The matter of counting is that they count those who can come into the work of the Creator; it is from twenty years of age, from which he may be punished. Concerning the role that one must do in the work of the Creator, it is presented at the end of the Haftarah [final section of the Torah reading on Shabbat [Sabbath], where it is written, “And I will betroth you to Me forever.”

The Creator takes into matrimony those who want to come into the work of the Creator forever, not those who want to be here today, and tomorrow follow the will to receive, but rather, specifically if one decides that he wants to adhere to the Creator forever. This is so because as the Creator is eternal, one who wants to adhere must also be adhered for eternity.

“I will betroth you to Me” means that one who wants to behave with Me above reason should say that however the Creator behaves with him in righteousness and in justice. Also, one should conduct himself with Hesed and Rachamim [mercy], meaning that precisely one who wants to engage in manners of bestowal, called Hesed and Rachamim, since “As He is merciful, so you are merciful,” and this is the meaning of “And I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, in kindness, and in mercy.”

Afterward, it can be, “And I will betroth you to Me in faith.” One who has crossed the first two stages is rewarded with the light of faith.

Afterward, he is rewarded with “Then you will know the Lord,” from the words, “They shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.” This is so because when a person works, there is a difference between Katnut [smallness/infancy] and Gadlut [greatness/adulthood], but when the abundance comes from the Creator, there is no difference between Katnut and Gadlut because the Kli [vessel] and the light come together.