Torah Reading for Korach

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First Portion

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 16

1Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi took [himself to one side] along with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, descendants of Reuben.		אוַיִּקַּ֣ח קֹ֔רַח בֶּן־יִצְהָ֥ר בֶּן־קְהָ֖ת בֶּן־לֵוִ֑י וְדָתָ֨ן וַֽאֲבִירָ֜ם בְּנֵ֧י אֱלִיאָ֛ב וְא֥וֹן בֶּן־פֶּ֖לֶת בְּנֵ֥י רְאוּבֵֽן:
Korah… took: This portion is beautifully expounded on in the Midrash of R. Tanchuma, [as follows]:		וַיִּקַּח קֹרַח: פָּרָשָׁה זוֹ יָפֶה נִדְרֶשֶׁת בְּמִדְרַשׁ רַבִּי תַנְחוּמָא:
Korah… took: He took himself to one side to dissociate himself from the congregation, to contest the [appointment of Aaron to the] kehunah. This is what Onkelos means when he renders it וְאִתְפְּלֵג, “and he separated himself.” He separated himself from the congregation to persist in a dispute. Similarly, מה יקחך לבך, “Why does your heart take you away?” (Job 15:12) meaning, it removes you, to isolate you from others (Midrash Tanchuma Korach 2). Another explanation:		וַיִּקַּח קֹרַח: לָקַח אֶת עַצְמוֹ לְצַד אֶחָד לִהְיוֹת נֶחֱלָק מִתּוֹךְ הָעֵדָה לְעוֹרֵר עַל הַכְּהֻנָּה, וְזֶהוּ שֶׁתִּרְגֵם אֻנְקְלוֹס "וְאִתְפְּלֵג" — נֶחֱלַק מִשְּׁאָר הָעֵדָה לְהַחֲזִיק בְּמַחֲלֹקֶת, וְכֵן "מַה יִּקָּחֲךָ לִבֶּךָ" (איוב ט"ו) — לוֹקֵחַ אוֹתְךָ לְהַפְלִיגְךָ מִשְּׁאָר בְּנֵי אָדָם. דָּבָר אַחֵר:
Korah… took: He attracted the heads of the Sanhedrin among them with amicable words. Similarly, “Take Aaron [with words]” (20:25); “Take words with you” (Hosea 14:3) (Midrash Tanchuma Korach 1). - [Num. Rabbah 18:2]:		וַיִּקַּח קֹרַח: , מָשַׁךְ רָאשֵׁי סַנְהֶדְרָאוֹת שֶׁבָּהֶם בִּדְבָרִים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "קַח אֶת אַהֲרֹן" (ויקרא ח'), "קְחוּ עִמָּכֶם דְּבָרִים" (הושע י"ד):
the son of Izhar the son of Kohath the son of Levi: [The verse] does not mention, “the son of Jacob,” because he [Jacob] prayed not to be mentioned in connection with their quarrel, as it is stated, “my honor, you shall not join their assembly” (Gen. 49:6). And where is his name mentioned in connection with Korah? In (I) Chron. (6:22, 23), where their genealogy is traced for the service of the Levites on the platform [in the Temple], as it says, “the son of Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel.” - [Midrash Tanchuma Korach 4, Num. Rabbah 18:5]		בֶּן־יִצְהָר בֶּן־קְהָת בֶּן־לֵוִי: וְלֹא הִזְכִּיר "בֶּן יַעֲקֹב", שֶׁבִּקֵּשׁ רַחֲמִים עַל עַצְמוֹ שֶׁלֹא יִזָּכֵר שְׁמוֹ עַל מַחְלְקוֹתָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "בִּקְהָלָם אַל תֵּחַד כְּבֹדִי" (בראשית מ"ט), וְהֵיכָן נִזְכַּר שְׁמוֹ עַל קֹרַח? בְּהִתְיַחֲסָם עַל הַדּוּכָן בְּדִבְרֵי הַיָּמִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דהי"א ו') "בֶּן אֶבְיָסָף בֶּן קֹרַח בֶּן יִצְהָר בֶּן קְהָת בֶּן לֵוִי בֶּן יִשְׂרָאֵל":
Dathan and Abiram: Since the tribe of Reuben was settled in the south when they camped, thus being neighbors of Kohath and his children who were also camped in the south, they joined with Korah in his rebellion. Woe to the wicked, and woe to his neighbor! Now what made Korah decide to quarrel with Moses? He envied the chieftainship of Elizaphan the son of Uzziel whom Moses appointed as chieftain over the sons of Kohath by the [Divine] word. Korah claimed, “My father and his brothers were four [in number]” as it says, “The sons of Kohath were…” (Exod. 6:18). Amram was the first, and his two sons received greatness-one a king and one a kohen gadol. Who is entitled to receive the second [position]? Is it not I, who am the son of Izhar, who is the second brother to Amram? And yet, he [Moses] appointed to the chieftainship the son of his youngest brother! I hereby oppose him and will invalidate his word (Midrash Tanchuma Korach 1, Num. Rabbah 18:2). What did he do? He went and assembled two hundred and fifty men, heads of Sanhedrin, most of them from the tribe of Reuben, his neighbors. These were Elitzur the son of Shedeur and his colleagues, and others like him, as it says, “chieftains of the congregation, those called to the assembly.” And further it states, “These were the chosen ones of the congregation” (1:16). He dressed them with cloaks made entirely of blue wool. They came and stood before Moses and asked him, “Does a cloak made entirely of blue wool require fringes [’tzitzith’], or is it exempt?” He replied, “ It does require [fringes].” They began laughing at him [saying], "Is it possible that a cloak of another [colored] material, one string of blue wool exempts it [from the obligation of techeleth], and this one, which is made entirely of blue wool, should not exempt itself? - [Midrash Tanchuma Korach 2, Num. Rabbah 18:3]		דתן וַֽאֲבִירָם: בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁהָיָה שֵׁבֶט רְאוּבֵן שָׁרוּי בַּחֲנִיָּתָם תֵּימָנָה שָׁכֵן לִקְהָת וּבָנָיו הַחוֹנִים תֵּימָנָה, נִשְׁתַּתְּפוּ עִם קֹרַח בְּמַחֲלָקְתּוֹ — "אוֹי לָרָשָׁע אוֹי לִשְׁכֵנוֹ". וּמָה רָאָה קֹרַח לַחֲלֹק עִם מֹשֶׁה? נִתְקַנֵּא עַל נְשִׂיאוּתוֹ שֶׁל אֱלִיצָפָן בֶּן עֻזִּיאֵל, שֶׁמִּנָּהוּ מֹשֶׁה נָשִׂיא עַל בְּנֵי קְהָת עַל פִּי הַדִּבּוּר, אָמַר קֹרַח, אַחֵי אַבָּא אַרְבָּעָה הָיוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות ו') "וּבְנֵי קְהָת" וְגוֹ', עַמְרָם הַבְּכוֹר נָטְלוּ שְׁנֵי בָנָיו גְּדֻלָּה, אֶחָד מֶלֶךְ וְאֶחָד כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל, מִי רָאוּי לִטֹּל אֶת הַשְּׁנִיָּה? לֹא אֲנִי שֶׁאֲנִי בֶּן יִצְהָר, שֶׁהוּא שֵׁנִי לְעַמְרָם, וְהוּא מִנָּה נָשִׂיא אֶת בֶּן אָחִיו הַקָּטָן מִכֻּלָּם, הֲרֵינִי חוֹלֵק עָלָיו וּמְבַטֵּל אֶת דְּבָרָיו. מֶה עָשָׂה? עָמַד וְכָנַס ר"נ רָאשֵׁי סַנְהֶדְרָאוֹת — רֻבָּן מִשֵּׁבֶט רְאוּבֵן שְׁכֵנָיו וְהֵם אֱלִיצוּר בֶּן שְׁדֵיאוּר וַחֲבֵרָיו וְכַיּוֹצֵא בוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר נְשִׂיאֵי עֵדָה קְרִאֵי מוֹעֵד וּלְהַלָּן הוּא אוֹמֵר (במדבר א') "אֵלֶּה קְרוּאֵי הָעֵדָה" — וְהִלְבִּישָׁן טַלִּיתוֹת שֶׁכֻּלָּן תְּכֵלֶת, בָּאוּ וְעָמְדוּ לִפְנֵי מֹשֶׁה, אָמְרוּ לוֹ טַלִּית שֶׁכֻּלָּהּ שֶׁל תְּכֵלֶת חַיֶּבֶת בְּצִיצִית אוֹ פְטוּרָה? אָמַר לָהֶם חַיֶּבֶת, הִתְחִילוּ לִשְׂחֹק עָלָיו, אֶפְשָׁר טַלִּית שֶׁל מִן אַחֵר חוּט אֶחָד שֶׁל תְּכֵלֶת פּוֹטְרָהּ, זוֹ שֶׁכֻּלָּהּ תְּכֵלֶת לֹא תִפְטֹר אֶת עַצְמָהּ? (תנחומא):
descendants of Reuben: Dathan and Abiram and On the son of Peleth.		בְּנֵי רְאוּבֵֽן: דָּתָן וַאֲבִירָם וְאוֹן בֶּן פֶּלֶת:
2They confronted Moses together with two hundred and fifty men from the children of Israel, chieftains of the congregation, representatives of the assembly, men of repute.		בוַיָּקֻ֨מוּ֙ לִפְנֵ֣י משֶׁ֔ה וַֽאֲנָשִׁ֥ים מִבְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים וּמָאתָ֑יִם נְשִׂיאֵ֥י עֵדָ֛ה קְרִאֵ֥י מוֹעֵ֖ד אַנְשֵׁי־שֵֽׁם:
3They assembled against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "You take too much upon yourselves, for the entire congregation are all holy, and the Lord is in their midst. So why do you raise yourselves above the Lord's assembly?"		גוַיִּקָּֽהֲל֞וּ עַל־משֶׁ֣ה וְעַל־אַֽהֲרֹ֗ן וַיֹּֽאמְר֣וּ אֲלֵהֶם֘ רַב־לָכֶם֒ כִּ֤י כָל־הָֽעֵדָה֙ כֻּלָּ֣ם קְדשִׁ֔ים וּבְתוֹכָ֖ם יְהֹוָ֑ה וּמַדּ֥וּעַ תִּתְנַשְּׂא֖וּ עַל־קְהַ֥ל יְהֹוָֽה:
You take too much upon yourselves: You took by far too much greatness for yourselves.		רַב־לָכֶם: הַרְבֵּה יוֹתֵר מִדַּאי לְקַחְתֶּם לְעַצְמְכֶם גְּדֻלָּה:
are all holy: All of them heard [the] words [of the commandments] at Sinai from the mouth of the Almighty. - [Midrash Tanchuma Korach 4]		כֻּלָּם קְדשִׁים: כֻּלָּם שָׁמְעוּ דְבָרִים בְּסִינַי מִפִּי הַגְּבוּרָה:
So why do you raise yourselves: If you have taken kingship for yourself, you should not have chosen kehunah for your brother. Not only you heard at Sinai, “I am the Lord, your God” ; the entire congregation heard it. - [Midrash Tanchuma Korach 4]		וּמַדּוּעַ תִּתְנַשְּׂאוּ: אִם לָקַחְתָּ אַתָּה מַלְכוּת, לֹא הָיָה לְךָ לִבְרֹר לְאָחִיךָ כְּהֻנָּה, לֹא אַתֶּם לְבַדְּכֶם שְׁמַעְתֶּם בְּסִינַי "אָנֹכִי ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ", כָּל הָעֵדָה שָׁמְעוּ (שם):
4Moses heard and fell on his face.		דוַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע משֶׁ֔ה וַיִּפֹּ֖ל עַל־פָּנָֽיו:
and fell on his face: because of the rebellion, for this was already their fourth offense. [When] they sinned with the calf, “Moses pleaded” (Exod. 32:11); by the episode of the complainers, “Moses prayed” (11:2); with the spies, “Moses said to God, ‘But the Egyptians will hear…’ ” (14:13), but now, at Korah’s rebellion, he became disheartened [literally, his hands were weakened]. This is comparable to a prince who sinned against his father, and his [father’s] friend placated the king on his behalf, once, twice, and three times. When he offended the fourth time, the friend became disheartened, and he said, “How much more can I trouble the king? Perhaps he will no longer accept my petition.” - [Midrash Tanchuma 4, Num. Rabbah 18: 6]		וַיִּפֹּל עַל־פָּנָֽיו: מִפְּנֵי הַמַּחֲלֹקֶת, שֶׁכְּבָר זֶה בְיָדָם סִרְחוֹן רְבִיעִי, חָטְאוּ בָעֵגֶל, "וַיְחַל מֹשֶׁה" (שמות ל"ב), בַּמִּתְאוֹנְנִים, "וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל מֹשֶׁה" (במדבר י"א), בַּמְּרַגְּלִים, "וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל ה' וְשָׁמְעוּ מִצְרַיִם" (שם י"ד), בְּמַחֲלָקְתּוֹ שֶׁל קֹרַח נִתְרַשְּׁלוּ יָדָיו, מָשָׁל לְבֶן מֶלֶךְ שֶׁסָּרַח עַל אָבִיו, וּפִיֵּס עָלָיו אוֹהֲבוֹ פַּעַם וּשְׁתַּיִם וְשָׁלֹשׁ, כְּשֶׁסָּרַח רְבִיעִית, נִתְרַשְּׁלוּ יְדֵי הָאוֹהֵב הַהוּא, אָמַר עַד מָתַי אַטְרִיחַ עַל הַמֶּלֶךְ? שֶׁמָּא לֹא יְקַבֵּל עוֹד מִמֶּנִּי (תנחומא):
5He spoke to Korah and to all his company, saying, "In the morning, the Lord will make known who is His, and who is holy, and He will draw [them] near to Him, and the one He chooses, He will draw near to Him.		הוַיְדַבֵּ֨ר אֶל־קֹ֜רַח וְאֶל־כָּל־עֲדָתוֹ֘ לֵאמֹר֒ בֹּ֠קֶר וְיֹדַ֨ע יְהֹוָ֧ה אֶת־אֲשֶׁר־ל֛וֹ וְאֶת־הַקָּד֖וֹשׁ וְהִקְרִ֣יב אֵלָ֑יו וְאֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִבְחַר־בּ֖וֹ יַקְרִ֥יב אֵלָֽיו:
In the morning, the Lord will make known: Night is a time of drunkenness for us, and it is improper to appear before Him. His real intention was to delay, with the hope that they might retract [their opposition]. - [Midrash Tanchuma 5]		בֹּקֶר וְיֹדַע וגו': עַתָּה עֵת שִׁכְרוּת הוּא לָנוּ וְלֹא נָכוֹן לְהֵרָאוֹת לְפָנָיו, וְהוּא הָיָה מִתְכַּוֵּן לִדְחוֹת שֶׁמָּא יַחְזְרוּ בָהֶם (שם):
In the morning, the Lord will make known who is His: For the Levitic services.		בֹּקֶר וְיֹדַע ה' אֶת־אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ: לַעֲבוֹדַת לְוִיָּה:
and who is holy: For the kehunah.		וְאֶת־הַקָּדוֹשׁ: לִכְהֻנָּה:
and He will draw: them near to Him. Heb. וְהִקְרִיב אֵלָיו. And the Targum [Onkelos] proves this [that it is referring to both the Levites and the kohanim], for he renders the first phrase, “He will bring them close to Him” [and the second phrase] “He will bring into His service.” The Midrashic interpretation of בֹּקֶר, morning, [rather than מָחָר, tomorrow] is: Moses said to him [Korah], The Holy One, blessed is He, assigned boundaries to His world. Are you able to transform morning into evening? That is how possible it is for you to undo this, as it says, “It was evening and it was morning… and He separated (וַיַּבְדֵּל)” (Gen. 1:5, 7); similarly, “Aaron was set apart (וַיִּבָּדֵל) to sanctify him…” (I Chron. 23:13). - [Midrash Tanchuma Korach 3, Num. Rabbah 4]		וְהִקְרִיב: אוֹתָם אליו; וְהַתַּרְגּוּם מוֹכִיחַ כֵּן "וִיקָרֵב לָקֳדָמוֹהִי", "יְקָרֵב לְשִׁמּוּשֵׁיהּ"; וּמִקְרָא אַחֵר בקר, אָ"ל מֹשֶׁה, גְּבוּלוֹת חָלַק הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּעוֹלָמוֹ, יְכוֹלִים אַתֶּם לַהֲפֹךְ בֹּקֶר לְעֶרֶב? כֵּן תּוּכְלוּ לְבַטֵּל אֶת זוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וַיְהִי עֶרֶב וַיְהִי בֹקֶר וַיַּבְדֵּל" (בראשית א'), כָּךְ "וַיִּבָּדֵל אַהֲרֹן לְהַקְדִּישׁוֹ" וְגוֹ' (דהי"א כ"ג):
6Do this, Korah and his company: Take for yourselves censers.		וזֹ֖את עֲשׂ֑וּ קְחֽוּ־לָכֶ֣ם מַחְתּ֔וֹת קֹ֖רַח וְכָל־עֲדָתֽוֹ:
Do this!…Take for yourselves censers: Why did he see fit to speak to them thus? He said to them, “Among the nations, there are various forms of worship and many priests, and they do not all gather in one temple. We, however, have only one God, one ark, one Torah, one altar, and one kohen gadol, but you two hundred and fifty men are all seeking the kehunah gedolah! I too would prefer that. Here, take for yourselves the service most dear-it is the incense, more cherished than any other sacrifice, but it contains deadly poison, by which Nadab and Abihu were burnt. Therefore, he warned them, ”and it will be the one whom the Lord chooses-he is the holy one“ [meaning,] that he is already in his [state of] holiness. Is it not obvious that [the one] who is chosen is the holy one? Rather, Moses told them, ”I am telling you this so that you should not be found guilty. For the one He chooses will survive, and the rest of you will perish." - [Mid. Tanchuma 5, Bamidbar Rabbah 18:8]		זֹאת עֲשׂוּ קְחֽוּ־לָכֶם מַחְתּוֹת: מָה רָאָה לוֹמַר לָהֶם כָּךְ? אָמַר לָהֶם, בְּדַרְכֵי הַגּוֹיִם יֵשׁ נִימוּסִים הַרְבֵּה וְכוּמָרִים הַרְבֵּה וְכֻלָם (אֵין) מִתְקַבְּצִים בְּבַיִת אֶחָד, אָנוּ אֵין לָנוּ אֶלָּא ה' אֶחָד, אָרוֹן אֶחָד, וְתוֹרָה אַחַת וּמִזְבֵּחַ אֶחָד וְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל אֶחָד, וְאַתֶּם ר"ן אִישׁ מְבַקְּשִׁים כְּהֻנָּה גְדוֹלָה, אַף אֲנִי רוֹצֶה בְכָךְ, הֵא לָכֶם תַּשְׁמִישׁ חָבִיב מִכֹּל, הִיא הַקְּטֹרֶת הַחֲבִיבָה מִכָּל הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת, וְסַם הַמָּוֶת נִתַּן בְּתוֹכוֹ, שֶׁבּוֹ נִשְׂרְפוּ נָדָב וַאֲבִיהוּ, לְפִיכָךְ הִתְרָה בָהֶם והיה האיש אשר יבחר ה' הוא הקדש — כְּבָר הוּא בִקְדֻשָּׁתוֹ, וְכִי אֵין אָנוּ יוֹדְעִים שֶׁמִּי שֶׁיִּבְחַר הוּא הַקָּדוֹשׁ? אֶלָּא אָמַר לָהֶם מֹשֶׁה, הֲרֵינִי אוֹמֵר לָכֶם, שֶׁלֹּא תִּתְחַיְּבוּ, מִי שֶׁיִּבְחַר בוֹ יֵצֵא חַי וְכֻלְּכֶם אוֹבְדִין (תנחומא):
censers: מַחְתּוֹת, vessels used for stoking (חוֹתִין) coals, which have a handle.		מַחְתּוֹת: כֵּלִים שֶׁחוֹתִין בָּהֶם גֶּחָלִים וְיֵשׁ לָהֶם בֵּית יָד:
7Place fire into them and put incense upon them before the Lord tomorrow, and the man whom the Lord chooses he is the holy one; you have taken too much upon yourselves, sons of Levi."		זוּתְנ֣וּ־בָהֵ֣ן \| אֵ֡שׁ וְשִׂ֩ימוּ֩ עֲלֵיהֶ֨ן \| קְטֹ֜רֶת לִפְנֵ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ מָחָ֔ר וְהָיָ֗ה הָאִ֛ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־יִבְחַ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה ה֣וּא הַקָּד֑וֹשׁ רַב־לָכֶ֖ם בְּנֵ֥י לֵוִֽי:
you have taken too much upon yourselves, sons of Levi: Heb. רַב לָכֶם בְּנֵי לֵוִי, [interpreted Midrashically as:] I have told you a very great thing. Were they not fools? For he warned them about it and they [still] took upon themselves to offer [the incense]. They sinned at the cost of their lives, as it says, “the censers of these who sinned at the cost of their lives” (17:3). But what did Korah, who was astute, see [to commit] this folly? His vision deceived him. He saw [prophetically] a chain of great people descended from him: Samuel, who is equal [in importance] to Moses and Aaron. He [Korah] said, “For his sake I will be spared. [He also saw] twenty-four watches [of Levites] emanating from his grandsons, all prophesying through the holy spirit, as it says, ”all these were the sons of Heman“ (I Chron 25:5). He said, ”Is it possible that all this greatness is destined to emanate from me, and I should remain silent?“ Therefore, he participated [in the rebellion] to reach that prerogative, for he had heard from Moses that they would all perish and one would escape [death]: ”the one whom the Lord chooses-he is the holy one.“ He erred in thinking that it referred to him. He, however, did not ”see" properly, for his sons repented [and thus did not die at that time]. Moses, however, foresaw this. - [This is found in Mid.] Tanchuma [Korach 5, Num. Rabbah 18:8]		רַב־לָכֶם בְּנֵי לֵוִֽי: דָּבָר גָּדוֹל אָמַרְתִּי לָכֶם; וְלֹא טִפְּשִׁים הָיוּ, שֶׁכָּךְ הִתְרָה בָהֶם וְקִבְּלוּ עֲלֵיהֶם לְקָרֵב? הֵם חָטְאוּ עַל נַפְשׁוֹתָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "אֵת מַחְתּוֹת הַחַטָּאִים הָאֵלֶּה בְּנַפְשֹׁתָם" (במדבר י״ז:ג׳), וְקֹרַח שֶׁפִּקֵּחַ הָיָה מָה רָאָה לִשְׁטוּת זֶה? עֵינוֹ הִטְעַתּוּ, רָאָה שַׁלְשֶׁלֶת גְּדוֹלָה יוֹצְאָה מִמֶּנּוּ — שְׁמוּאֵל שֶׁשָּׁקוּל כְּנֶגֶד מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן — אָמַר בִּשְׁבִילוֹ אֲנִי נִמְלָט, וְכ"ד מִשְׁמָרוֹת עוֹמְדוֹת לִבְנֵי בָנָיו, כֻּלָּם מִתְנַבְּאִים בְּרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "כָּל אֵלֶּה בָנִים לְהֵימָן" (מלכים א כ"ה), אָמַר אֶפְשָׁר כָּל הַגְּדֻלָּה הַזֹּאת עֲתִידָה לַעֲמֹד מִמֶּנִּי וַאֲנִי אֶדּוֹם? לְכָךְ נִשְׁתַּתֵּף לָבֹא לְאוֹתָהּ חֲזָקָה, שֶׁשָּׁמַע מִפִּי מֹשֶׁה שֶׁכֻּלָּם אוֹבְדִים וְאֶחָד נִמְלָט, "אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר ה' הוּא הַקָּדוֹשׁ" — טָעָה וְתָלָה בְעַצְמוֹ, וְלֹא רָאָה יָפֶה, לְפִי שֶׁבָּנָיו עָשׂוּ תְשׁוּבָה, וּמֹשֶׁה הָיָה רוֹאֶה. — תַּנְחוּמָא:
you have taken too much upon yourselves: [The simple interpretation is:] You have taken too great a task upon yourselves, to rebel against the Holy One, blessed is He.		רַב־לָכֶם: דָּבָר גָּדוֹל נְטַלְתֶּם בְּעַצְמְכֶם לַחֲלֹק עַל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא:
8Moses said to Korah, "Please listen, sons of Levi.		חוַיֹּ֥אמֶר משֶׁ֖ה אֶל־קֹ֑רַח שִׁמְעוּ־נָ֖א בְּנֵ֥י לֵוִֽי:
Moses said…: He began to speak softly to him, but when he saw that he [Korah] was adamant [lit., stiff-necked], he [Moses] thought, “Before the other tribes [other versions: the rest of the tribe] join him and perish with him, I will speak to all of them as well.” He then began exhorting them [saying,], “Listen to me, sons of Levi.” - [Midrash Tanchuma Korach 6, Num. Rabbah 18:9]		וַיֹּאמֶר משֶׁה אֶל־קֹרַח שִׁמְעוּ־נָא בְּנֵי לֵוִֽי: הִתְחִיל לְדַבֵּר עִמּוֹ בִּדְבָרִים רַכִּים, כֵּיוָן שֶׁרָאָהוּ קְשֵׁה עֹרֶף, אָמַר עַד שֶׁלֹּא יִשְׁתַּתְּפוּ שְׁאָר הַשְּׁבָטִים וְיֹאבְדוּ עִמּוֹ, אֲדַבֵּר גַּם אֶל כֻּלָּם, הִתְחִיל לְזָרֵז בָּהֶם "שִׁמְעוּ נָא בְּנֵי לֵוִי" (תנחומא):
9Is it not enough that the God of Israel has distinguished you from the congregation of Israel to draw you near to Him, to perform the service in the Mishkan of the Lord and to stand before the congregation to minister to them?		טהַֽמְעַ֣ט מִכֶּ֗ם כִּֽי־הִבְדִּיל֩ אֱלֹהֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל אֶתְכֶם֙ מֵֽעֲדַ֣ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לְהַקְרִ֥יב אֶתְכֶ֖ם אֵלָ֑יו לַֽעֲבֹ֗ד אֶת־עֲבֹדַת֙ מִשְׁכַּ֣ן יְהֹוָ֔ה וְלַֽעֲמֹ֛ד לִפְנֵ֥י הָֽעֵדָ֖ה לְשָֽׁרְתָֽם:
and to stand before the congregation: to sing on the platform.		וְלַֽעֲמֹד לִפְנֵי הָֽעֵדָה: לָשִׁיר עַל הַדּוּכָן:
10He drew you near, and all your brothers, the sons of Levi with you, and now you seek the kehunah as well?		יוַיַּקְרֵב֙ אֹֽתְךָ֔ וְאֶת־כָּל־אַחֶ֥יךָ בְנֵֽי־לֵוִ֖י אִתָּ֑ךְ וּבִקַּשְׁתֶּ֖ם גַּם־כְּהֻנָּֽה:
He drew you near: to that service from which he has distanced the rest of the congregation of Israel.		וַיַּקְרֵב אֹֽתְךָ: לְאוֹתוֹ שֵׁרוּת שֶׁהִרְחִיק מִמֶּנּוּ שְׁאָר עֲדַת יִשְֹרָאֵל:
11Therefore, you and your entire company who are assembled are against the Lord, for what is Aaron that you should complain against him?"		יאלָכֵ֗ן אַתָּה֙ וְכָל־עֲדָ֣תְךָ֔ הַנֹּֽעָדִ֖ים עַל־יְהֹוָ֑ה וְאַֽהֲרֹ֣ן מַה־ה֔וּא כִּ֥י תַלִּ֖ינוּ (כתיב תלונו) עָלָֽיו:
Therefore: Because of this, “you and your entire company who are assembled” with you “are against the Lord,” for I acted as His messenger to give the kehunah to Aaron, and this rebellion is not with us [but with the Lord]. - [Midrash Tanchuma Korach 6, Num. Rabbah 18:9]		לָכֵן: בִּשְׁבִיל כָּךְ אתה וכל עדתך הנעדים אִתְּךָ עַל ה', כִּי בְשְׁלִיחוּתוֹ עָשִׂיתִי לָתֵת כְּהֻנָּה לְאַהֲרֹן, וְלֹא לָנוּ הוּא הַמַּחֲלֹקֶת הַזֶּה (שם):
12Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, but they said, "We will not go up.		יבוַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח משֶׁ֔ה לִקְרֹ֛א לְדָתָ֥ן וְלַֽאֲבִירָ֖ם בְּנֵ֣י אֱלִיאָ֑ב וַיֹּֽאמְר֖וּ לֹ֥א נַֽעֲלֶֽה:
Moses sent: From here we derive that one should not persist in a dispute, because Moses sought them out to conciliate them with peaceful words. — [Mid. Tanchuma Korach 10, Sanh. 110a]		וַיִּשְׁלַח משֶׁה וגו': מִכָּאן שֶׁאֵין מַחֲזִיקִין בְּמַחֲלֹקֶת, שֶׁהָיָה מֹשֶׁה מְחַזֵּר אַחֲרֵיהֶם לְהַשְׁלִימָם בְּדִבְרֵי שָׁלוֹם (סנהדרין ק"י):
We will not go up: Their own mouths caused them to stumble, [to say] that they would have only a downfall. - [Mid. Tanchuma Korach 6, Num. Rabbah 10]		לֹא נַֽעֲלֶֽה: פִּיהֶם הִכְשִׁילָם, שֶׁאֵין לָהֶם אֶלָּא יְרִידָה:
13Is it not enough that you have brought us out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the desert, that you should also exercise authority over us?		יגהַֽמְעַ֗ט כִּ֤י הֶֽעֱלִיתָ֨נוּ֙ מֵאֶ֨רֶץ זָבַ֤ת חָלָב֙ וּדְבַ֔שׁ לַֽהֲמִיתֵ֖נוּ בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר כִּֽי־תִשְׂתָּרֵ֥ר עָלֵ֖ינוּ גַּם־הִשְׂתָּרֵֽר:

Second Portion

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 16

14You have not even brought us to a land flowing with milk and honey, nor have you given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Even if you gouge out the eyes of those men, we will not go up."		ידאַ֡ף לֹ֣א אֶל־אֶ֩רֶץ֩ זָבַ֨ת חָלָ֤ב וּדְבַשׁ֙ הֲבִ֣יאֹתָ֔נוּ וַתִּ֨תֶּן־לָ֔נוּ נַֽחֲלַ֖ת שָׂדֶ֣ה וָכָ֑רֶם הַֽעֵינֵ֞י הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֥ים הָהֵ֛ם תְּנַקֵּ֖ר לֹ֥א נַֽעֲלֶֽה:
nor have you given us: This statement refers to the word “not” stated above; meaning, You have not brought us up, and You have not given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. You said to us, “I will bring you up from the affliction of Egypt to a good land…” (Exod. 3:10). You did bring us out of there, but you have not brought us to a land flowing with milk and honey. Instead, you have decreed upon us to kill us in the desert, as you said to us, “your corpses shall fall in this desert” (14:29).		וַתִּתֶּן־לָנוּ: הַדָּבָר מוּסָב עַל "לֹא" הָאָמוּר לְמַעְלָה, כְּלוֹמַר לֹא הֲבִיאוֹתָנוּ וְלֹא נָתַתָּ לָנוּ נַחֲלַת שָֹדֶה וָכֶרֶם; אָמַרְתָּ לָנוּ "אַעֲלֶה אֶתְכֶם מֵעֳנִי מִצְרַיִם אֶל אֶרֶץ טוֹבָה" וְגוֹ' (שמות ג'), מִשָּׁם הוֹצֵאתָנוּ, וְלֹא אֶל אֶרֶץ זָבָת חָלָב וּדְבַשׁ הֲבִיאֹתָנוּ, אֶלָּא גָּזַרְתָּ עָלֵינוּ לַהֲמִיתֵנוּ בַּמִּדְבָּר, שֶׁאָמַרְתָּ לָנוּ "בַּמִּדְבָּר הַזֶּה יִפְּלוּ פִגְרֵיכֶם" (במדבר י"ד):
Even if you gouge out the eyes of those men…: Even if you send [messengers] to gouge out our eyes if we do not go up to you, we will not go up.		הַֽעֵינֵי הָֽאֲנָשִׁים הָהֵם תְּנַקֵּר וגו': אֲפִלּוּ אַתָּה שׁוֹלֵחַ לְנַקֵּר אֶת עֵינֵינוּ אִם לֹא נַעֲלֶה אֵלֶיךָ, לֹא נַעֲלֶה:
those men: Like a person who attributes his own curse to his fellow.		הָֽאֲנָשִׁים הָהֵם: כְּאָדָם הַתּוֹלֶה קִלְלָתוֹ בַּחֲבֵרוֹ:
15Moses was exceedingly distressed, and he said to the Lord, "Do not accept their offering. I have not taken a donkey from a single one of them, and I have not harmed a single one of them."		טווַיִּ֤חַר לְמשֶׁה֙ מְאֹ֔ד וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ אֶל־יְהֹוָ֔ה אַל־תֵּ֖פֶן אֶל־מִנְחָתָ֑ם לֹ֠א חֲמ֨וֹר אֶחָ֤ד מֵהֶם֙ נָשָׂ֔אתִי וְלֹ֥א הֲרֵעֹ֖תִי אֶת־אַחַ֥ד מֵהֶֽם:
Moses was exceedingly distressed: Heb. וַיִּחַר לְמשֶׁה מְאֹד, he was very grieved, [not that he was angry].		וַיִּחַר לְמשֶׁה מְאֹד: נִצְטַעֵר עַד לִמְאֹד:
Do not accept their offering: According to its simple meaning, [Moses said,] Do not accept the incense that they will sacrifice before You tomorrow. According to its Midrashic interpretation, he said: I know that they have a portion in the daily communal offerings. Let their portions not be accepted favorably before You. Let the fire leave it and not consume it. - [Midrash Tanchuma Korach 7, Num. Rabbah 10]		אַל־תֵּפֶן אֶל־מִנְחָתָם: לְפִי פְשׁוּטוֹ הַקְּטֹרֶת שֶׁהֵם מַקְרִיבִין לְפָנֶיךָ מָחָר אַל תֵּפֶן אֲלֵיהֶם; וּמִדְרָשׁוֹ: אָמַר, יוֹדֵעַ אֲנִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָהֶם חֵלֶק בִתְמִידֵי צִבּוּר, אַף חֶלְקָם לֹא יְקֻבַּל לְפָנֶיךָ לְרָצוֹן, תַּנִּיחֶנּוּ הָאֵשׁ וְלֹא תֹאכְלֶנּוּ (תנחומא):
I have not taken a donkey from a single one of them: I did not take a donkey from any one of them. Even when I went from Midian to Egypt, and I placed my wife and sons on a donkey to ride, and I should have taken that donkey from their property, I took only from my own property (Tanchuma Korach 7, Num. Rabbah 10). Onkelos renders it as שְׁחָרִית, ‘expropriated.’ In Aramaic, the king’s service is called שַׁחְוַור.		לֹא חֲמוֹר אֶחָד מֵהֶם נָשָׂאתִי: לֹא חֲמוֹרוֹ שֶׁל אֶחָד מֵהֶם נָטַלְתִּי. אֲפִלּוּ כְּשֶׁהָלַכְתִּי מִמִּדְיָן לְמִצְרַיִם וְהִרְכַּבְתִּי אֶת אִשְׁתִּי וְאֶת בָּנַי עַל הַחֲמוֹר, וְהָיָה לִי לִטֹּל אוֹתוֹ הַחֲמוֹר מִשֶּׁלָּהֶם, לֹא נָטַלְתִּי אֶלָּא מִשֶּׁלִּי; וְתַּרְגּוּם אוֹנְקֵלוֹס"שְׁחָרִית", לְשׁוֹן אֲרַמִּי כָּךְ נִקְרֵאת אַנְגַּרְיָא שֶׁל מֶלֶךְ "שַׁחֲוָר":
16Moses said to Korah, "You and your entire congregation should be before the Lord you, they, and Aaron tomorrow.		טזוַיֹּ֤אמֶר משֶׁה֙ אֶל־קֹ֔רַח אַתָּה֙ וְכָל־עֲדָ֣תְךָ֔ הֱי֖וּ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה אַתָּ֥ה וָהֵ֛ם וְאַֽהֲרֹ֖ן מָחָֽר:
they: Your company.		וָהֵם: עֲדָתְךָ:
17Let each man take his censer and place incense upon it, and let each man present his censer before the Lord; [there will thus be] two hundred and fifty censers, and let you and Aaron each [take] his censer.		יזוּקְח֣וּ \| אִ֣ישׁ מַחְתָּת֗וֹ וּנְתַתֶּ֤ם עֲלֵיהֶם֙ קְטֹ֔רֶת וְהִקְרַבְתֶּ֞ם לִפְנֵ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ אִ֣ישׁ מַחְתָּת֔וֹ חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים וּמָאתַ֖יִם מַחְתֹּ֑ת וְאַתָּ֥ה וְאַֽהֲרֹ֖ן אִ֥ישׁ מַחְתָּתֽוֹ:
and let each man present his censer before the Lord…: The two hundred and fifty men among you.		וְהִקְרַבְתֶּם אִישׁ מַחְתָּתוֹ: הַחֲמִשִּׁים וּמָאתַיִם אִישׁ שֶׁבָּכֶם:
18So each man took his censer, and they put fire upon it and placed incense upon it, and they stood at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting with Moses and Aaron.		יחוַיִּקְח֞וּ אִ֣ישׁ מַחְתָּת֗וֹ וַיִּתְּנ֤וּ עֲלֵיהֶם֙ אֵ֔שׁ וַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּ עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם קְטֹ֑רֶת וַיַּֽעַמְד֗וּ פֶּ֛תַח אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵ֖ד וּמשֶׁ֥ה וְאַֽהֲרֹֽן:
19Korah assembled all the congregation against them at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord appeared before the entire congregation.		יטוַיַּקְהֵ֨ל עֲלֵיהֶ֥ם קֹ֨רַח֙ אֶת־כָּל־הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה אֶל־פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד וַיֵּרָ֥א כְבֽוֹד־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־כָּל־הָֽעֵדָֽה:
Korah assembled… against them: with words of mockery. All that night, he went to the tribes and enticed them [saying,] “Do you think I care only for myself? I care for all of you. These [people] come and take all the high positions: the kingship for himself and the kehunah for his brother,” until they were all enticed. - [Midrash Tanchuma Korach 7, Num. Rabbah 10]		וַיַּקְהֵל עֲלֵיהֶם קֹרַח: בְּדִבְרֵי לֵצָנוּת, כָּל הַלַּיְלָה הַהוּא הָלַךְ אֵצֶל הַשְּׁבָטִים וּפִתָּה אוֹתָם — "כִּסְבוּרִין אַתֶּם שֶׁעָלַי לְבַדִּי אֲנִי מַקְפִּיד? אֵינִי מַקְפִּיד אֶלָּא בִּשְׁבִיל כֻּלְּכֶם, אֵלּוּ בָאִין וְנוֹטְלִין כָּל הַגְּדֻלּוֹת, לוֹ הַמַּלְכוּת וּלְאָחִיו הַכְּהֻנָּה" עַד שֶׁנִּתְפַּתּוּ כֻלָּם (שם):
and the glory of the Lord appeared: He came in a pillar of cloud.		וַיֵּרָא כְבֽוֹד־ה': בָּא בְּעַמּוּד עָנָן:

Third Portion

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 16

20The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron saying,		כוַיְדַבֵּ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה וְאֶל־אַֽהֲרֹ֖ן לֵאמֹֽר:
21"Dissociate yourselves from this congregation, and I will consume them in an instant.		כאהִבָּ֣דְל֔וּ מִתּ֖וֹךְ הָֽעֵדָ֣ה הַזֹּ֑את וַֽאֲכַלֶּ֥ה אֹתָ֖ם כְּרָֽגַע:
22They fell on their faces and said, "O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, if one man sins, shall You be angry with the whole congregation?"		כבוַיִּפְּל֤וּ עַל־פְּנֵיהֶם֙ וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ אֵ֕ל אֱלֹהֵ֥י הָֽרוּחֹ֖ת לְכָל־בָּשָׂ֑ר הָאִ֤ישׁ אֶחָד֙ יֶֽחֱטָ֔א וְעַ֥ל כָּל־הָֽעֵדָ֖ה תִּקְצֹֽף:
O God, the God of the spirits: [God Who] knows the thoughts [of every man]. Your attributes are not like those of earthly beings. A mortal king against whom part of his country transgresses does not know who the sinner is, and, therefore, when he is angry, he metes out punishment upon them all. But as for You, all thoughts are revealed before You, and You know who the sinner is. - [Midrash Tanchuma Korach 7, Num. Rabbah 11]		אֵל אֱלֹהֵי הָֽרוּחֹת: יוֹדֵעַ מַחֲשָׁבוֹת; אֵין מִדָּתְךָ כְּמִדַּת בָּשָׂר וָדָם, מֶלֶךְ בָּשָׂר וָדָם שֶׁסָּרְחָה עָלָיו מִקְצָת מְדִינָה, אֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ מִי הַחוֹטֵא, לְפִיכָךְ כְּשֶׁהוּא כוֹעֵס נִפְרָע מִכֻּלָּם, אֲבָל אַתָּה, לְפָנֶיךָ גְלוּיוֹת כָּל הַמַּחֲשָׁבוֹת וְיוֹדֵעַ אַתָּה מִי הַחוֹטֵא (שם):
if one man: [If one man] is the sinner, shall You be angry with the whole congregation? The Holy One, blessed be He, said, “You have spoken well. I know and will make known who sinned and who did not sin.” - [Midrash Tanchuma Korach 7, Num. Rabbah 11]		הָאִישׁ אֶחָד: הוּא הַחוֹטֵא וְאַתָּה עַל כָּל הָעֵדָה תִּקְצֹף; אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, יָפֶה אֲמַרְתֶּם, אֲנִי יוֹדֵעַ וּמוֹדִיעַ מִי חָטָא וּמִי לֹא חָטָא (שם):
23The Lord spoke to Moses saying,		כגוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר:
24"Speak to the congregation saying, 'Withdraw from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.'"		כדדַּבֵּ֥ר אֶל־הָֽעֵדָ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר הֵֽעָלוּ֙ מִסָּבִ֔יב לְמִשְׁכַּן־קֹ֖רַח דָּתָ֥ן וַֽאֲבִירָֽם:
Withdraw: Heb. הֵעָלוּ, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders: Withdraw from around Korah’s tent.		הֵֽעָלוּ: כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ, הִסְתַּלְּקוּ מִסְּבִיבוֹת מִשְׁכַּן קֹרַח:
25Moses arose and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him.		כהוַיָּ֣קָם משֶׁ֔ה וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ אֶל־דָּתָ֣ן וַֽאֲבִירָ֑ם וַיֵּֽלְכ֥וּ אַֽחֲרָ֖יו זִקְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
Moses arose: He thought they would show him respect, but they did not. - [Midrash Tanchuma Korach 8, Num. Rabbah 12]		וַיָּקָם משֶׁה: כְּסָבוּר שֶׁיִּשְּׂאוּ לוֹ פָנִים וְלֹא עָשׂוּ:
26He spoke to the congregation saying, "Please get away from the tents of these wicked men, and do not touch anything of theirs, lest you perish because of all their sins.		כווַיְדַבֵּ֨ר אֶל־הָֽעֵדָ֜ה לֵאמֹ֗ר ס֣וּרוּ נָ֡א מֵעַל֩ אָֽהֳלֵ֨י הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֤ים הָֽרְשָׁעִים֙ הָאֵ֔לֶּה וְאַל־תִּגְּע֖וּ בְּכָל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר לָהֶ֑ם פֶּן־תִּסָּפ֖וּ בְּכָל־חַטֹּאתָֽם:
27So they withdrew from around the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, and Dathan and Abiram went out standing upright at the entrance of their tents together with their wives, their children, and their infants.		כזוַיֵּֽעָל֗וּ מֵעַ֧ל מִשְׁכַּן־קֹ֛רַח דָּתָ֥ן וַֽאֲבִירָ֖ם מִסָּבִ֑יב וְדָתָ֨ן וַֽאֲבִירָ֜ם יָֽצְא֣וּ נִצָּבִ֗ים פֶּ֚תַח אָֽהֳלֵיהֶ֔ם וּנְשֵׁיהֶ֥ם וּבְנֵיהֶ֖ם וְטַפָּֽם:
went out standing upright: Heb. נִצָּבִים, with a haughty bearing, to curse and to blaspheme, as in, “he stationed himself (וַיּתְיַצֵּב) [in an arrogant manner] for forty days” (I Sam. 17:16), said in reference to Goliath. - [Mid. Tanchuma Korach 3, 8, Num. Rabbah 12]		יָֽצְאוּ נִצָּבִים: בְּקוֹמָה זְקוּפָה — לְחָרֵף וּלְגַדֵּף, כְּמוֹ (שמואל א י"ז) "וַיִּתְיַצֵּב אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם" דְּגָלְיָת (תנחומא):
their wives, their children, and their infants: Come and see the severity of dispute. The earthly courts do not punish until [an accused] has two [pubic] hairs, and the heavenly court does not punish until one reaches the age of twenty, but here even nursing babes were punished. - [Midrash Tanchuma Korach 3]		וּנְשֵׁיהֶם וּבְנֵיהֶם וְטַפָּֽם: בֹּא וּרְאֵה כַּמָּה קָשָׁה הַמַּחֲלֹקֶת, שֶׁהֲרֵי בֵית דִּין שֶׁל מַטָּה אֵין עוֹנְשִׁין אֶלָּא עַד שֶׁיָּבִיא שְׁתֵּי שְׂעָרוֹת, וּבֵית דִּין שֶׁל מַעְלָה עַד עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה, וְכָאן אָבְדוּ אַף יוֹנְקֵי שָׁדַיִם (שם):
28Moses said, "With this you shall know that the Lord sent me to do all these deeds, for I did not devise them myself.		כחוַיֹּ֘אמֶר֘ משֶׁה֒ בְּזֹאת֙ תֵּֽדְע֔וּן כִּֽי־יְהֹוָ֣ה שְׁלָחַ֔נִי לַֽעֲשׂ֕וֹת אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַמַּֽעֲשִׂ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה כִּי־לֹ֖א מִלִּבִּֽי:
to do all these deeds: That I did by the word of God: to give Aaron the kehunah gedolah, his sons the deputy kehunah, and Elizaphan the chieftainship of the Kohathites.		לַֽעֲשׂוֹת אֵת כָּל־הַמַּֽעֲשִׂים הָאֵלֶּה: שֶׁעָשִׂיתִי עַל פִּי הַדִּבּוּר, לָתֵת לְאַהֲרֹן כְּהֻנָּה גְדוֹלָה וּבָנָיו סְגָנֵי כְהֻנָּה, וֶאֱלִיצָפָן נְשִׂיא הַקְּהָתִי:
29If these men die as all men die and the fate of all men will be visited upon them, then the Lord has not sent me.		כטאִם־כְּמ֤וֹת כָּל־הָֽאָדָם֙ יְמֻת֣וּן אֵ֔לֶּה וּפְקֻדַּת֙ כָּל־הָ֣אָדָ֔ם יִפָּקֵ֖ד עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם לֹ֥א יְהֹוָ֖ה שְׁלָחָֽנִי:
the Lord has not sent me: But I did everything on my own, and he [Korah] is in the right for opposing me. - [Mid. Tanchuma Korach 8, Num. Rabbah 12]		לֹא ה' שְׁלָחָֽנִי: אֶלָּא אֲנִי עָשִׂיתִי הַכֹּל מִדַּעְתִּי, וּבְדִין הוּא חוֹלֵק עָלַי:
30But if the Lord creates a creation, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them and all that is theirs, and they descend alive into the grave, you will know that these men have provoked the Lord."		לוְאִם־בְּרִיאָ֞ה יִבְרָ֣א יְהֹוָ֗ה וּפָֽצְתָ֨ה הָֽאֲדָמָ֤ה אֶת־פִּ֨יהָ֙ וּבָֽלְעָ֤ה אֹתָם֙ וְאֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר לָהֶ֔ם וְיָֽרְד֥וּ חַיִּ֖ים שְׁאֹ֑לָה וִֽידַעְתֶּ֕ם כִּ֧י נִֽאֲצ֛וּ הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה אֶת־יְהֹוָֽה:
But if… a creation: A new one.		וְאִם־בְּרִיאָה: חֲדָשָׁה:
the Lord creates: to kill them through a death by which no man has died until now. And what is this creation?		יִבְרָא ה': לְהָמִית אוֹתָם בְּמִיתָה שֶׁלֹּא מֵת בָּהּ אָדָם עַד הֵנָּה, וּמַה הִיא הַבְּרִיאָה?
And the earth will open its mouth and swallow them up: Then you will know that they have provoked the Holy One, blessed is He, and I [Moses] have spoken by Divine word. Our Rabbis interpret it: If there was a mouth already created to the earth from the time of the six days of Creation, well and good, but if not, let God create [one now]. - [Mid. Tanchuma Korach, Sanh. 110a]		וּפָֽצְתָה הָֽאֲדָמָה אֶת־פִּיהָ: וְתִבְלָעֵם, אָז וידעתם כי נאצו הֵם אֶת הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, וַאֲנִי מִפִּי הַגְּבוּרָה אָמַרְתִּי; וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ פֵרְשׁוּ: וְאִם בְּרִיאָה פֶה לָאָרֶץ מִשֵּׁשֶׁת יְמֵי בְרֵאשִׁית מוּטָב, וְאִם לָאו יִבְרָא ה' (סנהדרין ק"י):
31As soon as he finished speaking all these words, the earth beneath them split open.		לאוַֽיְהִי֙ כְּכַלֹּת֔וֹ לְדַבֵּ֕ר אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה וַתִּבָּקַ֥ע הָֽאֲדָמָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר תַּחְתֵּיהֶֽם:
32The earth beneath them opened its mouth and swallowed them and their houses, and all the men who were with Korah and all the property.		לבוַתִּפְתַּ֤ח הָאָ֨רֶץ֙ אֶת־פִּ֔יהָ וַתִּבְלַ֥ע אֹתָ֖ם וְאֶת־בָּֽתֵּיהֶ֑ם וְאֵ֤ת כָּל־הָֽאָדָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְקֹ֔רַח וְאֵ֖ת כָּל־הָֽרְכֽוּשׁ:
33They, and all they possessed, descended alive into the grave; the earth covered them up, and they were lost to the assembly.		לגוַיֵּ֨רְד֜וּ הֵ֣ם וְכָל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר לָהֶ֛ם חַיִּ֖ים שְׁאֹ֑לָה וַתְּכַ֤ס עֲלֵיהֶם֙ הָאָ֔רֶץ וַיֹּֽאבְד֖וּ מִתּ֥וֹךְ הַקָּהָֽל:
34All Israel who were around them fled from their cries, for they said, "Lest the earth swallow us up [too]!"		לדוְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אֲשֶׁ֛ר סְבִיבֹֽתֵיהֶ֖ם נָ֣סוּ לְקֹלָ֑ם כִּ֣י אָֽמְר֔וּ פֶּן־תִּבְלָעֵ֖נוּ הָאָֽרֶץ:
fled from their cries: Because of the sound that emanated when they were swallowed up.		נָסוּ לְקֹלָם: בִּשְׁבִיל הַקּוֹל הַיּוֹצֵא עַל בְּלִיעָתָן:
35A fire came forth from the Lord and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who had offered up the incense.		להוְאֵ֥שׁ יָֽצְאָ֖ה מֵאֵ֣ת יְהֹוָ֑ה וַתֹּ֗אכַל אֵ֣ת הַֽחֲמִשִּׁ֤ים וּמָאתַ֨יִם֙ אִ֔ישׁ מַקְרִיבֵ֖י הַקְּטֹֽרֶת:

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 17

1The Lord spoke to Moses saying:		אוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר:
2Say to Eleazar the son of Aaron the kohen that he should pick up the censers from the burned area (but throw the fire away), because they have become sanctified,		באֱמֹ֨ר אֶל־אֶלְעָזָ֜ר בֶּן־אַֽהֲרֹ֣ן הַכֹּהֵ֗ן וְיָרֵ֤ם אֶת־הַמַּחְתֹּת֙ מִבֵּ֣ין הַשְּׂרֵפָ֔ה וְאֶת־הָאֵ֖שׁ זְרֵה־הָ֑לְאָה כִּ֖י קָדֵֽשׁוּ:
but… the fire: that is in the censers.		וְאֶת־הָאֵשׁ: שֶׁבְּתוֹךְ הַמַּחְתּוֹת:
throw… away: [the fire] on the ground, off the censers.		זְרֵה־הָלְאָה: לָאָרֶץ מֵעַל הַמַּחְתּוֹת:
because they have become sanctified: I.e., the censers [have become sanctified], and it is forbidden to derive personal benefit from them since they made them into service vessels.		כִּי קָדֵֽשׁוּ: הַמַּחְתּוֹת וַאֲסוּרִין בַּהֲנָאָה, שֶׁהֲרֵי עֲשָׂאוּם כְּלֵי שָׁרֵת:
3the censers of these who sinned at the cost of their lives, and they shall make them into flattened out plates as an overlay for the altar, for they brought them before the Lord, and have [therefore] become sanctified, and they shall be as a reminder for the children of Israel.		גאֵ֡ת מַחְתּוֹת֩ הַֽחַטָּאִ֨ים הָאֵ֜לֶּה בְּנַפְשֹׁתָ֗ם וְעָשׂ֨וּ אֹתָ֜ם רִקֻּעֵ֤י פַחִים֙ צִפּ֣וּי לַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ כִּֽי־הִקְרִיבֻ֥ם לִפְנֵֽי־יְהֹוָ֖ה וַיִּקְדָּ֑שׁוּ וְיִֽהְי֥וּ לְא֖וֹת לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
these who sinned at the cost of their lives: They have become willful sinners against their own lives for they opposed the Holy One, blessed is He.		הַֽחַטָּאִים הָאֵלֶּה בְּנַפְשֹׁתָם: שֶׁנַּעֲשׂוּ פוֹשְׁעִים בְּנַפְשׁוֹתָם, שֶׁנֶּחְלְקוּ עַל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא:
flattened out: Heb. רִקֻּעֵי, thinned out.		רִקֻּעֵי: רְדוּדִין:
plates: metal sheets beaten flat; in old French, tenves, thinned out, flattened.		פַחִים: טַסִּים מְרֻדָּדִין, טינדי"ש בלעז:
an overlay for the altar: For the copper altar.		צִפּוּי לַמִּזְבֵּחַ: לְמִזְבַּח הַנְּחֹשֶׁת:
and they shall be as a reminder: A remembrance so that people will say, “These [plates] are from those who disputed the kehunah and were burnt.”		וְיִֽהְיוּ לְאוֹת: לְזִכָּרוֹן — שֶׁיֹּאמְרוּ, אֵלּוּ הָיוּ מֵאוֹתָן שֶׁנֶּחְלְקוּ עַל הַכְּהֻנָּה וְנִשְׂרְפוּ:
4So Eleazar the kohen took the copper censers which the fire victims had brought, and they hammered them out as an overlay for the altar,		דוַיִּקַּ֞ח אֶלְעָזָ֣ר הַכֹּהֵ֗ן אֵ֚ת מַחְתּ֣וֹת הַנְּח֔שֶׁת אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִקְרִ֖יבוּ הַשְּׂרֻפִ֑ים וַיְרַקְּע֖וּם צִפּ֥וּי לַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ:
and they beat them out: In Old French, estendre, to extend, to spread, [in modern French étendre].		וַיְרַקְּעוּם: איטינ"דריש בְּלַעַז:
5as a reminder for the children of Israel, so that no outsider, who is not of the seed of Aaron, shall approach to burn incense before the Lord, so as not to be like Korah and his company, as the Lord spoke regarding him through the hand of Moses.		הזִכָּר֞וֹן לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל לְ֠מַ֠עַן אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־יִקְרַ֜ב אִ֣ישׁ זָ֗ר אֲ֠שֶׁ֠ר לֹ֣א מִזֶּ֤רַע אַֽהֲרֹן֙ ה֔וּא לְהַקְטִ֥יר קְטֹ֖רֶת לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וְלֹא־יִֽהְיֶ֤ה כְקֹ֨רַח֙ וְכַ֣עֲדָת֔וֹ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֧ר יְהֹוָ֛ה בְּיַד־משֶׁ֖ה לֽוֹ:
so as not to be like Korah: Heb. וְלֹא יִהְיֶה כְקֹרַח, lit. and there shall not be like Korach. In order that there shall not be like Korah.		וְלֹא־יִֽהְיֶה כְקֹרַח: כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיֶה כְקֹרַח:
as the Lord spoke regarding him through the hand of Moses: [The word לוֹ literally means ‘to him.’ Here it] means ‘about him,’ that is, about Aaron, He spoke to Moses that he and his sons would be kohanim. Therefore, no outsider, who is not of the seed of Aaron, shall draw near…. Similarly, every time it says לִי or לוֹ or לָהֶם in connection with the verb דִּבּוּר, ‘speech,’ it means ‘regarding.’ Its Midrashic interpretation is that לוֹ refers to Korah. So what is [the meaning of] “by the hand of Moses”? Why not just simply “to Moses”? It alludes to those who rebel against the kehunah . They are stricken with tzara’ath , as it says, “and he [Moses] took it out, and behold, his hand was ‘leprous,’ like snow” (Exod. 4:6). For this reason, Uzziah was stricken with tzara’ath. — [Midrash Tanchuma Tzav 11]		כַּֽאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר ה' בְּיַד־משֶׁה לֽוֹ: כְּמוֹ עָלָיו — עַל אַהֲרֹן דִּבֵּר אֶל מֹשֶׁה שֶׁיִּהְיוּ הוּא וּבָנָיו כֹּהֲנִים, לְפִיכָךְ "לֹא יִקְרַב אִישׁ זָר אֲשֶׁר לֹא מִזֶּרַע אַהֲרֹן" וְגוֹ'; וְכֵן כָּל לִי וְלוֹ וְלָהֶם הַסְּמוּכִים אֵצֶל דִּבּוּר, פִּתְרוֹנָם כְּמוֹ עַל. וּמִדְרָשׁוֹ — עַל קֹרַח, וּמַהוּ "בְיַד מֹשֶׁה" וְלֹא כָתַב "אֶל מֹשֶׁה"? רֶמֶז לַחוֹלְקִים עַל הַכְּהֻנָּה שֶׁלּוֹקִין בְּצָרַעַת כְּמוֹ שֶׁלָּקָה מֹשֶׁה בְּיָדוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וַיּוֹצִאָהּ וְהִנֵּה יָדוֹ מְצֹרַעַת כַּשָּׁלֶג" (שמות ד'), וְעַל כֵּן לָקָה עֻזִּיָּהוּ בְּצָרַעַת (דברי הימים ב' כ"ו):
6The following day, the entire congregation of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron saying, "You have killed the people of the Lord."		ווַיִּלֹּ֜נוּ כָּל־עֲדַ֤ת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מִמָּ֣חֳרָ֔ת עַל־משֶׁ֥ה וְעַל־אַֽהֲרֹ֖ן לֵאמֹ֑ר אַתֶּ֥ם הֲמִתֶּ֖ם אֶת־עַ֥ם יְהֹוָֽה:
7It came to pass while the congregation were assembled against Moses and Aaron, that they turned to the Tent of Meeting, and behold, the cloud had covered it, and the glory of the Lord appeared.		זוַיְהִ֗י בְּהִקָּהֵ֤ל הָֽעֵדָה֙ עַל־משֶׁ֣ה וְעַל־אַֽהֲרֹ֔ן וַיִּפְנוּ֙ אֶל־אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד וְהִנֵּ֥ה כִסָּ֖הוּ הֶֽעָנָ֑ן וַיֵּרָ֖א כְּב֥וֹד יְהֹוָֽה:
8Moses and Aaron came to the front of the Tent of Meeting.		חוַיָּבֹ֤א משֶׁה֙ וְאַֽהֲרֹ֔ן אֶל־פְּנֵ֖י אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד:

Fourth Portion

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 17

9The Lord spoke to Moses saying:		טוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר:
10Stand aside from this congregation, and I shall consume them in an instant." They fell on their faces.		יהֵרֹ֗מּוּ מִתּוֹךְ֙ הָֽעֵדָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את וַֽאֲכַלֶּ֥ה אֹתָ֖ם כְּרָ֑גַע וַיִּפְּל֖וּ עַל־פְּנֵיהֶֽם:
11Moses said to Aaron, "Take the censer and put fire from the altar top into it and put incense. Then take it quickly to the congregation and atone for them, for wrath has gone forth from the Lord, and the plague has begun."		יאוַיֹּ֨אמֶר משֶׁ֜ה אֶל־אַֽהֲרֹ֗ן קַ֣ח אֶת־הַ֠מַּחְתָּ֠ה וְתֶן־עָלֶ֨יהָ אֵ֜שׁ מֵעַ֤ל הַמִּזְבֵּ֨חַ֙ וְשִׂ֣ים קְטֹ֔רֶת וְהוֹלֵ֧ךְ מְהֵרָ֛ה אֶל־הָֽעֵדָ֖ה וְכַפֵּ֣ר עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם כִּֽי־יָצָ֥א הַקֶּ֛צֶף מִלִּפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה הֵחֵ֥ל הַנָּֽגֶף:
and atone for them: This secret was given over to him by the angel of death when he went up to heaven, that incense holds back the plague… as is related in Tractate Shabbath (89a).		וְכַפֵּר עֲלֵיהֶם: רָז זֶה מָסַר לוֹ מַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת כְּשֶׁעָלָה לָרָקִיעַ, שֶׁהַקְּטֹרֶת עוֹצֵר הַמַּגֵּפָה, כִּדְאִיתָא בְמַסֶּכֶת שַׁבָּת (דף פ"ט):
12Aaron took [it], just as Moses had said, and he ran into the midst of the assembly, and behold, the plague had begun among the people. He placed the incense on it and atoned for the people.		יבוַיִּקַּ֨ח אַֽהֲרֹ֜ן כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר \| דִּבֶּ֣ר משֶׁ֗ה וַיָּ֨רָץ֙ אֶל־תּ֣וֹךְ הַקָּהָ֔ל וְהִנֵּ֛ה הֵחֵ֥ל הַנֶּ֖גֶף בָּעָ֑ם וַיִּתֵּן֙ אֶת־הַקְּטֹ֔רֶת וַיְכַפֵּ֖ר עַל־הָעָֽם:
13He stood between the dead and the living, and the plague ceased.		יגוַיַּֽעֲמֹ֥ד בֵּֽין־הַמֵּתִ֖ים וּבֵ֣ין הַֽחַיִּ֑ים וַתֵּֽעָצַ֖ר הַמַּגֵּפָֽה:
He stood between the dead…: He took hold of the angel and held him against his will. The angel said to him, “Allow me to accomplish my mission.” He [Aaron] said to him, “Moses commanded me to stop you.” He said to him, “I am the messenger of the Omnipresent, and you are the messenger of Moses.” He said to him, “Moses does not say anything on his own volition, but only at the bidding of the Almighty. If you do not believe [me], the Holy One, blessed is He, and Moses are at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting; come with me and ask.” This is the meaning of the statement, “Aaron returned to Moses” (Mid. Tanchuma Tetzaveh 15). Another interpretation: Why with incense? Because the Israelites were slandering and vilifying the incense, saying that it was a deadly poison; through it Nadab and Abihu died; through it two hundred and fifty people were burnt. The Holy One, blessed is He, said, “You shall see that it will stop the plague, and it is sin that caused their death.” - [Mid. Aggadah. See Mechilta Beshallach (Vayassa 6:5, Ber. 33a]		וַיַּֽעֲמֹד בֵּֽין־הַמֵּתִים וגו': אָחַז אֶת הַמַּלְאָךְ וְהֶעֱמִידוֹ עַל כָּרְחוֹ, אָמַר לוֹ הַמַּלְאָךְ, הַנַּח לִי לַעֲשׂוֹת שְׁלִיחוּתִי, אָמַר לוֹ מֹשֶׁה צִוַּנִי לְעַכֵּב עַל יָדְךָ, אָמַר לוֹ אֲנִי שְׁלוּחוֹ שֶׁל מָקוֹם וְאַתָּה שְׁלוּחוֹ שֶׁל מֹשֶׁה, אָמַר לוֹ אֵין מֹשֶׁה אוֹמֵר כְּלוּם מִלִּבּוֹ אֶלָּא מִפִּי הַגְּבוּרָה, אִם אֵין אַתָּה מַאֲמִין, הֲרֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וּמֹשֶׁה אֶל פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, בֹּא עִמִּי וּשְׁאַל, וְזֶהוּ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וישב אהרן אל משה; דָּבָר אַחֵר, לָמָּה בַקְּטֹרֶת? לְפִי שֶׁהָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מְלִיזִים וּמְרַנְּנִים אַחַר הַקְּטֹרֶת לוֹמַר סַם הַמָּוֶת הוּא — עַל יָדוֹ מֵתוּ נָדָב וַאֲבִיהוּא, עַל יָדוֹ נִשְׂרְפוּ חֲמִשִּׁים וּמָאתַיִם אִישׁ — אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, תִּרְאוּ שֶׁעוֹצֵר מַגֵּפָה הוּא וְהַחֵטְא הוּא הַמֵּמִית (מכילתא שמות י"ז):
14The number of dead in the plague was fourteen thousand, seven hundred, besides those who died because of the matter of Korah.		ידוַיִּֽהְי֗וּ הַמֵּתִים֙ בַּמַּגֵּפָ֔ה אַרְבָּעָ֥ה עָשָׂ֛ר אֶ֖לֶף וּשְׁבַ֣ע מֵא֑וֹת מִלְּבַ֥ד הַמֵּתִ֖ים עַל־דְּבַר־קֹֽרַח:
15Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, and the plague was checked.		טווַיָּ֤שָׁב אַֽהֲרֹן֙ אֶל־משֶׁ֔ה אֶל־פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד וְהַמַּגֵּפָ֖ה נֶֽעֱצָֽרָה:

Fifth Portion

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 17

16The Lord spoke to Moses saying:		טזוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר:
17Speak to the children of Israel and take from them a staff for each father's house from all the chieftains according to their fathers' houses; [a total of] twelve staffs, and inscribe each man's name on his staff.		יזדַּבֵּ֣ר \| אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְקַ֣ח מֵֽאִתָּ֡ם מַטֶּ֣ה מַטֶּה֩ לְבֵ֨ית אָ֜ב מֵאֵ֤ת כָּל־נְשִֽׂיאֵהֶם֙ לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֔ם שְׁנֵ֥ים עָשָׂ֖ר מַטּ֑וֹת אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־שְׁמ֔וֹ תִּכְתֹּ֖ב עַל־מַטֵּֽהוּ:
18Inscribe Aaron's name on the staff of Levi, for there is [only] one staff for the head of their fathers' house.		יחוְאֵת֙ שֵׁ֣ם אַֽהֲרֹ֔ן תִּכְתֹּ֖ב עַל־מַטֵּ֣ה לֵוִ֑י כִּ֚י מַטֶּ֣ה אֶחָ֔ד לְרֹ֖אשׁ בֵּ֥ית אֲבוֹתָֽם:
for… one staff…: Although I have divided them into two families, the family of kehunah separate and the family of the Levites separate, it is, nevertheless, one tribe.		כִּי מַטֵּה אֶחָד: אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁחִלַּקְתִּים לִשְׁתֵּי מִשְׁפָּחוֹת, מִשְׁפַּחַת כְּהֻנָּה לְבַד וּלְוִיָּה לְבַד, מִכָּל מָקוֹם שֵׁבֶט אֶחָד הוּא:
19You shall place the staffs in the Tent of Meeting before the [Ark of] the Testimony where I commune with you.		יטוְהִנַּחְתָּ֖ם בְּאֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד לִפְנֵי֙ הָֽעֵד֔וּת אֲשֶׁ֛ר אִוָּעֵ֥ד לָכֶ֖ם שָֽׁמָּה:
20The staff of the man whom I will choose will blossom, and I will calm down [turning away] from Myself the complaints of the children of Israel which they are complaining against you.		כוְהָיָ֗ה הָאִ֛ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֶבְחַר־בּ֖וֹ מַטֵּ֣הוּ יִפְרָ֑ח וַֽהֲשִׁכֹּתִ֣י מֵֽעָלַ֗י אֶת־תְּלֻנּוֹת֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֛ר הֵ֥ם מַלִּינִ֖ם עֲלֵיכֶֽם:
and I will calm down: Heb. וַהֲשִׁכֹּתִי, as in “and the waters subsided וַיָּשֹׁכּוּ” (Gen. 8:1); [and in] “and the king’s anger abated שָׁכָכָה” (Esther 7:10).		וַֽהֲשִׁכֹּתִי: כְּמוֹ "וַיָּשֹׁכּוּ הַמָּיִם" (בראשית ח'), "וַחֲמַת הַמֶּלֶךְ שָׁכָכָה" (אסתר ז'):
21Moses spoke to the children of Israel, and all their chieftains gave him a staff for each chieftain according to their fathers' houses, [a total of] twelve staffs, and Aaron's staff was amidst their staffs.		כאוַיְדַבֵּ֨ר משֶׁ֜ה אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וַיִּתְּנ֣וּ אֵלָ֣יו \| כָּל־נְשִֽׂיאֵיהֶ֡ם מַטֶּה֩ לְנָשִׂ֨יא אֶחָ֜ד מַטֶּ֨ה לְנָשִׂ֤יא אֶחָד֙ לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֔ם שְׁנֵ֥ים עָשָׂ֖ר מַטּ֑וֹת וּמַטֵּ֥ה אַֽהֲרֹ֖ן בְּת֥וֹךְ מַטּוֹתָֽם:
amidst their staffs: He placed it in the middle so that they should not say that it blossomed because he had placed it close to the Divine Presence. — [Mid. Tanchuma Acharei Moth 8]		בְּתוֹךְ מַטּוֹתָֽם: הִנִּיח בָּאֶמְצַע, שֶׁלֹּא יֹאמְרוּ, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהִנִּיחוֹ בְצַד שְׁכִינָה פָּרַח (תנחומא אחרי מות):
22Moses placed the staffs before the Lord in the Tent of the Testimony.		כבוַיַּנַּ֥ח משֶׁ֛ה אֶת־הַמַּטֹּ֖ת לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה בְּאֹ֖הֶל הָֽעֵדֻֽת:
23And on the following day Moses came to the Tent of Testimony, and behold, Aaron's staff for the house of Levi had blossomed! It gave forth blossoms, sprouted buds, and produced ripe almonds.		כגוַיְהִ֣י מִמָּֽחֳרָ֗ת וַיָּבֹ֤א משֶׁה֙ אֶל־אֹ֣הֶל הָֽעֵד֔וּת וְהִנֵּ֛ה פָּרַ֥ח מַטֵּה־אַֽהֲרֹ֖ן לְבֵ֣ית לֵוִ֑י וַיֹּ֤צֵ֥א פֶ֨רַח֙ וַיָּ֣צֵ֥ץ צִ֔יץ וַיִּגְמֹ֖ל שְׁקֵדִֽים:
It gave forth blossoms: [This is to be understood] in its literal sense.		וַיֹּצֵא פֶרַח: כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ:
buds: This is the budding of the fruit after the blossom falls off.		צִיץ: הוּא חֲנָטַת הַפְּרִי כְּשֶׁהַפֶּרַח נוֹפֵל:
and produced ripe almonds: Heb. וַיִּגְמֹל, when the fruit was recognizable, it was recognized that they were almonds. A similar expression is as found in “and the child grew and was weaned וַיִּגָמֵל” (Gen. 21:8). This expression is frequently found used in reference to fruits of the tree, as in “and the buds turn into ripening grapes גֹמֵל” (Isa. 18:5). Now why [did it bear particularly] almonds? That is the fruit that blossoms quicker than other fruits. Likewise, he who opposes the kehunah; his punishment comes quickly, as we find in the case of Uzziah: “and the tzara’ath shone upon his forehead” (II Chron. 26:19) (See also Rashi on Jer. 1:12). The Targum [Onkelos] renders ‘knotted almonds,’ like a cluster of almonds knotted together one on top of the other.		וַיִּגְמֹל שְׁקֵדִֽים: כְּשֶׁהֻכַּר הַפְּרִי הֻכַּר שֶׁהֵן שְׁקֵדִים, לְשׁוֹן "וַיִּגְדַּל הַיֶּלֶד וַיִּגָּמַל" (בראשית כ"א), וְלָשׁוֹן זֶה מָצוּי בִּפְרִי הָאִילָן, כְּמוֹ "וּבֹסֶר גֹּמֵל יִהְיֶה נִצָּה" (ישעיהו י"ח), וְלָמָּה שְׁקֵדִים? הוּא הַפְּרִי הַמְמַהֵר לְהַפְרִיחַ מִכָּל הַפֵּרוֹת, אַף הַמְעוֹרֵר עַל הַכְּהֻנָּה פֻּרְעֲנוּתוֹ מְמַהֶרֶת לָבֹא, כְּמוֹ שֶׁמָּצִינוּ בְעֻזִּיָּהוּ "וְהַצָּרַעַת זָרְחָה בְמִצְחוֹ" (דברי הימים ב' כ"ו); תַּרְגּוּמוֹ "וְכָפִית שִׁגְדִּין", כְּמִין אֶשְׁכּוֹל שְׁקֵדִים יַחַד כְּפוּתִים זֶה עַל זֶה:
24Moses took out all the staffs from before the Lord, to the children of Israel; they saw and they took, each man his staff.		כדוַיֹּצֵ֨א משֶׁ֤ה אֶת־כָּל־הַמַּטֹּת֙ מִלִּפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה אֶל־כָּל־בְּנֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּרְא֥וּ וַיִּקְח֖וּ אִ֥ישׁ מַטֵּֽהוּ:

Sixth Portion

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 17

25The Lord said to Moses: Put Aaron's staff back in front of the Testimony as a keepsake [and] a sign for rebellious ones. Then their complaints against Me will end and they will not die.		כהוַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶל־משֶׁ֗ה הָשֵׁ֞ב אֶת־מַטֵּ֤ה אַֽהֲרֹן֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הָֽעֵד֔וּת לְמִשְׁמֶ֥רֶת לְא֖וֹת לִבְנֵי־מֶ֑רִי וּתְכַ֧ל תְּלֽוּנֹּתָ֛ם מֵֽעָלַ֖י וְלֹ֥א יָמֻֽתוּ:
as a keepsake and a sign: As a remembrance that I have chosen Aaron to be kohen, so they will no longer complain about the kehunah.		לְמִשְׁמֶרֶת לְאוֹת: לְזִכָּרוֹן שֶׁבָּחַרְתִּי בְּאַהֲרֹן לְכֹהֵן וְלֹא יִלּוֹנוּ עוֹד עַל הַכְּהֻנָּה:
Then their complaints will end: [The word] וּתְכַל is equivalent to וְתִכְלֶה. The term תְּלוּנֹּתָם is a singular feminine verbal noun, similar to תְּלוּנָּתָם (their complaint), in French, murmures, murmurings. There is a distinction between תְּלוּנָּתָם and תְּלוּנּוֹתָם, the former being a single complaint and the latter a singular noun [collective], even when there are many complaints. (FOOTNOTE: The word וּתְכַל can possibly be used as a transitive verb in the second person singular, masculine gender [you shall end], or as an intransitive verb in the third person singular, feminine gender [she/it shall end]. Therefore, Rashi first establishes that וּתְכַל is equivalent to וְתִכְלֶה, intransitive, here meaning, it [the complaint] shall end, for if it were transitive, referring to Moses [and you, Moses, shall end] it would be vowelized as וּתְכַלֶּה uthechaleh. Having clarified that point, Rashi now explains that it should have said וְתִכְלֶינֶה [in the plural] rather than וּתְכַל, equivalent to וְתִכְלֶה [in the singular], since it refers to תְּלוּנּוֹת, which is plural, and therefore the verb וּתְכַל should conform with it and likewise be in the plural. Rashi therefore explains that תְּלוּנֹּתָם is a collective singular noun and thus a singular verb may precede it.)		וּתְכַל תְּלֽוּנֹּתָם: כְּמוֹ וּתְכַלֶּה תְּלֻנּוֹתָם; לָשׁוֹן זֶה שֵׁם מִפְעָל יָחִיד לְשׁוֹן נְקֵבָה, כְּמוֹ תְלֻנָּתָם, מרמור"יש בלעז; וְיֵשׁ חִלּוּק בֵּין תְּלֻנּוֹתָם לִתְלֻנָּתָם, תְּלֻנָּתָם תְּלֻנָּה אַחַת, תְּלֻנּוֹתָם שֵׁם דָּבָר בִּלְשׁוֹן יָחִיד וַאֲפִלּוּ הֵם תְּלֻנּוֹת הַרְבֵּה:
26Moses did so. He did just as the Lord had commanded him.		כווַיַּ֖עַשׂ משֶׁ֑ה כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֧ה יְהֹוָ֛ה אֹת֖וֹ כֵּ֥ן עָשָֽׂה:
27The children of Israel spoke to Moses saying, "Behold, we are dying, we will perish, we are all lost!		כזוַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶל־משֶׁ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר הֵ֥ן גָּוַ֛עְנוּ אָבַ֖דְנוּ כֻּלָּ֥נוּ אָבָֽדְנוּ:
28Whoever comes the closest to the Mishkan of the Lord dies! Have we been consigned to die?		כחכֹּ֣ל הַקָּרֵ֧ב \| הַקָּרֵ֛ב אֶל־מִשְׁכַּ֥ן יְהֹוָ֖ה יָמ֑וּת הַאִ֥ם תַּ֖מְנוּ לִגְוֹֽעַ:
Whoever comes the closest: We cannot be careful of that. We are all permitted to enter the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting, but one who goes closer than his fellow and proceeds into the Tent of Meeting will die.		כֹּל הַקָּרֵב הַקָּרֵב וגו': אֵין אָנוּ יְכוֹלִין לִהְיוֹת זְהִירִין בְּכָךְ, כֻּלָּנוּ רַשָּׁאִין לְהִכָּנֵס לַחֲצַר אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, וְאֶחָד שֶׁיַּקְרִיב עַצְמוֹ יוֹתֵר מֵחֲבֵרוֹ וְיִכָּנֵס לְתוֹךְ אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד יָמוּת:
Have we been consigned to die: Have we been abandoned for death?		הַאִם תַּמְנוּ לִגְוֹֽעַ: שֶׁמָּא הֻפְקַרְנוּ לְמִיתָה?:

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 18

1The Lord said to Aaron: You, your sons and your father's house shall bear the iniquity associated with the Sanctuary, and you and your sons with you shall bear the iniquity associated with your kehunah.		אוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־אַֽהֲרֹ֔ן אַתָּ֗ה וּבָנֶ֤יךָ וּבֵית־אָבִ֨יךָ֙ אִתָּ֔ךְ תִּשְׂא֖וּ אֶת־עֲוֹ֣ן הַמִּקְדָּ֑שׁ וְאַתָּה֙ וּבָנֶי֣ךָ אִתָּ֔ךְ תִּשְׂא֖וּ אֶת־עֲוֹ֥ן כְּהֻנַּתְכֶֽם:
The Lord said to Aaron: [God did not say directly to Aaron but] He said [this] to Moses to say to Aaron (Sifrei Korach 17) and caution him regarding regulations for the [benefit of the] Israelites, that they should not enter the Sanctuary.		וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֶל־אַֽהֲרֹן: לְמֹשֶׁה אָמַר שֶׁיֹּאמַר לְאַהֲרֹן, לְהַזְהִירוֹ עַל תַּקָּנַת יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁלֹּא יִכָּנְסוּ לַמִּקְדָּשׁ:
You, your sons and your father’s house: They are the sons of Kohath, who was Amram’s father. — [Midrash Aggadah]		אַתָּה וּבָנֶיךָ וּבֵית־אָבִיךָ: הֵם בְּנֵי קְהָת אֲבִי עַמְרָם:
Shall bear the iniquity associated with the Sanctuary: I impose upon you the punishment of the outsiders who sin regarding the sacred objects entrusted to you; the Tent, the ark, the table, and the sacred vessels. You shall sit and warn any unauthorized person who attempts to touch [the sacred objects].		תִּשְׂאוּ אֶת־עֲוֹן הַמִּקְדָּשׁ: עֲלֵיכֶם אֲנִי מַטִּיל עֹנֶשׁ הַזָּרִים שֶׁיֶּחֶטְאוּ בְעִסְקֵי הַדְּבָרִים הַמְקֻדָּשִׁים הַמְּסוּרִים לָכֶם, הוּא הָאֹהֶל וְהָאָרוֹן וְהַשֻּׁלְחָן וּכְלֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ — אַתֶּם תֵּשְׁבוּ וְתַזְהִירוּ עַל כָּל זָר הַבָּא לִגַּע:
and you and your sons: The kohanim.		וְאַתָּה וּבָנֶיךָ: הַכֹּהֲנִים:
shall bear the sin associated with your kehunah: For it is not given over to the Levites. You shall warn the Levites who might inadvertently err, that they may not touch you during your [performance of the] service.		תִּשְׂאוּ אֶת־עֲוֹן כְּהֻנַּתְכֶֽם: שֶׁאֵינָהּ מְסוּרָה לַלְוִיִּם, וְתַזְהִירוּ הַלְוִיִּם הַשּׁוֹגְגִים שֶׁלֹּא יִגְּעוּ אֲלֵיכֶם בַּעֲבוֹדַתְכֶם:
2Also your brethren, the tribe of Levi, your father's tribe, draw close to you, and they shall join you and minister to you, and you and your sons with you, before the Tent of Testimony.		בוְגַ֣ם אֶת־אַחֶ֩יךָ֩ מַטֵּ֨ה לֵוִ֜י שֵׁ֤בֶט אָבִ֨יךָ֙ הַקְרֵ֣ב אִתָּ֔ךְ וְיִלָּו֥וּ עָלֶ֖יךָ וִישָֽׁרְת֑וּךָ וְאַתָּה֙ וּבָנֶ֣יךָ אִתָּ֔ךְ לִפְנֵ֖י אֹ֥הֶל הָֽעֵדֻֽת:
Also… your brethren: The sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari. — [Midrash Aggadah]		וְגַם אַחֶיךָ: בְּנֵי גֵרְשׁוֹן וּבְנֵי מְרָרִי:
and they shall join you: They shall join you to warn any outsiders not to approach them.		וְיִלָּווּ: וְיִתְחַבְּרוּ אֲלֵיכֶם, לְהַזְהִיר גַּם אֶת הַזָּרִים מִלִּקְרַב אֲלֵיהֶם:
and they shall minister to you: By watching the gates and serving as treasurers and supervisors.		וִישָֽׁרְתוּךָ: בִּשְׁמִירַת הַשְּׁעָרִים וּלְמַנּוֹת מֵהֶם גִּזְבָּרִין וַאֲמַרְכָּלִין (ספרי):
3They shall keep your charge and the charge of the Tent, and they shall not approach the holy vessels or the altar, so that neither they nor you will die.		גוְשָֽׁמְרוּ֙ מִשְׁמַרְתְּךָ֔ וּמִשְׁמֶ֖רֶת כָּל־הָאֹ֑הֶל אַךְ֩ אֶל־כְּלֵ֨י הַקֹּ֤דֶשׁ וְאֶל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֨חַ֙ לֹ֣א יִקְרָ֔בוּ וְלֹֽא־יָמֻ֥תוּ גַם־הֵ֖ם גַּם־אַתֶּֽם:
4They shall join you, and they shall keep the charge of the Tent of Meeting for all the service of the Tent, and no outsider shall come near you.		דוְנִלְו֣וּ עָלֶ֔יךָ וְשָֽׁמְר֗וּ אֶת־מִשְׁמֶ֨רֶת֙ אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד לְכֹ֖ל עֲבֹדַ֣ת הָאֹ֑הֶל וְזָ֖ר לֹֽא־יִקְרַ֥ב אֲלֵיכֶֽם:
and no outsider shall approach you: You I am cautioning about this.		וְזָר לֹֽא־יִקְרַב אֲלֵיכֶֽם: אֶתְכֶם אֲנִי מַזְהִיר עַל כָּךְ:
5They shall keep the charge of the Sanctuary and the charge of the altar, so that there be no more wrath against the children of Israel.		הוּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֗ם אֵ֚ת מִשְׁמֶ֣רֶת הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ וְאֵ֖ת מִשְׁמֶ֣רֶת הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ וְלֹא־יִֽהְיֶ֥ה ע֛וֹד קֶ֖צֶף עַל־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
that there be no more wrath: As there had been previously, as it says, “for wrath is gone forth” (17: 11). - [Sifrei Korach 11]		וְלֹא־יִֽהְיֶה עוֹד קֶצֶף: כְּמוֹ שֶׁהָיָה כְבָר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר י"ז) "כִּי יָצָא הַקֶּצֶף" (ספרי):
6I have therefore taken your brethren, the Levites, from among the children of Israel; they are given to you as a gift, and given over to the Lord to perform the service in the Tent of Meeting.		ווַֽאֲנִ֗י הִנֵּ֤ה לָקַ֨חְתִּי֙ אֶת־אֲחֵיכֶ֣ם הַֽלְוִיִּ֔ם מִתּ֖וֹךְ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לָכֶ֞ם מַתָּנָ֤ה נְתֻנִים֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה לַֽעֲבֹ֕ד אֶת־עֲבֹדַ֖ת אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד:
They are given to you as a gift: I might think [that they are given to you] for your mundane work. Therefore, it says, “to the Lord” as explained above, to be responsible for the posts of treasurers and administrators. — [Sifrei Korach 12]		לָכֶם מַתָּנָה נְתֻנִים: יָכוֹל לַעֲבוֹדַתְכֶם שֶׁל הֶדְיוֹט, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר "לַה'", כְּמוֹ שֶׁמְּפֹרָשׁ לְמַעְלָה, לִשְׁמֹר מִשְׁמֶרֶת גִּזְבָּרִין וַאֲמַרְכָּלִין:
7And you and your sons shall keep your kehunah in all matters concerning the altar, and concerning what is within the dividing screen, and you shall serve; the service as a gift I have given your kehunah, and any outsider [non-kohen] who approaches shall die.		זוְאַתָּ֣ה וּבָנֶ֣יךָ אִ֠תְּךָ֠ תִּשְׁמְר֨וּ אֶת־כְּהֻנַּתְכֶ֜ם לְכָל־דְּבַ֧ר הַמִּזְבֵּ֛חַ וּלְמִבֵּ֥ית לַפָּרֹ֖כֶת וַֽעֲבַדְתֶּ֑ם עֲבֹדַ֣ת מַתָּנָ֗ה אֶתֵּן֙ אֶת־כְּהֻנַּתְכֶ֔ם וְהַזָּ֥ר הַקָּרֵ֖ב יוּמָֽת:
the service as a gift: I have given it to you as a gift.		עֲבֹדַת מַתָּנָה: בְּמַתָּנָה נְתַתִּיהָ לָכֶם:
8The Lord told Aaron: Behold I have given you the charge of My gift [offerings]. I have thus given you all the holy things of the children of Israel for distinction, and as an eternal portion for your sons.		חוַיְדַבֵּ֣ר יְהֹוָה֘ אֶל־אַֽהֲרֹן֒ וַֽאֲנִי֙ הִנֵּ֣ה נָתַ֣תִּי לְךָ֔ אֶת־מִשְׁמֶ֖רֶת תְּרֽוּמֹתָ֑י לְכָל־קָדְשֵׁ֣י בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֠ל לְךָ֙ נְתַתִּ֧ים לְמָשְׁחָ֛ה וּלְבָנֶ֖יךָ לְחָק־עוֹלָֽם:
Behold I have given you: with joy. It [the word “behold”] is an expression of joy, as in “Behold, he is coming forth toward you, and when he sees you, he will rejoice in his heart” (Exod. 4:14). This may be compared to a king who gave a field to his friend but did not write nor sign [a deed], and did not record it in court. A person came and contested [his ownership] of the field. The king said to him: [It seems that] anyone may come and contest your rights. Behold, I will write and sign [a deed] for you, and record it in court. Here, too, since Korah came and made a claim against Aaron regarding the kehunah, Scripture comes and gives him twenty-four ‘gifts’ of kehunah as an everlasting covenant of salt. This is why this section is placed here [after the rebellion of Korah]. — [Sifrei Korach 18, 19]		וַֽאֲנִי הִנֵּה נָתַתִּי לְךָ: בְּשִׂמְחָה, לְשׁוֹן שִׂמְחָה הוּא זֶה, כְּמוֹ "הִנֵּה הוּא יֹצֵא לִקְרָאתֶךָ וְרָאֲךָ וְשָׂמַח בְּלִבּוֹ" (שמות ד'); מָשָׁל לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁנָּתַן שָׂדֶה לְאוֹהֲבוֹ, וְלֹא כָתַב וְלֹא חָתַם וְלֹא הֶעֱלָה בְעַרְכָּאִין, בָּא אֶחָד וְעִרְעֵר עַל הַשָּׂדֶה, אָמַר לוֹ הַמֶּלֶךְ כָּל מִי שֶׁיִּרְצֶה יָבֹא וִיעַרְעֵר לְנֶגְדְּךָ, הֲרֵינִי כוֹתֵב וְחוֹתֵם לְךָ וּמַעֲלֶה בְעַרְכָּאִין, אַף כָּאן, לְפִי שֶׁבָּא קֹרַח וְעִרְעֵר כְּנֶגֶד אַהֲרֹן עַל הַכְּהֻנָּה, בָּא הַכָּתוּב וְנָתַן לוֹ כ"ד מַתְּנוֹת כְּהֻנָּה בִּבְרִית מֶלַח עוֹלָם, וְלְכָךְ נִסְמְכָה פָרָשָׁה זוֹ לְכָאן (ספרי):
the charge of My gift [offerings]: That you must keep them in a state of purity. - [Bech. 34a]		מִשְׁמֶרֶת תְּרֽוּמֹתָי: שֶׁאַתָּה צָרִיךְ לְשָׁמְרָן בְּטָהֳרָה:
for distinction: Heb. לְמָשְׁחָה, for greatness. — [Sifrei Korach 20, Chul. 132b]		לְמָשְׁחָה: לִגְדֻלָּה (שם):
9These shall be yours from the holiest of holies, from the fire: all their offerings, their meal-offerings, their sin-offerings, their guilt-offerings, [and] what they return to Me; they shall be holy of holies to you and to your sons.		טזֶ֣ה יִֽהְיֶ֥ה לְךָ֛ מִקֹּ֥דֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁ֖ים מִן־הָאֵ֑שׁ כָּל־קָ֠רְבָּנָ֠ם לְכָל־מִנְחָתָ֞ם וּלְכָל־חַטָּאתָ֗ם וּלְכָל־אֲשָׁמָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָשִׁ֣יבוּ לִ֔י קֹ֣דֶשׁ קָֽדָשִׁ֥ים לְךָ֛ ה֖וּא וּלְבָנֶֽיךָ:
from the fire: After the burning of the sacrificial parts.		מִן־הָאֵשׁ: לְאַחַר הַקְטָרַת הָאִשִּׁים:
All their offerings: The communal peace-offerings.		כָּל־קָרְבָּנָם: כְּגוֹן זִבְחֵי שַׁלְמֵי צִבּוּר:
Their meal-offerings, their sin-offerings, their guilt-offerings: As the literal meaning indicates.[Sifrei Korach 21]		מִנְחָתָם חַטָּאתָם ואשמתם: כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ:
what they return to Me: This refers to stolen property of a proselyte. — [Sifrei Korach 21, Zev. 44b. See Rashi on Num. 5:8]		אֲשֶׁר יָשִׁיבוּ לִי: זֶה גֶּזֶל הַגֵּר (שם; זבחים מ"ד):
10You shall eat it in the holiest of places. Any male may eat of it; it shall be holy to you.		יבְּקֹ֥דֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁ֖ים תֹּֽאכְלֶ֑נּוּ כָּל־זָכָר֙ יֹאכַ֣ל אֹת֔וֹ קֹ֖דֶשׁ יִֽהְיֶה־לָּֽךְ:
You shall eat it in the holiest of places…: This teaches us that [sacrifices] of the highest degree of holiness are to be eaten only in the courtyard and [only] by the male kohanim . — [Sifrei Korach 22]		בְּקֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים תֹּֽאכְלֶנּוּ וגו': לִמֵּד עַל קָדְשֵׁי קֳדָשִׁים שֶׁאֵין נֶאֱכָלִין אֶלָּא בָּעֲזָרָה לְזִכְרֵי כְהֻנָּה:
11This shall be yours what is set aside for their gifts from all the wavings of the children of Israel; I have given them to you, and to your sons and to your daughters with you, as an eternal portion. Any [ritually] clean member of your household may eat it.		יאוְזֶה־לְּךָ֞ תְּרוּמַ֣ת מַתָּנָ֗ם לְכָל־תְּנוּפֹת֘ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ לְךָ֣ נְתַתִּ֗ים וּלְבָנֶ֧יךָ וְלִבְנֹתֶ֛יךָ אִתְּךָ֖ לְחָק־עוֹלָ֑ם כָּל־טָה֥וֹר בְּבֵֽיתְךָ֖ יֹאכַ֥ל אֹתֽוֹ:
what is set aside for their gifts: That is separated from the thanksgiving offering and from the peace-offering and from the Nazirite ram. - [Sifrei Korach 24]		תְּרוּמַת מַתָּנָם: הַמּוּרָם מִן הַתּוֹדָה וּמֵהַשְּׁלָמִים וּמֵאֵיל נָזִיר:
All the wavings: Since these require waving. - [Sifrei Korach 25]		לְכָל־תְּנוּפֹת: שֶׁהֲרֵי אֵלּוּ טְעוּנִין תְּנוּפָה:
Any [ritually] clean: And not those who are ritually unclean (Sifrei Korach 25). Another interpretation: Anyone ritually clean, including his [the kohen’s] wife. — - [Sifrei Korach 29]		כָּל־טָהוֹר: וְלֹא טְמֵאִים; דָּבָר אַחֵר: כָּל טָהוֹר לְרַבּוֹת אִשְׁתּוֹ:
12The choice of the oil and the choice of the wine and grain, the first of which they give to the Lord, to you I have given them.		יבכֹּ֚ל חֵ֣לֶב יִצְהָ֔ר וְכָל־חֵ֖לֶב תִּיר֣וֹשׁ וְדָגָ֑ן רֵֽאשִׁיתָ֛ם אֲשֶׁר־יִתְּנ֥וּ לַֽיהֹוָ֖ה לְךָ֥ נְתַתִּֽים:
the first: This refers to terumah gedolah [the kohen’s portion of the produce separated by Israelites].		רֵֽאשִׁיתָם: הִיא תְּרוּמָה גְדוֹלָה:
13The first fruit of all that grows in their land, which they shall bring to the Lord shall be yours; any [ritually] clean member of your household may eat of it.		יגבִּכּוּרֵ֞י כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֧ר בְּאַרְצָ֛ם אֲשֶׁר־יָבִ֥יאוּ לַֽיהֹוָ֖ה לְךָ֣ יִֽהְיֶ֑ה כָּל־טָה֥וֹר בְּבֵֽיתְךָ֖ יֹֽאכְלֶֽנּוּ:
14Any devoted thing in Israel shall be yours.		ידכָּל־חֵ֥רֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְךָ֥ יִֽהְיֶֽה:
15Every first issue of the womb of any creature, which they present to the Lord, whether of man or beast, shall be yours. However, you shall redeem the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of unclean animals you shall redeem.		טוכָּל־פֶּ֣טֶר רֶ֠חֶם לְכָל־בָּשָׂ֞ר אֲשֶׁר־יַקְרִ֧יבוּ לַֽיהֹוָ֛ה בָּֽאָדָ֥ם וּבַבְּהֵמָ֖ה יִֽהְיֶה־לָּ֑ךְ אַ֣ךְ \| פָּדֹ֣ה תִפְדֶּ֗ה אֵ֚ת בְּכ֣וֹר הָֽאָדָ֔ם וְאֵ֛ת בְּכֽוֹר־הַבְּהֵמָ֥ה הַטְּמֵאָ֖ה תִּפְדֶּֽה:
16Its redemption [shall be performed] from the age of a month, according to the valuation, five shekels of silver, according to the holy shekel, which is twenty gerahs.		טזוּפְדוּיָו֙ מִבֶּן־חֹ֣דֶשׁ תִּפְדֶּ֔ה בְּעֶ֨רְכְּךָ֔ כֶּ֛סֶף חֲמֵ֥שֶׁת שְׁקָלִ֖ים בְּשֶׁ֣קֶל הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ עֶשְׂרִ֥ים גֵּרָ֖ה הֽוּא:
17However, a firstborn ox or a firstborn sheep or a firstborn goat shall not be redeemed, for they are holy; their blood shall be sprinkled on the altar, and their fats shall be burned as a fire-offering, as a pleasing fragrance to the Lord.		יזאַ֣ךְ בְּכֽוֹר־שׁ֡וֹר אֽוֹ־בְכ֨וֹר כֶּ֜שֶׂב אֽוֹ־בְכ֥וֹר עֵ֛ז לֹ֥א תִפְדֶּ֖ה קֹ֣דֶשׁ הֵ֑ם אֶת־דָּמָ֞ם תִּזְרֹ֤ק עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֨חַ֙ וְאֶת־חֶלְבָּ֣ם תַּקְטִ֔יר אִשֶּׁ֛ה לְרֵ֥יחַ נִיחֹ֖חַ לַֽיהֹוָֽה:
18Their flesh shall be yours; like the breast of the waving and the right thigh, it shall be yours.		יחוּבְשָׂרָ֖ם יִֽהְיֶה־לָּ֑ךְ כַּֽחֲזֵ֧ה הַתְּנוּפָ֛ה וּכְשׁ֥וֹק הַיָּמִ֖ין לְךָ֥ יִֽהְיֶֽה:
like the breast of the waving and the right thigh: Of the peace-offering which is eaten by the kohanim, their wives, their children and their slaves for two days and one night. So may the firstborn [animal] be eaten for two days and one night. — [Zev. 57a, Sifrei Korach 42]		כַּֽחֲזֵה הַתְּנוּפָה וּכְשׁוֹק הַיָּמִין: שֶׁל שְׁלָמִים שֶׁנֶּאֱכָלִין לַכֹּהֲנִים וְלִנְשֵׁיהֶם לִבְנֵיהֶם וּלְעַבְדֵיהֶם לִשְׁנֵי יָמִים וְלַיְלָה אֶחָד, אַף הַבְּכוֹר נֶאֱכָל לִשְׁנֵי יָמִים וְלַיְלָה אֶחָד:
it shall be yours: R. Akiva taught: [By repeating the words “shall be yours”] Scripture adds another ‘being,’ so that you should not say [that it is] like the breast and thigh of the thanksgiving offering, which is eaten only for [one] day and [one] night. — [Zev. 57a]		לָּךְ יִֽהְיֶה־: בָּא רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא וְלִמֵּד, וְהוֹסִיף לְךָ הַכָּתוּב הֲוָיָה אַחֶרֶת, שֶׁלֹא תֹאמַר, כְּחָזֶה וְשׁוֹק שֶׁל תּוֹדָה שֶׁאֵינוֹ נֶאֱכָל אֶלָּא לְיוֹם וָלַיְלָה (זבחים נ"ז):
19All the gifts of the holy [offerings] which are set aside by the children of Israel for the Lord I have given to you, and to your sons and daughters with you, as an eternal portion; it is like an eternal covenant of salt before the Lord, for you and your descendants with you.		יטכֹּ֣ל \| תְּרוּמֹ֣ת הַקֳּדָשִׁ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָרִ֥ימוּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֘ לַֽיהֹוָה֒ נָתַ֣תִּי לְךָ֗ וּלְבָנֶ֧יךָ וְלִבְנֹתֶ֛יךָ אִתְּךָ֖ לְחָק־עוֹלָ֑ם בְּרִית֩ מֶ֨לַח עוֹלָ֥ם הִוא֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה לְךָ֖ וּלְזַרְעֲךָ֥ אִתָּֽךְ:
All the gifts of the holy [offerings]: Because this passage is so cherished, it is generalized at the beginning, generalized at the end, and detailed in the middle. — [Sifrei Korach 43]		כֹּל תְּרוּמֹת הַקֳּדָשִׁים: מֵחִבָּתָהּ שֶל פָּרָשָׁה זוֹ כְּלָלָהּ בַּתְּחִלָּה וּכְלָלָהּ בַּסּוֹף וּפָרַט בָּאֶמְצַע (עי' ספרי):
An eternal covenant of salt: He enacted a covenant with Aaron, with an object that is wholesome and lasting, and keeps other foodstuffs wholesome. — [Sifrei Korach 43]		בְּרִית מֶלַח עוֹלָם: כָּרַת בְּרִית עִם אַהֲרֹן בְּדָבָר הַבָּרִיא וּמִתְקַיֵּם וּמַבְרִיא אֶת אֲחֵרִים (שם):
covenant of salt: Like a covenant made with salt, that it should never spoil.		בְּרִית מֶלַח: כַּבְּרִית הַכְּרוּתָה לַמֶּלַח שֶׁאֵינוֹ מַסְרִיחַ לְעוֹלָם:
20The Lord said to Aaron, You shall not inherit in their land, and you shall have no portion among them. I am your inheritance and portion among the children of Israel.		כוַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶל־אַֽהֲרֹ֗ן בְּאַרְצָם֙ לֹ֣א תִנְחָ֔ל וְחֵ֕לֶק לֹא־יִֽהְיֶ֥ה לְךָ֖ בְּתוֹכָ֑ם אֲנִ֤י חֶלְקְךָ֙ וְנַֽחֲלָ֣תְךָ֔ בְּת֖וֹךְ בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
and you shall have no portion among them: Even in the spoils of war. — [Sifrei Korach 45]		וְחֵלֶק לֹא יִֽהְיֶה לְךָ בְּתוֹכָם: אַף בַּבִּזָּה (שם):

Seventh Portion

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 18

21And to the descendants of Levi, I have given all tithes of Israel as an inheritance, in exchange for their service which they perform-the service of the Tent of Meeting.		כאוְלִבְנֵ֣י לֵוִ֔י הִנֵּ֥ה נָתַ֛תִּי כָּל־מַֽעֲשֵׂ֥ר בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְנַֽחֲלָ֑ה חֵ֤לֶף עֲבֹֽדָתָם֙ אֲשֶׁר־הֵ֣ם עֹֽבְדִ֔ים אֶת־עֲבֹדַ֖ת אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד:
22The children of Israel shall therefore no longer approach the Tent of Meeting, lest they bear sin and die.		כבוְלֹֽא־יִקְרְב֥וּ ע֛וֹד בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶל־אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד לָשֵׂ֥את חֵ֖טְא לָמֽוּת:
23The Levites shall perform the service of the Tent of Meeting, and they will bear their iniquity; it is an eternal statute for your generations, but among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.		כגוְעָבַ֨ד הַלֵּוִ֜י ה֗וּא אֶת־עֲבֹדַת֙ אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד וְהֵ֖ם יִשְׂא֣וּ עֲו‍ֹנָ֑ם חֻקַּ֤ת עוֹלָם֙ לְדֹרֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם וּבְתוֹךְ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לֹ֥א יִנְחֲל֖וּ נַֽחֲלָֽה:
and they: The Levites shall bear the iniquity of the Israelites, for it is their duty to warn outsiders against approaching them.		וְהֵם: הַלְוִיִּם — יִשְׂאוּ עֲוֹנָם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁעֲלֵיהֶם לְהַזְהִיר הַזָּרִים מִגֶּשֶׁת אֲלֵיהֶם:
24For the tithes of the children of Israel, which they shall set aside for the Lord as a gift, I have given to the Levites as an inheritance. Thus, I have said to them that they shall have no inheritance among the children of Israel.		כדכִּ֞י אֶת־מַעְשַׂ֣ר בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָרִ֤ימוּ לַֽיהֹוָה֙ תְּרוּמָ֔ה נָתַ֥תִּי לַֽלְוִיִּ֖ם לְנַֽחֲלָ֑ה עַל־כֵּן֙ אָמַ֣רְתִּי לָהֶ֔ם בְּתוֹךְ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לֹ֥א יִנְחֲל֖וּ נַֽחֲלָֽה:
which they shall set aside for the Lord as a gift: Heb. תְּרוּמָה. Scripture calls it תְּרוּמָה, a gift, until he separates a gift [for the kohanim] from the tithes [received by the Levite from an Israelite]. — [Sifrei Korach 53]		אֲשֶׁר יָרִימוּ לה' תְּרוּמָה: הַכָּתוּב קְרָאוֹ תְּרוּמָה עַד שֶׁיַּפְרִישׁ מִמֶּנּוּ תְּרוּמַת מַעֲשֵׂר:
25The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:		כהוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר:
26Speak to the Levites and tell them, "When you take the tithe from the children of Israel which I have given you from them as your inheritance, you shall set aside from it a gift for the Lord, a tithe of the tithe.		כווְאֶל־הַֽלְוִיִּ֣ם תְּדַבֵּר֘ וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵהֶם֒ כִּֽי־תִ֠קְח֠וּ מֵאֵ֨ת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֶת־הַמַּֽעֲשֵׂ֗ר אֲשֶׁ֨ר נָתַ֧תִּי לָכֶ֛ם מֵֽאִתָּ֖ם בְּנַֽחֲלַתְכֶ֑ם וַֽהֲרֵֽמֹתֶ֤ם מִמֶּ֨נּוּ֙ תְּרוּמַ֣ת יְהֹוָ֔ה מַֽעֲשֵׂ֖ר מִן־הַמַּֽעֲשֵֽׂר:
27Your gift shall be considered for you as grain from the threshing-floor and as the produce of the vat.		כזוְנֶחְשַׁ֥ב לָכֶ֖ם תְּרֽוּמַתְכֶ֑ם כַּדָּגָן֙ מִן־הַגֹּ֔רֶן וְכַֽמְלֵאָ֖ה מִן־הַיָּֽקֶב:
Your gift shall be considered for you, as grain from the threshing-floor: Your gift separated from the tithe is forbidden to outsiders and to ritually unclean [people], and they incur the death penalty and [if eaten unintentionally] and [they are liable to pay] an additional fifth, just as in the case of the gift set aside by Israelites for the kohanim, which is called the first grain from the threshing-floor. — [Midrash Aggadah]		וְנֶחְשַׁב לָכֶם תְּרֽוּמַתְכֶם כַּדָּגָן מִן־הַגֹּרֶן: תְּרוּמַת מַעֲשֵׂר שֶׁלָּכֶם אֲסוּרָה לְזָרִים וְלִטְמֵאִין, וְחַיָּבִין עָלֶיהָ מִיתָה וְחֹמֶשׁ כִּתְרוּמָה גְדוֹלָה שֶׁנִּקְרֵאת רֵאשִׁית דָּגָן מִן הַגֹּרֶן:
and the produce of the vat: Like the gifts of wine and oil taken from the vats.		וְכַֽמְלֵאָה מִן־הַיָּֽקֶב: תְּרוּמַת תִּירוֹשׁ וְיִצְהָר הַנִּטֶּלֶת מִן הַיְקָבִים:
produce: Heb. מְלֵאָה, lit., fullness, a term denoting ripening produce which has grown to its full [size].		מלאה: לְשׁוֹן בִּשּׁוּל — תְּבוּאָה שֶׁנִּתְמַלֵּאת:
vat: Heb. יֶקֶב. This is the pit in front of the press into which the wine flows. The term יֶקֶב always denotes an excavation in the ground. Similarly, “the pits (יִקְבֵי) of the king” (Zech. 14:10), referring to the ocean-an excavation ‘dug’ by the King of the world. - [Peskita d’Rav Kahana p. 143; see also Song Rabbah 7:3, Mattenoth Kehunnah, Redal]		יקב: הוּא הַבּוֹר שֶׁלִּפְנֵי הַגַּת שֶׁהַיַּיִן יוֹרֵד לְתוֹכוֹ, וְכָל לְשׁוֹן יֶקֶב חֲפִירַת קַרְקַע הוּא, וְכֵן "יִקְבֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ" (זכריה י"ד), הוּא יָם אוֹקְיָנוֹס, חֲפִירָה שֶׁחָפַר מַלְכּוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם:
28So shall you too set aside a gift for the Lord from all the tithes you take from the children of Israel, and you shall give thereof the Lord's gift to Aaron the priest.		כחכֵּ֣ן תָּרִ֤ימוּ גַם־אַתֶּם֙ תְּרוּמַ֣ת יְהֹוָ֔ה מִכֹּל֙ מַעְשְׂרֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּקְח֔וּ מֵאֵ֖ת בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וּנְתַתֶּ֤ם מִמֶּ֨נּוּ֙ אֶת־תְּרוּמַ֣ת יְהֹוָ֔ה לְאַֽהֲרֹ֖ן הַכֹּהֵֽן:
So shall you too set aside: Just as the Israelites set aside [a portion] from their threshing-floors and from their wine vats [for the kohanim], so shall you, too, set aside [a portion] from your tithes, for that is your inheritance.		כֵּן תָּרִימוּ גַם־אַתֶּם: כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּשְׂרָאֵל מְרִימִים מִגָּרְנָם וּמִיִּקְבֵיהֶם, תָּרִימוּ גַּם אַתֶּם מִמַּעֲשֵׂר שֶׁלָּכֶם, כִּי הוּא נַחֲלַתְכֶם:
29From all your gifts, you shall set aside every gift of the Lord, from its choicest portion, that part of it which is to be consecrated."		כטמִכֹּל֙ מַתְּנֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם תָּרִ֕ימוּ אֵ֖ת כָּל־תְּרוּמַ֣ת יְהֹוָ֑ה מִכָּ֨ל־חֶלְבּ֔וֹ אֶת־מִקְדְּשׁ֖וֹ מִמֶּֽנּוּ:
From all that is given to you, you shall set aside all God’s gifts: Scripture refers to terumah gedolah [the gift set aside by the Israelites for the kohanim]. If the Levite preceded the kohen to the bin and accepted his tithes before the kohen took his terumah gedolah from the storage bin, the Levite must first separate one fiftieth from the tithe as terumah gedolah and then again separate another gift from the tithe. — [Shab. 127b]		מִכֹּל מַתְּנֹתֵיכֶם תָּרִימוּ אֵת כָּל־תְּרוּמַת ה': בִּתְרוּמָה גְדוֹלָה הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר, שֶׁאִם הִקְדִּים לֵוִי אֶת הַכֹּהֵן בַּכְּרִי וְקִבֵּל מַעְשְׂרוֹתָיו קֹדֶם שֶׁיִּטֹּל כֹּהֵן תְּרוּמָה גְדוֹלָה מִן הַכְּרִי, צָרִיךְ לְהַפְרִישׁ הַלֵּוִי מִן הַמַּעֲשֵׂר תְּחִלָּה אֶחָד מֵחֲמִשִּׁים לִתְרוּמָה גְדוֹלָה, וְיַחֲזֹר וְיַפְרִישׁ תְּרוּמַת מַעֲשֵׂר (ספרי):
30Say to them, "When you separate its choicest part, it shall be considered for the Levites as produce from the threshing-floor and as produce from the vat.		לוְאָֽמַרְתָּ֖ אֲלֵהֶ֑ם בַּֽהֲרִֽימְכֶ֤ם אֶת־חֶלְבּוֹ֙ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ וְנֶחְשַׁב֙ לַֽלְוִיִּ֔ם כִּתְבוּאַ֥ת גֹּ֖רֶן וְכִתְבוּאַ֥ת יָֽקֶב:
When you separate its choicest part: After you have separated a gift from the tithes.		בַּֽהֲרִֽימְכֶם אֶת־חֶלְבּוֹ מִמֶּנּוּ: לְאַחַר שֶׁתָּרִימוּ תְרוּמַת מַעֲשֵׂר מִמֶּנּוּ:
it shall be considered: The remainder shall be for the Levites and contain no sanctity whatsoever.		וְנֶחְשַׁב: הַמּוֹתָר לַלְוִיִּם חֻלִּין גְּמוּרִין:
As produce from the threshing-floor: For the Israelites. So that you should not say: Since Scripture calls it תְּרוּמָה, “a gift,” as it says, “For the tithes of the children of Israel, which they shall set aside for the Lord as a gift” (18:24), one might think it is completely forbidden [i.e., that it would retain its sanctity]. Thus, Scripture tells us that it shall be considered to the Levites like the produce of the threshing-floor; just as that of the Israelites is non-sacred [after the terumah gift has been set aside from it], so is that of the Levites non-sacred. — [Sifrei Korach 70]		כִּתְבוּאַת גֹּרֶן לישראל: , שֶׁלֹּא תֹאמַר הוֹאִיל וּקְרָאוֹ הַכָּתוּב תְּרוּמָה — שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "כִּי אֶת מַעְשַׂר בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר יָרִימוּ לַה' תְּרוּמָה" — יָכוֹל יְהֵא כֻלּוֹ אָסוּר, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר "וְנֶחְשַׁב לַלְוִיִּם כִּתְבוּאַת גֹּרֶן", מַה שֶּׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל חֻלִּין, אַף שֶׁל לֵוִי חֻלִּין (עי' ספרי):
31You and your household may eat it anywhere, for it is your wage for you in exchange for your service in the Tent of Meeting.		לאוַֽאֲכַלְתֶּ֤ם אֹתוֹ֙ בְּכָל־מָק֔וֹם אַתֶּ֖ם וּבֵֽיתְכֶ֑ם כִּֽי־שָׂכָ֥ר הוּא֙ לָכֶ֔ם חֵ֥לֶף עֲבֹֽדַתְכֶ֖ם בְּאֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד:
Anywhere: Even in a cemetery. — [Sifrei Korach 71, Yev. 86b]		בְּכָל־מָקוֹם: אֲפִלּוּ בְּבֵית הַקְּבָרוֹת (שם):
32After you separate the choicest part from it, you shall not bear any sin on account of it, but you shall not profane the sacred [offerings] of the children of Israel, so that you shall not die.		לבוְלֹֽא־תִשְׂא֤וּ עָלָיו֙ חֵ֔טְא בַּֽהֲרִֽימְכֶ֥ם אֶת־חֶלְבּ֖וֹ מִמֶּ֑נּוּ וְאֶת־קָדְשֵׁ֧י בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל לֹ֥א תְחַלְּל֖וּ וְלֹ֥א תָמֽוּתוּ:
You shall not bear any sin on account of it: However, if you do not set aside [a portion], you will bear a sin. — [Yev. 89b, Rashi]		וְלֹֽא־תִשְׂאוּ עָלָיו חֵטְא וגו': הָא אִם לֹא תָרִימוּ תִּשְׂאוּ חֵטְא:
So that you shall not die: However, if you do profane it, you shall die. — [Bech. 26b]		וְלֹֽא־תָמֽוּתוּ: הָא אִם תְּחַלְּלוּ תָּמוּתוּ:

Maftir Portion

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 28

9And on the Sabbath day, two unblemished lambs in the first year, and two tenths of an ephah of fine flour as a meal offering, mixed with oil, and its libation.		טוּבְיוֹם֙ הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת שְׁנֵֽי־כְבָשִׂ֥ים בְּנֵֽי־שָׁנָ֖ה תְּמִימִ֑ם וּשְׁנֵ֣י עֶשְׂרֹנִ֗ים סֹ֧לֶת מִנְחָ֛ה בְּלוּלָ֥ה בַשֶּׁ֖מֶן וְנִסְכּֽוֹ:
10[This is] the burnt offering of each Sabbath on its Sabbath, in addition to the continual burnt offering and its libation.		יעֹלַ֥ת שַׁבַּ֖ת בְּשַׁבַּתּ֑וֹ עַל־עֹלַ֥ת הַתָּמִ֖יד וְנִסְכָּֽהּ:
The burnt offering of each Sabbath on its Sabbath: But not the burnt offering of this Sabbath on another Sabbath. For if they did not offer one up on this Sabbath, I might think that two should be offered up on the following Sabbath. Scripture therefore says, “on its Sabbath” to instruct us that if its day passes, its offering is canceled. — [Sifrei Pinchas 40]		עֹלַת שַׁבַּת בְּשַׁבַּתּוֹ: וְלֹא עוֹלַת שַׁבָּת זוֹ בְּשַׁבָּת אַחֶרֶת, הֲרֵי שֶׁלֹּא הִקְרִיב בְּשַׁבָּת זוֹ שׁוֹמֵעַ אֲנִי יַקְרִיב שְׁתַּיִם לַשַּׁבָּת הַבָּאָה, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר "בְּשַׁבַּתּוֹ", מַגִּיד שֶׁאִם עָבַר יוֹמוֹ בָּטֵל קָרְבָּנוֹ (ספרי):
in addition to the continual burnt offering: This refers to the additional [musaf] offerings, besides those two lambs of the continual burnt offering. And it teaches us that they [the additional sacrifices] may be offered only between the two continual offerings. Similarly, in the case of all the additional offerings it says, “In addition to the continual burnt offering” for this teaching. — [Sifrei Pinchas 40]		עַל־עֹלַת הַתָּמִיד: אֵלּוּ מוּסָפִין, לְבַד אוֹתָן שְׁנֵי כְבָשִׂים שֶׁל עוֹלַת הַתָּמִיד, וּמַגִּיד שֶׁאֵין קְרֵבִין אֶלָּא בֵּין שְׁנֵי הַתְּמִידִין, וְכֵן בְּכָל הַמּוּסָפִין נֶאֱמַר עַל עֹלַת הַתָּמִיד לְתַלְמוּד זֶה:
11And on the beginning of your months, you shall offer up a burnt offering to the Lord: two young bulls, one ram, and seven lambs in the first year, [all] unblemished.		יאוּבְרָאשֵׁי֙ חָדְשֵׁיכֶ֔ם תַּקְרִ֥יבוּ עֹלָ֖ה לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה פָּרִ֨ים בְּנֵֽי־בָקָ֤ר שְׁנַ֨יִם֙ וְאַ֣יִל אֶחָ֔ד כְּבָשִׂ֧ים בְּנֵֽי־שָׁנָ֛ה שִׁבְעָ֖ה תְּמִימִֽם:
12Three tenths of an ephah of fine flour as a meal offering, mixed with oil for each bull, and two tenths of an ephah of fine flour as a meal offering, mixed with oil for each ram.		יבוּשְׁלשָׁ֣ה עֶשְׂרֹנִ֗ים סֹ֤לֶת מִנְחָה֙ בְּלוּלָ֣ה בַשֶּׁ֔מֶן לַפָּ֖ר הָֽאֶחָ֑ד וּשְׁנֵ֣י עֶשְׂרֹנִ֗ים סֹ֤לֶת מִנְחָה֙ בְּלוּלָ֣ה בַשֶּׁ֔מֶן לָאַ֖יִל הָֽאֶחָֽד:
Three tenths: As is the case with the libations brought with a bull, for thus they are fixed in the portion dealing with libations [see 15:9].		וּשְׁלשָׁה עֶשְׂרֹנִים: כְּמִשְׁפַּט נִסְכֵּי פַר, שֶׁכֵּן הֵן קְצוּבִין בְּפָרָשַׁת נְסָכִים:
13And one tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil as a meal offering for each lamb. A burnt offering with a spirit of satisfaction, a fire offering to the Lord.		יגוְעִשָּׂרֹ֣ן עִשָּׂר֗וֹן סֹ֤לֶת מִנְחָה֙ בְּלוּלָ֣ה בַשֶּׁ֔מֶן לַכֶּ֖בֶשׂ הָֽאֶחָ֑ד עֹלָה֙ רֵ֣יחַ נִיחֹ֔חַ אִשֶּׁ֖ה לַֽיהֹוָֽה:
14And their libations: a half of a hin for each bull, a third of a hin for each ram, and a quarter of a hin for each lamb wine; this is the burnt offering of each new month in its month, throughout the months of the year.		ידוְנִסְכֵּיהֶ֗ם חֲצִ֣י הַהִין֩ יִֽהְיֶ֨ה לַפָּ֜ר וּשְׁלִישִׁ֧ת הַהִ֣ין לָאַ֗יִל וּרְבִיעִ֥ת הַהִ֛ין לַכֶּ֖בֶשׂ יָ֑יִן זֹ֣את עֹלַ֥ת חֹ֨דֶשׁ֙ בְּחָדְשׁ֔וֹ לְחָדְשֵׁ֖י הַשָּׁנָֽה:
This is the burnt offering of each new month in its month: However, once the day passes, its offering is canceled, and there is no way to make it up. — [Sifrei Pinchas 43]		זֹאת עֹלַת חֹדֶשׁ בְּחָדְשׁוֹ: שֶׁאִם עָבַר יוֹמוֹ בָּטֵל קָרְבָּנוֹ וְשׁוּב אֵין לוֹ תַשְׁלוּמִין:
15And one young male goat for a sin offering to the Lord; it shall be offered up in addition to the continual burnt offering and its libation.		טווּשְׂעִ֨יר עִזִּ֥ים אֶחָ֛ד לְחַטָּ֖את לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה עַל־עֹלַ֧ת הַתָּמִ֛יד יֵֽעָשֶׂ֖ה וְנִסְכּֽוֹ:
And one young male goat…: All the additional-offering goats were brought to atone for defiling the Sanctuary and its holy sacrifices, as is outlined in the Tractate of Shevuoth (9a). The young male goat [brought] on the first day of the month differs insofar as with regard to it Scripture says, “to the Lord.” This teaches you that it atones for a case where there is no awareness [of the person’s uncleanness] either before [entering the Temple or eating sacrificial food] or after [the sin has been committed]. The only One aware of the sin is the Holy One, blessed is He. We derive [the law of] the other young male goats from this one. In the Aggadah, it is expounded thus: The Holy One, blessed is He, said, “Bring atonement for Me because I diminished [the size of] the moon.” - [Shev. 9a]		וּשְׂעִיר עִזִּים וגו': כָּל שְׂעִירֵי הַמּוּסָפִין בָּאִין לְכַפֵּר עַל טֻמְאַת מִקְדָּשׁ וְקָדָשָׁיו, הַכֹּל כְּמוֹ שֶׁמְּפֹרָשׁ בְּמַסֶּכֶת שְׁבוּעוֹת (דף ט'), וְנִשְׁתַּנָּה שְׂעִיר רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בּוֹ "לַה'"; לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁמְּכַפֵּר עַל שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ יְדִיעָה לֹא בַתְּחִלָּה וְלֹא בַסּוֹף — שֶׁאֵין מַכִּיר בַּחֵטְא אֶלָּא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בִלְבָד, וּשְׁאָר הַשְּׂעִירִים לְמֵדִין מִמֶּנוּ; וּמִדְרָשׁוֹ בָּאַגָּדָה, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא הָבִיאוּ כַפָּרָה עָלַי עַל שֶׁמִּעַטְתִּי אֶת הַיָּרֵחַ (חולין ס'):
it shall be offered up in addition to the continual burnt offering: This entire offering [not just the young male goat].		עַל־עֹלַת הַתָּמִיד יֵֽעָשֶׂה: כָּל הַקָּרְבָּן הַזֶּה:
and its libation: [The phrase] “and its libation” does not refer to the young male goat because sin-offerings have no libations.		וְנִסְכּֽוֹ: אֵין "וְנִסְכּוֹ" מוּסָב עַל הַשָּׂעִיר, שֶׁאֵין נְסָכִים לְחַטָּאת:

Haftarah

Yeshayahu (Isaiah) Chapter 66

1So says the Lord, "The heavens are My throne, and the earth is My footstool; which is the house that you will build for Me, and which is the place of My rest?		אכֹּה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם כִּסְאִ֔י וְהָאָ֖רֶץ הֲדֹ֣ם רַגְלָ֑י אֵי־זֶ֥ה בַ֙יִת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּבְנוּ־לִ֔י וְאֵי־זֶ֥ה מָק֖וֹם מְנֽוּחָתִֽי:
The heavens are My throne: I do not need your Temple.		השמים כסאי: איני צריך לבית המקדש שלכם:
which is the house: that is fitting for My Shechinah.		איזה בית: אשר הוא כדאי לשכינתי:
2And all these My hand made, and all these have become," says the Lord. "But to this one will I look, to one poor and of crushed spirit, who hastens to do My bidding.		בוְאֶת־כָּל־אֵ֙לֶּה֙ יָדִ֣י עָשָׂ֔תָה וַיִּֽהְי֥וּ כָל־אֵ֖לֶּה נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה וְאֶל־זֶ֣ה אַבִּ֔יט אֶל־עָנִי֙ וּנְכֵה־ר֔וּחַ וְחָרֵ֖ד עַל־דְּבָרִֽי:
And all these: The heavens and the earth, and for this reason I confined My Shechinah among you when you obeyed Me, for so is My wont, to look at one poor and of crushed spirit, who hastens to do My bidding. But now, I have no desire for you, for whoever slaughters an ox, has smitten its owner and robbed him of it. Therefore, whoever slaughters a lamb seems to Me as one who beheads a dog, and whoever offers up a meal offering is before Me like swine blood, and מַזְכִּיר, he who burns incense. Comp. (Lev. 5:12) “its memorial part (אַזְכָּרָתָהּ).” Also (ibid. 24:7), “and it shall be for the bread as a memorial (לְאַזְכָּרָה).”		ואת כל אלה: השמים והארץ ידי עשתה זאת אשר צימצמתי שכינתי בתוככם בהיותכם נשמעים לי לפי שכן דרכי להביט אל עני ונכה רוח וחרד על דברי אבל עתה אין לי חפץ בכם שהרי שוחט השור הכה את בעליו וגזלו ממנו לפיכך זובח השה דומה לפני כעורף את הכלב והמעלה את המנחה הרי הוא לפני כדם חזיר והמזכיר לבונה מקטיר לבונה כמו אזכרתה (ויקרא ה) והיתה ללחם לאזכרה (שם כד):
3Whoever slaughters an ox has slain a man; he who slaughters a lamb is as though he beheads a dog; he who offers up a meal-offering is [like] swine blood; he who burns frankincense brings a gift of violence; they, too, chose their ways, and their soul desired their abominations.		גשׁוֹחֵ֨ט הַשּׁ֜וֹר מַכֵּה־אִ֗ישׁ זוֹבֵ֚חַ הַשֶּׂה֙ ע֣וֹרֵֽף כֶּ֔לֶב מַֽעֲלֵ֚ה מִנְחָה֙ דַּם־חֲזִ֔יר מַזְכִּ֥יר לְבֹנָ֖ה מְבָ֣רֵֽךְ אָ֑וֶן גַּם־הֵ֗מָּה בָּֽחֲרוּ֙ בְּדַרְכֵיהֶ֔ם וּבְשִׁקּֽוּצֵיהֶ֖ם נַפְשָׁ֥ם חָפֵֽצָה:
brings a gift of violence: Heb. מְבָרֵךְ, blesses Me with a gift of violence, brings a gift of violence. This is its explanation, and the expression of בְּרָכָה applies to a gift that is for a reception. Comp. (Gen. 33:11) “Please take my gift (בִּרְכָתִי).” Also (supra 36:16), “Make peace (בְרָכָה) with me and come out to me.”		מברך און: מברך אותי בתשורת אונס מברך און מתשיר אונס זהו פירושו ולשון ברכה נופל בתשורה שהיא להקבלת פנים כמו קח נא את ברכתי (בראשית ל״ג:י״א) עשו אתי ברכה וצאו אלי:
they, too, chose their ways: They desire these evil ways, and I, too, will choose and desire their mockeries. Now if you ask the meaning of גַּם, too, so is the style of the Hebrew language to say twice גַּם one next to the other. Comp. (Deut. 32:25) “Both a young man and a virgin (גַּם בָּחוּר גַּם בְּתוּלָה);” (I Kings 3:26) “neither mine nor yours (גַּם לִי גַּם לָךְ);” (Ecc. 9:1) “neither love nor hate (גַּם שִׂנְאָה גַּם אַהֲבָה);” (Num. 18:3) “and neither they nor you shall die הֵם גַּם אַתֶּם) (גַּם.” Here, too, both they chose and I will choose.		גם המה בחרו בדרכיהם: הם חפצים בדרכים הללו הרעים וגם אני אבחר ואחפוץ בתעלוליה' וא"ת מהו גם כן דרך לשון עברי לומר שני גמין זה אצל זה כמו גם בחור גם בתולה (דברים ל״ב:כ״ה) גם לי גם לך (מלכים א ב) גם אהבה גם שנאה (קהלת ט׳:א׳) ל' ולא ימותו גם הם גם אתם (במדבר י״ח:ג׳) אף כאן גם הם בחרו וגם אני אבחר:
4I, too, will choose their mockeries, and their fears I will bring to them, since I called and no one answered, I spoke and they did not hearken, and they did what was evil in My eyes, and what I did not wish they chose.		דגַּם־אֲנִ֞י אֶבְחַ֣ר בְּתַֽעֲלֻֽלֵיהֶ֗ם וּמְגֽוּרֹתָם֙ אָבִ֣יא לָהֶ֔ם יַ֚עַן קָרָ֙אתִי֙ וְאֵ֣ין עוֹנֶ֔ה דִּבַּ֖רְתִּי וְלֹ֣א שָׁמֵ֑עוּ וַיַּֽעֲשׂ֚וּ הָרַע֙ בְּעֵינַ֔י וּבַֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־חָפַ֖צְתִּי בָּחָֽרוּ:
their mockeries: Heb. בְּתַעֲלוּלֵיהֶם, to mock them, an expression like (ibid. 22:29) “For you mocked (הִתְעַלַּלְתְּ) me.”		בתעלוליהם: להיות עולל בם לשון כי התעללת בי (שם כ):
and their fears: What they fear.		ומגורותם: מה שהם יראים:
since I called: Hearken and return to Me.		יען קראתי: שמעו שמוע ושובו אלי:
and no one answered: saying, “I heard.”		ואין עונה: לאמר שמעתי:
5Hearken to the word of the Lord, who quake at His word, "Your brethren who hate you, who cast you out, said, "For the sake of my name, the Lord shall be glorified," but we will see your joy, and they shall be ashamed.		השִׁמְעוּ֙ דְּבַר־יְהֹוָ֔ה הַֽחֲרֵדִ֖ים אֶל־דְּבָר֑וֹ אָֽמְרוּ֩ אֲחֵיכֶ֨ם שֹֽׂנְאֵיכֶ֜ם מְנַדֵּיכֶ֗ם לְמַ֚עַן שְׁמִי֙ יִכְבַּ֣ד יְהֹוָ֔ה וְנִרְאֶ֥ה בְשִׂמְחַתְכֶ֖ם וְהֵ֥ם יֵבֹֽשׁוּ:
who quake at His word: The righteous who hasten with quaking to draw near to His words.		החרדים אל דברו: הצדיקים הממהרים בחרדה להתקרב אל דבריו:
Your brethren… said: The transgressors of Israel mentioned above. Another explanation:		אמרו אחיכם: פושעי ישראל הנזכרים למעלה, ד"א:
Your brethren… who cast you out, said: Who said to you (Lam. 4:15), “Turn away, unclean one.”		אמרו אחיכם מנדיכם: אשר אמרו לכם סורו טמא (איכה ד):
who hate you, who cast you out: Who say (supra 65:5), “Keep to yourself, do not come near me.” [Because of the confusion, we quote other readings. Some manuscripts, as well as K’li Paz, read:]		שנאיכם מנדיכם: האומרים קרב אליך אל תגש בי (לעיל סה) :
For the sake of my name, the Lord shall be glorified: With our greatness, the Holy One, blessed be He, is glorified, for we are closer to Him than you are.		למען שמי יכבד ה': בגדולתנו הקב"ה מתכבד שאנו קרובים לו יותר מכם:
but we will see your joy: The prophet says, But it is not so as their words, for “we will see your joy, and they shall be ashamed.” Why? For sound a sound of their stirring has come before the Holy One, blessed be He, from what they did in His city, and a sound emanates from His Temple and accuses those who destroyed it, and then the voice of the Lord, recompensing His enemies.		ונראה בשמחתכם והם יבושו: הנביא אומר אבל לא כן הוא כדבריהם כי בשמחתכם נראה והם יבושו למה כי קול שאון שלהם בא לפני הקב"ה ממה שעשו בעירו וקול יוצא מהיכלו ומקטרג על מחריביו ואחרי כן קול ה' משלם גמול לאויביו:
6There is a sound of stirring from the city, a sound from the Temple, the voice of the Lord, recompensing His enemies.		וק֚וֹל שָׁאוֹן֙ מֵעִ֔יר ק֖וֹל מֵֽהֵיכָ֑ל ק֣וֹל יְהֹוָ֔ה מְשַׁלֵּ֥ם גְּמ֖וּל לְאֹֽיְבָֽיו:
7When she has not yet travailed, she has given birth; when the pang has not yet come to her, she has been delivered of a male child.		זבְּטֶ֥רֶם תָּחִ֖יל יָלָ֑דָה בְּטֶ֨רֶם יָב֥וֹא חֵ֛בֶל לָ֖הּ וְהִמְלִ֥יטָה זָכָֽר:
When she has not yet travailed: When Zion has not yet travailed with birth pangs, she has borne her children; that is to say that her children will gather into her midst, which was desolate and bereft of them, and it is as though she bore them now without birth pangs, for all the nations will bring them into her midst.		בטרם תחיל: ציון חיל היולדת ילדה את בניה כלומר יתקבצו בניה לתוכה אשר הית' שוממה מהם ושכולה והרי הוא כאילו ילדתן עכשיו בלא חבלי יולדה כי כל העכו"ם יביאום לתוכה:
she has been delivered of a male child: Heb. וְהִמְלִיטָה. Any emerging of an embedded thing is called הַמְלָטָה. And הַמְלָטָה is esmoucer, or eschamocier in O.F., to allow to escape.		והמליטה זכר: כל יציאת דבר בלוע קרוי המלטה והמליטה אישקמוציי"ר בלעז:
8Who heard [anything] like this? Who saw [anything] like these? Is a land born in one day? Is a nation born at once, that Zion both experienced birth pangs and bore her children?		חמִֽי־שָׁמַ֣ע כָּזֹ֗את מִ֚י רָאָה֙ כָּאֵ֔לֶּה הֲי֚וּחַל אֶ֙רֶץ֙ בְּי֣וֹם אֶחָ֔ד אִם־יִוָּ֥לֵֽד גּ֖וֹי פַּ֣עַם אֶחָ֑ת כִּי־חָ֛לָה גַּם־יָֽלְדָ֥ה צִיּ֖וֹן אֶת־בָּנֶֽיהָ:
Is a land born in one day?: Can a pain come to a woman in confinement to bear a land full of sons in one day?		היוחל ארץ ביום אחד: היבוא חיל ליולדת לילד מלא ארץ בנים ביום אחד:
9"Will I bring to the birth stool and not cause to give birth?" says the Lord. "Am I not He who causes to give birth, now should I shut the womb?" says your God.		טהַֽאֲנִ֥י אַשְׁבִּ֛יר וְלֹ֥א אוֹלִ֖יד יֹאמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֑ה אִם־אֲנִ֧י הַמּוֹלִ֛יד וְעָצַ֖רְתִּי אָמַ֥ר אֱלֹהָֽיִךְ:
Will I bring to the birth stool and not cause to give birth: Will I bring a woman to the birth stool and not open her womb to bring out her fetus? That is to say, Shall I commence a thing and not be able to complete it? Am I not the One Who causes every woman in confinement to give birth, and now will I shut the womb? This is a question.		האני אשביר ולא אוליד: האני אביא את האשה על המשבר ולא אפתח רחמה להוציא עוברה כלומר שמא אתחיל בדבר ולא אוכל לגמור והלא אני המוליד את כל היולדות ועכשיו שמא עצרתי בתמיה:
10Rejoice with Jerusalem and exult in her all those who love her: rejoice with her a rejoicing, all who mourn over her.		ישִׂמְח֧וּ אֶת־יְרֽוּשָׁלִַ֛ם וְגִ֥ילוּ בָ֖הּ כָּל־אֹֽהֲבֶ֑יהָ שִׂ֚ישׂוּ אִתָּהּ֙ מָשׂ֔וֹשׂ כָּל־הַמִּֽתְאַבְּלִ֖ים עָלֶֽיהָ:
11In order that you suck and become sated from the breast of her consolations in order that you drink deeply and delight from her approaching glory.		יאלְמַ֚עַן תִּֽינְקוּ֙ וּשְׂבַעְתֶּ֔ם מִשֹּׁ֖ד תַּנְחֻמֶ֑יהָ לְמַ֧עַן תָּמֹ֛צּוּ וְהִתְעַנַּגְתֶּ֖ם מִזִּ֥יז כְּבוֹדָֽהּ:
from the breast: Heb. מִשֹּׁד, an expression of breasts (שָׁדַיִם).		משד: ל' שדים:
you drink deeply: Heb. תָּמֹצּוּ, sucer in French, to suck.		תמוצו: שוציי"ר בלעז:
from her approaching glory: Heb. מִזִּיז. From the great glory that is moving and coming nearer to her.		מזיז כבודה: מכבוד גדול הזז וממשמש לבא לה:
glory: זִיז means esmoviment in O.F., movement.		זיז: אישמובימנ"ט בלעז:
12For so says the Lord, "Behold, I will extend peace to you like a river, and like a flooding stream the wealth of the nations, and you shall suck thereof; on the side you shall be borne, and on knees you shall be dandled.		יבכִּֽי־כֹ֣ה \| אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה הִנְנִ֣י נֹטֶֽה־אֵ֠לֶיהָ כְּנָהָ֨ר שָׁל֜וֹם וּכְנַ֧חַל שׁוֹטֵ֛ף כְּב֥וֹד גּוֹיִ֖ם וִֽינַקְתֶּ֑ם עַל־צַד֙ תִּנָּשֵׂ֔אוּ וְעַל־בִּרְכַּ֖יִם תְּשָֽׁעֳשָֽׁעוּ:
and like a flooding stream: I extend to her the wealth of the nations.		וכנחל שוטף: אני נוטה אליה כבוד גוים:
on the side: On the sides of your nurses, [in Aramaic,] גִּסְסִין.		על צד: על צדי אומניכם על גיססין:
you shall be dandled: You shall be dandled as they dandle an infant. Esbanier in O.F.		תשעשעו: תהיו משועשעין כדרך שמשעשעין את התינוק אישבניי"ר בלעז:
13Like a man whose mother consoles him, so will I console you, and in Jerusalem, you shall be consoled.		יגכְּאִ֕ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אִמּ֖וֹ תְּנַֽחֲמֶ֑נּוּ כֵּ֚ן אָֽנֹכִי֙ אֲנַ֣חֶמְכֶ֔ם וּבִירֽוּשָׁלִַ֖ם תְּנֻחָֽמוּ:
14And you shall see, and your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall bloom like grass, and the hand of the Lord shall be known to His servants, and He shall be wroth with His enemies.		ידוּרְאִיתֶם֙ וְשָׂ֣שׂ לִבְּכֶ֔ם וְעַצְמֽוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם כַּדֶּ֣שֶׁא תִפְרַ֑חְנָה וְנֽוֹדְעָ֚ה יַד־יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־עֲבָדָ֔יו וְזָעַ֖ם אֶת־אֹֽיְבָֽיו:
and the hand of the Lord shall be known: When He wreaks His vengeance and His awesome acts, His servants shall know the strength of the might of His hand.		ונודעה יד ה': בעשותו נקמותיו ונוראותיו ידעו עבדיו את כח גבורת ידו:
15For behold, the Lord shall come with fire, and like a tempest, His chariots, to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire.		טוכִּֽי־הִנֵּ֚ה יְהֹוָה֙ בָּאֵ֣שׁ יָב֔וֹא וְכַסּוּפָ֖ה מַרְכְּבֹתָ֑יו לְהָשִׁ֚יב בְּחֵמָה֙ אַפּ֔וֹ וְגַֽעֲרָת֖וֹ בְּלַֽהֲבֵי־אֵֽשׁ:
shall come with fire: With the fury of fire He shall come upon the wicked.		באש יבוא: בחמת אש יבוא על הרשעים:
to render: Heb. לְהָשִׁיב, [lit. to return] to His adversaries with fury His anger.		להשיב: לצריו בחימה את אפו:
16For with fire, will the Lord contend, and with His sword with all flesh, and those slain by the Lord shall be many.		טזכִּ֚י בָאֵשׁ֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה נִשְׁפָּ֔ט וּבְחַרְבּ֖וֹ אֶת־כָּל־בָּשָׂ֑ר וְרַבּ֖וּ חַלְלֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה:
For with fire: of Gehinnom will the Lord contend with His adversaries, and since He is the plaintiff and the judge, the expression of contending is appropriate for Him, for He, too, presents His claim to find their iniquity and their transgression. Comp. (Ezekiel 38:22) “And I will contend with him (וְנִשְׁפַּטְתִּי);” (Jer. 2:35) “Behold, I contend with you.” It is an expression of debate. Derajjsner in O.F. [And its simple meaning is: For with the fire of the Lord and with His sword, all flesh shall be judged. Similarly, there are many inverted verses in Scriptures.]		כי באש: של גיהנם ה' נשפט עם צריו ולפי שהוא בעל דין ודיין נופל בו ל' נשפט שאף הוא טוען טענותיו למצוא עוונם ופשעם וכן ונשפטתי אתו (יחזקאל ל״ח:כ״ב) הנני נשפט אותך (ירמיהו כ׳:ד׳) לשון וויכוח הוא דרישניי"ר בלעז, ופשוטו כי באש ה' וחרבו נשפט כל בשר וכן רבים מסורסים במקראות:
17"Those who prepare themselves and purify themselves to the gardens, [one] after another in the middle, those who eat the flesh of the swine and the detestable thing and the rodent, shall perish together," says the Lord.		יזהַמִּתְקַדְּשִׁ֨ים וְהַמִּֽטַּהֲרִ֜ים אֶל־הַגַּנּ֗וֹת אַחַ֚ר אַחַת֙ (כתיב אַחַד֙) בַּתָּ֔וֶךְ אֹֽכְלֵי֙ בְּשַׂ֣ר הַֽחֲזִ֔יר וְהַשֶּׁ֖קֶץ וְהָֽעַכְבָּ֑ר יַחְדָּ֥ו יָסֻ֖פוּ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה:
Those who prepare themselves: Heb. הַמִּתְקַדְּשִׁים. Those who prepare themselves, “Let you and me go on such-and-such a day to worship such-and-such an idol.”		המתקדשים: המזדמנים אני ואתה נלך ליום פלוני לעבוד לעכו"ם פלונית:
to the gardens: where they plant vegetables, and there they would erect idols.		אל הגנות: שזורעין שם ירק ושם היו מעמידין עכו"ם:
[one] after one: As Jonathan renders: a company after a company. They prepare themselves and purify themselves to worship, one company after its fellow has completed its worship.		אחר: אחת כמה שת"י סיעה בתר סיעה מתקדשים ומטהרים לעבוד סיעה אחר, שגמרה חבירתה את עבודתה:
in the middle: In the middle of the garden. Such was their custom to erect it.		בתוך: באמצע הגינה כן היה דרכם להעמיד':
18And I-their deeds and their thoughts have come to gather all the nations and the tongues, and they shall come and they shall see My glory.		יחוְאָֽנֹכִ֗י מַֽעֲשֵׂיהֶם֙ וּמַחְשְׁבֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם בָּאָ֕ה לְקַבֵּ֥ץ אֶת־כָּל־הַגּוֹיִ֖ם וְהַלְּשֹׁנ֑וֹת וּבָ֖אוּ וְרָא֥וּ אֶת־כְּבוֹדִֽי:
And I - their deeds and their thoughts have come etc.: And I What am I to do? Their deeds and their thoughts have come to Me. And that forces Me to gather all the heathens (nations [Mss. and K’li Paz]), and to let them know that their deeds are vanity and the thoughts they are thinking, “For the sake of my name, the Lord shall be glorified,” let them understand that it is false. And where is the gathering? It is the gathering that Zechariah prophesied (14:2): “And I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem.”		ואנכי מעשיהם ומחשבותיהם באה וגו': ואנכי מה לי לעשות מעשיהם ומחשבותיהם באה אלי והיא תזקיקני לקבץ את כל הגוים ולהודיע שמעשיהם הבל ומחשבותם שהם חושבין למען (שמי) יכבד ה' יבינו שהוא שקר והיכן הוא אותו קיבוץ הוא האסיף שניבא זכריה ואספתי את כל הגוים אל ירושלים (זכריה י״ד:ב׳):
and they shall see My glory: When I wage war with them with the plague of the following description (ibid. 14:12): “Their flesh shall disintegrate… and their eyes… and their tongue.”		וראו את כבודי: בהלחמי בהם במכת המק בשרו ועיניו ולשונו (שם):
19And I will place a sign upon them, and I will send from them refugees to the nations, Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, the distant islands, who did not hear of My fame and did not see My glory, and they shall recount My glory among the nations.		יטוְשַׂמְתִּ֨י בָהֶ֜ם א֗וֹת וְשִׁלַּחְתִּ֣י מֵהֶ֣ם \| פְּ֠לֵיטִים אֶל־הַגּוֹיִ֞ם תַּרְשִׁ֨ישׁ פּ֥וּל וְל֛וּד מֹ֥שְׁכֵי קֶ֖שֶׁת תֻּבַ֣ל וְיָוָ֑ן הָֽאִיִּ֣ים הָֽרְחֹקִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־שָֽׁמְע֚וּ אֶת־שִׁמְעִי֙ וְלֹֽא־רָא֣וּ אֶת־כְּבוֹדִ֔י וְהִגִּ֥ידוּ אֶת־כְּבוֹדִ֖י בַּגּוֹיִֽם:
And I will place a sign upon them etc.: Refugees will survive the war, and I will allow them to remain in order to go to report to the distant islands My glory that they saw in the war, and also upon those refugees I will place one of the signs with which their colleagues were punished, in order to let the distant ones know that with this plague, those who gathered about Jerusalem were smitten.		ושמתי בהם אות וגו': פליטים ינצלו מן המלחמה ואני אשאירם כדי לילך לבשר לאיים הרחוקים את כבודי אשר ראו במלחמה ואף באותם פליטים אשים אחת מן האותות שנידונו חביריהם בהם כדי להודיע לרחוקים במגפה זו נגפו הצובאים על ירושלים:
20And they shall bring all your brethren from all the nations as a tribute to the Lord, with horses and with chariots, and with covered wagons and with mules and with joyous songs upon My holy mount, Jerusalem," says the Lord, "as the children of Israel bring the offering in a pure vessel to the house of the Lord.		כוְהֵבִ֣יאוּ אֶת־כָּל־אֲחֵיכֶ֣ם מִכָּל־הַגּוֹיִ֣ם \| מִנְחָ֣ה לַֽיהֹוָ֡ה בַּסּוּסִ֡ים וּ֠בָרֶכֶב וּבַצַּבִּ֨ים וּבַפְּרָדִ֜ים וּבַכִּרְכָּר֗וֹת עַ֣ל הַ֥ר קָדְשִׁ֛י יְרֽוּשָׁלִַ֖ם אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֑ה כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר יָבִיאוּ֩ בְנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל אֶת־הַמִּנְחָ֛ה בִּכְלִ֥י טָה֖וֹר בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה:
and with covered wagons: Heb. וּבַצַּבִּים. These are wagons equipped with partitions and a tent. Comp. (Num. 7: 3) “Six covered wagons (עֶגְלוֹתצָב).”		ובצבים: הם עגלות מטוקסות במחיצות ואהל ודומה לו שש עגלות צב (במדבר ז׳:ג׳):
and with joyous songs: Heb. וּבַכִּרְכָּרוֹת. With a song of players and dancers. Comp. (II Sam. 6: 14) “And David danced (מְכַרְכֵּר),” treper in O.F. [Menahem (p. 109) explains it as an expression meaning a lamb. Comp. (supra 16:1) “Send lambs (כַּר) of the ruler of the land.”]		ובכרכרות: בשיר משחקים ומכרכרים כמו ודוד מכרכר (שמואל ב ו׳:י״ד) טריפי"ר בלעז ומנחם פירשו לשון כבש כמו שלחו כר מושל ארץ (לעיל טז):
as… bring: an offering in a pure vessel for acceptance, so will they bring your brethren as an acceptable offering.		כאשר יביאו: מנחה בכלי טהור לרצון כן יביאו את אחיכם למנחת רצון:
21And from them too will I take for priests and for Levites," says the Lord.		כאוְגַם־מֵהֶ֥ם אֶקַּ֛ח לַכֹּֽהֲנִ֥ים לַֽלְוִיִּ֖ם אָמַ֥ר יְהֹוָֽה:
And from them too: From the peoples bringing them and from those brought, I will take priests and Levites, for they are now assimilated among the heathens (nations [Mss. and K’li Paz]) under coercion, and before Me the priests and the Levites among them are revealed, and I will select them from among them, and they shall minister before Me, said the Lord. Now where did He say it? (Deut. 29:28) “The hidden things are for the Lord our God.” In this manner it is explained in the Aggadah of Psalms (87:6).		וגם מהם אקח לכהנים ללוים: מן העמים המביאים אותם ומן המובאים אקח כהנים ולוים ולפני גלוים הכהנים והלוים שבהם ואברור אותן מתוכן ויהיו משמשין לפני:
22"For, as the new heavens and the new earth that I am making, stand before Me," says the Lord, "so shall your seed and your name stand.		כבכִּ֣י כַֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם הַֽ֠חֳדָשִׁים וְהָאָ֨רֶץ הַֽחֲדָשָׁ֜ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֲנִ֥י עֹשֶׂ֛ה עֹֽמְדִ֥ים לְפָנַ֖י נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה כֵּ֛ן יַֽעֲמֹ֥ד זַרְעֲכֶ֖ם וְשִׁמְכֶֽם:
23And it shall be from new moon to new moon and from Sabbath to Sabbath, that all flesh shall come to prostrate themselves before Me," says the Lord.		כגוְהָיָ֗ה מִֽדֵּי־חֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ בְּחָדְשׁ֔וֹ וּמִדֵּ֥י שַׁבָּ֖ת בְּשַׁבַּתּ֑וֹ יָב֧וֹא כָל־בָּשָֹ֛ר לְהִשְׁתַּֽחֲו‍ֹ֥ת לְפָנַ֖י אָמַ֥ר יְהֹוָֽה:
24"And they shall go out and see the corpses of the people who rebelled against Me, for their worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorring for all flesh."		כדוְיָצְאוּ֨ וְרָא֔וּ בְּפִגְרֵי֙ הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים הַפֹּֽשְׁעִ֖ים בִּ֑י כִּ֣י תֽוֹלַעְתָּ֞ם לֹ֣א תָמ֗וּת וְאִשָּׁם֙ לֹ֣א תִכְבֶּ֔ה וְהָי֥וּ דֵֽרָא֖וֹן לְכָל־בָּשָֽׂר:
their worm: The worm that consumes their flesh.		תולעתם: רמה האוכלת את בשרם:
and their fire: in Gehinnom.		ואשם: בגיהנם:
and abhorring: Heb. דֵרָאוֹן, an expression of contempt. Jonathan, however, renders it as two words: enough (דֵּי) seeing (רְאִיָה), until the righteous say about them, We have seen enough.		דראון: לשון בזיון, וי"ת כמין שתי תיבות די ראייה, עד דיימרון עליהון צדיקיא מיסת חזינא:

Yeshayahu (Isaiah) Chapter 66

23And it shall be from new moon to new moon and from Sabbath to Sabbath, that all flesh shall come to prostrate themselves before Me," says the Lord.

כגוְהָיָ֗ה מִֽדֵּי־חֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ בְּחָדְשׁ֔וֹ וּמִדֵּ֥י שַׁבָּ֖ת בְּשַׁבַּתּ֑וֹ יָב֧וֹא כָל־בָּשָֹ֛ר לְהִשְׁתַּֽחֲו‍ֹ֥ת לְפָנַ֖י אָמַ֥ר יְהֹוָֽה:

Shmuel I (I Samuel) Chapter 20

18And Jonathan said to him, "Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be remembered, for your seat will be vacant.		יחוַיֹּֽאמֶר־ל֥וֹ יְהוֹנָתָ֖ן מָחָ֣ר חֹ֑דֶשׁ וְנִפְקַ֕דְתָּ כִּ֥י יִפָּקֵ֖ד מוֹשָׁבֶֽךָ:
Tomorrow is the new moon: and it is the custom of all those who eat at the king’s table to come on the festive day to the table.		מחר חדש: ודרך כל אוכלי שולחן המלך לבא ביום מועד אל השולחן:
and you will be remembered: My father will remember you, and ask where you are.		ונפקדת: אבי יפקדך וישאל היכן אתה:
for your seat will be vacant: for your seat in which you sit, will be vacant, and so did Jonathan render: and you will be sought, for your seat will be vacant.		כי יפקד מושבך: שיהיה מושבך חסר, שאתה יושב בו וכן תרגם יונתן: ותתבעי ארי יהי מרוח בית אסחרותך:
and you will be remembered: [ונפקדת is] an expression of remembering.		ונפקדת: לשון זכרון:
will be vacant: [יפקד is] an expression of lacking.		כי יפקד: לשון חסרון:

Shmuel I (I Samuel) Chapter 20

42And Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace! (And bear in mind) that we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, 'May the Lord be between me and you, and between my descendants and your descendants forever.' "		מבוַיֹּ֧אמֶר יְהוֹנָתָ֛ן לְדָוִ֖ד לֵ֣ךְ לְשָׁל֑וֹם אֲשֶׁר֩ נִשְׁבַּ֨עְנוּ שְׁנֵ֜ינוּ אֲנַ֗חְנוּ בְּשֵׁ֚ם יְהֹוָה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר יְהֹוָ֞ה יִֽהְיֶ֣ה \| בֵּינִ֣י וּבֵינֶ֗ךָ וּבֵ֥ין זַרְעִ֛י וּבֵ֥ין זַרְעֲךָ֖ עַד־עוֹלָֽם:
Go in peace!: And the oath which we have sworn, may the Lord be witness thereon forever.		לך לשלום: והשבועה אשר נשבענו, ה' יהיה עד עליה עד עולם: