Chukat, Aliyah 5 חקת, חמישי

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.