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13 Rabbi S.R. Hirsch loc. cit. 23 * # & $ 9 ? $" $;
But the sprouting of the staff to the branch of just an almond tree would be, to the
highest degree the most suitable to conform to the thoughts to be symbolised here. Is ! %
not the germinating power to produce leaf, blossom and fruit similar in all the trees in
an orchard, does not the same earth bear them all, the same moisture water them, the & 5 "$ % - 7 - " 3
same air waft over them, the same rays of sunlight warm them? And yet does not the %9 ; ? %7 " * " - 7& - &
almond tree stand out distinguished arnong all its comrades in the early days of
Spring. And in what is it distinguished? In " from which it gets its name, in " * *% : & & - :& ' $" ' "
eager zeal, in keenness, in happy vigorous devotion and energy for that which it has '=' %7 " 7 " 3 7 ' * " &" ' %
to accomplish. While its brother-trees are still making up their minds it has already & * " &" & ' & ' - ' 7 $ "
acted, and right from the beginning puts the goal, the production of fruit, the @& 7 " 3 # %? :::: 5 "% $ " ' " & $ *$ $
fruitblossom, in the foreground, the object for which it exists, and for which it then ?$ % ' ' ' % *" '# & -
produces its leaves, the lungs to supply the necessary saps for the ultimate goal, the
fruit. But is not this the most complete pithy picture of the Levite spirit which had " @ '$ 5 % 7* " &" "3 % & ' -
ennobled the tribe of Levi to be the representative of the Divine Torah and its 5 $ &' 5 9 % $ $"; $ $ &% 7* % $& # #
Sanctuary, when it alone amongst its fellow-tribes flocked to Moses in response to
the call ' B and which is to be inherited in its purest perfection by the elite of &
that tribe, Aaron and his descendants. There we took 4 5 to be the pollen stamens or
the pistils. But we are doubtful if that is exactly what is meant, as these are already
formed when the blossom opens and do not belong to a later stage. But at the same 5 5 %# - - 8
time the consolatory thought could be expressed that, just as the almond tree only % ' 4 5 45 *% $ :* # - $ &%"% & -
blossoms and matures its fruit earlier than the others, only leads the way in & &* ' *% " 3 *% :
development, which the others then follow, so the Levites and Aaronides are not " 3 - $ &% 3 5 -
superior to the rest of the Israelites but are only always to be in the van, leading
spiritual and general development of life which all the other brother-tribes are called
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on to follow and attain the same spiritual level.