| 1The daughters of Zelophehad the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph, came forward, and his daughters' names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. |
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אוַתִּקְרַ֜בְנָה בְּנ֣וֹת צְלָפְחָ֗ד בֶּן־חֵ֤פֶר בֶּן־גִּלְעָד֙ בֶּן־מָכִ֣יר בֶּן־מְנַשֶּׁ֔ה לְמִשְׁפְּחֹ֖ת מְנַשֶּׁ֣ה בֶן־יוֹסֵ֑ף וְאֵ֨לֶּה֙ שְׁמ֣וֹת בְּנֹתָ֔יו מַחְלָ֣ה נֹעָ֔ה וְחָגְלָ֥ה וּמִלְכָּ֖ה וְתִרְצָֽה: |
| of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph. Why is this said? Has it not already said, “the son of Manasseh”? But to inform you that Joseph cherished the Land, as it says, “and you shall bring up my bones… ” (Exod. 13:19), and his daughters cherished the Land, as it says, “Give us a portion” (verse 4) (Sifrei Pinchas 10), [hence they were of Joseph’s family in spirit], and to teach you that they [who are mentioned in the verse] were all righteous, for anyone whose deeds and whose father’s deeds are not clearly described, but Scripture specifies one of them to trace his genealogy for praise, he is a righteous man the son of a righteous man, but if it traces his genealogy for shame, as for example, “Ishmael the son of Nethaniah the son of Elishama came” (II Kings 25:25), it is known that all those mentioned with him were wicked people. — [Sifrei Pinchas 9] |
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לְמִשְׁפְּחֹת מְנַשֶּׁה בֶּן־יוֹסֵף.
לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר? וַהֲלֹא כְבָר נֶאֱמַר בן מנשה, אֶלָּא לוֹמַר לְךָ, יוֹסֵף חִבֵּב אֶת הָאָרֶץ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְהַעֲלִתֶם אֶת עַצְמֹתַי" וְגוֹ' (בראשית נ') וּבְנוֹתָיו חִבְּבוּ אֶת הָאָרֶץ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר תְּנָה לָּנוּ אֲחֻזָּה, וּלְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁהָיוּ כֻלָּם צַדִּיקִים, שֶׁכָּל מִי שֶׁמַּעֲשָׂיו וּמַעֲשֵׂה אֲבוֹתָיו סְתוּמִים וּפֵרֵט לְךָ הַכָּתוּב בְּאֶחָד מֵהֶם לְיַחֲסוֹ לְשֶׁבַח, הֲרֵי זֶה צַדִּיק בֶּן צַדִּיק, וְאִם יִחֲסוֹ לִגְנַאי, כְּגוֹן "בָּא יִשְׁמָעֵאל בֶּן נְתַנְיָה בֶּן אֱלִישָׁמָע" (מלכים ב כ"ה), בְיָדוּעַ שֶׁכָּל הַנִּזְכָּרִים עִמּוֹ רְשָׁעִים הָיוּ (ספרי):
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| Mahlah, Noah…. While later (36:11) it says, “Mahlah, Tirzah… were” [in a different order]. This teaches us that they were all equal-one to the other; therefore, Scripture changes the order. — [Sifrei Pinchas 11] |
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מַחְלָה נֹעָה וגו'.
וּלְהַלָּן (במדבר לו יא) הוּא אוֹמֵר "וַתִּהְיֶינָה מַחְלָה תִרְצָה", מַגִּיד שֶׁכֻּלָּן שְׁקוּלוֹת — זוֹ כְּזוֹ, לְפִיכָךְ שִׁנָּה אֶת סִדְרָן (שם):
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| 2They stood before Moses and before Eleazar the kohen and before the chieftains and the entire congregation at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, saying, |
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בוַתַּֽעֲמֹ֜דְנָה לִפְנֵ֣י משֶׁ֗ה וְלִפְנֵי֙ אֶלְעָזָ֣ר הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְלִפְנֵ֥י הַנְּשִׂיאִ֖ם וְכָל־הָֽעֵדָ֑ה פֶּ֥תַח אֹֽהֶל־מוֹעֵ֖ד לֵאמֹֽר: |
| before Moses and before Eleazar. This [statement that they stood before Eleazar] informs us that they stood before them only in the fortieth year, after Aaron’s death. — [Sifrei Pinchas 12] |
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לִפְנֵי משֶׁה וְלִפְנֵי אֶלְעָזָר.
מַגִּיד שֶׁלֹּא עָמְדוּ לִפְנֵיהֶם אֶלָּא בִשְׁנַת הָאַרְבָּעִים, אַחַר שֶׁמֵּת אַהֲרֹן (שם):
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| before Moses. And afterwards, “before Eleazar”? Is it possible that if Moses did not know [the law] and Eleazar did know? But transpose the verse and expound it [as if it were written, “before Eleazar and before Moses”]. These are the words of R. Yoshiyah. Abba Chanan said in the name of R. Eleazar: They were sitting in the study hall and they stood before all of them. — [Sifrei Pinchas 12, B.B. 119b] |
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לִפְנֵי משֶׁה.
וְאַחַר כָּךְ לִפְנֵי אֶלְעָזָר? אֶפְשַׁר אִם מֹשֶׁה לֹא יָדַע אֶלְעָזָר יוֹדֵעַ? אֶלָּא סָרֵס הַמִּקְרָא וְדָרְשֵׁהוּ, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי יֹאשִׁיָּה. אַבָּא חָנָן מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אוֹמֵר, בְּבֵית הַמִּדְרָשׁ הָיוּ יוֹשְׁבִים וְעָמְדוּ לִפְנֵי כֻלָּם (שם; בבא בתרא קי"ט):
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| 3"Our father died in the desert, but he was not in the assembly that banded together against the Lord in Korah's assembly, but he died for his own sin, and he had no sons. |
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גאָבִ֘ינוּ֘ מֵ֣ת בַּמִּדְבָּר֒ וְה֨וּא לֹֽא־הָיָ֜ה בְּת֣וֹךְ הָֽעֵדָ֗ה הַנּֽוֹעָדִ֛ים עַל־יְהֹוָ֖ה בַּֽעֲדַת־קֹ֑רַח כִּֽי־בְחֶטְא֣וֹ מֵ֔ת וּבָנִ֖ים לֹא־הָ֥יוּ לֽוֹ: |
| but he was not…. Since they were going to say that “he died for his own sin,” they had to say that it was not for the sin of those who grumbled, and [that he was] not in Korah’s company who incited [the people] against the Holy One, blessed is He, but he died for his own sin alone, and he did not cause others to sin with him (B.B. 18b, Sifrei Pinchas 13). R. Akiva says, He was the wood gatherer [see 15:32], and R. Shimon says: He was among those who ascended [the mountain] defiantly [see 14:44]. — [Shab . 96b] |
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וְהוּא לֹֽא־הָיָה וגו'.
לְפִי שֶׁהָיוּ בָאוֹת לוֹמַר בחטאו מת, נִזְקְקוּ לוֹמַר לֹא בְחֵטְא מִתְלוֹנְנִים וְלֹא בַעֲדַת קֹרַח שֶׁהִצּוּ עַל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא הָיָה, אֶלָּא בְּחֶטְאוֹ לְבַדּוֹ מֵת, וְלֹא הֶחֱטִיא אֶת אֲחֵרִים עִמּוֹ (ספרי); רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אוֹמֵר מְקוֹשֵׁשׁ עֵצִים הָיָה וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר מִן הַמַּעְפִּילִים הָיָה (שבת צ"ו):
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| 4Why should our father's name be eliminated from his family because he had no son? Give us a portion along with our father's brothers. " |
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דלָ֣מָּה יִגָּרַ֤ע שֵֽׁם־אָבִ֨ינוּ֙ מִתּ֣וֹךְ מִשְׁפַּחְתּ֔וֹ כִּ֛י אֵ֥ין ל֖וֹ בֵּ֑ן תְּנָה־לָּ֣נוּ אֲחֻזָּ֔ה בְּת֖וֹךְ אֲחֵ֥י אָבִֽינוּ: |
| Why should our father’s name be eliminated. We are instead of a son, and if females are not considered offspring, let our mother be taken in levirate marriage by her brother-in-law. — [Sifrei Pinchas 13] |
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לָמָּה יִגָּרַע שֵֽׁם־אָבִינוּ.
אָנוּ בִּמְקוֹם בֵּן עוֹמְדוֹת, וְאִם אֵין הַנְּקֵבוֹת חֲשׁוּבוֹת זֶרַע, תִּתְיַבֵּם אִמֵּנוּ לְיָבָם (בבא בתרא קיט):
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| because he had no son. But if he had a son, they would have made no claim at all. This teaches us that they were intelligent women. — [Sifrei Pinchas 15, Sifrei Pinchas 13] |
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כִּי אֵין לוֹ בֵּן.
הָא אִם הָיָה לוֹ בֵן, לֹא הָיוּ תוֹבְעוֹת כְּלוּם, מַגִּיד שֶׁחַכְמָנִיּוֹת הָיוּ (שם):
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| 5So Moses brought their case before the Lord. |
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הוַיַּקְרֵ֥ב משֶׁ֛ה אֶת־מִשְׁפָּטָ֖ן לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה: |
| So Moses brought their case. The law eluded him, and here he was punished for crowning himself [with authority] by saying, “and the case that is too difficult for you, bring to me” (Deut. 1:17) (Mid. Tanchuma Pinchas 8). Another interpretation: This passage ought to have been written through Moses, but Zelophehad’s daughters were meritorious, so it was written through them. — [Sanh. 8a] |
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וַיַּקְרֵב משֶׁה אֶת־מִשְׁפָּטָן.
נִתְעַלְּמָה הֲלָכָה מִמֶּנּוּ, וְכָאן נִפְרַע עַל שֶׁנָּטַל עֲטָרָה לוֹמַר (דברים א') "וְהַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר יִקְשֶׁה מִכֶּם תַּקְרִבוּן אֵלַי"; דָּבָר אַחֵר — רְאוּיָה הָיְתָה פָרָשָׁה זוֹ לְהִכָּתֵב עַל יְדֵי מֹשֶׁה, אֶלָּא שֶׁזָּכוּ בְנוֹת צְלָפְחָד וְנִכְתְּבָה עַל יָדָן (בבא בתרא קי"ט; סנהדרין ח'):
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| 6The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: |
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ווַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר: |
| 7Zelophehad's daughters speak justly. You shall certainly give them a portion of inheritance along with their father's brothers, and you shall transfer their father's inheritance to them. |
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זכֵּ֗ן בְּנ֣וֹת צְלָפְחָד֘ דֹּֽבְרֹת֒ נָתֹ֨ן תִּתֵּ֤ן לָהֶם֙ אֲחֻזַּ֣ת נַֽחֲלָ֔ה בְּת֖וֹךְ אֲחֵ֣י אֲבִיהֶ֑ם וְהַֽעֲבַרְתָּ֛ אֶת־נַֽחֲלַ֥ת אֲבִיהֶ֖ן לָהֶֽן: |
| Zelophehad’s daughters speak justly. As the Targum [Onkelos] יָאוּת, rightly. [As if God said,] This is the way this passage is inscribed before Me on high (Sifrei Pinchas 18). It teaches us that their eye perceived what Moses’ eye did not. - [see Mid. Tanchuma Pinchas 8] |
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כֵּן בְּנוֹת צְלָפְחָד דֹּֽבְרֹת.
כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ, "יָאוּת" — כָּךְ כְּתוּבָה פָרָשָׁה זוֹ לְפָנַי בַּמָּרוֹם, מַגִּיד שֶׁרָאֲתָה עֵינָן מַה שֶּׁלֹּא רָאֲתָה עֵינוֹ שֶׁל מֹשֶׁה (תנחומא):
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| Zelophehad’s daughters speak justly. Their claim is just. Fortunate is the person with whose word the Holy One, blessed is He, concurs. - [Sifrei Pinchas 18] |
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כֵּן בְּנוֹת צְלָפְחָד דֹּֽבְרֹת.
יָפֶה תָּבְעוּ, אַשְׁרֵי אָדָם שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מוֹדֶה לִדְבָרָיו (ספרי):
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| You shall certainly give. [The double expression נָתֹן תִּתֵּן denotes] two portions: the portion of their father, who was among those who came out of Egypt, and the portion which he shared with his brothers in the property of [his father] Hepher. — [Sifrei Pinchas 19, B.B. 116b, 118b]. |
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נָתֹן תִּתֵּן.
שְׁנֵי חֲלָקִים, חֵלֶק אֲבִיהֶן שֶׁהָיָה מִיּוֹצְאֵי מִצְרַיִם, וְחֶלְקוֹ עִם אֶחָיו בְּנִכְסֵי חֵפֶר (בבא בתרא קי"ח):
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| and you shall transfer. Heb. וְהַעֲבַרְתָּ, an expression denoting “anger” (עֶבְרָה) [for God is angry] when one does not leave a son to inherit him (B.B. 116a). Another interpretation: Since a daughter transfers an inheritance from one tribe to another, when her son or husband inherit from her, since [the prohibition of] “you shall not transfer an inheritance” (36:7) was directed only at that generation. The same [reason] applies to [the wording of the command] “you shall transfer the inheritance to his daughter” (verse 8). In the case of all of them it says, “you shall give over” but in the case of a daughter, it says, “you shall transfer.” - [Sifrei Pinchas 21] |
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וְהַֽעֲבַרְתָּ.
לְשׁוֹן עֶבְרָה הוּא בְּמִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ מַנִּיחַ בֵּן לְיָרְשׁוֹ. דָּבָר אַחֵר — עַל שֵׁם שֶׁהַבַּת מַעֲבֶרֶת נַחֲלָה מִשֵּׁבֶט לְשֵׁבֶט, שֶׁבְּנָהּ וּבַעְלָהּ יוֹרְשִׁין אוֹתָהּ — שֶׁ"לֹא תִסֹּב נַחֲלָה" (במדבר ל"ו) לֹא נִצְטַוָּה אֶלָּא לְאוֹתוֹ הַדּוֹר בִּלְבַד (בבא בתרא ק"כ) — וְכֵן וְהַעֲבַרְתֶּם אֶת נַחֲלָתוֹ לְבִתּוֹ, בְּכֻלָּן הוּא אוֹמֵר "וּנְתַתֶּם" וּבַבַּת הוּא אוֹמֵר "וְהַעֲבַרְתֶּם":
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| 8Speak to the children of Israel saying: If a man dies and has no son, you shall transfer his inheritance to his daughter. |
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חוְאֶל־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל תְּדַבֵּ֣ר לֵאמֹ֑ר אִ֣ישׁ כִּֽי־יָמ֗וּת וּבֵן֙ אֵ֣ין ל֔וֹ וְהַֽעֲבַרְתֶּ֥ם אֶת־נַֽחֲלָת֖וֹ לְבִתּֽוֹ: |
| 9If he has no daughter, you shall give over his inheritance to his brothers. |
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טוְאִם־אֵ֥ין ל֖וֹ בַּ֑ת וּנְתַתֶּ֥ם אֶת־נַֽחֲלָת֖וֹ לְאֶחָֽיו: |
| 10If he has no brothers, you shall give over his inheritance to his father's brothers. |
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יוְאִם־אֵ֥ין ל֖וֹ אַחִ֑ים וּנְתַתֶּ֥ם אֶת־נַֽחֲלָת֖וֹ לַֽאֲחֵ֥י אָבִֽיו: |
| 11If his father has no brothers, you shall give over his inheritance to the kinsman closest to him in his family, who shall inherit it. This shall remain a decreed statute, as the Lord commanded Moses. |
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יאוְאִם־אֵ֣ין אַחִים֘ לְאָבִיו֒ וּנְתַתֶּ֣ם אֶת־נַֽחֲלָת֗וֹ לִשְׁאֵר֞וֹ הַקָּרֹ֥ב אֵלָ֛יו מִמִּשְׁפַּחְתּ֖וֹ וְיָרַ֣שׁ אֹתָ֑הּ וְהָ֨יְתָ֜ה לִבְנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לְחֻקַּ֣ת מִשְׁפָּ֔ט כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־משֶֽׁה: |
| to the kinsman closest to him in his family. Only [kin from] the father’s side is considered “family.” - [Sifrei Pinchas 22, B.B. 109b] |
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לִשְׁאֵרוֹ הַקָּרֹב אֵלָיו מִמִּשְׁפַּחְתּוֹ.
וְאֵין מִשְׁפָּחָה קְרוּיָה אֶלָּא מִצַּד הָאָב (שם ק"ט):
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| 12The Lord said to Moses, "Go up to this mount Abarim and look at the land that I have given to the children of Israel. |
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יבוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־משֶׁ֔ה עֲלֵ֛ה אֶל־הַ֥ר הָֽעֲבָרִ֖ים הַזֶּ֑ה וּרְאֵה֙ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָתַ֖תִּי לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל: |
| Go up to this mount Abarim. Why is this [passage] juxtaposed here [with the previous passage]? When the Holy One, blessed is He, said, “You shall certainly give them…” (verse 7), he [Moses] said, “The Omnipresent commanded me to allocate the inheritance! Perhaps the decree has been annulled, and I will enter the Land?” The Holy One, blessed is He, said to him, “My decree remains as it was” (Mid. Tanchuma Pinchas 9). Another interpretation: Since Moses had entered the territories of the descendants of Gad and the descendants of Reuben, he rejoiced, saying, “It seems that the vow [made] regarding me has been annulled.” This can be compared to a king who decreed that his son could not enter the portals of his palace. He [the king] entered the gate, with him [the son] following; the courtyard, with him following; the foyer with him following. When he was about to enter the inner chamber, he said to him, “My son, from here on, it is forbidden for you to enter.” - [Sifrei Pinchas 23] |
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עֲלֵה אֶל־הַר הָֽעֲבָרִים.
לָמָּה נִסְמְכָה לְכָאן? כֵּיוָן שֶׁאָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא נָתֹן תִּתֵּן לָהֶם, אָמַר אוֹתִי צִוָּה הַמָּקוֹם לְהַנְחִיל, שֶׁמָּא הֻתְּרָה הַגְּזֵרָה וְאֶכָּנֵס לָאָרֶץ? אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא גְּזֵרָתִי בִּמְקוֹמָהּ עוֹמֶדֶת. דָּבָר אַחֵר — כֵּיוָן שֶׁנִּכְנַס מֹשֶׁה לְנַחֲלַת בְּנֵי גָד וּבְנֵי רְאוּבֵן שָׂמַח וְאָמַר, כִּמְדֻמֶּה שֶׁהֻתַּר לִי נִדְרִי; מָשָׁל לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁגָּזַר עַל בְּנוֹ שֶׁלֹּא יִכָּנֵס לְפֶתַח פָּלָטִין שֶׁלּוֹ, נִכְנַס לַשַּׁעַר וְהוּא אַחֲרָיו, לֶחָצֵר וְהוּא אַחֲרָיו, לַטְּרַקְלִין וְהוּא אַחֲרָיו, כֵּיוָן שֶׁבָּא לִכָּנֵס לַקִּיטוֹן, אָמַר לוֹ בְּנִי מִכָּאן וָאֵילָךְ אַתָּה אָסוּר לִכָּנֵס (ספרי):
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| 13And when you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, just as Aaron your brother was gathered. |
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יגוְרָאִ֣יתָה אֹתָ֔הּ וְנֶֽאֱסַפְתָּ֥ אֶל־עַמֶּ֖יךָ גַּם־אָ֑תָּה כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר נֶֽאֱסַ֖ף אַֽהֲרֹ֥ן אָחִֽיךָ: |
| just as Aaron your brother was gathered. From here [we see] that Moses yearned for a death like Aaron’s (Sifrei Pinchas 23). Another interpretation: You are no better than he (Mid. Tanchuma Pinchas 9); “because you did not sanctify…” Deut. 32:51). But if you had sanctified Me, your time to depart from the world would not yet have arrived. On each occasion that their death is mentioned, their sin is mentioned, for a decree had been pronounced against the generation of the desert, that they should die in the desert on account of their sin that they did not believe. Moses therefore requested that his sin be mentioned, so that it should not be said that he was one of those who rebelled. This is analogous to two women who were flogged by the court, one for immoral behavior [adultery] and the other for eating unripe produce of the sabbatical year [a lighter offense]…. Here too, wherever their death is mentioned, their sin is mentioned, to tell you that they had no [sin] other than this [sin] alone. - [Sifrei Pinchas 23, Yoma 86b] |
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כַּֽאֲשֶׁר נֶֽאֱסַף אַֽהֲרֹן אָחִֽיךָ.
מִכָּאן שֶׁנִּתְאַוָּה מֹשֶׁה לְמִיתָתוֹ שֶׁל אַהֲרֹן (שם); דָּבָר אַחֵר — אֵין אַתָּה טוֹב מִמֶּנּוּ, "עַל אֲשֶׁר לֹא קִדַּשְׁתֶּם" (דברים לב, נא), הָא אִם קִדַּשְׁתֶּם אוֹתִי עֲדַיִן לֹא הִגִּיעַ זְמַנְכֶם לְהִפָּטֵר (שם); בְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁכָּתַב מִיתָתָם כָּתַב סֻרְחָנָם, לְפִי שֶׁנִּגְזְרָה גְזֵרָה עַל דּוֹר הַמִּדְבָּר לָמוּת בַּמִּדְבָּר בְּעָוֹן שֶׁלֹּא הֶאֱמִינוּ, לְכָךְ בִּקֵּשׁ מֹשֶׁה שֶׁיִּכָּתֵב סֻרְחָנוֹ, שֶׁלֹּא יֹאמְרוּ אַף הוּא מִן הַמַּמְרִים הָיָה, מָשָׁל לִשְׁתֵּי נָשִׁים שֶׁלּוֹקוֹת בְּבֵית דִּין, אַחַת קִלְקְלָה וְאַחַת אָכְלָה פַגֵּי שְׁבִיעִית וְכוּ', אַף כָּאן בְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁהִזְכִּיר מִיתָתָן הִזְכִּיר סֻרְחָנָן, לְהוֹדִיעַ שֶׁלֹּא הָיְתָה בָהֶם אֶלָּא זוֹ בִּלְבַד (יומא פ"ו):
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| 14Because you disobeyed My command in the desert of Zin when the congregation quarreled, [when you were] to sanctify Me through the water before their eyes; these were the waters of dispute at Kadesh, in the desert of Zin. |
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ידכַּֽאֲשֶׁר֩ מְרִיתֶ֨ם פִּ֜י בְּמִדְבַּר־צִ֗ן בִּמְרִיבַת֙ הָֽעֵדָ֔ה לְהַקְדִּישֵׁ֥נִי בַמַּ֖יִם לְעֵֽינֵיהֶ֑ם הֵ֛ם מֵֽי־מְרִיבַ֥ת קָדֵ֖שׁ מִדְבַּר־צִֽן: |
| These were the waters of dispute at Kadesh. These [waters] alone; they [Moses and Aaron] had no other sin to their name (Sifrei Pinchas 23). Another interpretation: Those [waters] which instigated the rebellion [of the Israelites] at Marah were the same as those which caused the rebellion at the Red Sea [in Rephidim (Levush, Divrei David)], and those same ones provoked the rebellion in the desert of Zin. - [Source unknown] |
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הֵם מֵֽי־מְרִיבַת קָדֵשׁ.
הֵם לְבַדָּם — אֵין בָּהֶם עָוֹן אַחֵר; דָּבָר אַחֵר — הֵם שֶׁהִמְרוּ בְמָרָה, הֵם הָיוּ שֶׁהִמְרוּ בְיַם סוּף, הֵם עַצְמָם שֶׁהִמְרוּ בְמִדְבַּר צִן:
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| 15Moses spoke to the Lord, saying: |
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טווַיְדַבֵּ֣ר משֶׁ֔ה אֶל־יְהֹוָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר: |
| Moses spoke to the Lord…. This [verse comes] to let us know the virtues of the righteous, for when they are about to depart from the world, they disregard their own needs and occupy themselves with the needs of the community. — [Sifrei Pinchas 23] |
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וַיְדַבֵּר משֶׁה אֶל־ה' וגו'.
לְהוֹדִיעַ שִׁבְחָן שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים, כְּשֶׁנִּפְטָרִים מִן הָעוֹלָם מַנִּיחִים צָרְכָּן, וְעוֹסְקִין בְּצָרְכֵי צִבּוּר (ספרי):
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| saying. He said to Him, “Answer me whether You are appointing a leader for them or not.” - [Sifrei Pinchas 23] |
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לֵאמֹֽר.
אָמַר לוֹ, הֲשִׁיבֵנִי אִם אַתָּה מְמַנֶּה לָהֶם פַּרְנָס אִם לָאו (שם):
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| 16"Let the Lord, the God of spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation, |
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טזיִפְקֹ֣ד יְהֹוָ֔ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י הָֽרוּחֹ֖ת לְכָל־בָּשָׂ֑ר אִ֖ישׁ עַל־הָֽעֵדָֽה: |
| Let the Lord… appoint. When Moses heard that the Omnipresent told him to give Zelophehad’s inheritance to his daughters, he said, “It is time to ask for my own needs-that my son should inherit my high position.” The Holy One, blessed is He, said to him, That is not My intention, for Joshua deserves to be rewarded for his service, for he “would not depart from the tent” (Exod. 33:11). This is what Solomon meant when he said, “He who guards the fig tree eats its fruit” (Prov. 27:18). - [Mid. Tanchuma Pinchas 11] |
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יִפְקֹד ה'.
כֵּיוָן שֶׁשָּׁמַע מֹשֶׁה שֶׁאָמַר לוֹ הַמָּקוֹם תֵּן נַחֲלַת צְלָפְחָד לִבְנוֹתָיו, אָמַר הִגִּיעַ שָׁעָה שֶׁאֶתְבַּע צָרְכִּי — שֶׁיִּירְשׁוּ בָּנַי אֶת גְּדֻלָּתִי, אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לֹא כָךְ עָלְתָה בְמַחֲשָׁבָה לְפָנַי, כְּדַאי הוּא יְהוֹשֻׁעַ לִטֹּל שְׂכַר שִׁמּוּשׁוֹ שֶׁלֹּא מָשׁ מִתּוֹךְ הָאֹהֶל (שמות ל״ג:י״א), וְזֶהוּ שֶׁאָמַר שְׁלֹמֹה (משלי כ"ז) "נוֹצֵר תְּאֵנָה יֹאכַל פִּרְיָהּ" (תנחומא):
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| God of the spirits. Why is this said? He said to Him, “Master of the universe, the character of each person is revealed to you, and no two are alike. Appoint over them a leader who will tolerate each person according to his individual character.”- [Mid. Tanchuma Pinchas 10, Yalkut Shimoni] |
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אֱלֹהֵי הָֽרוּחֹת.
לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר? אָמַר לְפָנָיו, רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, גָּלוּי לְפָנֶיךָ דַּעְתּוֹ שֶׁל כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד, וְאֵינָן דּוֹמִין זֶה לָזֶה, מַנֵּה עֲלֵיהֶם מַנְהִיג שֶׁיְּהֵא סוֹבֵל כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד לְפִי דַעְתּוֹ (מדרש תנחומא פנחס י, ילקוט שמעוני):
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| 17who will go forth before them and come before them, who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the Lord will not be like sheep without a shepherd." |
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יזאֲשֶׁר־יֵצֵ֣א לִפְנֵיהֶ֗ם וַֽאֲשֶׁ֤ר יָבֹא֙ לִפְנֵיהֶ֔ם וַֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר יֽוֹצִיאֵ֖ם וַֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר יְבִיאֵ֑ם וְלֹ֤א תִֽהְיֶה֙ עֲדַ֣ת יְהֹוָ֔ה כַּצֹּ֕אן אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֵֽין־לָהֶ֖ם רֹעֶֽה: |
| who will go forth before them. Not like the kings of the [gentile] nations, who sit at home and send their armies to war, but as I did, for I fought against Sihon and Og, as it says, “Do not fear him” (21:34), and as Joshua did, as it says, “Joshua went to him and said to him, Are you for us [or for our enemies]?” (Josh. 5:13). Similarly, concerning David it says, “For he went forth and came in before them” (I Sam. 18:16)-he went out [to battle] at their head and came in before them. — [Sifrei Pinchas 23] |
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אֲשֶׁר־יֵצֵא לִפְנֵיהֶם.
לֹא כְדֶרֶךְ מַלְכֵי הָאֻמּוֹת שֶׁיּוֹשְׁבִים בְּבָתֵּיהֶם וּמְשַׁלְּחִין אֶת חַיָּלוֹתֵיהֶם לַמִּלְחָמָה, אֶלָּא כְּמוֹ שֶׁעָשִׂיתִי אֲנִי, שֶׁנִּלְחַמְתִּי בְסִיחוֹן וּבְעוֹג, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר כ"א) "אַל תִּירָא אֹתוֹ", וּכְדֶרֶךְ שֶׁעָשָׂה יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וַיֵּלֶךְ יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אֵלָיו וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ הֲלָנוּ אַתָּה" וְגוֹ' (יהושע ה'), וְכֵן בְּדָוִד הוּא אוֹמֵר (שמואל א י"ח) "כִּי הוּא יוֹצֵא וָבָא לִפְנֵיהֶם" — יוֹצֵא בָּרֹאשׁ וְנִכְנָס בָּרֹאשׁ (ספרי):
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| who will lead them out. through his merits. - [Sifrei Pinchas 23] |
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וַֽאֲשֶׁר יֽוֹצִיאֵם.
בִּזְכֻיּוֹתָיו:
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| and bring them in. through his merits. - [Sifrei Pinchas 23] Another interpretation: “Who will bring them in” [means] that You should not do to him as You did to me, for I may not bring them into the Land. — [Num. Rabbah 21:15] |
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וַֽאֲשֶׁר יְבִיאֵם.
בִּזְכֻיּוֹתָיו. דָּבָר אַחֵר — ואשר יביאם, שֶׁלֹּא תַעֲשֶׂה לוֹ כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁאַתָּה עוֹשֶׂה לִּי, שֶׁאֵינִי מַכְנִיסָן לָאָרֶץ (ילקוט שמעוני):
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| 18The Lord said to Moses, "Take for yourself Joshua the son of Nun, a man of spirit, and you shall lay your hand upon him. |
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יחוַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶל־משֶׁ֗ה קַח־לְךָ֙ אֶת־יְהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ בִּן־נ֔וּן אִ֖ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־ר֣וּחַ בּ֑וֹ וְסָֽמַכְתָּ֥ אֶת־יָֽדְךָ֖ עָלָֽיו: |
| Take for yourself. Encourage him verbally, [and say,] “Fortunate are you that you have merited to lead the children of the Omnipresent!” - [Sifrei Pinchas 23 on verse 22] |
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קַח־לְךָ.
קָחֶנּוּ בִּדְבָרִים — אַשְׁרֶךָ שֶׁזָּכִיתָ לְהַנְהִיג בָּנָיו שֶׁל מָקוֹם:
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| for yourself. Someone verified by you, someone you know. — [Sifrei Pinchas 23] |
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לְךָ.
אֶת שֶׁבָּדוּק לְךָ, אֶת שֶׁאַתָּה מַכִּיר:
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| a man of spirit. As you requested; someone able to deal with the character of each one. — [Sifrei Pinchas 23] |
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אֲשֶׁר־רוּחַ בּוֹ.
כַּאֲשֶׁר שָׁאַלְתָּ, שֶׁיּוּכַל לַהֲלֹךְ כְּנֶגֶד רוּחוֹ שֶׁל כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד (ספרי):
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| and you shall lay your hand upon him. Provide him with an announcer so that he can expound [halachic discourses] during your lifetime, so they should not say about him that he dared not raise his head in the days of Moses. — [Sifrei Pinchas 23] |
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וְסָֽמַכְתָּ אֶת־יָֽדְךָ עָלָֽיו.
תֵּן לוֹ מְתֻרְגְּמָן שֶׁיִּדְרֹשׁ בְּחַיֶּיךָ, שֶׁלֹּא יֹאמְרוּ עָלָיו, לֹא הָיָה לוֹ לְהָרִים רֹאשׁ בִּימֵי מֹשֶׁה:
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| 19And you shall present him before Eleazar the kohen and before the entire congregation, and you shall command him in their presence. |
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יטוְהַֽעֲמַדְתָּ֣ אֹת֗וֹ לִפְנֵי֙ אֶלְעָזָ֣ר הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְלִפְנֵ֖י כָּל־הָֽעֵדָ֑ה וְצִוִּיתָ֥ה אֹת֖וֹ לְעֵֽינֵיהֶֽם: |
| and you shall command him. Concerning Israel; be aware that they are troublesome and obstinate. [You accept office] on condition that you take upon yourself [all this]. - [See Sifrei Beha’alothecha 42] |
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וְצִוִּיתָה אֹתוֹ.
עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל, דַּע שֶׁטַּרְחָנִין הֵם, סַרְבָנִים הֵם, עַל מְנָת שֶׁתְּקַבֵּל עָלֶיךָ (ספרי במדבר י"א):
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| 20You shall bestow some of your majesty upon him so that all the congregation of the children of Israel will take heed. |
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כוְנָֽתַתָּ֥ה מֵהֽוֹדְךָ֖ עָלָ֑יו לְמַ֣עַן יִשְׁמְע֔וּ כָּל־עֲדַ֖ת בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל: |
| You shall bestow some of your majesty upon him. This refers to the radiance of the skin of his face (see Exod. 34:29). |
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וְנָֽתַתָּה מֵהֽוֹדְךָ עָלָיו.
זֶה קֵרוּן עוֹר פָּנִים:
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| some of your majesty. But not all of your majesty. Thus, we learn that the face of Moses was [radiant] like the sun, whereas the face of Joshua was like the moon. — [Sifrei Pinchas 23, b.b. 75a] |
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מֵהֽוֹדְךָ.
וְלֹא כָּל הוֹדְךָ, וּמָצִינוּ לְמֵדִין פְּנֵי מֹשֶׁה כַּחַמָּה פְּנֵי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ כַּלְּבָנָה (ספרי; בבא בתרא ע"ה):
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| so that all the congregation of the children of Israel will take heed. [meaning] that they will behave toward him with reverence and awe, just as they behaved toward you. |
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לְמַעַן יִשְׁמְעוּ כָּל־עֲדַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵֽל.
שֶׁיִּהְיוּ נוֹהֲגִין בּוֹ כָּבוֹד וְיִרְאָה, כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁנּוֹהֲגִין בְּךָ:
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| 21He shall stand before Eleazar the kohen and seek [counsel from] him through the judgment of the Urim before the Lord. By his word they shall go, and by his word they shall come; he and all Israel with him, and the entire congregation." |
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כאוְלִפְנֵ֨י אֶלְעָזָ֤ר הַכֹּהֵן֙ יַֽעֲמֹ֔ד וְשָׁ֥אַל ל֛וֹ בְּמִשְׁפַּ֥ט הָֽאוּרִ֖ים לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה עַל־פִּ֨יו יֵֽצְא֜וּ וְעַל־פִּ֣יו יָבֹ֗אוּ ה֛וּא וְכָל־בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל אִתּ֖וֹ וְכָל־הָֽעֵדָֽה: |
| He shall stand before Eleazar the priest. Here is [the response to] the request that you made [that your children should inherit you]; this honor shall not depart from your father’s house, for even Joshua will have need for Eleazar. — [Mid. Tanchuma Pinchas 11] |
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וְלִפְנֵי אֶלְעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן יַֽעֲמֹד.
הֲרֵי שְׁאֵלָתְךָ שֶׁשָּׁאַלְתָּ, שֶׁאֵין הַכָּבוֹד הַזֶּה זָז מִבֵּית אָבִיךָ, שֶׁאַף יְהוֹשֻׁעַ יְהֵא צָרִיךְ לְאֶלְעָזָר (תנחומא):
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| and seek [counsel from] him. when he finds it necessary to go to war. - [Sanh. 16a] |
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וְשָׁאַל לוֹ.
כְּשֶׁיִּצְטָרֵךְ לָצֵאת לַמִּלְחָמָה:
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| By his word. Eleazar’s [word]. |
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עַל־פִּיו.
שֶׁל אֶלְעָזָר:
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| and the entire congregation. The Sanhedrin. — [Yoma 73b, Sanh. 16a] |
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וְכָל־הָֽעֵדָֽה.
סַנְהֶדְרִין:
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| 22Moses did as the Lord had commanded him, and he took Joshua and presented him before Eleazar the kohen and before the entire congregation. |
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כבוַיַּ֣עַשׂ משֶׁ֔ה כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה אֹת֑וֹ וַיִּקַּ֣ח אֶת־יְהוֹשֻׁ֗עַ וַיַּֽעֲמִדֵ֨הוּ֙ לִפְנֵי֙ אֶלְעָזָ֣ר הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְלִפְנֵ֖י כָּל־הָֽעֵדָֽה: |
| and he took Joshua. He took him [by encouraging him] with words, and informed him of the reward in store for the leaders of Israel in the World to Come. — [Sifrei Pinchas 23] |
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וַיִּקַּח אֶת־יְהוֹשֻׁעַ.
לְקָחוֹ בִדְבָרִים וְהוֹדִיעוֹ מַתַּן שְׂכַר פַּרְנְסֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא (ספרי):
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| 23He laid his hands upon him and commanded him, in accordance with what the Lord had spoken to Moses. |
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כגוַיִּסְמֹ֧ךְ אֶת־יָדָ֛יו עָלָ֖יו וַיְצַוֵּ֑הוּ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה בְּיַד־משֶֽׁה: |
| He laid his hands. generously; over and above what he had been commanded. For the Holy One, blessed is He, said to him, “and you shall lay your hand upon him” (verse 18), but he did it with both his hands. He fashioned him like a full and overflowing vessel, filling him with wisdom in abundance. — [Sifrei Pinchas 23, Sanh. 105b] |
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וַיִּסְמֹךְ אֶת־יָדָיו.
בְּעַיִן יָפָה, יוֹתֵר וְיוֹתֵר מִמַּה שֶּׁנִּצְטַוָּה, שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אָמַר לוֹ "וְסָמַכְתָּ אֶת יָדְךָ", וְהוּא עָשָׂה בִּשְׁתֵּי יָדָיו, וַעֲשָׂאוֹ כִכְלִי מָלֵא וְגָדוּשׁ, וּמִלְּאוֹ חָכְמָתוֹ בְּעַיִן יָפָה (שם):
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| in accordance with what the Lord had spoken to Moses. [That is,] also with respect to the majesty; He bestowed some of his majesty [radiance] upon him. |
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כַּֽאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר ה'.
אַף לְעִנְיַן הַהוֹד — נָתַן מֵהוֹדוֹ עָלָיו:
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