Parshas Behar
“And the field of the open land of their cities shall not be sold!” (Vayikra 25:34)
It is a negative commandment not to change the nice places and fields of the Leviyim. This means that one may not change a city into a nice place, nor a nice place into a city. One may not change a field into a nice place, nor a nice place into a field. The idea of this commandment is that the Torah commanded that Klal Yisrael should give certain fields to the tribe of Levi. There are forty-eight of these cities including the six cities of refuge. In all of these cities the Torah commanded that there should be a thousand cubits of “migrash”, which is an area free for space and the beautification of the city. There nust also be two thousand cubits outside this for fields and vineyards, which are also for the needs of the city. The Torah commanded us never to change these things, and about this the Torah says “And the field of the open land of their cities shall not be sold!”, where the word “sold” means changing its use.
Amongst the roots of this commandment are that the tribe of Levi were chosen for the service of Hashem, and all of their dealings were with wisdom, so that they would not be preoccupied with working the land like the rest of the Jews, and about them the verse says “They will teach Your laws to Yaakov and Your Torah to Yisrael!”, and since wisdom was in their ranks, the rest of Klal Yisrael always were dealing with them. Apart from this the cities of refuge for one who killed accidentally were also included amongst the cities of this tribe, and everyone was always considering them, for no one knows what can happen to him. It is therefore correct and fitting that these cities which everyone has to do with and everyone is looking at, should be the most beautiful possible. The whole nation will be praised for this.
This commandment applies in the land of Yisrael, when it is occupied by Klal Yisrael. It applies to men and to women, as everyone is obligated not to change the functions of these three areas.
The Rambam writes, “Why did the tribe of Levi not merit a portion in the land of Yisrael and in the plunder of the nations together with his brothers? Because he was separated to serve Hashem work for Him, and to teach His straight paths. They were therefore separated from the ways of the rest of Klal Yisrael: they do not go to war, inherit, nor do they gain anything from their own rights. Instead, they are the army of Hashem, as it says “Hashem will bless His army etc.”, and Hashem owns them, as it says “I am your portion and your inheritance etc.”. Not only the tribe of Levi are included in this, but every man who enters the world, whose spirit is generous and he separates himself to stand before Hashem to serve Him, to know His straight and righteous paths and to teach them to others, removes from his own neck the yoke of the many calculations which people seek, and becomes sanctified to be the holiest of the holies and Hashem will be his portion forever. He will also receive enough for himself in this world, as the tribe of Levi did.
