Nasso נשא

נשא את ראש בני גרשון גם הם. כְּמוֹ שֶׁצִּוִּיתִיךָ עַל בְּנֵי קְהָת, לִרְאוֹת כַּמָּה יֵשׁ שֶׁהִגִּיעוּ לִכְלַל עֲבוֹדָה:

Take the count of the sons of Gershon, as well. Just as I commanded you conce ning the sons of Kehos, to determine how many have reached the working category.

את יריעת המשכן. עֶשֶׂר תַּחְתּוֹנוֹת:

The tapestries of the Mishkon. The ten lower ones.

ואת אהל מועד. יְרִיעֹת עִזִּים הָעֲשׂוּיוֹת לְאֹהֶל עָלָיו:

And the Tent of Meeting. The goat-hair tapestries, made as a tent over it (the Mishkon).

מכסהו. עוֹרוֹת אֵילִים מְאָדָּמִים:

Its covering. The red dyed rams’ skins.

מסך פתח. וִילוֹן הַמִּזְרָחִי:

The screen for the entrance. The eastern curtain.

אשר על המשכן. כְּלוֹמַר הַקְּלָעִים וְהַמָּסָךְ שֶׁל חָצֵר, הַסּוֹכְכִים וּמְגִנִּים עַל הַמִּשְׁכָּן וְעַל מִזְבַּח הַנְּחֹשֶׁת סָבִיב:

Which are over the Mishkon. As if it had said, “The curtains and screen of the courtyard enclosure which protect and guard over the Mishkon and the copper altar on all sides.”

ואת כל אשר יעשה להם. כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ "וְיָת כָּל דִּי יִתְּמְסַר לְהוֹן" — לִבְנֵי גֵּרְשׁוֹן:

And all that will be given [lit. made] to them. As Targum [Onkelos] translates, ”all that will be given to them” — to the sons of Gershon.

על פי אהרון ובניו. וְאֵיזֶה מֵהַבָּנִים מְמֻנֶּה עֲלֵיהֶם? ביד איתמר בן אהרון הכהן:

By instruction of Aharon and [one of] his sons. Which of his sons is appointed over them? Under the supervision of Isamar, son of Aharon, the kohein.

ויתדתם ומיתריהם. שֶׁל עַמּוּדִים; שֶׁהֲרֵי יִתְדוֹת וּמֵיתְרֵי הַקְּלָעִים בְּמַשָּׂא בְנֵי גֵרְשׁוֹן הָיוּ, וִיתֵדוֹת וּמֵיתָרִים הָיוּ לַיְרִיעוֹת וְלַקְּלָעִים מִלְּמַטָּה, שֶׁלֹּא תַגְבִּיהֵם הָרוּחַ, וִיתֵדוֹת וּמֵיתָרִים הָיוּ לָעַמּוּדִים סָבִיב לִתְלוֹת בָּהֶם הַקְּלָעִים בִּשְׂפָתָם הָעֶלְיוֹנָה בִּכְלוּנְסוֹת וְקוּנְדָּסִין, כְּמוֹ שֶׁשְּׁנוּיָה בִמְלֶאכֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן:

Their stakes and ropes. Of the pillars, since the the stakes and ropes of the curtains were in the load of the sons of Gershon. There were stakes and ropes at the bottom of the tapestries and curtains, so that the wind would not lift them; and there were stakes and ropes for the pillars, on all sides, from which to hang the curtains, by their upper border, with bars and rods, as is taught in [the Beraysa of] the work of the Mishkon.

עבדת עבדה. הִיא הַשִּׁיר בִּמְצִלְתַּיִם וְכִנּוֹרוֹת, שֶׁהִיא עֲבוֹדָה לַעֲבוֹדָה אַחֶרֶת (ערכין י"א):

The service of service. This refers to the song of the cymbals and the harps, which is service for [another] service.

ועבדת משא. כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ:

And the service of carrying. As the phrase indicates.

ופקדיו אשר צוה ה' את משה. וְאוֹתָן הַפְּקוּדִים הָיוּ בְמִּצְוָה מִבֶּן שְׁלֹשִׁים שָׁנָה וְעַד בֶּן חֲמִשִּׁים:

And they were counted, as Adonoy commanded Moshe. Those counted were, as commanded, from the ages of thirty to fifty.

צו את בני ישראל וגו'. פָּרָשָׁה זוֹ נֶאֶמְרָה בַּיּוֹם שֶׁהוּקַם הַמִּשְׁכָּן, וּשְׁמוֹנֶה פָרָשִׁיּוֹת נֶאֶמְרוּ בוֹ בַיּוֹם, כִּדְאִיתָא בְּמַסֶּכֶת גִּטִּין בְּפֶרֶק הַנִּזָּקִין (גיטין דף ס'):

Command Bnei Yisroel. This parshah was said on the day the Mishkon was erected. Eight parshiyos were said on that day, as is stated in Tractate Gittin, perek Hanizakin.

וישלחו מן המחנה. שָׁלֹשׁ מַחֲנוֹת הָיוּ שָׁם בִּשְׁעַת חֲנִיָּתָן, תּוֹךְ הַקְּלָעִים הִיא מַחֲנֵה שְׁכִינָה, חֲנִיַּת הַלְוִיִּם סָבִיב כְּמוֹ שֶׁמְּפֹרָשׁ בְּפָרָשַׁת בְּמִדְבַּר סִינַי, הִיא מַחֲנֵה לְוִיָּה, וּמִשָּׁם וְעַד סוֹף מַחֲנֵה הַדְּגָלִים לְכָל אַרְבַּע הָרוּחוֹת הִיא מַחֲנֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל; הַצָּרוּעַ נִשְׁתַּלַּח חוּץ לְכֻלָּן, הַזָּב מֻתָּר בְּמַחֲנֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל וּמְשֻׁלָּח מִן הַשְּׁתַיִם, וְטָמֵא לָנֶפֶשׁ מֻתָּר אַף בְּשֶׁל לְוִיָּה, וְאֵינוֹ מְשֻׁלָּח אֶלָּא מִשֶּׁל שְׁכִינָה, וְכָל זֶה דָּרְשׁוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ מִן הַמִּקְרָאוֹת בְּמַסֶּ' פְּסָחִים (דף ס"ז):

They must expel from the camp. There were three camps when they rested: Within the curtains was the camp of the Shechinah; the surrounding Levite encampment, as stated expressly in the parshah of Bemidbar Sinai, was the camp of the Levites; from there to the end of the encampment of the banners, in all the four directions, was the camp of the Israelites. The metzoro was sent out of all of them. The zav was permitted in the camp of the Israelites, but expelled from the [other] two. A person defiled by the dead was permitted even among the [encampment of] the Levites, being expelled only from the encampment of the Shechinah. All this, the Rabbis derive from Scriptural passages in Maseches Pesachim.

טמא לנפש. "דִּמְסָאָב לִטְמֵי נַפְשָׁא דֶאֱנָשָׁא", אוֹמֵר אֲנִי שֶׁהוּא לְשׁוֹן עַצְמוֹת אָדָם בִּלְשׁוֹן אֲרַמִּי. וְהַרְבֵּה יֵשׁ בִּבְ"רַ, "אַדְרִיאָנוּס שְׁחִיק טַמְיָא", שְׁחִיק עֲצָמוֹת:

Defiled by a [departed] soul. [Onkelos renders] דִּמְסָאָב לִטְמֵי נַפְשָׁא דֶאֱנָשָׁא, (“who were defiled by the bones of a human soul.”) In my opinion, the word means “human bones” in Aramaic. There are many [examples] in Bereishis Rabbah, “ טַמְיָא “ אַדְרִיאָנוּס שְׁחִיק — may [his] “bones” be crushed.

למעל מעל בה'. הֲרֵי חָזַר וְכָתַב כָּאן פָּרָשַׁת גּוֹזֵל וְנִשְׁבָּע עַל שֶׁקֶר, הִיא הָאֲמוּרָה בְפָרָשַׁת וַיִּקְרָא "וּמָעֲלָה מַעַל בַּה' וְכִחֵשׁ בַּעֲמִיתוֹ וְגוֹ'", וְנִשְׁנֵית כָּאן בִּשְׁבִיל שְׁנֵי דְבָרִים שֶׁנִּתְחַדְּשׁוּ בָהּ, הָאֶחָד שֶׁכָּתַב "וְהִתְוַדּוּ", לִמֵּד שֶׁאֵינוֹ חַיָּב חֹמֶשׁ וְאָשָׁם עַ"פִּ עֵדִים עַד שֶׁיּוֹדֶה בַדָּבָר, וְהַשֵּׁנִי עַל גֶּזֶל הַגֵּר שֶׁהוּא נָתוּן לַכֹּהֲנִים (עי' ספרי):

Acting treacherously against Adonoy. Scripture now reiterates the parshah of the thief who swears falsely, previously stated in the Portion of Vayikra, “[If a person sins] . . . and acts treacherously against God, lying to his fellow . . .” It is repeated here for the sake of two innovations. Firstly, Scripture writes “And they confess . . . [their sin],” teaching that he (the thief) is not required to pay the fifth and bring the asham (guilt-offering) when convicted by the testimony of witnesses, unless he confesses to the act. And secondly, [to teach] that property stolen from a proselyte must be given to the kohanim.

את אשמו בראשו. הוּא הַקֶּרֶן שֶׁנִּשְׁבָּע עָלָיו (ב"ק ק"י):

Principal amount of his guilt. This is the principal [payment] concerning which he took the oath.

לאשר אשם לו. לְמִי שֶׁנִּתְחַיֵּב לוֹ (כתובות י"ט):

To whom he is indebted. To the one to whom he is liable.

ואם אין לאיש גאל. שֶׁמֵּת הַתּוֹבֵעַ שֶׁהִשְׁבִּיעוֹ וְאֵין לוֹ יוֹרְשִׁים:

But if the man has no redeemer. As the claimant died who put him (the thief) to the oath — without heirs.

להשיב האשם אליו. כְּשֶׁנִּמְלַךְ זֶה לְהִתְוַדּוֹת עַל עֲוֹנוֹ; וְאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ וְכִי יֵשׁ לְךָ אָדָם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁאֵין לוֹ גּוֹאֲלִים, אוֹ בֵן, אוֹ אָח, אוֹ שְׁאֵר בָּשָׂר הַקָּרוֹב מִמִּשְׁפַּחַת אָבִיו לְמַעְלָה עַד יַעֲקֹב? אֶלָּא זֶה הַגֵּר שֶׁמֵּת וְאֵין לוֹ יוֹרְשִׁים (סנהדרין ס"ח):

To whom the debt may be returned. When he (the thief) recants and confesses to his crime. The Rabbis remark, ‘Is there anyone in Yisroel without redeemers, whether a son, brother, or paternal blood relation [branching] upward to [the patriarch] Yaakov? But [this refers to] a proselyte who died without heirs.

האשם המושב. זֶה הַקֶּרֶן וְהַחֹמֶשׁ (בבא קמא ק"י):

The debt being returned. This is the principal and the fifth thereof.

לה' לכהן. קְנָאוֹ הַשֵּׁם וּנְתָנוֹ לַכֹּהֵן שֶׁבְּאוֹתוֹ מִשְׁמָר (ספרי):

To Adonoy, [then] to the kohein. God takes possession of it, then gives it to the kohein [serving] in that watch.

מלבד איל הכפרים. הָאָמוּר בְּוַיִּקְרָא שֶׁהוּא צָרִיךְ לְהָבִיא:

Besides the ram of forgiveness. Mentioned in Vayikra, which he is required to bring.

וכל תרומה וגו'. אָמַר רַ' יִשְׁמָעֵאל וְכִי תְרוּמָה מַקְרִיבִין לַכֹּהֵן? וַהֲלֹא הוּא הַמְחַזֵּר אַחֲרֶיהָ לְבֵית הַגְּרָנוֹת, וּמַה תַּ"ל אֲשֶׁר יַקְרִיבוּ לַכֹּהֵן? אֵלּוּ הַבִּכּוּרִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בָּהֶם (שמות כ"ג), "תָּבִיא בֵּית ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ", וְאֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ מַה יֵּעָשֶׂה בָהֶם, תַּ"ל "לַכֹּהֵן לוֹ יִהְיֶה", בָּא הַכָּתוּב וְלִמֵּד עַל הַבִּכּוּרִים שֶׁיִּהְיוּ נִתָּנִין לַכֹּהֵן (ספרי):

Every terumah-gift, etc. R’ Yishmael said, “Is terumah-gift brought to the kohein? Does he not seek it, himself, in the granary? Then why does the Torah state, ‘ . . . which they bring to the kohein?’ These are the bikurim-gifts, about which it is stated, ‘[. . . the first fruits of your land] must be brought to the House of Adonoy, your God.’ But one does not know what must be done with them. The Torah therefore states, ‘ . . . to the kohein, it shall belong to him.’ Scripture teaches, concerning the bikurim-gifts, that they must be given to the kohein.

ואיש את קדשיו לו יהיו. לְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֶמְרוּ מַתְּנוֹת כְּהֻנָּה וּלְוִיָּה, יָכוֹל יָבוֹאוּ וְיִטְּלוּם בִּזְרוֹעַ, תַּ"ל "וְאִישׁ אֶת קֳדָשָׁיו לוֹ יִהְיוּ", מַגִּיד שֶׁטּוֹבַת הֲנָאָתָן לַבְּעָלִים, וְעוֹד מִדְרָשִׁים הַרְבֵּה דָרְשׁוּ בוֹ בְּסִפְרֵי; וּמִ"אַ וְאִישׁ אֶת קֳדָשָׁיו לוֹ יִהְיוּ, מִי שֶׁמְּעַכֵּב מַעַשְׂרוֹתָיו וְאֵינוֹ נוֹתְנָן, לוֹ יִהְיוּ הַמַּעַשְׂרוֹת — סוֹף שֶׁאֵין שָׂדֵהוּ עוֹשֶׂה אֶלָּא אֶחָד מֵעֲשָׂרָה שֶׁהָיְתָה לְמוּדָה לַעֲשׂוֹת (תנחומא ראה):

A man’s sacred objects shall be his. Since the priestly and Levite gifts are mandated, one might assume that they may confiscate them forcefully. The Torah therefore teaches that “A man’s sacred objects shall be his,” informing [us] that the executory benefits belong to the [original Israelite] owner. Many other homiletical interpretations are offered by Sifri. Midrash Aggadah [states], “A man’s sacred objects shall be his” [states]: If someone withholds his tithes, and refuses to give them, [then] “[they shall] be his” — the tithes. Ultimately, his land will yield only one tenth of its normal produce.

איש אשר יתן לכהן. מַתָּנוֹת הָרְאוּיוֹת לוֹ:

Whatever a man gives to the kohein [lit. A man who gives to the kohein]. The proper gifts.

לו יהיה. מָמוֹן הַרְבֵּה (ברכות סג.):

Shall be his. Great riches.

איש איש כי תשטה אשתו. מַה כָּתוּב לְמַעְלָה מִן הָעִנְיָן? "וְאִישׁ אֶת קֳדָשָׁיו לוֹ יִהְיוּ", אִם אַתָּה מְעַכֵּב מַתְּנוֹת הַכֹּהֵן, חַיֶּיךָ שֶׁתִּצְטָרֵךְ לָבֹא אֶצְלוֹ לְהָבִיא לוֹ אֶת הַסּוֹטָה:

If any man’s wife goes astray. What is written [immediately] above this subject? “A man’s sacred objects shall be his.” (v. 10) [This implies that] If you withhold the kohein’s gifts, then by your life! You will find it necessary to visit him, to bring the sotah to him.

איש איש. לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁמּוֹעֶלֶת בִּשְׁתַּיִם – בְּאִישׁ מִלְחָמָה שֶׁלְּמַעְלָה, וְאִישָׁהּ מִלְּמַטָּה:

Any man [lit. A man, a man]. This teaches that she is doubly treacherous; against the “man of warfare” on high, and her husband [lit. “man”] below.

כי תשטה אשתו. שָׁנוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ אֵין הַמְנָאֲפִין נוֹאֲפִין עַד שֶׁתִּכָּנֵס בָּהֶן רוּחַ שְׁטוּת, דִּכְתִיב "כִּי תִשְׂטֶה" וְכָתוּב בּוֹ "נֹאֵף אִשָּׁה חֲסַר לֵב" (משלי ו'); וּפְשׁוּטוֹ שֶׁל מִקְרָא: כי תשטה — תֵּט מִדַּרְכֵי צְנִיעוּת וְתֵחָשֵׁד בְּעֵינָיו, כְּמוֹ "שְׂטֵה מֵעָלָיו וַעֲבֹר" (שם ד'), "אַל יֵשְׂטְ אֶל דְּרָכֶיהָ לִבֶּךָ" (שם ז'):

[If any man’s] wife goes astray. Our Rabbis teach: Adulterers do not commit adultery unless they are imbued with the spirit of foolishness, as it is written כִּי תִשְׂטֶה [lit. acts foolishly]. and it is written, “the adulterer lacks reason”: The simple explanation of the verse is, “[If any man’s wife] turns aside from the ways of modesty” and arouses his suspicion, as in “turn aside from him, and pass by,” “let your heart not turn to her ways.

ומעלה בו מעל. וּמַהוּ הַמַּעַל? ושכב איש אתה:

And acts treacherously toward him. What is the treachery?

ושכב איש. פְּרָט לְקָטָן וּמִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ אִישׁ (ספרי):

And a man has lain. This excludes a minor and a non-human.

אתה שכבת זרע. שְׁכִיבָתָהּ פּוֹסֶלֶת אוֹתָהּ, וְאֵין שְׁכִיבַת אֲחוֹתָהּ פּוֹסֶלֶת אוֹתָהּ (כְּמַעֲשֶׂה בִשְׁתֵּי אֲחָיוֹת שֶׁהָיוּ דּוֹמוֹת זוֹ לָזוֹ):

With her. Lying with her disqualifies her. but not laying with her sister (as in the incident of two sisters who resembled one another).

ונעלם מעיני אישה. פְּרָט לְסוּמָא, הָא אִם הָיָה רוֹאֶה וּמְעַמְעֵם אֵין הַמַּיִם בּוֹדְקִין אוֹתָהּ (ספרי):

But it was hidden from her husband’s eyes. This excludes a blind man. Therefore, if he (the husband) saw [the adultery] and feigned ignorance, the [bitter] waters do not test her.

ונסתרה. שִׁעוּר שֶׁתֵּרָאֶה לְטֻמְאַת בִּיאָה:

She was concealed. Long enough to have been defiled by intercourse.

ועד אין בה. הָא אִם יֵשׁ בָּהּ אֲפִלּוּ עֵד אֶחָד שֶׁאָמַר נִטְמֵאת לֹא הָיְתָה שׁוֹתָה (סוטה ד'):

There is no witness against her. But if even one witness testified that she was defiled [by intercourse], she did not drink [the bitter waters].

ועד אין בה. בְּטֻמְאָה, אֲבָל יֵשׁ עֵדִים לִסְתִירָה (שם ב'):

There is no witness against her. To the defilement, but there are witnesses to the concealment.

נתפשה. נֶאֶנְסָה, כְּמוֹ "וּתְפָשָׂהּ וְשָׁכַב עִמָּהּ" (דברים כ"ב):

Seized forcibly. Ravished, as in, “. . . siezed her forcibly and laid with her.”

ועבר עליו. קֹדֶם לַסְּתִירָה:

Comes upon him. Before the concealment.

רוח קנאה וקנה. פֵּרְשׁוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ לְשׁוֹן הַתְרָאָה, שֶׁמַּתְרֶה בָהּ, אַל תִּסָּתְרִי עִם אִישׁ פְּלוֹנִי:

A spirit of jealousy, and he is jealous. The Rabbis interpret this as “warning.” He warns her not to be alone with a certain man,

והוא נטמאה או עבר עליו וגו'. כְּלוֹמַר הוּא הִתְרָה בָּהּ, וְעָבְרָה עַל הַתְרָאָתוֹ, וְאֵין יָדוּעַ אִם נִטְמְאָה אִם לָאו:

And she was defiled. Or, comes upon him . . . etc. As if it had said, ‘he warned her and she ignored the warning, but it is not known whether or not she was defiled.’

קמח. שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא מִסֹּלֶת:

flour. But not of fine flour.

שערים. וְלֹא חִטִּים, הִיא עָשְׂתָה מַעֲשֵׂה בְהֵמָה וְקָרְבָּנָהּ מַאֲכַל בְּהֵמָה (סוטה י"ד):

Barley. But not wheat. [Because] she acted like an animal, her offering consists of animal feed.

לא יצק עליו שמן. שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא קָרְבָּנָהּ מְהֻדָּר, שֶׁהַשֶּׁמֶן קָרוּי אוֹר, וְהִיא עָשְׂתָה בַחֹשֶׁךְ:

He shall not pour oil over it. So that her offering may not be resplendent. for, [olive] oil is identified as light, while she acted in darkness.

ולא יתן עליו לבנה. שֶׁהָאִמָּהוֹת נִקְרְאוּ לְבוֹנָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְאֶל גִּבְעַת הַלְּבוֹנָה" (שה"ש ד'), וְהִיא פֵרְשָׁה מִדַּרְכֵיהֶן:

He shall not put frankincense on it. The matriarchs are called “frankincense,” as it is said, “. . . and to the hill of frankincense,” but she departed from their ways.

כי מנחת קנאת הוא. הַקֶּמַח הַזֶּה, קֶמַח לָשׁוֹן זָכָר:

For it is a meal-offering of jealousy. This meal. “Meal” is masculine.

מנחת קנאת. מְעוֹרֶרֶת עָלֶיהָ שְׁתֵּי קְנָאוֹת, קִנְאַת הַמָּקוֹם וְקִנְאַת הַבַּעַל (ספרי):

A meal-offering of jealousy (wrath). She arouses a double wrath against her; the wrath of the Supreme Omnipresent Being, and the wrath of her husband.

מים קדשים. שֶׁקָּדְשׁוּ בַכִּיּוֹר, לְפִי שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה מִנְּחֹשֶׁת מַרְאוֹת הַצּוֹבְאוֹת, וְזוֹ פֵרְשָׁה מִדַּרְכֵיהֶן, שֶׁהָיוּ נִבְעָלוֹת לְבַעְלֵיהֶן בְּמִצְרַיִם תַּחַת הַתַּפּוּחַ וְזוֹ קִלְקְלָה לְאַחֵר, תִּבָּדֵק בּוֹ:

Sanctified waters. Sanctified in the wash basin. Because the wash basin was made from the copper of the “multitude mirrors,” while this [sotah] departed from their ways. They had relations with their husbands in Egypt beneath the apple tree, but this [sotah] corrupted herself with a stranger — let her be tested by it (the wash basin).

בכלי חרש. הִיא הִשְׁקָת אֶת הַנּוֹאֵף יַיִן מְשֻׁבָּח בְּכוֹסוֹת מְשֻׁבָּחִים, לְפִיכָךְ תִּשְׁתֶּה מַיִם הַמָּרִים בִּמְקִדָּה בְזוּיָה שֶׁל חֶרֶס (סוטה ט'):

In a clay utensil. She served the adulterer excellent wine in superb goblets — therefore, let her drink the bitter water in a wretched clay cup.

והעמיד הכהן וגו'. וַהֲלֹא כְבָר נֶאֱמַר "וְהֶעֱמִדָהּ לִפְנֵי ה'"? אֶלָּא מַסִּיעִין הָיוּ אוֹתָהּ מִמָּקוֹם לְמָקוֹם כְּדֵי לְיַגְּעָהּ וְתִטָּרֵף דַּעְתָּהּ וְתוֹדֶה (סוטה ח'):

The kohein shall station . . . etc., Has it not already said, ‘ . .and station her before Adonoy’? (V. 16) But, they moved her from place to place to exhaust her, so that she might lose her composure and confess.

ופרע. סוֹתֵר אֶת קְלִיעַת שְׂעָרָהּ, כְּדֵי לְבַזּוֹתָהּ, מִכָּאן לִבְנוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁגִּלּוּי הָרֹאשׁ גְּנַאי לָהֶן (כתובות ע"ב):

Expose. He disentangles the plaits of her hair, to humiliate her. From this we derive that, for daughters of Yisroel, a bared head is debasing.

לפני ה'. בְּשַׁעַר נִקָּנוֹר, הוּא שַׁעַר הָעֲזָרָה הַמִּזְרָחִי, דֶּרֶךְ כָּל הַנִּכְנָסִים (סוטה ז'):

Before Adonoy. At the Nikanor gate. This was the eastern gateway to the [Temple] courtyard, the route by which everyone entered.

ונתן על כפיה. לְיַגְּעָהּ, אוּלַי תִּטָּרֵף דַּעְתָּהּ וְתוֹדֶה, וְלֹא יִמָּחֶה שֵׁם הַמְיֻחָד עַל הַמָּיִם (שם י"ד):

And place, on her palms. To exhaust her, [in the hope] that she might lose her composure and confess, so that the Sacred Name not be erased in the water.

המרים. עַל שֵׁם סוֹפָן, שֶׁהֵם מָרִים לָהּ (שם כ'):

The bitter. Because of their aftermath, when they are bitter to her.

המאררים. הַמְחַסְּרִים אוֹתָהּ מִן הָעוֹלָם, לְשׁוֹן "סִלּוֹן מַמְאִיר" (יחזקאל כ"ח), וְלֹא יִתָּכֵן לְפָרֵשׁ מַיִם אֲרוּרִים, שֶׁהֲרֵי קְדוֹשִׁים הֵן, וְלֹא אֲרוּרִים כָּתַב הַכָּתוּב, אֶלָּא מְאָרְרִים אֶת אֲחֵרִים, וְאַף אֻנְקְלוֹס לֹא תִרְגֵּם "לִיטַיָּא" אֶלָּא "מְלַטְטַיָּא" — שֶׁמַּרְאוֹת קְלָלָה בְּגוּפָהּ שֶׁל זוֹ:

Lethal. Which eliminate her from the world, like the phrase, “. . . lethal thornbush.” But it is inappropriate to translate “accursed waters,” as they are sacred [v.17]. And Scripture does not write אֲרוּרִים, but מְאָרְרִים — affecting others. Even Onkelos did not translate לִיטַיָּא, “accursed,” but מְלַטְטַיָּא, “curse causing” — they reveal the curse in the body of this [sotah].

והשביע אתה וגו'. וּמַה הִיא הַשְּׁבוּעָה? אִם לֹא שָׁכַב הִנָּקִי, הָא אִם שָׁכַב, חִנָּקִי, שֶׁמִּכְּלַל לָאו אַתָּה שׁוֹמֵעַ הֵן, אֶלָּא שֶׁמִּצְוָה לִפְתֹּחַ בְּדִינֵי נְפָשׁוֹת תְּחִלָּה לִזְכוּת (שם י"ז; שבועות ל"ו; סנהדרין ל"ג):

Shall place her under oath . . . etc. What is the oath? ‘If no [man] laid [with you], be absolved but if he laid [with you], may you choke’! A negative statement expresses, by implication, its positive converse, but we are commanded to open capital cases with the presumption of innocence.

ואת כי שטית. כִּי מְשַׁמֵּשׁ בִּלְשׁוֹן אִם:

If you have gone astray. כִּי is used in the sense of “if.”

בשבעת האלה. שְׁבוּעָה שֶׁל קְלָלָה:

With the oath of accursedness. The oath which contains the curse.

יתן ה' אותך לאלה. שֶׁיִּהְיוּ הַכֹּל מְקַלְלִין בִּיךְ — "יְבוֹאֵךְ כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁבָּא לִפְלוֹנִית":

Adonoy shall make you a curse: Everyone will curse through you: ‘May [a curse] befall you the way it befell so-and-so.’

ולשבעה. שֶׁיִּהְיוּ הַכֹּל נִשְׁבָּעִין בִּיךְ —"אִם לֹא יֶאֱרַע לִי כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁאֵרַע לִפְלוֹנִית", וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר "וְהִנַּחְתֶּם שִׁמְכֶם לִשְׁבוּעָה לִבְחִירַי" (ישעיהו ס"ה), שֶׁהַצַּדִּיקִים נִשְׁבָּעִים בְּפֻרְעֲנוּתָן שֶׁל רְשָׁעִים, וְכֵן לְעִנְיַן הַבְּרָכָה, "וְנִבְרְכוּ וְגוֹ'" (בראשית י"ב), "בְּךָ יְבָרֵךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵאמֹר" (שם מ"ח):

And an oath. Everyone will swear through you: ‘If [my oath is] not [true], may [disaster] happen to me the way it happened to so-and-so. Similarly, it says, “you will leave your names [to be used] as an oath by My chosen.” — the virtuous swear by the punishment of the wicked. Similarly, with regard to blessings, “and through you will be blessed . . . etc., “through you shall [the People of] Yisroel bless, saying. . .”

את ירכך. בִּקְלָלָה הִקְדִּים יָרֵךְ לַבֶּטֶן, לְפִי שֶׁבָּהּ הִתְחִילָה בַעֲבֵרָה תְּחִלָּה (סוטה ח'):

Your thigh. In the curse, the thigh precedes the abdomen, because her transgression began there.

צבה. כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ, נְפוּחָה:

Swell. As Targum [Onkelos] translates, “swollen.”

לצבות בטן. כְּמוֹ לְהַצְבּוֹת בֶּטֶן, זֶהוּ שִׁמּוּשׁ פַּתָּח שֶׁהַלָּמֶ"ד נְקוּדָה בוֹ. וְכֵן "לַנְחֹתָם הַדֶּרֶךְ" (שמות י"ג), "לַרְאֹתְכֶם בַּדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר תֵּלְכוּ בָהּ" (דברים א'), וְכֵן "לַנְפִּל יָרֵךְ" — לְהַנְפִּיל יָרֵךְ, שֶׁהַמַּיִם מַצְבִּים אֶת הַבֶּטֶן וּמַפִּילִים אֶת הַיָּרֵךְ:

To swell the abdomen. [לַצְבּוֹת בֶּטֶן is] like לְהַצְבּוֹת בֶּטֶן, “to cause the abdomen to swell.” This is the function of the פַּתַּח when it vocalizes the ל' . Similarly, לַנְחוֹתָם הַדֶּרֶךְ, (“to lead them on the way,”) לַרְאוֹתְכֶם בַּדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶר תֵּלְכוּ בָהּ (“to show you the way in which to go.”) Similarly, לַנְפִּל יָרֵך, לְהַנְפִּיל יָרֵךְ (“to cause the thigh to collapse”). The waters swell the abdomen and collapse the thigh.

לצבות בטן ולנפל ירך. בִּטְנוֹ וִירֵכוֹ שֶׁל בּוֹעֵל, אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא נִבְעֶלֶת, כְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר "אֶת יְרֵכֵךְ נֹפֶלֶת וְאֶת בִּטְנֵךְ צָבָה" הֲרֵי שֶׁל נִבְעֶלֶת אָמוּר (סוטה כ"ח):

To swell the abdomen and collapse the thigh. The abdomen and thigh of the adulterer, or perhaps it refers only to the adulteress? When Scripture says, “. . . your thigh to collapse and abdomen to swell,” the [punishment of the] adulteress has been stated.

אמן אמן. קַבָּלַת שְׁבוּעָה – אָמֵן עַל הָאָלָה אָמֵן עַל הַשְּׁבוּעָה, אָמֵן אִם מֵאִישׁ זֶה אָמֵן אִם מֵאִישׁ אַחֵר, אָמֵן שֶׁלֹּא סָטִיתִי אֲרוּסָה וּנְשׂוּאָה שׁוֹמֶרֶת יָבָם וּכְנוּסָה (שם י"ח):

Amein, Amein. [This is] The acceptance of the oath. Amein for the curse, Amein for the oath. Amein if [I strayed] from this husband, Amein if [I strayed] from a different husband. Amein that I did not stray [when] betrothed, married, levirately engaged or taken to his home.

והשקה את האשה. אֵין זֶה סֵדֶר הַמַּעֲשֶׂה, שֶׁהֲרֵי בַתְּחִלָּהּ מַקְרִיב מִנְחָתָהּ, אֶלָּא הַכָּתוּב מְבַשֶּׂרְךָ שֶׁכְּשֶׁיַּשְׁקֶנָּה יָבֹאוּ בָהּ לְמָרִים; לְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בֶּטֶן וְיָרֵךְ, מִנַּיִן לִשְׁאָר כָּל הַגּוּף? תַּ"ל ובאו בה — בְּכֻלָּהּ, אִ"כַּ מַה תַּ"ל בֶּטֶן וְיָרֵךְ? לְפִי שֶׁהֵן הִתְחִילוּ בַעֲבֵרָה תְּחִלָּה לְפִיכָךְ הִתְחִיל מֵהֶם הַפֻּרְעָנוּת (ספרי):

He shall have the woman drink. It was not done in this order, as he brought her offering first. But Scripture informs you that when he does give her the waters, they will penetrate her with bitterness. Since it [merely] says “abdomen” and “thigh,” how do we know the rest of the body [is affected]? The Torah states “and [the waters] shall enter her,” completely. If so, why does the Torah say “abdomen” and “thigh”? Since they began the transgression, the punishment began with them.

למרים. לִהְיוֹת לָהּ רָעִים וּמָרִים:

To become bitter. They will be harmful and bitter for her.

והניף. מוֹלִיךְ וּמֵבִיא מַעֲלֶה וּמוֹרִיד, וְאַף הִיא מְנִיפָה עִמּוֹ, שֶׁיָּדָהּ לְמַעְלָה מִיָּדוֹ שֶׁל כֹּהֵן:

And shall wave. He moves it forward, back, up, and down. She, too, waves with him, with her hand above the hand of the kohein.

והקריב אתה. זוֹ הִיא הַגָּשָׁתָהּ בְּקֶרֶן דְּרוֹמִית מַעֲרָבִית שֶׁל מִזְבֵּחַ קֹדֶם קְמִיצָה, כִּשְׁאָר מְנָחוֹת (סוטה י"ד):

And bring it. This refers to placing it at the southwest corner of the altar before taking the handful, like the other minchah- offerings.

אזכרתה. הוּא הַקֹּמֶץ, שֶׁעַ"יְ הַקְטָרָתוֹ הַמִּנְחָה בָאָה לְזִכָּרוֹן לְגָבוֹהַּ (ספרי):

Its commemoration. This is the handful. Through its burning, the mincha-offering is remembered on high. (Sifri, 5:72.)

והשקה את המים. לְרַבּוֹת, שֶׁאִם אָמְרָה אֵינִי שׁוֹתָה לְאַחַר שֶׁנִּמְחֲקָה מְגִלָּה, מְעַרְעֲרִין אוֹתָהּ וּמַשְׁקִין אוֹתָהּ בְּעַל כָּרְחָהּ, אֶלָּא אִ"כֵּ אָמְרָה טְמֵאָה אֲנִי (ספרי; סוטה כ'):

He shall make her drink the water. [This is written] to add that if she said, ”I will not drink” after the scroll was erased, we coerce her, forcing her to drink against her will, unless she says “I am defiled.”

וצבתה בטנה וגו'. אַעַ"פִּ שֶׁבַּקְּלָלָה הִזְכִּיר יָרֵךְ תְּחִלָּה, הַמַּיִם אֵין בּוֹדְקִין אֶלָּא כְּדֶרֶךְ כְּנִיסָתָן בָּהּ (שם ט'):

Her abdomen will swell. Although, in the curse, Scripture mentions the thigh first, the water tested her just the way it entered her.

והיתה האשה לאלה. כְּמוֹ שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִּי, שֶׁיְּהֵא הַכֹּל אָלִין בָּהּ:

The woman will be a curse. As I explained, everyone will use her to curse.

בקרב עמה. הֶפְרֵשׁ יֵשׁ בֵּין אָדָם הַמִּתְנַוֵּל בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁנִּכָּר, לְאָדָם הַמִּתְנַוֵּל בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁאֵינוֹ נִכָּר:

Among her people. There is a difference between a person disgraced among those who know her, and a person disgraced among those who do not know her.

ואם לא נטמא האשה. בִּסְתִירָה זוֹ:

But if the woman was not defiled. During this concealment.

וטהרה הוא. מִמָּקוֹם אַחֵר:

And is pure. From any other place.

ונקתה. מִמַּיִם הַמְאָרְרִים, וְלֹא עוֹד אֶלָּא ונזרעה זרע — אִם הָיְתָה יוֹלֶדֶת בְּצַעַר תֵּלֵד בְּרֶוַח, אִם הָיְתָה יוֹלֶדֶת שְׁחֹרִים, מֵעַתָּה יוֹלֶדֶת לְבָנִים:

She will be cleansed. Of the lethal waters. Furthermore, “she will bear seed” — if she suffered during childbirth, her labor will now be painless. If she gave birth to swarthy [babies], they will now be light.

או איש. כְּמוֹ "אוֹ נוֹדַע" (שמות כ"א), כְּלוֹמַר אִם אִישׁ קַנַּאי הוּא, לְכָךְ והעמיד את האשה.

If (lit., or) [he is] a man. As in, “If it was known.” As if it had said, “If he is a vengeful man, and, therefore, he shall have the woman stand.”

ונקה האיש מעון. אִם בְּדָקוּהָ הַמַּיִם, אַל יִדְאַג לוֹמַר "חַבְתִּי בְמִיתָתָהּ", נָקִי הוּא מִן הָעֹנֶשׁ; דָּ"אַ: מִשֶּׁיַּשְׁקֶנָּה תְּהֵא אֶצְלוֹ בְּהֶתֵּר, וְנִקָּה מֵעָוֹן, שֶׁהַסּוֹטָה אֲסוּרָה לְבַעְלָהּ (ספרי):

The man is cleansed of sin. If the water affected her, let him not be tormented saying: “I was responsible for her death.” He is cleansed from punishment. Another interpretation: After he (the kohein) causes her to drink, she is permitted to be with him (her husband), and he is cleansed of sin. For, the [untested] sotah is forbidden to [have intimate relations with] her husband.

כי יפלא. יַפְרִישׁ; לָמָּה נִסְמְכָה פָרָשַׁת נָזִיר לְפָרָשַׁת סוֹטָה? לוֹמַר לְךָ שֶׁכָּל הָרוֹאֶה סוֹטָה בְקִלְקוּלָהּ יַזִּיר עַצְמוֹ מִן הַיַּיִן, שֶׁהוּא מֵבִיא לִידֵי נִאוּף (סוטה ב'):

If . . . sets apart. Sets [himself] apart. Why is the chapter of the nazirite placed next to the chapter of the sotah? To tell you that whoever observes a sotah in her decadence should take the nazirite vow against wine, which leads to promiscuity.

נדר נזיר. אֵין נְזִירָה בְכָל מָקוֹם אֶלָּא פְּרִישָׁה, אַף כָּאן שֶׁפֵּרֵשׁ מִן הַיַּיִן:

A nazirite vow. נְזִירָה always indicates abstinence. Here, too, he abstains from wine.

להזיר לה'. לְהַבְדִּיל עַצְמוֹ מִן הַיַּיִן לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם:

To set [himself] apart for Adonoy. To separate himself from wine for the sake of heaven.

מיין ושכר. כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ "מֵחֲמַר חֲדַת וְעַתִּיק", שֶׁהַיַּיִן מְשַׁכֵּר כְּשֶׁהוּא יָשָׁן:

From new or old [intoxicating] wine. As Targum [Onkelos] translates; “from new wine or old”: Wine intoxicates when aged.

וכל משרת. לְשׁוֹן צְבִיעָה בְּמַיִם וְכָל מַשְׁקֶה; וּבִלְשׁוֹן מִשְׁנָה יֵשׁ הַרְבֵּה, אֵין שׁוֹרִין דְּיוֹ וְסַמָּנִים (שבת י"ז), נָזִיר שֶׁשָּׁרָה פִתּוֹ (נזיר ל"ד):

Anything steeped in grapes. The word [מִשְׁרַת] denotes adding color to water, or any beverage. In the Mishnaic idiom, there are many [examples]: ‘One does not steep ink or dye’, ‘If a nazirite steeped his bread in wine’.

חרצנים. הֵם הַגַּרְעִינִין:

Seeds. These are the kernels.

זג. הֵם קְלִפוֹת שֶׁמִּבַּחוּץ, שֶׁהַחַרְצַנִּים בְּתוֹכָן כְּעִנְבָּל בְּזוּג:

Skin. These are the outer shells in which the seeds are [held] like the tongue of a bell.

קדש יהיה. הַשֵּׂעָר שֶׁלּוֹ, לְגַדֵּל הַפֶּרַע שֶׁל שְׂעַר רֹאשׁוֹ (ספרי; תענית י"א):

He shall be sacred. His hair, for growing the growth of hair on his head.

פרע. נָקוּד פַּתָּח קָטָן אַף שֶׁהוּא דָּבוּק לִשְׂעַר רֹאשׁוֹ — פֶּרַע שֶׁל שֵׂעָר, וּפֵרוּשׁ שֶׁל פֶּרַע, גִּדּוּל שֶׁל שֵׂעָר, וְכֵן "אֶת רֹאשׁוֹ לֹא יִפְרָע" (ויקרא כ"א), וְאֵין קָרוּי פֶּרַע פָּחוֹת מִשְּׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם (ספרי; סנהדרין כ"ב):

Long. This is vocalized with a small patach (segol), even though it is attached to “the hair of his head” — the growth of hair. The meaning of פֶּרַע is “growth of hair.” Similarly, “He (the kohein gadol) shall not permit the growth of hair on his head.” It is not considered a פֶּרַע (growth) [if uncut] less than thirty days.

כל ימי נזרו קדש הוא. זוֹ קְדֻשַּׁת הַגּוּף, מִלִּטַּמֵּא לְמֵתִים (ספרי):

All the days of his separation, he is sacred. This refers to personal sanctity, from defilement [by contact] with the dead.

בפתע. זֶה אֹנֶס:

Suddenly. This refers to the unavoidable.

פתאום. זֶה שׁוֹגֵג, וְיֵ"א פֶּתַע פִּתְאֹם דָּבָר אֶחָד הוּא – מִקְרֶה שֶׁל פִּתְאוֹם:

[Or] unexpectedly. This refers to the unintentional. Some say פֶּתַע פִּתְאוֹם is a single statement, [meaning] ”a sudden incident.”

וכי ימות מת עליו. בָּאֹהֶל שֶׁהוּא בוֹ:

If someone died near him. In the tent where he was.

ביום טהרתו. בְּיוֹם הַזָּאָתוֹ, אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא בַשְּׁמִינִי שֶׁהוּא טָהוֹר לְגַמְרֵי, תַּ"ל "בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי", אִי שְׁבִיעִי יָכוֹל אֲפִלּוּ לֹא הִזָּה, תַּ"ל "בְּיוֹם טָהֳרָתוֹ" (ספרי):

On the day of his purification. On the day when he is sprinkled. Or, perhaps only the eighth [day], when he is completely purified? The Torah therefore states, “on the seventh day.” If the seventh, perhaps even if he was not sprinkled? The Torah therefore states, “on the day of his purification.”

וביום השמיני יבא שתי תרים. לְהוֹצִיא אֶת הַשְּׁבִיעִי, אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא לְהוֹצִיא אֶת הַתְּשִׁיעִי ? קָבַע זְמַן לַקְּרֵבִין וְקָבַע זְמַן לַמַּקְרִיבִין, מַה קְּרֵבִין הִכְשִׁיר שְׁמִינִי וּמִשְּׁמִינִי וָהָלְאָה, אַף מַקְרִיבִין שְׁמִינִי וּמִשְּׁמִינִי וָהָלְאָה (שם):

On the eighth day he shall take two turtledoves. This excludes the seventh [day]. Or perhaps it is intended to exclude the ninth [day]? [Scripture] designated a time for the offerings, and designated a time for those who bring them. Just as the offerings are sanctioned on the eighth, and from the eighth and onward, so [are] those who bring them [sanctioned] on the eighth, and from the eighth and onward.

מאשר חטא על הנפש. שֶׁלֹּא נִזְהַר מִטֻּמְאַת הַמֵּת, רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר הַקַּפָּר אוֹמֵר, שֶׁצִּעֵר עַצְמוֹ מִן הַיַּיִן (ספרי; נזיר י"ט):

From his sin [of contact] with a [departed] soul. He was negligent about defilement with the dead. R’ Elazar Hakapar says, [the sin was] that he inflicted suffering on himself by abstaining from wine.

וקדש את ראשו. לַחֲזֹר וּלְהַתְחִיל מִנְיַן נְזִירוּתוֹ:

He shall sanctify his head. By beginning, again, his nazirite counting.

והזיר לה' את ימי נזרו. יַחֲזֹר וְיִמְנֶה נְזִירוּתוֹ כְּבַתְּחִלָּה:

He shall set apart, for Adonoy, his nazarite days. He shall repeat the count of his nazarite days as [counted] originally.

והימים הראשנים יפלו. לֹא יַעֲלוּ מִן הַמִּנְיָן:

The first days shall elapse. Be discounted.

יביא אתו. יָבִיא אֶת עַצְמוֹ, וְזֶה אֶחָד מִשְּׁלֹשָׁה אֶתִים שֶׁהָיָה רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל דּוֹרֵשׁ כֵּן, כַּיּוֹצֵא בוֹ "וְהִשִּׂיאוּ אוֹתָם עֲוֹן אַשְׁמָה" (ויקרא כ"ב) — אֶת עַצְמָם, כַּיּוֹצֵא בוֹ "וַיִּקְבֹּר אֹתוֹ בַגַּי" (דברים ל"ד) — הוּא קָבַר אֶת עַצְמוֹ:

He shall bring himself [lit. him]. He shall bring himself. This is one of the three usages of אֶת, (literally, “him”), which R’ Yishmael explained this way. Similarly, “They will burden them with sin and guilt. — themselves.” Similarly, “He (Moshe) buried אוֹתוֹ (lit. him) in the valley.” He buried himself.

ומנחתם ונסכיהם. שֶׁל עוֹלָה וּשְׁלָמִים; לְפִי שֶׁהָיוּ בִכְלָל, וְיָצְאוּ לִדּוֹן בְּדָבָר חָדָשׁ — שֶׁיִּטָּעֲנוּ לֶחֶם — הֶחֱזִירָן לִכְלָלָן, שֶׁיִּטָּעֲנוּ נְסָכִים כְּדִין עוֹלָה וּשְׁלָמִים (ספרי):

And their meal-offerings and libations. Of the burnt-offering and the peace- offering. Because they were included in a group, but then distinguished innovatively, requiring bread, Scripture reinstates them into the group, [stating] that they require libations, following the rule of all burnt and peace-offerings.

חלות מצות ורקיקי מצות. עֶשֶׂר מִכָּל מִין:

Matzoh loaves [mixed with oil] and matzoh wafers. Ten of each kind.

זבח שלמים לה' על סל המצות. יִשְׁחַט אֶת הַשְּׁלָמִים עַל מְנָת לְקַדֵּשׁ אֶת הַלֶּחֶם (עי' מנחות מ"ו):

A peace-offering for Adonoy, along with the basket of matzos. He shall slaughter the peace-offering with the intent to sanctify the bread.

את מנחתו ואת נסכו. שֶׁל אַיִל:

His meal-offering and libation. The ram’s.

וגלח הנזיר פתח אוהל מועד. יָכוֹל יְגַלֵּחַ בָּעֲזָרָה, הֲרֵי זֶה דֶּרֶךְ בִּזָּיוֹן, אֶלָּא וְגִלַּח הַנָּזִיר לְאַחַר שְׁחִיטַת הַשְּׁלָמִים שֶׁכָּתוּב בָּהֶן "וּשְׁחָטוֹ פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד":

The Nazir shall shave at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Perhaps he shaves in the courtyard? But this would be grossly disrepectful. Rather, the Nazir shall shave after the slaughter of the shelamim, concerning which is written “. . . and slaughter, it [the peace-offering] at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.”

אשר תחת זבח השלמים. תַּחַת הַדּוּד שֶׁהוּא מְבַשְּׁלָן בּוֹ, לְפִי שֶׁשַּׁלְמֵי נָזִיר הָיוּ מִתְבַּשְּׁלִין בָּעֲזָרָה, שֶׁצָּרִיךְ לִטֹּל הַכֹּהֵן הַזְּרוֹעַ אַחַר שֶׁנִּתְבַּשְּׁלָה וּלְהָנִיף לִפְנֵי ה' (עי' נזיר מ"ה):

Which is under the peace-offering sacrifice. Underneath the pot in which he cooks it. Because the Nazir’s peace-offerings were cooked in the courtyard, since the kohein had to remove the foreleg after it was cooked and wave it before God.

הזרע בשלה. לְאַחַר שֶׁנִּתְבַּשְּׁלָה (חולין פ"ח):

The cooked foreleg. After it was cooked.

קדש הוא לכהן. הַחַלָּה וְהָרָקִיק וְהַזְּרוֹעַ תְּרוּמָה הֵן לַכֹּהֵן:

It is consecrated to the kohein. The loaf, wafer, and foreleg are terumah-gifts to the kohein.

על חזה התנופה. מִלְּבַד חָזֶה וְשׁוֹק הָרְאוּיִים לוֹ מִכָּל שְׁלָמִים מוּסָף עַל שַׁלְמֵי נָזִיר הַזְּרוֹעַ הַזֶּה, לְפִי שֶׁהָיוּ שַׁלְמֵי נָזִיר בִּכְלָל, וְיָצְאוּ לִדּוֹן בַּדָּבָר הֶחָדָשׁ — לְהַפְרָשַׁת זְרוֹעַ — הֻצְרַךְ לְהַחֲזִירָן לִכְלָלָן לִדּוֹן אַף בְּחָזֶה וְשׁוֹק (ספרי):

Besides the breast of the wave-offering. Besides the breast and the shoulder that are due to him from all peace-offerings, there is added to the nazirite peace-offerings, this foreleg. Because the nazirite peace-offerings were included in a group, but then distinguished innovatively, for the consecration of the foreleg, Scripture must reinstate them into the group and deal, also, with the breast and shoulder.

מלבד אשר תשיג ידו. שֶׁאִם אָמַר הֲרֵינִי נָזִיר עַל מְנָת לְגַלֵּחַ עַל מֵאָה עוֹלוֹת וְעַל מֵאָה שְׁלָמִים, כְּפִי נִדְרוֹ אֲשֶׁר יִדֹּר כֵּן יַעֲשֶֹה — מוּסָף עַל תּוֹרַת נִזְרוֹ: עַל תּוֹרַת הַנָּזִיר, מוּסָף וְלֹא יֶחְסַר, שֶׁאִם אָמַר הֲרֵינִי נָזִיר חָמֵשׁ נְזִירוֹת עַל מְנָת לְגַלֵּחַ עַל שָׁלֹשׁ בְּהֵמוֹת הַלָּלוּ, אֵין אֲנִי קוֹרֵא בוֹ "כַּאֲשֶׁר יִדֹּר כֵּן יַעֲשֶֹה" (שם):

Aside from what he can afford to bring. If he said, “I am hereby a Nazir with the stipulation to shave [my hair] relative to a hundred burnt-offerings and a hundred peace-offerings,” [his vow is effective]. According to his vow, that he vows, so shall he fulfill. Added . . . Beyond his nazirite laws. Beyond the nazirite laws. He may increase, but not reduce. If he said, “I am hereby a nazirite five times [consecutively], with the stipulation to shave [my hair] relative to these three animals,” I do not read, concerning him, “whatever he vows, so shall he do.”

אמור. כְּמוֹ זָכוֹר, שָׁמוֹר, בְּלַעַז דישנ"ט:

Saying. Like זָכוֹר, “remembering,” שָׁמוֹר, “keeping.” in Old French, “disant” — gerund.

אמור להם. שֶׁיִּהְיוּ כֻלָּם שׁוֹמְעִים (שם):

Saying to them. So that they all hear.

אמור. מָלֵא — לֹא תְבָרְכֵם בְּחִפָּזוֹן וּבַהֲלוּת, אֶלָּא בְכַוָּנָה וּבְלֵב שָׁלֵם (תנחומא):

Saying. [אָמוֹר is] Full. Do not bless them with haste and rushing, but with concentration and a whole heart.

יברכך. שֶׁיִּתְבָּרְכוּ נְכָסֶיךָ:

May . . . bless you. May your possessions be blessed.

וישמרך. שֶׁלֹּא יָבֹאוּ עָלֶיךָ שׁוֹדְדִים לִטֹּל מָמוֹנְךָ; שֶׁהַנּוֹתֵן מַתָּנָה לְעַבְדּוֹ אֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לְשָׁמְרוֹ מִכָּל אָדָם, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁבָּאִים לִסְטִים עָלָיו וְנוֹטְלִין אוֹתָהּ מִמֶּנּוּ, מַה הֲנָאָה יֵשׁ לוֹ בְּמַתָּנָה זוֹ? אֲבָל הַקָּבָּ"ה, הוּא הַנּוֹתֵן, הוּא הַשּׁוֹמֵר; וְהַרְבֵּה מִדְרָשִׁים דָּרְשׁוּ בוֹ בְּסִפְרֵי:

And protect you. From thieves descending on you for your money. A person who presents a gift to his servant is unable to protect him from everybody, so if bandits descend on him and take it from him, what benefit does he have from the gift? But the Holy One, Blessed is He, is both giver and protector. There are many homiletic interpretations in Sifri.

יאר השם פניו אליך. יַרְאֶה לְךָ פָּנִים שׂוֹחֲקוֹת, פָּנִים צְהֻבּוֹת:

May Adonoy cause His countenance to shine upon you. May he show you a joyous, radiant countenance.

ויחנך. יִתֵּן לְךָ חֵן (תנחומא):

And favor you. May he grant you favor.

ישא ה' פניו אליך. יִכְבֹּשׁ כַּעֲסוֹ:

May Adonoy lift his face to you. May he subdue his anger.

ושמו את שמי. יְבָרְכוּם בַּשֵּׁם הַמְפֹרָשׁ (ספרי):

They shall bestow My Name. They shall bless them with the explicit Name [of God].

ואני אברכם. לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאַסְכִּים עִם הַכֹּהֲנִים; דָּ"אַ, וַאֲנִי אֲבָרְכֵם — לַכֹּהֲנִים (חולין מ"ט):

And I will bless them. The Israelites. I will concur with [the blessing of] the kohanim. Another interpretation [of] ”And I will bless them” — The kohanim.

ויהי ביום כלות משה. כלת כְּתִיב — יוֹם הֲקָמַת הַמִּשְׁכָּן הָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּכַלָּה הַנִּכְנֶסֶת לַחֻפָּה (פסיקתא; תנחומא):

It came to pass, on the day Moshe finished. The text reads כַּלּוֹת . On the day that the Mishkon was erected, the Israelites were like a כַּלָּה — a bride entering the wedding canopy.

כלות משה. בְּצַלְאֵל וְאָהֳלִיאָב וְכָל חֲכַם לֵב עָשׂוּ אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן, וּתְלָאוֹ הַכָּתוּב בְּמֹשֶׁה, לְפִי שֶׁמָּסַר נַפְשׁוֹ עָלָיו, לִרְאוֹת תַּבְנִית כָּל דָּבָר וְדָבָר כְּמוֹ שֶׁהֶרְאָהוּ בָהָר, לְהוֹרוֹת לְעוֹשֵׂי הַמְּלָאכָה, וְלֹא טָעָה בְּתַבְנִית אַחַת; וְכֵן מָצִינוּ בְּדָוִד, לְפִי שֶׁמָּסַר נַפְשׁוֹ עַל בִּנְיַן בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "זְכוֹר ה' לְדָוִד אֵת כָּל עֻנּוֹתוֹ אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע לַה'" וְגוֹ' (תהילים קל"ב), לְפִיכָךְ נִקְרָא עַל שְׁמוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מ"א י"ב) "רְאֵה בֵיתְךָ דָּוִד" (תנחומא):

Moshe finished. Bezalel, Aholiav, and all the wise — hearted men constructed the Mishkon, yet Scripture credits it to Moshe, because he utterly dedicated himself to it, observing the structural design of each object as shown to him on the mountain (Sinai) in order to instruct the artisans, without making a single error in design. We find a similarity with regard to [king] David, because he utterly dedicated himself to the construction of the Beis Ha Mikdash — as it is said: “Remember, Adonoy, unto David all his afflictions; how he swore to Adonoy . . . etc. it was, therefore, called by his name, as it is said: “Observe your House, David.”

כלות משה להקים. וְלֹא נֶאֱמַר בְּיוֹם הָקִים, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁכָּל שִׁבְעַת יְמֵי הַמִּלּוּאִים הָיָה מֹשֶׁה מַעֲמִידוֹ וּמְפָרְקוֹ, וּבְאוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם הֶעֱמִידוֹ וְלֹא פֵּרְקוֹ, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר "כַּלּוֹת מֹשֶׁה לְהָקִים" — אוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם כָּלוּ הֲקָמוֹתָיו, וְרֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ נִיסָן הָיָה, בַּשֵּׁנִי נִשְׂרְפָה הַפָּרָה, בַּשְּׁלִישִׁי הִזּוּ הַזָּיָה רִאשׁוֹנָה, וּבַשְּׁבִיעִי גִּלְּחוּ (ספרי):

[On the day] Moshe finished erecting. It does not say, “On the day [Moshe] erected . . .” This teaches that throughout the seven days of installation Moshe erected and dismantled it, and on that day, he erected it without dismantling it. This is why it says, “On the day Moshe finished erecting” — that day his erecting ended. It was the first of the month of Nisan. On the second, the [red] cow was burned, on the third, they sprinkled with the first sprinkling, and on the seventh, [after having been sprinkled again] they were shaven.

הם נשיאי המטת. שֶׁהָיוּ שׁוֹטְרִים עֲלֵיהֶם בְּמִצְרַיִם וְהָיוּ מֻכִּים עֲלֵיהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות ה') וַיֻּכּוּ שֹׁטְרֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְגוֹ' (ספרי):

They were the leaders of the tribes. They were officers over them in Egypt, and were beaten because of them, as it is said: “And the officers of the Israelites were beaten, etc.”

הם העמדים על הפקדים. שֶׁעָמְדוּ עִם מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן כְּשֶׁמָּנוּ אֶת יִשְֹרָאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְאִתְּכֶם יִהְיוּ וְגוֹ'" (במדבר א'):

They stood by during the counting. They stood with Moshe and Aharon when they counted [Bnei] Yisroel, as it is said, “with you [Moshe and Aharon], shall be. . .”

שש עגלת צב. אֵין צָב אֶלָּא מְחֻפִּים, וְכֵן "וּבַצַּבִּים וּבַפְּרָדִים" (ישעיה ס"ו); עֲגָלוֹת מְכֻסּוֹת קְרוּיוֹת צַבִּים:

Six covered wagons. צָב can only mean “covered.” Similarly, “[They will bring your brothers from all the nations . . . with horses and chariots] וּבַצַּבִּים וּבַפְּרָדִים,” “in covered wagons and on mules . . .” Covered wagons are called צַבִּים . [Some interpret צָב in the sense of הַצְבִי יִשְׂרָאֵל, (“The finest in Israel.”) They (the wagons) were fine looking.]

ויקריבו אותם לפני המשכן. שֶׁלֹּא קִבֵּל מֹשֶׁה מִיָּדָם עַד שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר לוֹ מִפִּי הַמָּקוֹם; אָמַר רַבִּי נָתָן מָה רָאוּ הַנְּשִׂיאִים לְהִתְנַדֵּב כָּאן בַּתְּחִלָּה, וּבִמְלֶאכֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן לֹא הִתְנַדְּבוּ תְּחִלָּה? אֶלָּא כָּךְ אָמְרוּ הַנְּשִׂיאִים, יִתְנַדְּבוּ צִבּוּר מַה שֶּׁיִּתְנַדְּבוּ, וּמַה שֶּׁמְּחַסְּרִין, אָנוּ מַשְׁלִימִין, כֵּיוָן שֶׁרָאוּ שֶׁהִשְׁלִימוּ צִבּוּר אֶת הַכֹּל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְהַמְּלָאכָה הָיְתָה דַיָּם" (שמות ל"ו), אָמְרוּ מֵעַתָּה מַה לָּנוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת? הֵבִיאוּ אַבְנֵי הַשֹּׁהַם וְהַמִּלּוּאִים לָאֵפוֹד וְלַחֹשֶׁן, לְכָךְ הִתְנַדְּבוּ כָּאן תְּחִלָּה (ספרי):

They placed them before the Mishkon. Because Moshe did not accept [the gift] from their hands until [so] instructed by the omnipresent [God.] R’ Noson said, “Why did the leaders see fit to contribute here at the outset, but for the materials of the Mishkon, they did not contribute at the outset? Because the leaders said as follows: “Let the community contribute as they wish, and any shortfall, we will furnish.” But when they saw that the community had supplied everything, as it is said, “the material was sufficient,” they said, “Now what can we do”? They brought the onyx stones, and the stones set into the ephod and breastplate. This is why they contributed here at the outset.

כפי עבדתם. שֶׁהָיָה מַשָּׂא בְנֵי גֵרְשׁוֹן קַל מִשֶּׁל מְרָרִי, שֶׁהָיוּ נוֹשְׂאִים הַקְּרָשִׁים וְהָעַמּוּדִים וְהָאֲדָנִים:

According to their work. The load of the sons of Gershon was lighter than that of the sons of Merori, who carried the planks, pillars, and sockets.

כי עבדת הקדש עלהם. מַשָּׂא דְּבַר הַקְּדֻשָּׁה — הָאָרוֹן וְהַשֻּׁלְחָן וְגוֹ', לְפִיכָךְ בַּכָּתֵף יִשָּׂאוּ:

Because the sacred work was [incumbent] on them. The carrying of sacred objects — the ark, table, etc. Therefore, “they had to carry [them] on their shoulders.”

ויקריבו הנשאים את חנכת המזבח. לְאַחַר שֶׁהִתְנַדְּבוּ הָעֲגָלוֹת וְהַבָּקָר לָשֵׂאת הַמִּשְׁכָּן, נְשָׂאָם לִבָּם לְהִתְנַדֵּב קָרְבְּנוֹת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ לְחַנְּכוֹ:

The leaders brought forward the [offerings for] the consecration of the altar. After they contributed the wagons and cattle to carry the Mishkon, they were ennobled to contribute the offerings for the altar to consecrate it.

ויקריבו הנשיאם את קרבנם לפני המזבח. כִּי לֹא קִבֵּל מֹשֶׁה מִיָּדָם עַד שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר לוֹ מִפִּי הַגְּבוּרָה (ספרי):

The leaders placed their offering before the altar. Because Moshe did not accept [the gift] from their hands until [so] instructed by the Almighty.

יקריבו את קרבנם לחנכת המזבח. וַעֲדַיִן לֹא הָיָה יוֹדֵעַ מֹשֶׁה הֵיאַךְ יַקְרִיבוּ, אִם כְּסֵדֶר תּוֹלְדוֹתָם, אִם כְּסֵדֶר הַמַּסָּעוֹת, עַד שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר לוֹ מִפִּי הַקָּבָּ"ה יַקְרִיבוּ לַמַּסָּעוֹת, אִישׁ יוֹמוֹ (שם):

They shall bring forth their offering for the dedication of the altar. But Moshe still did not know how they were to bring the offerings — whether in order of their birth, or in order of the traveling — until the Holy One, Blessed is He, told him that they should bring the offerings according to the traveling, each in his day.

ביום הראשון. אוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם נָטַל עֶשֶׂר עֲטָרוֹת, רִאשׁוֹן לְמַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית, רִאשׁוֹן לַנְּשִׂיאִים וְכוּ', כִּדְאִיתָא בְסֵדֶר עוֹלָם:

On the first day. That day took ten crowns; [it fell on] the first [day] of creation, first of the leaders, etc., as recorded in Seder Olam.

למטה יהודה. יִחֲסוֹ הַכָּתוּב עַל שִׁבְטוֹ, וְלֹא שֶׁגָּבָה מִשִּׁבְטוֹ וְהִקְרִיב, אוֹ אֵינוֹ אוֹמֵר "לְמַטֵּה יְהוּדָה" אֶלָּא שֶׁגָּבָה מִשִּׁבְטוֹ וְהֵבִיא, תַּ"ל "זֶה קָרְבַּן נַחְשׁוֹן" — מִשֶּׁלּוֹ הֵבִיא (שם):

Of the tribe of Yehudah. Scripture establishes his tribal kinship; but not that he solicited [payment] from his tribe and then brought [the offering]. But perhaps I should say לְמַטֵּה יְהוּדָה, “for the tribe of Yehudah,” [teaching] that he solicited payment from his tribe and then brought [the offering]? The Torah therefore teaches “this is Nachshon’s offering.” He brought his own.

שניהם מלאים סלת. לְמִנְחַת נְדָבָה:

Both were filled with fine flour. As a voluntary meal-offering.

עשרה זהב. כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ, מִשְׁקַל עֶשֶׂר שִׁקְלֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ הָיָה בָהּ:

[Of] ten gold [shekolim]. As Targum [Onkelos] interprets, the weight of ten shekolim by the Sanctuary standard was in it.

מלאה קטרת. לֹא מָצִינוּ קְטֹרֶת לְיָחִיד וְלֹא עַל מִזְבֵּחַ הַחִיצוֹן אֶלָּא זוֹ בִּלְבַד, וְהוֹרָאַת שָׁעָה הָיְתָה (מנחות נ'):

Filled with incense. We do not find incense [brought] by an individual, nor [brought] on the outer altar, except for this one alone. This was a temporary injunction.

פר אחד. מְיֻחָד שֶׁבְּעֶדְרוֹ (עי' ספרי):

One [young] bull. The best of its herd.

שעיר עזים אחד לחטאת. לְכַפֵּר עַל קֶבֶר הַתְּהוֹם — טֻמְאַת סָפֵק (עי' ספרי):

One he-goat as a sin-offering. To atone for [defilement by passing over] the grave of the abyss — [for] indefinite defilement.

הקריב נתנאל בן צוער … הקרב את קרבנו. מַה תַּ"ל "הִקְרִיב" בְּשִׁבְטוֹ שֶׁל יִשָּׂשכָר מַה שֶּׁלֹּא נֶאֱמַר בְּכָל הַשְּׁבָטִים? לְפִי שֶׁבָּא רְאוּבֵן וְעִרְעֵר וְאָמַר: אַחַר שֶׁקְּדָמַנִי יְהוּדָה, אַקְרִיב אֲנִי אַחֲרָיו, אָמַר לוֹ מֹשֶׁה מִפִּי הַגְּבוּרָה נֶאֱמַר לִי שֶׁיַּקְרִיבוּ כְּסֵדֶר מַסָּעוֹת — לְדִגְלֵיהֶם, לְכָךְ אָמַר הִקְרִב אֶת קָרְבָּנוֹ, וְהוּא חָסֵר יוֹ"ד, שֶׁהוּא מַשְׁמַע הַקְרֵב, לְשׁוֹן צִוּוּי, שֶׁמִּפִּי הַגְּבוּרָה נִצְטַוָּה "הַקְרֵב". וּמַהוּ הִקְרִיב הִקְרִיב שְׁנֵי פְעָמִים? שֶׁבִּשְׁבִיל שְׁנֵי דְבָרִים זָכָה לְהַקְרִיב שֵׁנִי לַשְּׁבָטִים, אַחַת שֶׁהָיוּ יוֹדְעִים בַּתּוֹרָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וּמִבְּנֵי יִשָּׂשכָר יוֹדְעֵי בִינָה לַעִתִּים" (דבהי"א י"ב), וְאַחַת שֶׁהֵם נָתְנוּ עֵצָה לַנְּשִׂיאִים לְהִתְנַדֵּב קָרְבָּנוֹת הַלָּלוּ. וּבִיסוֹדוֹ שֶׁל רַבִּי מֹשֶׁה הַדַּרְשָׁן מָצָאתִי, אָמַר רַבִּי פִּנְחָס בֶּן יָאִיר נְתַנְאֵל בֶּן צוּעָר הִשִּׂיאָן עֵצָה זוֹ:

Nesanel the son of Tzu’ar brought forward — he brought forward his offering. What does the Torah teach [by saying] “he brought forward” with respect to the tribe of Yissachar, without having said it with respect to all the [other] tribes? Because Reuven came with a complaint, saying ‘Enough that Yehudah preceded me! Let me bring my offering after him.’ Moshe said to him, By the Almighty ‘It was told to me that they should bring the offerings in the order of the journeys, according to their banners.’ This is why it says אֶת קָרְבָּנוֹ “ הִקְרִב,” without the “yud,” inferring הַקְרֵב, “you shall bring forward!” — the imperative usage, since Moshe was commanded by the Almighty, “ הַקְרֵב .” What is [the inference of] “[Nesanel] brought forward,” [“he brought forward”] twice? Because there were two reasons by which he merited bringing his offering second among the tribes. One, because of their (his tribe’s) knowledge of Torah, as it is said, “From the sons of Yissachar, of sagacious, timely knowledge.” And one, because they advised the leaders to donate these offerings. In R’ Moshe Hadarshan’s commentary I found: “R’ Pinchos ben Yair said: ‘Nesanel the son of Tzu'ar offered this advice.”’

קערת כסף. מִנְיַן אוֹתִיוֹתָיו בְּגִימַטְרִיָּא תתק"ל, כְּנֶגֶד שְׁנוֹתָיו שֶׁל אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן:

Silver tray. Its letters are numerically equivalent to 930, corresponding to the years of Adam.

שלשים ומאה משקלה. עַל שֵׁם שֶׁכְּשֶׁהֶעֱמִיד תּוֹלָדוֹת לְקִיּוּם הָעוֹלָם בֶּן ק"ל שָנָה הָיָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וַיְחִי אָדָם שְׁלֹשִׁים וּמְאַת שָׁנָה וַיּוֹלֶד" וְגוֹ' (בראשית ה'):

Its weight was one hundred thirty [shekolim]. Alluding that when he (Adam) fathered progeny to sustain the world, he was one hundred thirty years old, as it is said: “Adam lived one hundred thirty years, and fathered . . . etc.”

מזרק אחד כסף. בְּגִימַטְרִיָּא תק"ך, עַל שֵׁם נֹחַ שֶׁהֶעֱמִיד תּוֹלָדוֹת בֶּן ת"ק שָׁנָה, וְעַל שֵׁם עֶשְֹרִים שָׁנָה שֶׁנִּגְזְרָה גְּזֵרַת הַמַּבּוּל קֹדֶם תּוֹלְדוֹתָיו — כְּמוֹ שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִּי אֵצֶל "וְהָיוּ יָמָיו מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה" (שם ו') — לְפִיכָךְ נֶאֱמַר — מִזְרָק אֶחָד כֶּסֶף, וְלֹא נֶאֱמַר מִזְרָק כֶּסֶף אֶחָד כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בַּקְּעָרָה, לוֹמַר שֶׁאַף אוֹתִיּוֹת שֶׁל אֶחָד מִצְטָרְפוֹת לַמִּנְיָן:

One silver bowl. The numerical value is 520, alluding to Noach, who fathered his progeny at the age of 500, and alluding to the 20 years by which the decree for the flood preceded his progeny, as I explained [the verse] “His days shall be a hundred and twenty years.” This is why it says מִזְרָק אֶחָד כֶּסֶף, but does not say מִזְרַק כֶּסֶף אֶחָד, as it says concerning the tray — to teach that the letters of אֶחָד are also included in the calculation.

שבעים שקל. כְּנֶגֶד שִׁבְעִים אֻמּוֹת שֶׁיָּצְאוּ מִבָּנָיו:

Seventy shekolim. Corresponding to the 70 nations which emerged from his (Noach’s) sons.

כף אחת. כְּנֶגֶד הַתּוֹרָה שֶׁנִּתְּנָה מִיָּדוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּבָּ"ה:

One spoon (lit. hand). Corresponding to the Torah, which was given from the hand of the Holy One, Blessed is He.

עשרה זהב. כְּנֶגֶד עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדִּבְּרוֹת:

Ten gold [shekolim]. Corresponding to the ten commandments.

מלאה קטרת. גִּימַטְרִיָּא שֶׁל קְטֹרֶת תרי"ג מִצְוֹת, וּבִלְבַד שֶׁתַּחֲלִיף קוֹ"ף בְּדָלֶ"ת עַ"יְ א"ת ב"ש ג"ר ד"ק:

Filled with incense. The numerical value of קְטֹרֶת, is 613, corresponding to the 613 commandments — provided you convert the קו"ף into a דל"ת, by using א"ת ב"ש ג"ר ד"ק .

פר אחד. כְּנֶגֶד אַבְרָהָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בּוֹ "וַיִּקַּח בֶּן בָּקָר" (שם י"ח):

One [young] bull. Corresponding to Avraham, concerning whom it is said: “He took a young bull.”

איל אחד. כְּנֶגֶד יִצְחָק, "וַיִּקַּח אֶת הָאַיִל" וְגוֹ' (שם כ"ב):

One ram. Corresponding to Yitzchok, “He took the ram.”

כבש אחד. כְּנֶגֶד יַעֲקֹב, "וְהַכְּשָׂבִים הִפְרִיד יַעֲקֹב" (שם ל'):

One [yearling] sheep. Corresponding to Yaakov: “Yaakov separated the sheep.”

שעיר עיזים. לְכַפֵּר עַל מְכִירַת יוֹסֵף שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בּוֹ "וַיִּשְׁחֲטוּ שְׂעִיר עִזִּים" (שם ל"ז):

Goat. To atone for the sale of Yoseif, concerning whom it is said: “They slaughtered a goat.”

ולזבח השלמים בקר שנים. כְּנֶגֶד מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן שֶׁנָּתְנוּ שָׁלוֹם בֵּין יִשְׂרָאֵל לַאֲבִיהֶם שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם:

For the peace-offering sacrifice, two oxen. Corresponding to Moshe and Aharon, who made peace between the Israelites and their Father in heaven.

אלים כבשים ועתדים. שְׁלֹשָׁה מִינִים כְּנֶגֶד כֹּהֲנִים וּלְוִיִּם וְיִשְׂרְאֵלִים, וּכְנֶגֶד תּוֹרָה נְבִיאִים וּכְתוּבִים, שָׁלֹשׁ חֲמִשִּׁיּוֹת כְּנֶגֶד חֲמִשָּׁה חֻמְשִׁין וַחֲמֵשֶׁת הַדִּבְּרוֹת הַכְּתוּבִין עַל לוּחַ אֶחָד וַחֲמִשָּׁה הַכְּתוּבִים עַל הַשֵּׁנִי; עַד כָּאן בִּיסוֹדוֹ שֶׁל רַבִּי מֹשֶׁה הַדַּרְשָׁן:

Rams, goats, sheep. Three species, corresponding to kohanim, Levites and Israelites, and corresponding to the Torah, the Prophets, and the Sacred Scripture. Three fives, corresponding to the five chumashim [of the Torah], to the five commandments written on the one tablet, and five commandments written on the other. Until here, [my remarks are] from the commentary of R’ Moshe Hadarshan.

ביום השלישי נשיא וגו'. בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי הָיָה הַנָּשִׂיא הַמַּקְרִיב זְבוּלֻן, וְכֵן כֻּלָּם, אֲבָל בִּנְתַנְאֵל שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בּוֹ הִקְרִיב נְתַנְאֵל, נוֹפֵל אַחֲרָיו הַלָּשׁוֹן לוֹמַר נְשִׂיא יִשָּׂשכָר, לְפִי שֶׁכְּבָר הִזְכִּיר שְׁמוֹ וְהַקְרָבָתוֹ, וּבַשְּׁאָר שֶׁלֹּא נֶאֱמַר בָּהֶן הִקְרִיב, נוֹפֵל עֲלֵיהֶן לָשׁוֹן זֶה — נָשִׂיא לִבְנֵי פְלוֹנִי — אוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם הָיָה הַנָּשִׂיא הַמַּקְרִיב לְשֵׁבֶט פְּלוֹנִי:

On the third day, the leader etc. On the third day, the leader who brought the offering was from the sons of Zevulun, and so with all of them. But with Nesanel, concerning whom it is said, “Nesanel brought forth,” the proper succeeding words are “leader of Yissachar,” since it has already mentioned his name and that he brought. With the others, about whom it does not say “he brought,” the proper words are these: “the leader of the children of so-and-so,” that day, the leader who brought was from the tribe of so-and-so.

ביום המשח אתו. בּוֹ בַיּוֹם שֶׁנִּמְשַׁח הִקְרִיב, וּמָה אֲנִי מְקַיֵּם "אַחֲרֵי הִמָּשַׁח" (פסוק פ"ח)? שֶׁנִּמְשַׁח תְּחִלָּה וְאַ"כַּ הִקְרִיב, אוֹ אַחֲרֵי הִמָּשַׁח — לְאַחַר זְמַן וְלֹא בָא לְלַמֵּד בְּיוֹם הִמָּשַׁח אֶלָּא לוֹמַר שֶׁנִּמְשַׁח בַּיּוֹם? כְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר (ויקרא ז') "בְּיוֹם מָשְׁחוֹ אֹתָם", לָמַדְנוּ שֶׁנִּמְשַׁח בַּיּוֹם, וּמַתַּ"ל "בְּיוֹם הִמָּשַׁח אֹתוֹ" ? בַּיּוֹם שֶׁנִּמְשַׁח הִקְרִיב (ספרי):

On the day it was anointed. On the very day it was anointed, he (each leader) brought the offering. Then how do I justify “after it was anointed”? [To teach] That it was anointed first, and then he brought the offering. But, perhaps “after it was anointed” [means] after a time, and “on the day it was anointed” merely teaches that it was anointed by day? When it says “on the day they were anointed,” we learn that it was anointed by day. Then why does the Torah write “on the day it was anointed”? On the day it was anointed, he brought the offering.

קערת כסף שתים עשרה. הֵם הֵם שֶׁהִתְנַדְּבוּ, וְלֹא אֵרַע בָּהֶם פְּסוּל (שם):

Twelve silver trays. These were the very ones that were donated, none were disqualified.

שלשים ומאה הקערה האחת וגו'. מַה תַּ"ל? לְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "שְׁלֹשִׁים וּמֵאָה" וְלֹא פֵּרֵשׁ בְּאֵיזוֹ שֶׁקֶל, לְכָךְ חָזַר וּשְׁנָאָהּ כָּאן, וְכָלַל בְּכֻלָּן — כל כסף הכלים, בשקל הקדש:

One hundred thirty [shekolim was the weight of] each tray. Why does the Torah say this? Because it said “one hundred thirty [shekolim was] its weight,” but does not explain by which shekel standard. Therefore, Scripture repeats it here, and includes everything — “all the silver of the vessels” — in the shekel of the sacred standard.

כל כסף הכלים וגו'. לִמֶּדְךָ שֶׁהָיוּ כְלֵי הַמִּקְדָּשׁ מְכֻוָּנִים בְּמִשְׁקָלָן — שׁוֹקְלָן אֶחָד אֶחָד, וְשׁוֹקְלָן כֻּלָּן כְּאֶחָד — לֹא רִבָּה וְלֹא מִעֵט (שם):

All the silver vessels, etc. This teaches you that the Sanctuary vessels were weighed with precision. Whether weighed individually or collectively, there was neither excess nor shortfall.

כפות זהב שתים עשרה. לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר? לְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר כַּף אַחַת עֲשָׂרָה זָהָב, הִיא שֶׁל זָהָב וּמִשְׁקָלָהּ עֲשָׂרָה שְׁקָלִים שֶׁל כֶּסֶף, אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא כַּף אַחַת שֶׁל כֶּסֶף וּמִשְׁקָלָהּ עֲשָׂרָה שִׁקְלֵי זָהָב — וְשִׁקְלֵי זָהָב אֵין מִשְׁקָלָם שָׁוֶה לְשֶׁל כֶּסֶף — תַּ"ל "כַּפּוֹת זָהָב" — שֶׁל זָהָב הָיוּ (שם):

Twelve golden spoons. Why is this said? Because it says, “one spoon of ten gold,” [meaning] it was golden, and it weighed ten silver shekolim. But perhaps [it means] one silver spoon, weighing ten golden shekolim — and the golden shekolim are not the same weight as the silver ones? — The Torah therefore writes “golden spoons” — they (the spoons) were gold.

ובבא משה. שְׁנֵי כְתוּבִים הַמַּכְחִישִׁים זֶה אֶת זֶה, שְׁלִישִׁי בָא וְהִכְרִיעַ בֵּינֵיהֶם, כָּתוּב אֶחָד אוֹמֵר "וַיְדַבֵּר ה' אֵלָיו מֵאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד" (ויקרא א') — וְהוּא חוּץ לַפָּרֹכֶת — וְכָתוּב אֶחָד אוֹמֵר "וְדִבַּרְתִּי אִתְּךָ מֵעַל הַכַּפֹּרֶת" (שמות כ"ה), בָּא זֶה וְהִכְרִיעַ בֵּינֵיהֶם: מֹשֶׁה בָא אֶל אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, וְשָׁם שׁוֹמֵעַ אֶת הַקּוֹל הַבָּא מֵעַל הַכַּפֹּרֶת מִבֵּין שְׁנֵי הַכְּרוּבִים — הַקּוֹל יוֹצֵא מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם לְבֵין שְׁנֵי הַכְּרוּבִים, וּמִשָּׁם יָצָא לְאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד (ספרי):

When Moshe would enter. When two passages conflict, a third decides between them. One passage says: “God spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting” — this was outside the paroches partition. And one passage says: “I will speak to you from above the cover [of the Ark].” This [passage] comes and decides between them. Moshe came to the Tent of Meeting. There he heard the Voice coming from above the cover. Between the two cherubs. The Voice emanated from heaven to the space between the two cherubs, and from there to the Tent of Meeting.

וישמע את הקול. יָכוֹל קוֹל נָמוּךְ, תַּ"ל "אֶת הַקּוֹל", הוּא הַקּוֹל שֶׁנִּדְבַּר עִמּוֹ בְּסִינַי, וּכְשֶׁמַּגִּיעַ לַפֶּתַח הָיָה נִפְסָק וְלֹא הָיָה יוֹצֵא חוּץ לָאֹהֶל:

He would hear the Voice. Perhaps the Voice was low (of a lesser degree)? The Torah therefore writes אֶת הַקּוֹל, “the Voice” — the Voice spoken to him at Sinai. But when it reached the doorway, it ceased, and did not go out of the tent.

מדבר. כְּמוֹ מִתְדַּבֵּר, כְּבוֹדוֹ שֶׁל מַעְלָה לוֹמַר כֵּן, מְדַּבֵּר בֵּינוֹ לְבֵין עַצְמוֹ, וּמֹשֶׁה שׁוֹמֵעַ מֵאֵלָיו:

Being spoken. As being spoken unto Itself. It is respectful to the One above to speak thusly. He was speaking to Himself, and Moshe was listening in.

וידבר אליו. לְמַעֵט אֶת אַהֲרֹן מִן הַדִּבְּרוֹת (עי' ספרי):

He spoke to him. This excludes Aharon from the communications.