[Parashat Bemidbar]
[1] (Numb. 1:1:)
THEN THE LORD SPOKE UNTO MOSES IN THE SINAI DESERT, IN THE TENT OF MEETING. This text is related (to Ps. 36:7 [6]):
YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS IS LIKE THE MIGHTY MOUNTAINS; YOUR JUDGMENTS ARE LIKE THE GREAT DEEP. R. Meir said: <The passage> is speaking allegorically about the righteous in their dwelling, and it is speaking allegorically about the wicked in their dwelling.
Above, in Tanh. (Buber), Gen. 2:8; Lev. 8:7; Gen. R. 33:1; Lev. R. 27:1; Numb. R. 1:1; PRK 9:1; Tanh., Lev. 8:5 (some texts); cf. Tanh., Numb. 1:1.
It is speaking allegorically about the righteous <in their dwelling> (in Ezek. 34:14):
I WILL FEED THEM IN A GOOD PASTURE, {
AND IN A PASTURE OF OIL} [
AND UPON THE MOUNTAINS OF THE LOFTY ONE OF ISRAEL]
SHALL BE THEIR FOLD. It speaks allegorically about the wicked <in their dwelling> (in Ezek. 31:15):
THUS SAYS THE LORD {
GOD}:
IN THE DAY THAT HE WENT DOWN TO SHEOL, I CAUSED HIM TO MOURN; I COVERED HIM WITH THE DEEP. With what are the wicked covered, when they go down to Gehinnom?
Above, Exod. 3:2; Tanh., Exod. 3:2.
WITH THE DEEP. Hezekiah bar Hiyya said: In the case of a vat, with what does one cover it? With a lid of clay, since <the vessel itself > is <made> of clay. For that reason one covers it with a lid of clay. Similarly in the case of the wicked, it is written of them (in Is. 29:15):
AND THEIR WORKS ARE IN DARKNESS. For that reason they are darkened before the Holy One.
See above, Gen. 1:19.
So he brings them down to Sheol, which is darkness, and covers them with the deep, which is darkness, as stated (in Gen. 1:2):
WITH DARKNESS UPON THE FACE OF THE DEEP.
Another interpretation (of Ps. 36:7 [6]):
YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS IS LIKE THE MIGHTY MOUNTAINS (literally:
MOUNTAINS OF GOD). The righteousness which the Holy One brings into the world is proclaimed upon these mountains. (Ibid., cont.:)
YOUR JUDGMENTS ARE LIKE THE GREAT DEEP. A judgment which you execute for the world is like the great deep. As the deep is in a secret <place>, your judgments are also in secret. How so? When Jerusalem was destroyed, it was destroyed on the ninth of Ab; but when it was shown to Ezekiel, it seemed to be on the tenth.
Cf. Tanh., Numb. 1:1, and Numb. R. 1:1 according to which the Ezekiel dating was the twentieth; but neither dating is to be found in Ezekiel.
Why? So as not to publicize
Gk.: parresiazesthai.
it. However, when he came to magnify Israel, he did publicize [on which day], in which place, in which month, in which year {in the second year}, in which era.
Gk. hupateia (“consulship”).
{The abyss.} [On which day? (Numb. 1:1:)
ON THE FIRST OF THE MONTH. In which place? (Ibid.:)
IN THE SINAI DESERT. In which month? (Ibid.:)
IN THE SECOND MONTH. In which year? (Ibid.:)
IN THE SECOND YEAR. In which era?] (Ibid.:)
AFTER THEIR EXODUS FROM THE LAND OF EGYPT, SAYING. What did he say to them? (Numb. 1:2:)
TAKE A CENSUS.
[2] (Numb. 1:1:)
THEN THE LORD SPOKE UNTO MOSES IN THE SINAI DESERT. This text is related (to Jer. 2:31): 0
GENERATION, UNDERSTAND THE WORD OF THE LORD: [
HAVE I BEEN A DESERT FOR ISRAEL <OR A LAND OF THICK DARKNESS>?] The Holy One said to Israel: Because you said to Moses (in Numb. 20:5 = 21:5):
WHY DID YOU BRING US UP FROM {
THE LAND OF}
EGYPT <TO DIE IN THE DESERT? FOR THERE IS NO BREAD AND NO WATER>Tanh., Numb. 1:2; Numb. R. 1:2.
(Jer. 2:31:) HAVE I BEEN A DESERT FOR ISRAEL? Did I act like a desert to you? Is it customary for a king of flesh and blood, when he leaves for the desert, [to find] easy living [there] just like that which he had found in his palace,
Lat.: palatium.
either <palace> food or <palace> drink? However, when you were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt and when I brought you out from there, I had you lie down under clouds of glory and raised up three redeemers for you to serve you, [as stated] (in
(Micah 6:4):
AND I SENT MOSES, AARON, AND MIRIAM BEFORE YOU. [Through the merit of Moses you ate manna, <a food> which <even> the holy ancestors had not seen, as stated (in Deut. 8:3):
SO HE AFFLICTED YOU WITH HUNGER BUT FED YOU WITH MANNA, <WHICH NEITHER YOU HAD KNOWN NOR HAD YOUR ANCESTORS KNOWN….> Through the merit of Aaron I surrounded you in clouds of glory, as stated (in Ps. 105:39):
HE SPREAD A CLOUD FOR A COVER AND A FIRE TO GIVE LIGHT AT NIGHT. There were seven clouds: one from above, one from below, one from each of the four winds, and one before you. He smote snakes and scorpions, leveled the mountains and valleys for them, and burned the thornbushes so that they sent up smoke. When all the kings of the East and West saw this, the peoples of the world said (in Cant. 3:6):
WHO IS THIS THAT COMES UP FROM THE DESERT LIKE COLUMNS OF SMOKE? It is also written (in Deut. 29:4):
I LED YOU FORTY YEARS IN THE DESERT; [
YOUR CLOTHES DID NOT WEAR OUT….] In the case of a baby, all the time that it was growing, its garments and clothes were growing along with it. Now the well <came> through the merit of Miriam, who uttered a song by the waters <of the Reed Sea>.:
See above, Lev. 7:7.
R. Berekhyah the Priest said in the name of R. Levi: <The matter> is comparable to a king of flesh and blood who has a province. So he sends high ranking people into its midst to conduct their affairs and and administer their justice. Who has to be responsible for their maintenance? Do not the people of the province have to be responsible for their maintenance? But the Holy One did not act like that. Instead he sent out Moses, Aaron, [and Miriam], as stated (in Micah 6:4):
AND I SENT MOSES, AARON, AND MIRIAM BEFORE YOU. Thus through their merit, Israel was sustained. The manna was through the merit of Moses. [You yourself know that it is so. When Moses passed away, what is written (in Josh. 5:12)?
THE MANNA CEASED ON THE NEXT DAY (i.e., the day after Moses died).]
Heb.: MMHRT. The midrash understands MMHRT (“on the next day”) as two words, MHR and MT, which can be translated: “On the day after he died.” In adopting this interpretation the midrash goes against the weight of Rabbinic and other traditions that Moses died sometime during the month of Adar, usually on the seventh of that month (as in Qid. 38a; etc.), since (according Josh. 5:12) the manna did not cease until the sixteenth of Nisan. The interpretation here and in Numb. R. 1:2 may result from the simple assertion commonly found in Rabbinic sources (e.g., in TSot. 11:8 [10]; Ta‘an 9a.) that, when Moses died, the manna ceased.
The clouds of glory <came> through the merit of Aaron. You yourself know that it is so. When Aaron passed away, what is written (in Numb. 21:4)?
BUT THE TEMPER OF THE PEOPLE GREW SHORT ON THE WAY, because the sun was shining down upon them (without a cloud cover). And the well <came> through the merit of Miriam,
See above, Lev. 7:7.
since it is stated (in Numb. 20:1-2):
BUT MIRIAM DIED THERE <AND WAS BURIED THERE>. NOW THE CONGREGATION HAD NO WATER. And how was [the well] constructed? Like a kind of rock. It rolled along and came with them on the journeys.
See above, Lev. 7:7; below, Numb 6:35, 47-50.
When the standards <for each tribe> came to rest and the Tabernacle arose, the rock would come and settle down in the court of the Tent of Meeting. Then the princes would stand beside it and say (in the words of Numb. 21:17):
RISE UP, O WELL; and the well would rise up. After that, I brought them quails (cf. Numb. 11:31).
(Jer. 2:31:) HAVE I BEEN A DESERT FOR ISRAEL? Have I treated you like a desert? (
Ibid., cont.:)
OR A LAND OF UTTER DARKNESS. Did not I become a light for you a light by myself? It is so stated (in Exod. 13:21:)
AND THE LORD WENT BEFORE THEM BY DAY….
Another interpretation (of Jer. 2:31):
UTTER DARKNESS. Have I <ever> said to you that I am bringing a benefit and delayed it?
UTTER DARKNESS (rt.:'
PL) can only be a term of delay, as it is used (in Exod. 9:32):
<BUT THE WHEAT AND THE SPELT WERE NOT HURT> BECAUSE THEY RIPEN LATE (i.e.,
ARE DELAYED: rt.:'
PL).
Below, Numb. 10:7; I Corinthians 10:4.
{R.} Joshua said (in Josh. 21:43 [45]; cf. 23:14):
NOT A {
SINGLE}
THING HAS FAILED (
NPL)
OF ANY GOOD THING {
OF HIS}
WHICH THE LORD PROMISED UNTO THE {
CHILDREN} [
HOUSE]
OF ISRAEL; IT ALL CAME TO PASS. <Therefore> (in Jer. 2:31:)
WHY DID MY PEOPLE SAY:
RADNU (rt.:
RWD);
<WE WILL NOT COME UNTO YOU ANY MORE>?
According to the interpretation given here, the word is regarded as coming from the root, RDH and voweled as radanu.
The word is Mishnaic (as in
Ter. 10:3 =
Makhsh. 3:3):
ONE WHO REMOVES (
RWDH)
A HOT LOAF (adhering to an oven).
Bread is usually baked adhering to the roof or wall of the oven with the fire beneath.
They (i.e., Israel) said: When the bread is baked in the oven and is taken out of it, can it stick
Rt.: QB‘ (which normally means “fix in” or “fix on”). On the translation of this root, see Midrash Tanhuma (Jerusalem: Eshkol, 1971/72), vol. II, p. 647, n. 2, which regards it here as the equivalent of the root DBQ (which means (“stick to”). In a similar vein, see Wolf Einhorn’s commentary, Perush Maharzaw, on Numb. R. 1:2. Since the root QB‘ can also mean “rob” or “defraud,” the meaning for Israel would be that, as bread removed from an oven cannot stick to it again, neither can Israel once removed from Jerusalem ever defraud again.
to the oven again? Now we in Jerusalem were as in an oven (since it is stated in Is. 31:9):
SAYS THE LORD, WHO HAS A FIRE IN ZION AND HAS AN OVEN IN JERUSALEM. Now you exiled us to Babylon. What do you still want from us?
(Jer. 2:31:) WHY DID MY PEOPLE SAY:
RADNU (i.e., He has <already> removed us (
radanu) <once from oven of Jerusalem>)?
[Another interpretation (of Jer. 2:31):
WHY DID MY PEOPLE SAY:
RADNU;
<WE WILL NOT COME UNTO YOU ANY MORE>? What is the meaning of
RADNU (rt.:
RWD)]? Compare what is said (in I Kings 5:4 [4:24]):
FOR HE HAD DOMINION (
RWDH (as if from
RDH)
OVER EVERYTHING BEYOND THE RIVER (i.e., west of the Euphrates). They said to <the Holy One>: You have given us
NTT LNW.: Buber, p. 4, n. 26, would emend NTT LNW (“You have given us”) to NTTsT LNW (“You have destroyed for us”).
the Sanctuary, but you have taken away your Divine Presence from us. Now what do you still want from us?
(Jer. 2:31) <WHY DID MY PEOPLE SAY: HE HAS DOMINION OVER US (
RADNU)
>; WE WILL NOT COME UNTO YOU ANY MORE? He said to them: Would that <I> were, as stated (in Jer. 9:1 [2]): {
AND}
WOULD THAT I WERE IN THE DESERT, AT AN INN FOR WAYFARERS, <THAT I MIGHT LEAVE MY PEOPLE>. Where? Where I was praised,
Rt.: QLS, a word related to the Gk.: kalos (“beautifully”).
as stated (in Is. 42:11-12):
LET THE DESERT AND ITS CITIES LIFT UP <THEIR VOICE>[…
LET THEM GIVE GLORY TO THE LORD AND DECLARE HIS PRAISE IN THE ISLANDS]. <The matter> is comparable to a prince who entered a metropolis. When the inhabitants of the metropolis saw him, they fled. He entered a second one, and <again> they fled from him. He entered into another city {and destroyed it} [that was ruined (
harevah)]; and when the inhabitants saw him, they praised him. That prince said: This city is better than all the metropolises. Here I will build myself a lodging place
Gk.: xenia (“guestchamber”).
; here I will dwell. Similarly, when the Holy One came to the sea, it fled from him, as stated (in Ps. 114:3):
THE SEA SAW <HIM> AND FLED. When he came to the desert wasteland (
harevah), they praised him, as stated (in Is. 42:11):
LET THE DESERT AND ITS CITIES LIFT UP <THEIR VOICE>[…. He said: This city is better. Here I will build a lodging place. When he came down into its midst, they began rejoicing, because the Holy One was dwelling in their midst, as stated (in Is. 35:1):
THE DESERT AND THE ARID LAND SHALL BE GLAD, [
AND THE WILDERNESS SHALL REJOICE AND BLOSSOM LIKE A CROCUS].
[3] (Numb. 1:1:)
THEN THE LORD SPOKE UNTO MOSES IN THE SINAI DESERT, IN THE TENT OF MEETING. Before the Tent of Meeting was set up, he spoke with him in the bush, as stated (in Exod. 3:2):
THEN THE ANGEL OF THE LORD {
CALLED} [
APPEARED]
UNTO HIM IN A FLAME OF FIRE FROM THE MIDST OF A BUSH.
Tanh., Numb. 1:3; Numb. R. 1:3.
[After that he spoke with him in Midian, as stated (in Exod. 4:19):
THEN THE LORD SAID UNTO MOSES IN MIDIAN.] After that he spoke with him in Egypt, as stated (in Exod. 12:1):
THEN THE LORD SPOKE UNTO MOSES AND UNTO AARON IN THE LAND OF EGYPT. After that he spoke with him in Sinai, as stated (in Lev. 25:1):
THEN THE LORD SPOKE UNTO MOSES ON MOUNT SINAI. When the Tent of Meeting was set up, he said: Humility is beautiful, as stated (in Micah 6:8):
<HE HAS TOLD YOU, O HUMAN, WHAT IS GOOD…,> AND TO WALK HUMBLY WITH {
THE LORD}
YOUR GOD. He began to speak with him in the Tent of Meeting. Likewise David also says (in Ps. 45:14 [13]):
ALL GLORIOUS IS THE KING'S DAUGHTER WITHIN; [
HER CLOTHING IS OF GOLD BROCADE].
THE KING'S DAUGHTER: This <king> is Moses, as stated (in Is. 19:4):
AND I WILL DELIVER THE EGYPTIANS INTO THE HAND OF A HARSH LORD. These
Since LORD (adonim) is a plural of excellence or majesty, it is readily seen as representing a plurality of plagues.
are the plagues which came upon the Egyptians. (Ibid., cont.:)
AND A STRONG KING SHALL RULE OVER THEM. This is Moses, who was king of Torah, which is called
STRENGTH, where it is stated (in Ps. 29:11):
THE LORD WILL GRANT STRENGTH TO HIS PEOPLE. Ergo (in Ps. 45:14 [13]):
ALL GLORIOUS IS THE KING'S DAUGHTER WITHIN. (Ibid., cont.:)
HER CLOTHING IS OF GOLD BROCADE. This is Aaron, since it is stated (in Exod. 28:13):
AND YOU SHALL MAKE A GOLD BROCADE. Hence, our masters have said: Every bride who conceals herself (because of humility, i.e., modesty), even though she be an <ordinary> Israelite woman, is worthy of being married to a priest and to raise up high priests, since it is stated (in Ps. 45:14 [13]):
HER CLOTHING IS OF GOLD BROCADE. The Holy One said: Likewise it befits him to speak from within, as stated (in Numb. 7:89): [
WHENThis bracketed section ends in the first part of section 10 and represents a missing page in Buber’s primary Oxford Ms.
MOSES WENT INTO THE TENT OF MEETING TO SPEAK WITH HIM, HE WOULD HEAR THE VOICE SPEAKING UNTO HIM. R. Joshua ben Levi said: If the people of the world had known how auspicious the Temple was for them, they would have surrounded it with military encampments
Lat. castra.
in order to protect it,
Lev. R. 1:11.
since it was more auspicious for them than for any of Israel; for thus did Solomon set forth in his prayer (in II Chron. 6:32-33 // I Kings 8:41-42):
The passage is actually a conflation of the parallel passages, which Buber has emended to agree with Chron. 6:32-33.
AND LIKEWISE, {
IN THE CASE OF} [
UNTO]
THE FOREIGNER, WHO IS NOT OF YOUR PEOPLE ISRAEL AND COMES FROM A DISTANT LAND FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR GREAT NAME, YOUR MIGHTY HAND, AND YOUR OUTSTRETCHED ARM, IF {
HE COMES} [
THEY COME]
UNTO THIS HOUSE TO PRAY, MAY YOU HEARKEN <UNTO HIM> FROM HEAVEN, EVEN FROM THE PLACE WHERE YOU DWELL, AND DO ACCORDING TO ALL THAT THE FOREIGNER CRIES OUT UNTO YOU, IN ORDER THAT ALL THE PEOPLES OF THE EARTH MAY KNOW YOUR NAME [
AND]
FEAR YOU, AS DO YOUR PEOPLE ISRAEL, AND THAT THEY MAY KNOW THAT YOUR NAME IS CALLED UPON IN THIS HOUSE WHICH I HAVE BUILT. But when he comes to Israel, what is written (in II Chron. 6:30 = I Kings 8:39)?
AND YOU SHALL GIVE TO EACH ONE ACCORDING TO ALL HIS WAYS, SINCE YOU KNOW HIS HEART. Solomon said: Sovereign of the Universe, if he is worthy, give to him; if he is not worthy, do not give to him. Moreover, you should not <only> say that the temple <was auspicious for them>.
So Tanh. Numb. 1:3.
In fact, if it had not been for Israel, no rain would ever have come down
Cf. Gen. R. 39:12.
nor would the sun have shown; for it was through their merit that the Holy One brought relief to the world. Also in the world to come, when the peoples of the world shall see, in the case of Israel, how the Holy One is with them, they shall come to join them, as stated (in Zech. 8:23):
IN THOSE DAYS WHEN TEN PEOPLE FROM ALL THE LANGUAGES OF THE NATIONS TAKE HOLD, THEY SHALL TAKE HOLD OF THE SKIRT OF A JEWISH PERSON, [
SAYING]:
LET US GO WITH YOU FOR WE HAVE HEARD THAT GOD IS WITH YOU.
[4] Another interpretation (of Numb. 1:1-2):
THEN THE LORD SPOKE UNTO MOSES IN THE SINAI DESERT […:
TAKE A CENSUS OF THE WHOLE CONGREGATION OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL….] This text is related (to Cant. 7:3 [2]):
YOUR NAVEL IS A ROUND BOWL. LET NOT MIXED WINE BE LACKING. YOUR BELLY IS A HEAP OF WHEAT FENCED IN WITH LILIES. <The verse> is speaking about the Sanhedrin
Gk.: Synedrion.
of Israel, which was situated in the Chamber of Hewn Stone and is compared with a navel.
Tanh., Numb. 1:4; Numb. R. 1:4; see PR 10:2; above, Exod. 9:1 and the notes there; also below, Deut. 1:3; and perhaps Exod. R. 39:1.
And why is it compared with a navel? It is simply that just as the navel is situated in the middle of the body, so the Sanhedrin of Israel was situated in the middle of the Temple. (Ibid., cont.:)
LET NOT MIXED WINE BE LACKING. What is the meaning of
LET NOT MIXED WINE BE LACKING? That there was never one less than a third of them <present>.
LET NOT MIXED WINE BE LACKING. Whoever mixes it properly mixes a third of a cup of wine with two parts water. Thus the Sanhedrin would sit from <the time of> the morning sacrifice until the sacrifice at twilight. But did not one of them turn away for the needs of nature? So what did they do when one wanted to leave? He would count. If twenty three were present, he would leave; if not, he would not leave. Why? Because it is written (ibid.):
LET NOT MIXED WINE BE LACKING. Thus there was never less than a third of them <present>. It is therefore written:
LET NOT MIXED WINE BE LACKING. (Ibid., cont.:)
YOUR BELLY IS A HEAP OF WHEAT. Israel has been compared with a heap of wheat.
See PR 10:3.
Just as this wheat enters the granary with a count (
minyan) and leaves with a count, so the Holy One said that Israel should be numbered (
nimnin) all the time. It is therefore stated (ibid.):
YOUR BELLY IS A HEAP OF WHEAT. The stubble and the straw, however, are not numbered. Instead they are measured.
Buber’s Spanish MS (described on p. 150 on his “Mavo”) plus the parallel texts read: “Nor are they measured.”
Thus the peoples of the world are compared with stubble and straw, as stated (in Ps. 35:5):
THEY SHALL BE LIKE CHAFF BEFORE THE WIND WITH THE ANGEL OF THE LORD OVERTHROWING THEM. And so it says (in Obad. 18):
AND THE HOUSE OF ESAU SHALL BE STRAW. And why? Because they have
The parallel texts read: “Because the Holy One has….”
no pleasure from them, as stated (in Is. 40:17):
ALL THE NATIONS ARE AS NOTHING BEFORE HIM; THEY ARE CONSIDERED BY HIM AS LESS THAN NOTHING AND VOID. But in the case of Israel, the Holy One does have pleasure from them. They read the
Shema', pray, and bless the name of the Holy One every day; therefore, they are numbered all the time. For that reason they were compared with the wheat, as stated (in Cant. 7:3)
YOUR BELLY IS A HEAP OF WHEAT. For that reason (in Numb. 1:1-2):
THEN THE LORD SPOKE UNTO MOSES IN THE SINAI DESERT…: TAKE A CENSUS OF THE WHOLE CONGREGATION OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL….
[5] Another interpretation (of Numb. 1:1-2):
THEN THE LORD SPOKE UNTO MOSES IN THE SINAI DESERT…. This text is related (to Ps. 147:20):
HE HAS NOT DONE SO FOR ANY NATION…., and also (to Ps. 148:14):
HE HAS RAISED UP A HORN FOR HIS PEOPLE, PRAISE FOR ALL HIS SAINTS. <The situation> is comparable to a king who took <his> first wife and did not write her a marriage contract.
Tanh., Numb. 1:5; Numb. R. 1:5.
He divorced her and did not give her a bill of divorce. He did the same for the second and for the third, in that he did not write them either a marriage contract or a bill of divorce. {He did not act. However,} [In due time] when he saw a certain poor orphan, a woman of noble ancestry, he wanted to marry her. He said to his
shoshevin (i.e., to his best man): Do not behave with her as with the previous ones. This is a woman of noble ancestry. She is modest in her actions and worthy. Write her a marriage contract <stating> in which week, in which year, in which month, on what day of the month, in which province,
Gk.: eparchia.
just as it is written in Esther
(2:16):
SO ESTHER WAS TAKEN UNTO KING AHASUERUS, UNTO HIS ROYAL PALACE IN THE TENTH MONTH, WHICH IS THE MONTH OF TEBETH, IN THE SEVENTH YEAR OF HIS REIGN. Thus the Omnipotent created the generation of the flood and did not write down when he created them. He removed them from the world and did not write down when he removed them. It is simply <stated> (in Gen. 7:11):
ON THAT DAY ALL THE SPRINGS OF THE GREAT ABYSS BURST FORTH AND THE WINDOWS OF THE HEAVENS WERE OPENED.
Note that the verse begins: IN THE SIX HUNDREDTH YEAR OF NOAH’S LIFE, IN THE SECOND MONTH, ON THE SEVENTEENTH DAY OF THE MONTH; but this dating is apparently not definite enough.
Moreover, it was similar for the generation of the dispersion
(Gen. 10:1-9); [similar for the Sodomites;] and similar for the Egyptians. For them it is not written either when they were created or when they died. {He did not act. However,} When Israel arose, the Holy One said to Moses: I will not behave with these as with those previous ones. These are people of noble ancestry, descendants from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is there written for them in which month, on what day of the month, in which year, in which province, in which metropolis I raised up their horn and gave them a head held high. It is therefore stated (in Numb. 1:1):
THEN THE LORD SPOKE UNTO MOSES IN THE SINAI DESERT, i.e., the province,
IN THE TENT OF MEETING, i.e., the metropolis. In which year? (Ibid., cont.:)
IN THE SECOND YEAR.
The citation of this section of the verse differs somewhat in the Masoretic text, which reads: ON FIRST DAY OF THE SECOND MONTH, IN THE SECOND YEAR.
In which month? (Ibid., cont.:)
IN THE SECOND MONTH. On what day of the month? (Ibid., cont.:)
ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE MONTH. (Ibid., cont.:) [
AFTER THEIR EXODUS FROM THE LAND OF EGYPT,] i.e, the era.
Gk. hupateia (“consulship”).
Why (in vs. 2)
TAKE A CENSUS (literally:
RAISE THE HEAD)
OF THE WHOLE CONGREGATION OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL…. To fulfill what is stated (in Ps. 147:20):
HE HAS NOT DONE SO FOR ANY NATION…. What did he do?
(Ps. 148:14):
HE HAS RAISED UP A HORN FOR HIS PEOPLE, PRAISE FOR ALL HIS SAINTS, EVEN THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, A PEOPLE NEAR TO HIM. HALLELUJAH.
[6] Another interpretation (of Numb. 1:1):
THEN THE LORD SPOKE UNTO MOSES. <How> blessed was Moses!
Tanh., Numb. 1:6; Numb. R. 1:6; cf. Lev. R. 1:1.
Six hundred thousand were present with the priests, the Levites, and the elders. They were were all present there; yet out of them all, he only spoke there with Moses, as stated (ibid.:)
THEN THE LORD SPOKE UNTO MOSES. (Ibid., cont.:)
IN THE SINAI DESERT. Why
IN THE SINAI DESERT?
Numb. R. 1:7.
From here our masters have taught: The Torah was given through three things: through fire, through water, and through the desert.
Mekhilta deRabbi Ishmael, Bashodesh 5.
Where is it shown <that it was given> through fire? Where it is stated (in Exod. 19:18):
NOW ALL OF MOUNT SINAI WAS EMITTING SMOKE BECAUSE THE LORD HAD DESCENDED UPON IT IN FIRE. AND THE SMOKE FROM IT AROSE LIKE SMOKE FROM A FURNACE, AND THE WHOLE MOUNTAIN TREMBLED GREATLY. Where is it shown <that it was given> through water? Where it is stated (in Jud. 5:4):
LORD, WHEN YOU WENT FORTH FROM SEIR, WHEN YOU MARCHED FROM THE FIELD OF EDOM, THE EARTH TREMBLED, EVEN THE HEAVENS DRIPPED, EVEN THE CLOUDS DROPPED WATER. Where is it shown <that it was given> through (i.e., in)
In Hebrew the prefix b used here can be translated either “through” or “in.”
the desert? Where it is stated (in Numb. 1:1):
THEN THE LORD SPOKE UNTO MOSES IN THE SINAI DESERT. And why was it given through these three things. It is simply that, as these are free for all who come into the world, so the words of the Torah are free. Thus it is stated (in Is. 55:1):
HO, ALL WHO ARE THIRSTY, COME TO THE WATERS (of Torah);
EVEN IF YOU HAVE NO MONEY, COME, BUY FOOD, AND EAT. SO COME, BUY FOOD, WINE, AND MILK WITHOUT MONEY AND WITHOUT COST.
Another interpretation: Why (according to Numb. 1:1)
IN THE SINAI DESERT? It is simply that whoever does not make himself ownerless like the desert cannot acquire
The Hebrew verb also means “buy.”
the Torah.
See ‘Eruv. 54a; Mekhilta deRabbi Ishmael, Bashodesh 1.
It is therefore stated:
IN THE SINAI DESERT.
[7] Another interpretation (of Numb. 1:1):
THEN THE LORD SPOKE UNTO MOSES IN THE SINAI DESERT. <Sinai> was called by six names: Mountain of God (as in Ps. 68:16 [15]), Mount Bashan (ibid.), mountain of peaks (ibid.), mountain of desire (
HMD), Mount Horeb (
Exod. 3:1; 33:6; etc.), Mount Sinai.
Tanh., Numb. 1:7; Numb. R. 1:8.
The mountain of God is <so called> because on it God sat in judgment, as stated (in Exod. 21:1):
NOW THESE ARE THE JUDGMENTSMishpatim. In the biblical context the word would more normally be translated ORDINANCES.
WHICH YOU SHALL SET BEFORE THEM. Mount Bashan is the mountain where (
sham) Holy One came (
ba').
In the Hebrew text sham and ba’ appear in the opposite order and next to each other as ba’ sham.
The mountain of peaks (
gavenunnim, rt.:
GBN) is the mountain where he carved out and rejected
Pasal. The word can mean both “carved” and “rejected.” In carving a statue one rejects what is chipped away. The statue itself, like Israel, is what remains.
all the <other> mountains.
See Gen. R. 109:1, which depicts the mountains contending with each other to host the revelation of the Torah and generally expands what follows.
Where is it shown? <It is> just as you say (in Lev. 21:20):
OR A HUNCHBACK (
GBN)
OR A DWARF.
The context is a list of those rejected from serving in the priesthood. The implication here is that, unlike Sinai where the ordinances for priesthood where given, the other mountains were hunchbacks or dwarfs and therefore rejected.
The mountain of desire (rt.:
HMD) is <so called>, because on it the Holy One desired (
HMD) to dwell, as stated (in Ps. 68:17 [16]):
THE MOUNTAIN GOD DESIRED FOR HIS DWELLING. Mount Horeb (rt.:
HRB) is <so called>, because upon it the sword (rt.:
HRB) <of judgment> was unsheathed, as stated (in Lev. 20:10):
THE ADULTERER AND THE ADULTERESS SHALL SURELY BE PUT TO DEATH, <and> (in Numb. 35:16):
THE MURDERER SHALL SURELY BE PUT TO DEATH. Mount Sinai is <so called>, because on it the peoples of the world became hateful (rt.:
SN') to the Holy One, and he rendered a verdict
Gk.: apophasis.
against them, as stated (in Is. 60:12):
AND THE GENTILES SHALL BE UTTERLY (
HRB)
DESTROYED (rt.:
HRB). R. Abba bar Kahana said in the name of R. Johanan:
AND THE GENTILES SHALL BE UTTERLYIn this repetition of Is. 60:12 the Buber text alters the word translated UTTERLY from harov to mehurav. This change also appears in the parallel text of ySot. 7:5 (21d), but not in the traditional parallel texts of Tanh., Numb. 1:7, and Numb. R. 1:8.
DESTROYED. <It was> where they received a verdict.
[8] Another interpretation (of Numb. 1:1):
THEN THE LORD SPOKE UNTO MOSES IN THE SINAI DESERT…. What did he say to him (in vs. 2)?
Tanh., Numb. 1:8, and Numb. R. 1:9.
TAKE A CENSUS (literally:
RAISE [rt.:
NS']
THE HEAD)
OF THE WHOLE CONGREGATION OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL…. The Holy One said to Israel: I have not cherished <any> creation more than you; therefore I have given you a head held high and have likened you to me. Thus just as I have a head held higher than all that come into the world, as stated (in I Chron. 29:11):
TO YOU, O LORD, BELONG THE GREATNESS, THE MIGHT, THE SPLENDOR, THE TRIUMPH, AND THE MAJESTY; FOR ALL THAT IS IN THE HEAVENS AND IN THE EARTH IS YOURS; <YOURS> IS THE KINGDOM, O LORD, AND <YOU> ARE EXALTED (rt.:
NS')
AS HEAD OVER ALL; so I have also done for you, for you to have a head held high. It was therefore stated (in Numb. 1:1):
RAISE (rt.:
NS')
THE HEAD OF THE WHOLE CONGREGATION OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. <This exaltation was> to fulfill what is stated (in Ps. 148:14):
HE HAS RAISED UP A HORN FOR HIS PEOPLE, PRAISE FOR ALL HIS SAINTS, EVEN THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, A PEOPLE NEAR TO HIM. HALLELUJAH. And so it says (in Deut. 28:1):
AND THE LORD YOUR GOD WILL SET YOU HIGH OVER ALL THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH.