Derasha 1 on Behaalosecha 8:24

Parashas Behaalosecha · Aliyah 2 · Passuk 24

The Complete Passuk

זֹ֖את אֲשֶׁ֣ר לַלְוִיִּ֑ם מִבֶּן֩ חָמֵ֨שׁ וְעֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה יָבוֹא֙ לִצְבֹ֣א צָבָ֔א בַּעֲבֹדַ֖ת אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃

Chabad.org — English translation + Rashi

Source Citation

Torah Temimah cites Chullin 24a: “זאת אשר ללוים” teaches that age-disqualification applies only to Levites, not to priests; the word “זאת” excludes other categories.

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: ״זֹאת אֲשֶׁר לַלְוִיִּם״ – מָה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר? לְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וּמִבֶּן חֲמִשִּׁים שָׁנָה יָשׁוּב״, לָמַדְנוּ לַלְוִיִּם שֶׁהַשָּׁנִים פּוֹסְלִין בָּהֶם. יָכוֹל מוּמִין פּוֹסְלִין בָּהֶם?

English: It was taught: one might have thought that just as Levites are disqualified by age they are also disqualified by blemishes; therefore the Torah says “This is what pertains to the Levites” — this for Levites and nothing else for Levites.

Type of Learning

Gezerah / limiting expression — “זאת” confines the age rule (and excludes blemish-disqualification) to Levites alone.

What Is Learned

The age limits that govern Levite service do not automatically transfer to the priesthood; each class has its own criteria of fitness.