Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 11

30Then Moses entered the camp; he and the elders of Israel.   לוַיֵּֽאָסֵ֥ף משֶׁ֖ה אֶל־הַמַּֽחֲנֶ֑ה ה֖וּא וְזִקְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
Moses entered From the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.   וַיֵּֽאָסֵף משֶׁה  מִפֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד:
the camp Each one to his tent.   אֶל־הַמַּֽחֲנֶה  נִכְנְסוּ אִישׁ לְאָהֳלוֹ:
entered Heb. וַיֵאָסֵף, an expression denoting entering a house, as in, “You shall gather it (וַאֲסַפְתּוֹ) into your house” (Deut. 22:2). The origin for all these terms is, “he amasses, but knows not who will gather them in (אֹסְפָם)” (Ps. 39:7). This teaches that He [God] did not bring punishment upon them before the righteous men had retired to their tents. — [Sifrei Beha’alothecha 1:42:30]   וַיֵּֽאָסֵף  לְשׁוֹן כְּנִיסָה אֶל הַבַּיִת, כְּמוֹ "וַאֲסַפְתּוֹ אֶל תּוֹךְ בֵּיתֶךָ" (דברים כב, ב), וְאָב לְכֻלָּם "יִצְבֹּר וְלֹא יֵדַע מִי אֹסְפָם" (תהלים לט, ז), מְלַמֵּד שֶׁלֹא הֵבִיא עֲלֵיהֶם פֻּרְעָנוּת עַד שֶׁנִּכְנְסוּ הַצַּדִּיקִים אִישׁ לְאָהֳלוֹ (ספרי):
31A wind went forth from the Lord and swept quails from the sea and spread them over the camp about one day's journey this way and one day's journey that way, around the camp, about two cubits above the ground.   לאוְר֜וּחַ נָסַ֣ע | מֵאֵ֣ת יְהֹוָ֗ה וַיָּ֣גָז שַׂלְוִים֘ מִן־הַיָּם֒ וַיִּטּ֨שׁ עַל־הַמַּֽחֲנֶ֜ה כְּדֶ֧רֶךְ י֣וֹם כֹּ֗ה וּכְדֶ֤רֶךְ יוֹם֙ כֹּ֔ה סְבִיב֖וֹת הַמַּֽחֲנֶ֑ה וּכְאַמָּתַ֖יִם עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הָאָֽרֶץ:
and swept Heb. וַיָּגָז, caused to fly; similarly, “for it passes (גָז) quickly” (Ps. 90:10), “and likewise, they have crossed (נָגוֹזוּ) and passed away” (Nah. 1:12).   וַיָּגָז  וַיַּפְרִיחַ, וְכֵן "כִּי גָז חִישׁ" (תהילים צ'), וְכֵן "נָגוֹזּוּ וְעָבָר" (נחום א'):
and spread them Heb. וַיִּטֹּשׁ, and strew them, as in, “Behold, they were spread out (נְטֻשִׁים) over the face of the land” (I Sam. 30:16); “I will spread you out (וּנְטַשְׁתִּיךָ‏) in the desert” (Ezek. 29:5).   וַיִּטּשׁ  וַיַּפְשֵׁט, כְּמוֹ "וְהִנֵּה נְטֻשִׁים עַל פְּנֵי כָל הָאָרֶץ" (שמואל א ל'), "וּנְטַשְׁתִּיךָ הַמִּדְבָּרָה" (יחזקאל כ"ט):
about two cubits They flew at a height that they reached a person’s heart, so that it would not be difficult for them to gather them, so that they need neither rise up nor bend down. — [Sifrei Beha’alothecha 1:42:31]   וּכְאַמָּתַיִם  פּוֹרְחוֹת בַּגֹּבַהּ, עַד שֶׁהֵן כְּנֶגֶד לִבּוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא טוֹרֵחַ בַּאֲסִיפָתָן לֹא לְהַגְבִּיהַּ וְלֹא לִשְׁחוֹת (ספרי):
32The people rose up all that day and all night and the next day and gathered the quails. [Even] the one who gathered the least collected ten heaps. They spread them around the camp in piles.   לבוַיָּ֣קָם הָעָ֡ם כָּל־הַיּוֹם֩ הַה֨וּא וְכָל־הַלַּ֜יְלָה וְכֹ֣ל | י֣וֹם הַמָּֽחֳרָ֗ת וַיַּֽאַסְפוּ֙ אֶת־הַשְּׂלָ֔יו (כתיב השלו) הַמַּמְעִ֕יט אָסַ֖ף עֲשָׂרָ֣ה חֳמָרִ֑ים וַיִּשְׁטְח֤וּ לָהֶם֙ שָׁט֔וֹחַ סְבִיב֖וֹת הַמַּֽחֲנֶֽה:
[Even] the one who gathered the least The one who gathered the least of all, the lazy and the disabled, gathered ten heaps. — [Sifrei Beha’alothecha 1:42:32]   הַמַּמְעִיט  מִי שֶׁאוֹסֵף פָּחוֹת מִכֻּלָּם, הָעֲצֵלִים וְהַחִגְּרִים, אסף עשרה חמרים (שם):
they spread them They spread them out in numerous heaps. — [Sifrei Beha’alothecha 1:42:32]   וַיִּשְׁטְחוּ  עָשׂוּ אוֹתָן מַשְׁטִיחִין מַשְׁטִיחִין (שם):
33The meat was still between their teeth; it was not yet finished, and the anger of the Lord flared against the people, and the Lord struck the people with a very mighty blow.   לגהַבָּשָׂ֗ר עוֹדֶ֨נּוּ֙ בֵּ֣ין שִׁנֵּיהֶ֔ם טֶ֖רֶם יִכָּרֵ֑ת וְאַ֤ף יְהֹוָה֙ חָרָ֣ה בָעָ֔ם וַיַּ֤ךְ יְהֹוָה֙ בָּעָ֔ם מַכָּ֖ה רַבָּ֥ה מְאֹֽד:
it was not yet finished טֶרֶם יִכָּרֵת. As the Targum renders: it was not yet finished. [I.e., the quails had not yet finished coming (Be’er Basadeh). They had not yet finished eating (Gur Aryeh). All the quails had not yet been removed from the field (Be’er Mayim Chayim).] Another interpretation: He did not have the chance to chew it [lit., cut it] with his teeth before his soul departed. — [Sifrei Beha’alothecha 1:42:33]   טֶרֶם יִכָּרֵת  כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ "עַד לָא פְסַק"; דָּבָר אַחֵר, אֵינוֹ מַסְפִּיק לְפָסְקוֹ בְּשִׁנָּיו עַד שֶׁנִּשְׁמָתוֹ יוֹצְאָה:
34He named that place Kivroth Hata'avah [Graves of Craving], for there they buried the people who craved.   לדוַיִּקְרָ֛א אֶת־שֵֽׁם־הַמָּק֥וֹם הַה֖וּא קִבְר֣וֹת הַתַּֽאֲוָ֑ה כִּי־שָׁם֙ קָֽבְר֔וּ אֶת־הָעָ֖ם הַמִּתְאַוִּֽים:
35From Kivroth Hata'avah the people traveled to Hazeroth, and they stayed in Hazeroth.   להמִקִּבְר֧וֹת הַתַּֽאֲוָ֛ה נָֽסְע֥וּ הָעָ֖ם חֲצֵר֑וֹת וַיִּֽהְי֖וּ בַּֽחֲצֵרֽוֹת:

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 12

1Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses regarding the Cushite woman he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman.   אוַתְּדַבֵּ֨ר מִרְיָ֤ם וְאַֽהֲרֹן֙ בְּמשֶׁ֔ה עַל־אֹד֛וֹת הָֽאִשָּׁ֥ה הַכֻּשִׁ֖ית אֲשֶׁ֣ר לָקָ֑ח כִּֽי־אִשָּׁ֥ה כֻשִׁ֖ית לָקָֽח:
[Miriam and Aaron] spoke [The term] דִּבּוּר always connotes harsh talk, as it says, “The man, the lord of the land, spoke (דִּבֶּר) harshly with us” (Gen. 42:30). But wherever [the term] אֲמִירָה is found, it connotes supplication, as it says,“He said (וַיֹּאמֶר), 'my brethren, please do not do evil’” (Gen. 19:7); “He said (וַיֹּאמֶר), 'Please listen to My words’” (Num. 12:6). [The term] נָא always denotes a request. — [Tanchuma Tzav 13]   וַתְּדַבֵּר  אֵין דִּבּוּר בְּכָל מָקוֹם אֶלָּא לָשׁוֹן קָשָׁה, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר "דִּבֶּר הָאִישׁ אֲדֹנֵי הָאָרֶץ אִתָּנוּ קָשׁוֹת" (בראשית מ"ב), וְאֵין אֲמִירָה בְּכָל מָקוֹם אֶלָּא לְשׁוֹן תַּחֲנוּנִים, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר "וַיֹּאמַר אַל נָא אַחַי תָּרֵעוּ" (בראשית י"ט), "וַיֹּאמֶר שִׁמְעוּ נָא דְבָרָי" (פסוק ו), כָּל נָא לְשׁוֹן בַּקָּשָׁה (ספרי):
Miriam and Aaron spoke She spoke first. Therefore, Scripture mentions her first. How did she know that Moses had separated from his wife? [See below] R. Nathan says: Miriam was beside Zipporah when Moses was told that Eldad and Medad were prophesying in the camp. When Zipporah heard this, she said, “Woe to their wives if they are required to prophesy, for they will separate from their wives just my husband separated from me.” From this, Miriam knew [about it] and told Aaron. Now if Miriam, who did not intend to disparage him [Moses] was punished, all the more so someone who [intentionally] disparages his fellow. — [Tanchuma Tzav 13]   וַתְּדַבֵּר מִרְיָם וְאַֽהֲרֹן  הִיא פָתְחָה בְדִּבּוּר תְּחִלָּה, לְפִיכָךְ הִקְדִּימָהּ הַכָּתוּב, וּמִנַּיִן הָיְתָה יוֹדַעַת מִרְיָם שֶׁפֵּרֵשׁ מֹשֶׁה מִן הָאִשָּׁה? רַבִּי נָתָן אוֹמֵר מִרְיָם הָיְתָה בְצַד צִפּוֹרָה בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר לְמֹשֶׁה אֶלְדָּד וּמֵידָד מִתְנַבְּאִים בַּמַּחֲנֶה, כֵּיוָן שֶׁשָּׁמְעָה צִפּוֹרָה, אָמְרָה אוֹי לְנְשׁוֹתֵיהֶן שֶׁל אֵלּוּ אִם הֵם נִזְקָקִים לִנְבוּאָה, שֶׁיִּהְיוּ פוֹרְשִׁין מִנְּשׁוֹתֵיהֶן כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁפֵּרֵשׁ בַּעְלִי מִמֶּנִּי, וּמִשָּׁם יָדְעָה מִרְיָם וְהִגִּידָה לְאַהֲרֹן; וּמַה מִּרְיָם שֶׁלֹּא נִתְכַּוְּנָה לִגְנוּתוֹ כָּךְ נֶעֶנְשָׁה, קַל וָחֹמֶר לִמְסַפֵּר בִּגְנוּתוֹ שֶׁל חֲבֵרוֹ (ספרי):
the Cushite woman [Moses’ wife was a Midianite, not a Cushite, but] Scripture teaches that everyone acknowledged her beauty just as everyone acknowledges a Cushite’s blackness. — [Tanchuma Tzav 13]   הָֽאִשָּׁה הַכֻּשִׁית  מַגִּיד שֶׁהַכֹּל מוֹדִים בְּיָפְיָהּ כְּשֵׁם שֶׁהַכֹּל מוֹדִים בְּשַׁחֲרוּתוֹ שֶׁל כּוּשִׁי (שם):
Cushite כֻּשִׁית. Its numerical value is equal to יְפַת מַרְאֶה, beautiful in appearance. — [Tanchuma Tzav 13] כ = 20, ו = 6, ש = 300 , י = 10, ת = 400, total 736; י = 10, פ = 80, ת = 400, מ = 40, ר = 200, א = 1, ה = 5, total 736.   כושית  בְּגִימַטְרִיָּא יְפַת מַרְאֶה:
regarding the… woman Concerning her divorce. — [Tanchuma Tzav 13]   עַל־אֹדוֹת הָֽאִשָּׁה  עַל אוֹדוֹת גֵּרוּשֶׁיהָ:
for he had married a Cushite woman What does this [apparently superfluous clause] mean to say? You find a woman who is beautiful in appearance, but unpleasant in deed; [or a woman who is pleasant] in deed, but not of beautiful appearance. This one, however, was pleasant in every respect. [Therefore, she was called Cushite, as above.] - [Tanchuma Tzav 13]   כִּֽי־אִשָּׁה כֻשִׁית לָקָח  מַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר? אֶלָּא יֵשׁ לְךְ אִשָּׁה נָאָה בְּיָפְיָהּ וְאֵין נָאָה בְמַעֲשֶׂיהָ, בְּמַעֲשֶׂיהָ וְלֹא בְיָפְיָהּ, אֲבָל זֹאת נָאָה בַכֹּל:
Cushite woman She was called “the Cushite” [the Ethiopian] on account of her beauty, as a man would call his handsome son “Cushite” to negate the power of the evil eye. — [Tanchuma Tzav 13]   הָֽאִשָּׁה הַכֻּשִׁית  עַל שֵׁם נוֹיָהּ נִקְרֵאת כּוּשִׁית, כְּאָדָם הַקּוֹרֵא אֶת בְּנוֹ נָאֶה כּוּשִׁי, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא תִּשְׁלֹט בּוֹ עַיִן רָעָה:
for he had married a Cushite woman And had now divorced her. - [Tanchuma Tzav 13]   כִּֽי־אִשָּׁה כֻשִׁית לָקָח  וְעַתָּה גֵּרְשָׁהּ:
2They said, "Has the Lord spoken only to Moses? Hasn't He spoken to us too?" And the Lord heard.   בוַיֹּֽאמְר֗וּ הֲרַ֤ק אַךְ־בְּמשֶׁה֙ דִּבֶּ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה הֲלֹ֖א גַּם־בָּ֣נוּ דִבֵּ֑ר וַיִּשְׁמַ֖ע יְהֹוָֽה:
Has… only with Him alone?- [Tanchuma Tzav 13]   הֲרַק אַךְ־  עִמּוֹ לְבַדּוֹ דִּבֶּר ה':
Hasn’t He spoken to us too? Yet we have not abstained from marital relations. — [Tanchuma Tzav 13]   הֲלֹא גַּם־בָּנוּ  וְלֹא פֵרַשְׁנוּ מִדֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ (ספרי):
3Now this man Moses was exceedingly humble, more so than any person on the face of the earth.   גוְהָאִ֥ישׁ משֶׁ֖ה עָנָ֣יו (כתיב ענו) מְאֹ֑ד מִכֹּל֙ הָאָדָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הָֽאֲדָמָֽה:
humble Modest and patient. — [Tanchuma Tzav 13]   ענו  שָׁפָל וְסַבְלָן:
4The Lord suddenly said to Moses, Aaron and Miriam, "Go out, all three of you, to the Tent of Meeting!" And all three went out.   דוַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה פִּתְאֹ֗ם אֶל־משֶׁ֤ה וְאֶל־אַֽהֲרֹן֙ וְאֶל־מִרְיָ֔ם צְא֥וּ שְׁלָשְׁתְּכֶ֖ם אֶל־אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד וַיֵּֽצְא֖וּ שְׁלָשְׁתָּֽם:
suddenly He revealed Himself to them suddenly, when they were ritually unclean following marital relations, and they cried, “Water, water!” [They needed water to purify themselves.] He thus showed them that Moses had done right in separating from his wife, since the Divine Presence revealed itself to him frequently, and there was no set time for Divine Communication. — [Tanchuma Tzav 13]   פִּתְאֹם  נִגְלָה עֲלֵיהֶם פִּתְאֹם וְהֵם טְמֵאִין בְּדֶרֶךְ אֶרֶץ, וְהָיוּ צוֹעֲקִים "מַיִם מַיִם" לְהוֹדִיעָם שֶׁיָּפֶה עָשָׂה מֹשֶׁה שֶׁפֵּרֵשׁ מִן הָאִשָּׁה, מֵאַחַר שֶׁנִּגְלֵית עָלָיו שְׁכִינָה תָּדִיר וְאֵין עֵת קְבוּעָה לַדִּבּוּר (עי' ילקוט):
Go out, all three of you This teaches us that all three were summoned with a single word, something impossible for the [human] mouth to utter and the ear to grasp. — [Sifrei Beha’alothecha 1:42:4]   צְאוּ שְׁלָשְׁתְּכֶם  מַגִּיד שֶׁשְּׁלָשְׁתָּן נִקְרְאוּ בְדִבּוּר אֶחָד מַה שֶּׁאִי אֶפְשָׁר לַפֶּה לוֹמַר וְלָאֹזֶן לִשְׁמֹעַ (ספרי):
5The Lord descended in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the Tent. He called to Aaron and Miriam, and they both went out.   הוַיֵּ֤רֶד יְהֹוָה֙ בְּעַמּ֣וּד עָנָ֔ן וַיַּֽעֲמֹ֖ד פֶּ֣תַח הָאֹ֑הֶל וַיִּקְרָא֙ אַֽהֲרֹ֣ן וּמִרְיָ֔ם וַיֵּֽצְא֖וּ שְׁנֵיהֶֽם:
in a pillar of cloud Unlike a mortal, He went alone. For when a mortal king goes out to war, he departs accompanied by a large retinue, but when he travels in times of peace, he leaves with a small escort. But the custom of the Holy One, blessed is He, is that He goes out to battle alone, as it says, “[The Lord is] a man of war” (Exod. 15:3), but He goes in peace with a large retinue, as it says, “The chariot of God is twice ten thousand times, thousands of angels” (Ps. 68:18). - [Sifrei Beha’alothecha 1:42:5]   בְּעַמּוּד עָנָן  יָצָא יְחִידִי שֶׁלֹּא כְמִדַּת בָּשָׂר וָדָם, מֶלֶךְ בָּשָׂר וָדָם כְּשֶׁיּוֹצֵא לַמִּלְחָמָה יוֹצֵא בְּאֻכְלוּסִים וּכְשֶׁיּוֹצֵא לְשָׁלוֹם יוֹצֵא בְמוּעָטִין, וּמִדַּת הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יוֹצֵא לַמִּלְחָמָה יְחִידִי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "אִישׁ מִלְחָמָה" (שמות ט"ו), וְיוֹצֵא לְשָׁלוֹם בְּאֻכְלוּסִין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהילים ס"ח) "רֶכֶב אֱלֹהִים רִבֹּתַיִם אַלְפֵי שִׁנְאָן" (ספרי):
He called to Aaron and Miriam So that they should proceed to leave the courtyard, [drawn] towards the Divine word. — [Sifrei Beha’alothecha 1:42:5]   וַיִּקְרָא אַֽהֲרֹן וּמִרְיָם  שֶׁיִּהְיוּ נִמְשָׁכִין וְיוֹצְאִין מִן הֶחָצֵר לִקְרַאת הַדִּבּוּר:
and they both went out Why did He draw them away to isolate them from Moses? Because we relate only some of a person’s good qualities in his presence and all of them in his absence. Similarly, we find in the case of Noah, that in his absence, Scripture says [of him], “a righteous man, perfect” (Gen. 6:9). But in his presence it was said [by God], “for it is you that I have seen as a righteous man before Me” (Gen. 7:1) [but God makes no mention of his perfection]. Another interpretation: [God isolated them from Moses] so that he [Moses] should not hear the reprimanding of Aaron [by God]. - [Sifrei Beha’alothecha 1:42:5]   וַיֵּֽצְאוּ שְׁנֵיהֶֽם  וּמִפְּנֵי מָה מְשָׁכָן וְהִפְרִישָן מִמֹּשֶׁה? לְפִי שֶׁאוֹמְרִים מִקְצָת שִׁבְחוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם בְּפָנָיו וְכֻלּוֹ שֶׁלֹּא בְּפָנָיו, וְכֵן מָצִינוּ בְּנֹחַ, שֶׁלֹא בְּפָנָיו נֶאֱמַר "אִישׁ צַדִּיק תָּמִים" (בראשית ו'), וּבְפָנָיו נֶאֱמַר "כִּי אֹתְךָ רָאִיתִי צַדִּיק לְפָנַי" (שם ז'); דָּבָר אַחֵר, שֶׁלֹּא יִשְׁמַע בִּנְזִיפָתוֹ שֶׁל אַהֲרֹן (ספרי):
6He said, "Please listen to My words. If there be prophets among you, [I] the Lord will make Myself known to him in a vision; I will speak to him in a dream.   ווַיֹּ֖אמֶר שִׁמְעוּ־נָ֣א דְבָרָ֑י אִם־יִֽהְיֶה֙ נְבִ֣יאֲכֶ֔ם יְהֹוָ֗ה בַּמַּרְאָה֙ אֵלָ֣יו אֶתְוַדָּ֔ע בַּֽחֲל֖וֹם אֲדַבֶּר־בּֽוֹ:
Please listen to My words [The term] נָא always denotes a request. - [Sifrei Beha’alothecha 1:42:6]   שִׁמְעוּ־נָא דְבָרָי  אֵין נָא אֶלָּא לְשׁוֹן בַּקָּשָׁה (שם):
If there be prophets among you If you have prophets…. — [Targum Onkelos]   אִם־יִֽהְיֶה נְבִיאֲכֶם  אִם יִהְיוּ לָכֶם נְבִיאִים:
[I] the Lord will make Myself known to him in a vision The Divine Presence of My Name is not revealed to him with distinct clarity, but in a dream or a vision. - [Tanchuma Tzav 13]   ה' בַּמַּרְאָה אֵלָיו אֶתְוַדָּע  שְׁכִינַת שְׁמִי אֵין נִגְלֵית עָלָיו בְּאַסְפַּקְלַרְיָא הַמְּאִירָה אֶלָּא בַּחֲלוֹם וְחִזָּיוֹן:
7Not so is My servant Moses; he is faithful throughout My house.   זלֹא־כֵ֖ן עַבְדִּ֣י משֶׁ֑ה בְּכָל־בֵּיתִ֖י נֶֽאֱמָ֥ן הֽוּא:
8With him I speak mouth to mouth; in a vision and not in riddles, and he beholds the image of the Lord. So why were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses ?   חפֶּ֣ה אֶל־פֶּ֞ה אֲדַבֶּר־בּ֗וֹ וּמַרְאֶה֙ וְלֹ֣א בְחִידֹ֔ת וּתְמֻנַ֥ת יְהֹוָ֖ה יַבִּ֑יט וּמַדּ֨וּעַ֙ לֹ֣א יְרֵאתֶ֔ם לְדַבֵּ֖ר בְּעַבְדִּ֥י בְמשֶֽׁה:
Mouth to mouth I told him to separate from his wife (Sifrei Beha’alothecha 1:42:8, Tanchuma Tzav 13). Where did I tell him this? At Sinai; “Go and tell them, ‘Return to your tents,’ but you, remain here with Me” (Deut. 5:27). - [See Shab. 87a]   פֶּה אֶל־פֶּה  אָמַרְתִּי לוֹ לִפְרֹשׁ מִן הָאִשָּׁה (שם), וְהֵיכָן אָמַרְתִּי לוֹ? בְּסִינַי — "לֵךְ אֱמֹר לָהֶם שׁוּבוּ לָכֶם לְאָהֳלֵיכֶם וְאַתָּה פֹּה עֲמֹד עִמָּדִי" (דברים ה'):
in a vision but not in riddles “A vision” refers to the vision of speech, for I express My communication to Him with absolute clarity, and I do not obscure it with riddles in the way it was said to Ezekiel, “Present a riddle” (Ezek. 17:2). I might think that it refers to the vision of the Divine Presence [itself]! Scripture therefore teaches, “You are not able to see My face” (Exod. 33:23). - [Sifrei Beha’alothecha 1:42:8, Tanchuma Tzav 13]   וּמַרְאֶה וְלֹא בחדת  מַרְאֶה זֶה מַרְאֵה דִבּוּר, שֶׁאֲנִי מְפָרֵשׁ לוֹ דִּבּוּרִי בְּמַרְאִית פָּנִים שֶׁבּוֹ, וְאֵינִי סוֹתְמוֹ לוֹ בְחִידוֹת, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר לִיחֶזְקֵאל (יחזקאל י"ז), "חוּד חִידָה" וְגוֹ'; יָכוֹל מַרְאֵה שְׁכִינָה? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר (שמות ל"ג), "לֹא תוּכַל לִרְאֹת אֶת פָּנָי" (ספרי):
and He beholds the image of the Lord This refers to a vision of the “back,” as it says, “and you will see My back” (Exod. 33:23). - [Sifrei Beha’alothecha 1:42:8, Tanchuma Tzav 13]   וּתְמֻנַת ה' יַבִּיט  זֶה מַרְאֵה אֲחוֹרַיִם, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות ל"ג), "וְרָאִיתָ אֶת אֲחֹרָי" (ספרי):
against my servant Moses Heb. בְּעַבְדִי בְמשֶׁה, lit., against My servant, against Moses. Scripture does not say בְּעַבְדִי משֶׁה, against My servant Moses, but בְּעַבְדִי בְמשֶׁה, against My servant, against Moses. [The meaning is thus:] against My servant even if he were not Moses, and against Moses, even if he were not My servant, you should certainly have feared him, and all the more so since he is My servant, and the servant of the king is a king himself! You should have said, “The King does not love him for nothing.” If you claim that I am unaware of his actions, this [statement] is worse than your previous one. — [Sifrei Beha’alothecha 1:42:8, Tanchuma Tzav 13]   בְּעַבְדִּי בְמשֶֽׁה  אֵינוֹ אוֹמֵר בְּעַבְדִּי מֹשֶׁה, אֶלָּא בְּעַבְדִּי בְמֹשֶׁה — בְּעַבְדִּי אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵינוֹ מֹשֶׁה, בְּמֹשֶׁה אֲפִלּוּ אֵינוֹ עַבְדִּי כְּדַאי הֱיִיתֶם לִירוֹא מִפָּנָיו, וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן שֶׁהוּא עַבְדִּי, וְעֶבֶד מֶלֶךְ מֶלֶךְ, וְהָיָה לָכֶם לוֹמַר אֵין הַמֶּלֶךְ אוֹהֲבוֹ חִנָּם, וְאִם תֹּאמְרוּ אֵינִי מַכִּיר בְּמַעֲשָׂיו — זוֹ קָשָׁה מִן הָרִאשׁוֹנָה (שם):
9The wrath of the Lord flared against them and He left.   טוַיִּֽחַר־אַ֧ף יְהֹוָ֛ה בָּ֖ם וַיֵּלַֽךְ:
The wrath of the Lord flared against them and He left After He had informed them of their transgression, He issued a decree of excommunication against them. All the more so, should a mortal not become angry with his friend before he informs him of his offense. — [Sifrei Beha’alothecha 1:42:9, Tanchuma Tzav 13]   וַיִּֽחַר־אַף ה' בָּם וַיֵּלַֽךְ  מֵאַחַר שֶׁהוֹדִיעָם סִרְחוֹנָם גָּזַר עֲלֵיהֶם נִדּוּי, קַל וָחֹמֶר לְבָשָׂר וָדָם, שֶׁלֹּא יִכְעֹס עַל חֲבֵרוֹ עַד שֶׁיּוֹדִיעֶנּוּ סִרְחוֹנוֹ (ספרי):
10The cloud departed from above the Tent, and behold, Miriam was afflicted with tzara'ath, [as white] as snow. Then Aaron turned to Miriam and behold, she was afflicted with tzara'ath.   יוְהֶֽעָנָ֗ן סָ֚ר מֵעַ֣ל הָאֹ֔הֶל וְהִנֵּ֥ה מִרְיָ֖ם מְצֹרַ֣עַת כַּשָּׁ֑לֶג וַיִּ֧פֶן אַֽהֲרֹ֛ן אֶל־מִרְיָ֖ם וְהִנֵּ֥ה מְצֹרָֽעַת:
The cloud departed and afterwards, “behold Miriam was afflicted with tzara’ath, [as white] as snow.” This is comparable to a king who said to a tutor, “Punish my son, but do not punish him until I leave you, for I feel pity for him.” - [Sifrei Beha’alothecha 1:42:10, Tanchuma Tzav 13]   וְהֶֽעָנָן סָר  וְאֲחַר כַּךְ והנה מרים מצרעת כשלג, מָשָׁל לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁאָמַר לְפֵדָגוֹג, רְדֵה אֶת בְּנִי, אֲבָל לֹא תִרְדֶּנּוּ עַד שֶׁאֵלֵךְ מֵאֶצְלְךָ, שֶׁרַחֲמַי עָלָיו (שם):
11Aaron said to Moses, "Please, master, do not put sin upon us for acting foolishly and for sinning.   יאוַיֹּ֥אמֶר אַֽהֲרֹ֖ן אֶל־משֶׁ֑ה בִּ֣י אֲדֹנִ֔י אַל־נָ֨א תָשֵׁ֤ת עָלֵ֨ינוּ֙ חַטָּ֔את אֲשֶׁ֥ר נוֹאַ֖לְנוּ וַֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר חָטָֽאנוּ:
for acting foolishly Heb. נוֹאַלְנוּ, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders, [דִי אִטַפְּשְׁנָא, that we acted foolishly] from the term, אֱוִיל, “fool.”   נוֹאַלְנוּ  כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ, לְשׁוֹן אֱוִיל:
12Let her not be like the dead, which comes out of his mother's womb with half his flesh consumed!"   יבאַל־נָ֥א תְהִ֖י כַּמֵּ֑ת אֲשֶׁ֤ר בְּצֵאתוֹ֙ מֵרֶ֣חֶם אִמּ֔וֹ וַיֵּֽאָכֵ֖ל חֲצִ֥י בְשָׂרֽוֹ:
Do not let her be This sister of ours.   אַל־נָא תְהִי  אֲחוֹתֵנוּ זוֹ:
like the dead For the one afflicted with tzara’ath is considered like dead. Just as a corpse defiles through entry [if one enters the room where it lies], so does one afflicted with tzara’ath defile through entry. — [Sifrei Beha’alothecha 1:42:12, Tanchuma Tzav 13]   כַּמֵּת  שֶׁהַמְּצֹרָע חָשׁוּב כַּמֵּת, מַה מֵּת מְטַמֵּא בְּבִיאָה אַף מְצֹרָע מְטַמֵּא בְּבִיאָה (שם):
which comes out of his mother’s womb It should have said, “our mother”? But Scripture euphemizes. Similarly, [it says,] “half his flesh.” It should have said, “half our flesh”? But [here too,] Scripture euphemizes. [The meaning here is:] For since she came out of our mother’s womb, it is to us as if half our flesh has been eaten away. This is similar to saying, “for he is our brother, our very flesh” (Gen. 37:27). Even according to the literal meaning of the text, it appears so. It is not proper for a brother to allow his sister to remain as if dead.   אֲשֶׁר בְּצֵאתוֹ מֵרֶחֶם אִמּוֹ  אִמֵּנוּ הָיָה לוֹ לוֹמַר, אֶלָּא שֶׁכִּנָּה הַכָּתוּב, וְכֵן חֲצִי בְשָׂרוֹ, חֲצִי בְשָׂרֵנוּ הָיָה לוֹ לוֹמַר, אֶלָּא שֶׁכִּנָּה הַכָּתוּב, מֵאַחַר שֶׁיָּצְתָה מֵרֶחֶם אִמֵּנוּ, הִיא לָנוּ כְּאִלּוּ נֶאֱכַל חֲצִי בְשָׂרֵנוּ, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "כִּי אָחִינוּ בְשָׂרֵנוּ הוּא" (בראשית ל"ז), וּלְפִי מַשְׁמָעוֹ, אַף הוּא נִרְאֶה כֵן, אֵין רָאוּי לְאָח לְהַנִּיחַ אֶת אֲחוֹתוֹ לִהְיוֹת כַּמֵּת:
which comes out Since he [the dead one] came out of the womb of the mother of the one who has the power to help him but does not, it is as if half his [the latter’s] flesh is eaten away, since his brother is his own flesh. Another interpretation: Let her not be like the dead-If You do not heal her through prayer, who will confine her? Who will cleanse her? I myself may not examine her, since I am related, and a relative many not examine plague marks [symptomatic of tzara’ath], and there is no other kohen in the world. This is the meaning of, “since he has come out of his mother’s womb.” [Sifrei Beha’alothecha 1:42:12, Tanchuma Tzav 13]   אֲשֶׁר בְּצֵאתוֹ  מֵאַחַר שֶׁיָּצָא זֶה מֵרֶחֶם אִמּוֹ שֶׁל זֶה, שֶׁיֵּשׁ כֹּחַ בְּיָדוֹ לַעֲזֹר וְאֵינוֹ עוֹזְרוֹ — הֲרֵי נֶאֱכָל חצי בשרו, שֶׁאָחִיו בְּשָׂרוֹ הוּא; דָּבָר אַחֵר, אל נא תהי כמת — אִם אֵינְךָ רוֹפְאָהּ בִּתְפִלָּה, מִי מַסְגִּירָהּ, מִי מְטַהֲרָהּ? אֲנִי אִי אֶפְשָׁר לִרְאוֹתָהּ, שֶׁאֲנִי קָרוֹב וְאֵין קָרוֹב רוֹאֶה אֶת הַנְּגָעִים, וְכֹהֵן אַחֵר אֵין בָּעוֹלָם, וְזֶהוּ אשר בצאתו מרחם אמו:
13Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, "I beseech you, God, please heal her."   יגוַיִּצְעַ֣ק משֶׁ֔ה אֶל־יְהֹוָ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר אֵ֕ל נָ֛א רְפָ֥א נָ֖א לָֽהּ:
I beseech you, God, please heal her Scripture teaches you proper conduct, that if one asks his friend for a favor, he should precede [his request] with two or three words of supplication, and only then should he make his requests. — [Sifrei Beha’alothecha 1:42:13, Tanchuma Tzav 13]   אֵל נָא רְפָא נָא לָֽהּ  בָּא הַכָּתוּב לְלַמֶּדְךָ דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ, שֶׁהַשּׁוֹאֵל דָּבָר מֵחֲבֵרוֹ צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר שְׁנַיִם אוֹ שְׁלֹשָׁה דִבְרֵי תַחֲנוּנִים וְאֲחַר כַּךְ יְבַקֵּשׁ שְׁאֵלוֹתָיו (ספרי):
saying What does this [word] teach us? He [Moses] said to Him, "Answer me as to whether You will heal her or not." Eventually, He replied, “If her father were to spit….” R. Eleazar ben Azariah says: In four places Moses asked the Holy One, blessed is He, to answer him if He would accede to his requests or not [and in all four he used the word, לֵאמֹר, to say , i.e., to answer]. Similarly, “Moses spoke before the Lord saying…” (Exod. 6:12). What does the word “saying” teach? Answer me as to whether You will redeem them or not. Eventually, He replied, “Now you will see…” (Exod. 7:1). Similarly, “Moses spoke to the Lord, saying, Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh appoint…” (Num. 27:15-16). He answered, “Take for yourself…” (verse 18). Similarly, “I pleaded to the Lord, at that time, saying” (Deut. 3:23). He answered him, “It is enough for you!” (verse 26). - [Sifrei Beha’alothecha 1:42:13]   לֵאמֹר  מַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר ? אָמַר לוֹ הֲשִׁיבֵנִי אִם אַתָּה מְרַפֵּא אוֹתָהּ אִם לָאו עַד שֶׁהֱשִׁיבוֹ וְאָבִיהָ יָרֹק יָרַק וְגוֹ'; רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן עֲזַרְיָה אוֹמֵר בְּאַרְבָּעָה מְקוֹמוֹת בִּקֵּשׁ מֹשֶׁה מִלִּפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לַהֲשִׁיבוֹ אִם יַעֲשֶׂה שְׁאֵלוֹתָיו אִם לָאו: כַּיּוֹצֵא בוֹ, "וַיְדַבֵּר מֹשֶׁה לִפְנֵי ה' לֵאמֹר" וְגוֹ' (שמות ו'), מַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר "לֵאמֹר"? הֲשִׁיבֵנִי אִם גּוֹאֲלָם אַתָּה אִם לָאו עַד שֶׁהֱשִׁיבוֹ "עַתָּה תִרְאֶה" וְגוֹ', כַּיּוֹצֵא בוֹ, "וַיְדַבֵּר מֹשֶׁה לִפְנֵי ה' לֵאמֹר יִפְקֹד ה' אֱלֹהֵי הָרוּחֹת לְכָל בָּשָׂר" (במדבר כ"ז), הֱשִׁיבוֹ "קַח לְךָ", כַּיּוֹצֵא בוֹ "וָאֶתְחַנַּן אֶל ה' בָּעֵת הַהִוא לֵאמֹר" (דברים ג'), הֱשִׁיבוֹ "רַב לָךְ" (ספרי):
please heal her Why did Moses not pray at length? So that the Israelites should not say, “His sister is in distress, yet he stands and prolongs his prayer.” [Sifrei Beha’alothecha 1:42:13, Tanchuma Tzav 13] (Another interpretation: So that Israel should not say, “ For his sister he prays at length, but for our sake he does not pray at length.”) - [Midrash Aggadah, Yalkut Shim’oni, Midrash Lekach Tov]   רְפָא נָא לָֽהּ  מִפְּנֵי מָה לֹא הֶאֱרִיךְ מֹשֶׁה בִּתְפִלָּה? שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹמְרִים, אֲחוֹתוֹ עוֹמֶדֶת בְּצָרָה וְהוּא עוֹמֵד וּמַרְבֶּה בִתְפִלָּה (ספרי) (דָּבָר אַחֵר, שֶׁלֹּא יֹאמְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, בִּשְׁבִיל אֲחוֹתוֹ הוּא מַאֲרִיךְ בִּתְפִלָּה אֲבָל בִּשְׁבִילֵנוּ אֵינוֹ מַאֲרִיךְ בִּתְפִלָּה):
14The Lord replied to Moses, "If her father were to spit in her face, would she not be humiliated for seven days? She shall be confined for seven days outside the camp, and afterwards she may enter.   ידוַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶל־משֶׁ֗ה וְאָבִ֨יהָ֙ יָרֹ֤ק יָרַק֙ בְּפָנֶ֔יהָ הֲלֹ֥א תִכָּלֵ֖ם שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֑ים תִּסָּגֵ֞ר שִׁבְעַ֤ת יָמִים֙ מִח֣וּץ לַמַּֽחֲנֶ֔ה וְאַחַ֖ר תֵּֽאָסֵֽף:
If her father were to spit in her face If her father had turned to her with an angry face, would she not be humiliated for seven days? All the more so in the case of the Divine Presence [she should be humiliated for] fourteen days! But [there is a rule that] it is sufficient that a law derived from an ? fortiori conclusion to be only as stringent as the law from which it is derived. Thus, even as a consequence of My reprimand, she should be confined [only] seven days. — [Sifrei Beha’alothecha 1:42:14, B.K. 25a]   וְאָבִיהָ יָרֹק יָרַק בְּפָנֶיהָ  וְאִם אָבִיהָ הֶרְאָה לָהּ פָּנִים זוֹעֲפוֹת, הלא תכלם שבעת ימים? קַל וָחֹמֶר לִשְׁכִינָה י"ד יוֹם, אֶלָּא דַּיּוֹ לַבָּא מִן הַדִּין לִהְיוֹת כַּנִּדּוֹן, לְפִיכָךְ אַף בִּנְזִיפָתִי תסגר שבעת ימים (שם; בבא קמא כ"ה):
and afterwards she may enter I believe that when a derivative of the word אסף is used in reference to one afflicted with tzara’ath, it is related to his being expelled from the camp, and when he is healed, he is brought back (נֶאֶסָף) to the camp. That is why the term אָסִיפָה is used; it connotes bringing back in. — [See Rashi above on 11:30.]   וְאַחַר תֵּֽאָסֵֽף  אוֹמֵר אֲנִי, כָּל הָאֲסִיפוֹת הָאֲמוּרוֹת בִּמְצֹרָעִים עַל שֵׁם שֶׁהוּא מְשֻׁלָּח מִחוּץ לַמַּחֲנֶה, וּכְשֶׁהוּא נִרְפָּא נֶאֱסָף אֶל הַמַּחֲנֶה, לְכָךְ כָּתוּב בּוֹ אֲסִיפָה, לְשׁוֹן הַכְנָסָה:
15So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not travel until Miriam had entered.   טווַתִּסָּגֵ֥ר מִרְיָ֛ם מִח֥וּץ לַמַּֽחֲנֶ֖ה שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֑ים וְהָעָם֙ לֹ֣א נָסַ֔ע עַד־הֵֽאָסֵ֖ף מִרְיָֽם:
the people did not travel This honor was accorded her by the Omnipresent because of the time she remained with Moses when he was cast into the river, as it says, “His sister stood by from afar to know what would be done to him” (Exod. 2:4). - [Sotah 9b]   וְהָעָם לֹא נָסַע  זֶה הַכָּבוֹד חָלַק לָהּ הַמָּקוֹם בִּשְׁבִיל שָׁעָה אַחַת שֶׁנִּתְעַכְּבָה לְמֹשֶׁה כְּשֶׁהֻשְׁלַךְ לַיְאוֹר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות ב') "וַתֵּתַצַּב אֲחֹתוֹ מֵרָחֹק" וְגוֹ' (סוטה ט'):
16Then the people departed from Hazeroth, and they camped in the desert of Paran.   טזוְאַחַ֛ר נָֽסְע֥וּ הָעָ֖ם מֵֽחֲצֵר֑וֹת וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּמִדְבַּ֥ר פָּארָֽן: