במדבר, פרק ל״א, פסוק ד׳

The mobilization for the battle against Midian marks a unique military campaign. It was not a standard war of conquest, but a specific mission of divine retribution. To reflect its national and spiritual character, the army was formed with strict equality, drawing an identical number of men from each segment of the nation. The drafting of exactly one thousand men per tribe emphasizes that these soldiers were not just fighters, but delegates representing the entire collective [רש ר הירש]. Other perspectives suggest that the selection process was more complex. Moses may have separated the men into distinct groups because he was uncertain whether the campaign should be governed by the laws of a standard war or the specific rules of a war of vengeance, particularly regarding the division of spoils [צפנת פענח]. Another approach maintains that two thousand men were actually taken from each tribe. One thousand served as armed combatants on the front lines, while another thousand remained in the rear to guard the equipment and maintain the supply lines of food and water [מלבי״ם]. Under this view, a total of twenty-four thousand men mobilized, a number intended to serve as a spiritual counterweight to the twenty-four thousand Israelites who perished in the plague following the sin of Peor [שפתי כהן, קיצור בעל הטורים].

The primary approach among commentators is that the call to arms included the tribe of Levi. This participation is highly unusual, as the Levites traditionally did not engage in warfare or receive a portion of land. Several reasons are offered for their inclusion. Because the war aimed to uproot the idolatry of Peor, which was rooted in crude materialism, there was a concern that the spiritually devoted Levites might conclude they should withdraw entirely from the physical world. Engaging in battle and taking a share of the spoils taught them how to value, elevate, and sanctify even the lowest, most material aspects of creation [חומש קה״ת]. Furthermore, the destructive advice of Balaam and Midian had harmed the entire nation, making it necessary for everyone to participate in the retribution [חזקוני]. Moses also wanted to ensure that all the tribes earned the merit of fulfilling this Commandment [העמק דבר]. On a personal level, Moses included his own tribe to prevent any suspicion from the people that he was holding his kinsmen back to delay the war, knowing that his own death was destined to occur immediately after its conclusion [משכיל לדוד].

Including the tribe of Levi introduces a numerical challenge. When counting Levi alongside Ephraim and Manasseh, there are thirteen tribes, yet the final count of soldiers delivered for the war was only twelve thousand. Commentators weave together different explanations to resolve this gap. One view suggests that Ephraim and Manasseh were only considered separate tribes regarding land inheritance. For this military draft, they were counted together as the single tribe of Joseph and sent one thousand men combined [שפתי חכמים, משכיל לדוד]. Another perspective proposes that the tribe of Ephraim refused to send soldiers altogether. They worried the nation would accuse them of rushing into battle to hasten Moses' death and install their own tribesman, Joshua, as the new leader. Consequently, the tribe of Levi stepped in to take their place [צאינה וראינה]. A third approach clarifies that thirteen thousand men did indeed deploy, but only twelve thousand were designated as front-line combatants. The thousand men from the tribe of Levi did not engage in physical combat, but were instead tasked with carrying the Ark of the Covenant and the holy vessels [גור אריה, ברכת אשר]. There was also a stark contrast in their readiness to fight. The twelve thousand soldiers from the other tribes were drafted against their will, reluctant to participate in a campaign that would bring about the end of Moses' life. In contrast, the men of Levi stepped forward entirely of their own free will, motivated by a deep reverence and eagerness to fulfill God's command [ברטנורא].

The army was led by Phinehas, who served as the priest specially anointed for battle. His spiritual stature was immense, considered equal to the entire Sanhedrin and all the soldiers combined. As the troops marched to the front, they were accompanied by the holy vessels, which included the Ark and the Tablets it contained, along with trumpets to sound the alarm. This prominent display of sacred items served a public purpose, declaring to the world that this was not a conventional conflict, but a commanded war dedicated entirely to avenging God [תורה תמימה].