| 1The Lord spoke to Moses saying: |
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אוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר: |
| 2Say to Eleazar the son of Aaron the kohen that he should pick up the censers from the burned area (but throw the fire away), because they have become sanctified, |
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באֱמֹ֨ר אֶל־אֶלְעָזָ֜ר בֶּן־אַֽהֲרֹ֣ן הַכֹּהֵ֗ן וְיָרֵ֤ם אֶת־הַמַּחְתֹּת֙ מִבֵּ֣ין הַשְּׂרֵפָ֔ה וְאֶת־הָאֵ֖שׁ זְרֵה־הָ֑לְאָה כִּ֖י קָדֵֽשׁוּ: |
| but… the fire. that is in the censers. |
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וְאֶת־הָאֵשׁ.
שֶׁבְּתוֹךְ הַמַּחְתּוֹת:
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| throw… away. [the fire] on the ground, off the censers. |
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זְרֵה־הָלְאָה.
לָאָרֶץ מֵעַל הַמַּחְתּוֹת:
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| because they have become sanctified. I.e., the censers [have become sanctified], and it is forbidden to derive personal benefit from them since they made them into service vessels. |
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כִּי קָדֵֽשׁוּ.
הַמַּחְתּוֹת וַאֲסוּרִין בַּהֲנָאָה, שֶׁהֲרֵי עֲשָׂאוּם כְּלֵי שָׁרֵת:
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| 3the censers of these who sinned at the cost of their lives, and they shall make them into flattened out plates as an overlay for the altar, for they brought them before the Lord, and have [therefore] become sanctified, and they shall be as a reminder for the children of Israel. |
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גאֵ֡ת מַחְתּוֹת֩ הַֽחַטָּאִ֨ים הָאֵ֜לֶּה בְּנַפְשֹׁתָ֗ם וְעָשׂ֨וּ אֹתָ֜ם רִקֻּעֵ֤י פַחִים֙ צִפּ֣וּי לַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ כִּֽי־הִקְרִיבֻ֥ם לִפְנֵֽי־יְהֹוָ֖ה וַיִּקְדָּ֑שׁוּ וְיִֽהְי֥וּ לְא֖וֹת לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל: |
| these who sinned at the cost of their lives. They have become willful sinners against their own lives for they opposed the Holy One, blessed is He. |
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הַֽחַטָּאִים הָאֵלֶּה בְּנַפְשֹׁתָם.
שֶׁנַּעֲשׂוּ פוֹשְׁעִים בְּנַפְשׁוֹתָם, שֶׁנֶּחְלְקוּ עַל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא:
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| flattened out. Heb. רִקֻּעֵי, thinned out. |
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רִקֻּעֵי.
רְדוּדִין:
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| plates. metal sheets beaten flat; in old French, tenves, thinned out, flattened. |
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פַחִים.
טַסִּים מְרֻדָּדִין, טינדי"ש בלעז:
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| an overlay for the altar. For the copper altar. |
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צִפּוּי לַמִּזְבֵּחַ.
לְמִזְבַּח הַנְּחֹשֶׁת:
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| and they shall be as a reminder. A remembrance so that people will say, “These [plates] are from those who disputed the kehunah and were burnt.” |
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וְיִֽהְיוּ לְאוֹת.
לְזִכָּרוֹן — שֶׁיֹּאמְרוּ, אֵלּוּ הָיוּ מֵאוֹתָן שֶׁנֶּחְלְקוּ עַל הַכְּהֻנָּה וְנִשְׂרְפוּ:
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| 4So Eleazar the kohen took the copper censers which the fire victims had brought, and they hammered them out as an overlay for the altar, |
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דוַיִּקַּ֞ח אֶלְעָזָ֣ר הַכֹּהֵ֗ן אֵ֚ת מַחְתּ֣וֹת הַנְּח֔שֶׁת אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִקְרִ֖יבוּ הַשְּׂרֻפִ֑ים וַיְרַקְּע֖וּם צִפּ֥וּי לַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ: |
| and they beat them out. In Old French, estendre, to extend, to spread, [in modern French étendre]. |
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וַיְרַקְּעוּם.
איטינ"דריש בְּלַעַז:
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| 5as a reminder for the children of Israel, so that no outsider, who is not of the seed of Aaron, shall approach to burn incense before the Lord, so as not to be like Korah and his company, as the Lord spoke regarding him through the hand of Moses. |
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הזִכָּר֞וֹן לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל לְ֠מַ֠עַן אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־יִקְרַ֜ב אִ֣ישׁ זָ֗ר אֲ֠שֶׁ֠ר לֹ֣א מִזֶּ֤רַע אַֽהֲרֹן֙ ה֔וּא לְהַקְטִ֥יר קְטֹ֖רֶת לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וְלֹא־יִֽהְיֶ֤ה כְקֹ֨רַח֙ וְכַ֣עֲדָת֔וֹ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֧ר יְהֹוָ֛ה בְּיַד־משֶׁ֖ה לֽוֹ: |
| so as not to be like Korah. Heb. וְלֹא יִהְיֶה כְקֹרַח, lit. and there shall not be like Korach. In order that there shall not be like Korah. |
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וְלֹא־יִֽהְיֶה כְקֹרַח.
כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיֶה כְקֹרַח:
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| as the Lord spoke regarding him through the hand of Moses. [The word לוֹ literally means ‘to him.’ Here it] means ‘about him,’ that is, about Aaron, He spoke to Moses that he and his sons would be kohanim. Therefore, no outsider, who is not of the seed of Aaron, shall draw near…. Similarly, every time it says לִי or לוֹ or לָהֶם in connection with the verb דִּבּוּר, ‘speech,’ it means ‘regarding.’ Its Midrashic interpretation is that לוֹ refers to Korah. So what is [the meaning of] “by the hand of Moses”? Why not just simply “to Moses”? It alludes to those who rebel against the kehunah . They are stricken with tzara’ath , as it says, “and he [Moses] took it out, and behold, his hand was ‘leprous,’ like snow” (Exod. 4:6). For this reason, Uzziah was stricken with tzara’ath. — [Midrash Tanchuma Tzav 11] |
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כַּֽאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר ה' בְּיַד־משֶׁה לֽוֹ.
כְּמוֹ עָלָיו — עַל אַהֲרֹן דִּבֵּר אֶל מֹשֶׁה שֶׁיִּהְיוּ הוּא וּבָנָיו כֹּהֲנִים, לְפִיכָךְ "לֹא יִקְרַב אִישׁ זָר אֲשֶׁר לֹא מִזֶּרַע אַהֲרֹן" וְגוֹ'; וְכֵן כָּל לִי וְלוֹ וְלָהֶם הַסְּמוּכִים אֵצֶל דִּבּוּר, פִּתְרוֹנָם כְּמוֹ עַל. וּמִדְרָשׁוֹ — עַל קֹרַח, וּמַהוּ "בְיַד מֹשֶׁה" וְלֹא כָתַב "אֶל מֹשֶׁה"? רֶמֶז לַחוֹלְקִים עַל הַכְּהֻנָּה שֶׁלּוֹקִין בְּצָרַעַת כְּמוֹ שֶׁלָּקָה מֹשֶׁה בְּיָדוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וַיּוֹצִאָהּ וְהִנֵּה יָדוֹ מְצֹרַעַת כַּשָּׁלֶג" (שמות ד'), וְעַל כֵּן לָקָה עֻזִּיָּהוּ בְּצָרַעַת (דברי הימים ב' כ"ו):
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| 6The following day, the entire congregation of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron saying, "You have killed the people of the Lord." |
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ווַיִּלֹּ֜נוּ כָּל־עֲדַ֤ת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מִמָּ֣חֳרָ֔ת עַל־משֶׁ֥ה וְעַל־אַֽהֲרֹ֖ן לֵאמֹ֑ר אַתֶּ֥ם הֲמִתֶּ֖ם אֶת־עַ֥ם יְהֹוָֽה: |
| 7It came to pass while the congregation were assembled against Moses and Aaron, that they turned to the Tent of Meeting, and behold, the cloud had covered it, and the glory of the Lord appeared. |
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זוַיְהִ֗י בְּהִקָּהֵ֤ל הָֽעֵדָה֙ עַל־משֶׁ֣ה וְעַל־אַֽהֲרֹ֔ן וַיִּפְנוּ֙ אֶל־אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד וְהִנֵּ֥ה כִסָּ֖הוּ הֶֽעָנָ֑ן וַיֵּרָ֖א כְּב֥וֹד יְהֹוָֽה: |
| 8Moses and Aaron came to the front of the Tent of Meeting. |
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חוַיָּבֹ֤א משֶׁה֙ וְאַֽהֲרֹ֔ן אֶל־פְּנֵ֖י אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד: |
| 9The Lord spoke to Moses saying: |
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טוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר: |
| 10Stand aside from this congregation, and I shall consume them in an instant." They fell on their faces. |
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יהֵרֹ֗מּוּ מִתּוֹךְ֙ הָֽעֵדָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את וַֽאֲכַלֶּ֥ה אֹתָ֖ם כְּרָ֑גַע וַיִּפְּל֖וּ עַל־פְּנֵיהֶֽם: |
| 11Moses said to Aaron, "Take the censer and put fire from the altar top into it and put incense. Then take it quickly to the congregation and atone for them, for wrath has gone forth from the Lord, and the plague has begun." |
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יאוַיֹּ֨אמֶר משֶׁ֜ה אֶל־אַֽהֲרֹ֗ן קַ֣ח אֶת־הַ֠מַּחְתָּ֠ה וְתֶן־עָלֶ֨יהָ אֵ֜שׁ מֵעַ֤ל הַמִּזְבֵּ֨חַ֙ וְשִׂ֣ים קְטֹ֔רֶת וְהוֹלֵ֧ךְ מְהֵרָ֛ה אֶל־הָֽעֵדָ֖ה וְכַפֵּ֣ר עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם כִּֽי־יָצָ֥א הַקֶּ֛צֶף מִלִּפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה הֵחֵ֥ל הַנָּֽגֶף: |
| and atone for them. This secret was given over to him by the angel of death when he went up to heaven, that incense holds back the plague… as is related in Tractate Shabbath (89a). |
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וְכַפֵּר עֲלֵיהֶם.
רָז זֶה מָסַר לוֹ מַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת כְּשֶׁעָלָה לָרָקִיעַ, שֶׁהַקְּטֹרֶת עוֹצֵר הַמַּגֵּפָה, כִּדְאִיתָא בְמַסֶּכֶת שַׁבָּת (דף פ"ט):
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| 12Aaron took [it], just as Moses had said, and he ran into the midst of the assembly, and behold, the plague had begun among the people. He placed the incense on it and atoned for the people. |
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יבוַיִּקַּ֨ח אַֽהֲרֹ֜ן כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר | דִּבֶּ֣ר משֶׁ֗ה וַיָּ֨רָץ֙ אֶל־תּ֣וֹךְ הַקָּהָ֔ל וְהִנֵּ֛ה הֵחֵ֥ל הַנֶּ֖גֶף בָּעָ֑ם וַיִּתֵּן֙ אֶת־הַקְּטֹ֔רֶת וַיְכַפֵּ֖ר עַל־הָעָֽם: |
| 13He stood between the dead and the living, and the plague ceased. |
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יגוַיַּֽעֲמֹ֥ד בֵּֽין־הַמֵּתִ֖ים וּבֵ֣ין הַֽחַיִּ֑ים וַתֵּֽעָצַ֖ר הַמַּגֵּפָֽה: |
| He stood between the dead…. He took hold of the angel and held him against his will. The angel said to him, “Allow me to accomplish my mission.” He [Aaron] said to him, “Moses commanded me to stop you.” He said to him, “I am the messenger of the Omnipresent, and you are the messenger of Moses.” He said to him, “Moses does not say anything on his own volition, but only at the bidding of the Almighty. If you do not believe [me], the Holy One, blessed is He, and Moses are at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting; come with me and ask.” This is the meaning of the statement, “Aaron returned to Moses” (Mid. Tanchuma Tetzaveh 15). Another interpretation: Why with incense? Because the Israelites were slandering and vilifying the incense, saying that it was a deadly poison; through it Nadab and Abihu died; through it two hundred and fifty people were burnt. The Holy One, blessed is He, said, “You shall see that it will stop the plague, and it is sin that caused their death.” - [Mid. Aggadah. See Mechilta Beshallach (Vayassa 6:5, Ber. 33a] |
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וַיַּֽעֲמֹד בֵּֽין־הַמֵּתִים וגו'.
אָחַז אֶת הַמַּלְאָךְ וְהֶעֱמִידוֹ עַל כָּרְחוֹ, אָמַר לוֹ הַמַּלְאָךְ, הַנַּח לִי לַעֲשׂוֹת שְׁלִיחוּתִי, אָמַר לוֹ מֹשֶׁה צִוַּנִי לְעַכֵּב עַל יָדְךָ, אָמַר לוֹ אֲנִי שְׁלוּחוֹ שֶׁל מָקוֹם וְאַתָּה שְׁלוּחוֹ שֶׁל מֹשֶׁה, אָמַר לוֹ אֵין מֹשֶׁה אוֹמֵר כְּלוּם מִלִּבּוֹ אֶלָּא מִפִּי הַגְּבוּרָה, אִם אֵין אַתָּה מַאֲמִין, הֲרֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וּמֹשֶׁה אֶל פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, בֹּא עִמִּי וּשְׁאַל, וְזֶהוּ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וישב אהרן אל משה; דָּבָר אַחֵר, לָמָּה בַקְּטֹרֶת? לְפִי שֶׁהָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מְלִיזִים וּמְרַנְּנִים אַחַר הַקְּטֹרֶת לוֹמַר סַם הַמָּוֶת הוּא — עַל יָדוֹ מֵתוּ נָדָב וַאֲבִיהוּא, עַל יָדוֹ נִשְׂרְפוּ חֲמִשִּׁים וּמָאתַיִם אִישׁ — אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, תִּרְאוּ שֶׁעוֹצֵר מַגֵּפָה הוּא וְהַחֵטְא הוּא הַמֵּמִית (מכילתא שמות י"ז):
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| 14The number of dead in the plague was fourteen thousand, seven hundred, besides those who died because of the matter of Korah. |
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ידוַיִּֽהְי֗וּ הַמֵּתִים֙ בַּמַּגֵּפָ֔ה אַרְבָּעָ֥ה עָשָׂ֛ר אֶ֖לֶף וּשְׁבַ֣ע מֵא֑וֹת מִלְּבַ֥ד הַמֵּתִ֖ים עַל־דְּבַר־קֹֽרַח: |
| 15Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, and the plague was checked. |
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טווַיָּ֤שָׁב אַֽהֲרֹן֙ אֶל־משֶׁ֔ה אֶל־פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד וְהַמַּגֵּפָ֖ה נֶֽעֱצָֽרָה: |
| 16The Lord spoke to Moses saying: |
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טזוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר: |
| 17Speak to the children of Israel and take from them a staff for each father's house from all the chieftains according to their fathers' houses; [a total of] twelve staffs, and inscribe each man's name on his staff. |
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יזדַּבֵּ֣ר | אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְקַ֣ח מֵֽאִתָּ֡ם מַטֶּ֣ה מַטֶּה֩ לְבֵ֨ית אָ֜ב מֵאֵ֤ת כָּל־נְשִֽׂיאֵהֶם֙ לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֔ם שְׁנֵ֥ים עָשָׂ֖ר מַטּ֑וֹת אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־שְׁמ֔וֹ תִּכְתֹּ֖ב עַל־מַטֵּֽהוּ: |
| 18Inscribe Aaron's name on the staff of Levi, for there is [only] one staff for the head of their fathers' house. |
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יחוְאֵת֙ שֵׁ֣ם אַֽהֲרֹ֔ן תִּכְתֹּ֖ב עַל־מַטֵּ֣ה לֵוִ֑י כִּ֚י מַטֶּ֣ה אֶחָ֔ד לְרֹ֖אשׁ בֵּ֥ית אֲבוֹתָֽם: |
| for… one staff…. Although I have divided them into two families, the family of kehunah separate and the family of the Levites separate, it is, nevertheless, one tribe. |
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כִּי מַטֵּה אֶחָד.
אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁחִלַּקְתִּים לִשְׁתֵּי מִשְׁפָּחוֹת, מִשְׁפַּחַת כְּהֻנָּה לְבַד וּלְוִיָּה לְבַד, מִכָּל מָקוֹם שֵׁבֶט אֶחָד הוּא:
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| 19You shall place the staffs in the Tent of Meeting before the [Ark of] the Testimony where I commune with you. |
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יטוְהִנַּחְתָּ֖ם בְּאֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד לִפְנֵי֙ הָֽעֵד֔וּת אֲשֶׁ֛ר אִוָּעֵ֥ד לָכֶ֖ם שָֽׁמָּה: |
| 20The staff of the man whom I will choose will blossom, and I will calm down [turning away] from Myself the complaints of the children of Israel which they are complaining against you. |
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כוְהָיָ֗ה הָאִ֛ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֶבְחַר־בּ֖וֹ מַטֵּ֣הוּ יִפְרָ֑ח וַֽהֲשִׁכֹּתִ֣י מֵֽעָלַ֗י אֶת־תְּלֻנּוֹת֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֛ר הֵ֥ם מַלִּינִ֖ם עֲלֵיכֶֽם: |
| and I will calm down. Heb. וַהֲשִׁכֹּתִי, as in “and the waters subsided וַיָּשֹׁכּוּ” (Gen. 8:1); [and in] “and the king’s anger abated שָׁכָכָה” (Esther 7:10). |
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וַֽהֲשִׁכֹּתִי.
כְּמוֹ "וַיָּשֹׁכּוּ הַמָּיִם" (בראשית ח'), "וַחֲמַת הַמֶּלֶךְ שָׁכָכָה" (אסתר ז'):
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| 21Moses spoke to the children of Israel, and all their chieftains gave him a staff for each chieftain according to their fathers' houses, [a total of] twelve staffs, and Aaron's staff was amidst their staffs. |
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כאוַיְדַבֵּ֨ר משֶׁ֜ה אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וַיִּתְּנ֣וּ אֵלָ֣יו | כָּל־נְשִֽׂיאֵיהֶ֡ם מַטֶּה֩ לְנָשִׂ֨יא אֶחָ֜ד מַטֶּ֨ה לְנָשִׂ֤יא אֶחָד֙ לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֔ם שְׁנֵ֥ים עָשָׂ֖ר מַטּ֑וֹת וּמַטֵּ֥ה אַֽהֲרֹ֖ן בְּת֥וֹךְ מַטּוֹתָֽם: |
| amidst their staffs. He placed it in the middle so that they should not say that it blossomed because he had placed it close to the Divine Presence. — [Mid. Tanchuma Acharei Moth 8] |
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בְּתוֹךְ מַטּוֹתָֽם.
הִנִּיח בָּאֶמְצַע, שֶׁלֹּא יֹאמְרוּ, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהִנִּיחוֹ בְצַד שְׁכִינָה פָּרַח (תנחומא אחרי מות):
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| 22Moses placed the staffs before the Lord in the Tent of the Testimony. |
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כבוַיַּנַּ֥ח משֶׁ֛ה אֶת־הַמַּטֹּ֖ת לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה בְּאֹ֖הֶל הָֽעֵדֻֽת: |
| 23And on the following day Moses came to the Tent of Testimony, and behold, Aaron's staff for the house of Levi had blossomed! It gave forth blossoms, sprouted buds, and produced ripe almonds. |
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כגוַיְהִ֣י מִמָּֽחֳרָ֗ת וַיָּבֹ֤א משֶׁה֙ אֶל־אֹ֣הֶל הָֽעֵד֔וּת וְהִנֵּ֛ה פָּרַ֥ח מַטֵּה־אַֽהֲרֹ֖ן לְבֵ֣ית לֵוִ֑י וַיֹּ֤צֵ֥א פֶ֨רַח֙ וַיָּ֣צֵ֥ץ צִ֔יץ וַיִּגְמֹ֖ל שְׁקֵדִֽים: |
| It gave forth blossoms. [This is to be understood] in its literal sense. |
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וַיֹּצֵא פֶרַח.
כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ:
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| buds. This is the budding of the fruit after the blossom falls off. |
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צִיץ.
הוּא חֲנָטַת הַפְּרִי כְּשֶׁהַפֶּרַח נוֹפֵל:
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| and produced ripe almonds. Heb. וַיִּגְמֹל, when the fruit was recognizable, it was recognized that they were almonds. A similar expression is as found in “and the child grew and was weaned וַיִּגָמֵל” (Gen. 21:8). This expression is frequently found used in reference to fruits of the tree, as in “and the buds turn into ripening grapes גֹמֵל” (Isa. 18:5). Now why [did it bear particularly] almonds? That is the fruit that blossoms quicker than other fruits. Likewise, he who opposes the kehunah; his punishment comes quickly, as we find in the case of Uzziah: “and the tzara’ath shone upon his forehead” (II Chron. 26:19) (See also Rashi on Jer. 1:12). The Targum [Onkelos] renders ‘knotted almonds,’ like a cluster of almonds knotted together one on top of the other. |
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וַיִּגְמֹל שְׁקֵדִֽים.
כְּשֶׁהֻכַּר הַפְּרִי הֻכַּר שֶׁהֵן שְׁקֵדִים, לְשׁוֹן "וַיִּגְדַּל הַיֶּלֶד וַיִּגָּמַל" (בראשית כ"א), וְלָשׁוֹן זֶה מָצוּי בִּפְרִי הָאִילָן, כְּמוֹ "וּבֹסֶר גֹּמֵל יִהְיֶה נִצָּה" (ישעיהו י"ח), וְלָמָּה שְׁקֵדִים? הוּא הַפְּרִי הַמְמַהֵר לְהַפְרִיחַ מִכָּל הַפֵּרוֹת, אַף הַמְעוֹרֵר עַל הַכְּהֻנָּה פֻּרְעֲנוּתוֹ מְמַהֶרֶת לָבֹא, כְּמוֹ שֶׁמָּצִינוּ בְעֻזִּיָּהוּ "וְהַצָּרַעַת זָרְחָה בְמִצְחוֹ" (דברי הימים ב' כ"ו); תַּרְגּוּמוֹ "וְכָפִית שִׁגְדִּין", כְּמִין אֶשְׁכּוֹל שְׁקֵדִים יַחַד כְּפוּתִים זֶה עַל זֶה:
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| 24Moses took out all the staffs from before the Lord, to the children of Israel; they saw and they took, each man his staff. |
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כדוַיֹּצֵ֨א משֶׁ֤ה אֶת־כָּל־הַמַּטֹּת֙ מִלִּפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה אֶל־כָּל־בְּנֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּרְא֥וּ וַיִּקְח֖וּ אִ֥ישׁ מַטֵּֽהוּ: |
| 25The Lord said to Moses: Put Aaron's staff back in front of the Testimony as a keepsake [and] a sign for rebellious ones. Then their complaints against Me will end and they will not die. |
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כהוַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶל־משֶׁ֗ה הָשֵׁ֞ב אֶת־מַטֵּ֤ה אַֽהֲרֹן֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הָֽעֵד֔וּת לְמִשְׁמֶ֥רֶת לְא֖וֹת לִבְנֵי־מֶ֑רִי וּתְכַ֧ל תְּלֽוּנֹּתָ֛ם מֵֽעָלַ֖י וְלֹ֥א יָמֻֽתוּ: |
| as a keepsake and a sign. As a remembrance that I have chosen Aaron to be kohen, so they will no longer complain about the kehunah. |
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לְמִשְׁמֶרֶת לְאוֹת.
לְזִכָּרוֹן שֶׁבָּחַרְתִּי בְּאַהֲרֹן לְכֹהֵן וְלֹא יִלּוֹנוּ עוֹד עַל הַכְּהֻנָּה:
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| Then their complaints will end. [The word] וּתְכַל is equivalent to וְתִכְלֶה. The term תְּלוּנֹּתָם is a singular feminine verbal noun, similar to תְּלוּנָּתָם (their complaint), in French, murmures, murmurings. There is a distinction between תְּלוּנָּתָם and תְּלוּנּוֹתָם, the former being a single complaint and the latter a singular noun [collective], even when there are many complaints. (FOOTNOTE: The word וּתְכַל can possibly be used as a transitive verb in the second person singular, masculine gender [you shall end], or as an intransitive verb in the third person singular, feminine gender [she/it shall end]. Therefore, Rashi first establishes that וּתְכַל is equivalent to וְתִכְלֶה, intransitive, here meaning, it [the complaint] shall end, for if it were transitive, referring to Moses [and you, Moses, shall end] it would be vowelized as וּתְכַלֶּה uthechaleh. Having clarified that point, Rashi now explains that it should have said וְתִכְלֶינֶה [in the plural] rather than וּתְכַל, equivalent to וְתִכְלֶה [in the singular], since it refers to תְּלוּנּוֹת, which is plural, and therefore the verb וּתְכַל should conform with it and likewise be in the plural. Rashi therefore explains that תְּלוּנֹּתָם is a collective singular noun and thus a singular verb may precede it.) |
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וּתְכַל תְּלֽוּנֹּתָם.
כְּמוֹ וּתְכַלֶּה תְּלֻנּוֹתָם; לָשׁוֹן זֶה שֵׁם מִפְעָל יָחִיד לְשׁוֹן נְקֵבָה, כְּמוֹ תְלֻנָּתָם, מרמור"יש בלעז; וְיֵשׁ חִלּוּק בֵּין תְּלֻנּוֹתָם לִתְלֻנָּתָם, תְּלֻנָּתָם תְּלֻנָּה אַחַת, תְּלֻנּוֹתָם שֵׁם דָּבָר בִּלְשׁוֹן יָחִיד וַאֲפִלּוּ הֵם תְּלֻנּוֹת הַרְבֵּה:
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| 26Moses did so. He did just as the Lord had commanded him. |
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כווַיַּ֖עַשׂ משֶׁ֑ה כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֧ה יְהֹוָ֛ה אֹת֖וֹ כֵּ֥ן עָשָֽׂה: |
| 27The children of Israel spoke to Moses saying, "Behold, we are dying, we will perish, we are all lost! |
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כזוַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶל־משֶׁ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר הֵ֥ן גָּוַ֛עְנוּ אָבַ֖דְנוּ כֻּלָּ֥נוּ אָבָֽדְנוּ: |
| 28Whoever comes the closest to the Mishkan of the Lord dies! Have we been consigned to die? |
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כחכֹּ֣ל הַקָּרֵ֧ב | הַקָּרֵ֛ב אֶל־מִשְׁכַּ֥ן יְהֹוָ֖ה יָמ֑וּת הַאִ֥ם תַּ֖מְנוּ לִגְוֹֽעַ: |
| Whoever comes the closest. We cannot be careful of that. We are all permitted to enter the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting, but one who goes closer than his fellow and proceeds into the Tent of Meeting will die. |
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כֹּל הַקָּרֵב הַקָּרֵב וגו'.
אֵין אָנוּ יְכוֹלִין לִהְיוֹת זְהִירִין בְּכָךְ, כֻּלָּנוּ רַשָּׁאִין לְהִכָּנֵס לַחֲצַר אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, וְאֶחָד שֶׁיַּקְרִיב עַצְמוֹ יוֹתֵר מֵחֲבֵרוֹ וְיִכָּנֵס לְתוֹךְ אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד יָמוּת:
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| Have we been consigned to die. Have we been abandoned for death? |
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הַאִם תַּמְנוּ לִגְוֹֽעַ.
שֶׁמָּא הֻפְקַרְנוּ לְמִיתָה?:
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