Saadia's Tafsir on Bamidbar 11 (Parashat Beha’alotcha)

Bamidbar 11:2

וַיִּצְעַק הָעָם אֶל-מֹשֶׁה וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל מֹשֶׁה אֶל-יְהוָה וַתִּשְׁקַע הָאֵשׁ

. .

And the people cried out to Moses; and he prayed to his Lord, and the fire died down.

Bamidbar 11:3

וַיִּקְרָא שֵׁם-הַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא תַּבְעֵרָה כִּי-בָעֲרָה בָם אֵשׁ יְהוָה

.

And he called that place 'the Blazing,' because the fire of God had blazed among them.

Bamidbar 11:4

וְהָאסַפְסֻף אֲשֶׁר בְּקִרְבּוֹ הִתְאַוּוּ תַּאֲוָה וַיָּשֻׁבוּ וַיִּבְכּוּ גַּם בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיֹּאמְרוּ מִי יַאֲכִלֵנוּ בָּשָׂר

. . . .

And the mixed multitude who were among them craved a craving; and the sons of Israel also turned back with them, and they wept and said: 'Who shall feed us meat?'

Bamidbar 11:5

זָכַרְנוּ אֶת-הַדָּגָה אֲשֶׁר-נֹאכַל בְּמִצְרַיִם חִנָּם אֵת הַקִּשֻּׁאִים וְאֵת הָאֲבַטִּחִים וְאֶת-הֶחָצִיר וְאֶת-הַבְּצָלִים וְאֶת-הַשּׁוּמִים

. . .

We remember the fish which we used to eat in Egypt for nothing — the cucumbers and the melons, and the leeks and the onions and the garlic.

Bamidbar 11:6

וְעַתָּה נַפְשֵׁנוּ יְבֵשָׁה אֵין כֹּל--בִּלְתִּי אֶל-הַמָּן עֵינֵינוּ

. .

And now our souls are dried up, as though there were nothing at all — for our eyes are stretched only toward the manna.

Bamidbar 11:7

וְהַמָּן כִּזְרַע-גַּד הוּא וְעֵינוֹ כְּעֵין הַבְּדֹלַח

.

And the manna was like the seed of coriander, and its color was like the color of pearls.

Bamidbar 11:8

שָׁטוּ הָעָם וְלָקְטוּ וְטָחֲנוּ בָרֵחַיִם אוֹ דָכוּ בַּמְּדֹכָה וּבִשְּׁלוּ בַּפָּרוּר וְעָשׂוּ אֹתוֹ עֻגוֹת וְהָיָה טַעְמוֹ כְּטַעַם לְשַׁד הַשָּׁמֶן

. . . .

The people would go about and gather it, and grind it in the millstone or pound it in the mortar, and cook it in the pots, and make of it a roasted cake; and its taste was like the sweetness of something rich with fat.

Bamidbar 11:9

וּבְרֶדֶת הַטַּל עַל-הַמַּחֲנֶה לָיְלָה יֵרֵד הַמָּן עָלָיו

. .

And when the dew descended upon the camp at night, the manna would descend upon it.

Bamidbar 11:10

וַיִּשְׁמַע מֹשֶׁה אֶת-הָעָם בֹּכֶה לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָיו--אִישׁ לְפֶתַח אָהֳלוֹ וַיִּחַר-אַף יְהוָה מְאֹד וּבְעֵינֵי מֹשֶׁה רָע

. . . .

And when Moses heard the people weeping for their clans — every man at the door of his tent — God's anger was greatly intensified, and it was grievous in the sight of Moses.

Bamidbar 11:11

וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל-יְהוָה לָמָה הֲרֵעֹתָ לְעַבְדֶּךָ וְלָמָּה לֹא-מָצָתִי חֵן בְּעֵינֶיךָ לָשׂוּם אֶת-מַשָּׂא כָּל-הָעָם הַזֶּה--עָלָי

. . . .

And Moses said to God: 'Why have You brought trial upon Your servant, and why have I not found favor before You, since You have placed the whole burden of the management of these people upon me?'

Bamidbar 11:12

הֶאָנֹכִי הָרִיתִי אֵת כָּל-הָעָם הַזֶּה--אִם-אָנֹכִי יְלִדְתִּיהוּ כִּי-תֹאמַר אֵלַי שָׂאֵהוּ בְחֵיקֶךָ כַּאֲשֶׁר יִשָּׂא הָאֹמֵן אֶת-הַיֹּנֵק עַל הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתָּ לַאֲבֹתָיו

. . . . . .

'Did I conceive them, or did I beget them, that You said to me: Tend them — as though You would carry them in Your lap, as a nurse carries an infant — to the land which You allotted to their fathers?'

Bamidbar 11:13

מֵאַיִן לִי בָּשָׂר לָתֵת לְכָל-הָעָם הַזֶּה כִּי-יִבְכּוּ עָלַי לֵאמֹר תְּנָה-לָּנוּ בָשָׂר וְנֹאכֵלָה

. . .

'From where do I have meat to give to all of them, when they weep over me and say: Give us meat that we may eat?'

Bamidbar 11:14

לֹא-אוּכַל אָנֹכִי לְבַדִּי לָשֵׂאת אֶת-כָּל-הָעָם הַזֶּה כִּי כָבֵד מִמֶּנִּי

.

'I alone cannot manage them; it is too heavy for me.'

Bamidbar 11:15

וְאִם-כָּכָה אַתְּ-עֹשֶׂה לִּי הָרְגֵנִי נָא הָרֹג--אִם-מָצָאתִי חֵן בְּעֵינֶיךָ וְאַל-אֶרְאֶה בְּרָעָתִי

. . .

'And if You have bound me to it as a punishment, then let that punishment be my death — if I have found favor before You — that I may not see my affliction.'

Bamidbar 11:16

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה אֶסְפָה-לִּי שִׁבְעִים אִישׁ מִזִּקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר יָדַעְתָּ כִּי-הֵם זִקְנֵי הָעָם וְשֹׁטְרָיו וְלָקַחְתָּ אֹתָם אֶל-אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וְהִתְיַצְּבוּ שָׁם עִמָּךְ

. . . .

And God said to Moses: 'Gather for me seventy men from the elders of the sons of Israel — those whom you know to be their elders and their overseers — and take them to the tent of the assembly, and let them stand there with you.'

Bamidbar 11:17

וְיָרַדְתִּי וְדִבַּרְתִּי עִמְּךָ שָׁם וְאָצַלְתִּי מִן-הָרוּחַ אֲשֶׁר עָלֶיךָ וְשַׂמְתִּי עֲלֵיהֶם וְנָשְׂאוּ אִתְּךָ בְּמַשָּׂא הָעָם וְלֹא-תִשָּׂא אַתָּה לְבַדֶּךָ

. . .

'Until I appear and speak with you there, and I shall impart to them of the light which is upon your face and set it upon them; so they shall assist you in the governance of the people, and you shall not govern them alone.'

Bamidbar 11:18

וְאֶל-הָעָם תֹּאמַר הִתְקַדְּשׁוּ לְמָחָר וַאֲכַלְתֶּם בָּשָׂר--כִּי בְּכִיתֶם בְּאָזְנֵי יְהוָה לֵאמֹר מִי יַאֲכִלֵנוּ בָּשָׂר כִּי-טוֹב לָנוּ בְּמִצְרָיִם וְנָתַן יְהוָה לָכֶם בָּשָׂר וַאֲכַלְתֶּם

. . . . . .

'And say to the people: Prepare yourselves until tomorrow, that you may eat meat — because you have wept before God and said: Who shall feed us meat? For it was better for us in Egypt. So God shall give you meat that you shall eat.'

Bamidbar 11:19

לֹא יוֹם אֶחָד תֹּאכְלוּן וְלֹא יוֹמָיִם וְלֹא חֲמִשָּׁה יָמִים וְלֹא עֲשָׂרָה יָמִים וְלֹא עֶשְׂרִים יוֹם

. . .

'Not one day shall you eat it, and not two days, and not five, and not ten, and not twenty —'

Bamidbar 11:20

עַד חֹדֶשׁ יָמִים עַד אֲשֶׁר-יֵצֵא מֵאַפְּכֶם וְהָיָה לָכֶם לְזָרָא יַעַן כִּי-מְאַסְתֶּם אֶת-יְהוָה אֲשֶׁר בְּקִרְבְּכֶם וַתִּבְכּוּ לְפָנָיו לֵאמֹר לָמָּה זֶּה יָצָאנוּ מִמִּצְרָיִם

. . . . . .

'but for the days of a month, until it comes out of your nostrils as a byword, and becomes a disgrace to you — because you have shown contempt for the light of God which is among you, and you wept before Him and said: Why did we ever leave Egypt?'

Bamidbar 11:21

וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה שֵׁשׁ-מֵאוֹת אֶלֶף רַגְלִי הָעָם אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי בְּקִרְבּוֹ וְאַתָּה אָמַרְתָּ בָּשָׂר אֶתֵּן לָהֶם וְאָכְלוּ חֹדֶשׁ יָמִים

. . . . .

Moses said: 'Six hundred thousand men on foot are the people among whom I am — and You said: I shall give them meat that they shall eat for a month!'

Bamidbar 11:22

הֲצֹאן וּבָקָר יִשָּׁחֵט לָהֶם וּמָצָא לָהֶם אִם אֶת-כָּל-דְּגֵי הַיָּם יֵאָסֵף לָהֶם וּמָצָא לָהֶם

. . .

'Then for their relief — shall flocks and herds be slaughtered for them so as to suffice them? Or shall all the fish of the sea be netted for them so as to satisfy them?'

Bamidbar 11:23

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה הֲיַד יְהוָה תִּקְצָר עַתָּה תִרְאֶה הֲיִקְרְךָ דְבָרִי אִם-לֹא

. . .

And God said to Moses: 'Is the power of God too short? Now you shall see whether My word comes to you or not.'

Bamidbar 11:24

וַיֵּצֵא מֹשֶׁה--וַיְדַבֵּר אֶל-הָעָם אֵת דִּבְרֵי יְהוָה וַיֶּאֱסֹף שִׁבְעִים אִישׁ מִזִּקְנֵי הָעָם וַיַּעֲמֵד אֹתָם סְבִיבֹת הָאֹהֶל

. . . .

And Moses went out and informed the people of the word of God; and he gathered seventy men from their elders, and stationed them around the tent.

Bamidbar 11:25

וַיֵּרֶד יְהוָה בֶּעָנָן וַיְדַבֵּר אֵלָיו וַיָּאצֶל מִן-הָרוּחַ אֲשֶׁר עָלָיו וַיִּתֵּן עַל-שִׁבְעִים אִישׁ הַזְּקֵנִים וַיְהִי כְּנוֹחַ עֲלֵיהֶם הָרוּחַ וַיִּתְנַבְּאוּ וְלֹא יָסָפוּ

. . . . .

And God appeared in the cloud and spoke with him; and He imparted of the light which was upon him, and covered the seventy elder men with it; and when that light settled upon them, they prophesied — and they had no need to return to it.

Bamidbar 11:26

וַיִּשָּׁאֲרוּ שְׁנֵי-אֲנָשִׁים בַּמַּחֲנֶה שֵׁם הָאֶחָד אֶלְדָּד וְשֵׁם הַשֵּׁנִי מֵידָד וַתָּנַח עֲלֵהֶם הָרוּחַ וְהֵמָּה בַּכְּתֻבִים וְלֹא יָצְאוּ הָאֹהֱלָה וַיִּתְנַבְּאוּ בַּמַּחֲנֶה

. . . . .

And two men remained in the camp — the name of one of them was Eldad, and the second Medad — and the prophecy settled upon them; and they were among those who were registered, but they had not gone out to the tent; rather, they prophesied in the camp.

Bamidbar 11:27

וַיָּרָץ הַנַּעַר וַיַּגֵּד לְמֹשֶׁה וַיֹּאמַר אֶלְדָּד וּמֵידָד מִתְנַבְּאִים בַּמַּחֲנֶה

. . .

And the youth came hurrying and informed Moses, and said: 'Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.'

Bamidbar 11:28

וַיַּעַן יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּן-נוּן מְשָׁרֵת מֹשֶׁה מִבְּחֻרָיו--וַיֹּאמַר אֲדֹנִי מֹשֶׁה כְּלָאֵם

. . .

And Joshua son of Nun, Moses' attendant, one of his disciples, answered and said: 'My lord, O Moses — restrain them!'

Bamidbar 11:29

וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ מֹשֶׁה הַמְקַנֵּא אַתָּה לִי וּמִי יִתֵּן כָּל-עַם יְהוָה נְבִיאִים--כִּי-יִתֵּן יְהוָה אֶת-רוּחוֹ עֲלֵיהֶם

. . .

And Moses said to him: 'Are you jealous on my behalf? Would that all the nation of God might become prophets — that He might set of His light and His prophecy upon them!'

Bamidbar 11:30

וַיֵּאָסֵף מֹשֶׁה אֶל-הַמַּחֲנֶה--הוּא וְזִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל

.

And when Moses rejoined the camp — he and the elders of the sons of Israel —

Bamidbar 11:31

וְרוּחַ נָסַע מֵאֵת יְהוָה וַיָּגָז שַׂלְוִים מִן-הַיָּם וַיִּטֹּשׁ עַל-הַמַּחֲנֶה כְּדֶרֶךְ יוֹם כֹּה וּכְדֶרֶךְ יוֹם כֹּה סְבִיבוֹת הַמַּחֲנֶה--וּכְאַמָּתַיִם עַל-פְּנֵי הָאָרֶץ

. . .

a wind blew from God, and it drove quail in from the sea and cast them upon the camp, like a day's journey to the right and to the left around the camp; and their height from the ground was two cubits.

Bamidbar 11:32

וַיָּקָם הָעָם כָּל-הַיּוֹם הַהוּא וְכָל-הַלַּיְלָה וְכֹל יוֹם הַמָּחֳרָת וַיַּאַסְפוּ אֶת-הַשְּׂלָו--הַמַּמְעִיט אָסַף עֲשָׂרָה חֳמָרִים וַיִּשְׁטְחוּ לָהֶם שָׁטוֹחַ סְבִיבוֹת הַמַּחֲנֶה

. . . . . .

And the people rose — the remainder of their day and their night and the length of the next day — and gathered the quail; the least among them gathered ten heaps; and they spread them out as layers around the camp.

Bamidbar 11:33

הַבָּשָׂר עוֹדֶנּוּ בֵּין שִׁנֵּיהֶם--טֶרֶם יִכָּרֵת וְאַף יְהוָה חָרָה בָעָם וַיַּךְ יְהוָה בָּעָם מַכָּה רַבָּה מְאֹד

. . . ]] ]]

While the meat was still between their teeth, before they had chewed it, God's anger grew fierce against them, and He struck them with a very great blow.

Bamidbar 11:34

וַיִּקְרָא אֶת-שֵׁם-הַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא קִבְרוֹת הַתַּאֲוָה כִּי-שָׁם קָבְרוּ אֶת-הָעָם הַמִּתְאַוִּים

. .

And he called that place 'the Graves of Craving,' because there they buried the people who had craved.

Bamidbar 11:35

מִקִּבְרוֹת הַתַּאֲוָה נָסְעוּ הָעָם חֲצֵרוֹת וַיִּהְיוּ בַּחֲצֵרוֹת

.

And they journeyed from there to Hazeroth; and when they settled there.