Chukat חקת

זאת חקת התורה. לְפִי שֶׁהַשָּׂטָן וְאֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם מוֹנִין אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, לוֹמַר מַה הַמִּצְוָה הַזֹּאת וּמַה טַּעַם יֵשׁ בָּהּ? לְפִיכָךְ כָּתַב בָּהּ חֻקָּה — גְּזֵרָה הִיא מִלְּפָנַי, אֵין לְךָ רְשׁוּת לְהַרְהֵר אַחֲרֶיהָ (יומא ס"ז):

This is the statute of the Torah. Because Satan and the nations of the world taunt Israel, saying, “What is this commandment? What is the reason for it”? Therefore, the Torah referred to it as חֻקָּה, a statute. I have decreed it, and you are not permitted to question it.

ויקחו אליך. לְעוֹלָם הִיא נִקְרֵאת עַל שִׁמְךָ — פָּרָה שֶׁעָשָׂה מֹשֶׁה בַּמִּדְבָּר:

They shall take to you. It will always be called by your name: ”The cow which Moshe prepared in the wilderness.”

אדמה תמימה. שֶׁתְּהֵא תְמִימָה בְּאַדְמִימוּת, שֶׁאִם הָיוּ בָהּ שְׁתֵּי שְׂעָרוֹת שְׁחֹרוֹת פְּסוּלָה (פרה פ"ב):

Red, perfect. It must be perfectly red. If it had two black hairs, it was disqualified.

אלעזר. מִצְוָתָהּ בַּסְּגָן (ספרי):

Elozor. The mitzvah was [performed] by the assistant [kohein gadol].

אל מחוץ למחנה. חוּץ לְשָׁלוֹשׁ מַחֲנוֹת:

Outside the camp. Outside the three camps.

ושחט אתה לפניו. זָר שׁוֹחֵט וְאֶלְעָזָר רוֹאֶה (שם; יומא מ"ב):

[He] shall slaughter it in his presence. The commoner slaughters while Elozor observes.

אל נכח פני אהל מועד. עוֹמֵד בְּמִזְרָחוֹ שֶׁל יְרוּשָׁלַיִם וּמִתְכַּוֵּן וְרוֹאֶה פִתְחוֹ שֶׁל הֵיכָל בִּשְׁעַת הַזָּאַת הַדָּם (ספרי; זבחים ק"ה):

Directly facing the Tent of Meeting. He stands east of Jerusalem, and focuses his gaze on the entrance to the Sanctuary when sprinkling the blood.

אל המחנה. לְמַחֲנֵה שְׁכִינָה, שֶׁאֵין טָמֵא מְשֻׁלָּח חוּץ לִשְׁתֵּי מַחֲנוֹת אֶלָּא זָב וּבַעַל קֶרִי וּמְצֹרָע (עי' פסחים ס"ז):

[To] the camp. To the camp of the Shechinah, as no one ritually unclean was sent out of two camps except for the zav, the ba’al keri, and the metzorah.

וטמא הכהן עד הערב. סָרְסֵהוּ וְדָרְשֵׁהוּ — וְטָמֵא עַד הָעֶרֶב וְאַחַר יָבֹא אֶל הַמַּחֲנֶה:

The kohein shall be impure until the evening. Rearrange this and extrapolate: “He shall be impure until the evening, and afterwards, he may enter the camp.”

והניח מחוץ למחנה. לִשְׁלֹשָׁה חֲלָקִים מְחַלְּקָהּ, אֶחָד נָתַן בְּהַר הַמִּשְׁחָה, וְאֶחָד מִתְחַלֵּק לְכָל הַמִּשְׁמָרוֹת, וְאֶחָד נָתַן בַּחֵיל (ספרי; פרה פ"ג), זֶה שֶׁל מִשְׁמָרוֹת הָיָה חוּץ לָעֲזָרָה, לִטֹּל מִמֶּנּוּ בְּנֵי הָעֲיָרוֹת וְכָל הַצְּרִיכִין לִטָּהֵר, וְזֶה שֶׁבְּהַר הַמִּשְׁחָה כֹּהֲנִים גְּדוֹלִים לְפָרוֹת אֲחֵרוֹת מְקַדְּשִׁין הֵימֶנָּה, וְזֶה שֶׁבַּחֵיל נָתוּן לְמִשְׁמֶרֶת מִגְּזֵרַת הַכָּתוּב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר והיתה לעדת בני ישראל למשמרת:

And place [it] outside the camp. He divided it into three parts. One was placed on the Mount of Olives, and one was placed in the “cheil” partition. That of the watches was outside the Temple courtyard, to supply the outlying city dwellers and all those who needed to be purified. That of the Mount of Olives, for the high priests to consecrate other cows. That of the “cheil” partition, placed as a keepsake by Scriptural decree, as it is said, ”It shall remain with the community of Israel as a keepsake.”

למי נדה. לְמֵי הַזָּיָה, כְּמוֹ "וַיַּדּוּ אֶבֶן בִּי" (איכה ג'), "לְיַדּוֹת אֶת קַרְנוֹת הַגּוֹיִם" (זכריה ב'), לְשׁוֹן זְרִיקָה:

For sprinkling water. For water of sprinkling, similar to, “they cast a stone at me,” “to cast away the horns of the nations,” meaning to throw.

חטאת הוא. לְשׁוֹן חִטּוּי, כִּפְשׁוּטוֹ, וּלְפִי הִלְכוֹתָיו קְרָאָהּ הַכָּתוּב חַטָּאת, לוֹמַר שֶׁהִיא כְּקָדָשִׁים לֵאָסֵר בַּהֲנָאָה (עי' ספרי; מנחות נ"א):

For purification. The word denotes cleansing, like its plain meaning. In its halachic sense, however, Scripture entitles it חַטָּאת, “sin-offering,” to teach that it is like a sacred object, and thus prohibited from personal benefit.

הוא יתחטא בו. בָּאֵפֶר הַזֶּה:

He shall cleanse himself with it. With [these] ashes [of the cow].

במת בנפש. וְאֵי זֶה מֵת? שֶׁל נֶפֶשׁ הָאָדָם, לְהוֹצִיא נֶפֶשׁ בְּהֵמָה שֶׁאֵין טֻמְאָתָהּ צְרִיכָה הַזָּאָה; דָּ"אַ, בנפש זוֹ רְבִיעִית דָּם (חולין ע"ב):

A corpse of a [human] soul. Which corpse? That of a human soul. This excludes that of an animal, whose ritual uncleanliness does not require sprinkling Another interpretation: “Of a [human] soul” refers to a quarter of blood.

את משכן ה' טמא. אִם נִכְנַס לָעֲזָרָה אֲפִלּוּ בִטְבִילָה בְּלֹא הַזָּאַת שְׁלִישִׁי וּשְׁבִיעִי:

Defiles the Mishkan of Adonoy. If he enters the Mishkan courtyard, even after ritual immersion, without having been sprinkled on the third and seventh [days]. His impurity remains. Even if he immersed ritually.

עוד טמאתו בו, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁטָּבַל:

כל הבא אל האהל. בְּעוֹד שֶׁהַמֵּת בְּתוֹכוֹ:

Anyone who enters the tent. While the corpse is inside.

וכל כלי פתוח. בִּכְלִי חֶרֶס הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר, שֶׁאֵין מְקַבֵּל טֻמְאָה מִגַּבּוֹ אֶלָּא מִתּוֹכוֹ, לְפִיכָךְ אִם אֵין מְגוּפַת צְמִידָתוֹ פְּתוּלָה עָלָיו יָפֶה בְּחִבּוּר, טָמֵא הוּא, הָא אִם יֵשׁ צָמִיד פָּתִיל עָלָיו טָהוֹר (שם כ"ה):

Any open utensil. Scripture refers to an earthen utensil, which does not admit ritual contamination from its outside, but from its inside. Thus, if its seal is not properly and securely fastened, it is defiled, but if there is a seal fastened to it, it is pure.

פתיל. לְשׁוֹן מְחֻבָּר בִּלְשׁוֹן עֲרָבִי, וְכֵן (בראשית ל') "נַפְתּוּלֵי אֱלֹהִים נִפְתַּלְתִּי" — נִתְחַבַּרְתִּי עִם אֲחוֹתִי:

Fastened. The word denotes attachment in Arabic. Similarly, “I have been joined by Godly bonds”— I have been joined to my sister.

על פני השדה. רַבּוֹתֵינוּ דָרְשׁוּ לְרַבּוֹת גּוֹלֵל וְדוֹפֵק (ספרי; חולין ע"ב). וּפְשׁוּטוֹ — עַל פְּנֵי הַשָּׂדֶה, שֶׁאֵין שָׁם אֹהֶל, מְטַמֵּא הַמֵּת שָׁם בִּנְגִיעָה:

In an open field. The Rabbis extrapolate, this includes the “gollel” and “dofek.” Its plain meaning is that in the open field, where there is no tent, the corpse conveys defilement through touching.

וחטאו ביום השביעי. הוּא גְמַר טָהֳרָתוֹ (עי' ספרי):

He shall purify him on the seventh day. This completes the purification.

ואיש אשר יטמא וגו'. אִם נֶאֱמַר מִקְדָּשׁ לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר מִשְׁכָּן? כו' כִּדְאִיתָא בִשְׁבוּעוֹת (דף ט"ז):

A person who became ritually unclean, etc. If “Mikdash” was said, why was “Mishkon” said?. . .etc., as stated in tractate Shevuos.

ומזה מי הנדה. רַבּוֹתֵינוּ אָמְרוּ שֶׁהַמַּזֶּה טָהוֹר, וְזֶה בָא לְלַמֵּד שֶׁהַנּוֹשֵׂא מֵי חַטָּאת טָמֵא טֻמְאָה חֲמוּרָה לְטַמֵּא בְגָדִים שֶׁעָלָיו, מַה שֶּׁאֵין כֵּן בַּנּוֹגֵעַ, וְזֶה שֶׁהוֹצִיא בִּלְשׁוֹן "מַזֶּה", לוֹמַר לְךָ שֶׁאֵינָן מְטַמְּאִין עַד שֶׁיְּהֵא בָהֶן שִׁעוּר הַזָּאָה (נדה ט'):

One who sprinkles the sprinkling waters. The Rabbis say that the sprinkler is actually pure, and that this teaches that one who carries the purifying water becomes extremely defiled, so as to contaminate the garments he wears, unlike one who touches [the water]. The reason it is expressed as “the sprinkler” is to teach that they (the waters) do not defile unless they contain a sufficient amount for sprinkling.

והנגע, יטמא. וְאֵין טָעוּן כִּבּוּס בְּגָדִים:

One who touches, etc. shall remain unclean. But his garments do not require ritual washing.

וכל אשר יגע בו הטמא. הַזֶּה שֶׁנִּטְמָא בְּמֵת, יטמא:

Anything which the unclean person touches. [Which] this person who was defiled by a corpse [touches], shall become unclean.

והנפש הנגעת בּוֹ: בִּטְמֵא מֵת:

And anyone touching. Him, the one defiled by the corpse.

תטמא עד הערב. כָּאן לָמַדְנוּ שֶׁהַמֵּת אֲבִי אֲבוֹת הַטֻּמְאָה, וְנוֹגֵעַ בּוֹ אַב הַטֻּמְאָה וּמְטַמֵּא אָדָם; זֶה פֵרוּשָׁהּ לְפִי מַשְׁמָעָהּ וְהִלְכוֹתֶיהָ. וּמִ"אַ הֶעְתַּקְתִּי מִיסוֹדוֹ שֶׁל רַבִּי מֹשֶׁה הַדַּרְשָׁן וְזֶהוּ:

Shall be ritually unclean until evening. Here we learn that a corpse is a “forefather” of defilement, and whoever touches it is the “father” of defilement, and defiles another person. This is the explanation according to its plain meaning and its halachic ramifications. Now I have transcribed the Midrash Aggadah from R’ Moshe Hadarshan’s basic commentary, as follows:

ויקחו אליך. מִשֶּׁלָּהֶם, כְּשֵׁם שֶׁהֵם פֵּרְקוּ נִזְמֵי הַזָּהָב לָעֵגֶל מִשֶּׁלָּהֶם, כָּךְ יָבִיאוּ זוֹ לְכַפָּרָה מִשֶּׁלָּהֶם: [רש"י בשם ר' משה הדרשן]

They shall take to you. From their own. Just as they removed the golden rings, for the [golden] calf, from their own, so shall they bring this from their own as atonement.

פרה אדמה. מָשָׁל לְבֶן שִׁפְחָה שֶׁטִּנֵּף פָּלָטִין שֶׁל מֶלֶךְ, אָמְרוּ תָּבֹא אִמּוֹ וּתְקַנֵּחַ הַצּוֹאָה, כָּךְ תָּבֹא פָרָה וּתְכַפֵּר עַל הָעֵגֶל (תנחומא): [רש"י בשם ר' משה הדרשן]

A red cow. This is compared to the child of a maidservant who sullied the king’s palace. They said, “let the child’s mother come and wipe away the filth.” Similarly, let the cow come and atone for the calf.

אדמה. עַל שֵׁם "אִם יַאְדִּימוּ כַתּוֹלָע" (ישעיהו א'), שֶׁהַחֵטְא קָרוּי אָדֹם: [רש"י בשם ר' משה הדרשן]

Red. To correspond with “If they [your sins] are as red as crimson. . .” Sin is described as red.

תמימה. עַל שֵׁם יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁהָיוּ תְמִימִים, וְנַעֲשׂוּ בוֹ בַּעֲלֵי מוּמִין, תָּבֹא זוֹ וּתְכַפֵּר עֲלֵיהֶם וְיַחְזְרוּ לְתַמּוּתָם: [רש"י בשם ר' משה הדרשן]

Perfect. To correspond with the Israelites, who were perfect, but then were blemished by it. This [offering] shall come and atone for them, and they will return to their perfection.

לא עלה עליה על. כְּשֵׁם שֶׁפָּרְקוּ מֵעֲלֵיהֶם עֹל שָׁמַיִם: [רש"י בשם ר' משה הדרשן]

Upon which no yoke was laid. Just as they discarded the yoke of Heaven.

אל אלעזר הכהן. כְּשֵׁם שֶׁנִּקְהֲלוּ עַל אַהֲרֹן, שֶׁהוּא כֹּהֵן, לַעֲשׂוֹת הָעֵגֶל; וּלְפִי שֶׁאַהֲרֹן עָשָׂה אֶת הָעֵגֶל לֹא נִתְּנָה לוֹ עֲבוֹדָה זוֹ עַל יָדוֹ, שֶׁאֵין קַטֵּיגוֹר נַעֲשֶׂה סַנֵּיגוֹר: [רש"י בשם ר' משה הדרשן]

To Elozor the kohein. Just as they gathered against Aharon, the kohein, [and forced him] to construct the calf. And since Aharon constructed the calf, this service was not performed by him, for, the accuser cannot serve as the defender.

ושרף את הפרה. כְּשֵׁם שֶׁנִּשְׂרַף הָעֵגֶל: [רש"י בשם ר' משה הדרשן]

[He] shall burn the cow. Just as the calf was burned.

עץ ארז ואזוב ושני תולעת. שְׁלֹשָׁה מִינִין הַלָּלוּ כְּנֶגֶד שְׁלֹשֶׁת אַלְפֵי אִישׁ שֶׁנָּפְלוּ בָעֵגֶל, וְאֶרֶז הוּא הַגָּבוֹהַּ מִכָּל הָאִילָנוֹת וְאֵזוֹב נָמוּךְ מִכֻּלָּם, סִימָן שֶׁהַגָּבוֹהַּ שֶׁנִּתְגָּאָה וְחָטָא יַשְׁפִּיל אֶת עַצְמוֹ כְּאֵזוֹב וְתוֹלַעַת וְיִתְכַּפֵּר לוֹ: [רש"י בשם ר' משה הדרשן]

Cedar wood, hyssop, and crimson wool. These three species correspond with the three thousand men who perished because of the calf. The cedar is the loftiest of all trees, the hyssop the lowest of all, signifying that someone haughty who sinned with arrogance must humble himself like the hyssop and the worm to gain atonement.

למשמרת. כְּמוֹ שֶׁפֶּשַׁע הָעֵגֶל שָׁמוּר לְדוֹרוֹת לְפֻרְעָנוּת, וְאֵין לְךָ פְּקֻדָּה שֶׁאֵין בָּהּ מִפְּקֻדַּת הָעֵגֶל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וּבְיוֹם פָּקְדִי וּפָקַדְתִּי" וְגוֹ' (שמות ל"ב), וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁהָעֵגֶל מְטַמֵּא כָּל הָעוֹסְקִים בּוֹ, כָּךְ פָּרָה תְטַמֵּא כָּל הָעוֹסְקִין בּוֹ, וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁנִּטְהֲרוּ בְּאֶפְרוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וַיִּזֶר עַל פְּנֵי הַמַּיִם" וְגוֹ' (שם), כָּךְ "וְלָקְחוּ לַטָּמֵא מֵעֲפַר שְׂרֵפַת הַחַטָּאת" וְגוֹ": [רש"י בשם ר' משה הדרשן]

A keepsake. Just as the transgression of the calf, which is preserved throughout the generations for punishment, as there is no reckoning which does not include an accounting for the calf, as it is said, “on the day of my reckoning, I will take into account . . . [the sin of the calf], And just as the calf defiled everyone involved with it, so does the parah defile everyone involved with it. Just as they were purified with its ashes, as it is said, “he scattered it on the water, etc.” so “they shall take, for the one defiled, from the dust of the burnt sin-offering, [and place, upon it, spring water.]

כל העדה. עֵדָה הַשְּׁלֵמָה, שֶׁכְּבָר מֵתוּ מֵתֵי מִדְבָּר וְאֵלּוּ פֵרְשׁוּ לַחַיִּים:

The entire community. The entire, perfect community. Those who were to die in the desert had already perished, and these were set apart to live.

ותמת שם מרים. לָמָּה נִסְמְכָה פָרָשַׁת מִיתַת מִרְיָם לְפָרָשַׁת פָּרָה אֲדֻמָּה? לוֹמַר לְךָ, מַה קָּרְבָּנוֹת מְכַפְּרִין, אַף מִיתַת צַדִּיקִים מְכַפֶּרֶת (מועד קטן כ"ח):

Miriam died there. Why is the portion concerning Miriam’s death adjacent to the portion of the parah adumah? To teach you that, just as the sacrifices bring atonement, so do the deaths of the righteous bring atonement.

ותמת שם מרים. אַף הִיא בִנְשִׁיקָה מֵתָה, וּמִפְּנֵי מָה לֹא נֶאֱמַר בָּהּ "עַל פִּי ה'"? שֶׁאֵינוֹ דֶּרֶךְ כָּבוֹד שֶׁל מַעְלָה, וּבְאַהֲרֹן נֶאֱמַר "עַל פִּי ה'" בְּאֵלֶּה מַסְעֵי (במדבר ל"ג):

Miriam died there. She, too, died by the Divine kiss. Why, then, is it not said, concerning her, “by the mouth of God”? Because this would be lacking in reverence toward the Supreme Being. Concerning Aharon, however, it is said, “by the mouth of God,” in “these are the journeys.”

ולא היה מים לעדה. מִכָּאן שֶׁכָּל אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה הָיָה לָהֶם הַבְּאֵר בִּזְכוּת מִרְיָם (תענית ט'):

The community had no water. From here [we derive] that all forty years they had the well in Miriam’s merit.

ולו גוענו. הַלְוַאי שֶׁגָּוַעְנוּ:

Would that we had died. We wish that we had died.

בגוע אחינו. בְּמִיתַת אַחֵינוּ בַּדֶּבֶר, לִמֵּד שֶׁמִּיתַת צָמָא מְגֻנָּה מִמֶּנָּה:

By our brothers’ death. By our brothers’ death from the plague, as death from thirst is more dreadful.

בגוע. שֵׁם דָּבָר הוּא, כְּמוֹ בְּמִיתַת אַחֵינוּ, וְלֹא יִתָּכֵן לְפָרְשׁוֹ כְּשֶׁמֵּתוּ אַחֵינוּ, שֶׁאִם כֵּן הָיָה לוֹ לִנָּקֵד בִּגְוֹעַ:

By . . . death. This is a noun, like בְּמִיתַת אַחֵינוּ, “by our brother’s death.” But it is incorrect to interpret this as “when our brothers died,” for, if so, the vocalization should have been בִּגְו‍ֹעַ .

ואת בעירם. מִכָּאן שֶׁחָס הַקָּבָּ"ה עַל מָמוֹנָם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל:

And their livestock. From here [we derive] that the Holy One, Blessed is He, is solicitous of the Israelites’ property.

ויקהלו וגו'. זֶה אֶחָד מִן הַמְּקוֹמוֹת שֶׁהֶחֱזִיק מוּעָט אֶת הַמְרֻבֶּה (בראשית רבה ה'):

Assembled, etc. This is one of the places where a small area held a large multitude.

המן הסלע הזה נוציא. לְפִי שֶׁלֹּא הָיוּ מַכִּירִין אוֹתוֹ, לְפִי שֶׁהָלַךְ הַסֶּלַע וְיָשַׁב לוֹ בֵּין הַסְּלָעִים כְּשֶׁנִּסְתַּלֵּק הַבְּאֵר, וְהָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹמְרִים לָהֶם מַה לָּכֶם מֵאֵי זֶה סֶלַע תּוֹצִיאוּ לָנוּ מַיִם? לְכָךְ אָמַר לָהֶם המרים — סַרְבָנִים, לְשׁוֹן יְוָנִי שׁוֹטִים, מוֹרִים אֶת מוֹרֵיהֶם, הֲמִן הַסֶּלַע הַזֶּה שֶׁלֹּא נִצְטַוִּינוּ עָלָיו נוֹצִיא לָכֶם מַיִם? (תנחומא):

Can we extract from this rock? Because they did not recognize it, as the rock settled itself among the other rocks when the well departed. The Israelites were telling them, “What [difference] is it to you, from which rock you extract water for us”? This is why he addressed them as “rebels “—”insolents,” “fools” in Greek. Those who instruct their instructors. Can we extract water from this rock for which we were not commanded?

פעמים. לְפִי שֶׁבָּרִאשׁוֹנָה לֹא הוֹצִיא אֶלָּא טִפִּין, לְפִי שֶׁלֹּא צִוָּה הַמָּקוֹם לְהַכּוֹתוֹ, אֶלָּא "וְדִבַּרְתֶּם אֶל הַסֶּלַע", וְהֵמָּה דִּבְּרוּ אֶל סֶלַע אַחֵר וְלֹא הוֹצִיא, אָמְרוּ, שֶׁמָּא צָרִיךְ לְהַכּוֹתוֹ כְּבָרִאשׁוֹנָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְהִכִּיתָ בַצּוּר" (שמות י"ז), וְנִזְדַּמֵּן לָהֶם אוֹתוֹ סֶלַע וְהִכָּהוּ (תנחומא):

Twice. Because at first, it only produced drops, since the Omnipresent had not commanded to strike it, but “speak to the rock.” They spoke to a different rock, but it did not produce. They said, “perhaps it must be struck, like the first one,” as it is said, “strike the rock.” Then they happened upon that rock and he struck it.

יען לא האמנתם בי. גִּלָּה הַכָּתוּב שֶׁאִלּוּלֵי חֵטְא זֶה בִּלְבַד הָיוּ נִכְנָסִין לָאָרֶץ, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יֹאמְרוּ עֲלֵיהֶם כַּעֲוֹן דּוֹר הַמִּדְבָּר שֶׁנִּגְזַר עֲלֵיהֶם שֶׁלֹּא יִכָּנְסוּ, כָּךְ הָיָה עֲוֹן מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן; וַהֲלֹא "הֲצֹאן וּבָקָר יִשָּׁחֵט" (במדבר יא, כב) קָשָׁה מִזּוֹ? אֶלָּא לְפִי שֶׁבַּסֵּתֶר, חִסֵּךְ עָלָיו הַכָּתוּב, וְכָאן שֶׁבְּמַעֲמַד כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל, לֹא חִסֵּךְ עָלָיו הַכָּתוּב מִפְּנֵי קִדּוּשׁ הַשֵּׁם:

Because you did not believe in Me. Scripture reveals that if it had not been for this single sin, they would have entered the land, so that it would not be said of them: ”Like the transgressions of the rest of the generation of the desert, against whom it was decreed not to enter the land— so was the transgression of Moshe and Aharon.” But was not [the transgression implied in the verse] “will sheep and cattle be slaughtered”? worse than this? Still, because it was said in private, Scripture was compassionate with him, but here, where it was in the presence of all of Israel, Scripture was not compassionate with him, because of the sanctification of the Name.

להקדישני. שֶׁאִלּוּ דִּבַּרְתֶּם אֶל הַסֶּלַע וְהוֹצִיא, הָיִיתִי מְקֻדָּשׁ לְעֵינֵי הָעֵדָה, וְאוֹמְרִים מַה סֶּלַע זֶה שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְדַבֵּר וְאֵינוֹ שׁוֹמֵעַ וְאֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לְפַרְנָסָה מְקַיֵּם דִּבּוּרוֹ שֶׁל מָקוֹם, קַל וָחֹמֶר אָנוּ:

To sanctify me. For, if you had spoken to the rock and it had brought forth water, I would have been sanctified in the eyes of the community. They would have said: “Now this rock, which can neither speak nor hear, and does not require sustenance, fulfills the word of the Omnipresent. How much more should we do so.”

לכן לא תביאו. בִּשְׁבוּעָה, כְּמוֹ "וְלָכֵן נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי לְבֵית עֵלִי" (שמואל א ג'), נִשְׁבַּע בִּקְפִיצָה שֶׁלֹּא יַרְבּוּ בִתְפִלָּה עַל כָּךְ:

Therefore, you will not bring. This was said as an oath, like “Therefore, I swore to the house of Eili.” He swore precipituously, so that they would not engage in lengthy prayer.

המה מי מריבה. הֵם הַנִּזְכָּרִים בְּמָקוֹם אַחֵר; אֶת אֵלּוּ רָאוּ אִצְטַגְנִינֵי פַרְעֹה, שֶׁמּוֹשִׁיעָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל לוֹקֶה בַמַּיִם, לְכָךְ גָּזְרוּ (שמות א') "כָּל הַבֵּן הַיִּלּוֹד הַיְאֹרָה תַּשְׁלִיכֻהוּ" (סנהדרין ק"א):

They are the waters of dispute. They are the ones mentioned elsewhere. Pharaoh’s astrologers saw them, [seeing] that the saviour of Israel would be smitten through water. Therefore, they decreed that “every boy who is born must be thrown into the river.”

ויקדש בם. שֶׁמֵּתוּ מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן עַל יָדָם; כְּשֶׁהַקָּבָּ"ה עוֹשֶׂה דִּין בִּמְקֻדָּשָׁיו הוּא יָראוּי וּמִתְקַדֵּשׁ עַל הַבְּרִיּוֹת, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר "נוֹרָא אֱלֹהִים מִמִּקְדָּשֶׁיךָ" (תהילים ס"ח), וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר "בִּקְרֹבַי אֶקָּדֵשׁ" (ויקרא י'):

He was sanctified through them. Since Moshe and Aharon died because of them. When the Holy One, Blessed is He, administers judgment against His holy ones, He is feared and sanctified by mankind. Similarly, it says, “You are awesome, God, from Your sanctuaries.” Similarly, it says, “I am sanctified by those close to Me.”

אחיך ישראל. מָה רָאָה לְהַזְכִּיר כָּאן אַחֲוָה? אֶלָּא אָמַר לוֹ אַחִים אֲנַחְנוּ, בְּנֵי אַבְרָהָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר לוֹ "כִּי גֵר יִהְיֶה זַרְעֲךָ" (בראשית ט"ו), וְעַל שְׁנֵינוּ הָיָה אוֹתוֹ הַחוֹב לְפָרְעוֹ (תנחומא):

Your brother Yisroel. Why did Moshe see fit to mention brotherhood here? But he said to him, “We are brothers, children of Avrohom, to whom it was said, ‘[Know] . . . that your descendants will be strangers [in a land that is not theirs]’, and we were both responsible for fulfilling that obligation.”

אתה ידעת את כל התלאה. לְפִיכָךְ פֵּרֵשׁ אֲבִיכֶם מֵעַל אָבִינוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וַיֵּלֶךְ אֶל אֶרֶץ מִפְּנֵי יַעֲקֹב אָחִיו" (בראשית ל״ו:ו׳) — מִפְּנֵי הַשְּׁטָר חוֹב הַמֻּטָּל עֲלֵיהֶם, וְהִטִּילוֹ עַל יַעֲקֹב:

You know of all the hardship. Therefore, your father parted from our father, as it is said, “he went to a land because of his brother Yaakov” — because of the bill of debt incumbent upon them, he placed the burden on Yaakov.

וירעו לנו. סָבַלְנוּ צָרוֹת רַבּוֹת:

[The Egyptians] mistreated us. We endured much suffering.

ולאבתינו. מִכָּאן שֶׁהָאָבוֹת מִצְטַעֲרִים בַּקֶּבֶר כְּשֶׁפֻּרְעָנוּת בָּאָה עַל יִשְֹרָאֵל (עי' תנחומא):

And our forefathers. From here we derive that the forefathers suffer in the grave when punishment is visited on Israel.

וישמע קלנו. בַּבְּרָכָה שֶׁבֵּרְכָנוּ אָבִינוּ "הַקֹּל קוֹל יַעֲקֹב", שֶׁאָנוּ צוֹעֲקִים וְנַעֲנִים (תנחומא בשלח):

And He heard our voice. Through the blessing bestowed by our forefather [Yitzchak], “the voice is the voice of Yaakov.” For, we cry out, and are answered.

מלאך. זֶה מֹשֶׁה, מִכָּאן שֶׁהַנְּבִיאִים קְרוּאִים מַלְאָכִים, וְאוֹמֵר "וַיִּהְיוּ מַלְעִבִים בְּמַלְאֲכֵי הָאֱלֹהִים" (דברי הימים ב' ל"ו):

An emissary. This refers to Moshe. From here we derive that the prophets are called “emissaries” It also says, “they would insult the emissaries of God.”

נעברה נא בארצך. אֵין לְךָ לְעוֹרֵר עַל הַיְרֻשָּׁה שֶׁל אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, כְּשֵׁם שֶׁלֹּא פָרַעְתָּ הַחוֹב, עֲשֵׂה לָנוּ עֵזֶר מְעַט לַעֲבֹר דֶּרֶךְ אַרְצְךָ:

Please let us to pass through your land. You should not challenge the inheritance of the land of Israel, as you did not pay the debt. Do, for us, the small favor of passing through your land.

ולא נשתה מי באר. מֵי בוֹרוֹת הָיָה צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר, אֶלָּא כָּךְ אָמַר מֹשֶׁה, אַעַ"פִּ שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּיָדֵנוּ מָן לֶאֱכֹל וּבְאֵר לִשְׁתּוֹת, לֹא נִשְׁתֶּה מִמֶּנּוּ, אֶלָּא נִקְנֶה מִכֶּם אֹכֶל וּמַיִם לַהֲנָאַתְכֶם, מִכָּאן לְאַכְסְנַאי אַעַ"פִּ שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּיָדוֹ לֶאֱכֹל יִקְנֶה מִן הַחֶנְוָנִי, כְּדֵי לְהַנּוֹת אֶת אֻשְׁפִּיזוֹ (תנחומא):

We will not drink well water. It should have said, “cistern water.” But this is what Moshe said: ”Although we have in our possession manna to eat and the well [water] to drink, we will not drink from it, but we will buy food and drink from you, for your benefit.” From here [we derive] that, although a guest has provisions in his possession, he should buy from the shopkeeper, in order to benefit his host.

דרך המלך נלך וגו'. אָנוּ חוֹסְמִים אֶת בְּהֶמְתֵּנוּ וְלֹא יִטּוּ לְכָאן וּלְכָאן לֶאֱכֹל (שם):

We will travel by the king’s road. We will muzzle our animals, so that they will not turn every which way to eat.

פן בחרב אצא לקראתך. אַתֶּם מִתְגָּאִים בְּקוֹל שֶׁהוֹרִישְׁכֶם אֲבִיכֶם וְאוֹמְרִים "וַנִּצְעַק אֶל ה' וַיִּשְׁמַע קֹלֵנוּ", וַאֲנִי אֵצֵא עֲלֵיכֶם בְּמַה שֶּׁהוֹרִישֵׁנִי אָבִי "וְעַל חַרְבְּךָ תִחְיֶה" (בראשית כ"ז):

Lest I go out against you with the sword. You pride yourselves with the voice you inherited from your forefather, saying, “we cried out to God, and he heard our voice.” Well, I will go out against you with my forefather’s legacy, “you shall live by your sword.”

רק אין דבר. אֵין שׁוּם דָּבָר מַזִּיקְךָ:

It is just nothing. Nothing at all will harm you.

וביד חזקה. בְּהַבְטָחַת זְקֵנֵנוּ "וְהַיָּדַיִם יְדֵי עֵשָׂו" (שם):

And a strong hand. With our grandfather’s assurance, “but the hands are the hands of Eisav.”

כל העדה. כֻּלָּם שְׁלֵמִים וְעוֹמְדִים לִכָּנֵס לָאָרֶץ, שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה בָּהֶן אֶחָד מֵאוֹתָם שֶׁנִּגְזְרָה גְזֵרָה עֲלֵיהֶם, שֶׁכְּבָר כָּלוּ מֵתֵי מִדְבָּר וְאֵלּוּ מֵאוֹתָן שֶׁכָּתוּב בָּהֶן (דברים ד') "חַיִּים כֻּלְּכֶם הַיּוֹם" (תנחומא):

The entire community. All of them, perfect, ready to enter the land. Not one of them was among those included in the decree, for those who were to die in the wilderness, had perished. These were among those of whom Scripture states, “You are all living this day.”

הר ההר. הַר עַל גַּבֵּי הַר, כְּתַפּוּחַ קָטָן עַל גַּבֵּי תַפּוּחַ גָּדוֹל, וְאַעַ"פִּ שֶׁהֶעָנָן הוֹלֵךְ לִפְנֵיהֶם וּמַשְׁוֶה אֶת הֶהָרִים, שְׁלֹשָׁה נִשְׁאֲרוּ בָהֶן — הַר סִינַי לַתּוֹרָה וְהֹר הָהָר לִקְבוּרַת אַהֲרֹן וְהַר נְבוֹ לִקְבוּרַת מֹשֶׁה (תנחומא):

Mount Hor (lit. the mountain of the mountain). A mountain on top of a mountain, like a small apple on top of a large apple. Although the cloud went before them to flatten the mountains, three mountains remained; Mount Sinai for the Torah, Mount Hor for Aharon’s burial, and Mount Nevo for Moshe’s burial,

על גבול ארץ אדום. מַגִּיד שֶׁמִּפְּנֵי שֶׁנִּתְחַבְּרוּ כָאן לְהִתְקָרֵב לְעֵשָׂו הָרָשָׁע, נִפְרְצוּ מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם וְחָסְרוּ הַצַּדִּיק הַזֶּה, וְכֵן הַנָּבִיא אוֹמֵר לִיהוֹשָׁפָט (דברי הימים ב' כ') "בְּהִתְחַבֶּרְךָ עִם אֲחַזְיָהוּ פָּרַץ ה' אֶת מַעֲשֶׂיךָ" (תנחומא):

At the border of the land of Edom. This teaches, that because they joined here in associating with the evil Eisav, a breach was made in their activities, and they lost this righteous man. Similarly, the prophet says to Yehoshafat, “when you joined with Achazyahu, God caused a breach in your activities.”

קח את אהרן. בִּדְבָרִים שֶׁל נִחוּמִים — אֱמֹר לוֹ, אַשְׁרֶיךָ שֶׁתִּרְאֶה כִתְרְךָ נָתוּן לְבִנְךָ, מַה שֶּׁאֵין אֲנִי זַכַּאי לְכָךְ (שם):

Take Aharon. With comforting words. Say to him, “How fortunate you are to see your crown handed over to your son— something which I do not merit.”

את בגדיו. אֶת בִּגְדֵי כְהֻנָּה גְדוֹלָה הִלְבִּישָׁהוּ וְהִפְשִׁיטָם מֵעָלָיו, לְתִתָּם עַל בְּנוֹ בְּפָנָיו; אָמַר לוֹ הִכָּנֵס לַמְּעָרָה וְנִכְנַס, רָאָה מִטָּה מֻצַּעַת וְנֵר דָּלוּק, אָמַר לוֹ עֲלֵה לַמִּטָּה וְעָלָה, פְּשֹׁט יָדֶיךָ וּפָשַׁט, קְמֹץ פִּיךָ וְקָמַץ, עֲצֹם עֵינֶיךָ וְעָצַם, מִיָּד חָמַד מֹשֶׁה לְאוֹתָהּ מִיתָה, וְזֶהוּ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר לוֹ (דברים ל"ב) "כַּאֲשֶׁר מֵת אַהֲרֹן אָחִיךָ" — מִיתָה שֶׁנִתְאַוִּיתָ לָהּ (ספרי שם):

[His] vestments. In the vestments of the kehunah Gedolah, he dressed him, and then removed them from him, in order to place them on his son in his presence. He said to him, “Enter the cave.” He entered. He saw a bed made ready and a candle burning. He said, “Go up on the bed.” He went up. “Extend your hands.” He extended them. “Close your mouth.” He closed it. “Shut your eyes.” He shut them. Moshe at once desired to die such a death. This is why it was said to him, “The way your brother Aharon died”— The death which you desired.

ויעש משה. אַעַ"פִּ שֶׁהַדָּבָר קָשֶׁה לוֹ, לֹא עִכֵּב (תנחומא):

Moshe did. Although the matter was difficult for him, he did not hesitate.

ויראו כל העדה. כְּשֶׁרָאוּ מֹשֶׁה וְאֶלְעָזָר יוֹרְדִים וְאַהֲרֹן לֹא יָרַד, אָמְרוּ הֵיכָן הוּא אַהֲרֹן? אָמַר לָהֶם מֵת, אָמְרוּ אֶפְשָׁר מִי שֶׁעָמַד כְּנֶגֶד הַמַּלְאָךְ וְעָצַר אֶת הַמַּגֵּפָה יִשְׁלֹט בוֹ מַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת? מִיָּד בִּקֵּשׁ מֹשֶׁה רַחֲמִים וְהֶרְאוּהוּ מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת לָהֶם מֻטָּל בַּמִּטָּה, רָאוּ וְהֶאֱמִינוּ (שם):

The entire community saw. When they saw Moshe and Elozor descending, and Aharon did not desend, they said,”Where is Aharon”? He said to them, “He died.” They said, “Can it be that someone who stood up to the angel and stopped the plague is under the dominion of the angel of death”? Moshe immediately begged for mercy, and the ministering angels showed him to them, lying in the bed. They saw, and believed.

כל בית ישראל. הָאֲנָשִׁים וְהַנָּשִׁים, לְפִי שֶׁהָיָה אַהֲרֹן רוֹדֵף שָׁלוֹם וּמַטִּיל אַהֲבָה בֵּין בַּעֲלֵי מְרִיבָה וּבֵין אִישׁ לְאִשְׁתּוֹ (אדר"נ י"ב):

The entire house of Yisroel. Men and women, because Aharon pursued peace, and instilled affection between antagonists, and between husband and wife.

כי גוע. אוֹמֵר אֲנִי שֶׁהַמְתַּרְגֵּם דְּהָא מִית טוֹעֶה הוּא, אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן מְתַרְגֵּם וַיִּרְאוּ וְאִתְחֲזִיאוּ, שֶׁלֹּא אָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ כִּי זֶה מְשַׁמֵּשׁ בִּלְשׁוֹן דְּהָא אֶלָּא עַל מִדְרָשׁ שֶׁנִּסְתַּלְּקוּ עַנְנֵי הַכָּבוֹד, וְכִדְאָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּהוּ (ראש השנה ג'), אַל תִּקְרֵי וַיִּרְאוּ, אֶלָּא וַיֵּרָאוּ, וְעַל לָשׁוֹן זֶה נוֹפֵל לְשׁוֹן דְּהָא, לְפִי שֶׁהִיא נְתִינַת טַעַם לְמַה שֶּׁלְּמַעְלָה הֵימֶנּוּ — לָמָּה וַיֵּרָאוּ? לְפִי שֶׁהֲרֵי מֵת אַהֲרֹן; אֲבָל עַל תַּרְגּוּם "וְחָזוּ כָל כְּנִשְׁתָּא" אֵין לְשׁוֹן דְּהָא נוֹפֵל אֶלָּא לְשׁוֹן אֲשֶׁר, שֶׁהוּא מִגִּזְרַת שִׁמּוּשׁ אִי, שֶׁמָּצִינוּ אִם מְשַׁמֵּשׁ בִּלְשׁוֹן אֲשֶׁר, כְּמוֹ "וְאִם מַדּוּעַ לֹא תִקְצַר רוּחִי" (איוב כ"א), וְהַרְבֵּה מְפֹרָשִׁים מִזֶּה הַלָּשׁוֹן — "אִם חֲרוּצִים יָמָיו" (שם י"ד):

That [Aharon] died. I say that anyone who translates [כִּי גָוַע as] דְּהָא מִית (“because [Aharon] died”), is mistaken, unless he also translates וַיִּרְאוּ as וְאִתְחֲזִיאוּ ([The community] “was exposed”). Since the Rabbis’ comment, that כִּי here is understood as “because,” is valid only according to the Midrashic comment that the clouds of glory departed, as R’ Abohu said, “do not read וַיִּרְאוּ (‘they [the community] saw,’), but וַיֵּרָאוּ, (‘they [the community] were exposed’).” According to this interpretation, דְּהָא (“because”), is the proper usage, since it clarifies what precedes it. Why were they exposed? Because Aharon died. However, according to Targum [Onkelos who translates] “the entire community saw,” “because” is not the proper usage, but “that,” from the אִי meaning, as we find אִם meaning “that.” As in, “that [I ask], why shouldn’t I be distressed”?Sf? and many clear usages in this sense, [like] “that his days are designated.”

וישמע הכנעני. שָׁמַע שֶׁמֵּת אַהֲרֹן וְנִסְתַּלְּקוּ עַנְנֵי כָבוֹד כו', כִּדְאִיתָא בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה (דף ג'), וַעֲמָלֵק מֵעוֹלָם רְצוּעַת מַרְדּוּת לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, מְזֻמָּן בְּכָל עֵת לְפֻרְעָנוּת:

The Canaanite heard. He heard that Aharon died, and the clouds of glory departed, etc. as stated in Rosh Hashanah. Amelek was always a whip for disciplining Israel, prepared, at all times, to mete out punishment.

ישב הנגב. זֶה עֲמָלֵק, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "עֲמָלֵק יוֹשֵׁב בְּאֶרֶץ הַנֶּגֶב" (במדבר י"ג), וְשִׁנָּה אֶת לְשׁוֹנוֹ לְדַבֵּר בִּלְשׁוֹן כְּנַעַן, כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִתְפַּלְּלִים לְהַקָּבָּ"ה לָתֵת כְּנַעֲנִים בְּיָדָם, וְהֵם אֵינָן כְּנַעֲנִים, רָאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לְבוּשֵׁיהֶם כִּלְבוּשֵׁי עֲמָלֵקִים וּלְשׁוֹנָם לְשׁוֹן כְּנַעַן, אָמְרוּ נִתְפַּלֵּל סְתָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "אִם נָתֹן תִּתֵּן אֶת הָעָם הַזֶּה בְּיָדִי" (עי' ילקוט שמעוני תשס"ד):

Who lived in the south. This was Amalek, as it is said, “Amelek dwells in the southern part of the land.” They changed their language, and spoke in the Canaanite tongue, so that the Israelites would pray to the Holy One, Blessed is He, to deliver the Canaanites into their hands —but they were not Canaanites. The Israelites saw that they were dressed in Amalekite clothing, but spoke the Canaanite tongue. They said, “let us pray in a general way,” as it is said, “if you will deliver this people into my hand.”

דרך האתרים. דֶּרֶךְ הַנֶּגֶב, שֶׁהָלְכוּ בּוֹ מְרַגְּלִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וַיַּעֲלוּ בַנֶּגֶב" (במדבר י"ג); דָּבָר אַחֵר: דֶּרֶךְ הָאֲתָרִים, דֶּרֶךְ הַתַּיָּר הַגָּדוֹל הַנּוֹסֵעַ לִפְנֵיהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שם י') "דֶּרֶךְ שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים לָתוּר לָהֶם מְנוּחָה" (תנחומא):

By the route of the spies. The negev route traveled by the spies, as it is said, “they went up to the negev.” Another interpretation of דֶּרֶךְ הָאֲתָרִים ; the route of the great pathfinder which traveled before them, as it is said, “[the Ark of the covenant of God traveled before them] three days’ journey, to seek out a resting place for them.”

וישב ממנו שבי. אֵינָהּ אֶלָּא שִׁפְחָה אַחַת (ילקוט שמעוני שם):

He took from them a captive. It was only one maidservant.

והחרמתי. אַקְדִּישׁ שְׁלָלָם לְגָבוֹהַּ:

I shall consecrate. I shall consecrate the spoils to heaven.

ויחרם אתהם. בַּהֲרִיגָה:

And he destroyed them. By execution.

ואת עריהם. חֶרְמֵי גָבוֹהַּ:

And [consecrated] their cities. He consecrated them to heaven.

דרךְ ים סוף. כֵּיוָן שֶׁמֵּת אַהֲרֹן וּבָאת עֲלֵיהֶם מִלְחָמָה זוֹ, חָזְרוּ לַאֲחוֹרֵיהֶם דֶּרֶךְ יַם סוּף, הוּא הַדֶּרֶךְ שֶׁחָזְרוּ לָהֶם כְּשֶׁנִּגְזַר עֲלֵיהֶם גְּזֵרַת מְרַגְּלִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וּסְעוּ הַמִּדְבָּרָה דֶּרֶךְ יַם סוּף" (דברים א'), וְכָאן חָזְרוּ לַאֲחוֹרֵיהֶם שֶׁבַע מַסָּעוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל נָסְעוּ מִבְּאֵרֹת בְּנֵי יַעֲקָן מוֹסֵרָה שָׁם מֵת אַהֲרֹן", וְכִי בְמוֹסֵרָה מֵת? וַהֲלֹא בְהֹר הָהָר מֵת? אֶלָּא שָׁם חָזְרוּ וְהִתְאַבְּלוּ עָלָיו וְהִסְפִּידוּהוּ כְּאִלּוּ הוּא בִפְנֵיהֶם; וְצֵא וּבְדֹק בַּמַּסָּעוֹת וְתִמְצְאֵם שֶׁבַע מַסָּעוֹת מִן מוֹסֵרָה עַד הֹר הָהָר (תנחומא):

By the Reed Sea route. Since Aharon had died, and this war fell upon them, they turned back to the Reed Sea route This was the route by which they had turned back when the decree of the spies was issued against them, as it is said, “travel into the desert, by the Reed Sea route.” Here, they turned back seven journeys, as it is said, “Bnei Yisroel journeyed from Be’eiros Bnei Yaakan to Moseirah. There, Aharon died.” Was it in Moseirah that Aharon died? Did he not die at Mount Hor? But they returned there, and mourned and eulogized him as if he were in their presence. Go, examine the journeys, and you will find seven journeys from Moseirah to Mount Hor.

לסבב את ארץ אדום. שֶׁלֹּא נְתָנָם לַעֲבֹר בְּאַרְצוֹ:

To circle around the land of Edom. Since they did not permit them to pass through their land.

ותקצר נפש העם בדרך. בְּטֹרַח הַדֶּרֶךְ שֶׁהֻקְשָׁה לָהֶם, אָמְרוּ עַכְשָׁו הָיִינוּ קְרוֹבִים לִכָּנֵס לָאָרֶץ וְאָנוּ חוֹזְרִים לַאֲחוֹרֵינוּ, כָּךְ חָזְרוּ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְנִשְׁתָּהוּ שְׁלֹשִׁים וּשְׁמוֹנֶה שָׁנָה עַד הַיּוֹם, לְפִיכָךְ קָצְרָה נַפְשָׁם בְּעִנּוּי הַדֶּרֶךְ, וּבְלַעַ"ז אנקרוט"לור; וְלֹא יִתָּכֵן לוֹמַר וַתִּקְצַר נֶפֶשׁ הָעָם בַּדָּרֶךְ — בִּהְיוֹתוֹ בַדֶּרֶךְ, וְלֹא פֵּרֵשׁ בּוֹ בַּמֶּה קָצְרָה, שֶׁכָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁתִּמְצָא קִצּוּר נֶפֶש בַּמִּקְרָא מְפֹרָשׁ שָׁם בַּמֶּה קָצְרָה, כְּגוֹן "וַתִּקְצַר נַפְשִׁי בָּהֶם" (זכריה י"א), וּכְגוֹן "וַתִּקְצַר נַפְשׁוֹ בַּעֲמַל יִשְׂרָאֵל" (שופטים י'), וְכָל דָּבָר קָשֶׁה עַל אָדָם נוֹפֵל בּוֹ לְשׁוֹן קִצּוּר נֶפֶשׁ, כְּאָדָם שֶׁהַטֹּרַח בָּא עָלָיו וְאֵין דַּעְתּוֹ רְחָבָה לְקַבֵּל אוֹתוֹ הַדָּבָר וְאֵין לוֹ מָקוֹם בְּתוֹךְ לִבּוֹ לָגוּר שָׁם הַצַּעַר, וּבְדָבָר הַמַּטְרִיחַ נוֹפֵל לְשׁוֹן גֹּדֶל, שֶׁגָּדוֹל הוּא וְכָבֵד עַל הָאָדָם, כְּגוֹן "וְגַם נַפְשָׁם בָּחֲלָה בִי" (זכריה י"א) — גָּדְלָה עָלַי, "וְיִגְאֶה כַּשַּׁחַל תְּצוּדֵנִי" (איוב י'); כְּלָלוֹ שֶׁל פֵּרוּשׁ, כָּל לְשׁוֹן קִצּוּר נֶפֶשׁ בְּדָבָר לָשׁוֹן שֶׁאֵין יָכוֹל לְסָבְלוֹ הוּא — שֶׁאֵין הַדַּעַת סוֹבַלְתּוֹ:

Traveling was insufferable to the people (lit. “the people’s souls did not have the capacity for traveling”). Because of the rigors of travel, which were overly difficult for them. They said, “We were just close to entering the land, and we are turning back. This was how our fathers turned back, and they remained for thirty-eight years, until this day.” Therefore, the distress of traveling was insufferable. “Encrot lor” [“repulsive to them”, in old French]. But it would be improper to translate “the people experienced insufferability בַּדֶּרֶךְ, while traveling,” without specification of the cause of the insufferability; since, wherever one finds insufferability in Scripture, the cause is specified. For example, “they were insufferable to me.” And, for example, “Israel’s distress was insufferable to him.” Anything overly difficult for a person is depicted as קִצּוּר נֶפֶשׁ (lit. the incapacity of the soul), like a person beset by travail, who lacks the breadth of mind to accept that, and who does not have a place in his heart where the distress might reside. Now, the thing causing distress is depicted as looming large, since it is seems large and weighs heavily on the person. For example, “their souls loomed over me” —seemed large to me. [And, for example,] “Trapping me like a lion looms large.” The synopsis of the interpretation: Every statement expressing the soul’s incapacity for a thing means that it cannot tolerate it, for the mind cannot tolerate it.

באלהים ובמשה. הִשְׁווּ עֶבֶד לְקוֹנוֹ (תנחומא):

Against God and Moshe. They equated the servant with his master.

למה העליתנו. שְׁנֵיהֶם שָׁוִים:

Why did you bring us up. Both of them, equally.

ונפשנו קצה. אַף זֶה לְשׁוֹן קִצּוּר נֶפֶשׁ וּמִאוּס:

We (our souls) are disgusted. This, too, denotes insufferability and disgust.

בלחם הקלקל. לְפִי שֶׁהַמָּן נִבְלָע בָּאֵבָרִים קְרָאוּהוּ קְלֹקֵל, אָמְרוּ, עָתִיד הַמָּן הַזֶּה שֶׁיִּתְפַּח בְּמֵעֵינוּ, כְּלוּם יֵשׁ יְלוּד אִשָּׁה שֶׁמַּכְנִיס וְאֵינוֹ מוֹצִיא? (יומא ע"ה):

With this rotten bread. Because the manna was absorbed into the limbs, they called it rotten. They said, “the manna will eventually swell in our stomachs. Can anyone born of a woman take in [food] without excreting?

את הנחשים השרפים. שֶׁשּׂוֹרְפִים אֶת הָאָדָם בְּאֶרֶס שִׁנֵּיהֶם:

The consuming (lit. burning) snakes. That consume a man with the venom in their fangs.

וינשכו את העם. יָבֹא נָחָשׁ שֶׁלָּקָה עַל הוֹצָאַת דִּבָּה וְיִפָּרַע מִמּוֹצִיאֵי דִּבָּה, יָבֹא נָחָשׁ שֶׁכָּל הַמִּינִין נִטְעָמִין לוֹ טַעַם אֶחָד וְיִפָּרַע מִכְּפוּיֵי טוֹבָה שֶׁדָּבָר אֶחָד מִשְׁתַּנֶּה לָהֶם לְכַמָּה מַטְעַמִּים (תנחומא):

And they bit the people. Let the snake, who was smitten for speaking wickedly, come and punish those who spoke wickedly. Let the snake, for whom every type [of food] tastes the same, come and punish the ingrates, for whom one thing changed to numerous tastes.

ויתפלל משה. מִכָּאן לְמִי שֶׁמְּבַקְשִׁים מִמֶּנּוּ, שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא אַכְזָרִי מִלִּמְחֹל (עי' תנחומא):

Moshe prayed. From here we derive that someone from whom forgiveness is asked should not be mercilessly unpardoning.

על נס. עַל כְּלוֹנָס, שֶׁקּוֹרִין פירק"א בְּלַעַז, וְכֵן "וְכַנֵּס עַל הַגִּבְעָה" (ישעיהו ל'), "אָרִים נִסִּי" (שם מ"ט), "שְׂאוּ נֵס" (שם י"ג); וּלְפִי שֶׁהוּא גָּבוֹהַּ לְאוֹת וְלִרְאָיָה, קוֹרְאוֹ נֵס:

Upon a banner. On a pole, called “perche” in old French. Similarly, “like a banner on the hill,” “I shall lift my banner,” “raise the banner.” Because it is held high as a signal and as verification, it is called נֵס .

כל הנשוך. אֲפִלּוּ כֶלֶב אוֹ חֲמוֹר נוֹשְׁכוֹ הָיָה נִזּוֹק וּמִתְנַוְּנֶה וְהוֹלֵךְ, אֶלָּא שֶׁנְּשִׁיכַת הַנָּחָשׁ מְמַהֶרֶת לְהָמִית, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר כָּאן וְרָאָה אֹתוֹ — רְאִיָּה בְעָלְמָא — וּבִנְשִׁיכַת הַנָּחָשׁ נֶאֱמַר "וְהִבִּיט" — וְהָיָה אִם נָשַׁךְ הַנָּחָשׁ אֶת אִישׁ וְהִבִּיט וְגוֹ' — שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה מְמַהֵר נְשׁוּךְ הַנַּחַשׁ לְהִתְרַפְּאוֹת אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן מַבִּיט בּוֹ בְּכַוָּנָה; וְאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ וְכִי נָחָשׁ מֵמִית אוֹ מְחַיֶּה? אֶלָּא, בִּזְמַן שֶׁהָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִסְתַּכְּלִין כְּלַפֵּי מַעְלָה וּמְשַׁעְבְּדִין אֶת לִבָּם לַאֲבִיהֶם שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם הָיוּ מִתְרַפְּאִים, וְאִם לָאו הָיוּ נִמּוֹקִים (ראש השנה כ"ט):

Anyone bitten. Even if a dog or donkey bit him, he would sicken and deteriorate steadily, except that the snakebite killed quickly. This is why it says here “. . . who saw it” — at a glance. But regarding the snakebite, it says “. . . he gazed,” “. . . if a snake bit a man, he gazed, etc.,” as the snakebite was not quick to heal unless he gazed at it with concentration. The Rabbis said, ”Can a snake bring death or life? Rather, when the Israelites gazed heavenward and subjugated their hearts to their Father in heaven, they would heal, but if not, they would waste away.”

נחש נחשת. לֹא נֶאֱמַר לוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹתוֹ שֶׁל נְחֹשֶׁת, אֶלָּא אָמַר מֹשֶׁה, הַקָּבָּ"ה קוֹרְאוֹ נָחָשׁ וַאֲנִי אֶעֱשֶׂנּוּ שֶׁל נְחֹשֶׁת, לָשׁוֹן נוֹפֵל עַל לָשׁוֹן (בראשית רבה ל"א):

A copper snake. He was not told to make it of copper, but Moshe said: “The Holy One, Blessed is He, called it “ נָחָשׁ “ (“snake,”) so I shall make it of “ נְחֹשֶׁת “ (“copper”). The terminology is well matched.

בעיי העברים. לֹא יָדַעְתִּי לָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמָם עִיִּים, וְעִי לְשׁוֹן חָרְבָּה הִיא — דָּבָר הַטָּאוּט בְּמַטְאֲטֵא, וְהָעַיִ"ן בּוֹ יְסוֹד לְבַדָּהּ, וְהוּא מִלְּשׁוֹן "יָעִים" (שמות כ"ז), "וְיָעָה בָרָד" (ישעיהו כ"ח):

In the wasteland passes. I do not know why they were called עִיִּים (“wasteland”). עִי denotes desolation, [like] something swept clean with a broom. Only the עַיִ''ן is the root. It has the same meaning as יָעִים (“scoops”), and as וְיָעָה בָרָד (“hail shall sweep away”).

העברים. דֶּרֶךְ מַעֲבַר הָעוֹבְרִים שָׁם אֶת הַר נְבוֹ אֶל אֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן, שֶׁהוּא מַפְסִיק בֵּין אֶרֶץ מוֹאָב לְאֶרֶץ אֱמוֹרִי:

Passes. This was the passage route for those crossing Mount Nevo into the land of Canaan. It (Mount Nevo) separated the territory of Moav from the land of the Emorites.

על פני מואב ממזרח השמש. בְּמִזְרָחָהּ שֶׁל אֶרֶץ מוֹאָב:

Facing Moav, eastward of the sun. East of the land of Moav.

מגבל האמרי. תְּחוּם סוֹף מֶצֶר שֶׁלָּהֶם, וְכֵן גְּבוּל מוֹאָב — לְשׁוֹן קָצֶה וָסוֹף:

From the Emorite border. The boundary, the edge of their border. Similarly, “the border of Moav”, meaning the edge, the end.

מעבר ארנון. הִקִּיפוּ אֶרֶץ מוֹאָב כָּל דְּרוֹמָהּ וּמִזְרָחָהּ עַד שֶׁבָּאוּ מֵעֵבֶר הַשֵּׁנִי לְאַרְנוֹן בְּתוֹךְ אֶרֶץ הָאֱמוֹרִי בִּצְפוֹנָהּ שֶׁל אֶרֶץ מוֹאָב:

Opposite Arnon. They circled the entire southern and eastern territory of Moav, until they reached the other side, at Arnon, inside Emorite territory, north of Moav.

היצא מגבל האמרי. רְצוּעָה יוֹצְאָה מִגְּבוּל הָאֱמוֹרִי וְהִיא שֶׁל אֱמוֹרִיִּים, וְנִכְנֶסֶת לִגְבוּל מוֹאָב עַד אַרְנוֹן שֶׁהוּא גְּבוּל מוֹאָב, וְשָׁם חָנוּ יִשְֹרָאֵל וְלֹא בָאוּ לִגְבוּל מוֹאָב, כי ארנון גבול מואב, וְהֵם לֹא נָתְנוּ לָהֶם רְשׁוּת לַעֲבֹר בְּאַרְצָם, וְאַעַ"פִּי שֶׁלֹּא פֵרְשָׁהּ מֹשֶׁה, פֵּרְשָׁהּ יִפְתָּח, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר יִפְתָּח (שופטים י"א) "וְגַם אֶל מֶלֶךְ מוֹאָב שָׁלַח וְלֹא אָבָה", וּמֹשֶׁה רְמָזָהּ (דברים ב'), "כַּאֲשֶׁר עָשׂוּ לִי בְּנֵי עֵשָׂו הַיֹּשְׁבִים בְּשֵׂעִיר וְהַמּוֹאָבִים הַיֹּשְׁבִים בְּעָר" — מָה אֵלּוּ לֹא נְתָנוּם לַעֲבֹר בְּתוֹךְ אַרְצָם אֶלָּא הִקִּיפוּם סָבִיב, אַף מוֹאָב כֵּן:

Extending from the Emorite border. A strip extends from the Emorite border, and it belongs to the Emorites, but penetrates the boundary of Moav until Arnon, the Moavite border. The Israelites camped there without entering the border of Moav, Arnon being the Moav border, and they did not grant them permission to pass through their land. Although Moshe did not state this clearly, Yiftach did, as was said by Yiftach, “he (Moshe) also sent [a request] to the king of Moav, but he was unwilling.” Moshe alluded to this: “Just as they did to me, the children of Eisav, who dwell in Seir, and the Moavites, who dwell in Ar,” Just as these [children of Eisav] did not permit them to pass through their land, but they circled around them, so it was with Moav.

על כן יאמר. עַל חֲנִיָּה זוֹ וְנִסִּים שֶׁנַּעֲשׂוּ בָהּ יאמר בספר מלחמת ה' — כְּשֶׁמְּסַפְּרִים נִסִּים שֶׁנַּעֲשׂוּ לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ יְסַפְּרוּ אֶת וָהֵב וגו':

Concerning this will be told. Concerning this encampment, and the miracles performed in it. Will be told in the Book of Wars of Adonoy. When they recount the miracles performed for our forefathers, they will recount that “He gave, etc.”

את והב. כְּמוֹ אֶת יָהֵב, כְּמוֹ שֶׁיֵּאָמֵר מִן יעד וָעֵד, כֵּן יֵאָמֵר מִן יהב וָהֵב, וְהַוָּי"ו יְסוֹד הוּא, כְּלוֹמַר אֶת אֲשֶׁר יָהַב לָהֶם וְהִרְבָּה נִסִּים בְּיַם סוּף:

He gave. Like אֶת יָהֵב . Just as we transpose יָעֹד into וָעֹד, we also transpose וָהֵב into יָהֵב, the וָי"ו being basic. As if to say, “that He gave them, and wrought many miracles at the Reed Sea.”

ואת הנחלים ארנון. כְּשֵׁם שֶׁמְּסַפְּרִים בְּנִסֵּי יַם סוּף, כָּךְ יֵשׁ לְסַפֵּר בְּנִסֵּי נַחֲלֵי אַרְנוֹן, שֶׁאַף כָּאן נַעֲשׂוּ נִסִּים גְּדוֹלִים, וּמָה הֵם הַנִּסִּים?

And the valleys of Arnon. Just as we recount the miracles of the Reed Sea, so should we recount the miracles of the valleys of Arnon, since here, too, great miracles were wrought. What are the miracles?

ואשד הנחלים. תַּרְגּוּם שֶׁל שֶׁפֶךְ "אֶשֶׁד" — שֶׁפֶךְ הַנְּחָלִים שֶׁנִּשְׁפַּךְ שָׁם דַּם אֱמוֹרִיִּים, שֶׁהָיוּ נֶחְבָּאִים שָׁם, לְפִי שֶׁהָיוּ הֶהָרִים גְּבוֹהִים וְהַנַּחַל עָמֹק וְקָצָר וְהֶהָרִים סְמוּכִים זֶה לָזֶה — אָדָם עוֹמֵד עַל הָהָר מִזֶּה וּמְדַבֵּר עִם חֲבֵרוֹ בָּהָר הַזֶּה — וְהַדֶּרֶךְ עוֹבֵר בְּתוֹךְ הַנַּחַל, אָמְרוּ אֱמוֹרִיִּים, כְּשֶׁיִּכָּנְסוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לָאָרֶץ לְתוֹךְ הַנַּחַל לַעֲבֹר, נֵצֵא מִן הַמְּעָרוֹת שֶׁבֶּהָרִים שֶׁלְּמַעְלָה מֵהֶם, וְנַהַרְגֵם בְּחִצִּים וְאַבְנֵי בָּלִיסְטְרָאוֹת, וְהָיוּ אוֹתָן הַנְּקָעִים בָּהָר שֶׁל צַד מוֹאָב, וּבָהָר שֶׁל צַד אֱמוֹרִיִּים הָיוּ כְּנֶגֶד אוֹתָן נְקָעִים כְּמִין קְרָנוֹת וְשָׁדַיִם בּוֹלְטִין לַחוּץ, כֵּיוָן שֶׁבָּאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לַעֲבֹר, נִזְדַּעְזַע הָהָר שֶׁל אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּשִׁפְחָה הַיּוֹצֵאת לְהַקְבִּיל פְּנֵי גְבִרְתָּהּ, וְנִתְקָרֵב לְצַד הָהָר שֶׁל מוֹאָב וְנִכְנְסוּ אוֹתָן הַשָּׁדַיִם לְתוֹךְ אוֹתָן נְקָעִים וַהֲרָגוּם, וְזֶהוּ אֲשֶׁר נָטָה לְשֶׁבֶת עָר — שֶׁהָהָר נָטָה מִמְּקוֹמוֹ וְנִתְקָרֵב לְצַד מוֹאָב וְנִדְבַּק בּוֹ, וְזֶהוּ וְנִשְׁעַן לִגְבוּל מוֹאָב (תנחומא; ברכות נ"ד):

The spillage in the valleys. The Targum of שֶׁפֶךְ (“spillage,”) is אֶשֶׁד . The spillage in the valleys [was as follows]— the blood of the Emorites spilled there, as they were hidden there. Because there were high cliffs, with a deep, narrow valley. The cliffs were near each other— a man could stand on one of them, and converse with a friend on the other— and the road went through the valley. The Emorites said, “When the Israelites enter the valley to pass through, let us go out of the caves in the cliffs above them, and kill them with arrows and stone projectiles.” Now those cavities were in the mountain on the Moavite side, and in the mountain on the side of the Emorites, opposite the cavities, were horn-like projections, resembling breasts. When the Israelites came to pass through, the Eretz Yisroel mountain was set in tremor like a maidservant going forth to receive her mistress, and moved next to the mountain on the Moavite side. The breasts entered the cavities and killed them. this is [the meaning of] “when it turned to dwell at Ar,” as the mountain leaned away from its place, and moved next to the side of the Moavite border, and attached itself to it. And this is [the meaning of] “and then leaned on the border of Moav.”

ומשם בארה. מִשָּׁם בָּא הָאֶשֶׁד אֶל הַבְּאֵר; כֵּיצַד? אָמַר הַקָּבָּ"ה מִי מוֹדִיעַ לְבָנַי הַנִּסִּים הַלָּלוּ? הַמָּשָׁל אוֹמֵר "נָתַתָּ פַּת לְתִינוֹק הוֹדִיעַ לְאִמּוֹ". לְאַחַר שֶׁעָבְרוּ חָזְרוּ הֶהָרִים לִמְקוֹמָם, וְהַבְּאֵר יָרְדָה לְתוֹךְ הַנַּחַל וְהֶעֶלְתָה מִשָּׁם דַּם הַהֲרוּגִים וּזְרוֹעוֹת וְאֵבָרִים וּמוֹלַכְתָּן סָבִיב הַמַּחֲנֶה, וְיִשְׂרָאֵל רָאוּ וְאָמְרוּ שִׁירָה:

From there, to the well. From there, the spillage came to the well. How was this? The Holy One, Blessed is He, said, “Who will inform My children of these miracles?” The parable says, ‘if you gave the baby bread, tell his mother.’ After they passed, the mountains returned to their places, and the well descended to the valley, and brought up, from there, the blood of those who were killed, and their arms and limbs, and carried them around the camp. The Israelites saw, and sang.

עלי באר. מִתּוֹךְ הַנַּחַל וְהַעֲלִי מַה שֶּׁאַתְּ מַעֲלָה; וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁהַבְּאֵר הוֹדִיעָה לָהֶם? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וּמִשָּׁם בְּאֵרָה", וְכִי מִשָּׁם הָיְתָה, וַהֲלֹא מִתְּחִלַּת אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה הָיְתָה עִמָּהֶם? אֶלָּא שֶׁיָּרְדָה לְפַרְסֵם אֶת הַנִּסִּים (תנחומא); וְכֵן אָז יָשִׁיר … הַשִּׁירָה הַזֹּאת נֶאֶמְרָה בְּסוֹף אַרְבָּעִים וְהַבְּאֵר נִתְּנָה לָהֶם מִתְּחִלַּת אַרְבָּעִים, מָה רָאָה לִכָּתֵב כָּאן? אֶלָּא הָעִנְיָן הַזֶּה נִדְרָשׁ לְמַעְלָה הֵימָנוּ:

Arise, O well. From within the valley, and lift what you are to bring up. How do we know that the well informed them? As it is said, “from there to the well.” Was it from there? Was it not with them at the beginning of the forty years? But, it descended to make the miracles known. Similarly, “then, Yisroel sang this song” was said at the end of forty years, but the well was given to them at the beginning of the forty years. Why was it seen fit to have been written here? Only because this subject is expounded in relation to the above text.

באר חפרוה. זֹאת הִיא הַבְּאֵר אֲשֶׁר חֲפָרוּהָ שָׂרִים — מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן:

The well dug [by princes]. This is the well dug by the princes, Moshe and Aharon.

במשענתם. בַּמַּטֶּה:

With their staffs. With the rod.

וממדבר. נִתְּנָה לָהֶם:

From the wilderness. It was given to them.

במחקק. עַל פִּי מֹשֶׁה שֶׁנִּקְרָא מְחוֹקֵק, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "כִּי שָׁם חֶלְקַת מְחֹקֵק סָפוּן" (דברים ל"ג); וְלָמָּה לֹא נִזְכַּר מֹשֶׁה בְּשִׁירָה זוֹ? לְפִי שֶׁלָּקָה עַל יְדֵי הַבְּאֵר, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁלֹּא נִזְכַּר שְׁמוֹ שֶׁל מֹשֶׁה לֹא נִזְכַּר שְׁמוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּבָּ"ה, מָשָׁל לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁהָיוּ מְזַמְּנִין אוֹתוֹ לִסְעוּדָה, אָמַר אִם אוֹהֲבִי שָׁם אֲנִי שָׁם, וְאִם לָאו אֵינִי הוֹלֵךְ (תנחומא):

Through the lawgiver. Through Moshe, who was called the lawgiver, as it is said, “for there, the portion of the lawgiver is reserved.” Why is Moshe not mentioned in this song? Because he was afflicted through the well. And since Moshe’s name is not mentioned, the Name of the God, is not mentioned. This is compared to a king who was invited to a banquet. he said, ‘If my intimate friend is there, I will be there, but if not, I will not go.’

וממתנה נחליאל. כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ:

After it was given, it became a legacy. As rendered by Targum [Onkelos].

ומבמות הגיא אשר בשדה מואב. כִּי שָׁם מֵת מֹשֶׁה וְשָׁם בָּטְלָה הַבְּאֵר; דָּ"אַ, כָּרוּהָ נְדִיבֵי הָעָם — כָּל נָשִׂיא וְנָשִׂיא כְּשֶׁהָיוּ חוֹנִים נוֹטֵל מַקְלוֹ וּמוֹשֵׁךְ אֵצֶל דִּגְלוֹ וּמַחֲנֵהוּ, וּמֵי הַבְּאֵר נִמְשָׁכִין דֶּרֶךְ אוֹתוֹ סִימָן וּבָאִין לִפְנֵי חֲנִיַּת כָּל שֵׁבֶט וָשֵׁבֶט (תנחומא):

From the heights to the valley in the field of Moav. As there Moshe died, and there the well was discontinued. Another interpretation of “The nobles of the nation excavated”: Each tribal leader, when they encamped, took his staff and drew it to his banner and camp. The well water followed the path made by that mark, and reached each the camp of each tribe.

ראש הפסגה. כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ "רֵישׁ רָמָתָא":

At the top of the peak. As Targum [Onkelos] translates, “the top of the height.”

פסגה. לְשׁוֹן גֹּבַהּ, וְכֵן "פַּסְּגוּ אַרְמְנוֹתֶיהָ" (תהילים מ"ח) — הַגְבִּיהוּ אַרְמְנוֹתֶיהָ:

The peak. This denotes a high point. Similarly, פַּסְּגוּ אַרְמְנוֹתֶיהָ —”raise its castles.”

ונשקפה. אוֹתָהּ הַפִּסְגָּה עַל פְּנֵי הַמָּקוֹם שֶׁשְּׁמוֹ יְשִׁימוֹן, וְהוּא לְשׁוֹן מִדְבָּר שֶׁהוּא שָׁמֵם; דָּבָר אַחֵר וְנִשְׁקָפָה הַבְּאֵר עַל פְּנֵי הַיְשִׁימוֹן, שֶׁנִּגְנְזָה בְּיַמָּהּ שֶׁל טְבֶרְיָא, וְהָעוֹמֵד עַל הַיְשִׁימוֹן מַבִּיט וְרוֹאֶה כְּמִין כְּבָרָה בַּיָּם, וְהִיא הַבְּאֵר, כָּךְ דָּרַשׁ רַבִּי תַנְחוּמָא:

That overlooks. That peak, facing the place called Yeshimon. The word [Yeshimon] denotes a wilderness, a desolate place. Another interpretation: The well may be seen on the face of the desolate place. It (the well) was hidden in the sea of Teveriah, and someone standing on the desolate place may look intently and observe a type of sieve in the sea— this is the well. This was expounded by R’ Tanchuma.

וישלח ישראל מלאכים. וּבְמָקוֹם אַחֵר תּוֹלֶה הַשְּׁלִיחוּת בְּמֹשֶׁה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וָאֶשְׁלַח מַלְאָכִים מִמִּדְבַּר קְדֵמוֹת" (דברים ב'), וְכֵן "וַיִּשְׁלַח מֹשֶׁה מַלְאָכִים מִקָּדֵשׁ אֶל מֶלֶךְ אֱדוֹם" (במדבר כ'), וּבְיִפְתָּח הוּא אוֹמֵר (שופטים י"א) "וַיִּשְׁלַח יִשְׂרָאֵל מַלְאָכִים אֶל מֶלֶךְ אֱדוֹם" וְגוֹ', הַכְּתוּבִים הַלָּלוּ צְרִיכִין זֶה לָזֶה, זֶה נוֹעֵל וְזֶה פוֹתֵחַ, שֶׁמֹּשֶׁה הוּא יִשְׂרָאֵל וְיִשְׂרָאֵל הֵם מֹשֶׁה, לוֹמַר לְךָ שֶׁנְּשִׂיא הַדּוֹר הוּא כְּכָל הַדּוֹר, כִּי הַנָּשִׂיא הוּא הַכֹּל (תנחומא):

Yisroel sent emissaries. But elsewhere, the communication is attributed to Moshe, as it is said, “I sent emissaries from the eastern wilderness.” Similarly, “Moshe sent emissaries from Kadesh to the king of Edom”, but about Yiftach it says, “Israel sent emissaries to the king of Edom, etc.” These passages are mutually instructive, one closes, while the other opens. Moshe is Yisroel, Yisroel is Moshe, to teach you that the leader of the generation is like the entire generation. The leader is everything.

אעברה בארצך. אַעַ"פִּ שֶׁלֹּא נִצְטַוּוּ לִפְתֹּחַ לָהֶם בְּשָׁלוֹם בִּקְּשׁוּ מֵהֶם שָׁלוֹם (שם):

Let me pass through your land. Although they were not commanded to offer a peace overture, they made a peaceful proposal.

ולא נתן סיחן וגו'. לְפִי שֶׁכָּל מַלְכֵי כְנַעַן הָיוּ מַעֲלִין לוֹ מַס, שֶׁהָיָה שׁוֹמְרָם שֶׁלֹּא יַעַבְרוּ עֲלֵיהֶם גְּיָסוֹת, כֵּיוָן שֶׁאָמְרוּ לוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶעְבְּרָה בְאַרְצֶךָ, אָ"לָ, כָּל עַצְמִי אֵינִי יוֹשֵׁב כָּאן אֶלָּא לְשָׁמְרָם מִפְּנֵיכֶם, וְאַתֶּם אוֹמְרִים כָּךְ (תנחומא):

Sichon did not allow, etc. Since all the Canaanite kings delivered tribute to him, for he protected them from armies passing through against them. When Yisroel said to him, “Let me pass through your land,” he said, “My very presence here is to protect them from you, and you say this”?

ויצא לקראת ישראל. אִלּוּ הָיְתָה חֶשְׁבּוֹן מְלֵאָה יַתּוּשִׁין אֵין כָּל בְּרִיָּה יְכוֹלָה לְכָבְשָׁהּ, וְאִם הָיָה סִיחוֹן בִּכְפָר חַלָּשׁ אֵין כָּל אָדָם יָכוֹל לְכָבְשׁוֹ, וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן שֶׁהָיָה בְּחֶשְׁבּוֹן; אָמַר הַקָּבָּ"ה מָה אֲנִי מַטְרִיחַ עַל בָּנַי כָּל זֹאת לָצוּר עַל כָּל עִיר וָעִיר? נָתַן בְּלֵב כָּל אַנְשֵׁי הַמִּלְחָמָה לָצֵאת מִן הָעֲיָרוֹת, וְנִתְקַבְּצוּ כֻלָּם לְמָקוֹם אֶחָד וְשָׁם נָפְלוּ, וּמִשָּׁם הָלְכוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל הֶעָרִים וְאֵין עוֹמֵד לְנֶגְדָּם, כִּי אֵין שָׁם אֶלָּא נָשִׁים וָטָף (שם):

And [he] went out against Israel. If Cheshbon had been filled with gnats, no creature could have conquered it. And if Sichon had been in a feeble village, no man could have conquered him, And certainly, since he was in Cheshbon. The Holy One, Blessed is He, said, ”Why should I incovenience My children with all this besieging of every single city”? He prompted all the warriors into deciding to leave the cities, and they all gathered in one place, where they were slain. From there, the Israelites went to the cities without opposition, since no one was there, except the women and children.

כי עז. וּמַהוּ חָזְקוֹ? הַתְרָאָתוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּבָּ"ה שֶׁאָמַר לָהֶם אַל תְּצֻרֵם וְגוֹ' (דברים ב'):

Because [the border] was impregnable. What was its strength? The admonishment by The Holy one, Blessed is He, who said to them, “do not oppress them, etc.”

בנתיה. כְּפָרִים הַסְּמוּכִים לָהּ:

Its daughters. The villages nearby.

והוא נלחם. לָמָּה הֻצְרַךְ לִכָּתֵב? לְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שם) "אַל תָּצַר אֶת מוֹאָב", וְחֶשְׁבּוֹן מִשֶּׁל מוֹאָב הָיְתָה, כָּתַב לָנוּ שֶׁסִּיחוֹן לְקָחָהּ מֵהֶם וְעַל יָדוֹ טָהֲרָה לְיִשְֹרָאֵל (חולין ס'; גיטין ל"ח):

He had waged war. Why was it necessary for this to have been written? Because it is said, “do not oppress Moav,” and Cheshbon belonged to Moav. Scripture [therefore] writes, for us, that Sichon confiscated it from them, and it was purified for Israel through him.

מידו. מֵרְשׁוּתוֹ (בבא מציעא נ"ו):

From his hand. From his possesion.

על כן. עַל אוֹתָהּ מִלְחָמָה שֶׁנִּלְחַם סִיחוֹן בְּמוֹאָב:

Concerning this. Concerning this war fought by Sichon against Moav.

יאמרו המשלים. בִּלְעָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בּוֹ "וַיִּשָּׂא מְשָׁלוֹ" (במדבר כ"ג):

The parable tellers say. Bil’am, of whom it is said, “he set forth his parable.”

המשלים. בִּלְעָם וּבְעוֹר, וְהֵם אָמְרוּ:

The parable tellers. Bil’am and Beor. They said:

באו חשבון. שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה סִיחוֹן יָכוֹל לְכָבְשָׁהּ וְהָלַךְ וְשָׂכַר אֶת בִּלְעָם לְקַלְּלוֹ (תנחומא); וְזֶהוּ שֶׁאָמַר לוֹ בָּלָק "כִּי יָדַעְתִּי אֵת אֲשֶׁר תְּבָרֵךְ מְבֹרָךְ" וְגוֹ' (במדבר כ"ב):

Come to Cheshbon. Since Sichon was unable to conquer it, he hired Bil’am to curse it. This is why Balak said to him, “for I know that what you bless is blessed, etc.”

תבנה ותכונן. חֶשְׁבּוֹן בְּשֵׁם סִיחוֹן לִהְיוֹת עִירוֹ:

May it be built and established. Cheshbon, under Sichon’s name, to be his city.

כי אש יצאה מחשבון. מִשֶּׁכְּבָשָׁהּ סִיחוֹן:

For, a fire went forth from Cheshbon. After Sichon conquered it.

אכלה ער מואב. שֵׁם אוֹתָהּ הַמְּדִינָה קָרוּי עָר בְּלָשׁוֹן עִבְרִי וּלְחָיַת בְּלָשׁוֹן אֲרַמִּי:

It consumed Ar, of Moav. The name of that country is called “Ar” in the Hebrew language, and “Lechayas” in the Aramaic language.

ער מואב. עָר שֶׁל מוֹאָב:

Ar, of Moav. Ar, belonging to Moav.

אוי לך מואב. שֶׁקִּלְּלוּ אֶת מוֹאָב שֶׁיִּמָּסְרוּ בְיָדוֹ (תנחומא):

Woe to you, O Moav. They cursed Moav that he be delivered into his hands.

כמוש. שֵׁם אֱלֹהֵי מוֹאָב:

Kemosh. The name of the Moavite deity.

נתן. הַנּוֹתֵן אֶת בָּנָיו שֶׁל מוֹאָב:

He rendered. Whoever rendered, “his sons”—Moav’s.

פליטם — נָסִים וּפְלֵטִים מֵחֶרֶב וְאֶת בְּנוֹתָיו בַּשְּׁבִית וְגוֹ':

Refugees. Who fled and escaped the sword, and his daughters into captivity, etc.

ונירם אבד. מַלְכוּת שֶׁלָּהֶם:

Their kingdom was uprooted. [וַנִּירָם is translated as] their kingdom.

אבד חשבון עד דיבן — מַלְכוּת וְעֹל שֶׁהָיָה לְמוֹאָב בְּחֶשְׁבּוֹן אָבַד מִשָּׁם, וְכֵן עַד דִּיבֹן; תַּרְגּוּם שֶׁל סָר "עַד", כְּלוֹמַר סָר נִיר מִדִּיבֹן; נִיר לְשׁוֹן מַלְכוּת וְעֹל מֶמְשֶׁלֶת אִישׁ, כְּמוֹ "לְמַעַן הֱיוֹת נִיר לְדָוִד עַבְדִּי" (מ"א י"א):

Was uprooted from Cheshbon, as far as Divon. The kingdom and authority Moav had in Cheshbon, was uprooted from there. Similarly, ”as far as Divon.” The Targum of סָר, “was removed,” is עַד . As if to say, the kingdom was removed from Divon. נִיר denotes monarchy, authority, a man’s power, Similarly, “so that the monarchy shall remain with My servant David.”

ונשים. שִׁי"ן דְּגוּשָׁה, לְשׁוֹן שְׁמָמָה, כָּךְ יֹאמְרוּ הַמֹּשְׁלִים, "וַנַּשִּׁים אוֹתָם עַד נֹפַח" — הֲשִׁמּוֹנוּם עַד נֹפַח:

We made them desolate. The שִׁ"ין is punctuated, denoting desolation. This is what the parable tellers said: וַנַּשִּׁים אוֹתָם עַד נֹפַח, “We made them desolate until Nofach.”

וישלח משה לרגל את יעזר. הַמְרַגְּלִים לְכָדוּהָ, אָמְרוּ לֹא נַעֲשֶׂה כָּרִאשׁוֹנִים, בְּטוּחִים אָנוּ בְּכֹחַ תְּפִלָּתוֹ שֶׁל מֹשֶׁה לְהִלָּחֵם (תנחומא):

Moshe sent [men] to spy on Ya’zer. The spies captured it. They said, we will not act like the first ones; We have [enough] faith, in the power of Moshe’s prayer, to do battle.

אל תירא אתו. שֶׁהָיָה מֹשֶׁה יָרֵא לְהִלָּחֵם, שֶׁמָּא תַּעֲמֹד לוֹ זְכוּתוֹ שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וַיָּבֹא הַפָּלִיט" (בראשית י"ד) — הוּא עוֹג שֶׁפָּלַט מִן הָרְפָאִים שֶׁהִכּוּ כְּדָרְלָעֹמֶר וַחֲבֵרָיו בְּעַשְׁתְּרוֹת קַרְנַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים ג') "רַק עוֹג מֶלֶךְ הַבָּשָׁן נִשְׁאַר מִיֶּתֶר הָרְפָאִים" (נדה ס"א):

Do not be afraid of him. Moshe was afraid to do battle, for perhaps, the merit of Avrohom, would stand for him [Og] as it is said, “the one who had escaped came.” This was Og, who escaped, of the Rephaim whom Kedorlaomer and his cohorts smote in Ashteros Karnayim, as it is said, “for only Og, king of Bashan, was left of the remaining Rephaim.”

ויכו אתו. מֹשֶׁה הֲרָגוֹ, כִּדְאִיתָא בִבְרָכוֹת בְּהָרוֹאֶה (ברכות דף נ"ד), עֲקַר טוּרָא בַּר תְּלָתָא פַרְסֵי וְכוּ':

They killed him. Moshe killed him, as stated in Berachos, in [the chapter of] Haroeh. He uprooted a mountain three parsaos long, etc.