Bamidbar
Korach, Aliyah 3 קרח, שלישי
Part of: KorachKorach, Aliyah 3Chapter 16Chapter 17Petuchah, Numbers 17:6Setumah, Numbers 16:20Setumah, Numbers 16:23Setumah, Numbers 17:1
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Bamidbar 16
וַיְדַבֵּר יְהֹוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה וְאֶֽל־אַהֲרֹן לֵאמֹֽר׃
Adonoy spoke to Moshe and to Aharon, saying:
Adonoy spoke to Moshe and to Aharon, saying:
הִבָּדְלוּ מִתּוֹךְ הָעֵדָה הַזֹּאת וַאֲכַלֶּה אֹתָם כְּרָֽגַע׃
“Separate yourselves from among this congregation, and I will annihalate them in an instant.”
“Separate yourselves from among this congregation, and I will annihalate them in an instant.”
וַיִּפְּלוּ עַל־פְּנֵיהֶם וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵל אֱלֹהֵי הָרוּחֹת לְכׇל־בָּשָׂר הָאִישׁ אֶחָד יֶחֱטָא וְעַל כׇּל־הָעֵדָה תִּקְצֹֽף׃ {ס}
They fell upon their faces, and they said: “Almighty, the God of the spirits of all flesh; if one man sins shall You be angry with the entire congregation?”
They fell upon their faces, and they said: “Almighty, the God of the spirits of all flesh; if one man sins shall You be angry with the entire congregation?”
Rashi
האיש אחד. הוּא הַחוֹטֵא וְאַתָּה עַל כָּל הָעֵדָה תִּקְצֹף; אָמַר הַקָּבָּ"ה, יָפֶה אֲמַרְתֶּם, אֲנִי יוֹדֵעַ וּמוֹדִיעַ מִי חָטָא וּמִי לֹא חָטָא (שם):
If one man. Has sinned, will You be angry with the entire congregation? The Holy One, Blessed is He, said: “You have spoken well. I know, and will make known, who sinned and who did not sin.”
וַיְדַבֵּר יְהֹוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹֽר׃
Adonoy spoke to Moshe, saying:
Adonoy spoke to Moshe, saying:
דַּבֵּר אֶל־הָעֵדָה לֵאמֹר הֵֽעָלוּ מִסָּבִיב לְמִשְׁכַּן־קֹרַח דָּתָן וַאֲבִירָֽם׃
Speak to the congregation, saying: “Depart from the vicinity of the dwelling of Korach, Dasan and Avirom.”
Speak to the congregation, saying: “Depart from the vicinity of the dwelling of Korach, Dasan and Avirom.”
Rashi
העלו. כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ, הִסְתַּלְּקוּ מִסְּבִיבוֹת מִשְׁכַּן קֹרַח:
Depart (lit. go up). As Targum [Onkelos] renders, (אִסְתַּלָּקוּ), ”depart,” from around Korach’s dwelling.
וַיָּקׇם מֹשֶׁה וַיֵּלֶךְ אֶל־דָּתָן וַאֲבִירָם וַיֵּלְכוּ אַחֲרָיו זִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
Moshe rose up and went to Dasan and Avirom and the elders of Israel went along after him.
Moshe rose up and went to Dasan and Avirom and the elders of Israel went along after him.
Rashi
ויקם משה. כְּסָבוּר שֶׁיִּשְּׂאוּ לוֹ פָנִים וְלֹא עָשׂוּ:
Moshe rose up. He thought they would treat him with regard, but they did not.
וַיְדַבֵּר אֶל־הָעֵדָה לֵאמֹר סוּרוּ נָא מֵעַל אׇהֳלֵי הָאֲנָשִׁים הָֽרְשָׁעִים הָאֵלֶּה וְאַֽל־תִּגְּעוּ בְּכׇל־אֲשֶׁר לָהֶם פֶּן־תִּסָּפוּ בְּכׇל־חַטֹּאתָֽם׃
He spoke to the congregation, saying: “Please get away from the tents of these evil men, and do not touch anything belonging to them, lest you be swept away in all their transgressions.”
He spoke to the congregation, saying: “Please get away from the tents of these evil men, and do not touch anything belonging to them, lest you be swept away in all their transgressions.”
וַיֵּעָלוּ מֵעַל מִשְׁכַּן־קֹרַח דָּתָן וַאֲבִירָם מִסָּבִיב וְדָתָן וַאֲבִירָם יָצְאוּ נִצָּבִים פֶּתַח אׇֽהֳלֵיהֶם וּנְשֵׁיהֶם וּבְנֵיהֶם וְטַפָּֽם׃
They withdraw from the dwelling of Korach, Dasan and Avirom, and all around; and Dasan and Avirom went out, and stood at the door of their tents with their wives, children and infants.
They withdraw from the dwelling of Korach, Dasan and Avirom, and all around; and Dasan and Avirom went out, and stood at the door of their tents with their wives, children and infants.
Rashi
יצאו נצבים. בְּקוֹמָה זְקוּפָה — לְחָרֵף וּלְגַדֵּף, כְּמוֹ (שמואל א י"ז) "וַיִּתְיַצֵּב אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם" דְּגָלְיָת (תנחומא):
Went out and stood. With a haughty bearing, to revile and blaspheme, as “he stood disdainfully for forty days” [at the incident] of Golias.
ונשיהם ובניהם וטפם. בֹּא וּרְאֵה כַּמָּה קָשָׁה הַמַּחֲלֹקֶת, שֶׁהֲרֵי בֵית דִּין שֶׁל מַטָּה אֵין עוֹנְשִׁין אֶלָּא עַד שֶׁיָּבִיא שְׁתֵּי שְׂעָרוֹת, וּבֵית דִּין שֶׁל מַעְלָה עַד עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה, וְכָאן אָבְדוּ אַף יוֹנְקֵי שָׁדַיִם (שם):
With their wives, children and infants. Come, see how inexorably destructive disputes are, for earthly tribunals do not mete out punishment until two pubic hairs have appeared, and the heavenly tribunal until twenty years, but here, even nursing infants perished.
וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה בְּזֹאת תֵּֽדְעוּן כִּֽי־יְהֹוָה שְׁלָחַנִי לַעֲשׂוֹת אֵת כׇּל־הַֽמַּעֲשִׂים הָאֵלֶּה כִּי־לֹא מִלִּבִּֽי׃
Moshe said: “This is how you will know that Adonoy has sent me to perform all of these deeds, for, I did not devise them myself.
Moshe said: “This is how you will know that Adonoy has sent me to perform all of these deeds, for, I did not devise them myself.
Rashi
לעשות את כל המעשים האלה. שֶׁעָשִׂיתִי עַל פִּי הַדִּבּוּר, לָתֵת לְאַהֲרֹן כְּהֻנָּה גְדוֹלָה וּבָנָיו סְגָנֵי כְהֻנָּה, וֶאֱלִיצָפָן נְשִׂיא הַקְּהָתִי:
To perform all these deeds. Which I have done by the word of God; conferring the kehunah Gedolah on Aharon, [appointing] his sons as assistants, and Elitzafan as leader of the Kehosites.
אִם־כְּמוֹת כׇּל־הָֽאָדָם יְמֻתוּן אֵלֶּה וּפְקֻדַּת כׇּל־הָאָדָם יִפָּקֵד עֲלֵיהֶם לֹא יְהֹוָה שְׁלָחָֽנִי׃
If as all men die will these men meet their deaths, and the reckoning (fate) of all men will be reckoned upon them, then Adonoy has not sent me.
If as all men die will these men meet their deaths, and the reckoning (fate) of all men will be reckoned upon them, then Adonoy has not sent me.
Rashi
לא ה' שלחני. אֶלָּא אֲנִי עָשִׂיתִי הַכֹּל מִדַּעְתִּי, וּבְדִין הוּא חוֹלֵק עָלַי:
Adonoy has not sent me. Rather, I did everything independently, and he (Korach) is justified in opposing me.
וְאִם־בְּרִיאָה יִבְרָא יְהֹוָה וּפָצְתָה הָאֲדָמָה אֶת־פִּיהָ וּבָלְעָה אֹתָם וְאֶת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁר לָהֶם וְיָרְדוּ חַיִּים שְׁאֹלָה וִֽידַעְתֶּם כִּי נִֽאֲצוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים הָאֵלֶּה אֶת־יְהֹוָֽה׃
If Adonoy will create a [new] creation and the ground will open its mouth and swallow them along with all of their belongings, and they will go down alive to the grave, then you will know that these men have angered Adonoy.”
If Adonoy will create a [new] creation and the ground will open its mouth and swallow them along with all of their belongings, and they will go down alive to the grave, then you will know that these men have angered Adonoy.”
Rashi
ואם בריאה. חֲדָשָׁה:
But if Adonoy will create a new creation.
יברא ה'. לְהָמִית אוֹתָם בְּמִיתָה שֶׁלֹּא מֵת בָּהּ אָדָם עַד הֵנָּה, וּמַה הִיא הַבְּרִיאָה?
To kill them with a death no one has ever experienced until now. What is this creation? “The earth will open its mouth and swallow them.” Then, you will know that they angered God, and I spoke according to the word of the Almighty. The Rabbis interpret, ‘if the mouth of the earth was created during the six days of creation, fine, but if not, let God it create [now]!’
ופצתה האדמה את פיה וְתִבְלָעֵם, אָז וידעתם כי נאצו הֵם אֶת הַקָּבָּ"ה, וַאֲנִי מִפִּי הַגְּבוּרָה אָמַרְתִּי; וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ פֵרְשׁוּ: וְאִם בְּרִיאָה פֶה לָאָרֶץ מִשֵּׁשֶׁת יְמֵי בְרֵאשִׁית מוּטָב, וְאִם לָאו יִבְרָא ה' (סנהדרין ק"י):
וַֽיְהִי כְּכַלֹּתוֹ לְדַבֵּר אֵת כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה וַתִּבָּקַע הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר תַּחְתֵּיהֶֽם׃
As he was finishing speaking all these words the ground beneath them split.
As he was finishing speaking all these words the ground beneath them split.
וַתִּפְתַּח הָאָרֶץ אֶת־פִּיהָ וַתִּבְלַע אֹתָם וְאֶת־בָּתֵּיהֶם וְאֵת כׇּל־הָאָדָם אֲשֶׁר לְקֹרַח וְאֵת כׇּל־הָרְכֽוּשׁ׃
The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their houses and all the people belonging to Korach and all of the possessions.
The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their houses and all the people belonging to Korach and all of the possessions.
וַיֵּרְדוּ הֵם וְכׇל־אֲשֶׁר לָהֶם חַיִּים שְׁאֹלָה וַתְּכַס עֲלֵיהֶם הָאָרֶץ וַיֹּאבְדוּ מִתּוֹךְ הַקָּהָֽל׃
They, and all belonging to them, went down alive to the grave, and the earth covered them and they perished from among the assembly.
They, and all belonging to them, went down alive to the grave, and the earth covered them and they perished from among the assembly.
וְכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר סְבִיבֹתֵיהֶם נָסוּ לְקֹלָם כִּי אָֽמְרוּ פֶּן־תִּבְלָעֵנוּ הָאָֽרֶץ׃
All of Yisroel who were around them fled from their uproar, for they said, perhaps the earth will swallow us.
All of Yisroel who were around them fled from their uproar, for they said, perhaps the earth will swallow us.
Rashi
נסו לקלם. בִּשְׁבִיל הַקּוֹל הַיּוֹצֵא עַל בְּלִיעָתָן:
Fled from their uproar. Because of the sound of the earth swallowing them up.
וְאֵשׁ יָצְאָה מֵאֵת יְהֹוָה וַתֹּאכַל אֵת הַחֲמִשִּׁים וּמָאתַיִם אִישׁ מַקְרִיבֵי הַקְּטֹֽרֶת׃ {ס}
A fire came forth from Adonoy and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were bringing the incense.
A fire came forth from Adonoy and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were bringing the incense.
Bamidbar 17
וַיְדַבֵּר יְהֹוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹֽר׃
Adonoy spoke to Moshe, saying;
Adonoy spoke to Moshe, saying;
אֱמֹר אֶל־אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן־אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֵן וְיָרֵם אֶת־הַמַּחְתֹּת מִבֵּין הַשְּׂרֵפָה וְאֶת־הָאֵשׁ זְרֵה־הָלְאָה כִּי קָדֵֽשׁוּ׃
“Say to Elazar the son of Aharon, the kohein and have him lift up the firepans from the inferno, and you, scatter the fire yonder, for, they were sanctified;
“Say to Elazar the son of Aharon, the kohein and have him lift up the firepans from the inferno, and you, scatter the fire yonder, for, they were sanctified;
Rashi
ואת האש. שֶׁבְּתוֹךְ הַמַּחְתּוֹת:
And the fire. In the firepans.
זרה הלאה. לָאָרֶץ מֵעַל הַמַּחְתּוֹת:
Scatter yonder. To the ground, from the firepans.
כי קדשו. הַמַּחְתּוֹת וַאֲסוּרִין בַּהֲנָאָה, שֶׁהֲרֵי עֲשָׂאוּם כְּלֵי שָׁרֵת:
For, they were sanctified. The firepans, and may not be used for personal benefit, since they designated them as sacred service utensils.
אֵת מַחְתּוֹת הַֽחַטָּאִים הָאֵלֶּה בְּנַפְשֹׁתָם וְעָשׂוּ אֹתָם רִקֻּעֵי פַחִים צִפּוּי לַמִּזְבֵּחַ כִּֽי־הִקְרִיבֻם לִפְנֵֽי־יְהֹוָה וַיִּקְדָּשׁוּ וְיִֽהְיוּ לְאוֹת לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
[These] firepans of these sinners [who paid] with their souls, and make them into hammered sheets to overlay the altar, for they were brought in offering before Adonoy and they were sanctified; and they shall be for a sign for Bnei Yisroel.
[These] firepans of these sinners [who paid] with their souls, and make them into hammered sheets to overlay the altar, for they were brought in offering before Adonoy and they were sanctified; and they shall be for a sign for Bnei Yisroel.
Rashi
החטאים האלה בנפשתם. שֶׁנַּעֲשׂוּ פוֹשְׁעִים בְּנַפְשׁוֹתָם, שֶׁנֶּחְלְקוּ עַל הַקָּבָּ"ה:
These sinners with their souls. They became willful sinners with their souls by disputing the Holy One, Blessed is He.
רקעי. רְדוּדִין:
Hammered. Beaten.
פחים. טַסִּים מְרֻדָּדִין, טינדי"ש בלעז:
Sheets. Hammered sheets. Tendes, “sheets,” in Old French.
צפוי למזבח. לְמִזְבַּח הַנְּחֹשֶׁת:
To overlay the altar. The copper altar.
ויהיו לאות. לְזִכָּרוֹן — שֶׁיֹּאמְרוּ, אֵלּוּ הָיוּ מֵאוֹתָן שֶׁנֶּחְלְקוּ עַל הַכְּהֻנָּה וְנִשְׂרְפוּ:
They shall be for a sign. A reminder, so that they will say, “These belonged to the ones who disputed the kehunah, and were burned.”
וַיִּקַּח אֶלְעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן אֵת מַחְתּוֹת הַנְּחֹשֶׁת אֲשֶׁר הִקְרִיבוּ הַשְּׂרֻפִים וַֽיְרַקְּעוּם צִפּוּי לַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃
Elazar the kohein, took the copper firepans, those that the fire victims brought and hammered them into a covering for the altar,
Elazar the kohein, took the copper firepans, those that the fire victims brought and hammered them into a covering for the altar,
Rashi
וירקעום. איטינ"דריש בְּלַעַז:
And hammered them. Atendirent, “hammered” in Old French.
זִכָּרוֹן לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לְמַעַן אֲשֶׁר לֹֽא־יִקְרַב אִישׁ זָר אֲשֶׁר לֹא מִזֶּרַע אַהֲרֹן הוּא לְהַקְטִיר קְטֹרֶת לִפְנֵי יְהֹוָה וְלֹֽא־יִהְיֶה כְקֹרַח וְכַעֲדָתוֹ כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר יְהֹוָה בְּיַד־מֹשֶׁה לֽוֹ׃ {פ}
to be a reminder for Bnei Yisroel so that a commoner shall never offer, one who is not a descendant of Aharon, to burn incense before Adonoy; so as not to be like Korach and his congregation; as Adonoy spoke to him, through Moshe.
to be a reminder for Bnei Yisroel so that a commoner shall never offer, one who is not a descendant of Aharon, to burn incense before Adonoy; so as not to be like Korach and his congregation; as Adonoy spoke to him, through Moshe.
Rashi
ולא יהיה כקרח. כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיֶה כְקֹרַח:
So as not to be like Korach. In order not to be like Korach.
כאשר דבר ה' ביד משה לו. 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):
As Adonoy spoke to him, through Moshe. Like עָלָיו, “about him.” About Aharon, He spoke to Moshe, [saying] that he and his sons shall be kohanim. Therefore, a stranger should not approach who is not a descendant of Aharon, etc. Similarly, every לִי, לוֹ and לָהֶם next to דִּבּוּר, “speech,” is interpreted as עַל, “about.” According to Midrash, about Korach, what is [the meaning of] בְּיַד משֶׁה, [literally “in the hand of Moshe,”] [why did] Scripture not write “to Moshe”? This alludes that those who dispute the kehunah are stricken with tzora'as, as Moshe was stricken in his hand, as it is said, “when he withdrew it, his hand was stricken with tzora’as — white as snow.” This is why Uziyah was stricken with tzora’as.
וַיִּלֹּנוּ כׇּל־עֲדַת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל מִֽמׇּחֳרָת עַל־מֹשֶׁה וְעַֽל־אַהֲרֹן לֵאמֹר אַתֶּם הֲמִתֶּם אֶת־עַם יְהֹוָֽה׃
They complained—the entire congregation of Bnei Yisroel—on the next day against Moshe and Aharon, saying: “You have killed the people of Adonoy”
They complained—the entire congregation of Bnei Yisroel—on the next day against Moshe and Aharon, saying: “You have killed the people of Adonoy”
וַיְהִי בְּהִקָּהֵל הָֽעֵדָה עַל־מֹשֶׁה וְעַֽל־אַהֲרֹן וַיִּפְנוּ אֶל־אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וְהִנֵּה כִסָּהוּ הֶעָנָן וַיֵּרָא כְּבוֹד יְהֹוָֽה׃
When the congregation assembled against Moshe and Aharon, they turned to the Tent of Meeting and behold! The cloud covered it, and the Glory of Adonoy appeared.
When the congregation assembled against Moshe and Aharon, they turned to the Tent of Meeting and behold! The cloud covered it, and the Glory of Adonoy appeared.
וַיָּבֹא מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן אֶל־פְּנֵי אֹהֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃ {ס}
Moshe and Aharon came to the front of the Tent of Meeting.
Moshe and Aharon came to the front of the Tent of Meeting.
אל אלהי הרוחת. יוֹדֵעַ מַחֲשָׁבוֹת; אֵין מִדָּתְךָ כְּמִדַּת בָּשָׂר וָדָם, מֶלֶךְ בָּשָׂר וָדָם שֶׁסָּרְחָה עָלָיו מִקְצָת מְדִינָה, אֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ מִי הַחוֹטֵא, לְפִיכָךְ כְּשֶׁהוּא כוֹעֵס נִפְרָע מִכֻּלָּם, אֲבָל אַתָּה, לְפָנֶיךָ גְלוּיוֹת כָּל הַמַּחֲשָׁבוֹת וְיוֹדֵעַ אַתָּה מִי הַחוֹטֵא (שם):
Almighty, the God of the spirits. Knower of thoughts. Your attributes are not like mortal attributes. A mortal king, against whom some of his kingdom acted scurrilously, does not know who the sinner is. Therefore, when he is angry, he punishes them all. But You — to You, all thoughts are revealed, and You know who the sinner is.