BaMidbar (Numbers) 1:1

1st Aliya

HaShem spoke to Moshe in the Wilderness of Sinai, in the Tent of Meeting, on the first of the second month, in the second year after the exodus from the land of Mitzrayim, saying: "Take a census of the entire assembly of the Children of Yisra'el according to their families, according to their fathers' household, by number of the names, every male according to their had count."
The Torah teaches us that G-d had three particular reasons to make count of His chosen people: 1) The miraculous growth of the nation, which had come to Mitzrayim as a family of only seventy people but two hundred and ten years before, showed conclusively that G-d loved them very much. So, too, did they need to count them after every significant loss of life. 2) Each member of the nation had a right to benefit from the personal attention of Moshe and Aharon, and the census was a great opportunity for every Jew who came before "the father of the prophets and his brother, the holy one of G-d" to tell them his name and to be counted as an individual of personal worth. Surely Moshe and Aharon would bless them and pray for them, and the half-shekel contribution would bring them atonement.

BaMidbar (Numbers) 1:20

2nd Aliya

These were the sons of R'uven, first born of Isra'el (Ya'akov), their offering according to their families, according to their fathers' household, by number of the names according to their head count, every male from twenty years of age and up, everyone who goes out to the legion. Their count, for the tribe of R'uven: forty-six thousand, five hundred.

The Torah teaches us that every man would come before Moshe and Aharon, and the twelve tribal representatives, and, while submitting the half-shekel, declare, "I am (name) stemming from (family name), and that particular tribe. Moshe would take each half-shekel and place it according to the tribal affiliation of the donor. Thus, when Moshe later counted all the half-shekels, he knew not only the overall population of the Children of Yisra'el, but also the population of each tribe individually.

BaMidbar (Numbers) 2:1

3rd Aliya

HaShem spoke to Moshe and Aharon, saying, "The Children of Yisra'el shall encamp, each man by his banner according to the insignias of their fathers' household, at a distance surrounding the Tent of Meeting shall they encamp.

The Torah teaches us that they were to be organized into formation of three tribes--known as "banners"--with each banner led by a designated tribe. Their place around the Tabernacle would be the same as those Ya'akov had assigned to his sons when he instructed them on how to escort his bier to "Eretz Yisra'el" for burial. The Midrash teaches that Yisra'el's camp on earth was the counterpart of the Heavenly Court, where G-d's Throne is surrounded by four companies of angels, like the formation around the Tabernacle.

BaMidbar (Numbers) 3:1

4th Aliya

These are the offspring of Aharon and Moshe on the day HaShem spoke with Moshe at Mount Sinai. These are the names of the sons of Aharon, the firstborn was Nadav, and Avihu, El'azar, and Itamar.

The Torah teaches us that the reason for Moshe to be listed in the same verse with Aharon's sons', the scripture specifically informs us that whosoever educates another man's child in the knowledge of Torah, is considered as if he had begotten that child. For by teaching Torah, he is in effect enabling him to partake of the "World To Come".

BaMidbar (Numbers) 3:14

5th Aliya

HaShem spoke to Moshe in the Wilderness of Sinai, saying, "Count the sons of Levi according to their fathers' household, according to their families, every male from one month of age and up shall you count them."

The Torah teaches us that when Moshe was told to count the Levi's, the one month-old Levites were included. Moshe spoke to G-d and ask, "Will I enter every tent and inquire how many infants in their family?" HaShem spoke saying, "I will enter each Levite tent and will inform you the number of infants per family. You will stand outside of the tent and record the number I count and inform you." The counting of the Levites was accomplished by Moshe in accordance with the Word HaShem commanded, who spoke to him within each tent. It was not necessary for Moshe actually to enter any of the tents.

BaMidbar (Numbers) 3:40

6th Aliya

HaShem spoke to Moshe, "Count every firstborn male of the Children of Yisra'el from one month of age and up, and take a census of their names."

The Torah teaches us that originally the first-born were appointed to serve HaShem, but after the erecting of the Golden Calf, they were rendered unfit, and the Levites are to take their place. Nonetheless, since the first-born had once been set apart and sanctified for this purpose, they have retained their quality of sanctity. This sanctity must be transferred to the Levities by a process of redemption and substitution.

BaMidbar (Numbers) 4:1

7th Aliya

HaShem spoke to Moshe and Aharon, saying: "Take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, according to their families, according to their fathers' household; from thirty years of age and up, until fifty years of age, everyone who comes to the legion to perform work in the Tent of Meeting."

The Torah teaches us that Moshe was divinely instructed instructed to select those Levites who were specifically assigned to the Tent of Meeting, for hauling things, and for carrying the Tabernacle from one campsite to another. This age range is specified, because a man does not reach his physical prime before age 30, nor should he haul loads beyond age 50, when his strength begins to diminish.

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