Tanach
Bamidbar 17:9-15 במדבר י״ז:ט׳-ט״ו
Part of: KorachKorach, Aliyah 4Chapter 17
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
וַיְדַבֵּר יְהֹוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹֽר׃
Adonoy spoke to Moshe, saying:
Adonoy spoke to Moshe, saying:
הֵרֹמּוּ מִתּוֹךְ הָעֵדָה הַזֹּאת וַאֲכַלֶּה אֹתָם כְּרָגַע וַֽיִּפְּלוּ עַל־פְּנֵיהֶֽם׃
“Remove yourselves from this congregation and I shall annihalate them in an instant,” and they fell upon their faces.
“Remove yourselves from this congregation and I shall annihalate them in an instant,” and they fell upon their faces.
וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹן קַח אֶת־הַמַּחְתָּה וְתֶן־עָלֶיהָ אֵשׁ מֵעַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְשִׂים קְטֹרֶת וְהוֹלֵךְ מְהֵרָה אֶל־הָעֵדָה וְכַפֵּר עֲלֵיהֶם כִּֽי־יָצָא הַקֶּצֶף מִלִּפְנֵי יְהֹוָה הֵחֵל הַנָּֽגֶף׃
Moshe said to Aharon: “Take the firepan and put fire from atop the altar on it and place incense on it, and go quickly to the congregation and atone for them, for anger has come forth from before Adonoy; the plague has commenced.”
Moshe said to Aharon: “Take the firepan and put fire from atop the altar on it and place incense on it, and go quickly to the congregation and atone for them, for anger has come forth from before Adonoy; the plague has commenced.”
Rashi
וַיִּקַּח אַהֲרֹן כַּאֲשֶׁר ׀ דִּבֶּר מֹשֶׁה וַיָּרׇץ אֶל־תּוֹךְ הַקָּהָל וְהִנֵּה הֵחֵל הַנֶּגֶף בָּעָם וַיִּתֵּן אֶֽת־הַקְּטֹרֶת וַיְכַפֵּר עַל־הָעָֽם׃
Aharon took, just as Moshe spoke, and he ran to the middle of the assembly and behold! The plague had commenced among the people. He put on incense and he atoned for the people.
Aharon took, just as Moshe spoke, and he ran to the middle of the assembly and behold! The plague had commenced among the people. He put on incense and he atoned for the people.
וַיַּעֲמֹד בֵּֽין־הַמֵּתִים וּבֵין הַֽחַיִּים וַתֵּעָצַר הַמַּגֵּפָֽה׃
He stood between the dead and between the living and the plague was halted.
He stood between the dead and between the living and the plague was halted.
Rashi
ויעמד בין המתים 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 הַקָּבָּ"ה וּמֹשֶׁה אֶל פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, בֹּא עִמִּי וּשְׁאַל, וְזֶהוּ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וישב אהרן אל משה; דָּ"אַ, 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 הַקָּבָּ"ה, תִּרְאוּ שֶׁעוֹצֵר מַגֵּפָה הוּא וְהַחֵטְא הוּא הַמֵּמִית (מכילתא שמות י"ז):
He stood between the dead etc. He grasped the angel and held him against his will. The angel said to him, “Permit me to perform my duty.” He said to him, “Moshe ordered me to stop you.” He said to him, “I represent God, while you represent Moshe.” He said to him, “Moshe says nothing of his own volition, only from the mouth of the Almighty. If you don’t believe me — why the Holy One, Blessed is He, and Moshe are at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Come with me and ask.” This is [the meaning of] what is said — Aharon returned to Moshe. Another interpretation: Why with incense? Because the Israelites were grumbling, and vilifying the incense, saying that it was a deadly poison — because of it, Nadav and Avihu died, because of it, two hundred and fifty men were consumed. The Holy One, Blessed is He, said, ‘You will see that it [incense] halts the plague — it is sinfulness, that kills.’
וַיִּהְיוּ הַמֵּתִים בַּמַּגֵּפָה אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר אֶלֶף וּשְׁבַע מֵאוֹת מִלְּבַד הַמֵּתִים עַל־דְּבַר־קֹֽרַח׃
The dead in the plague totaled fourteen thousand seven hundred, excluding those who died due to Korach’s rebellion.
The dead in the plague totaled fourteen thousand seven hundred, excluding those who died due to Korach’s rebellion.
וַיָּשׇׁב אַהֲרֹן אֶל־מֹשֶׁה אֶל־פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וְהַמַּגֵּפָה נֶעֱצָֽרָה׃ {פ}
Aharon returned to Moshe to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting and the plague was halted.
Aharon returned to Moshe to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting and the plague was halted.
וכפר עליהם. רָז זֶה מָסַר לוֹ מַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת כְּשֶׁעָלָה לָרָקִיעַ, שֶׁהַקְּטֹרֶת עוֹצֵר הַמַּגֵּפָה, כִּדְאִיתָא בְמַסֶּכֶת שַׁבָּת (דף פ"ט):
And atone for them. This was the secret, the angel of death conveyed to him when he [Moshe] ascended to heaven, that incense holds back the plague, as stated in Maseches Shabbos.