Sh'lach שלח

שלח לך אנשים. לָמָּה נִסְמְכָה פָרָשַׁת מְרַגְּלִים לְפָרָשַׁת מִרְיָם? לְפִי שֶׁלָּקְתָה עַל עִסְקֵי דִבָּה, שֶׁדִּבְּרָה בְאָחִיהָ, וּרְשָׁעִים הַלָּלוּ רָאוּ וְלֹא לָקְחוּ מוּסָר (תנחומא):

Send, for yourself. Why is the chapter of the spies adjacent to the chapter of Miriam? Because she was punished over the matter of her slanderous conversation about her brother, and those wicked men saw, but did not accept reproof.

שלח לך. לְדַעְתְּךָ, אֲנִי אֵינִי מְצַוֶּה לְךָ, אִם תִּרְצֶה שְׁלַח; לְפִי שֶׁבָּאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמְרוּ נִשְׁלְחָה אֲנָשִׁים לְפָנֵינוּ, כְּמָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וַתִּקְרְבוּן אֵלַי כֻּלְּכֶם" וְגוֹ' (דברים א'), וּמֹשֶׁה נִמְלַךְ בִּשְׁכִינָה, אָמַר, אָמַרְתִּי לָהֶם שֶׁהִיא טוֹבָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "אַעֲלֶה אֶתְכֶם מֵעֳנִי מִצְרַיִם" וְגוֹ' (שמות ג'), חַיֵּיהֶם שֶׁאֲנִי נוֹתֵן לָהֶם מָקוֹם לִטְעוֹת בְּדִבְרֵי מְרַגְּלִים, לְמַעַן לֹא יִירָשׁוּהָ (תנחומא):

Send, for yourself. According to your opinion I do not command you. If you wish, send. Because the Israelites came and said, ‘let us send men before us,’ as it is said, “all of you approached me, etc.” Moshe conferred with the Shechinah. He (Hashem) said, ‘I told them that it is good, as it is said, “I will bring you up from the suffering of Egypt, etc.” By their lives! I’ll give them an opportunity for error with the report of the spies, so that they will not inherit it.

על פי ה'. בִּרְשׁוּתוֹ, שֶׁלֹּא עִכֵּב עַל יָדוֹ:

By the word of Adonoy. With His permission — He did not stop him.

כלם אנשים. כָּל אֲנָשִׁים שֶׁבַּמִּקְרָא לְשׁוֹן חֲשִׁיבוּת, וְאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה כְּשֵׁרִים הָיוּ:

All of them [were] men of distinction. אֲנָשִׁים in Scripture always refers to distinction. At that time they were righteous.

ויקרא משה להושע וגו'. הִתְפַּלֵּל עָלָיו יָהּ יוֹשִׁיעֲךָ מֵעֲצַת מְרַגְּלִים (סוטה ל"ד):

Moshe called Hosheiah, etc. He prayed for him, ‘may Hashem save you from [joining] the counsel of the spies.”

עלו זה בנגב. הוּא הָיָה הַפְּסֹלֶת שֶׁל אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁכֵּן דֶּרֶךְ הַתַּגָּרִים מַרְאִין אֶת הַפְּסֹלֶת תְּחִלָּה, וְאַ"כַּ מַרְאִים אֶת הַשֶּׁבַח (תנחומא):

Go up this [way], to the south. This was the worst of Eretz Yisroel. This is the method of merchants, first they display the worst, and then they display the best.

את הארץ מה הוא. יֵשׁ אֶרֶץ מְגַדֶּלֶת גִּבּוֹרִים וְיֵשׁ אֶרֶץ מְגַדֶּלֶת חַלָּשִׁים, יֵשׁ מְגַדֶּלֶת אֻכְלוּסִין וְיֵשׁ מְמַעֶטֶת אֻכְלוּסִין:

What the land is. Some countries nurture strong men, some countries nurture weaklings, some grow large populations, some diminish the populace.

החזק הוא הרפה. סִימָן מָסַר לָהֶם: אִם בִּפְרָזִים יוֹשְׁבִין, חֲזָקִים הֵם, שֶׁסּוֹמְכִין עַל גְּבוּרָתָם, וְאִם בְּעָרִים בְּצוּרוֹת הֵם יוֹשְׁבִין חַלָּשִׁים הֵם (שם):

Are they strong or weak. He gave them a sign. If they live in open cities, they are strong, since they are confident of their strength. But if they live in fortified cities, they are weak.

הבמחנים. תַּרְגּוּמוֹ "הַבְפַצְחִין", כְּרַכִּין פְּצוּחִין וּפְתוּחִין מֵאֵין חוֹמָה:

Are they open. Targum [Onkelos] translates, הַבְּפַצְחִין (“whether in open cities”), cities that are exposed and open, for lack of a wall.

הטובה הוא. בְּמַעְיָנוֹת וּתְהוֹמוֹת טוֹבִים וּבְרִיאִים:

Is it good. With excellent, prolific wells and deep water shelves.

היש בה עץ. אִם יֵשׁ בָּהֶם אָדָם כָּשֵׁר שֶׁיָּגֵן עֲלֵיהֶם בִּזְכוּתוֹ (עי' בבא בתרא ט"ו):

Does it have trees. Whether there is, among them, a righteous man to protect them with his merit.

בכורי ענבים. יָמִים שֶׁהָעֲנָבִים מִתְבַּשְּׁלִין בְּבִכּוּר:

The first ripening of the grapes. Days when the grapes were first ripening.

ממדבר צן עד רחב לבא חמת. הָלְכוּ בִגְבוּלֶיהָ בְאֹרֶךְ וּבְרֹחַב כְּמִין גַּ"ם, הָלְכוּ רוּחַ גְּבוּל דְּרוֹמִית מִמִּקְצוֹעַ מִזְרָח עַד מִקְצוֹעַ מַעֲרָב, כְּמוֹ שֶׁצִּוָּה מֹשֶׁה עֲלוּ זֶה בַנֶּגֶב — דֶּרֶךְ גְּבוּל דְּרוֹמִית מִזְרָחִית עַד הַיָּם — שֶׁהַיָּם הוּא גְבוּל מַעֲרָבִי, וּמִשָּׁם חָזְרוּ וְהָלְכוּ כָּל גְּבוּל מַעֲרָבִי עַל שְׂפַת הַיָּם עַד לְבֹא חֲמָת, שֶׁהוּא אֵצֶל הֹר הָהָר בְּמִקְצוֹעַ מַעֲרָבִית צְפוֹנִית, כְּמוֹ שֶׁמְּפֹרָשׁ בִּגְבוּלוֹת הָאָרֶץ בְּפָרָשַׁת אֵלֶּה מַסְעֵי:

From the desert of Tzin until Rechov, at the entrance of Chamas. They went along the length and width of its borders, like the form of the [Greek] gamma [G] They proceeded along the direction of the southern border from the eastern to the western corner as Moshe had commanded, “go up this way, to the south” by way of the southeastern border until the sea, as the sea is the western border. From there, they turned and proceeded along the entire western border by the seashore, until the entrance of Chamas, which is near Hor Hahar, at the northwestern corner, as the boundaries of the land are explicitly stated in the portion of “These are the journeys.”

ויבא עד חברון. כָּלֵב לְבַדּוֹ הָלַךְ שָׁם וְנִשְׁתַּטֵּחַ עַל קִבְרֵי אָבוֹת שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא נִסָּת לַחֲבֵרָיו לִהְיוֹת בַּעֲצָתָם, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (דברים א'), "וְלוֹ אֶתֵּן אֶת הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר דָּרַךְ בָּהּ", וּכְתִיב (שופטים א') "וַיִּתְּנוּ לְכָלֵב אֶת חֶבְרוֹן" (סוטה ל"ד):

And [he] came to Chevron: Caleiv went there alone and prostrated himself [in prayer] at the grave of the patriarchs, so that he would not be enticed by his companions to join in their design. Accordingly, it says, “I will give him (Caleiv) the land on which he walked,” and it is written, “they gave to Caleiv, Chevron.”

שבע שנים נבנתה. אֶפְשַׁר שֶׁבָּנָה חָם אֶת חֶבְרוֹן לִכְנַעַן בְּנוֹ הַקָּטָן קֹדֶם שֶׁיִּבְנֶה אֶת צֹעַן לְמִצְרַיִם בְּנוֹ הַגָּדוֹל? אֶלָּא שֶׁהָיְתָה מְבֻנָּה בְּכָל טוּב עַל אֶחָד מִשִּׁבְעָה בְצֹעַן, וּבָא לְהוֹדִיעֲךָ שִׁבְחָהּ שֶׁל אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁאֵין לְךָ טְרָשִׁין בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל יוֹתֵר מֵחֶבְרוֹן — לְפִיכָךְ הִקְצוּהָ לְקִבְרוֹת מֵתִים — וְאֵין לְךָ מְעֻלָּה בְּכָל הָאֲרָצוֹת כְּמִצְרַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "כְּגַן ה' כְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם" (בראשית י"ג), וְצֹעַן הִיא הַמְעֻלָּה שֶׁבְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם, שֶׁשָּׁם מוֹשַׁב הַמְּלָכִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "כִּי הָיוּ בְצֹעַן שָׂרָיו" (ישעיהו ל'), וְהָיְתָה חֶבְרוֹן טוֹבָה מִמֶּנָּה שִׁבְעָה חֲלָקִים (סוטה ל"ד; כתובות קי"ב):

Was built seven years. Is it possible that Cham built Chevron, for his youngest son Canaan, before he built Tzo’an, for his eldest son Mitzrayim? Rather, it was built up with everything good, seven times more than Tzoan. This informs you of the praiseworthiness of Eretz Yisroel, for nothing in Eretz Yisroel is more barren than Chevron that is why it was set aside as a cemetery. Nothing is as excellent, among all the countries, as Mitzrayim, as it is said, “Like Hashem’s garden, like the land of Mitzrayim.” And Tzoan was the most excellent in the land of Mitzrayim, for the seat of royalty was there, as it is said, “for his ministers were in Tzoan.” Yet, Chevron was seven times better.

זמורה. שׂוֹכַת גֶּפֶן, וְאֶשְׁכּוֹל שֶׁל עֲנָבִים תָּלוּי בָּהּ:

A branch. A branch of the grapevine with a cluster of grapes hanging from it.

וישאהו במוט בשנים. מִמַּשְׁמַע שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וַיִּשָּׂאֻהוּ בַמּוֹט" אֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁהוּא בִשְׁנַיִם? מַה תַּ"ל "בִּשְׁנָיִם"? בִּשְׁנֵי מוֹטוֹת. הָא כֵיצַד? שְׁמוֹנָה נָטְלוּ אֶשְׁכּוֹל, אֶחָד נָטַל תְּאֵנָה וְאֶחָד רִמּוֹן; יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וְכָלֵב לֹא נָטְלוּ כְלוּם, לְפִי שֶׁכָּל עַצְמָם לְהוֹצִיא דִּבָּה נִתְכַּוְּנוּ — כְּשֵׁם שֶׁפִּרְיָהּ מְשֻׁנֶּה כָּךְ עַמָּהּ מְשֻׁנֶּה; וְאִם חָפֵץ אַתָּה לֵידַע כַּמָּה מַשּׂאוֹי אֶחָד מֵהֶם, צֵא וּלְמַד מֵאֲבָנִים שֶׁהֵקִימוּ בַּגִּלְגָּל — הֵרִימוּ לָהֶם אִיש אֶבֶן אַחַת מִן הַיַּרְדֵן עַל שִׁכְמוֹ וֶהֱקִימוּהָ בַּגִּלְגָּל (יהושע ד') — וּשְׁקָלוּם רַבּוֹתֵינוּ מִשְׁקַל כָּל אַחַת אַרְבָּעִים סְאָה, וּגְמִירֵי טוּנָא דְּמִידְלֵי אֱינַשׁ עַל כַּתְפֵּיהּ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא שְׁלִישׁ מַשּׂאוֹי כַּמַּשּׂאוֹי שֶׁמְּסַיְּעִין אוֹתוֹ לְהָרִים (סוטה ל"ד):

They carried it between two on a pole. From the plain meaning of the statement “they carried it on a pole,” do I not know that it was with two [carriers]? What does the Torah teach by saying “between two”? With two poles. How was this? Eight took the cluster, one took the fig, one the pomegranate. Yehoshuah and Caleiv did not take anything, since the sole purpose of the others was to deliver a slanderous report — ‘Just as its fruit is strange, so are its people strange.’ If you want to know how much one of them weighed, go and learn from the stones they set up in Gilgal. Each man carried one stone from the Yardein on his shoulder, and set it up in Gilgal. The Rabbis determined that each weighed forty se’in, and tradition teaches that the load a man can carry on his shoulder is only a third of the load he can carry when others assist him.

וישבו מתור הארץ מקץ ארבעים יום. וַהֲלֹא אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת פַּרְסָה עַל אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת פַּרְסָה הִיא, וּמַהֲלַךְ אָדָם בֵּינוֹנִי עֶשֶׂר פַּרְסָאוֹת לַיּוֹם, הֲרֵי מַהֲלַךְ אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם מִן הַמִּזְרָח לַמַּעֲרָב — וְהֵם הָלְכוּ אָרְכָּהּ וְרָחְבָּהּ? אֶלָּא שֶׁגָּלוּי לִפְנֵי הַקָּבָּ"ה שֶׁיִּגְזֹר עֲלֵיהֶם יוֹם לַשָּׁנָה, קִצֵּר לִפְנֵיהֶם אֶת הַדֶּרֶךְ (שם):

They returned from spying the land, at the end of forty days. But is not [the land] four hundred by four hundred parsa’os, and the average person’s traveling distance is ten parsa’os a day, and then there was a traveling distance of forty days from east to west, and they traversed its length and breadth? But as it was revealed before the Holy One, Blessed is He, that He would sentence them with a day for a year, he shortened the way before them.

וילכו ויבאו. מַהוּ וַיֵּלְכוּ? לְהַקִּישׁ הֲלִיכָתָן לְבִיאָתָן, מַה בִּיאָתָן בְּעֵצָה רָעָה אַף הֲלִיכָתָן בְּעֵצָה רָעָה (שם ל"ה):

They went and came. What is [meant by] “they went”? To compare their going with their coming. Just as their coming was with an evil design, so was their going, with an evil design.

וישיבו אתם דבר. אֶת מֹשֶׁה וְאֶת אַהֲרֹן:

They brought word back to them. To Moshe and Aharon.

זבת חלב ודבש הוא. כָּל דְּבַר שֶׁקֶר שֶׁאֵין אוֹמְרִים בּוֹ קְצָת אֱמֶת בִּתְחִלָּתוֹ, אֵין מִתְקַיֵּם בְּסוֹפוֹ:

Flowing with milk and honey. A falsehood in which some truth is not stated at the beginning, cannot be maintained in the end.

בצרות. לְשׁוֹן חֹזֶק, וְתַרְגּוּמוֹ "כְּרִיכַן", לְשׁוֹן בִּירָנִיּוֹת עֲגֻלּוֹת, וּבְלָשׁוֹן אֲרַמִּי כְּרִיךְ עָגוֹל:

Fortified. The word connotes strength. Targum [Onkelos] renders it כְּרִיכַן, meaning circular fortresses. In Aramaic, כְּרִיךְ means “circular.”

עמלק יושב וגו'. לְפִי שֶׁנִּכְווּ בַּעֲמָלֵק כְּבָר, הִזְכִּירוּהוּ מְרַגְּלִים כְּדֵי לְיָרְאָם (תנחומא):

Amalek dwells, etc. Because they had already been burnt by Amalek, the spies mentioned them, to frighten them.

ועל יד הירדן. יָד כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ, אֵצֶל הַיַּרְדֵּן, וְלֹא תוּכְלוּ לַעֲבֹר:

And next to the Yardein. יַד, like its plain meaning, next to the Yardein, and you will be unable to cross.

ויהס כלב. הִשְׁתִּיק אֶת כֻּלָּם:

Caleiv silenced. He silenced them all.

אל משה. לִשְׁמֹעַ מַה שֶּׁיְּדַבֵּר בְּמֹשֶׁה, צָוַח וְאָמַר "וְכִי זוֹ בִּלְבַד עָשָׂה לָנוּ בֶן עַמְרָם?" הַשּׁוֹמֵעַ הָיָה סָבוּר שֶׁבָּא לְסַפֵּר בִּגְנוּתוֹ, וּמִתּוֹךְ שֶׁהָיָה בְלִבָּם עַל מֹשֶׁה בִּשְׁבִיל דִּבְרֵי הַמְרַגְּלִים, שָׁתְקוּ כֻלָּם לִשְׁמֹעַ גְּנוּתוֹ, אָמַר "וַהֲלֹא קָרַע לָנוּ אֶת הַיָּם וְהוֹרִיד לָנוּ אֶת הַמָּן וְהֵגִיז לָנוּ אֶת הַשְּׂלָו":

To [hear about] Moshe. To hear what he would say about Moshe. He cried out, saying: ‘Is it only this that the son of Amram did to us’? The listener thought that he intended to slander him. Since they were resentful towards Moshe because of the spies’ report, they were all silent, in order to hear the slander about him. He said: ‘But did he not split the sea for us, and bring down the manna for us, and cause the quail to be blown to us’?

עלה נעלה. אֲפִלּוּ בַּשָּׁמַיִם, וְהוּא אוֹמֵר עֲשׂוּ סֻלָּמוֹת וַעֲלוּ שָׁם, נַצְלִיחַ בְּכָל דְּבָרָיו (סוטה ל"ה):

We can surely go up. Even to heaven, and even if he tells us to build ladders and go up there, we will succeed at whatever he says!

ויהס. לְשׁוֹן שְׁתִיקָה, וְכֵן "הַס כָּל בָּשָׂר" (זכריה ב'), "הַס כִּי לֹא לְהַזְכִּיר" (עמוס ו'), כֵּן דֶּרֶךְ בְּנֵי אָדָם, הָרוֹצֶה לְשַׁתֵּק אֲגֻדַּת אֲנָשִׁים אוֹמֵר "שי"ט":

[He] silenced. The meaning is “silence.” Similarly, “silence, all flesh”! “silence, for it is not to be mentioned.” This is a person’s way. Someone who wants to quiet a group of people says, “sh-sh”!

חזק הוא ממנו. כִּבְיָכוֹל כְּלַפֵּי מַעְלָה אָמְרוּ (סוטה כ"ה):

They are more powerful than we. As if it were possible, they said this about the One above.

אכלת יושביה. בְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁעָבַרְנוּ מְצָאנוּם קוֹבְרֵי מֵתִים, וְהַקָּבָּ"ה עָשָׂה לְטוֹבָה, כְּדֵי לְטָרְדָם בְּאֶבְלָם וְלֹא יִתְּנוּ לֵב לָאֵלּוּ:

Which consumes its inhabitants. Wherever we passed we found them burying the dead. But the Holy One, Blessed is He, did this for their benefit, so that they would be preoccupied with their grief and pay no attention to them.

אנשי מדות. גְּדוֹלִים וּגְבוֹהִים, וְצָרִיךְ לָתֵת לָהֶם מִדָּה, כְּגוֹן גָּלְיָת "גָּבְהוֹ שֵׁשׁ אַמּוֹת וָזָרֶת" (שמואל א י"ז), וְכֵן "אִישׁ מָדוֹן" (שמואל ב כ"א), "אִישׁ מִדָּה" (מלכים א י"א):

Men of dimensions. Big and tall, who need to be measured, like Golias, “Whose height was six amos and a zeres.” Similarly, “ אִישׁ מָדוֹן,” a man of dimensions.

הנפילים. עֲנָקִים, מִבְּנֵי שַׁמְחָזַאי וַעֲזָאֵל שֶׁנָּפְלוּ מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם בִּימֵי דּוֹר אֱנוֹשׁ:

The giants. Giants, children of Shamchazai and Azael, who fell from heaven in the days of Enosh.

וכן היינו בעיניהם. שָׁמַעְנוּ אוֹמְרִים זֶה לָזֶה, נְמָלִים יֵשׁ בַּכְּרָמִים כַּאֲנָשִׁים (סוטה ל"ה):

And so we appeared in their eyes. We heard them say to each other, ‘There are ants in the vineyard like people.’

ענק. שֶׁמַּעֲנִיקִים חַמָּה בְּקוֹמָתָן (שם ל"ד):

The giant. Who make the sun a necklace by their height.

כל העדה. סַנְהֶדְרָאוֹת (תנחומא יב):

The entire community The Sanhedrin members.

לו מתנו. הַלְוַאי וָמַתְנוּ:

Would we had died. Would that we had died.

נתנה ראש. כְּתַרְגוּמוֹ "נְמַנֵּי רֵישָׁא" — נָשִׂים עָלֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ; וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ פֵרְשׁוּ, לְשׁוֹן עֲ"זָ (סנהדרין ק"ז):

Let us appoint (lit. place) a head. As Targum [Onkelos] renders, “Let us appoint a head,” ‘Let us appoint a king over us.’ The Rabbis, of blessed memory, interpret this as referring to idolatry.

אל תמרדו. וְשׁוּב ואתם אל תראו:

Do not rebel. Consequently, “and you do not be afraid, etc.

כי לחמנו הם. נֹאכְלֵם כַּלֶּחֶם:

For they are [as] our bread. We will consume them like bread.

סר צלם. מְגִנָּם וְחָזְקָם, כְּשֵׁרִים שֶׁבָּהֶם מֵתוּ — אִיּוֹב שֶׁהָיָה מֵגֵן עֲלֵיהֶם (סוטה ל"ה); (דָּ"אַ, צִלּוֹ שֶׁל הַמָּקוֹם סָר עֲלֵיהֶם):

Their protection (lit. shade) is removed from them. Their shield and strength. The righteous among them have died — Iyov, who shielded them with his merit. (Another interpretation: The Omnipresent’s shield has been removed from them.)

לרגום אתם. אֶת יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וְכָלֵב:

They should be stoned. Yehoshua and Caleiv.

וכבוד ה'. הֶעָנָן יָרַד שָׁם:

When the glory of Adonoy. The Cloud descended there.

עד אנה. עַד הֵיכָן:

Until where. To what degree.

ינאצני. יַרְגִּיזוּנִי:

Will . . . provoke me. [יְנַאֲצוּנִי means] will they anger me.

בכל האתות. בִּשְׁבִיל כָּל הַנִּסִּים שֶׁעָשִׂיתִי לָהֶם, הָיָה לָהֶם לְהַאֲמִין שֶׁהַיְכֹלֶת בְּיָדִי לְקַיֵּם הַבְטָחָתִי:

Despite all the signs. Because of all the miracles I performed for them, they should have believed that I am capable of fulfilling my promise.

ואורישנו. לְשׁוֹן תֵּרוּכִין, וְאִ"תֹּ מָה אֶעֱשֶׂה לִשְׁבוּעַת אָבוֹת?

And [I will] annihilate them. As Targum [Onkelos] renders it, meaning annihilation. Perhaps you will ask, ‘what will I do about the oath to the patriarchs’?

ואעשה אתך לגוי גדול. שֶׁאַתָּה מִזַּרְעָם:

I shall make you into a greater nation. As you are descended from them.

ושמעו מצרים. וְשָׁמְעוּ אֶת אֲשֶׁר תַּהַרְגֵם:

But Egypt will hear. They will hear that You killed them.

כי העלית. כִּי מְשַׁמֵּשׁ בִּלְשׁוֹן אֲשֶׁר, וְהֵם רָאוּ אֶת אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱלִיתָ בְּכֹחֲךָ הַגָּדוֹל אוֹתָם מִקִּרְבָּם, וּכְשֶׁיִּשְׁמְעוּ שֶׁאַתָּה הוֹרְגָם לֹא יֹאמְרוּ שֶׁחָטְאוּ לְךָ, אֶלָּא יֹאמְרוּ שֶׁכְּנֶגְדָּם יָכֹלְתָּ לְהִלָּחֵם אֲבָל כְּנֶגֶד יוֹשְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ לֹא יָכֹלְתָּ לְהִלָּחֵם, וְזוֹ הִיא:

That You . . . brought up. כִּי is used to denote “that.” And they saw that You brought them up, with Your great power, from among them. When they hear that You killed them, they will not say that they sinned against You. Rather, they will say that, against them, You were able to wage war, but against the inhabitants of the land, You were not able to wage war. This is [the meaning of the following]:

ואמרו אל יושב הארץ הזאת. כְּמוֹ עַל יוֹשֵׁב הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת — וּמַה יֹּאמְרוּ עֲלֵיהֶם? מַה שֶּׁאָמוּר בְּסוֹף הָעִנְיָן:

They will say, concerning (lit. to) the inhabitants of this land. Like עַל, “concerning” the inhabitants of this land. What will they say about them? What is said at the end of the subject, because of Hashem’s inability. Since they have heard that You, God, dwell in their midst, and You, Hashem, are revealed to them before their eyes, all in a loving way, and they are not aware that Your love for them was removed from them, until now.

המתה את העם הזה כאיש אחד. פִּתְאֹם, וּמִתּוֹךְ כָּךְ יֹאמְרוּ הַגּוֹיִם אֲשֶׁר שָׁמְעוּ וְגוֹ':

If You kill this nation like a single man. Suddenly. As a result, the nations who have heard etc.

מבלתי יכלת ה'. בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁשָּׁמְעוּ כִּי אַתָּה ה' שׁוֹכֵן בְּקִרְבָּם וְעַיִן בְּעַיִן אַתָּה נִרְאֶה לָהֶם, וְהַכֹּל בְּדֶרֶךְ חִבָּה וְלֹא הִכִּירוּ בְךָ שֶׁנִּתְּקָה אַהֲבָתְךָ מֵהֶם עַד הֵנָּה:

מבלתי יכלת וגו'. לְפִי שֶׁיּוֹשְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ חֲזָקִים וְגִבּוֹרִים, וְאֵינוֹ דוֹמֶה פַרְעֹה לִשְׁלֹשִׁים וְאֶחָד מְלָכִים, זֹאת יֹאמְרוּ עַל יוֹשְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת, מִבִּלְתִּי יְכֹלֶת — מִתּוֹךְ שֶׁלֹא הָיָה יְכֹלֶת בְּיָדוֹ לַהֲבִיאָם — שְׁחָטָם:

Because of [Adonoy’s] inability. Because the inhabitants of the land are strong and valorous, and Pharaoh is not the same as thirty-one kings. This is what they will say about the inhabitants of this land. Because of inability. Since He was not able to bring them, He slaughtered them.

יכלת. שֵׁם דָּבָר הוּא:

[In]ability. This is an abstract noun.

(יגדל נא כח ה'. לַעֲשׂוֹת דִּבּוּרְךָ:)

Let my Master’s power be enhanced. By fulfilling Your word.

כאשר דברת לאמר. וּמַהוּ הַדִּבּוּר?

As You spoke, saying: What is the statement?

ה' ארך אפים. לַצַּדִּיקִים וְלָרְשָׁעִים; כְּשֶׁעָלָה מֹשֶׁה לַמָּרוֹם מְצָאוֹ לְהַקָּבָּ"ה שֶׁהָיָה יוֹשֵׁב וְכוֹתֵב ה' אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם, אָמַר לוֹ, לַצַּדִּיקִים? אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּבָּ"ה אַף לָרְשָׁעִים, אָמַר לוֹ רְשָׁעִים יֹאבֵדוּ, אָמַר לוֹ חַיֶּיךָ שֶׁתִּצְטָרֵךְ לַדָּבָר; כְּשֶׁחָטְאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בָּעֵגֶל וּבַמְּרַגְּלִים הִתְפַּלֵּל מֹשֶׁה לְפָנָיו בְּאֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם, אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּבָּ"ה וַהֲלֹא אָמַרְתָּ לִי לַצַּדִּיקִים? אָמַר לוֹ וַהֲלֹא אָמַרְתָּ לִי אַף לָרְשָׁעִים, יגדל נא כח ה' לַעֲשׂוֹת דִּבּוּרְךָ (סנהדרין קי"א):

Adonoy, slow to anger. At the righteous and at the wicked. When Moshe ascended on high, he found the Holy One, Blessed is He, sitting and writing, “Hashem is slow to anger.” He (Moshe) said to Him, ‘to the righteous’? The Holy One, Blessed is He, said to him, ‘even to the wicked’! He (Moshe) said to Him, ‘let the wicked perish’! He said to him ‘by your life, you will need this thing.’ When the Israelites sinned with the [golden] calf and the spies, Moshe prayed before Him with “slow to anger.” The Holy One, Blessed is He, said: “But you said to Me ‘to the righteous”’? He (Moshe) said to Him: “But You said to me, ‘Even to the wicked’.”

ונקה. לַשָּׁבִים:

Acquit. Those who repent.

לא ינקה. לְשֶׁאֵינָן שָׁבִים (יומא פ"ו):

[He] does not acquit. Those who do not repent.

כדברך. בִּשְׁבִיל מַה שֶּׁאָמַרְתָּ "פֶּן יֹאמְרוּ מִבִּלְתִּי יְכֹלֶת ה'":

As you spoke. Because of your statement, ”lest they say, ‘because of Hashem’s inability’.”

ואולם. כְּמוֹ אֲבָל זֹאת אֶעֱשֶׂה לָהֶם:

However. Like, ‘However, I will do the following to them.

חי אני. לְשׁוֹן שְׁבוּעָה, כְּשֵׁם שֶׁאֲנִי חַי וּכְבוֹדִי יִמָּלֵא אֶת כָּל הָאָרֶץ, כָּךְ אֲקַיֵּם לָהֶם כִּי כָל הָאֲנָשִׁים הָרֹאִים וְגוֹ', (אם יראו את הארץ. הֲרֵי זֶה מִקְרָא מְסֹרָס — חַי אָנִי כִּי כָל הָאֲנָשִׁים אִם יִרְאוּ אֶת הָאָרֶץ וּכְבוֹדִי יִמָּלֵא אֶת כָּל הָאָרֶץ, שֶׁלֹּא יִתְחַלֵּל שְׁמִי בַמַּגֵפָה הַזֹּאת לֵאמֹר מִבִּלְתִּי יְכֹלֶת ה' לַהֲבִיאָם, שֶׁלֹּא אֲמִיתֵם פִּתְאֹם כְּאִיש אֶ' אֶלָּא בְּאִחוּר מ' שָׁנָה מְעַט מְעַט):

As I Live. This denotes an oath. Just as I live and My glory will fill all the earth, so shall I fulfill to them, “for, all the people who see, etc. . . . If they will see the land.”

וינסו. כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ:

Have tested Me. Like its plain meaning.

זה עשר פעמים. שְׁנַיִם בַּיָּם וּשְׁנַיִם בַּמָּן וּשְׁנַיִם בַּשְּׂלָו וכוּ', כִּדְאִיתָא בְמַסֶּכֶת עֲרָכִין (דף ט"ו):

These ten times. Twice at the [splitting of the] sea, twice with the manna, twice with the quail, etc., as stated in Maseches Arachin.

אם יראו. לֹא יִרְאוּ:

If they will see. They will not see. (If they will see the land. This passage should be rearranged [as follows]: As I live, for all the men, if they will see the land and yet My glory will fill all the earth, so that My Name will not be desecrated through this plague [by those] saying ‘Because of Hashem’s inability to bring them.’ for, I will not kill them suddenly, like a single man, but over forty years, little by little.)

לא יראהו. לֹא יִרְאוּ אֶת הָאָרֶץ:

[They] will not see it. They will not see the land.

רוח אחרת. שְׁתֵּי רוּחוֹת, אַ' בַּפֶה וְאַ' בְּלֵב, לַמְּרַגְּלִים אָמַר אֲנִי עִמָּכֶם בָּעֵצָה, וּבְלִבּוֹ הָיָה לוֹמַר הָאֱמֶת, וְעַל יְדֵי כֵן הָיָה בוֹ כֹּחַ לְהַשְׁתִּיקָם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר י"ג), "וַיַּהַס כָּלֵב", שֶׁהָיוּ סְבוּרִים שֶׁיֹּאמַר כְּמוֹתָם, זֶהוּ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בְּסֵ' יְהוֹשֻׁעַ "וָאָשֵׁב אֹתוֹ דָּבָר כַּאֲשֶׁר עִם לְבָבִי" (יהושע י"ד) — וְלֹא כַּאֲשֶׁר עִם פִּי (תנחומא):

A different spirit. Two spirits, one verbal, and one in his heart. To the spies he said, ‘I am with you in your plan,’ but in his heart he intended to tell the truth. Because of this, he was able to silence them, as it is said, “Caleiv silenced [the people],” since they thought he would speak as they did. Thus it is said in the book of Yehoshua, “I (Caleiv) brought back word to him (Moshe) according to what was in my heart — but not according to what was in my mouth.

וימלא אחרי. וַיְמַלֵּא אֶת לִבּוֹ אַחֲרַי, וְזֶה מִקְרָא קָצָר:

And followed Me fully. He followed Me full-heartedly. This is a shortened passage.

אשר בא שמה. חֶבְרוֹן תִּנָּתֵן לוֹ:

To which he came. Chevron will be given to m.

יורשנה. כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ "יְתַרְכֻנַּהּ", יוֹרִישׁוּ אֶת הָעֲנָקִים וְאֶת הָעָם אֲשֶׁר בָּהּ, וְאֵין לְתַרְגְּמוֹ "יַרְתִּינַהּ" אֶלָּא בִּמְקוֹם יִירָשֶׁנָּה:

Will cast out [the inhabitants] from it. As Targum [Onkelos] renders it, “they will cast out from it.” They will cast out the giants and the people who are in it. But it should not be translated “will inherit it,” unless the text reads יִירָשֶׁנָּה .

והעמלקי וגו'. אִם תֵּלְכוּ שָׁם יַהַרְגוּ אֶתְכֶם, מֵאַחַר שֶׁאֵינִי עִמָּכֶם:

The Amaleki, etc. If you go there they will kill you, since I am not with you.

מחר פנו. לַאֲחוֹרֵיכֶם, וסעו לכם וגו':

Tomorrow, turn. Back and travel, etc.

לעדה הרעה וגו'. אֵלּוּ הַמְרַגְּלִים, מִכָּאן לָעֵדָה שֶׁהִיא עֲשָׂרָה (מגילה כ"ג):

Wicked congregation, etc. These are the spies. From here [we derive] that a congregation is ten.

אשר המה מלינים. אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל עָלַי:

Those who provoke. The Israelites against me.

את תלנות בני ישראל אשר המה. הַמְרַגְּלִים מלינים אוֹתָם עלי, שמעתי:

The complaints of Bnei Yisroel which they, the spies provoked them into complaining against me, I have heard.

חי אני. לְשׁוֹן שְׁבוּעָה, אִם לֹא כֵן אֶעֱשֶׂה — כִּבְיָכוֹל אֵינִי חַי:

As I live. This denotes an oath. ‘If [I do] not, etc., so I shall do, if it were possible to say, I do not live.

כאשר דברתם. שֶׁבִּקַּשְׁתֶּם מִמֶּנִּי "אוֹ בַּמִּדְבָּר הַזֶּה לוּ מָתְנוּ" (פסוק ב'):

As you have spoken. You requested from Me, “Or would that we had died in this desert.”

וכל פקדיכם לכל מספרכם. כָּל הַנִּמְנֶה לְכָל מִסְפָּר שֶׁאַתֶּם נִמְנִים בּוֹ, כְּגוֹן לָצֵאת וְלָבֹא לַצָּבָא וְלָתֵת שְׁקָלִים, כָּל הַמְּנוּיִים לְכָל אוֹתָן מִסְפָּרוֹת יָמוּתוּ, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן מבן עשרים שנה וגו'; לְהוֹצִיא שִׁבְטוֹ שֶׁל לֵוִי שֶׁאֵין פְּקוּדֵיהֶם מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים:

All of you who were counted according to your numbers. All those counted in every census in which you were counted. For example, going and coming with the army, and contributing the shekolim. Everyone counted in all those tallies will die. They are the following: From the age of twenty, etc. This excludes the tribe of Levi, who were not counted from the age of twenty.

ופגריכם אתם. כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ, לְפִי שֶׁדִּבֵּר עַל הַבָּנִים לְהַכְנִיסָם לָאָרֶץ וּבִקֵּשׁ לוֹמַר וְאַתֶּם תָּמוּתוּ, נוֹפֵל לָשׁוֹן זֶה כָּאן לוֹמַר "אתם":

Your corpses — yours. As Targum [Onkelos] renders [(דִי לְכוֹן) “yours”]. Since He discussed bringing the children into the land, and He now wants to say ‘but you will die,’ it is appropriate, here, to say “yours.”

ארבעים שנה. לֹא מֵת אֶחָד מֵהֶם פָּחוּת מִבֶּן שִׁשִּׁים, לְכָךְ נִגְזַר אַרְבָּעִים, כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיוּ אוֹתָם שֶׁל בְּנֵי עֶשְׂרִים מַגִּיעִין לִכְלַל שִׁשִּׁים; שָׁנָה רִאשׁוֹנָה הָיְתָה בִכְלָל, וְאַעַ"פִּ שֶׁקָּדְמָה לְשִׁלּוּחַ הַמְרַגְּלִים, לְפִי שֶׁמִּשֶּׁעָשׂוּ אֶת הָעֶגֶל עָלְתָה גְזֵרָה זוֹ בְמַחֲשָׁבָה, אֶלָּא שֶׁהִמְתִּין לָהֶם עַד שֶׁתִּתְמַלֵּא סְאָתָם, וְזֶהוּ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וּבְיוֹם פָּקְדִי" — בַּמְרַגְּלִים — "וּפָקַדְתִּי עֲלֵיהֶם חַטָּאתָם" (שמות ל"ב); וְאַף כָּאן נֶאֱמַר "תִּשְׂאוּ אֶת עֲוֹנֹתֵיכֶם" — שְׁתֵּי עֲוֹנוֹת, שֶׁל עֵגֶל וְשֶׁל תְּלוּנָה, וְחָשַׁב לָהֶם בְּמִנְיַן חַיֵּיהֶם מִקְצָת שָׁנָה כְּכֻלָּהּ, וּכְשֶׁנִּכְנְסוּ לִשְׁנַת שִׁשִּׁים מֵתוּ אוֹתָם שֶׁל בְּנֵי עֶשְׂרִים:

Forty years. Not one of them died before the age of sixty. This is why the decree was for forty [years], so that those who were twenty years old would reach the age of sixty. The first year was included, although it preceded the sending of the spies, because, from the time that they made the golden calf, the plan for this decree was formulated, But He waited until their measure was filled. This is [the meaning of] what is said, “on my day of reckoning — with the spies — I will take their sin into account.” Here, too, it is said, “you must bear your sins,” [plural] two sins, that of the calf, and that of the complaint. In calculating their ages, He considered part of the year as the whole, so that when they entered their sixtieth year, those who had been twenty years old died.

ונשאו את זנותיכם. כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ "וִיקַבְּלוּן יָת חוֹבֵיכוֹן":

They will bear [the burden of] your dissoluteness. As Targum [Onkelos] renders, “they will receive [punishment for] your sins.”

את תנואתי. שֶׁהֲנִיאוֹתֶם אֶת לְבַבְכֶם מֵאַחֲרַי, תנואה לְשׁוֹן הֲסָרָה, כְּמוֹ "כִּי הֵנִיא אָבִיהָ אֹתָהּ" (במדבר ל):

My displeasure. You diverted your hearts from following Me. תְּנוּאָה denotes turning away, like, “for her father restrained her [from her vow].”

וישבו וילינו עליו. וּכְשֶׁשָּׁבוּ מִתּוּר הָאָרֶץ הִרְעִימוּ עָלָיו אֶת כָּל הָעֵדָה בְּהוֹצָאַת דִּבָּה, אוֹתָם אֲנָשִׁים וימתו; כָּל הוֹצָאַת דִּבָּה לְשׁוֹן חִנּוּךְ דְּבָרִים, שֶׁמַּלְקִיחִים לְשׁוֹנָם לְאָדָם לְדַבֵּר בּוֹ, כְּמוֹ "דּוֹבֵב שִׂפְתֵי יְשֵׁנִים" (שיר השירים ז'), וְיֶשְׁנָהּ לְטוֹבָה וְיֶשְׁנָהּ לְרָעָה, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר כָּאן מוצאי דבת הארץ רעה, שֶׁיֵּשׁ דִּבָּה שֶׁהִיא טוֹבָה:

Who returned and provoked [the] complaints against him. When they returned from spying on the land, they incited the entire congregation against him by issuing a derogatory report — those men died. הוֹצָאַת דִּבָּה always denotes directed speech, where the tongue is plied to report about someone, like, “causing the lips of sleepers to murmur.” It may be either good or bad. This is why it says here “who spread evil slander against the land,” since דִּבָּה may be good.

דבה. פרליר"ש בְּלַעַז:

Slander. Parlerie in Old French.

במגפה לפני ה'. בְּאוֹתָהּ מִיתָה הַהֲגוּנָה לָהֶם, מִדָּה כְּנֶגֶד מִדָּה, הֵם חָטְאוּ בַּלָּשׁוֹן, וְנִשְׁתַּרְבֵּב לְשׁוֹנָם עַד טַבּוּרָם וְתוֹלָעִים יוֹצְאִים מִלְּשׁוֹנָם וּבָאִין לְתוֹךְ טַבּוּרָם, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר "בַּמַּגֵּפָה" וְלֹא "בְמַגֵּפָה", וְזֶהוּ לפני ה' — בְּאוֹתָהּ הָרְאוּיָה לָהֶם עַ"פִּ מִדּוֹתָיו שֶׁל הַקָּבָּ"ה שֶׁהוּא מוֹדֵד מִדָּה כְּנֶגֶד מִדָּה (סוטה ל"ה):

In a plague, before Adonoy. By the particular death suited to them, measure for measure. They sinned with the tongue, so their tongues were distended until their navel, and maggots came from their tongues and entered their navel. This is why it says, בַּמַּגֵּפָה, and not בְּמַּגֵּפָה . And this is [the meaning of] “before Hashem” — as particularly suited to them, according to the attributes of the Holy One, Blessed is He, Who metes out measure for measure.

ויהושע וכלב … חיו וגו'. מַה תַּ"ל חיו מן האנשים ההם? אֶלָּא מְלַמֵּד שֶׁנָּטְלוּ חֶלְקָם שֶׁל מְרַגְּלִים בָּאָרֶץ וְקָמוּ תַחְתֵּיהֶם לַחַיִּים (בבא בתרא קי"ח):

Yehoshua . . . and Caleiv . . . lived, etc. What does the Torah teach by saying, “lived, from among those men”? It teaches that they took the spies’ portion in the land, replacing them in life.

אל ראש ההר. הוּא הַדֶּרֶךְ הָעוֹלֶה לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל:

To the peak of the mountain. This was the route going up to Eretz Yisroel.

הננו ועלינו אל המקום. לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל:

We are ready to go up to the place. To Eretz Yisroel.

אשר אמר ה'. לְתִתָּהּ לָנוּ, שָׁם נַעֲלֶה:

Of which Adonoy spoke. To give to us — let us go up there.

כי חטאנו. עַל אֲשֶׁר אָמַרְנוּ הֲלוֹא טוֹב לָנוּ שׁוּב מִצְרָיְמָה:

For we have sinned. Since we said, “Is it not better for us to return to Egypt.”

והוא לא תצלח. זוֹ שֶׁאַתֶּם עוֹשִׂים לֹא תִצְלָח:

It will not succeed. Your actions will not succeed.

כי על כן שבתם. כְּלוֹמַר, כִּי זֹאת תָּבֹא לָכֶם עַל אֲשֶׁר שַׁבְתֶּם וְגוֹ':

For, you turned. As if to say, ‘for this will befall you because you turned, etc.’

ויעפלו. לְשׁוֹן חֹזֶק, וְכֵן "הִנֵּה עֻפְּלָה" (חבקוק ב'), אינג"ריש בְּלַעַז, לְשׁוֹן עַזּוּת, וְכֵן "עֹפֶל בַּת צִיּוֹן" (מיכה ד'), "עֹפֶל וָבַחַן" (ישעיהו ל"ב), וּמִדְרַשׁ תַּנְחוּמָא מְפָרְשׁוֹ לְשׁוֹן אֹפֶל — הָלְכוּ חֲשֵׁכִים, שֶׁלֹא בִרְשׁוּת:

They defiantly. The word [וַיַעְפִּלוּ] denotes strength. Similarly, “behold, [the wicked] are towering.” Engres, in Old French, denoting willfulness. Similarly, “the fortress of the daughter of Zion,” “fortress and stronghold.” But Midrash Tanchuma explains it as denoting darkness — they went in darkness, without permission.

ויכתום. כְּמוֹ "וָאֶכֹּת אֹתוֹ טָחוֹן" (דברים ט') — מַכָּה אַחַר מַכָּה:

And crushed them. Like, “I crushed it, grinding it [well].” Blow after blow.

עד החרמה. שֵׁם הַמָּקוֹם נִקְרָא עַל שֵׁם הַמְּאֹרָע:

Until Chormah. The place was named to commemorate this incident.

‬כי תבאו. בִּשֵּׂר לָהֶם שֶׁיִּכָּנְסוּ לָאָרֶץ:

(When you arrive. He informed them that they would enter the land.)

ועשיתם אשה. אֵין זֶה צִוּוּי, אֶלָּא כְּשֶׁתָּבֹאוּ שָׁם וְתַעֲלֶה עַל לְבַבְכֶם לַעֲשׂוֹת אִשֶּׁה לַה':

When you make a fire-offering. This does not denote a command. Rather, when you come there, and it occurs to you to make a fire-offering.

לפלא נדר או בנדבה וגו'. אוֹ שֶׁתַּעֲשׂוּ הָאִשֶּׁה בִּשְׁבִיל חוֹבַת מוֹעֲדֵיכֶם, שֶׁחִיַּבְתִּי אֶתְכֶם לַעֲשׂוֹת בַּמּוֹעֵד:

A pleasing fragrance. Satisfying to Me.

ריח ניחח. נַחַת רוּחַ לְפָנַי:

By verbalizing as a pledge or as a donation. Or, that you make the fire-offering in order to fulfill the holiday obligation which I have required you to perform during the holiday.

והקריב המקריב. תַּקְרִיבוּ נְסָכִים וּמִנְחָה לְכָל בְּהֵמָה; הַמִּנְחָה כָּלִיל וְהַשֶּׁמֶן נִבְלָל בְּתוֹכָהּ, וְהַיַּיִן לַסְּפָלִים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁשָּׁנִינוּ בְמַסֶּכֶת סֻכָּה (דף מ"ח):

The one bringing [his offering] should present. You should present libations and a meal-offering for each animal. The meal- offering is to be completely consumed, with the oil absorbed in it, and the wine [is poured] into the bowls, as we learned in Maseches Sukkah.

לכבש האחד. עַל כָּל הָאָמוּר לְמַעְלָה הוּא מוּסָב — עַל הַמִּנְחָה וְעַל הַשֶּׁמֶן וְעַל הַיָּיִן:

For the one sheep. This relates to everything stated above — the meal- offering, the oil, and the wine.

או לאיל. וְאִם אַיִל הוּא; וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ דָרְשׁוּ "אוֹ" — לְרַבּוֹת אֶת הַפַּלְגָּס לְנִסְכֵּי אַיִל (מנחות צ"א):

If (lit. or) for a ram. If it is a ram. The Rabbis extrapolate, ‘ אוֹ ’ includes the “palgas” in the libations of the ram.

אשה ריח. אֵינוֹ מוּסָב אֶלָּא עַל הַמִּנְחָה וְהַשֶּׁמֶן, אֲבָל הַיַּיִן אֵינוֹ אִשֶּׁה, שֶׁאֵינוֹ נִתָּן עַל הָאֵשׁ:

A fire-offering [of pleasing] fragrance. This refers only to the meal-offering and the oil, but the wine is not a fire-offering, as it is not placed on the fire.

או לשה וגו'. בֵּין שֶׁהוּא בַכְּבָשִׂים בֵּין שֶׁהוּא בָעִזִּים; כֶּבֶשׂ וָשֶׂה קְרוּיִם בְּתוֹךְ שְׁנָתָם, אַיִל בֶּן שְׁלֹשָׁה עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ וְיוֹם אֶחָד:

Or for the sheep, etc. Whether of sheep or of goats. כֶּבֶשׂ and שֶׂה are so entitled during their first year; אַיִל from the age of thirteen months and one day.

כמספר אשר תעשו. כְּמִסְפַּר הַבְּהֵמוֹת אֲשֶׁר תַּקְרִיבוּ לְקָרְבָּן, ככה תעשו נְסָכִים לְכָל אֶחָד מֵהֶם — כְּמִסְפָּרָם שֶׁל בְּהֵמוֹת מִסְפָּרָם שֶׁל נְסָכִים:

According to the number which you offer. According to the number of animals which you offer as sacrifices, so shall you make the libations for each of them. According to the number of animals, the number of libations.

ככם כגר. כְּמוֹתְכֶם כֵּן גֵּר, וְכֵן דֶּרֶךְ לְשׁוֹן עִבְרִית, "כְּגַן ה' כְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם" (בראשית י"ג) — כֵּן אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם, "כָּמוֹנִי כָמוֹךָ כְּעַמִּי כְעַמֶּךָ" (מלכים א כ"ב):

Just as it is for yourselves, so shall it be for the proselyte. Like you, so is the proselyte. This is the Hebrew style, “Like Hashem”’s garden, like the land of Egypt” — so is the land of Egypt. ”Like me, like you, like my people, like your people.”

בבאכם אל הארץ. מְשֻׁנָּה בִּיאָה זוֹ מִכָּל בִּיאוֹת שֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה, שֶׁבְּכֻלָּן נֶאֱמַר כִּי תָבֹא, כִּי תָבֹאוּ, לְפִיכָךְ כֻּלָּן לְמֵדוֹת זוֹ מִזּוֹ, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁפֵּרֵט לְךָ הַכָּתוּב בְּאַחַת מֵהֶן שֶׁאֵינָהּ אֶלָּא לְאַחַר יְרֻשָּׁה וִישִׁיבָה, אַף כֻּלָּן כֵּן, אֲבָל זוֹ נֶאֱמַר בָּהּ "בְּבֹאֲכֶם" — מִשֶּׁנִּכְנְסוּ בָהּ וְאָכְלוּ מִלַּחְמָהּ נִתְחַיְּבוּ בְחַלָּה (ספרי):

At your coming to the land. This “coming” is different from all the “comings” in the Torah. With all of them it says, “when you come,” “when all of you come.” Therefore, all are learned from each other. Since Scripture specified with one of them that it is only after inheriting and settling, all of them are the same. But with this, it is said, “at your coming.” As soon as they entered it (the land) and ate its bread, they were obligated with the mitzvah of challah.

ראשית ערסתכם. כְּשֶׁתָּלוּשׁוּ כְדֵי עִסַּתְכֶם שֶׁאַתֶּם רְגִילִין לָלוּשׁ בַּמִּדְבָּר — וְכַמָּה הִיא? "וַיָּמֹדּוּ בָעֹמֶר" (שמות ט"ז), "עֹמֶר לַגֻּלְגֹּלֶת" (שם) — תָּרִימוּ מֵרֵאשִׁיתָהּ, כְּלוֹמַר קֹדֶם שֶׁתֹּאכְלוּ מִמֶּנָּה, רֵאשִׁית חֶלְקָהּ חלה אַחַת תרימו תרומה לְשֵׁם ה' (עירובין פ"ג):

[From] the first portion of your doughs. When you knead the amount of dough that you generally knead in the desert — how much is that? “They measured it with an omer,” “An omer per person” (the amount is forty-three and one-fifth eggs) — you shall separate [the terumah-gift] from its first portion. As if to say, ‘before you eat the first portion from it, separate one loaf as a terumah-gift for the sake of Hashem”.’

חלה. טורטי"ל בְּלַעַז:

A loaf. Tortel in Old French.

כתרומת גרן. שֶׁלֹּא נֶאֱמַר בָּהּ שִׁעוּר וְלֹא כִתְרוּמַת מַעֲשֵׂר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בָּהּ שִׁעוּר (ספרי), אֲבָל חֲכָמִים נָתְנוּ שִׁעוּר — לְבַעַל הַבַּיִת אֶחָד מֵעֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה וּלְנַחְתּוֹם אֶחָד מֵאַרְבָּעִים וּשְׁמוֹנָה (חלה ב'):

Like the terumah-gift of the granary. For which no specific amount is required, but not like like the terumah-offering from the tithe, for which a specific amount is required. However, the sages required a specific amount: For the home maker, one twenty-fourth, for the commercial baker, one forty-eighth.

מראשית ערסתיכם. לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר? לְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "רֵאשִׁית עֲרִסֹתֵכֶם", שׁוֹמֵעַ אֲנִי רִאשׁוֹנָה שֶׁבָּעִסּוֹת, תַּ"ל מראשית — מִקְצָתָהּ וְלֹא כֻלָּהּ (ספרי):

Of the first portion of your doughs. Why is this said? Because it says, “The first portion of your dough,” I would understand this as the first of the loaves. The Torah therefore teaches, “of the first portion” — part of it, but not all of it.

תתנו לה' תרומה. לְפִי שֶׁלֹּא שָׁמַעְנוּ שִׁעוּר לְחַלָּה נֶאֱמַר "תִּתְּנוּ" — שֶׁיְּהֵא בָהּ כְּדֵי נְתִינָה (שם):

You shall give to Adonoy, as a terumah- offering. As we have not heard of a specific amount for the challah-offering, it says, “you shall give” — it should consist of an amount sufficient for “giving.”

וכי תשגו ולא תעשו. עֲ"זָ הָיְתָה בִּכְלַל כל המצוות שֶׁהַצִּבּוּר מְבִיאִין עָלֵיהָ פַר, וַהֲרֵי הַכָּתוּב מוֹצִיאָהּ כָּאן מִכְּלָלָן, לִדּוֹן בְּפַר לְעוֹלָה וְשָׂעִיר לְחַטָּאת (ספרי):

If you should err and not fulfill. this refers to idol worship. which was categorized within all the commandments for which the community brings an ox, but Scripture here removes it from the category, to indicate that it requires an ox as a burnt-offering, and a goat as a sin-offering.

וכי תשגו וגו'. בַּעֲ"זָ הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר, אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא בְאַחַת מִכָּל הַמִּצְוֹת, תַּ"ל את כל המצות האלה — מִצְוָה אַחַת שֶׁהִיא כְּכָל הַמִּצְוֹת, מַה הָעוֹבֵר עַל כָּל הַמִּצְוֹת פּוֹרֵק עֹל וּמֵפֵר בְּרִית וּמְגַלֶּה פָנִים, אַף מִצְוָה זוֹ פּוֹרֵק בָּהּ עֹל וּמֵפֵר בְּרִית וּמְגַלֶּה פָנִים, וְאֵיזוֹ? זוֹ עֲ"זָ (שם):

If you err, etc. Scripture speaks here of idol worship. But perhaps it refers to one of all the [other] commandments? The Torah therefore teaches, “all of these commandments” — a single commandment which is equivalent to all the commandments. Just as someone who transgresses all the commandments casts off the yoke, breaks the covenant, and brazenly defies [the Torah], so with [someone who transgresses] this commandment, he casts off the yoke, breaks the covenant, and brazenly defies [the Torah]. Which is this? Idol worship.

אשר דבר ה' אל משה. אָנֹכִי וְלֹא יִהְיֶה לְךָ מִפִּי הַגְּבוּרָה שְׁמַעְנוּם כְּדִכְתִיב (תהילים ס"ב) "אַחַת דִּבֶּר אֱלֹהִים שְׁתַּיִם זוּ שָׁמָעְנוּ" (הוריות ח'):

Which Adonoy said to Moshe. “I am . . .,” and “you must not have . . .” we heard from the mouth of the Omnipotent, as it is written, “Hashem” spoke once, but I heard two.”

את כל אשר צוה וגו'. מַגִּיד שֶׁכָּל הַמּוֹדֶה בַּעֲ"זָ כְּכוֹפֵר בְּכָל הַתּוֹרָה כֻּלָּהּ וּבְכָל מַה שֶּׁנִּתְנַבְּאוּ הַנְּבִיאִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר מן היום אשר צוה ה' והלאה:

All that [Adonoy] commanded. This teaches that if one admits to idolatry, it is as if he had denied the entire Torah, and all that the prophets prophesied, as it is said, “from the day that Hashem” commanded and onward.”

אם מעיני העדה נעשתה לשגגה. אִם מֵעֵינֵי הָעֵדָה נֶעֶשְׂתָה עֲבֵרָה זוֹ עַל יְדֵי שׁוֹגֵג — שֶׁשָּׁגוּ וְהוֹרוּ עַל אַחַת מִן הָעֲבוֹדוֹת שֶׁהִיא מֻתֶּרֶת לַעֲבֹד עֲ"זָ בְּכָךְ (שם ה'):

If, it was obscured from the eyes of the congregation, having been done in error. If, because of the seers of the community, this transgression was committed through error. [For example,] they erred, and ruled that one of the forms of service is permitted for idol worship.

לחטת. חָסֵר א', שֶׁאֵינוֹ כִשְׁאָר חַטָּאוֹת, שֶׁכָּל חַטָּאוֹת שֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה הַבָּאוֹת עִם עוֹלָה הַחַטָּאת קוֹדֶמֶת לָעוֹלָה, שֶׁנֶּא' (ויקרא ה'), "וְאֶת הַשֵּׁנִי יַעֲשֶׂה עֹלָה", וְזוֹ עוֹלָה קוֹדֶמֶת לְחַטָּאת (שם ט"ו):

לְחַטָּת, as a sin-offering. The ‘ א ’ is missing, because this is not like the other sin-offerings. All of the sin-offerings in the Torah which are brought with an olah-offering, the sin-offering precedes the olah, as it is said, “he shall make the second one an olah.” But with this, the olah precedes the sin-offering.

הביאו את קרבנם אשה לה'. זֶה הָאָמוּר בַּפָּרָשָׁה, הוּא פַר הָעוֹלָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "אִשֶּׁה לַה'" (ספרי):

They have brought their offering as a fire-offering to Adonoy. This refers to that which is stated in our parshah, namely the ox as the olah-offering, as it is said, “a fire-offering to Adonoy.”

וחטאתם. זֶה הַשָּׂעִיר:

And their sin-offering. This refers to the goat.

תחטא בשגגה. בַּעֲ"זָ:

Will sin erroneously. Through idolatry.

עז בת שנתה. שְׁאָר עֲבֵרוֹת יָחִיד מֵבִיא כִשְׂבָּה אוֹ שְׂעִירָה, וּבְזוֹ קָבַע לָהּ שְׂעִירָה (שם):

A yearling she-goat. For other transgressions, the individual brings a sheep or goat, but for this, a goat is designated.

ביד רמה. בְמֵזִיד:

High handedly. Intentionally.

מגדף. מְחָרֵף, כְּמוֹ "וְהָיְתָה חֶרְפָּה וּגְדוּפָה" (יחזקאל ה'), "אֲשֶׁר גִּדְּפוּ נַעֲרֵי מֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר" (ישעיהו ל"ז), וְעוֹד דָּרְשׁוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ מִכָּאן לַמְּבָרֵךְ אֶת הַשֵּׁם שֶׁהוּא בְכָרֵת (כריתות ז'):

Blasphemes. Reviles, like, “despised and reviled,” “which the servants of the king of Ashur reviled.” In addition, the Rabbis derive from here that someone who curses Hashem” is subject to “koreis.”

דבר ה'. אַזְהָרַת עֲ"זָ מִפִּי הַגְּבוּרָה וְהַשְּׁאָר מִפִּי מֹשֶׁה (סנהדרין צ"ט):

The word of Adonoy. The prohibition against idol worship was by the word of the Omnipotent, the rest by the word of Moshe.

עונה בה. בִּזְמַן שֶׁעֲוֹנָהּ בָּהּ — שֶׁלֹּא עָשָׂה תְשׁוּבָה:

Its iniquity is upon it. During the time his sin is within him — if he has not repented.

ויהיו … במדבר וימצאו. בִּגְנוּתָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל דִּבֵּר הַכָּתוּב, שֶׁלֹא שָׁמְרוּ אֶלָּא שַׁבָּת רִאשׁוֹנָה, וּבַשְּׁנִיָּה בָא זֶה וְחִלְּלָהּ (ספרי):

[Bnei Yisroel] were in the desert and they found. Scripture speaks disparagingly of the Israelites. They kept only the first Shabbos, then this person came and desecrated the second.

המצאים אתו מקשש. שֶׁהִתְרוּ בוֹ וְלֹא הִנִּיחַ מִלְּקוֹשֵׁשׁ, אַף מִשֶׁמְּצָאוּהוּ וְהִתְרוּ בוֹ (שם; סנהדרין מ"א):

Those who found him gathering. They warned him, but he did not desist from gathering, even after they found and warned him.

כי לא פרש מה יעשה לו. בְּאֵיזוֹ מִיתָה יָמוּת, אֲבָל יוֹדְעִים הָיוּ שֶׁמְּחַלֵּל שַׁבָּת בְּמִיתָה (שם ע"ח):

Since it was not specified, what was to be done with him. [They did not know] how to execute him, but they knew that someone who desecrates the Shabbos must be put to death.

רגום. עָשֹׂה, פשנ"ט, וְכֵן הָלוֹךְ אלנ"ט, וְכֵן "זָכוֹר" (שמות כ, ח) וְ"שָׁמוֹר" (דברים ה, יב):

Shall stone. Constantly do. Fisant in Old French. Similarly, הָלוֹךְ, alant. Similarly, “constantly remember,” and “constantly keep.”

ויציאו אתו. מִכָּאן שֶׁבֵּית הַסְּקִילָה חוּץ וְרָחוֹק מִבֵּית דִּין (ספרי):

Brought him outside. From here [we derive] that the stoning platform was outside, far from the courthouse.

ועשו להם ציצת. עַל שֵׁם הַפְּתִילִים הַתְּלוּיִם בָּהּ, כְּמוֹ (יחזקאל ח'), "וַיִּקָּחֵנִי בְּצִיצִת רֹאשִׁי" (מנחות מ"ב). דָּ"אַ: ציצת עַל שֵׁם וּרְאִיתֶם אֹתוֹ, כְּמוֹ "מֵצִיץ מִן הַחֲרַכִּים" (שיר השירים ב'):

To make for themselves, tzitzis-fringes. So named because of the fringes hanging from it, like, “He took me by the fringes of my head.” Another interpretation: “tzizis” because of “when you see it,” like “watching from the openings.”

תכלת. צֶבַע יָרֹק שֶׁל חִלָּזוֹן:

Blue [wool]. The blue dye of the chilazon-fish.

וזכרתם את כל מצות ה'. שֶׁמִּנְיַן גִּימַטְרִיָּא שֶׁל צִיצִית שֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת, וּשְׁמוֹנָה חוּטִין וַחֲמִשָּׁה קְשָׁרִים הֲרֵי תרי"ג (תנחומא):

You will remember all of Adonoy’s commandments. As the numerical value of צִיצִית is 600, and the eight threads and five knots equal 613.

ולא תתורו אחרי לבבכם. כְּמוֹ "מִתּוּר הָאָרֶץ" (במדבר י"ג); הַלֵּב וְהָעֵינַיִם הֵם מְרַגְּלִים לַגּוּף, מְסַרְסְרִים לוֹ אֶת הָעֲבֵרוֹת, הָעַיִן רוֹאָה וְהַלֵּב חוֹמֵד וְהַגּוּף עוֹשֶׂה אֶת הָעֲבֵרָה (תנחומא):

And you will not search after [the desire of] your hearts. This is similar to “from spying the land.” The heart and eye are the body’s spies, bringing it sins. The eye sees, the heart lusts, and the body sins.

אני ה'. נֶאֱמָן לְשַׁלֵּם שָׂכָר:

I am Adonoy. Faithful in rewarding.

אלהיכם. נֶאֱמָן לִפָּרַע:

Your God. Faithful in exacting punishment.

אשר הוצאתי אתכם. עַל מְנָת כֵּן פָּדִיתִי אֶתְכֶם שֶׁתְּקַבְּלוּ עֲלֵיכֶם גְּזֵרוֹתַי:

Who brought you out. I redeemed you on condition that you accept my decrees.

אני ה' אלהיכם. עוֹד לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר? כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יֹאמְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִפְּנֵי מָה אָמַר הַמָּקוֹם? לֹא שֶׁנַּעֲשֶׂה וְנִטֹּל שָֹכָר? אָנוּ לֹא עוֹשִׂים וְלֹא נוֹטְלִים שָׂכָר עַל כָּרְחֲכֶם אֲנִי מַלְכְּכֶם, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (יחזקאל כ'), "אִם לֹא בְּיָד חֲזָקָה … אֶמְלוֹךְ עֲלֵיכֶם" (ספרי). דָּ"אַ, לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר יְצִיאַת מִצְרַיִם? אֲנִי הוּא שֶׁהִבְחַנְתִּי בְמִצְרַיִם בֵּין טִפָּה שֶׁל בְּכוֹר לְשֶׁאֵינָהּ שֶׁל בְּכוֹר, אֲנִי הוּא עָתִיד לְהַבְחִין וְלִפָּרַע מִן הַתּוֹלֶה קָלָא אִילָן בְּבִגְדּוֹ וְאוֹמֵר תְּכֵלֶת הִיא. וּמִיסוֹדוֹ שֶׁל רַבִּי מֹשֶׁה הַדַּרְשָׁן הֶעְתַּקְתִּי: לָמָּה נִסְמְכָה פָרָשַׁת מְקוֹשֵׁשׁ לְפָרָשַׁת עֲ"זָ? לוֹמַר שֶׁהַמְחַלֵּל אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת כְּעוֹבֵד עֲ"זָ, שֶׁאַף הִיא שְׁקוּלָה כְּכָל הַמִּצְוֹת, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר בְּעֶזְרָא (נחמיה ט׳:י״ד) "וְעַל הַר סִינַי יָרַדְתָּ וַתִּתֵּן לְעַמְּךָ תּוֹרָה וּמִצְוֹת וְאֶת שַׁבַּת קָדְשְׁךָ הוֹדַעְתָ לָהֶם"; וְאַף פָּרָשַׁת צִיצִית לְכָךְ נִסְמְכָה לָאֵלּוּ לְפִי שֶׁאַף הִיא שְׁקוּלָה כְנֶגֶד כָּל הַמִּצְוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וַעֲשִׂיתֶם אֶת כָּל מִצְוֹתָי:

I am Adonoy your God. Why is this said again? So that the Israelites should not say: “Why did the Omnipresent command? Was it not so that we should perform [the commandments] and be rewarded? Let us not perform, and not be rewarded”! Even against your will, I am your king. Similarly, it says, “[As I live . . .] if I shall not, with a mighty hand . . . rule over you.” Another interpretation. Why is the exodus from Egypt mentioned? It was I who distinguished, in Egypt, between the [reproductive] drop which was the firstborn, and that which was not the firstborn. It is I who will distinguish, and punish those who attach [fringes dyed with] indigo dye on their garments, and claim that it is the “techeiles” dye. From R’ Moshe Hadarshan’s commentary I transcribed: Why is the chapter of the “gatherer” adjacent to the chapter of idolatry? To teach that the Shabbos desecrator is like an idolator, since it (Shabbos), too, is equated with the entire Torah. This is stated in Ezra: “You descended on mount Sinai and gave Your nation the Torah and the commandments, etc., and You made Your sacred Shabbos known to them.” The portion of tzitzis, also for this reason, is adjacent to these [portions] — since it, too, is equivalent to all the commandments, as it is said, “you will perform all the commandments.”

על כנפי בגדיהם. כְּנֶגֶד "וָאֶשָּׂא אֶתְכֶם עַל כַּנְפֵי נְשָׁרִים" (שמות יט, ד) ; עַל אַרְבַּע כַּנְפוֹת, וְלֹא בַעֲלַת שָׁלֹשׁ וְלֹא בַעֲלַת חָמֵשׁ, כְּנֶגֶד אַרְבַּע לְשׁוֹנוֹת שֶׁל גְּאֻלָּה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בְּמִצְרַיִם "וְהוֹצֵאתִי וְהִצַּלְתִּי וְגָאַלְתִּי וְלָקַחְתִּי" (שמות ו'):

On the corners of their garments. This corresponds with, “I carried you on the wings of eagles.” On the four corners — but not on a garment with three, or with five [corners]. This corresponds with the four expressions of redemption which were stated in Egypt — “I will bring [you] out,” “I will save [you],” “I will redeem [you],” “I will take [you].”

פתיל תכלת. עַל שֵׁם שִׁכּוּל בְּכוֹרוֹת — תַּרְגּוּמוֹ שֶׁל שִׁכּוּל תִּכְלָא — וּמַכָּתָם הָיְתָה בַלַּיְלָה, וְכֵן צֶבַע הַתְּכֵלֶת דּוֹמֶה לָרָקִיעַ הַמַּשְׁחִיר לְעֵת עֶרֶב; וּשְׁמוֹנָה חוּטִין שֶׁבָּהּ כְּנֶגֶד שְׁמוֹנָה יָמִים שֶׁשָּׁהוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִשֶּׁיָּצְאוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם עַד שֶׁאָמְרוּ שִׁירָה עַל הַיָּם:

A thread of blue. [תְּכֵלֶת] so named because of the [Egyptians’] loss of their firstborn. The targum — translation of שִׁכּוּל, “loss of a child,” is תִּכְלָא . And they were struck down at night. The color of “ techeiles” is similar to the sky which darkens during evening. Its eight threads correspond with the eight days the Israelites waited, from the time they left Egypt, until they sang at the [Reed] Sea.