THIS IS THAT WHICH PERTAINETH UNTO THE LEVITES, ETC. Observe that the Levite enters on his service when twenty-five years old, and remains in his service for twentyfive years until he reaches the age of fifty. When he reaches the fifty-year grade the strong fire within him is cooled down, and in such a state he cannot but impair the spot to which he is attached.
Besides, his singing voice no longer serves him so well, whereas that voice ought not to be impaired, but should constantly gain in vigour; and since the Levite stands in the region of Strength (Geburah), no feebleness whatever can be permitted to attach to him.’
(במדבר ח׳:כ״ד) זֹאת אֲשֶׁר לַלְוִיִּם וְגוֹ'. תָּא חֲזֵי, לֵיוָאָה בַּר חָמֵשׁ וְעֶשְׂרִין שְׁנִין יִפְלַח בַּר חַמְשִׁין שְׁנִין סְלִיק לְדוּכְתֵּיהּ וְאִתְעַטָּר. וְחָמֵשׁ וְעֶשְׂרִין יִפְלַח דְּהָא בַּר נָשׁ (ס"א תא חזי ליואה בר חמש ועשרין שנין לדוכתיה ואתעטר. וחמש ועשרין יפלח עד דסליק לדרגא דחמשין). כַּד סָלִיק לְהַאי דַּרְגָּא דְּחַמְשִׁין שְׁנִין וּלְהָלְאָה, נָחִית מִן תּוּקְפָּא דְּאֶשָּׁא דְּבֵיהּ, וְכֵיוָן דְּאֶשָּׁא וַחֲמִימוּתָא אִתְקָרִר, הָא פָּגִים לְהַהוּא אֲתָר דְּאִתְקְשַׁר בֵּיהּ.
THIS IS THAT WHICH PERTAINETH UNTO THE LEVITES, ETC. Observe that the Levite enters on his service when twenty-five years old, and remains in his service for twentyfive years until he reaches the age of fifty. When he reaches the fifty-year grade the strong fire within him is cooled down, and in such a state he cannot but impair the spot to which he is attached.
וְעוֹד, דְּקָלָא דְּזִמְרָא לָא אִתְקְשַׁר בַּהֲדֵיהּ כָּל כַּךְ. וְקָלָא בָּעֵי דְּלָא יִתְפְּגָם, אֶלָּא בָּעֵי לְאִתָּקְפָא, דְּהָא בַּאֲתָר דְּדִינָא תַּקִּיף קַיְּימָא, וְלָא בְּחַלְשָׁא. וּבְגִין כָּךְ בָּעֵי דְּלָא יַפְגִּים הַהוּא אֲתָר דְּאִתְקְשַׁר בֵּיהּ, דְּאִיהוּ דִּינָא תַּקִּיפָא, וְלָא חַלְשָׁא, וְעַל דָּא לָא בָּעֵי לְאַחֲזָאָה חוּלְשָׁתָא כְּלָל בְּכָל סִטְרִין. זַכָּאָה הוּא בַּר נָשׁ דְּאִשְׁתָּדַּל בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וְיִנְדַּע אוֹרְחוֹי דְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְלָא סָטֵי לִימִינָא וְלִשְׂמָאלָא, דִּכְתִיב (הושע י״ד:י׳) כִּי יְשָׁרִים דַּרְכֵי יְיָ.
Besides, his singing voice no longer serves him so well, whereas that voice ought not to be impaired, but should constantly gain in vigour; and since the Levite stands in the region of Strength (Geburah), no feebleness whatever can be permitted to attach to him.’