When Hashem commands Moses to take a census of the tribes of Israel, He says in Bamidbar (1:2) to count “every male according to their head count; (1:3) from twenty years of age and up – everyone who goes out to the army in Israel – you shall count them according to their armies, you and Aaron.”
However, when Hashem commands Moses to take the census of the Tribe of Levi, He says in Bamidbar (3:15) “Count the sons of Levi according to their fathers’ house, according to their families, every male from one month of age and up shall you count them.”
The obvious question is why the Tribe of Levi is counted differently than the other tribes of Israel?
According to Rashi, the Levites are not counted as soldiers like the other tribes of Israel but as those who safeguard the charge of that which is holy. The Avnei Ezel (cited in Artscroll) explains that this role of guardian applies to both actual and potential guardians because it’s the sanctity of the Levites that provides the protection. Therefore, since this sanctity is present even in a one-month old Levite, he is also part of the count.
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