The Book of Bamidbar, also named sefer hapekudim, the Book of Numbers, opens and closes with a census. Hashem requests Moshe to count the able bodied men in readiness for the journey through the desert. Our sages note that the count of 603,550 is exactly the same as that done earlier with the half shekel donations for the Tabernacle. Various explanations are given, from those who suggest there was actually only one count, to the Ramban who suggests that there was growth but this was balanced out by not including the Levites in this count. There is nevertheless a noticeable difference between the count in Shemot, where we are just given the total, to the count here which goes into full detail of the numbers in each tribe.
The book of Bamidbar is more than a book of numbers, it is the story of people and human relationships. Notice how the Parsha opens with the choosing of twelve leaders, by name. one from each tribe and adds that the count should be of each individual, noting the name of each person, within the family. Even more striking, in the census at the close of Bamidbar, each family group is mentioned by name. Rav S R Hirsch notes that Bnei Yisrael here are referred to as an eda, an assembly with a common destiny, but made up of individuals and families. Slowly, but surely, they will develop their special skills each contributing in their own way, to the task of creating a nation. The Netziv explains that the essence of the book of Bamidbar is the change from divine management to a nation of people taking responsibility for their own destiny.
The Shem L’Shmuel notes that that this count stresses that each individual is to be counted. The importance of the individual is the significant message in Bamidbar. Firstly, we see how certain individuals stand out from the crowd and secondly the appearance of leaders, sometimes chosen and sometimes emerging through their actions. Bamidbar is a book about the ability of each individual to contribute and how each of us can make a difference.
Shemot describes the exodus from Egypt and the receiving of the Torah. Moshe and Aaron are dominant under the guidance of Hashem and very few others play a part. Vayikra creates the framework of holiness for our people. Here in Bamidbar, it is time to work together to build the nation, and we come across a good number of individuals, mentioned by name, who are the main players in the stories that we are told. We have the names of princes and the spies, then Korach, Pinchas, the daughters of Zelofchod and more. We have all the drama of people finding their way and we witness the tensions of the building a nation. The emergence of heroes and villains and how they influence society, for better or for worse.
The second theme that emerges is that of leadership. Early on Hashem choses the twelve tribal leaders. When the people begin to complain Hashem tells Moshe to get together a council of seventy elders to help out. Korach challenges the leadership, then the spies chosen for their leadership qualities fail in their mission, but Caleb and Joshua stand out in defiance. Pinchas comes from nowhere and takes charge when Moshe is hesitant and finally Joshua is chosen to take over the helm.
We are a stiff-necked people and certainly Moshe had a difficult time and Hashem in Bamidbar tries to help him in creating support and not to take it all in his shoulders. I can remember many years ago when working for Bank HaMizrahi we had a highly respected Managing Director Aharon Meir z”l, who eventually had to quit during the big financial crisis in the 1980s. I worked with him for several months when he was trying to emphasize the leadership of the Bank in the digital age. He had a knack to enthuse individuals to develop their talents to the full. His son Yedidia is a broadcaster married to Sivan Rahav Meir, definitely individuals that stand out from the crowd, she even has a website in English.