Shoftim 18:06 · unit 1

TT #165 · Parashas Shoftim · Fourth Aliyah · Passuk 18:06

The Complete Passuk

וְכִֽי־יָבֹ֨א הַלֵּוִ֜י מֵאַחַ֤ד שְׁעָרֶ֙יךָ֙ מִכׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁר־ה֖וּא גָּ֣ר שָׁ֑ם וּבָא֙ בְּכׇל־אַוַּ֣ת נַפְשׁ֔וֹ אֶל־הַמָּק֖וֹם אֲשֶׁר־יִבְחַ֥ר יְהֹוָֽה׃

And if a Levi comes from one of your gates, from all of Yisrael where he sojourns, and he comes with all the desire of his soul to the place that the Eternal will choose,

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sifrei Devarim 168.

TT lemma: וְכִי יָבֹא הַלֵּוִי.

Sefaria — Sifrei Devarim 168

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
וְכִי יָבֹא הַלֵּוִי – יָכוֹל בְּעַל כׇּרְחוֹ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר בְּכׇל אַוַּת נַפְשׁוֹ.

English: ‘And if a Levi comes’ – one might have thought against his will; therefore the Torah says ‘with all the desire of his soul.’

On the daf / in context: Sifrei emphasizes that the Levi’s coming to serve is voluntary and motivated by desire.

Type of Learning

Derash on the voluntary nature (Sifrei) — the phrase ‘desire of his soul’ teaches that the service is undertaken willingly.

What Is Learned

A Levi who wishes to come and serve at the chosen place may do so of his own free desire; the service is not forced.