Derasha 1 on Behaalosecha 8:25

Parashas Behaalosecha · Aliyah 2 · Passuk 25

The Complete Passuk

וּמִבֶּן֙ חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה יָשׁ֖וּב מִצְּבָ֣א הָעֲבֹדָ֑ה וְלֹ֥א יַעֲבֹ֖ד עֽוֹד׃

Chabad.org — English translation + Rashi

Source Citation

Torah Temimah (Chullin 24a / Yerushalmi): from fifty the Levite returns from the service of the work.

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
וּמִבֶּן֙ חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה יָשׁ֖וּב מִצְּבָ֣א הָעֲבֹדָ֑ה וְלֹ֥א יַעֲבֹ֖ד עֽוֹד׃ — לָמַדְנוּ לַלְוִיִּם שֶׁהַשָּׁנִים פּוֹסְלִין בָּהֶם.

English: “And from fifty years old he shall return from the service of the work and shall serve no more” — we learn that for the Levites the years disqualify them.

Type of Learning

Age disqualification — the numerical limit on Levite service is stated in the plain text.

What Is Learned

The Levite’s heavy service has a defined end; the Torah itself sets the retirement threshold.