Saadia's Tafsir on Bamidbar 10 (Parashat Beha’alotcha)

Bamidbar 10:1

וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר

Then God spoke to Moses directly.

Bamidbar 10:2

עֲשֵׂה לְךָ שְׁתֵּי חֲצוֹצְרֹת כֶּסֶף--מִקְשָׁה תַּעֲשֶׂה אֹתָם וְהָיוּ לְךָ לְמִקְרָא הָעֵדָה וּלְמַסַּע אֶת-הַמַּחֲנוֹת

.

'Make for yourself two trumpets of solid silver; they shall be for you for summoning the assembly and for setting out the camp.'

Bamidbar 10:3

וְתָקְעוּ בָּהֵן--וְנוֹעֲדוּ אֵלֶיךָ כָּל-הָעֵדָה אֶל-פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד

. .

'And if both are sounded, all the assembly shall gather to you, at the entrance of the tent of the assembly.'

Bamidbar 10:4

וְאִם-בְּאַחַת יִתְקָעוּ--וְנוֹעֲדוּ אֵלֶיךָ הַנְּשִׂיאִים רָאשֵׁי אַלְפֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל

.

'And if one of them is sounded, the nobles shall gather to you — the heads of the thousands of the sons of Israel.'

Bamidbar 10:5

וּתְקַעְתֶּם תְּרוּעָה--וְנָסְעוּ הַמַּחֲנוֹת הַחֹנִים קֵדְמָה

. .

'And blow a rousing blast, and the camp encamped in the east shall set out by it.'

Bamidbar 10:6

וּתְקַעְתֶּם תְּרוּעָה שֵׁנִית--וְנָסְעוּ הַמַּחֲנוֹת הַחֹנִים תֵּימָנָה תְּרוּעָה יִתְקְעוּ לְמַסְעֵיהֶם

. . .

'And blow a rousing blast a second time, and the camp encamped in the south shall set out by it; thus shall they blow a blast for their setting out.'

Bamidbar 10:7

וּבְהַקְהִיל אֶת-הַקָּהָל--תִּתְקְעוּ וְלֹא תָרִיעוּ

.

'And when the congregation assembles, blow a steady blast and do not rouse.'

Bamidbar 10:8

וּבְנֵי אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֲנִים יִתְקְעוּ בַּחֲצֹצְרוֹת וְהָיוּ לָכֶם לְחֻקַּת עוֹלָם לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם

. . .

'And the sons of Aaron, the imāms, shall sound the trumpets; and that shall be for you an ordinance forever throughout your generations.'

Bamidbar 10:9

וְכִי-תָבֹאוּ מִלְחָמָה בְּאַרְצְכֶם עַל-הַצַּר הַצֹּרֵר אֶתְכֶם--וַהֲרֵעֹתֶם בַּחֲצֹצְרֹת וְנִזְכַּרְתֶּם לִפְנֵי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם וְנוֹשַׁעְתֶּם מֵאֹיְבֵיכֶם

. . . .

'And when you go to war in your land against the enemy who opposes you, sound a rousing blast on the trumpets; and when you trumpet before God your Lord, you shall be aided against your enemies.'

Bamidbar 10:10

וּבְיוֹם שִׂמְחַתְכֶם וּבְמוֹעֲדֵיכֶם וּבְרָאשֵׁי חָדְשֵׁיכֶם--וּתְקַעְתֶּם בַּחֲצֹצְרֹת עַל עֹלֹתֵיכֶם וְעַל זִבְחֵי שַׁלְמֵיכֶם וְהָיוּ לָכֶם לְזִכָּרוֹן לִפְנֵי אֱלֹהֵיכֶם אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

. . . . .

'And on the day of your rejoicing, and at your festivals, and at your new months, sound the trumpets over your ascent-offerings and your peace-offerings; and it shall be a remembrance for you before God your Lord. I am God your Lord — I have commanded this.'

Bamidbar 10:11

וַיְהִי בַּשָּׁנָה הַשֵּׁנִית בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִי--בְּעֶשְׂרִים בַּחֹדֶשׁ נַעֲלָה הֶעָנָן מֵעַל מִשְׁכַּן הָעֵדֻת

. . .

And it was in the second month of the second year, on the twentieth of it, that the cloud rose from the tabernacle of the testimony.

Bamidbar 10:12

וַיִּסְעוּ בְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל לְמַסְעֵיהֶם מִמִּדְבַּר סִינָי וַיִּשְׁכֹּן הֶעָנָן בְּמִדְבַּר פָּארָן

.

And the sons of Israel set out on their journeys from the wilderness of Sinai, and the cloud settled in the wilderness of Paran.

Bamidbar 10:13

וַיִּסְעוּ בָּרִאשֹׁנָה עַל-פִּי יְהוָה בְּיַד-מֹשֶׁה

.

And the first of their setting out was by the command of God, by the hand of Moses.

Bamidbar 10:14

וַיִּסַּע דֶּגֶל מַחֲנֵה בְנֵי-יְהוּדָה בָּרִאשֹׁנָה--לְצִבְאֹתָם וְעַל-צְבָאוֹ--נַחְשׁוֹן בֶּן-עַמִּינָדָב

. .

Then the division of the camp of the sons of Judah set out at the head, by their hosts; and over his host was Nahshon son of Amminadab.

Bamidbar 10:15

וְעַל-צְבָא--מַטֵּה בְּנֵי יִשָּׂשכָר נְתַנְאֵל בֶּן-צוּעָר

.

And over the host of the tribe of Issachar was Nethanel son of Zuar.

Bamidbar 10:16

וְעַל-צְבָא--מַטֵּה בְּנֵי זְבוּלֻן אֱלִיאָב בֶּן-חֵלֹן

.

And over the host of the tribe of Zebulun was Eliab son of Helon.

Bamidbar 10:17

וְהוּרַד הַמִּשְׁכָּן וְנָסְעוּ בְנֵי-גֵרְשׁוֹן וּבְנֵי מְרָרִי נֹשְׂאֵי הַמִּשְׁכָּן

. .

Then the tabernacle was taken apart, and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set out, carrying it.

Bamidbar 10:18

וְנָסַע דֶּגֶל מַחֲנֵה רְאוּבֵן--לְצִבְאֹתָם וְעַל-צְבָאוֹ--אֱלִיצוּר בֶּן-שְׁדֵיאוּר

. .

Then the division of the camp of Reuben set out by their hosts; and over his host was Elizur son of Shedeur.

Bamidbar 10:19

וְעַל-צְבָא--מַטֵּה בְּנֵי שִׁמְעוֹן שְׁלֻמִיאֵל בֶּן-צוּרִישַׁדָּי

.

And over the host of the tribe of Simeon was Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.

Bamidbar 10:20

וְעַל-צְבָא מַטֵּה בְנֵי-גָד אֶלְיָסָף בֶּן-דְּעוּאֵל

.

And over the host of the tribe of Gad was Eliasaph son of Deuel.

Bamidbar 10:21

וְנָסְעוּ הַקְּהָתִים נֹשְׂאֵי הַמִּקְדָּשׁ וְהֵקִימוּ אֶת-הַמִּשְׁכָּן עַד-בֹּאָם

. .

Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the sanctuary; and the tabernacle was erected before their arrival.

Bamidbar 10:22

וְנָסַע דֶּגֶל מַחֲנֵה בְנֵי-אֶפְרַיִם--לְצִבְאֹתָם וְעַל-צְבָאוֹ--אֱלִישָׁמָע בֶּן-עַמִּיהוּד

. .

Then the division of the camp of Ephraim set out by their hosts; and over his host was Elishama son of Ammihud.

Bamidbar 10:23

וְעַל-צְבָא--מַטֵּה בְּנֵי מְנַשֶּׁה גַּמְלִיאֵל בֶּן-פְּדָהצוּר

.

And over the host of the tribe of Manasseh was Gamliel son of Pedahzur.

Bamidbar 10:24

וְעַל-צְבָא--מַטֵּה בְּנֵי בִנְיָמִן אֲבִידָן בֶּן-גִּדְעוֹנִי

.

And over the host of the tribe of Benjamin was Abidan son of Gideoni.

Bamidbar 10:25

וְנָסַע דֶּגֶל מַחֲנֵה בְנֵי-דָן--מְאַסֵּף לְכָל-הַמַּחֲנֹת לְצִבְאֹתָם וְעַל-צְבָאוֹ--אֲחִיעֶזֶר בֶּן-עַמִּישַׁדָּי

. . .

Then the division of the camp of the sons of Dan set out, at the rear of all the camp, by their hosts; and over his host was Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.

Bamidbar 10:26

וְעַל-צְבָא--מַטֵּה בְּנֵי אָשֵׁר פַּגְעִיאֵל בֶּן-עָכְרָן

.

And over the host of the tribe of Asher was Pagiel son of Ochran.

Bamidbar 10:27

וְעַל-צְבָא--מַטֵּה בְּנֵי נַפְתָּלִי אֲחִירַע בֶּן-עֵינָן

.

And over the host of the tribe of Naphtali was Ahira son of Enan.

Bamidbar 10:28

אֵלֶּה מַסְעֵי בְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל לְצִבְאֹתָם וַיִּסָּעוּ

.

These are the journeys of the sons of Israel by their hosts, whenever they set out.

Bamidbar 10:29

וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה לְחֹבָב בֶּן-רְעוּאֵל הַמִּדְיָנִי חֹתֵן מֹשֶׁה נֹסְעִים אֲנַחְנוּ אֶל-הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר אָמַר יְהוָה אֹתוֹ אֶתֵּן לָכֶם לְכָה אִתָּנוּ וְהֵטַבְנוּ לָךְ כִּי-יְהוָה דִּבֶּר-טוֹב עַל-יִשְׂרָאֵל

. . . . . . .

Moses said to Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, his father-in-law: 'We are setting out to the place which God has said — that very one I will give to you. Come with us and we will deal well with you, for God has promised the house of Israel with good.'

Bamidbar 10:30

וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו לֹא אֵלֵךְ כִּי אִם-אֶל-אַרְצִי וְאֶל-מוֹלַדְתִּי אֵלֵךְ

.

He said: 'I will not go, but only to my own land and my birthplace.'

Bamidbar 10:31

וַיֹּאמֶר אַל-נָא תַּעֲזֹב אֹתָנוּ כִּי עַל-כֵּן יָדַעְתָּ חֲנֹתֵנוּ בַּמִּדְבָּר וְהָיִיתָ לָּנוּ לְעֵינָיִם

. . .

He said: 'O good man, do not leave us, for you know that throughout the length of our sojourn in the open country, you have been for us as our eyesight.'

Bamidbar 10:32

וְהָיָה כִּי-תֵלֵךְ עִמָּנוּ וְהָיָה הַטּוֹב הַהוּא אֲשֶׁר יֵיטִיב יְהוָה עִמָּנוּ--וְהֵטַבְנוּ לָךְ

. .

'And if you journey with us, then whatever good God shall deal well to us with, we will deal well with you from it.'

Bamidbar 10:33

וַיִּסְעוּ מֵהַר יְהוָה דֶּרֶךְ שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים וַאֲרוֹן בְּרִית-יְהוָה נֹסֵעַ לִפְנֵיהֶם דֶּרֶךְ שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים לָתוּר לָהֶם מְנוּחָה

. . . .

And they set out from the mountain of God a distance of three days' journey; and the ark of the covenant of God was moving before them a distance of those three days, to choose a resting-place for them.

Bamidbar 10:34

וַעֲנַן יְהוָה עֲלֵיהֶם יוֹמָם בְּנָסְעָם מִן-הַמַּחֲנֶה

.

And the cloud of God was over them by day, when they set out from the camp.

Bamidbar 10:36

וּבְנֻחֹה יֹאמַר שׁוּבָה יְהוָה רִבְבוֹת אַלְפֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל

. .

And at its coming to rest, he would say: 'Return, O Lord, Your light, to the ten-thousands of the thousands of the house of Israel.'