ב"ה

Torah Reading for Matot-Massei

Parshat Matot-Massei
Shabbat, 28 Tammuz, 5784
3 August, 2024
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Complete: (Numbers 30:2 - 36:13; Jeremiah 2:4-28; Jeremiah 4:1-2)
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First Portion

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 30

2Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the children of Israel, saying: This is the thing the Lord has commanded.   בוַיְדַבֵּ֤ר משֶׁה֙ אֶל־רָאשֵׁ֣י הַמַּטּ֔וֹת לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר זֶ֣ה הַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֖ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָֽה:
the heads of the tribes: He honored the chieftains by teaching them first, and only later the rest of the Israelites. How do we know that he did so with other statements? For it says, “[Moses called to them] and Aaron and all the princes of the community returned to him, and Moses would speak to them. Afterwards, all the children of Israel would draw near” (Exod. 34:31-32). [If so,] why did [Scripture] see fit to mention it here? It is to teach us that annulment of vows may be performed by a single expert, and if no single expert is available, it may be annulled by three laymen. Alternatively, perhaps Moses related this passage to the princes alone? However, here it says, “This is the word,” and in [the chapter dealing with] sacrifices slaughtered outside the Temple confines it [also] says, “This is the word” (Lev. 17:2). Just as there it was said to Aaron, his sons and all the Israelites, as it says, “Speak to Aaron, etc.” (Lev. 17:2), so in this case was it said to all of them. — [Ned. 78a]   רָאשֵׁי הַמַּטּוֹת: חָלַק כָּבוֹד לַנְּשִׂיאִים לְלַמְּדָם תְּחִלָּה וְאַחַר כָּךְ לְכָל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל; וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁאַף שְׁאָר הַדִּבְּרוֹת כֵּן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (שמות ל"ד) "וַיָּשֻׁבוּ אֵלָיו אַהֲרֹן וְכָל הַנְּשִׂאִים בָּעֵדָה וַיְדַבֵּר מֹשֶׁה אֲלֵהֶם, וְאַחֲרֵי כֵן נִגְּשׁוּ כָּל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל". וּמָה רָאָה לְאָמְרָהּ כָּאן? לִמֵּד שֶׁהֲפָרַת נְדָרִים בְּיָחִיד מֻמְחֶה, וְאִם אֵין יָחִיד מֻמְחֶה, מֵפֵר בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה הֶדְיוֹטוֹת; אוֹ יָכוֹל שֶׁלֹּא אָמַר מֹשֶׁה פָרָשָׁה זוֹ אֶלָּא לַנְּשִׂיאִים בִּלְבַד? נֶאֱמַר כָּאן "זֶה הַדָּבָר" וְנֶאֱמַר בִּשְׁחוּטֵי חוּץ (ויקרא י"ז) "זֶה הַדָּבָר", מַה לְּהַלָּן נֶאֶמְרָה לְאַהֲרֹן וּלְבָנָיו וּלְכָל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל — שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "דַּבֵּר אֶל אַהֲרֹן" וְגוֹ' — אַף זוֹ נֶאֶמְרָה לְכֻלָּן (ספרי; נדרים ע"ח):
This is the thing: Moses prophesied with, “So says the Lord, 'At the dividing point of the night… ’” (Exod. 11:4), and the prophets prophesied with [the phrase] “So says the Lord.” But Moses surpassed them, for he prophesied with the expression, “This is the thing.” Another interpretation: “This is the thing” is exclusive, informing us that a sage [revokes a vow] with the expression הַתָּרָה,“release” and the husband through the expression הִפָרָה “revocation,” as Scripture has here. If they exchange [these terms] there is neither a release nor a revocation. — [Sifrei Mattoth 2]   זֶה הַדָּבָר: מֹשֶׁה נִתְנַבֵּא בְּ"כֹה אָמַר ה' כַּחֲצֹת הַלַּיְלָה" (שמות י"א) וְהַנְּבִיאִים נִתְנַבְּאוּ בְּ"כֹה אָמַר ה'", מוּסָף עֲלֵיהֶם מֹשֶׁה שֶׁנִּתְנַבֵּא בִּלְשׁוֹן "זֶה הַדָּבָר". דָּבָר אַחֵר — זה הדבר מִעוּט הוּא, לוֹמַר שֶׁהֶחָכָם בִּלְשׁוֹן הַתָּרָה, וּבַעַל בִּלְשׁוֹן הֲפָרָה, כִּלְשׁוֹן הַכָּתוּב כָּאן, וְאִם חִלְּפוּ — אֵין מֻתָּר וְאֵין מוּפָר (ספרי; נדרים ע"ז):
3If a man makes a vow to the Lord or makes an oath to prohibit himself, he shall not violate his word; according to whatever came out of his mouth, he shall do.   גאִישׁ֩ כִּֽי־יִדֹּ֨ר נֶ֜דֶר לַֽיהֹוָ֗ה אֽוֹ־הִשָּׁ֤בַע שְׁבֻעָה֙ לֶאְסֹ֤ר אִסָּר֙ עַל־נַפְשׁ֔וֹ לֹ֥א יַחֵ֖ל דְּבָר֑וֹ כְּכָל־הַיֹּצֵ֥א מִפִּ֖יו יַֽעֲשֶֽׂה:
a vow: By saying, “It shall be prohibited just like a sacrifice, that I will not eat, or I will not do a certain thing.” One might think that even if he swears to eat carrion, I apply to him “according to whatever came out of his mouth, he shall do.” Scripture therefore states, “to prohibit”-to prohibit what is permitted, but not to permit what is prohibited. — [Sifrei Mattoth 7]   נֶדֶר: הָאוֹמֵר הֲרֵי עָלַי קוֹנָם שֶׁלֹּא אֹכַל אוֹ שֶׁלֹּא אֶעֱשֶׂה דָבָר פְּלוֹנִי; יָכוֹל אֲפִלּוּ נִשְׁבַּע שֶׁיֹּאכַל נְבֵלוֹת אֲנִי קוֹרֵא עָלָיו כְּכָל הַיֹּצֵא מִפִּיו יַעֲשֶׂה? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר לאסר אסר — לֶאֱסֹר אֶת הַמֻּתָּר וְלֹא לְהַתִּיר אֶת הָאָסוּר (ספרי):
he shall not violate his word: Heb. לֹא יַחֵל דְּבָרוֹ, like לֹא יְחַלֵּל דְּבָרוֹ “he shall not profane his word,” he shall not treat his word as being unholy. — [Sifrei Mattoth 8]   לֹא יַחֵל דְּבָרוֹ: כְּמוֹ לֹא יְחַלֵּל דְּבָרוֹ — לֹא יַעֲשֶׂה דְּבָרוֹ חֻלִּין (שם):
4If a woman makes a vow to the Lord, or imposes a prohibition [upon herself] while in her father's house, in her youth,   דוְאִשָּׁ֕ה כִּֽי־תִדֹּ֥ר נֶ֖דֶר לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה וְאָֽסְרָ֥ה אִסָּ֛ר בְּבֵ֥ית אָבִ֖יהָ בִּנְעֻרֶֽיהָ:
while in her father’s house: Under her father’s jurisdiction, even if she is not [actually] in his house. - [Sifrei Mattoth 12]   בְּבֵית אָבִיהָ: בִּרְשׁוּת אָבִיהָ וַאֲפִלּוּ אֵינָהּ בְּבֵיתוֹ (שם):
in her youth: Neither a minor nor an adult [above the age of twelve and a half], since a minor’s vows are invalid, and an adult is not under her father’s jurisdiction to revoke her vows. What is considered a minor? Our Rabbis said: A girl of eleven years and a day-her vows are examined. If she knew in whose name she vowed, or in whose name she consecrated something, her vow stands. From the age of twelve years and one day, she does not need to be tested. — [Niddah 45b]   בִּנְעֻרֶֽיהָ: וְלֹא קְטַנָּה וְלֹא בוֹגֶרֶת, שֶׁהַקְּטַנָּה אֵין נִדְרָהּ נֶדֶר, וְהַבּוֹגֶרֶת אֵינָהּ בִּרְשׁוּתוֹ שֶׁל אָבִיהָ לְהָפֵר נְדָרֶיהָ; וְאֵי זוֹ הִיא קְטַנָּה? אָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ בַּת י"א שָׁנָה וְיוֹם אֶחָד נְדָרֶיהָ נִבְדָּקִין, אִם יָדְעָה לְשֵׁם מִי נָדְרָה וּלְשֵׁם מִי הִקְדִּישָׁה, נִדְרָהּ נֶדֶר, בַּת י"ב שָׁנָה וְיוֹם אֶחָד אֵינָהּ צְרִיכָה לִבָּדֵק:
5if her father heard her vow or her prohibition which she has prohibited upon herself, yet her father remains silent, all her vows shall stand, and any prohibition that she has imposed upon herself shall stand.   הוְשָׁמַ֨ע אָבִ֜יהָ אֶת־נִדְרָ֗הּ וֶֽאֱסָרָהּ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָֽסְרָ֣ה עַל־נַפְשָׁ֔הּ וְהֶֽחֱרִ֥ישׁ לָ֖הּ אָבִ֑יהָ וְקָ֨מוּ֙ כָּל־נְדָרֶ֔יהָ וְכָל־אִסָּ֛ר אֲשֶׁר־אָֽסְרָ֥ה עַל־נַפְשָׁ֖הּ יָקֽוּם:
6But if her father hinders her on the day he hears it, all her vows and her prohibitions that she has imposed upon herself shall not stand. The Lord will forgive her because her father hindered her.   ווְאִם־הֵנִ֨יא אָבִ֣יהָ אֹתָהּ֘ בְּי֣וֹם שָׁמְעוֹ֒ כָּל־נְדָרֶ֗יהָ וֶֽאֱסָרֶ֛יהָ אֲשֶׁר־אָֽסְרָ֥ה עַל־נַפְשָׁ֖הּ לֹ֣א יָק֑וּם וַֽיהֹוָה֙ יִסְלַח־לָ֔הּ כִּֽי־הֵנִ֥יא אָבִ֖יהָ אֹתָֽהּ:
But if her father hinders her: Heb. הֵנִיא, if he prevented her from [fulfilling] the vow, that is to say, he revoked it. I would not know what this term of הַנָאָה [in the verse, הֵנִיא] means. However, when it says, “But if her husband hinders her on the day he heard it, he has revoked” (verse 9), I conclude that הִנָאָה means revocation. Literally, it is a term implying prevention and removal. Similarly, “Why do you discourage [lit., turn away (תְנִיאוּן) the people’s hearts]?” (32:7), and, “may the oil of the anointment of my head not turn my head away (יָנִי)” (Ps. 141:5); similarly, “thus you will come to know My alienation (תְּנוּאֲתִי)” (14:34), that you have turned away from Me.   וְאִם־הֵנִיא אָבִיהָ אֹתָהּ: אִם מָנַע אוֹתָהּ מִן הַנֶּדֶר, כְּלוֹמַר שֶׁהֵפֵר לָהּ. הֲנָאָה זוֹ אֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ מַה הִיא, כְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר "וְאִם בְּיוֹם שְׁמֹעַ אִישָהּ יָנִיא אוֹתָהּ וְהֵפֵר" (פסוק ט') הֱוֵי אוֹמֵר הֲנָאָה זוֹ הֲפָרָה. וּפְשׁוּטוֹ לְשׁוֹן מְנִיעָה וַהֲסָרָה, וְכֵן "וְלָמָּה תְנִיאוּן" (במדבר ל"ב), וְכֵן "שֶׁמֶן רֹאשׁ אַל יָנִי רֹאשִׁי" (תהילים קמ"א), וְכֵן "וִידַעְתֶּם אֶת תְּנוּאָתִי" (במדבר י"ד) — אֶת אֲשֶׁר סַרְתֶּם מֵעָלַי:
and the Lord will forgive her: To what case does the verse refer? To a woman who took a nazarite vow, and her husband heard and revoked it for her without her knowledge. She then transgressed her vow by drinking wine and becoming unclean through contact with corpses-such [a woman] requires forgiveness even though it was revoked. And if those which have been revoked require forgiveness, all the more so those which have not been revoked. — [Sifrei Mattoth 17]   וה' יִסְלַח־לָהּ: בַּמֶּה הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר? בְּאִשָּׁה שֶׁנָּדְרָה בְנָזִיר וְשָׁמַע בַּעְלָהּ וְהֵפֵר לָהּ וְהִיא לֹא יָדְעָה וְעוֹבֶרֶת עַל נִדְרָהּ וְשׁוֹתָה יַיִן וּמִטַּמְּאָה לְמֵתִים, זוֹ הִיא שֶׁצְּרִיכָה סְלִיחָה וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהוּא מוּפָר, וְאִם הַמּוּפָרִין צְרִיכִים סְלִיחָה, קַל וָחֹמֶר לְשֶׁאֵינָן מוּפָרִים (עי' קידושין פ"א):
7But if she is [betrothed] to a man, with her vows upon her or by an utterance of her lips which she has imposed upon herself,   זוְאִם־הָי֤וֹ תִֽהְיֶה֙ לְאִ֔ישׁ וּנְדָרֶ֖יהָ עָלֶ֑יהָ א֚וֹ מִבְטָ֣א שְׂפָתֶ֔יהָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָֽסְרָ֖ה עַל־נַפְשָֽׁהּ:
If she is [betrothed] to a man: Heb. וְאִם הָיֹה תִהְיֶה לְאִישׁ. This [refers to] a betrothed woman [i.e., אֲרוּסָה, the first stage of marriage, when the marriage ceremony has been performed, but the couple does not yet live together], or perhaps it refers to a married woman [נְשׂוּאָה, who lives already with her husband]? When [Scripture] says, “if she vowed in her husband’s house” (verse 11) it speaks of a married woman, so this must refer to a betrothed woman, and it comes to distinguish her [the betrothed woman from the married woman] in that both her father and husband [must] revoke her vows. If the father revoked it, but the husband did not revoke it, or if the husband revoked it, but the father did not revoke it, it is not revoked, and it goes without saying that if one of them upheld it. — [Ned. 67a]   וְאִם־הָיוֹ תִֽהְיֶה לְאִישׁ: זוֹ אֲרוּסָה, אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא נְשׂוּאָה? כְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר "וְאִם בֵּית אִישָׁהּ נָדָרָה" הֲרֵי נְשׂוּאָה אָמוּר, וְכָאן בַּאֲרוּסָה, וּבָא לַחֲלֹק בָּהּ שֶׁאָבִיהָ וּבַעְלָהּ מְפֵרִין נְדָרֶיהָ, הֵפֵר הָאָב וְלֹא הֵפֵר הַבַּעַל, אוֹ הֵפֵר הַבַּעַל וְלֹא הֵפֵר הָאָב, הֲרֵי זֶה אֵינוֹ מוּפָר, וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר אִם קִיֵּם אֶחָד מֵהֶם:
with her vows upon her: which she had vowed while in her father’s house, but her father had not heard them, so they were neither revoked nor upheld. — [Sifrei Mattoth 20]   וּנְדָרֶיהָ עָלֶיהָ: שֶׁנָּדְרָה בְּבֵית אָבִיהָ, וְלֹא שָׁמַע בָּהֶן אָבִיהָ וְלֹא הוּפְרוּ וְלֹא הוּקְמוּ (עי' ספרי):
8and her husband hears it but remains silent on the day he hears it, her vows shall stand, and her prohibition which she has imposed upon herself shall stand.   חוְשָׁמַ֥ע אִישָׁ֛הּ בְּי֥וֹם שָׁמְע֖וֹ וְהֶֽחֱרִ֣ישׁ לָ֑הּ וְקָ֣מוּ נְדָרֶ֗יהָ וֶֽאֱסָרֶ֛הָ אֲשֶׁר־אָֽסְרָ֥ה עַל־נַפְשָׁ֖הּ יָקֻֽמוּ:
and her husband heard…: Here you have the case that if the husband upholds it, it stands. - [Sifrei Mattoth 21]   וְשָׁמַע אִישָׁהּ וגו': הֲרֵי לְךָ שֶׁאִם קִיֵּם הַבַּעַל שֶׁהוּא קַיָּם:
9But if her husband hinders her on the day he heard it, he has revoked the vow she had taken upon herself and the utterance which she had imposed upon herself, and the Lord will forgive her.   טוְאִ֠ם בְּי֨וֹם שְׁמֹ֣עַ אִישָׁהּ֘ יָנִ֣יא אוֹתָהּ֒ וְהֵפֵ֗ר אֶת־נִדְרָהּ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָלֶ֔יהָ וְאֵת֙ מִבְטָ֣א שְׂפָתֶ֔יהָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָֽסְרָ֖ה עַל־נַפְשָׁ֑הּ וַֽיהֹוָ֖ה יִסְלַח־לָֽהּ:
he has revoked the vow she had taken upon herself: I might think that even if the father had not revoked it [it is revoked]? Scripture therefore teaches, “in her youth, while in her father’s house” (verse 17); throughout her youth she is under her father’s jurisdiction. — [Sifrei Mattoth 31]   וְהֵפֵר אֶת־נִדְרָהּ: יָכוֹל אֲפִלּוּ לֹא הֵפֵר הָאָב, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר (פסוק י"ז) "בִּנְעֻרֶיהָ בֵּית אָבִיהָ" — כָּל שֶׁבִּנְעוּרֶיהָ בִּרְשׁוּת אָבִיהָ הִיא (ספרי שם):
10As for the vow of a widow or a divorced woman, whatever she prohibited upon herself will remain upon her.   יוְנֵ֥דֶר אַלְמָנָ֖ה וּגְרוּשָׁ֑ה כֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־אָֽסְרָ֥ה עַל־נַפְשָׁ֖הּ יָק֥וּם עָלֶֽיהָ:
whatever she prohibited upon herself will remain upon her: since she is neither under the jurisdiction of her father nor of her husband. Scripture refers to a widow from marriage, but if she is widowed from betrothal, as soon as her betrothed [husband] has died, she reverts to the jurisdiction of her father. — [Ned. 70a]   כֹּל אֲשֶׁר־אָֽסְרָה עַל־נַפְשָׁהּ יָקוּם עָלֶֽיהָ: לְפִי שֶׁאֵינָהּ לֹא בִרְשׁוּת אָב וְלֹא בִרְשׁוּת בַּעַל, וּבְאַלְמָנָה מִן הַנִּשּׂוּאִין הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר, אֲבָל אַלְמָנָה מִן הָאֵרוּסִין — מֵת הַבַּעַל נִתְרוֹקְנָה וְחָזְרָה רְשׁוּת לָאָב (נדרים ע'):
11But if she vowed in her husband's house, or imposed a prohibition upon herself with an oath.   יאוְאִם־בֵּ֥ית אִישָׁ֖הּ נָדָ֑רָה אוֹ־אָֽסְרָ֥ה אִסָּ֛ר עַל־נַפְשָׁ֖הּ בִּשְׁבֻעָֽה:
But if she made a vow in her husband’s house: Scripture refers to a married woman (נְשׂוּאָה). - [Sifrei Mattoth 25, Ned. 67a]   וְאִם־בֵּית אשה נָדָרָה: בִּנְשׂוּאָה הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר (שם ס"ז):
12and her husband heard and remained silent, and did not hinder her, all her vows shall stand, and every prohibition she imposed upon herself shall stand.   יבוְשָׁמַ֤ע אִישָׁהּ֙ וְהֶֽחֱרִ֣שׁ לָ֔הּ לֹ֥א הֵנִ֖יא אֹתָ֑הּ וְקָ֨מוּ֙ כָּל־נְדָרֶ֔יהָ וְכָל־אִסָּ֛ר אֲשֶׁר־אָֽסְרָ֥ה עַל־נַפְשָׁ֖הּ יָקֽוּם:
13If her husband revokes them on the day he hears them, anything issuing from her lips regarding her vows or self imposed prohibitions shall not stand; her husband has revoked them and the Lord shall forgive her.   יגוְאִם־הָפֵר֩ יָפֵ֨ר אֹתָ֥ם | אִישָׁהּ֘ בְּי֣וֹם שָׁמְעוֹ֒ כָּל־מוֹצָ֨א שְׂפָתֶ֧יהָ לִנְדָרֶ֛יהָ וּלְאִסַּ֥ר נַפְשָׁ֖הּ לֹ֣א יָק֑וּם אִישָׁ֣הּ הֲפֵרָ֔ם וַֽיהֹוָ֖ה יִסְלַח־לָֽהּ:
14Any vow or any binding oath of self affliction, her husband can either uphold it or revoke it.   ידכָּל־נֵ֛דֶר וְכָל־שְׁבֻעַ֥ת אִסָּ֖ר לְעַנֹּ֣ת נָ֑פֶשׁ אִישָׁ֥הּ יְקִימֶ֖נּוּ וְאִישָׁ֥הּ יְפֵרֶֽנּוּ:
Any vow or any binding oath of self-affliction: Since it says that the husband may revoke, I might think this includes all vows? Scripture therefore says, “of self-affliction”-he can revoke only vows of self-affliction. They are delineated in Tractate Nedarim (79a).   כָּל־נֵדֶר וְכָל־שְׁבֻעַת אִסָּר וגו': לְפִי שֶׁאָמַר שֶׁהַבַּעַל מֵפֵר, יָכוֹל כָּל נְדָרִים בְמַשְׁמָע, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר לענת נפש — אֵינוֹ מֵפֵר אֶלָּא נִדְרֵי עִנּוּי נֶפֶשׁ בִּלְבַד, וְהֵם מְפֹרָשִׁים בְּמַסֶּ' נְדָרִים (דף ע"ט):
15However, if her husband remained silent from day to day, he has upheld all the vows and prohibitions she has assumed; he has upheld them since he remained silent on the day he heard it.   טווְאִם־הַֽחֲרֵשׁ֩ יַֽחֲרִ֨ישׁ לָ֥הּ אִישָׁהּ֘ מִיּ֣וֹם אֶל־יוֹם֒ וְהֵקִים֙ אֶת־כָּל־נְדָרֶ֔יהָ א֥וֹ אֶת־כָּל־אֱסָרֶ֖יהָ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָלֶ֑יהָ הֵקִ֣ים אֹתָ֔ם כִּי־הֶֽחֱרִ֥שׁ לָ֖הּ בְּי֥וֹם שָׁמְעֽוֹ:
from day to day: So that you should not say that [he has the power to revoke] for a twenty-four hour period, it says, “from day to day” to inform you that he may revoke only until nightfall. — [Ned. 76b]   מִיּוֹם אֶל־יוֹם: שֶׁלֹּא תֹאמַר מֵעֵת לְעֵת, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר "מִיּוֹם אֶל יוֹם", לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁאֵין מֵפֵר אֶלָּא עַד שֶׁתֶּחְשַׁךְ (נדרים ע"ו):
16If he revokes them after having heard [them], he shall bear her iniquity.   טזוְאִם־הָפֵ֥ר יָפֵ֛ר אֹתָ֖ם אַֽחֲרֵ֣י שָׁמְע֑וֹ וְנָשָׂ֖א אֶת־עֲו‍ֹנָֽהּ:
after having heard them: After he heard and upheld [them], by saying, “I approve of it” and then he retracted and revoked it, even on that very day. — [Sifrei Mattoth 30]   אַֽחֲרֵי שָׁמְעוֹ: אַחֲרֵי שֶׁשָּׁמַע וְקִיֵּם, שֶׁאָמַר אֶפְשִׁי בּוֹ, וְחָזַר וְהֵפֵר לָהּ אֲפִלּוּ בּוֹ בַּיּוֹם:
he shall bear her iniquity: He takes her place. We learn from here that if someone causes his fellow to stumble, he bears his punishments in his place. — [Sifrei Mattoth 30]   וְנָשָׂא אֶת־עונה: הוּא נִכְנָס תַּחְתֶּיהָ. לָמַדְנוּ מִכָּאן שֶׁהַגּוֹרֵם תַּקָּלָה לַחֲבֵרוֹ הוּא נִכְנָס תַּחְתָּיו לְכָל עֳנָשִׁין:
17These are the statutes which the Lord commanded Moses concerning a man and his wife, a father and his daughter, in her youth, while in her father's house.   יזאֵ֣לֶּה הַֽחֻקִּ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֤ה יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־משֶׁ֔ה בֵּ֥ין אִ֖ישׁ לְאִשְׁתּ֑וֹ בֵּין־אָ֣ב לְבִתּ֔וֹ בִּנְעֻרֶ֖יהָ בֵּ֥ית אָבִֽיהָ:

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 31

1The Lord spoke to Moses saying,   אוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר:
2"Take revenge for the children of Israel against the Midianites; afterwards you will be gathered to your people."   בנְקֹ֗ם נִקְמַת֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מֵאֵ֖ת הַמִּדְיָנִ֑ים אַחַ֖ר תֵּֽאָסֵ֥ף אֶל־עַמֶּֽיךָ:
against the Midianites: But not against the Moabites, for the Moabites were involved in the matter out of fear, since they were afraid of being plundered by them, because all it says is, “do not provoke them into battle” (Deut. 2:9), but the Midianites were angered over a dispute which did not concern them (See Sifrei Mattoth 33). Another interpretation: Because of the two good doves [virtuous proselytes] whom I have [in mind] to bring forth from them, [namely] Ruth the Moabitess and Naamah the Ammonitess (I Kings 14: 21). - [B.K. 38b]   מֵאֵת הַמִּדְיָנִים: וְלֹא מֵאֵת הַמּוֹאָבִים, שֶׁהַמּוֹאָבִים נִכְנְסוּ לַדָּבָר מֵחֲמַת יִרְאָה, שֶׁהָיוּ יְרֵאִים מֵהֶם שֶׁיִּהְיוּ שׁוֹלְלִים אוֹתָם, שֶׁלֹּא נֶאֱמַר אֶלָּא "וְאַל תִּתְגָּר בָּם מִלְחָמָה" (דברים ב'), אֲבָל מִדְיָנִים נִתְעַבְּרוּ עַל רִיב לֹא לָהֶם; דָּבָר אַחֵר, מִפְּנֵי שְׁנֵי פְרֵידוֹת טוֹבוֹת שֶׁיֵּשׁ לִי לְהוֹצִיא מֵהֶם — רוּת הַמּוֹאֲבִיָּה וְנַעֲמָה הָעַמּוֹנִית (בבא קמא ל"ח):
3So Moses spoke to the people, saying, "Arm from among you men for the army, that they can be against Midian, and carry out the revenge of the Lord against Midian.   גוַיְדַבֵּ֤ר משֶׁה֙ אֶל־הָעָ֣ם לֵאמֹ֔ר הֵחָֽלְצ֧וּ מֵֽאִתְּכֶ֛ם אֲנָשִׁ֖ים לַצָּבָ֑א וְיִֽהְיוּ֙ עַל־מִדְיָ֔ן לָתֵ֥ת נִקְמַת־יְהֹוָ֖ה בְּמִדְיָֽן:
Moses spoke: Although he heard that his death depended on the matter, he did it joyfully, without delay. — [Sifrei Mattoth 34, Mid. Tanchuma Mattoth 3, Num. Rabbah 22:2]   וַיְדַבֵּר משֶׁה וגו': אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁשָּׁמַע שֶׁמִּיתָתוֹ תְלוּיָה בַּדָּבָר עָשָׂה בְשִׂמְחָה וְלֹא אֵחַר (ספרי):
arm: Heb. הֵחָלְצוּ, as the Targum [Onkelos renders זְרִיזוּ], in the sense of “armed for battle” (verse 5), armed with weapons. — [See Sifrei Mattoth 34]   הֵחָֽלְצוּ: כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ, לְשׁוֹן חֲלוּצֵי צָבָא — מְזֻיָּנִים:
men: Righteous men. Similarly, “choose men for us” (Exod. 17:9), and “men who are wise and renowned” (Deut. 1:15). - [Mid. Tanchuma Mattoth 3, Sifrei Mattoth 36, Num. Rabbah 22:2]   אֲנָשִׁים: צַדִּיקִים, וְכֵן "בְּחַר לָנוּ אֲנָשִׁים" (שמות י"ז), וְכֵן "אֲנָשִׁים חֲכָמִים וִידֻעִים" (דברים א'):
the revenge of the Lord: For anyone opposing Israel is reckoned as opposing the Holy One, blessed is He. — [See Mid. Tanchuma Mattoth 3, Num. Rabbah 22:2]   נִקְמַת־ה': שֶׁהָעוֹמֵד כְּנֶגֶד יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּאִלּוּ עוֹמֵד כְּנֶגֶד הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא:
4A thousand for each tribe, a thousand for each tribe, from all the tribes of Israel you shall send into the army."   דאֶ֚לֶף לַמַּטֶּ֔ה אֶ֖לֶף לַמַּטֶּ֑ה לְכֹל֙ מַטּ֣וֹת יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל תִּשְׁלְח֖וּ לַצָּבָֽא:
from all the tribes: including the tribe of Levi. — [Sifrei Mattoth 35]   לְכֹל מַטּוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל: לְרַבּוֹת שֵׁבֶט לֵוִי (ספרי):
5From the thousands of Israel one thousand was given over for each tribe, twelve thousand armed for battle.   הוַיִּמָּֽסְרוּ֙ מֵֽאַלְפֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶ֖לֶף לַמַּטֶּ֑ה שְׁנֵֽים־עָשָׂ֥ר אֶ֖לֶף חֲלוּצֵ֥י צָבָֽא:
was given over: Heb. וַיִּמָּסְרוּ. [The passive form is used] to inform you of the virtues of the Israelite shepherds [leaders]-how cherished they were by Israel. When they had not yet heard of his death, what did he say? “Just a little longer and they will stone me” (Exod. 17:4). But as soon as they heard that Moses’ demise was contingent upon the revenge against Midian, they refused to go, until they were given over against their will. — [Sifrei Mattoth 36, Mid. Tanchuma Mattoth 3, Num. Rabbah 22:3]   וַיִּמָּֽסְרוּ: לְהוֹדִיעֲךָ שִׁבְחָן שֶׁל רוֹעֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל כַּמָּה הֵם חֲבִיבִים עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל, עַד שֶׁלֹּא שָׁמְעוּ בְמִיתָתוֹ מַה הוּא אוֹמֵר? "עוֹד מְעַט וּסְקָלֻנִי" (שמות י"ז), וּמִשֶּׁשָּׁמְעוּ שֶׁמִּיתַת מֹשֶׁה תְלוּיָה בְנִקְמַת מִדְיָן לֹא רָצוּ לָלֶכֶת עַד שֶׁנִּמְסְרוּ עַל כָּרְחָן (ספרי):
6Moses sent them the thousand from each tribe to the army, them along with Phinehas the son of Eleazar the kohen to the army, with the sacred utensils and the trumpets for sounding in his possession.   ווַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח אֹתָ֥ם משֶׁ֛ה אֶ֥לֶף לַמַּטֶּ֖ה לַצָּבָ֑א אֹ֠תָ֠ם וְאֶת־פִּ֨ינְחָ֜ס בֶּן־אֶלְעָזָ֤ר הַכֹּהֵן֙ לַצָּבָ֔א וּכְלֵ֥י הַקֹּ֛דֶשׁ וַֽחֲצֹֽצְר֥וֹת הַתְּרוּעָ֖ה בְּיָדֽוֹ:
them along with Phinehas: This shows that Phinehas equaled them all (Sifrei Mattoth 34). Why did Phinehas go, and Eleazar did not go? The Holy One, blessed is He, said, “The one who began the mitzvah by killing Cozbi the daughter of Zur, should finish it” (Mid. Tanchuma Mattoth 3). Another interpretation: He sought the vengeance of Joseph, his maternal grandfather, for it says, “And the Medanites sold him” (Gen. 37:36) (Sifrei Mattoth 34, Sotah 43a). How do we know that Phinehas’s mother was [descended] from Joseph? Because it says, “[Eleazar the son of Aaron took himself one] of the daughters of Putiel (פּוּטִיאֵל)” (Exod. 6:25) [meaning] of the descendants of Jethro, who fattened (פִּטֵּם) calves for idolatry, and from the descendants of Joseph, who made light of (פִּטְפֵּט) his passion and prevailed over it [when he was tempted by Potiphar’s wife]. Another interpretation: He was [the kohen] anointed for war. — [Sotah 43a]   אֹתָם וְאֶת־פִּינְחָס: מַגִּיד שֶׁהָיָה פִינְחָס שָׁקוּל כְּנֶגֶד כֻּלָּם (ספרי); וּמִפְּנֵי מָה הָלַךְ פִּינְחָס וְלֹא הָלַךְ אֶלְעָזָר? אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִי שֶׁהִתְחִיל בַּמִּצְוָה, שֶׁהָרַג כָּזְבִּי בַת צוּר, יִגְמֹר; דָּבָר אַחֵר — שֶׁהָלַךְ לִנְקֹם נִקְמַת יוֹסֵף אֲבִי אִמּוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְהַמְּדָנִים מָכְרוּ אֹתוֹ" (בראשית ל"ז); וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁהָיְתָה אִמּוֹ שֶׁל פִּינְחָס מִשֶּׁל יוֹסֵף? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "מִבְּנוֹת פּוּטִיאֵל" (שמות ו') — מִזֶּרַע יִתְרוֹ שֶׁפִּטֵּם עֲגָלִים לַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, וּמִזֶּרַע יוֹסֵף שֶׁפִּטְפֵּט בְּיִצְרוֹ (סוטה מ"ג); דָּבָר אַחֵר — שֶׁהָיָה מְשׁוּחַ מִלְחָמָה (שם):
the sacred utensils: The holy Ark (Sifrei Mattoth 34, Num. Rabbah 22:4) and the golden showplate (Mid. Aggadah), since Balaam was with them and through sorcery was able to make the Midianite kings fly, and he flew along with them, he [Phinehas] showed them the showplate on which God’s Name was engraved, and they fell down [to earth]. For this reason it says, concerning the Midianite kings, “upon their slain” (verse 8), for they fell from the air on top of those slain. Likewise, it says in the book of Joshua (13:22) in connection with Balaam, “upon (sic) their slain.” - [Mid. Tanchuma Mattoth 4]   וּכְלֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ: זֶה הָאָרוֹן וְהַצִּיץ, שֶׁהָיָה בִּלְעָם עִמָּהֶם וּמַפְרִיחַ מַלְכֵי מִדְיָן בִּכְשָׁפִים וְהוּא עַצְמוֹ פוֹרֵחַ עִמָּהֶם, הֶרְאָה לָהֶם אֶת הַצִּיץ שֶׁהַשֵּׁם חָקוּק בּוֹ וְהֵם נוֹפְלִים, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר "עַל חַלְלֵיהֶם" בְּמַלְכֵי מִדְיָן — שֶׁנּוֹפְלִים עַל הַחֲלָלִים מִן הָאֲוִיר, וְכֵן בְּבִלְעָם כָּתוּב "עַל חַלְלֵיהֶם" בְּסֵ' יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (תנחומא):
in his possession: Heb. בְּיָדוֹ, lit. in his hand, [here] in his possession. Similarly, “taking all his land from his possession (מִיָּדוֹ)” (Num. 21: 26). - [Sifrei Mattoth 37]   בְּיָדֽוֹ: בִּרְשׁוּתוֹ, וְכֵן (במדבר כ"א) "וַיִּקַּח אֶת כָּל אַרְצוֹ מִיָּדוֹ" (ספרי):
7They mounted an attack against Midian, as the Lord had commanded Moses, and they killed every male.   זוַיִּצְבְּאוּ֙ עַל־מִדְיָ֔ן כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־משֶׁ֑ה וַיַּֽהַרְג֖וּ כָּל־זָכָֽר:
8And they killed the Midianite kings upon their slain: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian, and Balaam the son of Beor they slew with the sword.   חוְאֶת־מַלְכֵ֨י מִדְיָ֜ן הָֽרְג֣וּ עַל־חַלְלֵיהֶ֗ם אֶת־אֱוִ֤י וְאֶת־רֶ֨קֶם֙ וְאֶת־צ֤וּר וְאֶת־חוּר֙ וְאֶת־רֶ֔בַע חֲמֵ֖שֶׁת מַלְכֵ֣י מִדְיָ֑ן וְאֵת֙ בִּלְעָ֣ם בֶּן־בְּע֔וֹר הָֽרְג֖וּ בֶּחָֽרֶב:
the five kings of Midian: Do I not see that the verse lists five [kings]? Why was it necessary [for Scripture] to say “five”? But it is to teach you that they were all equally involved in the conspiracy, and they all received the same punishment. Balaam went there [to Midian] to receive his reward for the twenty-four thousand that had fallen from Israel as a result of his advice, and now he left Midian to meet the Israelites, and he offered them harmful advice. He said to them, “If, when you were six hundred thousand, you could not overcome them, and now with twelve thousand, you come to fight?” They gave him his just deserts-in full, without depriving him in the least. — [Sifrei Mattoth 40]   חֲמֵשֶׁת מַלְכֵי מִדְיָן: וְכִי אֵינִי רוֹאֶה שֶׁחֲמִשָּׁה מָנָה הַכָּתוּב? לָמָּה הֻזְקַק לוֹמַר חֲמֵשֶׁת? אֶלָּא לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁשָּׁווּ כֻלָּם בָּעֵצָה וְהֻשְׁווּ כֻלָּם בַּפֻּרְעָנוּת (שם); בִּלְעָם הָלַךְ שָׁם לִטֹּל שְׂכַר עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה אֶלֶף שֶׁהִפִּיל מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל בַּעֲצָתוֹ, וְיָצָא מִמִּדְיָן לִקְרַאת יִשְׂרָאֵל וּמַשִּׂיאָן עֵצָה רָעָה — אָמַר לָהֶם אִם כְּשֶׁהֱיִיתֶם שִׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא לֹא יְכָלְתֶּם לָהֶם, וְעַכְשָׁיו בְּי"ב אֶלֶף אַתֶּם בָּאִים לְהִלָּחֵם? — נָתְנוּ לוֹ שְׂכָרוֹ מִשָּׁלֵם וְלֹא קִפְּחוּהוּ (ספרי):
with the sword: He came against Israel and exchanged his craft for theirs. For they are victorious only with their mouths, through prayer and supplication, and he came and adopted their craft to curse them with his mouth. So they too came against him by exchanging their craft for the craft of the nations, who come with the sword, as it says [concerning Esau], “And you shall live by your sword” (Gen. 27:40). - [See Mid. Tanchuma Balak 8]   בֶּחָֽרֶב: הוּא בָא עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְהֶחֱלִיף אֻמָּנוּתוֹ בְּאֻמָּנוּתָם, שֶׁאֵין נוֹצְחִים אֶלָּא בְּפִיהֶם וְעַל יְדֵי תְפִלָּה וּבַקָּשָׁה, וּבָא הוּא וְתָפַשׂ אֻמָּנוּתָם לְקַלְּלָם בְּפִיו, אַף הֵם בָּאוּ עָלָיו וְהֶחֱלִיפוּ אֻמָּנוּתָם בְּאֻמָּנוּת הָאֻמּוֹת שֶׁבָּאִין בַּחֶרֶב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְעַל חַרְבְּךָ תִחְיֶה" (בראשית כ"ז):
9The children of Israel took the Midianite women and their small children captive, and they plundered all their beasts, livestock, and all their possessions.   טוַיִּשְׁבּ֧וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל אֶת־נְשֵׁ֥י מִדְיָ֖ן וְאֶת־טַפָּ֑ם וְאֵ֨ת כָּל־בְּהֶמְתָּ֧ם וְאֶת־כָּל־מִקְנֵהֶ֛ם וְאֶת־כָּל־חֵילָ֖ם בָּזָֽזוּ:
10They set fire to all their residential cities and their castles.   יוְאֵ֤ת כָּל־עָֽרֵיהֶם֙ בְּמ֣וֹשְׁבֹתָ֔ם וְאֵ֖ת כָּל־טִֽירֹתָ֑ם שָֽׂרְפ֖וּ בָּאֵֽשׁ:
their castles: Heb. בְּטִירֹתָם, the place of their notaries (נוֹטֵירִין), [or the place of their palaces (פַּלְטֵירִין)] which is an expression denoting the residence of the priests, knowledgeable in their laws. Another interpretation: The residence of their lords, for the Targum renders “the lords of the Philistines” פְלִשְׁתִּים) (סַרְנֵי (I Sam. 6:4) as טוּרְנֵי פְלשְׁתָּאֵי. - [See Sifrei Mattoth 41]   טִֽירֹתָם: מְקוֹם נוֹטִירִין שֶׁלָּהֶם, שֶׁהוּא לְשׁוֹן מוֹשַׁב כּוּמָרִים יוֹדְעֵי חֻקֵּיהֶם; דָּבָר אַחֵר — לְשׁוֹן מוֹשַׁב שָׂרֵיהֶם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁמְּתֻרְגָּם "סַרְנֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים" (שמואל א ו') — טוּרְנֵי פְלִשְׁתָּאֵי:
11They took all the booty and all the plunder of man and beast.   יאוַיִּקְחוּ֙ אֶת־כָּל־הַשָּׁלָ֔ל וְאֵ֖ת כָּל־הַמַּלְק֑וֹחַ בָּֽאָדָ֖ם וּבַבְּהֵמָֽה:
They took all the booty: This teaches us that they were virtuous and righteous, and were not suspect of theft, to appropriate the booty without permission, for it says, “all the booty” (Sifrei Mattoth 42). In tradition, [i.e., in the Prophets and the Writings] Scripture explicitly refers to them, [for it says,] “your teeth are like a flock of ewes…” (Song 6:6) - even your warriors; they are all righteous. — [See Rashi on Song 6:6]   וַיִּקְחוּ אֶת־כָּל־הַשָּׁלָל וגו': מַגִּיד שֶׁהָיוּ כְשֵׁרִים וְצַדִּיקִים, וְלֹא נֶחְשְׁדוּ עַל הַגֶּזֶּל לִשְׁלֹחַ יָד בַּבִּזָּה שֶׁלֹּא בִרְשׁוּת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר את כל השלל וגו', וַעֲלֵיהֶם מְפֹרָשׁ בַּקַּבָּלָה "שִׁנַּיִךְ כְּעֵדֶר הָרְחֵלִים" וְגוֹ' (שיר השירים ו׳:ו׳) — אַף אַנְשֵׁי הַמִּלְחָמָה שֶׁבָּךְ כֻּלָּם צַדִּיקִים:
booty: Heb. שָׁלָל, movable objects such as garments and ornaments.   שלל: הֵן מִטַּלְטְלִין שֶׁל מַלְבּוּשׁ וְתַכְשִׁיטִין:
spoil: Heb. בָּז denotes plunder of movable objects which are not ornaments.   בז: הוּא בִזַּת מִטַּלְטְלִין שֶׁאֵינָם תַּכְשִׁיט:
plunder: Heb. מַלְקוֹחַ, man and beast, but when “captives” (שְׁבִי) is mentioned together with “plunder” (מַלְקוֹחַ) , the “captives” refers to people and the “plunder” to animals.   מלקוח: אָדָם וּבְהֵמָה, וּבְמָקוֹם שֶׁכָּתוּב שְׁבִי אֵצֶל מַלְקוֹחַ, שְׁבִי בָאָדָם וּמַלְקוֹחַ בַּבְּהֵמָה:
12They brought the captives, the plunder, and the booty to Moses and to Eleazar the kohen and to the entire community of Israel in the camp, in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.   יבוַיָּבִ֡אוּ אֶל־משֶׁה֩ וְאֶל־אֶלְעָזָ֨ר הַכֹּהֵ֜ן וְאֶל־עֲדַ֣ת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אֶת־הַשְּׁבִ֧י וְאֶת־הַמַּלְק֛וֹחַ וְאֶת־הַשָּׁלָ֖ל אֶל־הַמַּֽחֲנֶ֑ה אֶל־עַרְבֹ֣ת מוֹאָ֔ב אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־יַרְדֵּ֥ן יְרֵחֽוֹ:

Second Portion

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 31

13Moses, Eleazar the kohen, and all princes of the community went out to meet them, outside the camp.   יגוַיֵּ֨צְא֜וּ משֶׁ֨ה וְאֶלְעָזָ֧ר הַכֹּהֵ֛ן וְכָל־נְשִׂיאֵ֥י הָֽעֵדָ֖ה לִקְרָאתָ֑ם אֶל־מִח֖וּץ לַמַּֽחֲנֶֽה:
Moses, Eleazar the kohen… went out: because they saw the Israelite youths going out to grab the spoils. — [Sifrei Mattoth 42]   וַיֵּצְאוּ משֶׁה וְאֶלְעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן: לְפִי שֶׁרָאוּ אֶת נַעֲרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל יוֹצְאִים לַחֲטֹף מִן הַבִּזָּה (ספרי):
14Moses became angry with the officers of the army, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, who had returned from the campaign of war.   ידוַיִּקְצֹ֣ף משֶׁ֔ה עַ֖ל פְּקוּדֵ֣י הֶחָ֑יִל שָׂרֵ֤י הָֽאֲלָפִים֙ וְשָׂרֵ֣י הַמֵּא֔וֹת הַבָּאִ֖ים מִצְּבָ֥א הַמִּלְחָמָֽה:
Moses became angry with the officers of the army: Those appointed over the army. [This comes] to teach you that when a generation is corrupt, the leaders are held responsible, for they have the power to protest. — [Sifrei Mattoth 43]   וַיִּקְצֹף משֶׁה עַל פְּקוּדֵי הֶחָיִל: מְמֻנִּים עַל הַחַיִל, לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁכָּל סִרְחוֹן הַדּוֹר תָּלוּי בַּגְּדוֹלִים שֶׁיֵּשׁ כֹּחַ בְּיָדָם לִמְחוֹת (שם):
15Moses said to them, "Did you allow all the females to live?   טווַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם משֶׁ֑ה הַֽחִיִּיתֶ֖ם כָּל־נְקֵבָֽה:
16They were the same ones who were involved with the children of Israel on Balaam's advice to betray the Lord over the incident of Peor, resulting in a plague among the congregation of the Lord.   טזהֵ֣ן הֵ֜נָּה הָי֨וּ לִבְנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ בִּדְבַ֣ר בִּלְעָ֔ם לִמְסָר־מַ֥עַל בַּֽיהֹוָ֖ה עַל־דְּבַ֣ר פְּע֑וֹר וַתְּהִ֥י הַמַּגֵּפָ֖ה בַּֽעֲדַ֥ת יְהֹוָֽה:
They were the same ones: This shows that they recognized them [saying,] "This is the one who led so-and-so astray. — [Sifrei Zuta, Yalkut Shimoni]   הֵן הֵנָּה: מַגִּיד שֶׁהָיוּ מַכִּירִים אוֹתָן — זוֹ הִיא שֶׁנִּכְשַׁל פְּלוֹנִי בָהּ (ילקוט שמעוני תשפ"ה):
on Balaam’s advice: He said to them, "Even if you assemble all the multitudes of the world, you will not be able to overcome them. Are you more numerous than the Egyptians, who had six hundred chosen chariots? Come, and I will advise you. Their God hates immorality [thus, entice them to sin with your women…] as appears in [the chapter of] Cheilek (Sanh. 106a and in the Sifrei (Mattoth 43).   בִּדְבַר בִּלְעָם: אָמַר לָהֶם אֲפִלּוּ אַתֶּם מַכְנִיסִין כָּל הֲמוֹנוֹת שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם אֵין אַתֶּם יְכוֹלִים לָהֶם, שֶׁמָּא מְרֻבִּים אַתֶּם מִן הַמִּצְרִיִּים שֶׁהָיוּ שֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת רֶכֶב בָּחוּר? בֹּאוּ וְאַשִּׂיאֲכֶם עֵצָה, אֱלֹהֵיהֶם שֶׁל אֵלּוּ שׂוֹנֵא זִמָּה הוּא וְכוּ' כִּדְאִיתָא בְחֵלֶק (דף ק"ו) וּבְסִפְרֵי:
17So now kill every male child, and every woman who can lie intimately with a man you shall kill.   יזוְעַתָּ֕ה הִרְג֥וּ כָל־זָכָ֖ר בַּטָּ֑ף וְכָל־אִשָּׁ֗ה יֹדַ֥עַת אִ֛ישׁ לְמִשְׁכַּ֥ב זָכָ֖ר הֲרֹֽגוּ:
Every woman who can lie intimately with a man: Capable of sexual intercourse, even though she may never have experienced it. They passed them all in front of the showplate, and the faces of those capable of intercourse turned green. — [Yev. 60b]   וְכָל־אִשָּׁה יֹדַעַת אישׁ: רְאוּיָה לִבָּעֵל, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא נִבְעֲלָה, וְלִפְנֵי הַצִּיץ הֶעֱבִירוּם, וְהָרְאוּיָה לִבָּעֵל פָּנֶיהָ מוֹרִיקוֹת (יבמות ס'):
you shall kill: Why is this repeated? In order to make a pause in the text; so says R. Ishmael. For when I read, “kill every male child, and every woman who can lie intimately with a man… And all the young girls…” I would not know whether to kill them [the women of the first verse] with the males, or allow them to live along with the young [girls]. That is why it says [at the end of the verse] “you shall kill.” - [Sifrei Mattoth 45]   הִרְגוּ: לָמָּה חָזַר וְאָמַר? לְהַפְסִיק הָעִנְיָן, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל, שֶׁאִם אֲנִי קוֹרֵא הִרְגוּ כָל זָכָר בַּטָּף וְכָל אִשָּׁה יֹדַעַת אִישׁ וְכֹל הַטַּף בַּנָּשִׁים וְגוֹ', אֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ אִם לַהֲרֹג עִם הַזְּכָרִים אוֹ לְהַחֲיוֹת עִם הַטַּף, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר הֲרֹגוּ:
18And all the young girls who have no experience of intimate relations with a man, you may keep alive for yourselves.   יחוְכֹל֙ הַטַּ֣ף בַּנָּשִׁ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־יָֽדְע֖וּ מִשְׁכַּ֣ב זָכָ֑ר הַֽחֲי֖וּ לָכֶֽם:
19And you, encamp outside the camp for seven days; whoever killed a person or who touched a corpse shall cleanse himself on the third and seventh day, both you and your captives.   יטוְאַתֶּ֗ם חֲנ֛וּ מִח֥וּץ לַמַּֽחֲנֶ֖ה שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֑ים כֹּל֩ הֹרֵ֨ג נֶ֜פֶשׁ וְכֹ֣ל | נֹגֵ֣עַ בֶּֽחָלָ֗ל תִּתְחַטְּא֞וּ בַּיּ֤וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי֙ וּבַיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י אַתֶּ֖ם וּשְׁבִיכֶֽם:
outside the camp: [This means] that they should not enter the courtyard [of the Mishkan].   מִחוּץ לַמַּֽחֲנֶה: שֶׁלֹּא יִכָּנְסוּ לָעֲזָרָה:
anyone who killed a person: R. Meir says, Scripture speaks of one who killed with a weapon susceptible to contamination, and it teaches that a vessel defiles a person when it is in contact with a corpse, as if he were actually in contact with the corpse itself. Or, I might think that [he becomes contaminated] even if he shot an arrow and killed him. Scripture therefore teaches, “or who touched a corpse,” equating the one who kills with the one who touches. Just as one who touches is [contaminated] through contact, so is the one who kills [contaminated] through contact. — [Sifrei Chukkath 48]   כֹּל הֹרֵג נֶפֶשׁ: רַ' מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר בְּהוֹרֵג בְּדָבָר הַמְקַבֵּל טֻמְאָה הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר, וְלִמֶּדְךָ הַכָּתוּב שֶׁהַכְּלִי מְטַמֵּא אָדָם בְּחִבּוּרֵי הַמֵּת כְּאִלּוּ נוֹגֵעַ בַּמֵּת עַצְמוֹ, אוֹ יָכוֹל אֲפִלּוּ זָרַק בּוֹ חֵץ וַהֲרָגוֹ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר וכל נגע בחלל, הִקִּישׁ הוֹרֵג לְנוֹגֵעַ, מַה נּוֹגֵעַ עַל יְדֵי חִבּוּרוֹ, אַף הוֹרֵג עַל יְדֵי חִבּוּרוֹ (ספרי במדבר י"ט):
shall cleanse himself: with sprinkling water, as is the law with others who were defiled through contact with corpses. For even those who believe that gentile graves do not contaminate [an Israelite] if they are under the same roof-as it says, “You my sheep, the sheep of My pasture; you are men” (Ezek. 34:31) [and the Sages add,] only you are called “men” (Yev. 61a) - admit that gentiles contaminate through contact and carrying, for [the term] “men” is said only in reference to uncleanness caused by being in the same tent [namely, under one roof] as it says, “[This is the law for a man (אָדָם) who dies in a tent” (19:14).   תִּתְחַטְּאוּ: בְּמֵי נִדָּה כְּדִין שְׁאָר טְמֵאֵי מֵתִים, שֶׁאַף לְדִבְרֵי הָאוֹמְרִים קִבְרֵי גוֹיִם אֵינָם מְטַמְּאִין בָּאֹהֶל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יחזקאל ל"ד) "וְאַתֵּן צֹאנִי צֹאן מַרְעִיתִי אָדָם אַתֶּם" — אַתֶּם קְרוּיִם אָדָם — מוֹדֶה הוּא שֶׁהַגּוֹיִם מְטַמְּאִים בְּמַגַּע וּבְמַשָּׂא, שֶׁלֹּא נֶאֱמַר אָדָם אֶלָּא אֵצֶל טֻמְאַת אָהֳלוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "אָדָם כִּי יָמוּת בְּאֹהֶל" (במדבר י"ט):
you and your captives: Not that gentiles are susceptible to contamination and therefore require sprinkling, but just as you are members of the covenant, so too your captives, should they become contaminated after they enter the covenant [of God], they require sprinkling. — [Sifrei Mattoth 46]   אַתֶּם וּשְׁבִיכֶֽם: לֹא שֶׁהַגּוֹיִם מְקַבְּלִין טֻמְאָה וּצְרִיכִין הַזָּאָה, אֶלָּא מָה אַתֶּם בְּנֵי בְרִית, אַף שְׁבִיכֶם כְּשֶׁיָּבֹאוּ לַבְּרִית וְיִטָּמְאוּ, צְרִיכִין הַזָּאָה (ספרי):
20All garments, leather articles, any goat product, and every wooden article shall undergo purification."   כוְכָל־בֶּ֧גֶד וְכָל־כְּלִי־ע֛וֹר וְכָל־מַֽעֲשֵׂ֥ה עִזִּ֖ים וְכָל־כְּלִי־עֵ֑ץ תִּתְחַטָּֽאוּ:
and any goat product: This includes articles made from the horns, the hooves, and the bones. — [Chul. 25b]   וְכָל־מַֽעֲשֵׂה עִזִּים: לְהָבִיא כְלֵי הַקַּרְנַיִם וְהַטְּלָפַיִם וְהָעֲצָמוֹת (חולין כ"ה):
21Eleazar the kohen said to the soldiers returning from battle, "This is the statute that the Lord commanded Moses.   כאוַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֶלְעָזָ֤ר הַכֹּהֵן֙ אֶל־אַנְשֵׁ֣י הַצָּבָ֔א הַבָּאִ֖ים לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה זֹ֚את חֻקַּ֣ת הַתּוֹרָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־משֶֽׁה:
Eleazar the kohen…: Since Moses came to a state of anger, he came to err, for the laws of purging gentile vessels eluded him. A similar incident happened on the eighth day of the investitures [of the kohanim], as it says, “He [Moses] became angry with Eleazar and Ithamar” (Lev. 10:16); he came to a state of anger, so he came to err. Similarly, in the episode of “Now listen, you rebels… and struck the rock” (20:10-11); through anger, he came to err. — [Sifrei Mattoth 48]   וַיֹּאמֶר אֶלְעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן וגו': לְפִי שֶׁבָּא מֹשֶׁה לִכְלַל כַּעַס בָּא לִכְלַל טָעוּת, שֶׁנִּתְעַלְּמוּ מִמֶּנּוּ הִלְכוֹת גִּעוּלֵי גּוֹיִם, וְכֵן אַתָּה מוֹצֵא בַשְּׁמִינִי לַמִּלּוּאִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וַיִּקְצֹף עַל אֶלְעָזָר וְעַל אִיתָמָר" (ויקרא י') — בָּא לִכְלַל כַּעַס בָּא לִכְלַל טָעוּת, וְכֵן בְּשִׁמְעוּ נָא הַמֹּרִים (במדבר כ') "וַיַּךְ אֶת הַסֶּלַע" — עַל יְדֵי הַכַּעַס טָעָה (ספרי; פסחים ס"ו):
which the Lord commanded [Moses]: He ascribed the ruling to his mentor. — [Sifrei Mattoth 48]   אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּה ה' וגו': תָּלָה הַהוֹרָאָה בְּרַבּוֹ (עי' ספרי):
22Only the gold, the silver, the copper, the iron, the tin, and the lead   כבאַ֥ךְ אֶת־הַזָּהָ֖ב וְאֶת־הַכָּ֑סֶף אֶת־הַנְּח֨שֶׁת֙ אֶת־הַבַּרְזֶ֔ל אֶת־הַבְּדִ֖יל וְאֶת־הָֽעֹפָֽרֶת:
Only the gold etc.: Even though Moses warned you only about the laws of ritual uncleanness, you must further be warned of the laws concerning the purging [of contaminated vessels]. [The word] אַךְ “only” is an exclusive expression, that is to say, you are excluded from using vessels even after their purification from contamination by a corpse, until they have been purged from the absorption of the forbidden flesh of carrion. Our Rabbis said,“ Only the gold…” teaches you that one must remove its rust before one purges it. This is the meaning of אַךְ “only”-there should be no rust; “only” the metal itself in its original form. — [Targum Jonathan ben Uzziel, Yalkut Shimoni]   אַךְ אֶת־הַזָּהָב וגו': אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא הִזְהִיר לָכֶם מֹשֶׁה אֶלָּא עַל הִלְכוֹת טֻמְאָה, עוֹד יֵשׁ לְהַזְהִיר לָכֶם עַל הִלְכוֹת גִּעוּל, וְ"אַךְ" לְשׁוֹן מִעוּט, כְּלוֹמַר מְמֻעָטִין אַתֶּם מִלְּהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בַּכֵּלִים אֲפִלּוּ לְאַחַר טָהֲרָתָן מִטֻּמְאַת הַמֵּת עַד שֶׁיִּטְהֲרוּ מִבְּלִיעַת אִסּוּר נְבֵלוֹת; וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ אָמְרוּ, אך את הזהב לוֹמַר, שֶׁצָּרִיךְ לְהַעֲבִיר חֲלוּדָה שֶׁלּוֹ קֹדֶם שֶׁיַּגְעִילֶנּוּ, וְזֶהוּ לְשׁוֹן אך, שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא שָׁם חֲלוּדָה אַךְ הַמַּתֶּכֶת יִהְיֶה כְּמוֹ שֶׁהוּא:
23whatever is used in fire you shall pass through fire and then it will be clean; it must, however, [also] be cleansed with sprinkling water, and whatever is not used in fire you shall pass through water.   כגכָּל־דָּבָ֞ר אֲשֶׁר־יָבֹ֣א בָאֵ֗שׁ תַּֽעֲבִ֤ירוּ בָאֵשׁ֙ וְטָהֵ֔ר אַ֕ךְ בְּמֵ֥י נִדָּ֖ה יִתְחַטָּ֑א וְכֹ֨ל אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹֽא־יָבֹ֛א בָּאֵ֖שׁ תַּֽעֲבִ֥ירוּ בַמָּֽיִם:
whatever is used in fire: For cooking anything.   כָּל־דָּבָר אֲשֶׁר־יָבֹא בָאֵשׁ: לְבַשֵּׁל בּוֹ כְּלוּם:
shall pass through fire: It is purged in the manner it is used. If it is used in hot water, it must be purged in hot water, and if it is used for roasting, such as a spit or grill, it must be made to glow in fire. — [A.Z. 75b]   תַּֽעֲבִירוּ בָאֵשׁ: כְּדֶרֶךְ תַּשְׁמִישׁוֹ הַגְעָלָתוֹ — מִי שֶׁתַּשְׁמִישׁוֹ עַל יְדֵי חַמִּין יַגְעִילֶנּוּ בְחַמִּין, וּמִי שֶׁתַּשְׁמִישׁוֹ עַל יְדֵי צְלִי, כְּגוֹן הַשְּׁפוּד וְהָאַסְכְּלָה, יְלַבְּנוֹ בָּאוּר (עבודה זרה ע"ד):
it must, however, [also] be cleansed with sprinkling water: According to its simple meaning, this sprinkling was to cleanse it from contamination by a corpse. He said to them,“The vessels require purging to cleanse them from the [absorption of] forbidden [food], and sprinkling to cleanse them of [spiritual] uncleanness [caused by a corpse].” Our Rabbis expounded from here that even to make them fit for use [after contamination] from forbidden food, ritual immersion was required for metal utensils. They expound מֵי נִדָּה written here to mean water fit for a menstruant [Heb. נִדָּה] to immerse herself in. How much is that? Forty 'seah.’- [A.Z. 75b]   אַךְ בְּמֵי נִדָּה יִתְחַטָּא: לְפִי פְשׁוּטוֹ חִטּוּי זֶה לְטַהֲרוֹ מִטֻּמְאַת מֵת, אָמַר לָהֶם צְרִיכִין הַכֵּלִים גִּעוּל לְטַהֲרָם מִן הָאִסּוּר וְחִטּוּי לְטַהֲרָן מִן הַטֻּמְאָה; וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ דָרְשׁוּ מִכָּאן שֶׁאַף לְהַכְשִׁירָן מִן הָאִסּוּר הִטְעִין טְבִילָה לִכְלֵי מַתָּכוֹת, וּמֵי נִדָּה הַכְּתוּבִין כָּאן דָּרְשׁוּ מַיִם הָרְאוּיִם לִטְבֹּל בָּהֶם נִדָּה, וְכַמָּה הֵם? אַרְבָּעִים סְאָה (שם ע"ה):
and whatever is not used in fire: Anything which is not used in fire such as ewers, cups, and jugs, all of which are used for cold [food] and did not absorb forbidden food. — [A.Z. 75b]   וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר־לֹֽא־יָבֹא בָאֵשׁ: כָּל דָּבָר שֶׁאֵין תַּשְׁמִישׁוֹ עַל יְדֵי הָאוּר, כְּגוֹן כּוֹסוֹת וּצְלוֹחִיּוֹת שֶׁתַּשְׁמִישָׁן בְּצוֹנֵן וְלֹא בָלְעוּ אִסּוּר:
shall be passed through water: He immerses them and that is sufficient. This refers only to metal utensils. — [A.Z. 75b, Sifrei Mattoth 50]   תַּֽעֲבִירוּ בַמָּֽיִם: מַטְבִּילָן וְדַיּוֹ, וְדַוְקָא כְלֵי מַתָּכוֹת:
24You shall wash your garments on the seventh day and become [ritually] clean; afterwards, you may enter the camp."   כדוְכִבַּסְתֶּ֧ם בִּגְדֵיכֶ֛ם בַּיּ֥וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֖י וּטְהַרְתֶּ֑ם וְאַחַ֖ר תָּבֹ֥אוּ אֶל־הַמַּֽחֲנֶֽה:
the camp: The camp of the Shechinah, for one who is defiled by the dead is not banned from the Levite camp or the Israelite camp. — [Pes. 67a]   אֶל־הַמַּֽחֲנֶֽה: לְמַחֲנֵה שְׁכִינָה, שֶׁאֵין טְמֵא מֵת טָעוּן שִׁלּוּחַ מִמַּחֲנֵה לְוִיָּה וּמִמַּחֲנֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל:
25The Lord spoke to Moses, saying,   כהוַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר:
26"Take a count of the plunder of the captive people and animals, you, together with Eleazar the kohen and the paternal leaders of the community.   כושָׂ֗א אֵ֣ת רֹ֤אשׁ מַלְק֨וֹחַ֙ הַשְּׁבִ֔י בָּֽאָדָ֖ם וּבַבְּהֵמָ֑ה אַתָּה֙ וְאֶלְעָזָ֣ר הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְרָאשֵׁ֖י אֲב֥וֹת הָֽעֵדָֽה:
Take a count of: Heb. שָׂא אֶת ראשׁ, take the tally.   שָׂא אֵת רֹאשׁ: קַח אֶת הַחֶשְׁבּוֹן:
27And you shall divide the plunder equally between the warriors who went out to battle and the entire congregation.   כזוְחָצִ֨יתָ֙ אֶת־הַמַּלְק֔וֹחַ בֵּ֚ין תֹּֽפְשֵׂ֣י הַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה הַיֹּֽצְאִ֖ים לַצָּבָ֑א וּבֵ֖ין כָּל־הָֽעֵדָֽה:
Divide the plunder equally between the warriors…: Half for these and half for those.   וְחָצִיתָ אֶת־הַמַּלְקוֹחַ בֵּין תֹּֽפְשֵׂי הַמִּלְחָמָה וגו': חֶצְיוֹ לָאֵלּוּ וְחֶצְיוֹ לָאֵלּוּ:
28And you shall levy a tax for the Lord from the soldiers who went out to battle: one soul out of every five hundred, from the people, from the cattle, from the donkeys, and from the sheep.   כחוַֽהֲרֵֽמֹתָ֨ מֶ֜כֶס לַֽיהֹוָ֗ה מֵאֵ֞ת אַנְשֵׁ֤י הַמִּלְחָמָה֙ הַיֹּֽצְאִ֣ים לַצָּבָ֔א אֶחָ֣ד נֶ֔פֶשׁ מֵֽחֲמֵ֖שׁ הַמֵּא֑וֹת מִן־הָֽאָדָם֙ וּמִן־הַבָּקָ֔ר וּמִן־הַֽחֲמֹרִ֖ים וּמִן־הַצֹּֽאן:
29You shall take from their half and give it to Eleazar the kohen as a gift to the Lord.   כטמִמַּֽחֲצִיתָ֖ם תִּקָּ֑חוּ וְנָֽתַתָּ֛ה לְאֶלְעָזָ֥ר הַכֹּהֵ֖ן תְּרוּמַ֥ת יְהֹוָֽה:
30From the half belonging to the children of Israel you shall take one part out of fifty of the people, of the cattle, of the donkeys, of the sheep, and of all animals, and you shall give them to the Levites, the guardians of the Mishkan of the Lord."   לוּמִמַּֽחֲצִ֨ת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל תִּקַּ֣ח | אֶחָ֣ד | אָחֻ֣ז מִן־הַֽחֲמִשִּׁ֗ים מִן־הָֽאָדָ֧ם מִן־הַבָּקָ֛ר מִן־הַֽחֲמֹרִ֥ים וּמִן־הַצֹּ֖אן מִכָּל־הַבְּהֵמָ֑ה וְנָֽתַתָּ֤ה אֹתָם֙ לַֽלְוִיִּ֔ם שֹֽׁמְרֵ֕י מִשְׁמֶ֖רֶת מִשְׁכַּ֥ן יְהֹוָֽה:
31Moses and Eleazar the kohen did as the Lord had commanded Moses.   לאוַיַּ֣עַשׂ משֶׁ֔ה וְאֶלְעָזָ֖ר הַכֹּהֵ֑ן כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־משֶֽׁה:
32The plunder, which was in addition to the spoils that the army had spoiled, consisted of six hundred and seventy five thousand sheep.   לבוַֽיְהִי֙ הַמַּלְק֔וֹחַ יֶ֣תֶר הַבָּ֔ז אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּֽזְז֖וּ עַ֣ם הַצָּבָ֑א צֹ֗אן שֵֽׁשׁ־מֵא֥וֹת אֶ֛לֶף וְשִׁבְעִ֥ים אֶ֖לֶף וַֽחֲמֵ֥שֶׁת אֲלָפִֽים:
The plunder which was in addition to the spoil…: Because they were not commanded to levy a tax from the movable objects, but only from the [living] plunder, Scripture expresses it in this way: The plunder which was included in the allocation and in the tax-which remained over after the spoils of the movable property were plundered by the soldiers for themselves, and were therefore not included in the allocation- [was as follows:] the number of sheep etc.   וַֽיְהִי הַמַּלְקוֹחַ יֶתֶר הַבָּז: לְפִי שֶׁלֹּא נִצְטַוּוּ לְהָרִים מֶכֶס מִן הַמִּטַּלְטְלִין אֶלָּא מִן הַמַּלְקוֹחַ, כָּתַב אֶת הַלָּשׁוֹן הַזֶּה ויהי המלקוח, שֶׁבָּא לִכְלַל חֲלֻקָּה וְלִכְלַל מֶכֶס, שֶׁהָיָה עוֹדֵף עַל בַּז הַמִּטַּלְטְלִין אשר בזזו עם הצבא איש לו וְלֹא בָא לִכְלַל חֲלֻקָּה — מִסְפַּר הַצֹּאן וְגוֹ':
33Seventy two thousand cattle.   לגוּבָקָ֕ר שְׁנַ֥יִם וְשִׁבְעִ֖ים אָֽלֶף:
34Sixty one thousand donkeys.   לדוַֽחֲמֹרִ֕ים אֶחָ֥ד וְשִׁשִּׁ֖ים אָֽלֶף:
35As for the people, of the women who had no experience of intimate relations with a man, all souls were thirty two thousand.   להוְנֶ֣פֶשׁ אָדָ֔ם מִן־הַנָּשִׁ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־יָֽדְע֖וּ מִשְׁכַּ֣ב זָכָ֑ר כָּל־נֶ֕פֶשׁ שְׁנַ֥יִם וּשְׁלשִׁ֖ים אָֽלֶף:
36The half that was the portion of those who went out to battle: the number of sheep was three hundred and thirty seven thousand, five hundred.   לווַתְּהִי֙ הַמֶּֽחֱצָ֔ה חֵ֕לֶק הַיֹּֽצְאִ֖ים בַּצָּבָ֑א מִסְפַּ֣ר הַצֹּ֗אן שְׁלֽשׁ־מֵא֥וֹת אֶ֨לֶף֙ וּשְׁלשִׁ֣ים אֶ֔לֶף וְשִׁבְעַ֥ת אֲלָפִ֖ים וַֽחֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת:
37The tax to the Lord from the sheep was six hundred and seventy five.   לזוַיְהִ֛י הַמֶּ֥כֶס לַֽיהֹוָ֖ה מִן־הַצֹּ֑אן שֵׁ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת חָמֵ֥שׁ וְשִׁבְעִֽים:
38Thirty six thousand cattle, of which the tax to the Lord was seventy two.   לחוְהַ֨בָּקָ֔ר שִׁשָּׁ֥ה וּשְׁלשִׁ֖ים אָ֑לֶף וּמִכְסָ֥ם לַֽיהֹוָ֖ה שְׁנַ֥יִם וְשִׁבְעִֽים:
39Thirty thousand and five hundred donkeys, of which the tax to the Lord was sixty one.   לטוַֽחֲמֹרִ֕ים שְׁלשִׁ֥ים אֶ֖לֶף וַֽחֲמֵ֣שׁ מֵא֑וֹת וּמִכְסָ֥ם לַֽיהֹוָ֖ה אֶחָ֥ד וְשִׁשִּֽׁים:
40Sixteen thousand people, of which the tax to the Lord was thirty two people.   מוְנֶ֣פֶשׁ אָדָ֔ם שִׁשָּׁ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר אָ֑לֶף וּמִכְסָם֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה שְׁנַ֥יִם וּשְׁלשִׁ֖ים נָֽפֶשׁ:
41Moses gave the tax which was a gift to the Lord, to Eleazar the kohen, as the Lord had commanded Moses.   מאוַיִּתֵּ֣ן משֶׁ֗ה אֶת־מֶ֨כֶס֙ תְּרוּמַ֣ת יְהֹוָ֔ה לְאֶלְעָזָ֖ר הַכֹּהֵ֑ן כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־מֹשֶֽׁה:
42And from the half allotted to the children of Israel, which Moses had divided from the men who had gone into the army.   מבוּמִמַּֽחֲצִ֖ית בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֲשֶׁר֙ חָצָ֣ה משֶׁ֔ה מִן־הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֖ים הַצֹּֽבְאִֽים:
And from the half allotted to the children of Israel, which Moses had divided: on behalf of the community, for he took it for them from the men who had gone out to war.   וּמִמַּֽחֲצִית בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר חָצָה משֶׁה: לָעֵדָה, וְהוֹצִיאָהּ לָהֶם מן האנשים הצבאים:
43The community's half [consisted of] three hundred and thirty seven thousand, five hundred sheep.   מגוַתְּהִ֛י מֶֽחֱצַ֥ת הָֽעֵדָ֖ה מִן־הַצֹּ֑אן שְׁלֽשׁ־מֵא֥וֹת אֶ֨לֶף֙ וּשְׁלשִׁ֣ים אֶ֔לֶף שִׁבְעַ֥ת אֲלָפִ֖ים וַֽחֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת:
The community’s half [consisted of]: such and such.   וַתְּהִי מֶֽחֱצַת הָֽעֵדָה: כָּךְ וְכָךְ:
44Thirty six thousand cattle.   מדוּבָקָ֕ר שִׁשָּׁ֥ה וּשְׁלשִׁ֖ים אָֽלֶף:
45Thirty thousand five hundred donkeys.   מהוַֽחֲמֹרִ֕ים שְׁלשִׁ֥ים אֶ֖לֶף וַֽחֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת:
46And sixteen thousand people.   מווְנֶ֣פֶשׁ אָדָ֔ם שִׁשָּׁ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר אָֽלֶף:
47Moses took one part out of fifty from the half of the children of Israel, the people and the animals, and gave them to the Levites, the guardians of the Lord's sanctuary as G-d commanded Moses.   מזוַיִּקַּ֨ח משֶׁ֜ה מִמַּֽחֲצִ֣ת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אֶת־הָֽאָחֻז֙ אֶחָ֣ד מִן־הַֽחֲמִשִּׁ֔ים מִן־הָֽאָדָ֖ם וּמִן־הַבְּהֵמָ֑ה וַיִּתֵּ֨ן אֹתָ֜ם לַֽלְוִיִּ֗ם שֹֽׁמְרֵי֙ מִשְׁמֶ֨רֶת֙ מִשְׁכַּ֣ן יְהֹוָ֔ה כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־מֹשֶֽׁה:
Moses took etc.:   וַיִּקַּח משֶׁה וגו':
48The officers appointed over the army's thousands, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, approached Moses.   מחוַיִּקְרְבוּ֙ אֶל־משֶׁ֔ה הַפְּקֻדִ֕ים אֲשֶׁ֖ר לְאַלְפֵ֣י הַצָּבָ֑א שָׂרֵ֥י הָֽאֲלָפִ֖ים וְשָׂרֵ֥י הַמֵּאֽוֹת:
The officers: Heb. הַפְּקֻדִים, those appointed.   הַפְּקֻדִים: הַמְמֻנִּים:
49They said to Moses, "Your servants counted the soldiers who were in our charge, and not one man was missing from us.   מטוַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ אֶל־משֶׁ֔ה עֲבָדֶ֣יךָ נָּֽשְׂא֗וּ אֶת־רֹ֛אשׁ אַנְשֵׁ֥י הַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּיָדֵ֑נוּ וְלֹֽא־נִפְקַ֥ד מִמֶּ֖נּוּ אִֽישׁ:
not…missing: Heb. ולֹא נִפְקַד, there is not one missing. The Targum [Onkelos] renders לָא שְׁגָא which in Aramaic also means ‘missing,’ as in “I would suffer its loss (אֲחַטֶּנָּה)” (Gen. 31:39) which the Targum renders, “what was missing (שַׁגְיָא) from the count.” Similarly, “for your seat will be vacant (יִפָּקֵד)” (I Sam. 20:18)-the place where you sit will be missing, the one who usually sits there. Similarly, וַיִפָּקֵד מְקוֹם דָּוד “David’s place was vacant” (ibid. 25); his place was missing, and no one was sitting there.   וְלֹֽא־נִפְקַד: לֹא נֶחְסַר, וְתַרְגּוּמוֹ "לָא שְׁגָא", אַף הוּא בִּלְשׁוֹן אֲרַמִי חִסָּרוֹן, כְּמוֹ "אָנֹכִי אֲחַטֶּנָּה" (בראשית ל"א) תַרְגּוּמוֹ "דַּהֲוַת שָׁגְיָא מִמִּנְיָנָא", וְכֵן "כִּי יִפָּקֵד מוֹשָׁבֶךָ" (שמואל א כ') — יֶחְסַר מְקוֹם מוֹשָׁבְךָ, אִישׁ הָרָגִיל לֵישֵׁב שָׁם, וְכֵן "וַיִּפָּקֵד מְקוֹם דָּוִד" (שם) — נֶחְסַר מְקוֹמוֹ וְאֵין אִישׁ יוֹשֵׁב שָׁם:
50We therefore wish to bring an offering for the Lord. Any man who found a gold article, be it an anklet, a bracelet, a ring, an earring, or a body ornament, to atone for our souls before the Lord.   נוַנַּקְרֵ֞ב אֶת־קָרְבַּ֣ן יְהֹוָ֗ה אִישׁ֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר מָצָ֤א כְלִֽי־זָהָב֙ אֶצְעָדָ֣ה וְצָמִ֔יד טַבַּ֖עַת עָגִ֣יל וְכוּמָ֑ז לְכַפֵּ֥ר עַל־נַפְשֹׁתֵ֖ינוּ לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה:
anklet: Heb. אֶצְעָדָה, bangles for the foot.   אֶצְעָדָה: אֵלּוּ צְמִידִים שֶׁל רֶגֶל:
bracelet: Heb. וְצָמִיד, [bangles] for the hand.   וְצָמִיד: שֶׁל יָד:
earring: Heb. עָגִיל, earrings.   עָגִיל: נִזְמֵי אֹזֶן:
body ornament: Heb. וְכוּמָז, a form for the female genitalia, to atone for their sinful thoughts concerning the Midianite women. — [Shab. 64a]   וְכוּמָז: דְּפוּס שֶׁל בֵּית הָרֶחֶם, לְכַפֵּר הִרְהוּר הַלֵּב שֶׁל בְּנוֹת מִדְיָן (שבת ס"ד):
51Moses and Eleazar the kohen took all the gold articles from them.   נאוַיִּקַּ֨ח משֶׁ֜ה וְאֶלְעָזָ֧ר הַכֹּהֵ֛ן אֶת־הַזָּהָ֖ב מֵֽאִתָּ֑ם כֹּ֖ל כְּלִ֥י מַֽעֲשֶֽׂה:
52The total of the gift of gold which they dedicated to the Lord [amounted to] sixteen thousand, seven hundred and fifty shekels; this was from the commanders of the thousands and the commanders of the hundreds.   נבוַיְהִ֣י | כָּל־זְהַ֣ב הַתְּרוּמָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר הֵרִ֨ימוּ֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה שִׁשָּׁ֨ה עָשָׂ֥ר אֶ֛לֶף שְׁבַע־מֵא֥וֹת וַֽחֲמִשִּׁ֖ים שָׁ֑קֶל מֵאֵת֙ שָׂרֵ֣י הָֽאֲלָפִ֔ים וּמֵאֵ֖ת שָׂרֵ֥י הַמֵּאֽוֹת:
53The soldiers had seized spoils for themselves.   נגאַנְשֵׁי֙ הַצָּבָ֔א בָּֽזְז֖וּ אִ֥ישׁ לֽוֹ:
54Moses and Eleazar the kohen took the gold from the commanders of the thousands and hundreds and brought it to the Tent of Meeting, as a remembrance for the children of Israel before the Lord.   נדוַיִּקַּ֨ח משֶׁ֜ה וְאֶלְעָזָ֤ר הַכֹּהֵן֙ אֶת־הַזָּהָ֔ב מֵאֵ֛ת שָׂרֵ֥י הָֽאֲלָפִ֖ים וְהַמֵּא֑וֹת וַיָּבִ֤אוּ אֹתוֹ֙ אֶל־אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד זִכָּר֥וֹן לִבְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה:

Third Portion

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 32

1The descendants of Reuben and Gad had an abundance of livestock very numerous and they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, and behold, the place was a place for livestock.   אוּמִקְנֶ֣ה | רַ֗ב הָיָ֞ה לִבְנֵ֧י רְאוּבֵ֛ן וְלִבְנֵי־גָ֖ד עָצ֣וּם מְאֹ֑ד וַיִּרְא֞וּ אֶת־אֶ֤רֶץ יַעְזֵר֙ וְאֶת־אֶ֣רֶץ גִּלְעָ֔ד וְהִנֵּ֥ה הַמָּק֖וֹם מְק֥וֹם מִקְנֶֽה:
2The descendants of Gad and the descendants of Reuben came, and they spoke to Moses and to Eleazar the kohen and to the princes of the community, saying,   בוַיָּבֹ֥אוּ בְנֵי־גָ֖ד וּבְנֵ֣י רְאוּבֵ֑ן וַיֹּֽאמְר֤וּ אֶל־משֶׁה֙ וְאֶל־אֶלְעָזָ֣ר הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְאֶל־נְשִׂיאֵ֥י הָֽעֵדָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר:
3"Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, and Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon,   געֲטָר֤וֹת וְדִיבֹן֙ וְיַעְזֵ֣ר וְנִמְרָ֔ה וְחֶשְׁבּ֖וֹן וְאֶלְעָלֵ֑ה וּשְׂבָ֥ם וּנְב֖וֹ וּבְעֹֽן:
Ataroth, Dibon…: They were [part] of the land belonging to Sihon and Og.   עֲטָרוֹת וְדִיבֹן וגו': מֵאֶרֶץ סִיחוֹן וְעוֹג הָיוּ:
4the land that the Lord struck down before the congregation of Israel is a land for livestock, and your servants have livestock."   דהָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִכָּ֤ה יְהֹוָה֙ לִפְנֵי֙ עֲדַ֣ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶ֥רֶץ מִקְנֶ֖ה הִ֑וא וְלַֽעֲבָדֶ֖יךָ מִקְנֶֽה:
5They said, "If it pleases you, let this land be given to your servants as a heritage; do not take us across the Jordan."   הוַיֹּֽאמְר֗וּ אִם־מָצָ֤אנוּ חֵן֙ בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ יֻתַּ֞ן אֶת־הָאָ֧רֶץ הַזֹּ֛את לַֽעֲבָדֶ֖יךָ לַֽאֲחֻזָּ֑ה אַל־תַּֽעֲבִרֵ֖נוּ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּֽן:
6[Thereupon,] Moses said to the descendants of Gad and the descendants of Reuben, "Shall your brethren go to war while you stay here?   ווַיֹּ֣אמֶר משֶׁ֔ה לִבְנֵי־גָ֖ד וְלִבְנֵ֣י רְאוּבֵ֑ן הַֽאַחֵיכֶ֗ם יָבֹ֨אוּ֙ לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה וְאַתֶּ֖ם תֵּ֥שְׁבוּ פֹֽה:
Shall your brethren: This [’hey’] denotes a question.   הַֽאַחֵיכֶם: לְשׁוֹן תְּמִיהָה הוּא:
7Why do you discourage the children of Israel from crossing over to the land which the Lord has given them?   זוְלָ֣מָּה תְנִיא֔וּן (כתיב תנואון) אֶת־לֵ֖ב בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מֵֽעֲבֹר֙ אֶל־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥ן לָהֶ֖ם יְהֹוָֽה:
Why do you discourage: You turn aside and dissuade their hearts from crossing, for they will think that you are afraid to cross because of the war and the strength of the cities and the people.   וְלָמָּה תניאון: תָּסִירוּ וְתַמְנִיעוּ לִבָּם מֵעֲבֹר, שֶׁיִּהְיוּ סְבוּרִים שֶׁאַתֶּם יְרֵאִים לַעֲבֹר מִפְּנֵי הַמִּלְחָמָה וְחֹזֶק הֶעָרִים וְהָעָם:
8This is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh barnea to explore the Land.   חכֹּ֥ה עָשׂ֖וּ אֲבֹֽתֵיכֶ֑ם בְּשָׁלְחִ֥י אֹתָ֛ם מִקָּדֵ֥שׁ בַּרְנֵ֖עַ לִרְא֥וֹת אֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ:
from Kadesh-barnea: This was its name; there were two places called Kadesh [one Kadesh-barnea and one Kadesh unmodified].   מִקָּדֵשׁ בַּרְנֵעַ: כָּךְ שְׁמָהּ, וּשְׁתֵּי קָדֵשׁ הָיוּ:
9They went up to the Valley of Eshkol and saw the land, and they discouraged the children of Israel from crossing into the land which the Lord has given them.   טוַיַּֽעֲל֞וּ עַד־נַ֣חַל אֶשְׁכּ֗וֹל וַיִּרְאוּ֙ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ וַיָּנִ֕יאוּ אֶת־לֵ֖ב בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לְבִלְתִּי־בֹא֙ אֶל־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥ן לָהֶ֖ם יְהֹוָֽה:
10The anger of the Lord flared on that day, and He swore, saying,   יוַיִּֽחַר־אַ֥ף יְהֹוָ֖ה בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא וַיִּשָּׁבַ֖ע לֵאמֹֽר:
11'None of the men from the age of twenty years and over who came out of Egypt will see the land that I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, for they did not follow Me wholeheartedly,   יאאִם־יִרְא֨וּ הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֜ים הָֽעֹלִ֣ים מִמִּצְרַ֗יִם מִבֶּ֨ן עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה אֵ֚ת הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִשְׁבַּ֛עְתִּי לְאַבְרָהָ֥ם לְיִצְחָ֖ק וּלְיַֽעֲקֹ֑ב כִּ֥י לֹֽא־מִלְא֖וּ אַֽחֲרָֽי:
12except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizite and Joshua the son of Nun, for they followed the Lord wholeheartedly.'   יבבִּלְתִּ֞י כָּלֵ֤ב בֶּן־יְפֻנֶּה֙ הַקְּנִזִּ֔י וִֽיהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ בִּן־נ֑וּן כִּ֥י מִלְא֖וּ אַֽחֲרֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה:
The Kenizite: He [Caleb] was the stepson of Kenaz, to whom Caleb’s mother bore Othniel [see Jud. 3:9]. — [Sotah 11b]   הַקְּנִזִּי: חוֹרְגוֹ שֶׁל קְנַז הָיָה וְיָלְדָה לוֹ אִמּוֹ שֶׁל כָּלֵב אֶת עָתְנִיאֵל (סוטה י"א):
13The anger of the Lord flared against Israel, and He made them wander in the desert for forty years until the entire generation who had done evil in the eyes of the Lord had died out.   יגוַיִּחַר־אַ֤ף יְהֹוָה֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיְנִעֵם֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר אַרְבָּעִ֖ים שָׁנָ֑ה עַד־תֹּם֙ כָּל־הַדּ֔וֹר הָֽעֹשֶׂ֥ה הָרָ֖ע בְּעֵינֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה:
He made them wander: He moved them about from place to place, as in נָע וָנָד “a wanderer and an exile” (Gen. 4:12).   וַיְנִעֵם: וַיְטַלְטְלֵם, מִן "נָע וָנָד" (בראשית ד):
14And behold, you have now risen in place of your fathers as a society of sinful people, to add to the wrathful anger of the Lord against Israel.   ידוְהִנֵּ֣ה קַמְתֶּ֗ם תַּ֚חַת אֲבֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם תַּרְבּ֖וּת אֲנָשִׁ֣ים חַטָּאִ֑ים לִסְפּ֣וֹת ע֗וֹד עַ֛ל חֲר֥וֹן אַף־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
to add: לִסְפּוֹת like “add (סְפוּ) year to year” (Isa. 29:1), and “add (סְפוּ) your burnt offerings” (Jer. 7:21); it denotes addition.   לִסְפּוֹת: כְּמוֹ "סְפוּ שָׁנָה עַל שָׁנָה" (ישעיהו כ"ט), "עֹלוֹתֵיכֶם סְפוּ" וְגוֹ' (ירמיהו ז'), לְשׁוֹן תּוֹסֶפֶת:
15If you turn away from following Him, He will leave you in the desert again, and you will destroy this entire people."   טוכִּ֤י תְשׁוּבֻן֙ מֵאַ֣חֲרָ֔יו וְיָסַ֣ף ע֔וֹד לְהַנִּיח֖וֹ בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר וְשִֽׁחַתֶּ֖ם לְכָל־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּֽה:
16They approached him and said, "We will build sheepfolds for our livestock here and cities for our children.   טזוַיִּגְּשׁ֤וּ אֵלָיו֙ וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ גִּדְרֹ֥ת צֹ֛אן נִבְנֶ֥ה לְמִקְנֵ֖נוּ פֹּ֑ה וְעָרִ֖ים לְטַפֵּֽנוּ:
We shall build sheepfolds for our livestock here: They were more concerned about their possessions than about their sons and daughters, since they mentioned their livestock before [mentioning] their children. Moses said to them, “Not so! Treat the fundamental as a fundamental, and the matter of secondary importance as a matter of secondary importance. First ‘build cities for your children,’ and afterwards 'enclosures for your sheep’” (verse 24) - [Mid. Tanchuma Mattoth 7]   נִבְנֶה לְמִקְנֵנוּ פֹּה: חָסִים הָיוּ עַל מָמוֹנָם יוֹתֵר מִבְּנֵיהֶם וּבְנוֹתֵיהֶם, שֶׁהִקְדִּימוּ מִקְנֵיהֶם לְטַפָּם. אָמַר לָהֶם מֹשֶׁה "לֹא כֵן, עֲשׂוּ הָעִקָּר עִקָּר וְהַטָּפֵל טָפֵל, בְּנוּ לָכֶם תְּחִלָּה עָרִים לְטַפְּכֶם וְאַחַר כֵּן גְּדֵרוֹת לְצֹאנְכֶם" (תנחומא):
17We will then arm ourselves quickly [and go] before the children of Israel until we have brought them to their place. Our children will reside in the fortified cities on account of the inhabitants of the land.   יזוַֽאֲנַ֜חְנוּ נֵֽחָלֵ֣ץ חֻשִׁ֗ים לִפְנֵי֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל עַ֛ד אֲשֶׁ֥ר אִם־הֲבִֽיאֹנֻ֖ם אֶל־מְקוֹמָ֑ם וְיָשַׁ֤ב טַפֵּ֨נוּ֙ בְּעָרֵ֣י הַמִּבְצָ֔ר מִפְּנֵ֖י יֽשְׁבֵ֥י הָאָֽרֶץ:
We will then arm ourselves quickly: We will speedily arm ourselves, as in, “the booty speeds, the spoil hastens (חָשׁ)” (Isa. 8:3); “Let Him hurry, let Him hasten (יָחִישָׁה)” (ibid. 5:19).   וַֽאֲנַחְנוּ נֵֽחָלֵץ חֻשִׁים: נִזְדַּיֵּן מְהִירִים, כְּמוֹ "מַהֵר שָׁלָל חָשׁ בַּז" (ישעיהו ח'), "יְמַהֵר יָחִישָׁה" (שם ה'):
before the children of Israel: At the head of the troops, because they were mighty warriors, for concerning Gad it says, “tearing the arm [of his prey, together] with the head” (Deut. 33:20). Moses too, explained this to them a second time in [the portion of] Eleh Hadevarim: “And I commanded you at that time saying, “…pass over, armed, before your brothers, the children of Israel, all who are warriors” (ibid. 3:18), and concerning Jericho it is written, “the armed force went ahead of them” (Josh. 6:13). These were [the tribes of] Gad and Reuben, who were fulfilling their condition.   לִפְנֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל: בְּרָאשֵׁי גְּיָסוֹת, מִתּוֹךְ שֶׁגִּבּוֹרִים הָיוּ, שֶׁכֵּן נֶאֱמַר בְּגָד (דברים ל"ג) "וְטָרַף זְרוֹעַ אַף קָדְקֹד"; וְאַף מֹשֶׁה חָזַר וּפֵרֵשׁ לָהֶם בְּאֵלֶּה הַדְּבָרִים (דברים ג') "וָאֲצַו אֶתְכֶם בָּעֵת הַהִוא וְגוֹ' חֲלוּצִים תַּעַבְרוּ לִפְנֵי אֲחֵיכֶם בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל כָּל בְּנֵי חָיִל", וּבִירִיחוֹ כְּתִיב (יהושע ו') "וְהֶחָלוּץ עוֹבֵר (הֹלֵךְ) לִפְנֵיהֶם" — זֶה רְאוּבֵן וְגָד שֶׁקִּיְּמוּ תְנָאָם:
Our children will reside: while we are still with our brethren.   וְיָשַׁב טַפֵּנוּ: בְּעוֹדֵנוּ אֵצֶל אַחֵינוּ:
in the fortified cities: which we shall build now.   בְּעָרֵי הַמִּבְצָר: שֶׁנִּבְנֶה עַכְשָׁו:
18We shall not return to our homes until each of the children of Israel has taken possession of his inheritance.   יחלֹ֥א נָשׁ֖וּב אֶל־בָּתֵּ֑ינוּ עַ֗ד הִתְנַחֵל֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אִ֖ישׁ נַֽחֲלָתֽוֹ:
19For we will not inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has come to us on the east bank of the Jordan."   יטכִּ֣י לֹ֤א נִנְחַל֙ אִתָּ֔ם מֵעֵ֥בֶר לַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן וָהָ֑לְאָה כִּ֣י בָ֤אָה נַּֽחֲלָתֵ֨נוּ֙ אֵלֵ֔ינוּ מֵעֵ֥בֶר הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן מִזְרָֽחָה:
on the other side of the Jordan and beyond: On the western bank.   מֵעֵבֶר לַיַּרְדֵּן וָהָלְאָה: בָּעֵבֶר הַמַּעֲרָבִי:
for our inheritance has come to us: We have already received it on the eastern side.   כִּי בָאָה נַּֽחֲלָתֵנוּ: כְּבָר קִבַּלְנוּהָ בָּעֵבֶר הַמִּזְרָחִי:

Fourth Portion

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 32

20Moses said to them, "If you do this thing, if you arm yourselves for battle before the Lord,   כוַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם֙ משֶׁ֔ה אִם־תַּֽעֲשׂ֖וּן אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה אִם־תֵּחָֽלְצ֛וּ לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה לַמִּלְחָמָֽה:
21and your armed force crosses the Jordan before the Lord until He has driven out His enemies before Him,   כאוְעָבַ֨ר לָכֶ֧ם כָּל־חָל֛וּץ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה עַ֧ד הֽוֹרִישׁ֛וֹ אֶת־אֹֽיְבָ֖יו מִפָּנָֽיו:
22and the Land will be conquered before the Lord, afterwards you may return, and you shall be freed [of your obligation] from the Lord and from Israel, and this land will become your heritage before the Lord.   כבוְנִכְבְּשָׁ֨ה הָאָ֜רֶץ לִפְנֵ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ וְאַחַ֣ר תָּשֻׁ֔בוּ וִֽהְיִיתֶ֧ם נְקִיִּ֛ם מֵֽיהֹוָ֖ה וּמִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְ֠הָֽיְתָ֠ה הָאָ֨רֶץ הַזֹּ֥את לָכֶ֛ם לַֽאֲחֻזָּ֖ה לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה:
23But, if you do not do so, behold, you will have sinned against the Lord, and be aware of your sin which will find you.   כגוְאִם־לֹ֤א תַֽעֲשׂוּן֙ כֵּ֔ן הִנֵּ֥ה חֲטָאתֶ֖ם לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה וּדְעוּ֙ חַטַּאתְכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּמְצָ֖א אֶתְכֶֽם:
24So build yourselves cities for your children and enclosures for your sheep, and what has proceeded from your mouth you shall do."   כדבְּנֽוּ־לָכֶ֤ם עָרִים֙ לְטַפְּכֶ֔ם וּגְדֵרֹ֖ת לְצֹנַֽאֲכֶ֑ם וְהַיֹּצֵ֥א מִפִּיכֶ֖ם תַּֽעֲשֽׂוּ:
for your sheep: Heb. לְצֹנַאֲכֶם. This word is cognate with, “Flocks (צֹנֶה) and cattle, all of them” (Ps. 8:8), in which there is no א separating the נ from the צ. The א that appears here after the נ [in the word לְצֹנַאֲכֶם is in place of the ה in the word צֹנֶה. I learned this from the commentary of R. Moshe Hadarshan [the preacher].   לְצֹנַֽאֲכֶם: תֵּבָה זוֹ מִגִּזְרַת "צֹנֶה וַאֲלָפִים כֻּלָּם" (תהלים ח') שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ אָלֶ"ף מַפְסִיק בֵּין נוּ"ן לַצָּדִ"י, וְאָלֶ"ף שֶׁבָּא כָאן אַחַר הַנּוּ"ן בִּמְקוֹם הֵ"א שֶׁל צֹנֶה הוּא; מִיסוֹדוֹ שֶׁל רַ' מֹשֶׁה הַדַּרְשָׁן לָמַדְתִּי כֵן:
and what has proceeded from your mouth you shall do: for the sake of the Most High [God], for you have undertaken to cross over for battle until [the completion of] conquest and the apportionment [of the Land]. Moses had asked of them only “and… will be conquered before the Lord, afterwards you may return,” (verse 22), but they undertook, “until… has taken possession” (verse 18). Thus, they added that they would remain seven years while it was divided, and indeed they did so (see Josh. 22).   וְהַיֹּצֵא מִפִּיכֶם תַּֽעֲשֽׂוּ: לְגָבוֹהַּ, שֶׁקִּבַּלְתֶּם עֲלֵיכֶם לַעֲבֹר לַמִּלְחָמָה עַד כִּבּוּשׁ וְחִלּוּק, שֶׁמֹּשֶׁה לֹא בִּקֵּשׁ מֵהֶם אֶלָּא "וְנִכְבְּשָׁה … וְאַחַר תָּשׁוּבוּ" וְהֵם קִבְּלוּ עֲלֵיהֶם "עַד הִתְנַחֵל", הֲרֵי הוֹסִיפוּ לְהִתְעַכֵּב שֶׁבַע שֶׁחָלְקוּ, וְכֵן עָשׂוּ:
25The descendants of Gad and the descendants of Reuben spoke to Moses, saying, "Your servants will do as my master commands.   כהוַיֹּ֤אמֶר בְּנֵי־גָד֙ וּבְנֵ֣י רְאוּבֵ֔ן אֶל־משֶׁ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר עֲבָדֶ֣יךָ יַּֽעֲשׂ֔וּ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲדֹנִ֖י מְצַוֶּֽה:
The descendants of Gad spoke: Heb. וַיֹּאמֶר [in the singular form, indicating that] they all [spoke] as one person. — [Jonathan ben Uzziel]   וַיֹּאמֶר בְּנֵי־גָד: כֻּלָּם כְּאִישׁ אֶחָד:
26Our children and our wives, our livestock and our cattle will remain there, in the cities of Gilead.   כוטַפֵּ֣נוּ נָשֵׁ֔ינוּ מִקְנֵ֖נוּ וְכָל־בְּהֶמְתֵּ֑נוּ יִֽהְיוּ־שָׁ֖ם בְּעָרֵ֥י הַגִּלְעָֽד:
27But your servants will cross over all who are armed for combat before the Lord, for the battle, as my master has spoken."   כזוַֽעֲבָדֶ֨יךָ יַֽעַבְר֜וּ כָּל־חֲל֥וּץ צָבָ֛א לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲדֹנִ֖י דֹּבֵֽר:
28Moses commanded Eleazar the kohen and Joshua the son of Nun and all the paternal heads of the tribes of the children of Israel concerning them.   כחוַיְצַ֤ו לָהֶם֙ משֶׁ֔ה אֵ֚ת אֶלְעָזָ֣ר הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְאֵ֖ת יְהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ בִּן־נ֑וּן וְאֶת־רָאשֵׁ֛י אֲב֥וֹת הַמַּטּ֖וֹת לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
commanded… concerning them: Heb. לָהֶם, like עִלֵיהֶם, concerning them, and concerning [the fulfillment of] their condition, he appointed Eleazar and Joshua, as in, “the Lord will fight for you (לָכֶם) ” (Exod. 14:14) [not “to you”].   וַיְצַו לָהֶם: כְּמוֹ עֲלֵיהֶם, וְעַל תְּנָאָם מִנָּה אֶלְעָזָר וִיהוֹשֻׁעַ, כְּמוֹ "ה' יִלָּחֵם לָכֶם" (שמות י"ד):
29Moses said to them, "If the descendants of Gad and Reuben cross the Jordan with you armed for battle before the Lord, and the Land is conquered before you, you shall give them the land of Gilead as a heritage.   כטוַיֹּ֨אמֶר משֶׁ֜ה אֲלֵהֶ֗ם אִם־יַֽעַבְר֣וּ בְנֵי־גָ֣ד וּבְנֵֽי־רְאוּבֵ֣ן | אִ֠תְּכֶ֠ם אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֞ן כָּל־חָל֤וּץ לַמִּלְחָמָה֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה וְנִכְבְּשָׁ֥ה הָאָ֖רֶץ לִפְנֵיכֶ֑ם וּנְתַתֶּ֥ם לָהֶ֛ם אֶת־אֶ֥רֶץ הַגִּלְעָ֖ד לַֽאֲחֻזָּֽה:
30But if they do not cross over with you armed [for battle], they shall receive a possession among you in the land of Canaan."   לוְאִם־לֹ֧א יַֽעַבְר֛וּ חֲלוּצִ֖ים אִתְּכֶ֑ם וְנֹֽאחֲז֥וּ בְתֹֽכְכֶ֖ם בְּאֶ֥רֶץ כְּנָֽעַן:
31The descendants of Gad and the descendants of Reuben answered, saying, "We shall do as the Lord has spoken to your servants.   לאוַיַּֽעֲנ֧וּ בְנֵי־גָ֛ד וּבְנֵ֥י רְאוּבֵ֖ן לֵאמֹ֑ר אֵת֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֧ר יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶל־עֲבָדֶ֖יךָ כֵּ֥ן נַֽעֲשֶֽׂה:
32We shall cross over in an armed force before the Lord to the land of Canaan, and then we shall have the possession of our inheritance on this side of the Jordan."   לבנַ֣חְנוּ נַֽעֲבֹ֧ר חֲלוּצִ֛ים לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן וְאִתָּנוּ֨ אֲחֻזַּ֣ת נַֽחֲלָתֵ֔נוּ מֵעֵ֖בֶר לַיַּרְדֵּֽן:
and then we shall have the possession of our inheritance: That is to say, the possession of our inheritance on this side [of the Jordan] will be in our hands and under our ownership.   וְאִתָּנוּ אֲחֻזַּת נַֽחֲלָתֵנוּ: כְּלוֹמַר בְּיָדֵינוּ וּבִרְשׁוּתֵנוּ תְהִי אֲחֻזַּת נַחֲלָתֵנוּ מֵעֵבֶר הַזֶּה:
33Moses gave the descendants of Gad and the descendants of Reuben and half the tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon, king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og, king of Bashan the land together with its cities within borders, the cities of the surrounding territory.   לגוַיִּתֵּ֣ן לָהֶ֣ם | משֶׁ֡ה לִבְנֵי־גָד֩ וְלִבְנֵ֨י רְאוּבֵ֜ן וְלַֽחֲצִ֣י | שֵׁ֣בֶט | מְנַשֶּׁ֣ה בֶן־יוֹסֵ֗ף אֶת־מַמְלֶ֨כֶת֙ סִיחֹן֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ הָֽאֱמֹרִ֔י וְאֶ֨ת־מַמְלֶ֔כֶת ע֖וֹג מֶ֣לֶךְ הַבָּשָׁ֑ן הָאָ֗רֶץ לְעָרֶ֨יהָ֙ בִּגְבֻלֹ֔ת עָרֵ֥י הָאָ֖רֶץ סָבִֽיב:
34The descendants of Gad built Dibon, Ataroth, and Aroer.   לדוַיִּבְנ֣וּ בְנֵי־גָ֔ד אֶת־דִּיבֹ֖ן וְאֶת־עֲטָרֹ֑ת וְאֵ֖ת עֲרֹעֵֽר:
35And Atroth Shophan, Jazer, and Jogbehah.   להוְאֶת־עַטְרֹ֥ת שׁוֹפָ֛ן וְאֶת־יַעְזֵ֖ר וְיָגְבְּהָֽה:
36And Beth Nimrah and Beth Haran, fortified cities and sheepfolds.   לווְאֶת־בֵּ֥ית נִמְרָ֖ה וְאֶת־בֵּ֣ית הָרָ֑ן עָרֵ֥י מִבְצָ֖ר וְגִדְרֹ֥ת צֹֽאן:
fortified cities and sheepfolds: This last part of the verse relates to the beginning of the passage, “The descendants of Gad built” these cities as fortified cities and sheepfolds.   עָרֵי מִבְצָר וְגִדְרֹת צֹֽאן: זֶה סוֹף פָּסוּק מוּסָב עַל תְּחִלַּת הָעִנְיָן — וַיִּבְנוּ בְנֵי גָד אֶת הֶעָרִים הַלָּלוּ לִהְיוֹת עָרֵי מִבְצָר וְגִדְרֹת צֹאן:
37The descendants of Reuben built Heshbon, Elealeh, and Kirjathaim.   לזוּבְנֵ֤י רְאוּבֵן֙ בָּנ֔וּ אֶת־חֶשְׁבּ֖וֹן וְאֶת־אֶלְעָלֵ֑א וְאֵ֖ת קִרְיָתָֽיִם:
38And Nebo and Baal Meon, their names having been changed, and Sibmah. And they were called with names of the names of the cities they built.   לחוְאֶת־נְב֞וֹ וְאֶת־בַּ֧עַל מְע֛וֹן מֽוּסַבֹּ֥ת שֵׁ֖ם וְאֶת־שִׂבְמָ֑ה וַיִּקְרְא֣וּ בְשֵׁמֹ֔ת אֶת־שְׁמ֥וֹת הֶֽעָרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּנֽוּ:
Nebo and Baal-Meon, their names having been changed: Nebo and Baal Meon were names of pagan deities, and the Amorites named their towns after their deities, and the descendants of Reuben changed their names to other names. This is the meaning of “their names having been changed”-Nebo and Baal-Meon, changed to another name.   וְאֶת־נְבוֹ וְאֶת־בַּעַל מְעוֹן מֽוּסַבֹּת שֵׁם: נְבוֹ וּבַעַל מְעוֹן שְׁמוֹת עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה הֵם, וְהָיוּ הָאֱמוֹרִיִּים קוֹרִים עָרֵיהֶם עַל שֵׁם עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה שֶׁלָּהֶם, וּבְנֵי רְאוּבֵן הֵסֵבּוּ אֶת שְׁמָם לְשֵׁמוֹת אֲחֵרִים, וְזֶהוּ מוסבת שם — נְבוֹ וּבַעַל מְעוֹן מוּסַבּוֹת לְשֵׁם אַחֵר:
and Sibmah: They built Sibmah, which is identical with Sebam mentioned earlier (verse 3).   וְאֶת־שִׂבְמָה: בָּנוּ שִׂבְמָה, וְהִיא שְׂבָם הָאֲמוּרָה לְמַעְלָה:
39The children of Machir the son of Manasseh went to Gilead and conquered it, driving out the Amorites who were there.   לטוַיֵּ֨לְכ֜וּ בְּנֵ֨י מָכִ֧יר בֶּן־מְנַשֶּׁ֛ה גִּלְעָ֖דָה וַיִּלְכְּדֻ֑הָ וַיּ֖וֹרֶשׁ אֶת־הָֽאֱמֹרִ֥י אֲשֶׁר־בָּֽהּ:
driving out: As the Targum [Onkelos] renders, וְתָרִיךְ‏, and drove out, for the word רִישׁ can be used in two [different] ways, in the sense of יְרוּשָׁה, ‘inheritance,’ or in the sense of הוֹרָשָׁה ‘driving out,’ meaning to expel or oust. — [Machbereth Menachem p. 167]   וַיּוֹרֶשׁ: כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ "וְתָרִיךְ", שֶׁתֵּבַת ריש מְשַׁמֶּשֶׁת שְׁתֵּי מַחֲלָקוֹת, לְשׁוֹן יְרֻשָּׁה וּלְשׁוֹן הוֹרָשָׁה שֶׁהוּא טֵרוּד וְתֵרוּךְ:
40Moses gave Gilead to Machir the son of Manasseh, and he settled in it.   מוַיִּתֵּ֤ן משֶׁה֙ אֶת־הַגִּלְעָ֔ד לְמָכִ֖יר בֶּן־מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב בָּֽהּ:
41Jair the son of Manasseh went and conquered their hamlets, and called them the hamlets of Jair.   מאוְיָאִ֤יר בֶּן־מְנַשֶּׁה֙ הָלַ֔ךְ וַיִּלְכֹּ֖ד אֶת־חַוֹּֽתֵיהֶ֑ם וַיִּקְרָ֥א אֶתְהֶ֖ן חַוֹּ֥ת יָאִֽיר:
their hamlets: Heb. חַוֹּתֵיהֶם, [Onkelos renders,] כַּפְרָנֵיהוֹן, their hamlets.   חַוֹּֽתֵיהֶם: כַּפְרָנֵיהוֹן:
and called them the hamlets of Jair: Since he had no children, he named them after himself, as a memorial.   וַיִּקְרָא אֶתְהֶן חַוֹּת יָאִֽיר: לְפִי שֶׁלֹּא הָיוּ לוֹ בָנִים קְרָאָם בִּשְׁמוֹ לְזִכָּרוֹן:
42Nobah went and conquered Kenath and its surrounding villages, and called it Nobah, after his name.   מבוְנֹ֣בַח הָלַ֔ךְ וַיִּלְכֹּ֥ד אֶת־קְנָ֖ת וְאֶת־בְּנֹתֶ֑יהָ וַיִּקְרָ֧א לָ֦ה נֹ֖בַח בִּשְׁמֽוֹ:
and called it Nobah: Heb. לָה. [The ‘hey’ in] לָה is not a ‘mappik’ [aspirate ‘hey’ since there is no dot in the] ה [thus indicating that it is silent, contrary to the general rule]. I saw in the commentary of R. Moshe Hadarshan [as follows]: Since this name did not remain permanently, it is [a] silent [letter], so that it [the word לָה] can be expounded as לֹא, ‘not.’ But I wonder how he would expound two words similar to this, namely, “Boaz said to her (לָה)” (Ruth 2:14); “to build her (לָה) a house” (Zech. 5:11).   וַיִּקְרָא לָה נֹבַח: "לָה" אֵינוֹ מַפִּיק הֵ"א, וְרָאִיתִי בִיסוֹדוֹ שֶׁל רַ' מֹשֶׁה הַדַּרְשָׁן לְפִי שֶׁלֹּא נִתְקַיֵּם לָהּ שֵׁם זֶה לְפִיכָךְ הוּא רָפֶה, שֶׁמַּשְׁמָעוּת מִדְרָשׁוֹ כְּמוֹ לֹא; וּתְמֵהַנִי מַה יִּדְרֹשׁ בִּשְׁתֵּי תֵבוֹת הַדּוֹמוֹת לָהּ "וַיֹּאמֶר לָה בֹעַז" (רות ב'), "לִבְנוֹת לָה בַיִת" (זכריה ה'):

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 33

1These are the journeys of the children of Israel who left the land of Egypt in their legions, under the charge of Moses and Aaron.   אאֵ֜לֶּה מַסְעֵ֣י בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָֽצְא֛וּ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם בְּיַד־משֶׁ֖ה וְאַֽהֲרֹֽן:
These are the journeys: Why were these journeys recorded? To inform us of the kind deeds of the Omnipresent, for although He issued a decree to move them around [from place to place] and make them wander in the desert, you should not say that they were moving about and wandering from station to station for all forty years, and they had no rest, because there are only forty-two stages. Deduct fourteen of them, for they all took place in the first year, before the decree, from when they journeyed from Rameses until they arrived in Rithmah, from where the spies were sent, as it says, “Then the people journeyed from Hazeroth [and camped in the desert of Paran].” (12:16); “Send out for yourself men…” (13:2), and here it says, “They journeyed from Hazeroth and camped at Rithmah,” teaching us that it [Rithmah] was in the desert of Paran. Subtract a further eight stages which took place after Aaron’s death-from Mount Hor to the plains of Moab-during the fortieth year, and you will find that throughout the thirty-eight years they made only twenty journeys. I found this in the commentary of R. Moshe (Hadarshan) [the preacher] (Mid. Aggadah). R. Tanchuma expounds it in another way. It is analogous to a king whose son became sick, so he took him to a far away place to have him healed. On the way back, the father began citing all the stages of their journey, saying to him, “This is where we sat, here we were cold, here you had a headache etc.” - [Mid. Tanchuma Massei 3, Num. Rabbah 23:3]   אֵלֶּה מַסְעֵי: לָמָּה נִכְתְּבוּ הַמַּסָּעוֹת הַלָּלוּ? לְהוֹדִיעַ חֲסָדָיו שֶׁל מָקוֹם, שֶׁאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁגָּזַר עֲלֵיהֶם לְטַלְטְלַם וְלַהֲנִיעָם בַּמִּדְבָּר, לֹא תֹאמַר שֶׁהָיוּ נָעִים וּמְטֻלְטָלִים מִמַּסָּע לְמַסָּע כָּל אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה וְלֹא הָיְתָה לָהֶם מְנוּחָה, שֶׁהֲרֵי אֵין כָּאן אֶלָּא אַרְבָּעִים וּשְׁתַּיִם מַסָּעוֹת, צֵא מֵהֶם י"ד שֶׁכֻּלָּם הָיוּ בְּשָׁנָה רִאשׁוֹנָה קֹדֶם גְּזֵרָה, מִשֶּׁנָּסְעוּ מֵרַעְמְסֵס עַד שֶׁבָּאוּ לְרִתְמָה שֶׁמִּשָּׁם נִשְׁתַּלְּחוּ מְרַגְּלִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְאַחַר נָסְעוּ הָעָם מֵחֲצֵרוֹת" וְגוֹ' (במדבר י"ב), "שְׁלַח לְךָ אֲנָשִׁים" וְגוֹ' (שם י"ג), וְכָאן (פסוק י"ח) הוּא אוֹמֵר "וַיִּסְעוּ מֵחֲצֵרֹת וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּרִתְמָה", לָמַדְתָּ שֶׁהִיא בְמִדְבַּר פָּארָן; וְעוֹד הוֹצֵא מִשָּׁם ח' מַסָּעוֹת שֶׁהָיוּ לְאַחַר מִיתַת אַהֲרֹן — מֵהֹר הָהָר עַד עַרְבוֹת מוֹאָב — בִּשְׁנַת הָאַרְבָּעִים, נִמְצָא שֶׁכָּל שְׁמוֹנֶה וּשְׁלֹשִׁים שָׁנָה לֹא נָסְעוּ אֶלָּא עֶשְׂרִים מַסָּעוֹת, זֶה מִיסוֹדוֹ שֶׁל רַבִּי מֹשֶׁה. וְרַבִּי תַנְחוּמָא דָרַשׁ בּוֹ דְּרָשָׁה אַחֶרֶת: מָשָׁל לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁהָיָה בְנוֹ חוֹלֶה וְהוֹלִיכוֹ לְמָקוֹם רָחוֹק לְרַפֹּאתוֹ, כֵּיוָן שֶׁהָיוּ חוֹזְרִין הִתְחִיל אָבִיו מוֹנֶה כָל הַמַּסָּעוֹת, אָמַר לוֹ, כָּאן יָשַׁנְנוּ, כָּאן הוֹקַרְנוּ, כָּאן חָשַׁשְׁתָּ אֶת רֹאשְׁךָ וְכוּ':
2Moses recorded their starting points for their journeys according to the word of the Lord, and these were their journeys with their starting points.   בוַיִּכְתֹּ֨ב משֶׁ֜ה אֶת־מוֹצָֽאֵיהֶ֛ם לְמַסְעֵיהֶ֖ם עַל־פִּ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וְאֵ֥לֶּה מַסְעֵיהֶ֖ם לְמוֹצָֽאֵיהֶֽם:
3They journeyed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the day following the Passover sacrifice, the children of Israel left triumphantly before the eyes of all the Egyptians.   גוַיִּסְע֤וּ מֵֽרַעְמְסֵס֙ בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָֽרִאשׁ֔וֹן בַּֽחֲמִשָּׁ֥ה עָשָׂ֛ר י֖וֹם לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָֽרִאשׁ֑וֹן מִמָּֽחֳרַ֣ת הַפֶּ֗סַח יָֽצְא֤וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ בְּיָ֣ד רָמָ֔ה לְעֵינֵ֖י כָּל־מִצְרָֽיִם:
4And the Egyptians were busy burying because the Lord had struck down their firstborn and had wrought vengeance against their deities.   דוּמִצְרַ֣יִם מְקַבְּרִ֗ים אֵת֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִכָּ֧ה יְהֹוָ֛ה בָּהֶ֖ם כָּל־בְּכ֑וֹר וּבֵאלֹ֣הֵיהֶ֔ם עָשָׂ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה שְׁפָטִֽים:
And the Egyptians were busy burying: occupied with their mourning.   וּמִצְרַיִם מְקַבְּרִים: טְרוּדִים בְּאֶבְלָם:
5The children of Israel journeyed from Rameses and camped in Succoth.   הוַיִּסְע֥וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֵֽרַעְמְסֵ֑ס וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּסֻכֹּֽת:
6They journeyed from Succoth and camped in Etham, at the edge of the desert.   ווַיִּסְע֖וּ מִסֻּכֹּ֑ת וַיַּֽחֲנ֣וּ בְאֵתָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֖ר בִּקְצֵ֥ה הַמִּדְבָּֽר:
7They journeyed from Etham and camped in Pi hahiroth, which faces Baal zephon; and they camped in front of Migdol.   זוַיִּסְעוּ֙ מֵֽאֵתָ֔ם וַיָּ֨שָׁב֙ עַל־פִּ֣י הַֽחִירֹ֔ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר עַל־פְּנֵ֖י בַּ֣עַל צְפ֑וֹן וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ לִפְנֵ֥י מִגְדֹּֽל:
8They journeyed from Penei hahiroth and crossed in the midst of the sea to the desert. They walked for three days in the desert of Etham and camped in Marah.   חוַיִּסְעוּ֙ מִפְּנֵ֣י הַֽחִירֹ֔ת וַיַּֽעַבְר֥וּ בְתֽוֹךְ־הַיָּ֖ם הַמִּדְבָּ֑רָה וַיֵּ֨לְכ֜וּ דֶּ֣רֶךְ שְׁל֤שֶׁת יָמִים֙ בְּמִדְבַּ֣ר אֵתָ֔ם וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּמָרָֽה:
9They journeyed from Marah and arrived in Elim, and in Elim there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they camped there.   טוַיִּסְעוּ֙ מִמָּרָ֔ה וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ אֵילִ֑מָה וּ֠בְאֵילִ֠ם שְׁתֵּ֨ים עֶשְׂרֵ֜ה עֵינֹ֥ת מַ֛יִם וְשִׁבְעִ֥ים תְּמָרִ֖ים וַיַּחֲנוּ־שָֽׁם:
10They journeyed from Elim and camped by the Red Sea.   יוַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵֽאֵילִ֑ם וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ עַל־יַם־סֽוּף:
11They journeyed from the Red Sea and camped in the desert of Sin.   יאוַיִּסְע֖וּ מִיַּם־ס֑וּף וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּמִדְבַּר־סִֽין:
12They journeyed from the desert of Sin and camped in Dophkah.   יבוַיִּסְע֖וּ מִמִּדְבַּר־סִ֑ין וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּדָפְקָֽה:
13They journeyed from Dophkah and camped in Alush.   יגוַיִּסְע֖וּ מִדָּפְקָ֑ה וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּאָלֽוּשׁ:
14They journeyed from Alush and camped in Rephidim, but there there was no water for the people to drink.   ידוַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵאָל֑וּשׁ וַיַּֽחֲנוּ֙ בִּרְפִידִ֔ם וְלֹא־הָ֨יָה שָׁ֥ם מַ֛יִם לָעָ֖ם לִשְׁתּֽוֹת:
15They journeyed from Rephidim and camped in the Sinai desert.   טווַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵֽרְפִידִ֑ם וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּמִדְבַּ֥ר סִינָֽי:
16They journeyed from the Sinai desert and camped in Kivroth hataavah.   טזוַיִּסְע֖וּ מִמִּדְבַּ֣ר סִינָ֑י וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּקִבְרֹ֥ת הַתַּֽאֲוָֽה:
17They journeyed from Kivroth hataavah and camped in Hazeroth   יזוַיִּסְע֖וּ מִקִּבְרֹ֣ת הַתַּֽאֲוָ֑ה וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בַּֽחֲצֵרֹֽת:
18They journeyed from Hazeroth and camped in Rithmah.   יחוַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵֽחֲצֵרֹ֑ת וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּרִתְמָֽה:
Rithmah: Heb. רִתְמָה, so named because of the slander of the spies, for it says, “What can He give you, and what can He add to you, you deceitful tongue? Sharpened arrows of a mighty man, with coals of brooms רְתָמִים” (Ps. 120:3-4). - [Mid. Aggadah]   וַיַּֽחֲנוּ בְּרִתְמָֽה: עַל שֵׁם לָשׁוֹן הָרָע שֶׁל מְרַגְּלִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "מַה יִּתֵּן לְךָ וּמַה יֹּסִיף לָךְ לָשׁוֹן רְמִיָּה חִצֵּי גִבּוֹר שְׁנוּנִים עִם גַּחֲלֵי רְתָמִים" (תהלים ק"כ):
19They journeyed from Rithmah and camped in Rimmon perez.   יטוַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵֽרִתְמָ֑ה וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּרִמֹּ֥ן פָּֽרֶץ:
20They journeyed from Rimmon perez and camped in Libnah.   כוַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵרִמֹּ֣ן פָּ֑רֶץ וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּלִבְנָֽה:
21They journeyed from Libnah and camped in Rissah.   כאוַיִּסְע֖וּ מִלִּבְנָ֑ה וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּרִסָּֽה:
22They journeyed from Rissah and camped in Kehelathah.   כבוַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵֽרִסָּ֑ה וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בִּקְהֵלָֽתָה:
23They journeyed from Kehelathah and camped in Mount Shepher.   כגוַיִּסְע֖וּ מִקְּהֵלָ֑תָה וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּהַר־שָֽׁפֶר:
24They journeyed from Mount Shepher and camped in Haradah.   כדוַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵֽהַר־שָׁ֑פֶר וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בַּֽחֲרָדָֽה:
25They journeyed from Haradah and camped in Makheloth.   כהוַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵֽחֲרָדָ֑ה וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּמַקְהֵלֹֽת:
26They journeyed from Makheloth and camped in Tahath.   כווַיִּסְע֖וּ מִמַּקְהֵלֹ֑ת וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּתָֽחַת:
27They journeyed from Tahath and camped in Tarah.   כזוַיִּסְע֖וּ מִתָּ֑חַת וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּתָֽרַח:
28They journeyed from Tarah and camped in Mithkah.   כחוַיִּסְע֖וּ מִתָּ֑רַח וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּמִתְקָֽה:
29They journeyed from Mithkah and camped in Hashmonah.   כטוַיִּסְע֖וּ מִמִּתְקָ֑ה וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּחַשְׁמֹנָֽה:
30They journeyed from Hashmonah and camped in Moseroth.   לוַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵֽחַשְׁמֹנָ֑ה וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּמֹֽסֵרֽוֹת:
31They journeyed from Moseroth and camped in Benei jaakan.   לאוַיִּסְע֖וּ מִמֹּֽסֵר֑וֹת וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בִּבְנֵ֥י יַֽעֲקָֽן:
32They journeyed from Benei jaakan and camped in Hor hagidgad.   לבוַיִּסְע֖וּ מִבְּנֵ֣י יַֽעֲקָ֑ן וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּחֹ֥ר הַגִּדְגָּֽד:
33They journeyed from Hor hagidgad and camped in Jotbathah.   לגוַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵחֹ֣ר הַגִּדְגָּ֑ד וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּיָטְבָֽתָה:
34They journeyed from Jotbathah and camped in Abronah.   לדוַיִּסְע֖וּ מִיָּטְבָ֑תָה וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּעַבְרֹנָֽה:
35They journeyed from Abronah and camped in Etzion geber.   להוַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵֽעַבְרֹנָ֑ה וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּעֶצְיֹ֥ן גָּֽבֶר:
36They journeyed from Ezion geber and camped in the desert of Zin, which is Kadesh.   לווַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵֽעֶצְיֹ֣ן גָּ֑בֶר וַיַּֽחֲנ֥וּ בְּמִדְבַּר־צִ֖ן הִ֥וא קָדֵֽשׁ:
37They journeyed from Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor, at the edge of the land of Edom.   לזוַיִּסְע֖וּ מִקָּדֵ֑שׁ וַיַּֽחֲנוּ֙ בְּהֹ֣ר הָהָ֔ר בִּקְצֵ֖ה אֶ֥רֶץ אֱדֽוֹם:
38Aaron the kohen ascended Mount Hor at the Lord's bidding and died there, on the first day of the fifth month in the fortieth year of the children of Israel's exodus from Egypt.   לחוַיַּ֩עַל֩ אַֽהֲרֹ֨ן הַכֹּהֵ֜ן אֶל־הֹ֥ר הָהָ֛ר עַל־פִּ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה וַיָּ֣מָת שָׁ֑ם בִּשְׁנַ֣ת הָֽאַרְבָּעִ֗ים לְצֵ֤את בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם בַּחֹ֥דֶשׁ הַֽחֲמִישִׁ֖י בְּאֶחָ֥ד לַחֹֽדֶשׁ:
at the Lord’s bidding: [lit., by the mouth of the Lord.] This teaches us that he died by the [Divine] kiss. — [B.B. 17a]   עַל־פִּי ה': מְלַמֵּד שֶׁמֵּת בִּנְשִׁיקָה:
39Aaron was one hundred and twenty three years old when he died at Mount Hor.   לטוְאַֽהֲרֹ֔ן בֶּן־שָׁל֧שׁ וְעֶשְׂרִ֛ים וּמְאַ֖ת שָׁנָ֑ה בְּמֹת֖וֹ בְּהֹ֥ר הָהָֽר:
40The Canaanite king of Arad, who dwelt in the south, in the land of Canaan, heard that the children of Israel had arrived.   מוַיִּשְׁמַ֗ע הַכְּנַֽעֲנִי֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ עֲרָ֔ד וְהֽוּא־ישֵׁ֥ב בַּנֶּ֖גֶב בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן בְּבֹ֖א בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
The Canaanite…heard: To teach you that it was the news of Aaron’s death that he heard, for the clouds of glory had withdrawn, and he thought that permission had been granted to wage war against Israel. This is why it [Scripture] repeats it [here]. — [R. H. 3a]   וַיִּשְׁמַע הַכְּנַֽעֲנִי: לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁמִּיתַת אַהֲרֹן הִיא הַשְּׁמוּעָה, שֶׁנִּסְתַּלְּקוּ עַנְנֵי כָבוֹד וּכְסָבוּר שֶׁנִּתְּנָה רְשׁוּת לְהִלָּחֵם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, לְפִיכָךְ חָזַר וּכְתָבָהּ (ראש השנה ג'):
41They journeyed from Mount Hor and camped in Zalmonah.   מאוַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵהֹ֣ר הָהָ֑ר וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּצַלְמֹנָֽה:
42They journeyed from Zalmonah and camped in Punon.   מבוַיִּסְע֖וּ מִצַּלְמֹנָ֑ה וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּפוּנֹֽן:
43They journeyed from Punon and camped in Oboth.   מגוַיִּסְע֖וּ מִפּוּנֹ֑ן וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּאֹבֹֽת:
44They journeyed from Oboth and camped at the ruins of Abarim, on the Moabite boundary.   מדוַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵֽאֹבֹ֑ת וַיַּֽחֲנ֛וּ בְּעִיֵּ֥י הָֽעֲבָרִ֖ים בִּגְב֥וּל מוֹאָֽב:
the ruins of Abarim: Heb. עִיּי הָעֲבָרִים, an expression denoting waste and ruins, as “into a heap (לְעִי) in the field” (Micah 1:6); “they have turned Jerusalem into heaps (לְעִיִּים)” (Ps. 79:1).   בְּעִיֵּי הָֽעֲבָרִים: לְשׁוֹן חֳרָבוֹת וְגַלִּים כְּמוֹ "לְעִי הַשָּׂדֶה" (מיכה א'), "שָׂמוּ אֶת יְרוּשָׁלַיִם לְעִיִּים" (תהלים ע"ט):
45They journeyed from the ruins and camped in Dibon gad.   מהוַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵֽעִיִּ֑ים וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּדִיבֹ֥ן גָּֽד:
46They journeyed from Dibon gad and camped in Almon diblathaimah.   מווַיִּסְע֖וּ מִדִּיבֹ֣ן גָּ֑ד וַיַּֽחֲנ֖וּ בְּעַלְמֹ֥ן דִּבְלָתָֽיְמָה:
47They journeyed from Almon diblathaimah and camped in the mountains of Abarim, in front of Nebo.   מזוַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵֽעַלְמֹ֣ן דִּבְלָתָ֑יְמָה וַיַּֽחֲנ֛וּ בְּהָרֵ֥י הָֽעֲבָרִ֖ים לִפְנֵ֥י נְבֽוֹ:
48They journeyed from the mountains of Abarim and camped in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.   מחוַיִּסְע֖וּ מֵֽהָרֵ֣י הָֽעֲבָרִ֑ים וַיַּֽחֲנוּ֙ בְּעַֽרְבֹ֣ת מוֹאָ֔ב עַ֖ל יַרְדֵּ֥ן יְרֵחֽוֹ:
49They camped along the Jordan from Beth jeshimoth to Abel shittim, in the plains of Moab.   מטוַיַּֽחֲנ֤וּ עַל־הַיַּרְדֵּן֙ מִבֵּ֣ית הַיְשִׁמֹ֔ת עַ֖ד אָבֵ֣ל הַשִּׁטִּ֑ים בְּעַרְבֹ֖ת מוֹאָֽב:
from Beth-jeshimoth to Abel-shittim: This teaches you that the extent of Israel’s camp was twelve mil [a mil equaling approximately 3500 ft.] for Rabbah bar bar Channah said, “I myself saw that place [and it is three parasangs (12 mil) square].” - [Eruvin 55b]   מִבֵּית הַיְשִׁמֹת עַד אָבֵל הַשִּׁטִּים: כָּאן לִמֶּדְךָ שִׁעוּר מַחֲנֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל י"ב מִיל, דִּאָמַר רַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָה לְדִידִי חָזֵי לִי הַהוּא אַתְרָא וְכוּ' (עירובין נ"ה):
Abel-shittim: The plain of Shittim was called Abel.   אָבֵל הַשִּׁטִּים: מִישׁוֹר שֶׁל שִׁטִּים אָבֵל שְׁמוֹ:

Fifth Portion

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 33

50The Lord spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying:   נוַיְדַבֵּ֧ר יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶל־משֶׁ֖ה בְּעַרְבֹ֣ת מוֹאָ֑ב עַל־יַרְדֵּ֥ן יְרֵח֖וֹ לֵאמֹֽר:
51Speak to the children of Israel and say to them: When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan,   נאדַּבֵּר֙ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֖ אֲלֵהֶ֑ם כִּ֥י אַתֶּ֛ם עֹֽבְרִ֥ים אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן אֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ כְּנָֽעַן:
When you cross the Jordan…you shall drive out…: Were not they previously forewarned about this a number of times? However, Moses said to them, “When you cross over the Jordan on dry land, you shall cross on this condition, for if not, water will come and inundate you.” And so we find that Joshua said the same to them while they were still in the Jordan. — [Sotah 34a]   כִּי אַתֶּם עֹֽבְרִים אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּן וגו' וְהוֹרַשְׁתֶּם וגו': וַהֲלֹא כַמָּה פְעָמִים הֻזְהֲרוּ עַל כָּךְ? אֶלָּא כָּךְ אָמַר לָהֶם מֹשֶׁה כְּשֶׁאַתֶּם עוֹבְרִים בַּיַּרְדֵּן בַּיַּבָּשָׁה עַל מְנָת כֵּן תַּעַבְרוּ, וְאִם לָאו — מַיִם בָּאִין וְשׁוֹטְפִין אֶתְכֶם, וְכֵן מָצִינוּ שֶׁאָמַר לָהֶם יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (יהושע ד') בְּעוֹדָם בַּיַּרְדֵּן (סוטה ל"ד):
52you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, destroy all their temples, destroy their molten idols, and demolish their high places.   נבוְה֨וֹרַשְׁתֶּ֜ם אֶת־כָּל־יֽשְׁבֵ֤י הָאָ֨רֶץ֙ מִפְּנֵיכֶ֔ם וְאִ֨בַּדְתֶּ֔ם אֵ֖ת כָּל־מַשְׂכִּיֹּתָ֑ם וְאֵ֨ת כָּל־צַלְמֵ֤י מַסֵּֽכֹתָם֙ תְּאַבֵּ֔דוּ וְאֵ֥ת כָּל־בָּֽמוֹתָ֖ם תַּשְׁמִֽידוּ:
You shall drive out: Heb. וְהוֹרַשְׁתֶּם, you shall drive them out.   וְהוֹרַשְׁתֶּם: וְגֵרַשְׁתֶּם:
their temples: Heb. מַשְׂכִּיֹּתָם, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders, סִגְדַּתְהוֹן, their houses of worship, so called because they would cover (מַסְכְּכִין) the ground with a marble floor, on which they would prostrate themselves with outstretched hands and legs, as it is written, “And in your land you shall not place a pavement stone on which to prostrate yourselves (אֶבֶן מַשְׂכִּית) in your land on which to prostrate yourselves” (Lev. 26:1).   מַשְׂכִּיֹּתָם: כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ — "בֵּית סִגְדַּתְהוֹן", עַל שֵׁם שֶׁהָיוּ מְסַכְּכִין אֶת הַקַּרְקַע בְּרִצְפַּת אֲבָנִים שֶׁל שַׁיִשׁ לְהִשְׁתַּחֲווֹת עֲלֵיהֶם בְּפִשּׁוּט יָדַיִם וְרַגְלַיִם, כְּדִכְתִיב "וְאֶבֶן מַשְׂכִּית לֹא תִתְּנוּ בְּאַרְצְכֶם לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֹת עָלֶיהָ" (ויקרא כ"ו):
their molten [idols]: Heb. מַסֵּכֹתָם, as the Targum renders, מַתְּכַתְהוֹן, their molten [idols].   מַסֵּֽכֹתָם: כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ — "מַתְּכַתְהוֹן":
53You shall clear out the Land and settle in it, for I have given you the Land to occupy it.   נגוְהֽוֹרַשְׁתֶּ֥ם אֶת־הָאָ֖רֶץ וִֽישַׁבְתֶּם־בָּ֑הּ כִּ֥י לָכֶ֛ם נָתַ֥תִּי אֶת־הָאָ֖רֶץ לָרֶ֥שֶׁת אֹתָֽהּ:
And you shall clear out the Land: You shall vacate it of its inhabitants, and then you shall “settle in it.” Only then will you be able to survive there, but if you do not do this, you will be unable to survive there.   וְהֽוֹרַשְׁתֶּם אֶת־הָאָרֶץ: וְהוֹרַשְׁתֶּם אוֹתָהּ מִיּוֹשְׁבֶיהָ, וְאָז וישבתם בה — תּוּכְלוּ לְהִתְקַיֵּם בָּהּ, וְאִם לָאו — לֹא תוּכְלוּ לְהִתְקַיֵּם בָּהּ:
54You shall give the Land as an inheritance to your families by lot; to the large, you shall give a larger inheritance and to the small you shall give a smaller inheritance; wherever the lot falls shall be his; according to the tribes of your fathers, you shall inherit.   נד וְהִתְנַֽחַלְתֶּם֩ אֶת־הָאָ֨רֶץ בְּגוֹרָ֜ל לְמִשְׁפְּחֹֽתֵיכֶ֗ם לָרַ֞ב תַּרְבּ֤וּ אֶת־נַֽחֲלָתוֹ֙ וְלַמְעַט֙ תַּמְעִ֣יט אֶת־נַֽחֲלָת֔וֹ אֶל֩ אֲשֶׁר־יֵ֨צֵא ל֥וֹ שָׁ֛מָּה הַגּוֹרָ֖ל ל֣וֹ יִֽהְיֶ֑ה לְמַטּ֥וֹת אֲבֹֽתֵיכֶ֖ם תִּתְנֶחָֽלוּ:
wherever [the lot] falls: Heb. אֶל אֲשֶׁר יֵצֵא לוֹ שָׁמָּה, to…that the lot falls. This is an elliptical verse [and its meaning is:] The place to which the lot falls for him, shall be his.   אֶל אֲשֶׁר־יֵצֵא לוֹ שָׁמָּה: מִקְרָא קָצָר הוּא זֶה: אֶל מָקום אשר יצא לו שמה הגורל לו יהיה:
according to the tribes of your fathers: According to the number of those who left Egypt (B.B. 117a). Another interpretation: with twelve territories, like the number of tribes.   לְמַטּוֹת אֲבֹֽתֵיכֶם: לְפִי חֶשְׁבּוֹן יוֹצְאֵי מִצְרַיִם (בבא בתרא קי"ז); דָּבָר אַחֵר — בְּי"ב גְּבוּלִין כְּמִנְיַן הַשְּׁבָטִים:
55But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the Land from before you, then those whom you leave over will be as spikes in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they will harass you in the land in which you settle.   נהוְאִם־לֹ֨א תוֹרִ֜ישׁוּ אֶת־יֽשְׁבֵ֣י הָאָ֘רֶץ֘ מִפְּנֵיכֶם֒ וְהָיָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תּוֹתִ֣ירוּ מֵהֶ֔ם לְשִׂכִּים֙ בְּעֵ֣ינֵיכֶ֔ם וְלִצְנִינִ֖ם בְּצִדֵּיכֶ֑ם וְצָֽרְר֣וּ אֶתְכֶ֔ם עַל־הָאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתֶּ֖ם יֽשְׁבִ֥ים בָּֽהּ:
those whom you leave over: They will be a source of misfortune for you.   וְהָיָה אֲשֶׁר תּוֹתִירוּ מֵהֶם: יִהְיוּ לָכֶם לְרָעָה:
as spikes in your eyes: Heb. לְשִׂכִּים, pins that will gouge out your eyes. The Targum [Onkelos renders], יְתֵדוֹת (Exod. 38:20), pins or spikes [as] סִכַּיָּא -   לְשִׂכִּים בְּעֵינֵיכֶם: לִיתֵדוֹת הַמְנַקְּרוֹת עֵינֵיכֶם, תַּרְגּוּם שֶׁל יְתֵדוֹת "שִׂיכַיָּא":
and thorns: Heb. וְלִצְנִינִם. The commentators interpret this in the sense of a hedge of thorns which will surround you, fencing you in and confining you so that none can leave or enter. -   וְלִצְנִינִם: פּוֹתְרִין בּוֹ הַפּוֹתְרִים לְשׁוֹן מְסוּכַת קוֹצִים הַסּוֹכֶכֶת אֶתְכֶם, לִסְגֹּר וְלִכְלֹא אֶתְכֶם מֵאֵין יוֹצֵא וָבָא:
and they will harass you: Heb. וְצָרְרוּ, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders [וִיעִיקוּן, and they will harass you, cause you distress].   וְצָֽרְרוּ אֶתְכֶם: כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ:
56And it will be that what I had intended to do to them, I will do to you.   נווְהָיָ֗ה כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּמִּ֛יתִי לַֽעֲשׂ֥וֹת לָהֶ֖ם אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֥ה לָכֶֽם:

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 34

1The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:   אוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר:
2Command the children of Israel and say to them, When you arrive in the land of Canaan, this is the land which shall fall to you as an inheritance, the land of Canaan according to its borders.   בצַ֞ו אֶת־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵהֶ֔ם כִּֽי־אַתֶּ֥ם בָּאִ֖ים אֶל־הָאָ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן זֹ֣את הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר תִּפֹּ֤ל לָכֶם֙ בְּנַֽחֲלָ֔ה אֶ֥רֶץ כְּנַ֖עַן לִגְבֻֽלֹתֶֽיהָ:
This is the land which shall fall to you: Since many precepts apply to the Land [of Israel] and do not apply outside the Land, Scripture found it necessary to chart the outer limits of its boundaries from all sides, to inform you that the precepts apply everywhere within these borders.   זֹאת הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר תִּפֹּל לָכֶם וגו': לְפִי שֶׁהַרְבֵּה מִצְוֹת נוֹהֲגוֹת בָּאָרֶץ וְאֵין נוֹהֲגוֹת בְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ, הֻצְרַךְ לִכְתֹּב מִצְרָנֵי גְבוּלֵי רוּחוֹתֶיהָ סָבִיב, לוֹמַר לְךָ מִן הַגְּבוּלִים הַלָּלוּ וְלִפְנִים הַמִּצְוֹת נוֹהֲגוֹת (עי' גיטין ח'):
shall fall to you: Since it was apportioned by lot, the division is described in terms of נְפִילָה, falling [a word commonly used in connection with lots]. The Midrash Aggadah says that [this expression is used here] because the Holy One, blessed is He, cast down [lit., caused to fall] from heaven the celestial ministers of the seven [Canaanite] nations, and shackled them before Moses. He said to him [Moses], See, they no longer have any power. — [Mid. Tanchuma]   תִּפֹּל לָכֶם: עַל שֵׁם שֶׁנִּתְחַלְּקָה בְגוֹרָל נִקְרֵאת חֲלֻקָּה לְשׁוֹן נְפִילָה; וּמִדְרַשׁ אַגָּדָה אוֹמֵר עַל יְדֵי שֶׁהִפִּיל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שָׂרֵיהֶם שֶׁל שִׁבְעָה אֻמּוֹת מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם וּכְפָתָן לִפְנֵי מֹשֶׁה אָמַר לוֹ רְאֵה אֵין בָּהֶם עוֹד כֹּחַ (עי' תנחומא):
3Your southernmost corner shall be from the desert of Zin along Edom, and the southern border shall be from the edge of the Sea of Salt [the Dead Sea] to the east.   גוְהָיָ֨ה לָכֶ֧ם פְּאַת־נֶ֛גֶב מִמִּדְבַּר־צִ֖ן עַל־יְדֵ֣י אֱד֑וֹם וְהָיָ֤ה לָכֶם֙ גְּב֣וּל נֶ֔גֶב מִקְצֵ֥ה יָֽם־הַמֶּ֖לַח קֵֽדְמָה:
Your southernmost corner shall be: The southern flank extending from east to west.   וְהָיָה לָכֶם פְּאַת־נֶגֶב: רוּחַ דְּרוֹמִית אֲשֶׁר מִן הַמִּזְרָח לַמַּעֲרָב:
from the desert of Zin: which adjoins Edom, beginning in the southeastern corner of the land of the nine tribes. How? Three lands lie south of the Land of Israel, each adjoining the other-part of Egypt, the entire land of Edom, and the entire land of Moab. The land of Egypt is in the southwestern corner, as it says [later] in this passage, “from Azmon to the stream of Egypt and its ends shall be to the sea” (verse 5). The stream of Egypt ran through the entire length of Egypt, as it says, “from the Shihor [river], which is along the face of Egypt” (Josh. 13:3), and it intervenes between the land of Egypt from the Land of Israel. The land of Edom adjoins it [Egypt] from the east, and the land of Moab adjoins the land of Edom at the southeastern corner [of the land of Israel]. When the Israelites departed from Egypt, had the Omnipresent wished to expedite their entry into the Land, He would have taken them northward across the Nile, and they would have thus entered the Land. But He did not do so, and this is the meaning of what is said, “God did not lead them [by] way of the land of the Philistines” (Exod. 13:17). For they [the Philistines] dwelt by the sea in the west of the land of Canaan, as it says regarding the Philistines, “those who inhabit the coastal area, the Cherethite nation” (Zeph. 2:5). He did not lead them by that route, but diverted them and took them along the southern route, to the desert. Ezekiel called it “the desert of the nations” (Ezek. 5:35) because several nations dwelt alongside it. He led them along the south, always from west to east, until they arrived at the southern end of the land of Edom. They asked the king of Edom for permission to enter his land and traverse its width in order to enter the Land [of Israel], but he refused, and they had to turn and travel along the entire south of Edom until they reached the southern end of the land of Moab, as it says, “He sent [messengers] also to the king of Moab, but he was unwilling” (Jud. 11:17). They then traversed the entire southern boundary of Moab, right to the end, and then turned northward until they had passed along its entire eastern boundary, along its width, and when they finished its eastern boundary, they came upon the land of Sihon and Og, who dwelt to the east of the land of Canaan, with the Jordan [river] intervening between them. This is the meaning of what is stated concerning Jephthah, “And they went through the desert and went around the land of Edom and the land of Moab, and they came to the east of the land of Moab” (ibid. 18). They conquered the lands of Sihon and Og, which were to the north of Moab, and came near to the Jordan, opposite the northwestern corner of the land of Moab. Hence, the land of Canaan, which was across the Jordan to the west, has its southeastern corner bordering on Edom.   מִמִּדְבַּר־צִן: אֲשֶׁר אֵצֶל אֱדוֹם מַתְחִיל מִקְצוֹעַ דְרוֹמִית מִזְרָחִית שֶׁל אֶרֶץ תִּשְׁעַת הַמַּטּוֹת; כֵּיצַד? שָׁלוֹשׁ אֲרָצוֹת יוֹשְׁבוֹת בִּדְרוֹמָהּ שֶׁל אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל זוֹ אֵצֶל זוֹ — קְצָת אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם וְאֶרֶץ אֱדוֹם כֻּלָּהּ וְאֶרֶץ מוֹאָב כֻּלָּהּ, אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם בְּמִקְצוֹעַ דְּרוֹמִית מַעֲרָבִית, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בְּפָרָשָׁה זוֹ מֵעַצְמוֹן נַחְלָה מִצְרָיִם וְהָיוּ תוֹצְאֹתָיו הַיָּמָּה, וְנַחַל מִצְרַיִם הָיָה מְהַלֵּךְ עַל פְּנֵי כָל אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יהושע י"ג) "מִן הַשִּׁיחוֹר אֲשֶׁר עַל פְּנֵי מִצְרַיִם", וּמַפְסִיק בֵּין אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאֶרֶץ אֱדוֹם אֶצְלָהּ לְצַד הַמִּזְרָח, וְאֶרֶץ מוֹאָב אֵצֶל אֶרֶץ אֱדוֹם בְּסוֹף הַדָּרוֹם לַמִּזְרָח. וּכְשֶׁיָּצְאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרַיִם, אִם רָצָה הַמָּקוֹם לְקָרֵב אֶת כְּנִיסָתָם לָאָרֶץ, הָיָה מַעֲבִירָם אֶת הַנִּילוּס לְצַד צָפוֹן וּבָאִין לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְלֹא עָשָׂה כֵן, וְזֶהוּ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות י"ג) "וְלֹא נָחָם אֱלֹהִים דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּים", שֶׁהֵם יוֹשְׁבִים עַל הַיָּם בְּמַעֲרָבָהּ שֶׁל אֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן — כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּים (צפניה ב') "יֹשְׁבֵי חֶבֶל הַיָּם גּוֹי כְּרֵתִים" — וְלֹא נָחָם אוֹתוֹ הַדֶּרֶךְ, אֶלָּא הֱסִבָּן וְהוֹצִיאָם דֶּרֶךְ דְּרוֹמָהּ אֶל הַמִּדְבָּר, וְהוּא שֶׁקְּרָאוֹ יְחֶזְקֵאל (יחזקאל כ') "מִדְבַּר הָעַמִּים", לְפִי שֶׁהָיוּ כַמָּה אֻמּוֹת יוֹשְׁבִים בְּצִדּוֹ; וְהוֹלְכִין אֵצֶל דְּרוֹמָהּ מִן הַמַּעֲרָב כְּלַפֵּי מִזְרָח תָּמִיד עַד שֶׁבָּאוּ לִדְרוֹמָהּ שֶׁל אֶרֶץ אֱדוֹם, וּבִקְּשׁוּ מִמֶּלֶךְ אֱדוֹם שֶׁיַּנִּיחֵם לַעֲבֹר דֶּרֶךְ אַרְצוֹ וּלְהִכָּנֵס לָאָרֶץ דֶּרֶךְ רָחְבָּהּ וְלֹא רָצָה, וְהֻצְרְכוּ לִסְבֹּב אֶת כָּל דְּרוֹמָהּ שֶׁל אֱדוֹם עַד בּוֹאָם לִדְרוֹמָהּ שֶׁל אֶרֶץ מוֹאָב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שופטים י"א) "וְגַם אֶל מֶלֶךְ מוֹאָב שָׁלַח וְלֹא אָבָה", וְהָלְכוּ כָּל דְּרוֹמָהּ שֶׁל מוֹאָב עַד סוֹפָהּ, וּמִשָּׁם הָפְכוּ פְנֵיהֶם לַצָּפוֹן עַד שֶׁסָּבְבוּ כָל מֶצֶר מִזְרָחִי שֶׁלָּהּ לְרָחְבָּהּ; וּכְשֶׁכִּלּוּ אֶת מִזְרָחָהּ, מָצְאוּ אֶת אֶרֶץ סִיחוֹן וְעוֹג שֶׁהָיוּ יוֹשְׁבִין בְּמִזְרָחָהּ שֶׁל אֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן וְהַיַּרְדֵּן מַפְסִיק בֵּינֵיהֶם, וְזֶהוּ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בְּיִפְתָּח (שם) "וַיֵּלֶךְ בַּמִּדְבָּר וַיָּסָב אֶת אֶרֶץ אֱדוֹם וְאֶת אֶרֶץ מוֹאָב וַיָּבֹא מִמִּזְרַח שֶׁמֶשׁ לְאֶרֶץ מוֹאָב", וְכָבְשׁוּ אֶת אֶרֶץ סִיחוֹן וְעוֹג שֶׁהָיְתָה בִּצְפוֹנָהּ שֶׁל אֶרֶץ מוֹאָב וְקָרְבוּ עַד הַיַּרְדֵּן, וְהוּא כְנֶגֶד מִקְצוֹעַ צָפוֹנָה מַעֲרָבָה שֶׁל אֶרֶץ מוֹאָב; נִמְצָא שֶׁאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן שֶׁבְּעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן לַמַּעֲרָב, הָיָה מִקְצוֹעַ דְּרוֹמִית מִזְרָחִית שֶׁלָּהּ אֵצֶל אֱדוֹם:
4The border then turns south of Maaleh Akrabim [elevation of Akrabim], passing toward Zin, and its ends shall be to the south of Kadesh barnea. Then it shall extend to Hazar addar and continue toward Azmon.   דוְנָסַ֣ב לָכֶם֩ הַגְּב֨וּל מִנֶּ֜גֶב לְמַֽעֲלֵ֤ה עַקְרַבִּים֙ וְעָ֣בַר צִ֔נָה וְהָיוּ֙ (כתיב והיה֙) תּֽוֹצְאֹתָ֔יו מִנֶּ֖גֶב לְקָדֵ֣שׁ בַּרְנֵ֑עַ וְיָצָ֥א חֲצַר־אַדָּ֖ר וְעָבַ֥ר עַצְמֹֽנָה:
The border then turns south of Maaleh Akrabim: Whenever the term וְנָסַב (“turns”) or וְיָצָא (“extends to”) is used, it [Scripture] informs us that the border was not straight, but veered outward; the boundary line bent to the north, angling westward, so that the border passed south of Maaleh Akrabim, so that Maaleh Akrabim was within the border.   וְנָסַב לָכֶם הַגְּבוּל מִנֶּגֶב לְמַֽעֲלֵה עַקְרַבִּים: כָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְנָסַב" אוֹ "וְיָצָא" מְלַמֵּד שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה הַמֶּצֶר שָׁוֶה אֶלָּא הוֹלֵךְ וְיוֹצֵא לַחוּץ; יוֹצֵא הַמֶּצֶר וְעוֹקֵם לְצַד צְפוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, בַּאֲלַכְסוֹן לַמַּעֲרָב, וְעוֹבֵר הַמֶּצֶר בִּדְרוֹמָהּ שֶׁל מַעֲלֵה עַקְרַבִּים, נִמְצָא מַעֲלֵה עַקְרַבִּים לִפְנִים מִן הַמֶּצֶר:
passing toward Zin: Heb. צִנָה, to Zin, as in מִצְרַיְמָה, to Egypt.   וְעָבַר צִנָה: אֶל צִן, כְּמוֹ מִצְרַיְמָה:
its ends shall be: Heb. תוֹצְאֹתָיו, its ends, to the south of Kadesh-barnea.   והיו תּֽוֹצְאֹתָיו: קְצוֹתָיו, בִּדְרוֹמָהּ שֶׁל קָדֵשׁ בַּרְנֵעַ:
it shall extend: The boundary stretches northward and continues angling westward, until it reaches Hazar-addar, and from there to Azmon and from there to the stream of Egypt. The term “turns” is used here, because Scripture writes, “it shall extend to Hazar-addar.” For it began to widen after passing Kadesh-barnea, and the width of that strip which protruded northward was from Kadesh-barnea to Azmon. From there onward, the boundary narrowed and turned southward, reaching the river of Egypt, and from there westward to the Great Sea, which is the western boundary of the entire Land of Israel. Thus, the river of Egypt is in the southwestern corner.   וְיָצָא חֲצַר־אַדָּר: מִתְפַּשֵּׁט הַמֶּצֶר וּמַרְחִיב לְצַד צָפוֹן שֶׁל עוֹלָם וְנִמְשָׁךְ עוֹד בַּאֲלַכְסוֹן לַמַּעֲרָב, וּבָא לוֹ לַחֲצַר אַדָּר, וּמִשָּׁם לְעַצְמוֹן, וּמִשָּׁם לְנַחַל מִצְרַיִם; וּלְשׁוֹן וְנָסַב הָאָמוּר כָּאן, לְפִי שֶׁכָּתַב וְיָצָא חֲצַר אַדָּר, שֶׁהִתְחִיל לְהַרְחִיב מִשֶּׁעָבַר אֶת קָדֵשׁ בַּרְנֵעַ, וְרֹחַב אוֹתָהּ רְצוּעָה שֶׁבָּלְטָה לְצַד צָפוֹן הָיְתָה מִקָּדֵשׁ בַּרְנֵעַ עַד עַצְמוֹן, וּמִשָּׁם וָהָלְאָה נִתְקַצֵּר הַמֶּצֶר וְנָסַב לְצַד הַדָּרוֹם וּבָא לוֹ לְנַחַל מִצְרַיִם, וּמִשָּׁם לְצַד הַמַּעֲרָב אֶל הַיָּם הַגָּדוֹל שֶׁהוּא מֶצֶר מַעֲרָבָהּ שֶׁל כָּל אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, נִמְצָא שֶׁנַּחַל מִצְרַיִם בְּמִקְצוֹעַ מַעֲרָבִית דְּרוֹמִית:
5The border then turns from Azmon to the stream of Egypt, and its ends shall be to the sea.   הוְנָסַ֧ב הַגְּב֛וּל מֵֽעַצְמ֖וֹן נַ֣חְלָה מִצְרָ֑יִם וְהָי֥וּ תֽוֹצְאֹתָ֖יו הַיָּֽמָּה:
and its ends shall be to the sea: To the western border, for the southern border no longer stretches westward past there.   וְהָיוּ תֽוֹצְאֹתָיו הַיָּֽמָּה: אֶל מֶצֶר הַמַּעֲרָב שֶׁאֵין עוֹד גְּבוּל נֶגֶב מַאֲרִיךְ לְצַד הַמַּעֲרָב מִשָּׁם וָהָלְאָה:
6The western border: it shall be for you the Great [Mediterranean] Sea and the border this shall be your western border.   ווּגְב֣וּל יָ֔ם וְהָיָ֥ה לָכֶ֛ם הַיָּ֥ם הַגָּד֖וֹל וּגְב֑וּל זֶה־יִּֽהְיֶ֥ה לָכֶ֖ם גְּב֥וּל יָֽם:
The western border: And what was the western border?   וּגְבוּל יָם: וּמֶצֶר מַעֲרָבִי מַהוּ?
[It shall be for you] the Great Sea: As a boundary.   וְהָיָה לָכֶם הַיָּם הַגָּדוֹל: לְמֶצֶר:
and the border: The islands in the sea are also included in the border. These islands are called isles in old French. — [Gittin 8a]   וּגְבוּל: הַנִּסִּין שֶׁבְּתוֹךְ הַיָּם אַף הֵם מִן הַגְּבוּל, וְהֵם אִיִּים שֶקּוֹרִין איזל"ס:
7This shall be your northern border: From the Great [Mediterranean] Sea turn yourselves toward Mount Hor.   זוְזֶה־יִּֽהְיֶ֥ה לָכֶ֖ם גְּב֣וּל צָפ֑וֹן מִן־הַיָּם֙ הַגָּדֹ֔ל תְּתָא֥וּ לָכֶ֖ם הֹ֥ר הָהָֽר:
northern border: Heb. גְּבוּל צָפוֹן, the northern boundary.   גְּבוּל צָפוֹן: מֶצֶר צָפוֹן:
From the Great Sea turn yourselves toward Mount Hor: which is the northwestern corner. Its summit slopes down into the sea. Some of the expanse of the sea is inward of it and some outside it.   מִן־הַיָּם הַגָּדֹל תְּתָאוּ לָכֶם הֹר הָהָֽר: שֶׁהוּא בְמִקְצוֹעַ צְפוֹנִית מַעֲרָבִית וְרֹאשׁוֹ מַשְׁפִּיעַ וְנִכְנָס לְתוֹךְ הַיָּם, וְיֵשׁ מֵרֹחַב הַיָּם לִפְנִים הֵימֶנּוּ וְחוּצָה הֵימֶנּוּ:
turn yourselves: Change your direction, to move from west to north, toward Mount Hor.   תְּתָאוּ: תְּשַׁפְּעוּ לָכֶם, לִנְטוֹת מִמַּעֲרָב לַצָּפוֹן, אֶל הֹר הָהָר:
turn yourselves: An expression denoting a slant, as in “the [slanting] chamber (תָּא) of the guards” (I Kings 14:28); “the chamber (תָּא) of the gate” (Ezek. 40:10), which are called apendiz in old French [penthouse, lean-to, a small building with a sloping roof, attached to a main building] for it is curved and sloping.   תְּתָאוּ: לְשׁוֹן סִבָּה, כְּמוֹ "אֶל תָּא הָרָצִים" (מלכים א י"ד), "וְתָאֵי הַשַּׁעַר" (יחזקאל מ') — הַיָּצִיעַ, שֶׁקּוֹרִין אפנדי"ץ, שֶׁהוּא מוּסָב וּמְשֻׁפָּע:
8From Mount Hor turn to the entrance of Hamath, and the ends of the border shall be toward Zedad.   חמֵהֹ֣ר הָהָ֔ר תְּתָא֖וּ לְבֹ֣א חֲמָ֑ת וְהָי֛וּ תּֽוֹצְאֹ֥ת הַגְּבֻ֖ל צְדָֽדָה:
From Mount Hor: you shall turn and continue along the northern border eastward, and then you will arrive at the entrance to Hamath, which is Antioch. - [Targum Yerushalmi]   מֵהֹר הָהָר: תָּסֹבּוּ וְתֵלְכוּ אֶל מֶצֶר הַצָּפוֹן לְצַד הַמִּזְרָח, וְתִפְגְּעוּ בִּלְבֹא חֲמָת, זוֹ אַנְטוֹכְיָא:
and the ends of the border: Heb. תּוֹצְאֹת הַגּבוּל, the ends of the border. Whenever [Scripture] mentions “the ends of the border” either the boundary line ends there completely and does not continue further in that direction, or from there it spreads out, broadens, and extends backwards, continuing in a more slanting direction than [encompassed in] the original expanse. In relation to the breadth of the original dimension, it is called the ends, for that dimension ends there.   תּֽוֹצְאֹת הַגְּבֻל: סוֹפֵי הַגְּבוּל; כָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר תּוֹצְאוֹת הַגְּבוּל, אוֹ הַמֶּצֶר כָּלֶה שָׁם לְגַמְרֵי וְאֵינוֹ עוֹבֵר לְהַלָּן כְּלָל, אוֹ מִשָּׁם מִתְפַּשֵּׁט וּמַרְחִיב וְיוֹצֵא לַאֲחוֹרָיו לְהִמָּשֵׁךְ לְהַלָּן בַּאֲלַכְסוֹן יוֹתֵר מִן הָרֹחַב הָרִאשׁוֹן, וּלְעִנְיַן רֹחַב הַמִּדָּה הָרִאשׁוֹן קְרָאוֹ תּוֹצָאוֹת, שֶׁשָּׁם כָּלְתָה אוֹתָהּ מִדָּה:
9The border shall then extend to Ziphron, and its ends shall be Hazar enan; this shall be your northern border.   טוְיָצָ֤א הַגְּבֻל֙ זִפְרֹ֔נָה וְהָי֥וּ תֽוֹצְאֹתָ֖יו חֲצַ֣ר עֵינָ֑ן זֶה־יִּֽהְיֶ֥ה לָכֶ֖ם גְּב֥וּל צָפֽוֹן:
and its ends shall be Hazar-enan: This is the end of the northern border, and Hazar-enan is situated in the northeastern corner. From there “you shall then turn yourselves” toward the eastern border.   וְהָיוּ תֽוֹצְאֹתָיו חֲצַר עֵינָן: הוּא הָיָה סוֹף הַמֶּצֶר הַצְּפוֹנִי, וְנִמְצֵאת חֲצַר עֵינָן בְּמִקְצוֹעַ צְפוֹנִית מִזְרָחִית, וּמִשָּׁם והתאויתם לכם אֶל מֶצֶר הַמִּזְרָחִי:
10You shall then turn yourselves toward the eastern border, from Hazar enan to Shepham.   יוְהִתְאַוִּיתֶ֥ם לָכֶ֖ם לִגְב֣וּל קֵ֑דְמָה מֵֽחֲצַ֥ר עֵינָ֖ן שְׁפָֽמָה:
You shall then turn yourselves: Heb. וְהִתְאַוִּיתֶם, a term denoting turning or veering, cognate with [the term] תְּתָאוּ.   וְהִתְאַוִּיתֶם: לְשׁוֹן הֲסִבָּה וּנְטִיָּה, כְּמוֹ "תְּתָאוּ":
to Shepham: on the eastern boundary, and from there to Riblah.   שְׁפָֽמָה: בַּמֶּצֶר הַמִּזְרָחִי, וּמִשָּׁם הָרִבְלָה:
11The border descends from Shepham toward Riblah, to the east of Ain. Then the border descends and hits the eastern shore of Lake Kinnereth.   יאוְיָרַ֨ד הַגְּבֻ֧ל מִשְּׁפָ֛ם הָֽרִבְלָ֖ה מִקֶּ֣דֶם לָעָ֑יִן וְיָרַ֣ד הַגְּבֻ֗ל וּמָחָ֛ה עַל־כֶּ֥תֶף יָֽם־כִּנֶּ֖רֶת קֵֽדְמָה:
east of Ain: [Ain is] the name of a place, and the border passes east of it, so that Ain is situated within the border and is part of the Land of Israel.   מִקֶּדֶם לָעָיִן: שֵׁם מָקוֹם, וְהַמֶּצֶר הוֹלֵךְ בְּמִזְרָחוֹ, נִמְצָא הָעַיִן לִפְנִים מִן הַמֶּצֶר וּמֵאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל הוּא:
Then the border descends: As the border proceeds from north to south, it descends.   וְיָרַד הגבול: כָּל שֶׁהַגְּבוּל הוֹלֵךְ מִצָּפוֹן לַדָּרוֹם הוּא יוֹרֵד וְהוֹלֵךְ:
and hits the... shore: [Heb. כֶּתֶף, lit. shoulder: i.e.,] the side.   וּמָחָה עַל־כֶּתֶף: אל עבר:
and hits the eastern shore of Lake Kinnereth: For Lake Kinnereth was within the border to the west, and the border which is east of Lake Kinnereth, descends to the Jordan. The Jordan flows from north to south diagonally, slanting eastward, moving toward the land of Canaan opposite Lake Kinnereth, and extending along the eastern flank of the Land of Israel, opposite Lake Kinnereth, until it falls into the Sea of Salt [the Dead Sea], and from there the border ends with its ends at the Sea of Salt, from which the southeastern border begins. This is how it is encompassed from all its four sides.   יָֽם־כִּנֶּרֶת קֵֽדְמָה: שֶׁיְּהֵא יָם כִּנֶּרֶת תּוֹךְ לַגְּבוּל, בַּמַּעֲרָב, וְהַגְּבוּל בְּמִזְרַח יָם כִּנֶּרֶת, וּמִשָּׁם יָרַד אֶל הַיַּרְדֵּן, וְהַיַּרְדֵּן מוֹשֵׁךְ וּבָא מִן הַצָּפוֹן לַדָּרוֹם בַּאֲלַכְסוֹן, נוֹטֶה לְצַד מִזְרָח מִתְקָרֵב לְצַד אֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן כְּנֶגֶד יָם כִּנֶּרֶת, וּמוֹשֵׁךְ לְצַד מִזְרָחָהּ שֶׁל אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל (כְּנֶגֶד יָם כִּנֶּרֶת) עַד שֶׁנּוֹפֵל בְּיָם הַמֶּלַח, וּמִשָּׁם כָּלֶה הַגְּבוּל בְּתוֹצְאוֹתָיו אֶל יָם הַמֶּלַח, שֶׁמִּמֶּנּוּ הַתְחָלַת מֶצֶר מִקְצוֹעַ דְּרוֹמִית מִזְרָחִית, הֲרֵי סוֹבֶבֶת אוֹתָהּ לְאַרְבַּע רוּחוֹתֶיהָ:
12The border then continues down along the Jordan, and its ends is the Sea of Salt [the Dead Sea]; this shall be your Land according to its borders around.   יבוְיָרַ֤ד הַגְּבוּל֙ הַיַּרְדֵּ֔נָה וְהָי֥וּ תֽוֹצְאֹתָ֖יו יָ֣ם הַמֶּ֑לַח זֹאת֩ תִּֽהְיֶ֨ה לָכֶ֥ם הָאָ֛רֶץ לִגְבֻֽלֹתֶ֖יהָ סָבִֽיב:
13Moses commanded the children of Israel saying, "This is the Land which you are to apportion for inheritance through lot, that the Lord has commanded to give to the nine and a half tribes.   יגוַיְצַ֣ו משֶׁ֔ה אֶת־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר זֹ֣את הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר תִּתְנַֽחֲל֤וּ אֹתָהּ֙ בְּגוֹרָ֔ל אֲשֶׁר֙ צִוָּ֣ה יְהֹוָ֔ה לָתֵ֛ת לְתִשְׁעַ֥ת הַמַּטּ֖וֹת וַֽחֲצִ֥י הַמַּטֶּֽה:
14For the tribe of Reuben's descendants according to their fathers' house, and the tribe of Gad's descendants according to their fathers' house, and half the tribe of Manasseh have already received their inheritance.   ידכִּ֣י לָֽקְח֞וּ מַטֵּ֨ה בְנֵ֤י הָרֽאוּבֵנִי֙ לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֔ם וּמַטֵּ֥ה בְנֵֽי־הַגָּדִ֖י לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם וַֽחֲצִי֙ מַטֵּ֣ה מְנַשֶּׁ֔ה לָֽקְח֖וּ נַֽחֲלָתָֽם:
15The two and a half tribes have received their inheritance on this side of the Jordan, near Jericho in the east, toward the sunrise."   טושְׁנֵ֥י הַמַּטּ֖וֹת וַֽחֲצִ֣י הַמַּטֶּ֑ה לָֽקְח֣וּ נַֽחֲלָתָ֗ם מֵעֵ֛בֶר לְיַרְדֵּ֥ן יְרֵח֖וֹ קֵ֥דְמָה מִזְרָֽחָה:
in the east toward the sunrise: Heb. קֵדְמָה, meaning toward the front of the world, which is in the east, for the east side is called the forefront [lit., the face] and the west is called the back. Thus, the south is to the right, and the north is to the left.   קֵדְמָה מִזְרָֽחָה: אֶל פְּנֵי הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֵם בַּמִּזְרָח, שֶׁרוּחַ מִזְרָחִית קְרוּיָה פָנִים וּמַעֲרָבִית קְרוּיָה אָחוֹר, לְפִיכָךְ דָּרוֹם לַיָּמִין וְצָפוֹן לַשְּׂמֹאל:

Sixth Portion

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 34

16The Lord spoke to Moses saying:   טזוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר:
17These are the names of the men who shall inherit the land on your behalf: Eleazar the kohen and Joshua the son of Nun.   יזאֵ֚לֶּה שְׁמ֣וֹת הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־יִנְחֲל֥וּ לָכֶ֖ם אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ אֶלְעָזָר֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וִֽיהוֹשֻׁ֖ע֙ בִּן־נֽוּן:
who shall inherit the land of your behalf: Heb. לָכֶם, on your behalf. Each chieftain was an administrator for his tribe, to divide the tribal inheritance among families and individuals. He chose a suitable portion for each one, and whatever they did was binding, as if they had been designated as agents [by the members of the tribes]. It is not possible to render this word לָכֶם as every לָכֶם in Scripture, [meaning “to you,”] for in that case, it should have written יַנְחִילוּ לָכֶם, [in the hiph’il, the causative conjugation, they shall give it to you to inherit], but the word יִנְחֲלוּ [in the kal, simple conjugation] means that they shall inherit for you, on your behalf and in your stead, as in, “The Lord will wage war for you לָכֶם” (Exod. 14:14).   אֲשֶׁר־יִנְחֲלוּ לָכֶם: בִּשְׁבִילְכֶם; כָּל נָשִׂיא וְנָשִׂיא אַפּוֹטְרוֹפּוֹס לְשִׁבְטוֹ וּמְחַלֵּק נַחֲלַת הַשֵּׁבֶט לַמִּשְׁפָּחוֹת וְלַגְּבָרִים, וּבוֹרֵר לְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד חֵלֶק הָגוּן, וּמַה שֶּׁהֵם עוֹשִׂים יִהְיֶה עָשׂוּי כְּאִלּוּ עֲשָׂאוּם שְׁלוּחִים; וְלֹא יִתָּכֵן לְפָרֵשׁ לכם זֶה כְּכָל לָכֶם שֶׁבַּמִּקְרָא, שֶׁאִם כֵּן הָיָה לוֹ לִכְתֹּב יַנְחִילוּ לָכֶם, יִנְחֲלוּ מַשְׁמַע שֶׁהֵם נוֹחֲלִים לָכֶם — בִּשְׁבִילְכֶם וּבִמְקוֹמְכֶם, כְּמוֹ "ה' יִלָּחֵם לָכֶם" (שמות י"ד):
18You shall take one chieftain from each tribe to [help you to] acquire the land.   יחוְנָשִׂ֥יא אֶחָ֛ד נָשִׂ֥יא אֶחָ֖ד מִמַּטֶּ֑ה תִּקְח֖וּ לִנְחֹ֥ל אֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ:
to [help you] to acquire the land: To take possession of the land and apportion it in your stead.   לִנְחֹל אֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ: שֶׁיְּהֵא נוֹחֵל וְחוֹלֵק אוֹתָהּ בִּמְקוֹמְכֶם:
19These are the names of the men: for the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.   יטוְאֵ֖לֶּה שְׁמ֣וֹת הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֑ים לְמַטֵּ֣ה יְהוּדָ֔ה כָּלֵ֖ב בֶּן־יְפֻנֶּֽה:
20For the tribe of the descendants of Simeon, Samuel the son of Ammihud.   כוּלְמַטֵּה֨ בְּנֵ֣י שִׁמְע֔וֹן שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל בֶּן־עַמִּיהֽוּד:
21For the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad the son of Chislon.   כאלְמַטֵּ֣ה בִנְיָמִ֔ן אֱלִידָ֖ד בֶּן־כִּסְלֽוֹן:
22The chieftain for the tribe of the descendants of Dan, Bukki the son of Jogli.   כבוּלְמַטֵּ֥ה בְנֵי־דָ֖ן נָשִׂ֑יא בֻּקִּ֖י בֶּן־יָגְלִֽי:
23For the descendants of Joseph; the chieftain for the tribe of the descendants of Manasseh, Hanniel the son of Ephod.   כגלִבְנֵ֣י יוֹסֵ֔ף לְמַטֵּ֥ה בְנֵֽי־מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה נָשִׂ֑יא חַנִּיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־אֵפֹֽד:
24The chieftain for the tribe of the descendants of Ephraim, Kemuel the son of Shiphtan.   כדוּלְמַטֵּ֥ה בְנֵֽי־אֶפְרַ֖יִם נָשִׂ֑יא קְמוּאֵ֖ל בֶּן־שִׁפְטָֽן:
25The chieftain for the tribe of the descendants of Zebulun, Elizaphan the son of Parnach.   כהוּלְמַטֵּ֥ה בְנֵֽי־זְבוּלֻ֖ן נָשִׂ֑יא אֱלִֽיצָפָ֖ן בֶּן־פַּרְנָֽךְ:
26The chieftain for the tribe of the descendants of Issachar, Paltiel the son of Azzan.   כווּלְמַטֵּ֥ה בְנֵֽי־יִשָּׂשכָ֖ר נָשִׂ֑יא פַּלְטִיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־עַזָּֽן:
27The chieftain for the tribe of the descendants of Asher, Ahihud the son of Shelomi.   כזוּלְמַטֵּ֥ה בְנֵֽי־אָשֵׁ֖ר נָשִׂ֑יא אֲחִיה֖וּד בֶּן־שְׁלֹמִֽי:
28The chieftain of the tribe of the descendants of Naphtali, Pedahel the son of Ammihud.   כחוּלְמַטֵּ֥ה בְנֵֽי־נַפְתָּלִ֖י נָשִׂ֑יא פְּדַהְאֵ֖ל בֶּן־עַמִּיהֽוּד:
29These are the ones whom the Lord commanded to apportion the inheritance to the children of Israel in the land of Canaan.   כטאֵ֕לֶּה אֲשֶׁ֖ר צִוָּ֣ה יְהֹוָ֑ה לְנַחֵ֥ל אֶת־בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּאֶ֥רֶץ כְּנָֽעַן:
to apportion the inheritance: They are the ones who shall divide the inheritance among you according to its portions.   לְנַחֵל אֶת־בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל: שֶׁהֵם יַנְחִילוּ אוֹתָהּ לָכֶם לְמַחְלְקוֹתֶיהָ:

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 35

1The Lord spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab, by the Jordan at Jericho saying:   אוַיְדַבֵּ֧ר יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶל־משֶׁ֖ה בְּעַרְבֹ֣ת מוֹאָ֑ב עַל־יַרְדֵּ֥ן יְרֵח֖וֹ לֵאמֹֽר:
2Command the children of Israel that they shall give to the Levites from their hereditary possession cities in which to dwell, and you shall give the Levites open spaces around the cities.   בצַו֘ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ וְנָֽתְנ֣וּ לַֽלְוִיִּ֗ם מִנַּֽחֲלַ֛ת אֲחֻזָּתָ֖ם עָרִ֣ים לָשָׁ֑בֶת וּמִגְרָ֗שׁ לֶֽעָרִים֙ סְבִיבֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם תִּתְּנ֖וּ לַֽלְוִיִּֽם:
open spaces: Empty belts of land surrounding each city, so as to beautify the city. It was forbidden to build a house, plant a vineyard or sow seed there. — [Arachin 33b]   וּמִגְרָשׁ: רֶוַח מָקוֹם חָלָק חוּץ לָעִיר סָבִיב, לִהְיוֹת לְנוֹי לָעִיר, וְאֵין רַשָּׁאִין לִבְנוֹת שָׁם בַּיִת וְלֹא לִנְטֹעַ כֶּרֶם וְלֹא לִזְרֹעַ זְרִיעָה:
3These cities shall be theirs for dwelling, and their open spaces shall be for their cattle, their property, and for all their needs.   גוְהָי֧וּ הֶֽעָרִ֛ים לָהֶ֖ם לָשָׁ֑בֶת וּמִגְרְשֵׁיהֶ֗ם יִֽהְי֤וּ לִבְהֶמְתָּם֙ וְלִרְכֻשָׁ֔ם וּלְכֹ֖ל חַיָּתָֽם:
and for all their needs: Heb. חַיָּתָם, for their personal necessities. — [Ned. 81a]   וּלְכֹל חַיָּתָֽם: לְכָל צָרְכֵּיהֶם:
4The areas of open space for the cities which you shall give to the Levites shall extend from the wall of the city outward, one thousand cubits all around.   דוּמִגְרְשֵׁי֙ הֶֽעָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּתְּנ֖וּ לַֽלְוִיִּ֑ם מִקִּ֤יר הָעִיר֙ וָח֔וּצָה אֶ֥לֶף אַמָּ֖ה סָבִֽיב:
one thousand cubits all around: Yet following this it says,“two thousand cubits”? How can this be? However, He assigned two thousand for them around the city, of which the inner thousand was for open area and the outer [thousand] for fields and vineyards. — [Sotah 27b]   אֶלֶף אַמָּה סָבִֽיב: וְאַחֲרָיו הוּא אוֹמֵר אַלְפַּיִם אַמָּה, הָא כֵיצַד? אַלְפַּיִם הוּא נוֹתֵן לָהֶם סָבִיב, וּמֵהֶם אֶלֶף הַפְּנִימִיִּים לְמִגְרָשׁ וְהַחִיצוֹנִים לְשָׂדוֹת וּכְרָמִים:
5You shall measure from outside the city, two thousand cubits on the eastern side, two thousand cubits on the southern side, two thousand cubits on the western side, and two thousand cubits on the northern side, with the city in the middle; this shall be your cities' open spaces.   הוּמַדֹּתֶ֞ם מִח֣וּץ לָעִ֗יר אֶת־פְּאַת־קֵ֣דְמָה אַלְפַּ֪יִם בָּֽאַ֠מָּ֩ה וְאֶת־פְּאַת־נֶ֩גֶב֩ אַלְפַּ֨יִם בָּֽאַמָּ֜ה וְאֶת־פְּאַת־יָ֣ם | אַלְפַּ֣יִם בָּֽאַמָּ֗ה וְאֵ֨ת פְּאַ֥ת צָפ֛וֹן אַלְפַּ֥יִם בָּֽאַמָּ֖ה וְהָעִ֣יר בַּתָּ֑וֶךְ זֶ֚ה יִֽהְיֶ֣ה לָהֶ֔ם מִגְרְשֵׁ֖י הֶֽעָרִֽים:
6Among the cities you shall give to the Levites, shall be six cities of refuge, which you shall provide [as places] to which a murderer can flee. In addition to them, you shall provide forty two cities.   ווְאֵ֣ת הֶֽעָרִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר תִּתְּנוּ֙ לַֽלְוִיִּ֔ם אֵ֚ת שֵֽׁשׁ־עָרֵ֣י הַמִּקְלָ֔ט אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּתְּנ֔וּ לָנֻ֥ס שָׁ֖מָּה הָֽרֹצֵ֑חַ וַֽעֲלֵיהֶ֣ם תִּתְּנ֔וּ אַרְבָּעִ֥ים וּשְׁתַּ֖יִם עִֽיר:
7All the cities you shall give to the Levites shall number forty eight cities, them with their open spaces.   זכָּל־הֶֽעָרִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר תִּתְּנוּ֙ לַֽלְוִיִּ֔ם אַרְבָּעִ֥ים וּשְׁמֹנֶ֖ה עִ֑יר אֶתְהֶ֖ן וְאֶת־מִגְרְשֵׁיהֶֽן:
8And as for the cities that you shall give from the possession of the children of Israel, you shall take more from a larger [holding] and you shall take less from a smaller one. Each one, according to the inheritance allotted to him, shall give of his cities to the Levites.   חוְהֶֽעָרִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר תִּתְּנוּ֙ מֵֽאֲחֻזַּ֣ת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מֵאֵ֤ת הָרַב֙ תַּרְבּ֔וּ וּמֵאֵ֥ת הַמְעַ֖ט תַּמְעִ֑יטוּ אִ֗ישׁ כְּפִ֤י נַֽחֲלָתוֹ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִנְחָ֔לוּ יִתֵּ֥ן מֵֽעָרָ֖יו לַֽלְוִיִּֽם:

Seventh Portion

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 35

9The Lord spoke to Moses saying:   טוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר:
10Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, When you cross the Jordan to the land of Canaan,   ידַּבֵּר֙ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֖ אֲלֵהֶ֑ם כִּ֥י אַתֶּ֛ם עֹֽבְרִ֥ים אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן אַ֥רְצָה כְּנָֽעַן:
11you shall designate cities for yourselves; they shall be cities of refuge for you, and a murderer who killed a person unintentionally shall flee there.   יאוְהִקְרִיתֶ֤ם לָכֶם֙ עָרִ֔ים עָרֵ֥י מִקְלָ֖ט תִּֽהְיֶ֣ינָה לָכֶ֑ם וְנָ֥ס שָׁ֨מָּה֙ רֹצֵ֔חַ מַכֵּה־נֶ֖פֶשׁ בִּשְׁגָגָֽה:
you shall designate: [The expression] הַקְרָיָה can mean only preparation, as it says, “Because the Lord, your God, prepared it (הִקְרָה) before me” (Gen. 27:20) - [Sifrei Massei 3, Targum Onkelos].   וְהִקְרִיתֶם: אֵין הַקְרָיָה אֶלָּא לְשׁוֹן הַזְמָנָה, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר "כִּי הִקְרָה ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ לְפָנָי" (בראשית כ"ז):
12These cities shall serve you as a refuge from an avenger, so that the murderer shall not die until he stands in judgment before the congregation.   יבוְהָי֨וּ לָכֶ֧ם הֶֽעָרִ֛ים לְמִקְלָ֖ט מִגֹּאֵ֑ל וְלֹ֤א יָמוּת֙ הָֽרֹצֵ֔חַ עַד־עָמְד֛וֹ לִפְנֵ֥י הָֽעֵדָ֖ה לַמִּשְׁפָּֽט:
from an avenger: From the avenger of the blood, a kinsman of the murder victim. — [Mak. 12a]   מִגֹּאֵל: מִפְּנֵי גּוֹאֵל הַדָּם, שֶׁהוּא קָרוֹב לַנִּרְצָח:
13The cities that you provide shall serve as six cities of refuge for you.   יגוְהֶֽעָרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּתֵּ֑נוּ שֵֽׁשׁ־עָרֵ֥י מִקְלָ֖ט תִּֽהְיֶ֥ינָה לָכֶֽם:
six cities of refuge: [This] informs [us] that even though Moses designated three cities across the Jordan during his lifetime, they did not provide refuge until the three provided by Joshua in the land of Canaan were designated. — [Sifrei Massei 8, Mak. 9a]   שֵֽׁשׁ־עָרֵי מִקְלָט: מַגִּיד שֶׁאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהִבְדִּיל מֹשֶׁה בְּחַיָּיו שָׁלוֹשׁ עָרִים בְּעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן, לֹא הָיוּ קוֹלְטוֹת עַד שֶׁנִּבְחֲרוּ שָׁלֹשׁ שֶׁנָּתַן יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן (ספרי; מכות ט'):
14You shall provide the three cities in trans Jordan and the three cities in the land of Canaan; they shall be cities of refuge.   ידאֵ֣ת | שְׁל֣שׁ הֶֽעָרִ֗ים תִּתְּנוּ֙ מֵעֵ֣בֶר לַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן וְאֵת֙ שְׁל֣שׁ הֶֽעָרִ֔ים תִּתְּנ֖וּ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן עָרֵ֥י מִקְלָ֖ט תִּֽהְיֶֽינָה:
the three cities: Although there were nine tribes in the land of Canaan, and here [across the Jordan] there were only two-and-a-half, He equalized the number of their refuge cities, because Gilead had many murderers, as it says, “Gilead, a city of workers of violence, who lurk to shed blood” (Hos. 6: 8). - [Mak. 10a, Sifrei Massei 6]   אֵת שְׁלשׁ הֶֽעָרִים וגו': אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁבְּאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן תִּשְׁעָה שְׁבָטִים וְכָאן אֵינָן אֶלָּא שְׁנַיִם וָחֵצִי, הִשְׁוָה מִנְיַן עָרֵי הַמִּקְלָט שֶׁלָּהֶם, מִשּׁוּם דִּבְגִלְעָד נְפִישֵׁי רוֹצְחִים, דִּכְתִיב (הושע ו') "גִּלְעָד קִרְיַת פֹּעֲלֵי אָוֶן עֲקֻבָּה מִדָּם" (שם):
15These six cities shall be a refuge for the children of Israel and for the proselyte and resident among them, so that anyone who unintentionally kills a person can flee there.   טולִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְלַגֵּ֤ר וְלַתּוֹשָׁב֙ בְּתוֹכָ֔ם תִּֽהְיֶ֛ינָה שֵֽׁשׁ־הֶֽעָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה לְמִקְלָ֑ט לָנ֣וּס שָׁ֔מָּה כָּל־מַכֵּה־נֶ֖פֶשׁ בִּשְׁגָגָֽה:
16If he struck him with an iron instrument and he dies, he is a murderer, and the murderer shall be put to death.   טזוְאִם־בִּכְלִ֨י בַרְזֶ֧ל | הִכָּ֛הוּ וַיָּמֹ֖ת רֹצֵ֣חַ ה֑וּא מ֥וֹת יוּמַ֖ת הָֽרֹצֵֽחַ:
If he struck him with an iron instrument: This does not refer to accidental manslaughter discussed nearby, but to premeditated murder, and it teaches us that the implement of murder has to be big enough to cause death, for regarding all the [other] cases it says, אֲשֶׁר יָמוּת בָּה, “which is deadly,” and the Targum [Onkelos] renders, “of a size capable of causing death,” except in the case of iron, since it is evident and known to the Holy One, blessed is He, that a small piece of iron can kill, even a needle (Sifrei Massei 6, Sanh. 76b). That is why [in the case of iron] the Torah did not specify a size and write “which is deadly.” If you say that Scripture refers to one who murders unintentionally, [this cannot be because], below it says, “or, with any stone which is deadly, and without seeing [his victim]…” (verse 23). This shows that in the cases mentioned before it, Scripture speaks of one who murders with intent.   וְאִם־בִּכְלִי בַרְזֶל הִכָּהוּ: אֵין זֶה מְדַבֵּר בְּהוֹרֵג בְּשׁוֹגֵג הַסָּמוּךְ לוֹ, אֶלָּא בְּהוֹרֵג בְּמֵזִיד, וּבָא לְלַמֵּד שֶׁהַהוֹרֵג בְּכָל דָּבָר צָרִיךְ שֶׁיְּהֵא בוֹ שִׁעוּר כְּדֵי לְהָמִית, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בְּכֻלָּם "אֲשֶׁר יָמוּת בּוֹ", דִּמְתַּרְגְּמִינַן "דְּהִיא כְמִסַּת דִּימוּת בֵּיהּ", חוּץ מִן הַבַּרְזֶל, שֶׁגָּלוּי וְיָדוּעַ לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁהַבַּרְזֶל מֵמִית בְּכָל שֶׁהוּא, אֲפִלּוּ מַחַט, לְפִיכָךְ לֹא נָתְנָה בוֹ תּוֹרָה שִׁעוּר לִכְתֹּב בּוֹ אֲשֶׁר יָמוּת בּוֹ; וְאִם תֹּאמַר בְּהוֹרֵג בְּשׁוֹגֵג הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר, הֲרֵי הוּא אוֹמֵר לְמַטָּה אוֹ בכל אבן אשר ימות בה בלא ראות וְגוֹ', לִמֵּד עַל הָאֲמוּרִים לְמַעְלָה שֶׁבְּהוֹרֵג בְּמֵזִיד הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר:
17If he struck him with a fist sized stone which is deadly, and he dies, he is a murderer, and the murderer shall be put to death.   יזוְאִ֡ם בְּאֶ֣בֶן יָד֩ אֲשֶׁר־יָמ֨וּת בָּ֥הּ הִכָּ֛הוּ וַיָּמֹ֖ת רֹצֵ֣חַ ה֑וּא מ֥וֹת יוּמַ֖ת הָֽרֹצֵֽחַ:
with a fist-sized stone: [A stone] large enough to fill a hand. — [Onkelos]   בְּאֶבֶן יָד: שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהּ מְלֹא יָד (ספרי):
which is deadly: Which is large enough to cause death, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders. Since it [Scripture] says, “If one of them strikes the other with a stone” (Exod. 21:18), but it does not specify a size, I might think any size? Therefore it says, “which is deadly” - [Sifrei Massei 10]   אֲשֶׁר־יָמוּת בָּהּ: שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהּ שִׁעוּר לְהָמִית, כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ; לְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְהִכָּה אִישׁ אֶת רֵעֵהוּ בְּאֶבֶן" (שמות כ"א), וְלֹא נָתַן בָּהּ שִׁעוּר, יָכוֹל כָּל שֶׁהוּא, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר אשר ימות בה:
18Or with a fist sized wooden instrument which is deadly, and he dies, he is a murderer, and the murderer shall be put to death.   יחא֡וֹ בִּכְלִ֣י עֵץ־יָד֩ אֲשֶׁר־יָמ֨וּת בּ֥וֹ הִכָּ֛הוּ וַיָּמֹ֖ת רֹצֵ֣חַ ה֑וּא מ֥וֹת יוּמַ֖ת הָֽרֹצֵֽחַ:
or with a fist-sized wooden instrument: Since it says, “If a man strikes his manservant or his maidservant with a rod” (Exod. 21:20), I might think any size? That is why with regard to wood it says, “which is deadly”-it must be a size capable of causing death. — [Sifrei Massei 11]   אוֹ בִּכְלִי עֵץ־יָד: לְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שם) "וְכִי יַכֶּה אִישׁ אֶת עַבְדּוֹ אוֹ אֶת אֲמָתוֹ בַּשֵּׁבֶט", יָכוֹל כָּל שֶׁהוּא, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר "בְּעֵץ אֲשֶׁר יָמוּת בּוֹ" — שֶׁיְּהֵא בּוֹ כְּדֵי לְהָמִית (ספרי):
19The blood avenger shall kill the murderer; he may kill him when he meets him.   יטגֹּאֵ֣ל הַדָּ֔ם ה֥וּא יָמִ֖ית אֶת־הָֽרֹצֵ֑חַ בְּפִגְעוֹ־ב֖וֹ ה֥וּא יְמִתֶֽנּוּ:
when he meets him: Even in the cities of refuge.   בְּפִגְעוֹ־בוֹ: אֲפִלּוּ בְּתוֹךְ עָרֵי מִקְלָט:
20If, out of hatred, he pushed him, or threw something at him with premeditation, and he died,   כוְאִם־בְּשִׂנְאָ֖ה יֶהְדֳּפֶ֑נּוּ אֽוֹ־הִשְׁלִ֥יךְ עָלָ֛יו בִּצְדִיָּ֖ה וַיָּמֹֽת:
with premeditation: As the Targum [Onkelos] renders, בְּכַמְנָא, with ambush.   בִּצְדִיָּה: כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ, "בְּכָמְנָא" — בְּמַאֲרָב:
21or if he maliciously struck him with his hand and he died, the assailant shall be put to death; he is a murderer; the blood avenger may kill the murderer when he meets him.   כאא֣וֹ בְאֵיבָ֞ה הִכָּ֤הוּ בְיָדוֹ֙ וַיָּמֹ֔ת מֽוֹת־יוּמַ֥ת הַמַּכֶּ֖ה רֹצֵ֣חַ ה֑וּא גֹּאֵ֣ל הַדָּ֗ם יָמִ֛ית אֶת־הָֽרֹצֵ֖חַ בְּפִגְעוֹ־בֽוֹ:
22But if he pushed him accidentally, without malice, or threw an object at him without premeditation,   כבוְאִם־בְּפֶ֥תַע בְּלֹֽא־אֵיבָ֖ה הֲדָפ֑וֹ אֽוֹ־הִשְׁלִ֥יךְ עָלָ֛יו כָּל־כְּלִ֖י בְּלֹ֥א צְדִיָּֽה:
accidentally: Heb. בְּפֶתַע, by accident, but the Targum renders בִּתְכֵף, “suddenly,” [meaning] that he was next to him and he had no time to take precautions against [killing] him.   בְּפֶתַע: בְּאֹנֶס, וְתַרְגּוּמוֹ "בִּתְכֵיף", שֶׁהָיָה סָמוּךְ לוֹ וְלֹא הָיָה לוֹ שָׁהוּת לְהִזָּהֵר עָלָיו:
23or, with any stone which is deadly, and without seeing [his victim] he threw it down at him and it killed him, but he was not his enemy and bore him no malice   כגא֣וֹ בְכָל־אֶ֜בֶן אֲשֶׁר־יָמ֥וּת בָּהּ֙ בְּלֹ֣א רְא֔וֹת וַיַּפֵּ֥ל עָלָ֖יו וַיָּמֹ֑ת וְהוּא֙ לֹֽא־אוֹיֵ֣ב ל֔וֹ וְלֹ֥א מְבַקֵּ֖שׁ רָֽעָתֽוֹ:
or, with any stone which is deadly: he struck him.   אוֹ בְכָל־אֶבֶן אֲשֶׁר־יָמוּת בָּהּ: הִכָּהוּ:
without seeing: He did not see him [while striking him].   בְּלֹא רְאוֹת: שֶׁלֹּא רָאָהוּ:
he threw it down at him: From here they said that the one who kills by way of a falling action is exiled, but if [he kills] by means of an upward action is not exiled. — [Mak. 7b]   וַיַּפֵּל עָלָיו: מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ הַהוֹרֵג דֶּרֶךְ יְרִידָה גּוֹלֶה, דֶּרֶךְ עֲלִיָּה אֵינוֹ גוֹלֶה (מכות ז:):
24Then the congregation shall judge between the assailant and the blood avenger, on the basis of these judgments.   כדוְשָֽׁפְטוּ֙ הָֽעֵדָ֔ה בֵּ֚ין הַמַּכֶּ֔ה וּבֵ֖ין גֹּאֵ֣ל הַדָּ֑ם עַ֥ל הַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה:
25The congregation shall protect the murderer from the hand of the blood avenger, and the congregation shall return him to the city of refuge to which he had fled, and he shall remain there until the Kohen Gadol, who anointed him with the sacred oil, dies.   כהוְהִצִּ֨ילוּ הָֽעֵדָ֜ה אֶת־הָֽרֹצֵ֗חַ מִיַּד֘ גֹּאֵ֣ל הַדָּם֒ וְהֵשִׁ֤יבוּ אֹתוֹ֙ הָֽעֵדָ֔ה אֶל־עִ֥יר מִקְלָט֖וֹ אֲשֶׁר־נָ֣ס שָׁ֑מָּה וְיָ֣שַׁב בָּ֗הּ עַד־מוֹת֙ הַכֹּהֵ֣ן הַגָּדֹ֔ל אֲשֶׁר־מָשַׁ֥ח אֹת֖וֹ בְּשֶׁ֥מֶן הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ:
until the kohen gadol… dies: For he causes the Divine Presence to rest upon Israel and thus prolong their lives, whereas the murderer causes the Divine Presence to withdraw from Israel and thus shorten their lives. He is not worthy of standing before the Kohen Gadol [Sifrei Massei 20]. Another interpretation: Because the Kohen Gadol should have prayed that such a misfortune should not befall Israel during his lifetime [Mak. 11a].   עַד־מוֹת הַכֹּהֵן הגדול: שֶׁהוּא בָא לְהַשְׁרוֹת שְׁכִינָה בְיִשְׂרָאֵל וּלְהַאֲרִיךְ יְמֵיהֶם, וְהָרוֹצֵחַ בָּא לְסַלֵּק אֶת הַשְּׁכִינָה מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל וּמְקַצֵּר אֶת יְמֵי הַחַיִּים, אֵינוֹ כְדַאי שֶׁיְּהֵא לִפְנֵי כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל (ספרי); דָּבָר אַחֵר — לְפִי שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ לְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל לְהִתְפַּלֵּל שֶׁלֹּא תֶאֱרַע תַּקָּלָה זוֹ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל בְּחַיָּיו (עי' מכות י"א):
who anointed him with the sacred oil: According to the literal meaning, this is one of the elliptical verses [in Scripture], as it does not reveal who anointed him; thus, it is like saying, “who was anointed by the one who anointed him with the sacred oil.” Our Rabbis expounded it in Tractate Makkoth (11b) as a verification of the law, to teach that if before sentence was passed, the Kohen Gadol died and they appointed another one in his stead, and afterwards sentence was passed, he [the murderer] can return home only after the second one has died, as it says, “who anointed him.” Did he anoint the kohen, or did the kohen anoint him? However, this includes the [case of a high kohen who was] anointed in his days [and thus, it is as if he had anointed the Kohen Gadol, so to speak], that he frees him through his death.   אֲשֶׁר־מָשַׁח אותו בְּשֶׁמֶן הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ: לְפִי פְשׁוּטוֹ מִן הַמִּקְרָאוֹת הַקְּצָרִים הוּא, שֶׁלֹּא פֵּרֵשׁ מִי מְשָׁחוֹ, אֶלָּא כְּמוֹ אֲשֶׁר מְשָׁחוֹ הַמּוֹשֵׁחַ אוֹתוֹ בְּשֶׁמֶן הַקֹּדֶשׁ; וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ דְרָשׁוּהוּ בְמַסֶּכֶת מַכּוֹת (שם) לִרְאָיַת דָּבָר, לְלַמֵּד שֶׁאִם עַד שֶׁלֹּא נִגְמַר דִּינוֹ מֵת הַכֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל וּמִנּוּ אַחֵר תַּחְתָּיו, וּלְאַחַר מִכָּאן נִגְמַר דִּינוֹ, חוֹזֵר בְּמִיתָתוֹ שֶׁל שֵׁנִי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר אשר משח אתו, וְכִי הוּא מוֹשְׁחוֹ לַכֹּהֵן אוֹ הַכֹּהֵן מָשַׁח אוֹתוֹ? אֶלָּא לְהָבִיא אֶת הַנִּמְשָׁח בְּיָמָיו שֶׁמַּחֲזִירוֹ בְּמִיתָתוֹ:
26But if the murderer goes beyond the border of the city of refuge to which he had fled,   כווְאִם־יָצֹ֥א יֵצֵ֖א הָֽרֹצֵ֑חַ אֶת־גְּבוּל֙ עִ֣יר מִקְלָט֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָנ֖וּס שָֽׁמָּה:
27and the blood avenger finds him outside the limits of his city of refuge, and the blood avenger slays the murderer, he has no blood.   כזוּמָצָ֤א אֹתוֹ֙ גֹּאֵ֣ל הַדָּ֔ם מִח֕וּץ לִגְב֖וּל עִ֣יר מִקְלָט֑וֹ וְרָצַ֞ח גֹּאֵ֤ל הַדָּם֙ אֶת־הָ֣רֹצֵ֔חַ אֵ֥ין ל֖וֹ דָּֽם:
he has no blood: He is like one who kills a dead person, who has no blood.   אֵין לוֹ דָּֽם: הֲרֵי הוּא כְּהוֹרֵג אֶת הַמֵּת, שֶׁאֵין לוֹ דָּם:
28For he shall remain in his city of refuge until the Kohen Gadol dies, and only after the Kohen Gadol has died, may the murderer return to the land which is his possession.   כחכִּ֣י בְעִ֤יר מִקְלָטוֹ֙ יֵשֵׁ֔ב עַד־מ֖וֹת הַכֹּהֵ֣ן הַגָּדֹ֑ל וְאַֽחֲרֵי־מוֹת֙ הַכֹּהֵ֣ן הַגָּדֹ֔ל יָשׁוּב֙ הָֽרֹצֵ֔חַ אֶל־אֶ֖רֶץ אֲחֻזָּתֽוֹ:
29These shall be for you a statute of justice for all your generations, in all your dwelling places.   כטוְהָי֨וּ אֵ֧לֶּה לָכֶ֛ם לְחֻקַּ֥ת מִשְׁפָּ֖ט לְדֹרֹֽתֵיכֶ֑ם בְּכֹ֖ל מֽוֹשְׁבֹֽתֵיכֶֽם:
in all your dwelling places: This teaches that the minor Sanhedrin functions outside the Land as long as there is one functioning in the Land of Israel [namely, while the Temple stood]. — [Mak. 7a, Sifrei Massei 25]   בְּכֹל מֽוֹשְׁבֹֽתֵיכֶֽם: לִמֵּד שֶׁתְּהֵא סַנְהֶדְרִין קְטַנָּה נוֹהֶגֶת בְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ כָּל זְמַן שֶׁנּוֹהֶגֶת בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל (מכות ז'):
30Whoever [namely the blood avenger] kills a person, based on the testimony of witnesses, he shall slay the murderer. A single witness may not testify against a person so that he should die.   לכָּל־מַ֨כֵּה־נֶ֔פֶשׁ לְפִ֣י עֵדִ֔ים יִרְצַ֖ח אֶת־הָֽרֹצֵ֑חַ וְעֵ֣ד אֶחָ֔ד לֹא־יַֽעֲנֶ֥ה בְנֶ֖פֶשׁ לָמֽוּת:
Whoever kills a person…: The one who comes to kill him because he murdered someone.   כָּל־מַכֵּה־נֶפֶשׁ וגו': הַבָּא לְהָרְגוֹ עַל שֶׁהִכָּה אֶת הַנֶּפֶשׁ (עי' ספרי):
based on the testimony of witnesses: who testify that he murdered him intentionally, after he had been forewarned. [I.e., the blood avenger may not slay the murderer unless there are witnesses that he committed the murder.]- [Sifrei Massei 26]   לְפִי עֵדִים יִרְצַח: שֶׁיָּעִידוּ שֶׁבְּמֵזִיד וּבְהַתְרָאָה הֲרָגוֹ:
31You shall not accept ransom for the life of a murderer, who is guilty of death, for he shall be put to death.   לאוְלֹֽא־תִקְח֥וּ כֹ֨פֶר֙ לְנֶ֣פֶשׁ רֹצֵ֔חַ אֲשֶׁר־ה֥וּא רָשָׁ֖ע לָמ֑וּת כִּי־מ֖וֹת יוּמָֽת:
You shall not accept ransom: He cannot be acquitted in exchange for payment. — [Keth. 37b]   וְלֹֽא־תִקְחוּ כֹפֶר: לֹא יִפָּטֵר בְּמָמוֹן (כתובות ל"ז):
32You shall not accept ransom for one who has fled to his city of refuge, to allow him to return to live in the Land, before the kohen has died.   לבוְלֹֽא־תִקְח֣וּ כֹ֔פֶר לָנ֖וּס אֶל־עִ֣יר מִקְלָט֑וֹ לָשׁוּב֙ לָשֶׁ֣בֶת בָּאָ֔רֶץ עַד־מ֖וֹת הַכֹּהֵֽן:
You shall not accept ransom for the one who has fled to his city of refuge: One who has fled to a city of refuge after he killed someone unintentionally cannot absolve himself from exile through payment by giving a ransom so that he can return to dwell in the Land before the kohen dies. — [Keth. 37b]   וְלֹֽא־תִקְחוּ כֹפֶר לָנוּס אֶל־עִיר מִקְלָטוֹ: לְמִי שֶׁנָּס אֶל עִיר מִקְלָט, שֶׁהָרַג בְּשׁוֹגֵג, אֵינוֹ נִפְטָר מִגָּלוּת בְּמָמוֹן, לִתֵּן כֹּפֶר לשוב לשבת בארץ טֶרֶם יָמוּת הַכֹּהֵן (שם):
has fled: Heb. לָנוּס, is equivalent to לְנָס, “for the one who has fled.” Similarly, “those who returned (שׁוּבֵי) from the war” (Mich. 2:8). Similarly, “Those who are removed (נוּגֵי) from the appointed season” (Zeph. 3:18); “for [all the people…] were circumcised (מֻלִים)” (Josh. 5:5). Just as you say שׁוּב in reference to one who has already returned, and מוּל regarding one who is already circumcised, so will you say לָנוּס for one who has already fled. He is called נוּס, that is to say, ‘an escapee.’ If you say that לָנוּס means ‘to flee,’ and explain it thus: You shall not accept ransom for who must flee, in order to absolve him from exile, then I do not know how it can say, “to return to live in the Land” for if he has not yet fled, from where should he return?   לָנוּס: כְּמוֹ לַנָּס, כְּמוֹ "שׁוּבֵי מִלְחָמָה" (מיכה ב') — שֶׁשָּׁבוּ מִן הַמִּלְחָמָה, וְכֵן "נוּגֵי מִמּוֹעֵד" (צפניה ג'), וְכֵן "כִּי מֻלִים הָיוּ" (יהושע ה'); כַּאֲשֶׁר תֹּאמַר שׁוּב עַל מִי שֶׁשָּׁב כְּבָר, וּמוּל עַל שֶׁמָּל כְּבָר, כֵּן תֹּאמַר לָנוּס עַל מִי שֶׁנָּס כְּבָר, וְקוֹרֵהוּ נוּס, כְּלוֹמַר מֻבְרָח. וְאִם תֹּאמַר לָנוּס — לִבְרֹחַ, וּתְפָרְשֵׁהוּ לֹא תִקְחוּ כֹפֶר לְמִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ לִבְרֹחַ לְפָטְרוֹ מִן הַגָּלוּת (עי' ספרי), לֹא יָדַעְתִּי הֵיאַךְ יֹאמַר לָשׁוּב לָשֶׁבֶת בָּאָרֶץ, הֲרֵי עֲדַיִן לֹא נָס, וּמֵהֵיכָן יָשׁוּב?:
33And you shall not corrupt the land in which you live, for the blood corrupts the land, and the blood which is shed in the land cannot be atoned for except through the blood of the one who shed it.   לגוְלֹא־תַֽחֲנִ֣יפוּ אֶת־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֤ר אַתֶּם֙ בָּ֔הּ כִּ֣י הַדָּ֔ם ה֥וּא יַֽחֲנִ֖יף אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְלָאָ֣רֶץ לֹֽא־יְכֻפַּ֗ר לַדָּם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר שֻׁפַּךְ־בָּ֔הּ כִּי־אִ֖ם בְּדַ֥ם שֹֽׁפְכֽוֹ:
And you shall not corrupt: Heb. ולֹא-תַחֲנִיפוּ, you shall not cause it to be wicked, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders, לֹא תְחַיְבוּן, you shall not make sinful."   וְלֹא־תַֽחֲנִיפוּ: לֹא תַרְשִׁיעוּ, כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ — "וְלָא תְחַיְבוּן":
34And you shall not defile the land where you reside, in which I dwell, for I am the Lord Who dwells among the children of Israel.   לדוְלֹ֧א תְטַמֵּ֣א אֶת־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֤ר אַתֶּם֙ יֽשְׁבִ֣ים בָּ֔הּ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲנִ֖י שֹׁכֵ֣ן בְּתוֹכָ֑הּ כִּ֚י אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה שֹׁכֵ֕ן בְּת֖וֹךְ בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
in which I dwell: You should not cause me to dwell amidst its uncleanness.   אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי שֹׁכֵן בְּתוֹכָהּ: שֶׁלֹּא תַשְׁכִּינוּ אוֹתִי בְטֻמְאָתָהּ:
for I am the Lord who dwells among the children of Israel: Even when they are unclean, the Divine Presence resides with them. — [Sifrei Massei 32]   כִּי אֲנִי ה' שֹׁכֵן בְּתוֹךְ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵֽל: אַף בִּזְמַן שֶׁהֵם טְמֵאִים שְׁכִינָה בֵינֵיהֶם (ספרי):

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 36

1The paternal heads of the family of the sons of Gilead the son of Machir the son of Manasseh of the families of the sons of Joseph approached and spoke before Moses and before the chieftains, the paternal heads of the children of Israel.   אוַיִּקְרְב֞וּ רָאשֵׁ֣י הָֽאָב֗וֹת לְמִשְׁפַּ֤חַת בְּנֵֽי־גִלְעָד֙ בֶּן־מָכִ֣יר בֶּן־מְנַשֶּׁ֔ה מִמִּשְׁפְּחֹ֖ת בְּנֵ֣י יוֹסֵ֑ף וַיְדַבְּר֞וּ לִפְנֵ֤י משֶׁה֙ וְלִפְנֵ֣י הַנְּשִׂאִ֔ים רָאשֵׁ֥י אָב֖וֹת לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
2They said, "The Lord commanded my master to give the Land as an inheritance through lot to the children of Israel, and our master was commanded by the Lord to give the inheritance of Zelophehad our brother to his daughters.   בוַיֹּֽאמְר֗וּ אֶת־אֲדֹנִי֙ צִוָּ֣ה יְהֹוָ֔ה לָתֵ֨ת אֶת־הָאָ֧רֶץ בְּנַֽחֲלָ֛ה בְּגוֹרָ֖ל לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַֽאדֹנִי֙ צֻוָּ֣ה בַֽיהֹוָ֔ה לָתֵ֗ת אֶת־נַֽחֲלַ֛ת צְלָפְחָ֥ד אָחִ֖ינוּ לִבְנֹתָֽיו:
3Now, if they marry a member of another tribe of the children of Israel, their inheritance will be diminished from the inheritance of our father, and it will be added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry, and thus, it will be diminished from the lot of our inheritance.   גוְהָי֠וּ לְאֶחָ֞ד מִבְּנֵ֨י שִׁבְטֵ֥י בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֘ לְנָשִׁים֒ וְנִגְרְעָ֤ה נַֽחֲלָתָן֙ מִנַּֽחֲלַ֣ת אֲבֹתֵ֔ינוּ וְנוֹסַ֕ף עַ֚ל נַֽחֲלַ֣ת הַמַּטֶּ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּֽהְיֶ֖ינָה לָהֶ֑ם וּמִגֹּרַ֥ל נַֽחֲלָתֵ֖נוּ יִגָּרֵֽעַ:
and it will be added to the inheritance of the tribe: For her son inherits her, and the son’s pedigree follows his father’s tribe.   וְנוֹסַף עַל נַֽחֲלַת הַמַּטֶּה: שֶׁהֲרֵי בְנָהּ יוֹרְשָׁהּ, וְהַבֵּן מִתְיַחֵס עַל שֵׁבֶט אָבִיו:
4Even if the children of Israel will have a Jubilee, their inheritance will be added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry, and their inheritance will be diminished from the inheritance of our father's tribe."   דוְאִם־יִֽהְיֶ֣ה הַיֹּבֵל֘ לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ וְנֽוֹסְפָה֙ נַֽחֲלָתָ֔ן עַ֚ל נַֽחֲלַ֣ת הַמַּטֶּ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּֽהְיֶ֖ינָה לָהֶ֑ם וּמִנַּֽחֲלַת֙ מַטֵּ֣ה אֲבֹתֵ֔ינוּ יִגָּרַ֖ע נַֽחֲלָתָֽן:
Even if the children of Israel will have a Jubilee: From here R. Judah said: The Jubilee is destined to cease. — [Torath Kohanim 13:1]   וְאִם־יִֽהְיֶה הַיֹּבֵל: מִכָּאן הָיָה רַ' יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר עָתִיד הַיּוֹבֵל שֶׁיִּפְסֹק (ספרא ויקרא ב'):
will have a Jubilee: That is to say, this is not a form of sale, which returns [to the original owner] in the Jubilee [year], for inheritance does not return at the Jubilee. Even if the Jubilee occurs, the inheritance will not return to its tribe; hence, it is “added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry.”   וְאִם־יִֽהְיֶה היובל: כְּלוֹמַר, אֵין זוֹ מְכִירָה שֶׁחוֹזֶרֶת בַּיּוֹבֵל, שֶׁהַיְרֻשָּׁה אֵינָהּ חוֹזֶרֶת, וַאֲפִלּוּ אִם יִהְיֶה הַיּוֹבֵל לֹא תַחֲזֹר הַנַּחֲלָה לְשִׁבְטוֹ, וְנִמְצָא שֶׁנּוֹסְפָה על נחלת המטה אשר תהיינה להם:
5Moses commanded the children of Israel according to the word of the Lord, saying, "The tribe of Joseph's descendants speak justly.   הוַיְצַ֤ו משֶׁה֙ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל עַל־פִּ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר כֵּ֛ן מַטֵּ֥ה בְנֵֽי־יוֹסֵ֖ף דֹּֽבְרִֽים:
6This is the word that the Lord has commanded regarding Zelophehad's daughters. Let them marry whomever they please, but they shall marry only to the family of their father's tribe.   וזֶ֣ה הַדָּבָ֞ר אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֣ה יְהֹוָ֗ה לִבְנ֤וֹת צְלָפְחָד֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לַטּ֥וֹב בְּעֵֽינֵיהֶ֖ם תִּֽהְיֶ֣ינָה לְנָשִׁ֑ים אַ֗ךְ לְמִשְׁפַּ֛חַת מַטֵּ֥ה אֲבִיהֶ֖ם תִּֽהְיֶ֥ינָה לְנָשִֽׁים:
7Thus, the inheritance of the children of Israel will not be transferred from tribe to tribe, for each person from the children of Israel will remain attached to the inheritance of his father's tribe.   זוְלֹֽא־תִסֹּ֤ב נַֽחֲלָה֙ לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מִמַּטֶּ֖ה אֶל־מַטֶּ֑ה כִּ֣י אִ֗ישׁ בְּנַֽחֲלַת֙ מַטֵּ֣ה אֲבֹתָ֔יו יִדְבְּק֖וּ בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
8Every daughter from the tribes of the children of Israel who inherits property, shall marry a member of her father's tribe, so each one of the children of Israel shall inherit the property of his forefathers.   חוְכָל־בַּ֞ת יֹרֶ֣שֶׁת נַֽחֲלָ֗ה מִמַּטּוֹת֘ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ לְאֶחָ֗ד מִמִּשְׁפַּ֛חַת מַטֵּ֥ה אָבִ֖יהָ תִּֽהְיֶ֣ה לְאִשָּׁ֑ה לְמַ֗עַן יִֽירְשׁוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אִ֖ישׁ נַֽחֲלַ֥ת אֲבֹתָֽיו:
Every daughter…who inherits property: Because her father had no son.   וְכָל־בַּת יֹרֶשֶׁת נַֽחֲלָה: שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה בֵן לְאָבִיהָ:
9And no inheritance will be transferred from one tribe to another tribe, for each person of the tribes of the children of Israel shall remain attached to his own inheritance."   טוְלֹֽא־תִסֹּ֧ב נַֽחֲלָ֛ה מִמַּטֶּ֖ה לְמַטֵּ֣ה אַחֵ֑ר כִּי־אִישׁ֙ בְּנַ֣חֲלָת֔וֹ יִדְבְּק֕וּ מַטּ֖וֹת בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
10As the Lord had commanded Moses, so did Zelophehad's daughters do.   יכַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־משֶׁ֑ה כֵּ֥ן עָשׂ֖וּ בְּנ֥וֹת צְלָפְחָֽד:
11Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah married their cousins.   יאוַתִּֽהְיֶ֜ינָה מַחְלָ֣ה תִרְצָ֗ה וְחָגְלָ֧ה וּמִלְכָּ֛ה וְנֹעָ֖ה בְּנ֣וֹת צְלָפְחָ֑ד לִבְנֵ֥י דֹֽדֵיהֶ֖ן לְנָשִֽׁים:
Mahlah, Tirzah…: Here it enumerates them according to seniority over each other in age, and they were married in the order they were born. But throughout Scripture (26:33, 27:1, Josh. 17:3), it lists them in order of their intelligence and informs us that they were all equal. — [B.B. 120a]   מַחְלָה תִרְצָה וגו': כָּאן מְנָאָן לְפִי גְדֻלָּתָן זוֹ מִזּוֹ בַּשָּׁנִים, וְנִשְּׂאוּ כְּסֵדֶר תּוֹלְדוֹתָן, וּבְכָל הַמִּקְרָא מְנָאָן לְפִי חָכְמָתָן, וּמַגִּיד שֶׁשְּׁקוּלוֹת זוֹ כְּזוֹ (עי' בבא בתרא ק"כ):
12They married into the families of the sons of Manasseh the son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained with the tribe of their father's family.   יבמִמִּשְׁפְּחֹ֛ת בְּנֵֽי־מְנַשֶּׁ֥ה בֶן־יוֹסֵ֖ף הָי֣וּ לְנָשִׁ֑ים וַתְּהִי֙ נַֽחֲלָתָ֔ן עַל־מַטֵּ֖ה מִשְׁפַּ֥חַת אֲבִיהֶֽן:
13These are the commandments and the ordinances that the Lord commanded the children of Israel through Moses in the plains of Moab, by the Jordan at Jericho.   יגאֵ֣לֶּה הַמִּצְו‍ֹ֞ת וְהַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֧ה יְהֹוָ֛ה בְּיַד־משֶׁ֖ה אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל בְּעַרְבֹ֣ת מוֹאָ֔ב עַ֖ל יַרְדֵּ֥ן יְרֵחֽוֹ:

Maftir Portion

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 36

11Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah married their cousins.   יאוַתִּֽהְיֶ֜ינָה מַחְלָ֣ה תִרְצָ֗ה וְחָגְלָ֧ה וּמִלְכָּ֛ה וְנֹעָ֖ה בְּנ֣וֹת צְלָפְחָ֑ד לִבְנֵ֥י דֹֽדֵיהֶ֖ן לְנָשִֽׁים:
Mahlah, Tirzah…: Here it enumerates them according to seniority over each other in age, and they were married in the order they were born. But throughout Scripture (26:33, 27:1, Josh. 17:3), it lists them in order of their intelligence and informs us that they were all equal. — [B.B. 120a]   מַחְלָה תִרְצָה וגו': כָּאן מְנָאָן לְפִי גְדֻלָּתָן זוֹ מִזּוֹ בַּשָּׁנִים, וְנִשְּׂאוּ כְּסֵדֶר תּוֹלְדוֹתָן, וּבְכָל הַמִּקְרָא מְנָאָן לְפִי חָכְמָתָן, וּמַגִּיד שֶׁשְּׁקוּלוֹת זוֹ כְּזוֹ (עי' בבא בתרא ק"כ):
12They married into the families of the sons of Manasseh the son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained with the tribe of their father's family.   יבמִמִּשְׁפְּחֹ֛ת בְּנֵֽי־מְנַשֶּׁ֥ה בֶן־יוֹסֵ֖ף הָי֣וּ לְנָשִׁ֑ים וַתְּהִי֙ נַֽחֲלָתָ֔ן עַל־מַטֵּ֖ה מִשְׁפַּ֥חַת אֲבִיהֶֽן:
13These are the commandments and the ordinances that the Lord commanded the children of Israel through Moses in the plains of Moab, by the Jordan at Jericho.   יגאֵ֣לֶּה הַמִּצְו‍ֹ֞ת וְהַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֧ה יְהֹוָ֛ה בְּיַד־משֶׁ֖ה אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל בְּעַרְבֹ֣ת מוֹאָ֔ב עַ֖ל יַרְדֵּ֥ן יְרֵחֽוֹ:

Haftarah

Yirmiyahu (Jeremiah) Chapter 2

4Hearken to the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel.   דשִׁמְע֥וּ דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה בֵּ֣ית יַֽעֲקֹ֑ב וְכָֽל־מִשְׁפְּח֖וֹת בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
5So says the Lord: What wrong did your forefathers find in Me, that they distanced themselves from Me, and they went after futility and themselves became futile?   הכֹּ֣ה | אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֗ה מַה־מָּֽצְא֨וּ אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶ֥ם בִּי֙ עָ֔וֶל כִּ֥י רָֽחֲק֖וּ מֵֽעָלָ֑י וַיֵּֽלְכ֛וּ אַֽחֲרֵ֥י הַהֶ֖בֶל וַיֶּהְבָּֽלוּ:
6And they did not say, "Where is the Lord, Who brought us up from the land of Egypt, Who led us in the desert, in a land of plains and pits, in a land of waste and darkness, in a land where no man had passed and where no man had dwelt.   ווְלֹ֣א אָֽמְר֔וּ אַיֵּ֣ה יְהֹוָ֔ה הַמַּֽעֲלֶ֥ה אֹתָ֖נוּ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם הַמּוֹלִ֨יךְ אֹתָ֜נוּ בַּמִּדְבָּ֗ר בְּאֶ֨רֶץ עֲרָבָ֚ה וְשׁוּחָה֙ בְּאֶ֙רֶץ֙ צִיָּ֣ה וְצַלְמָ֔וֶת בְּאֶ֗רֶץ לֹֽא־עָ֚בַר בָּהּ֙ אִ֔ישׁ וְלֹֽא־יָשַׁ֥ב אָדָ֖ם שָֽׁם:
And they did not say, Where is the Lord: that we should follow other gods?   ולא אמרו איה ה': כי נלך אחרי אלהים אחרי':
plains: Heb. ערבה (planure in O.F.), related to pianoro in Old Italian, meaning ‘a plateau.’   ערבה: פלנור"א בלעז:
and pits: Heb. ושוחה (enfosses in O.F.), pitted.   ושוחה: נטויה אינפוושיא"ה בלעז:
waste: Heb. ציה (degat in French).   ציה: דישגאט"ה בלעז:
and darkness: Heb. וצלמות. An expression of darkness.   וצלמות: לשון חשך:
7And I brought you to a forest land to eat of its produce and its goodness, and you came and contaminated My land, and made My heritage an abomination.   זוָֽאָבִ֚יא אֶתְכֶם֙ אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ הַכַּרְמֶ֔ל לֶאֱכֹ֥ל פִּרְיָ֖הּ וְטוּבָ֑הּ וַתָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ וַתְּטַמְּא֣וּ אֶת־אַרְצִ֔י וְנַֽחֲלָתִ֥י שַׂמְתֶּ֖ם לְתֽוֹעֵבָֽה:
to a forest land: To the land of Israel which is planted like כרמל, meaning: planted like a forest.   אל ארץ הכרמל: לארעא דישראל דהות מנצבא ככרמלא, פירש נטועה כיער:
8The priests did not say, "Where is the Lord?" And those who hold onto the Torah did not know Me and the rulers rebelled against Me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal and followed what does not avail.   חהַכֹּֽהֲנִ֗ים לֹ֚א אָֽמְרוּ֙ אַיֵּ֣ה יְהֹוָ֔ה וְתֹֽפְשֵׂ֚י הַתּוֹרָה֙ לֹ֣א יְדָע֔וּנִי וְהָֽרֹעִ֖ים פָּ֣שְׁעוּ בִ֑י וְהַנְּבִאִים֙ נִבְּא֣וּ בַבַּ֔עַל וְאַֽחֲרֵ֥י לֹֽא־יוֹעִ֖לוּ הָלָֽכוּ:
and those who hold onto the Torah: The Sanhedrin.   תופשי התורה: סנהדרין:
and the rulers: the kings.   והרועים: המלכים:
prophesied by Baal: In the name of Baal.   נבאו בבעל: בשם הבעל:
9Therefore, I will still contend with you, says the Lord, and with your children's children will I contend.   טלָכֵ֗ן עֹ֛ד אָרִ֥יב אִתְּכֶ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה וְאֶת־בְּנֵ֥י בְנֵיכֶ֖ם אָרִֽיב:
Therefore, I will still contend: Before I bring misfortune upon you, I will still contend with you through My prophets, although I have already contended with you many days.   עוד אריב: טרם אביא עליכם רעה אתווכח עמכם עוד ע"י נביאי אע"פי שרבתי עמכם כבר ימים רבים:
10For pass over [to] the isles of the Kittites and see, and send to Kedar and consider diligently, and see whether there was any such thing,   יכִּ֣י עִבְר֞וּ אִיֵּ֚י כִתִּיִּים֙ וּרְא֔וּ וְקֵדָ֛ר שִׁלְח֥וּ וְהִֽתְבּֽוֹנְנ֖וּ מְאֹ֑ד וּרְא֕וּ הֵ֥ן הָֽיְתָ֖ה כָּזֹֽאת:
the isles of the Kittites: To the isles of the Kittites. איי is (isles in French).   איי כתיים: לאיי כתיים:
the isles : איי is (isles in French).   איי: אישל"ש בלעז:
and send to Kedar: And send to Kedar to see their custom.   וקדר שלחו: ולקדר שלחו לראות מנהגם:
and consider diligently: And put your heart to it to consider the matter diligently.   והתבוננו מאד: ושימו לב להסתכל בדבר יפה:
whether: Heb. הן, like אם, if. Whether either of those nations exchanged its god although they are no gods, yet My nation exchanged their glory, with which they were honored. The Kittites and the Kedarites were tent dwellers and cattle herders, who would travel, go, and wander from pasture to pasture and from desert to desert, and they carry their gods with them to the place where they encamp. But I carried you until I established you, yet you forsook Me. This is how Jonathan paraphrased it. Our Sages said however: The Kittites worshipped water and the Kedarites worshipped fire. And although they know that water quenches fire, they did not forsake their god.   הן: כמו אם, אם המיר גוי מהם את אלהיו ואע"פ שהמה לא אלהים ועמי המיר את כבודו אשר בו היה נכבד וכתיים וקדריים יושבי אוהלים ורועי מקנה ונוסעים והולכים ומטלטלין ממרעה למרעה וממדבר למדבר ונושאים את אלהיהם עמהם למקום שחונים שם ואני נשאתי אתכם עד אשר קבעתי אתכם והנחתם אותי כך ת"י ורבותינו אמרו כתיים עובדים למים וקדריים עובדים לאש ואע"פ שיודעים שהמים מכבין את האש לא הניחו את אלהיהם:
11Whether a nation exchanged a god although they are not gods. Yet My nation exchanged their glory for what does not avail.   יאהַֽהֵימִ֥יר גּוֹי֙ אֱלֹהִ֔ים וְהֵ֖מָּה לֹ֣א אֱלֹהִ֑ים וְעַמִּ֛י הֵמִ֥יר כְּבוֹד֖וֹ בְּל֥וֹא יוֹעִֽיל:
for what does not avail: For an idol that does not avail.   בלא יועיל: בעכו"ם שאין בה תועלת:
12Oh heavens, be astonished about this, and storm, become very desolate, says the Lord.   יבשֹׁ֥מּוּ שָׁמַ֖יִם עַל־זֹ֑את וְשַֽׂעֲר֛וּ חֳרְב֥וּ מְאֹ֖ד נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה:
O heavens, be astonished: Heb. שמו, an expression of astonishment, like השתוממוּ. It is the imperative form, with the same vowel points as (I Sam. 14:9): “If they say thus to us,” Wait (דּמּוּ)."   שמו שמים: ל' תמהון כמו השתוממו והוא לשון צווי כמו אם כה יאמרו אלינו דומו (שמואל א י״ד:ט׳):
and storm: Heb. ושערו, an expression of סער, a storm.   ושערו: לשון סער:
become very desolate: As though you are becoming desolate because of the Temple that is destined to be destroyed.   חרבו מאד: כאילו אתם נחרבים על בית המקדש שעתיד ליחרב:
13For My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me, the spring of living waters, to dig for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that do not hold water.   יגכִּֽי־שְׁתַּ֥יִם רָע֖וֹת עָשָׂ֣ה עַמִּ֑י אֹתִ֨י עָזְב֜וּ מְק֣וֹר | מַ֣יִם חַיִּ֗ים לַחְצֹ֚ב לָהֶם֙ בֹּאר֔וֹת בֹּארֹת֙ נִשְׁבָּרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־יָכִ֖לוּ הַמָּֽיִם:
two evils: Had they exchanged their Deity [lit. their fear] for one His equal, it would be one evil, and now that they have forsaken Me, that I am a spring of living waters, to follow idols, which are like cisterns of stored up water, and they are broken and cracked, and their water is absorbed in their cracks, these are two evils.   שתים רעות: אם המירו יראתם בכיוצא בה יש כאן רעה אחת ועכשיו שאותי עזבו שאני מקור מים חיים ללכת אחרי העכו"ם שהם כבורות של מים מכונסין ונשברין ונסדקין ומימיהם נבלעים בסדקיהם הרי שתים רעות:
to dig: Heb. לחצב, lit. to hew.   לחצוב: לחפור:
that do not hold: (Tendront in O.F.) their water, for the water will make their edge and their walls muddy, and they cave in.   אשר לא יכילו: טינדרונ"ט בלעז את מימיהם שהמים מטשטשין את שפתם וכותליהם והם נופלין:
14Is Israel a slave? Is he a home-born slave? Why has he become a prey?   ידהַעֶ֙בֶד֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אִם־יְלִ֥יד בַּ֖יִת ה֑וּא מַדּ֖וּעַ הָיָ֥ה לָבַֽז:
Is he a home born slave?: The son of a maidservant.   יליד בית: בן האמה:
15Young lions roar over him: they have raised their voice, and they have made his land a desolation; his cities were burnt without an inhabitant.   טועָלָיו֙ יִשְׁאֲג֣וּ כְפִרִ֔ים נָֽתְנ֖וּ קוֹלָ֑ם וַיָּשִׁ֚יתוּ אַרְצוֹ֙ לְשַׁמָּ֔ה עָרָ֥יו נִצְּת֖וּ (כתיב נִצְּתֻ֖ה) מִבְּלִ֥י ישֵֽׁב:
roar: roar, a present tense.   ישאגו: שואגים ל' הווה:
young lions: Symbolic of kings.   כפירים: מלכים:
were burnt: were burnt with fire.   נצתו: נצתו באש:
16Also the children of Noph and Tahpanhes will break your crown.   טזגַּם־בְּנֵי־נֹ֖ף וְתַחְפַּנְחֵ֑ס (כתיב וְתַחְפַּנְֵס֑) יִרְע֖וּךְ קָדְקֹֽד:
Also the children of Noph and Tahpanhes: They are the Egyptians upon whom you trust for aid.   גם בני נוף: ותחפנחס הם מצרים שאתם בוטחים עליהם לעזרה:
will break your crown: They will break your skull. ירעוּך is an expression of breaking (רציצה), as we translate ורצוץ, “and crushed” (Deut. 28:33), וּרעיע.   ירעוך קדקוד: ל' רציצה כדמתרגמינן ורצוץ ורעעו:
17Is not this caused to you by your forsaking the Lord your God at the time He leads you by the way?   יזהֲלוֹא־זֹ֖את תַּֽעֲשֶׂה־לָּ֑ךְ עָזְבֵךְ֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהַ֔יִךְ בְּעֵ֖ת מוֹלִכֵ֥ךְ בַּדָּֽרֶךְ:
Is not this caused to you: Is not this misfortune and this retribution caused to you by the guilt and the iniquity that you have forsaken the Lord your God?   הלא זאת תעשה לך: הלא את הרעה ואת הפורענות הזאת תגרום לך האשמה והעון אשר עזבת את ה' אלהיך:
at the time He leads you by the way: For He would teach you the good and the straight way.   בעת מוליכך בדרך: שהיה מלמד אותך דרך הטובה והישרה:
18And now, what have you to do in the way of Egypt to drink the water of the Shihor and what have you to do in the way of Assyria to drink the water of the river?   יחוְעַתָּ֗ה מַה־לָּךְ֙ לְדֶ֣רֶךְ מִצְרַ֔יִם לִשְׁתּ֖וֹת מֵ֣י שִׁח֑וֹר וּמַה־לָּךְ֙ לְדֶ֣רֶךְ אַשּׁ֔וּר לִשְׁתּ֖וֹת מֵ֥י נָהָֽר:
what have you to do in the way of Egypt: Why do you leave Me and trust in Egypt?   מה לך לדרך מצרים: למה תעזבי אותי ותבטחי על מצרים:
to drink the water of the Shihor: For they drowned your male children in the Nile. Shihor is the Nile, as it is said: “From the Shihor which is before Egypt,” in the Book of Joshua (13:3).   לשתות מי שיחור: שטבעו זכוריכם בנילוס שיחור הוא נילוס כמה שנאמר מן השיחור אשר על פני מצרים בספר (יהושע י״ג:ג׳):
and what have you to do: to rebel against Me so that you should be exiled to the way of Assyria, to the other side of the Euphrates River?   ומה לך: למרוד בי למען תגלי לדרך אשור למעבר נהר פרת:
19Your evil will chastise you, and your backslidings will reprove you, and you shall know and see that your forsaking the Lord your God is evil and bitter, and fear of Me was not upon you, says the Lord God of Hosts.   יטתְּיַסְּרֵ֣ךְ רָֽעָתֵ֗ךְ וּמְשֻֽׁבוֹתַ֙יִךְ֙ תּֽוֹכִחֻ֔ךְ וּדְעִ֚י וּרְאִי֙ כִּי־רַ֣ע וָמָ֔ר עָזְבֵ֖ךְ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֑יִךְ וְלֹ֚א פַחְדָּתִי֙ אֵלַ֔יִךְ נְאֻם־אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִ֖ה צְבָאֽוֹת:
Your evil will chastise you: Eventually, your evil will bring suffering upon you.   תיסרך רעתך: סוף שרעתך תביא עליך יסורין:
and your backslidings: , Heb. ומשבותיך, an expression related to “backsliding children (שובבים)” (infra 3:22).   ומשובותיך: ל' בנים שובבים (לקמן ג):
will reprove you: Heb. תוכחך, an expression of reproof.   תוכיחוך: ל' מוסר:
and the fear of Me was not: My fear was not in your heart that you should fear Me.   ולא פחדתי: פחד שלי לא היה בלבך לירא אותי:
20For of old I broke your yoke, I tore open your yoke-bands, and you said, "I will not transgress," but on every lofty hill and under every leafy tree, you recline as a harlot.   ככִּ֣י מֵֽעוֹלָ֞ם שָׁבַ֣רְתִּי עֻלֵּ֗ךְ נִתַּ֙קְתִּי֙ מֽוֹסְרוֹתַ֔יִךְ וַתֹּאמְרִ֖י לֹ֣א אֶעֱב֑וֹר (כתיב אֶעֱב֑וֹד) כִּ֣י עַל־כָּל־גִּבְעָ֞ה גְּבֹהָ֗ה וְתַ֙חַת֙ כָּל־עֵ֣ץ רַֽעֲנָ֔ן אַ֖תְּ צֹעָ֥ה זֹנָֽה:
I broke your yoke: To the wooden yoke an expression of breaking applies, and to the yoke-bands which are of leather an expression of tearing open applies.   שברתי עלך: העול של עץ נופל בו ל' שבירה והמוסרות שהן של עור נופל בהן לשון נתיקה:
yoke-bands: [מוסרותיך are the] ropes used to shackle the yoke [to the animal].   מוסרותיך: הם רצועות שקושרין בהם העול:
and you said, “I will not transgress.”: your words.   ותאמרי לא אעבור: על דבריך:
but on every lofty hill: Put you did not keep your promise, for on every lofty hill you recline (צעה). This is an expression of a bed and a sheet (מצע). [The word] כי serves as an expression of ‘but.’   כי על כל גבעה: אך אתה לא שמרת הבטחתך ועל כל גבעה את צועה ל' משכב ומצע כי משמש ל' אלא:
21Yet I planted you a noble vine stock, throughout of right seed; now how have you turned yourself into a degenerate wild vine to Me?   כאוְאָֽנֹכִי֙ נְטַעְתִּ֣יךְ שׂוֹרֵ֔ק כֻּלֹּ֖ה זֶ֣רַע אֱמֶ֑ת וְאֵיךְ֙ נֶהְפַּ֣כְתְּ לִ֔י סוּרֵ֖י הַגֶּ֥פֶן נָכְרִיָּֽה:
I planted you a noble vine stock: Heb. שורק is the branches of a good vine, that is to say the children of pious and righteous fathers. Its midrashic interpretation is: I planted you שורק. I added for you to the seven commandments of the children of Noah, six hundred and six, as is the numerical value of שורק.   נטעתיך שורק: שורק הוא זמורות גפן טוב כלומר בני אבות כשרים וצדיקים ומדרשו נטעתיך שורק הוספתי לך על שבע מצות של בני נח שש מאות ושש כמנין שורק:
degenerate: Heb. סוּרי (Destoultours in O.F).   סורי: דישטורלטור"ש בלע"ז:
wild vine: that grows in the forests.   גפן נכריה: הצומחת ביערים:
22For if you wash with natron and use much soap, your iniquity is stained before Me, says the Lord God.   כבכִּ֚י אִם־תְּכַבְּסִי֙ בַּנֶּ֔תֶר וְתַרְבִּי־לָ֖ךְ בֹּרִ֑ית נִכְתָּ֚ם עֲו‍ֹנֵךְ֙ לְפָנַ֔י נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה:
with natron: A type of earth with which garments are cleansed and rubbed.   בנתר: מין אדמה שחפין ושפין בה את הבגדים:
soap: Heb. בֹּרִית, cleanliness. Comp. “And pure (וּבַר) of heart” (Ps. 24:4). Some explain בֹּרִית as savon in French, soap.   בורית: נקיון כמו ובר לבב (תהילים כ״ד:ד׳) ויש לועזים בורית שאבו"ן בלעז:
your iniquity is stained: Jon. renders: Like the mark of a stain that is unclean, so have your sins increased before Me.   נכתם עונך: הא כרושם כתמא דלא דכי כן סגיאו חוביך קדמי:
is stained : כתם is tka in O.F.   כתם: טאק"א בלעז:
your iniquity: This is said concerning the iniquity of the ‘Golden Calf,’ which remains in existence forever, as it is stated: “And on the day of My visitation, I will visit upon them their sin” (Exodus 32:34). All visitations that come upon Israel have part of the iniquity of the Golden Calf in them.   עונך: על עון העגל נאמר שהוא קיים לעולם כמו שנאמר וביום פקדי ופקדתי עליהם (שמות ל״ב:ל״ד) כל פקידות הבאות על ישראל יהיה מקצת עון העגל בהם:
23How do you say, "I have not been defiled; I have not gone after the Baalim"? See your way in the valley, know what you have done, [like] a swift young she-camel, clinging to her ways.   כגאֵ֣יךְ תֹּֽאמְרִ֞י לֹ֣א נִטְמֵ֗אתִי אַֽחֲרֵ֚י הַבְּעָלִים֙ לֹ֣א הָלַ֔כְתִּי רְאִ֚י דַרְכֵּךְ֙ בַּגַּ֔יְא דְּעִ֖י מֶ֣ה עָשִׂ֑ית בִּכְרָ֥ה קַלָּ֖ה מְשָׂרֶ֥כֶת דְּרָכֶֽיהָ:
See your way in the valley: See what you have done opposite Beth-Peor, and until now you adhere to that way like a swift she camel clinging to her ways.   ראי דרכך בגיא: מה עש . ת מול בית פעור ועוד עתה את מחזקת באותו הדרך כבכרה קלה המשרכת דרכיה:
young she-camel: Heb. בכרה, a young female camel, that loves to wander.“The young camels (בכרי) of Midian” (Isa. 60:6) is translated “and they are young camels,” as we find in Sanhedrin 52a: There are many old camels laden with the skins of young camels (הוגני).   בכרה: גמלה נקבה בחורה שהיא אוהבת לנוע בכרי מדין (ישעיהו ס׳:ו׳) מתורגם הוגני מדין והם גמלים בחורים כמו שמצינו בסנהדרין נפישי גמלי סבי דטעיני משכי דהוגני:
clinging: Adhering to the ways of her youth, an expression similar to: “it would have clung (מסריך סריך)” (Chullin 51a). This may be associated with “a shoe thong נעל) (שרוך ” (Gen. 14:23). She binds the ways of her youth in her heart.   משרכת: מחזקת בדרכי נעוריה ל' מסריך סריך ויש לחברו עם שרוך הנעל (בראשית י״ד:כ״ג) קושרת דרכי נערותה בלבה:
24A wild donkey accustomed to the desert, that snuffs up the wind in her desire, her tendency like the sea creatures, who can hinder her? All who seek her will not weary; in her month they will find her.   כדפֶּ֣רֶה | לִמֻּ֣ד מִדְבָּ֗ר בְּאַוַּ֚ת נַפְשָׁהּ֙ (כתיב נַפְשָׁו֙) שָֽׁאֲפָ֣ה ר֔וּחַ תַּֽאֲנָתָ֖הּ מִ֣י יְשִׁיבֶ֑נָּה כָּל־מְבַקְשֶׁ֙יהָ֙ לֹ֣א יִיעָ֔פוּ בְּחָדְשָׁ֖הּ יִמְצָאֽוּנְהָ:
A wild donkey: (salvatico in O.F.) wild, and some interpret it as poulain in O.F., a foal.   פרה: שלוואטיק"ו בלעז ויש לועזין קוליי"ן בלעז:
accustomed to the desert: Accustomed to be in the deserts, so she loves to wander.   למוד מדבר: הלמוד להיות במדברות כן אוהבת לנוע:
that snuffs up the wind: She opens her mouth and snuffs up the wind, and he always returns to his place.   שאפה רוח: פותחת את פיה ושואפת רוח ולעולם הוא חוזר למקומו:
her tendency like the sea creatures, who can hinder her?: That trait of the sea creatures that she has, for also the sea creature snuffs up the wind, as it is said: “They snuff up the wind like sea creatures” (infra 14:6). Who can hinder her from that trait? So it is with you who can return you from your evil way?   תאנתה מי ישיבנה: אותה מדת תנינים שיש בה כי גם התנין שואף רוח כמה שנאמר שאפה רוח כתנים (ירמיה יד) מי ישיבנה מאותה מדה כן אתם מי יוכל להשיבכם מדרככם הרעה:
her tendency like a sea creature: Son dagronemant in O.F., dragon nature. Jonathan rendered it in this manner, כערודה. Another explanation: It is an expression of wailing, comp.“moaning and wailing” (תּאניה ואניה) (Lam. 2:5). Another explanation: (sa contree in French,) her country, comp. Taanath Shiloh (Josh. 16:6).   תאנתה: שו"ן דגרונמינ"ט בלעז וכן ת"י כירודא, ד"א ל' יללה כמו תאניה ואניה (איכה ב) ל"א שאקונטריא"ה בלעז כמו תאנת שילה (יהושע טז):
all who seek her will not weary: For they will weary needlessly, for they will be unable to overtake her. What will her end be? In her month, they will find her. There is one month in the year that she sleeps for the whole month, and then she is captured. You, too, - one month (viz. Ab) was already prepared for you from the days of the spies, when your forefathers established it as a time of vain weeping, therein, you will be captured.   כל מבקשיה לא ייעפו: כי על חנם ייעפו שלא יוכלו להשיגה ומה סופה בחדשה ימצאונה חדש אחד יש בשנה שהיא ישנה כל החדש ואז היא נלכדת אף אתם חדש אחד (הוא אב) הוכן לכם כבר מימות המרגלים שקבעו אבותיכם בכיית חנם בו תלכדו:
25Withhold your foot from going barefoot and your throat from thirst; but you said, "I despair. No, for I love strangers, and I will follow them."   כהמִנְעִ֚י רַגְלֵךְ֙ מִיָּחֵ֔ף וּגְרוֹנֵ֖ךְ (כתיב וּגְורֹנֵ֖ךְ) מִצִּמְאָ֑ה וַתֹּאמְרִ֣י נוֹאָ֔שׁ ל֕וֹא כִּֽי־אָהַ֥בְתִּי זָרִ֖ים וְאַֽחֲרֵיהֶ֥ם אֵלֵֽךְ:
Withhold your foot from going barefoot: This your habit, like the wild donkey that loves to wander. My prophets say to you, “Withhold your foot from idolatry lest you go barefoot into exile and withhold your throat from dying of thirst.”   מנעי רגלך מיחף: זו היא מדתך כפרא האוהבת לנוע נביאי אומרי' ליך מנעי עצמך מעכו"ם שלא תלכי יחף בגולה ומנעי גרונך מלמות בצמא ותאמרי על דברי הנביאים נואש אין מיחוש נואשתי בדבריכם, נואש נוקליי"ר בלע"ז:
but you said: concerning the words of the prophets.   ותאמרי: ותאמרי על דברי הנביאים:
I despair: It is of no concern. I despair of your words. נואש is (nonkalajjr in O.F.) nonchalair in modern French.   נואש: נואש אין מיחוש נואשתי בדבריכם, נואש נוקליי"ר בלע"ז:
26As the shame of a thief when he is found out, so have the house of Israel been ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets.   כוכְּבֹ֚שֶׁת גַּנָּב֙ כִּ֣י יִמָּצֵ֔א כֵּ֥ן הוֹבִ֖ישׁוּ בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל הֵ֚מָּה מַלְכֵיהֶם֙ שָֽׂרֵיהֶ֔ם וְכֹֽהֲנֵיהֶ֖ם וּנְבִֽיאֵיהֶֽם:
when he is found out: At the beginning, when he is found to be a thief, and he was presumed to be faithful. In this manner, Jonathan rendered it.   כי ימצא: בתחלה כשהוא נמצא גנב והוא היה מוחזק נאמן כך ת"י:
27They say to the wood, "You are my father," and to the stone, "You bore us," for they turned to Me their nape and not their face, and at the time of their misfortune they say, "Arise and save us. "   כזאֹֽמְרִ֨ים לָעֵ֜ץ אָ֣בִי אַ֗תָּה וְלָאֶ֙בֶן֙ אַ֣תְּ יְלִדְתָּ֔נוּ (כתיב יְלִדְתָּ֔ניּ) כִּֽי־פָנ֥וּ אֵלַ֛י עֹ֖רֶף וְלֹ֣א פָנִ֑ים וּבְעֵ֚ת רָֽעָתָם֙ יֹֽאמְר֔וּ ק֖וּמָה וְהֽוֹשִׁיעֵֽנוּ:
and at the time of their misfortune they say: i.e., they say to Me, “Arise and save us.” Jonathan, too, translates in this manner: And at the time that misfortune befalls them, they deny their idols and confess before Me, and say. “Have mercy upon us and save us.”   ובעת רעתם יאמרו: אלי קומה והושיענו וכן ת"י ובעידן דבישתא אתיא עליהון כפרין בטעותהון ומודן קדמי ואמרין רחם עלנא ופרוקנא:
28Now where are your gods that you have made for yourself; let them get up if they will save you at the time of your misfortune, for as many as your cities were your gods, O Judea.   כחוְאַיֵּ֚ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשִׂ֣יתָ לָּ֔ךְ יָק֕וּמוּ אִם־יֽוֹשִׁיע֖וּךָ בְּעֵ֣ת רָֽעָתֶ֑ךָ כִּ֚י מִסְפַּ֣ר עָרֶ֔יךָ הָי֥וּ אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ יְהוּדָֽה:
as many as your cities were your gods: In every city was another god.   מספר עריך היו אלהיך: בכל עיר ועיר אלוה אחר:

Yirmiyahu (Jeremiah) Chapter 4

1If you return, O Israel, says the Lord, to Me, you shall return, and if you remove your detestable things from My Presence, you shall not wander.   אאִם־תָּשׁ֨וּב יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל | נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֛ה אֵלַ֖י תָּשׁ֑וּב וְאִם־תָּסִ֧יר שִׁקּוּצֶ֛יךָ מִפָּנַ֖י וְלֹ֥א תָנֽוּד:
If you return, O Israel: with this repentance, to Me, you will return to your original glory and greatness.   אם תשוב ישראל: בתשובה זו אלי תשוב לכבודך וגדולתך הראשונה:
and if you remove your detestable things from My Presence: Then you shall not wander to go out in exile.   ואם תסיר שקוציך מפני: אז לא תנוד לצאת בגולה:
2And you will swear, "As the Lord lives," in truth and in justice and in righteousness, nations will bless themselves with him and boast about him.   בוְנִשְׁבַּ֙עְתָּ֙ חַי־יְהֹוָ֔ה בֶּאֱמֶ֖ת בְּמִשְׁפָּ֣ט וּבִצְדָקָ֑ה וְהִתְבָּ֥רְכוּ ב֛וֹ גּוֹיִ֖ם וּב֥וֹ יִתְהַלָּֽלוּ:
And you will swear, “As the Lord lives,” in truth: When you swear by My name, you will swear in truth, not as now, that it is written concerning you, “And if they say, ‘As the Lord lives,’ surely they swear falsely” (5:2).   ונשבעת חי ה' באמת: כשתשבע בשמי תשבע באמת ולא כאשר עתה שכתוב בכם (לקמן ה) אם חי ה' יאמרו אכן לשקר ישבעו:
nations will bless themselves with him: If you do so, then nations will bless themselves with Israel. Every non-Jew will say to his son, “You shall be like So-and-so the Jew.”   והתברכו בו גוים: אם תעשו כן אז יתברכו בישראל הגוים כל גוי יאמר לבנו תהא כפלוני ישראל:
boast: Heb. יתהללו, they will recite your praise. Another explanation of is יתהללו : Whoever is able to cleave to Israel will boast about the matter (porvanter in French).   יתהללו: יגידו שבחכם ד"א יתהללו מי שיוכל להדבק בישראל יתפאר בדבר פורוונטי"ר בלעז:
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