions have three tribes. In the center, around the Tabernacle, should be the Levites who will not be counted.

Perhaps counting soldiers is a system to account for whether they all survive. The Levites are close to home, so to speak, so they will notice if someone disappears. Counting is not necessary.

I still marvel at the thought that the Torah is a religious book. What is religious about describing where people are going to be camped? Why are each tribe in an area with their families? Are families the highest value?