Saadia's Tafsir on Bamidbar 15 (Parashat Sh’lach)

Bamidbar 15:1

וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר

Then God spoke to Moses directly.

Bamidbar 15:2

דַּבֵּר אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם כִּי תָבֹאוּ אֶל-אֶרֶץ מוֹשְׁבֹתֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי נֹתֵן לָכֶם

. . .

Command the sons of Israel, and say to them: When you enter the land of your dwelling, which I am giving you,

Bamidbar 15:3

וַעֲשִׂיתֶם אִשֶּׁה לַיהוָה עֹלָה אוֹ-זֶבַח לְפַלֵּא-נֶדֶר אוֹ בִנְדָבָה אוֹ בְּמֹעֲדֵיכֶם--לַעֲשׂוֹת רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ לַיהוָה מִן-הַבָּקָר אוֹ מִן-הַצֹּאן

. . . .

and you offer an offering to God — a burnt offering or a sacrifice, to fulfill a vow or as a freewill gift, or at your festivals — and you intend it to be accepted and pleasing to God, from the cattle or from the flock,

Bamidbar 15:4

וְהִקְרִיב הַמַּקְרִיב קָרְבָּנוֹ לַיהוָה--מִנְחָה סֹלֶת עִשָּׂרוֹן בָּלוּל בִּרְבִעִית הַהִין שָׁמֶן

. .

then the one who brings that offering shall bring with it, from grain, a tenth of fine flour mixed with a quarter of a qist of oil;

Bamidbar 15:5

וְיַיִן לַנֶּסֶךְ רְבִיעִית הַהִין תַּעֲשֶׂה עַל-הָעֹלָה אוֹ לַזָּבַח--לַכֶּבֶשׂ הָאֶחָד

. .

and wine for the libation — a quarter of a qist — you shall make it with the burnt offering or with the sacrifice, for the one lamb.

Bamidbar 15:6

אוֹ לָאַיִל תַּעֲשֶׂה מִנְחָה סֹלֶת שְׁנֵי עֶשְׂרֹנִים בְּלוּלָה בַשֶּׁמֶן שְׁלִשִׁית הַהִין

.

And for the ram you shall bring, from grain, two tenths of fine flour mixed with a third of a qist of oil;

Bamidbar 15:7

וְיַיִן לַנֶּסֶךְ שְׁלִשִׁית הַהִין--תַּקְרִיב רֵיחַ-נִיחֹחַ לַיהוָה

.

and wine for the libation — a third of a qist — you shall offer it, accepted and pleasing to God.

Bamidbar 15:8

וְכִי-תַעֲשֶׂה בֶן-בָּקָר עֹלָה אוֹ-זָבַח לְפַלֵּא-נֶדֶר אוֹ-שְׁלָמִים לַיהוָה

.

And when you make from the cattle a burnt offering or a sacrifice, to fulfill a vow or as a peace-offering to God,

Bamidbar 15:9

וְהִקְרִיב עַל-בֶּן-הַבָּקָר מִנְחָה סֹלֶת שְׁלֹשָׁה עֶשְׂרֹנִים בָּלוּל בַּשֶּׁמֶן חֲצִי הַהִין

. .

then he shall bring with it, from grain, three tenths of fine flour mixed with half a qist of oil;

Bamidbar 15:10

וְיַיִן תַּקְרִיב לַנֶּסֶךְ חֲצִי הַהִין--אִשֵּׁה רֵיחַ-נִיחֹחַ לַיהוָה

.

and wine — offer it for the libation — half a qist, accepted and pleasing to God.

Bamidbar 15:11

כָּכָה יֵעָשֶׂה לַשּׁוֹר הָאֶחָד אוֹ לָאַיִל הָאֶחָד אוֹ-לַשֶּׂה בַכְּבָשִׂים אוֹ בָעִזִּים

. . .

So shall it be done with every ox, and with every ram, and with every head from the sheep or from the goats.

Bamidbar 15:12

כַּמִּסְפָּר אֲשֶׁר תַּעֲשׂוּ--כָּכָה תַּעֲשׂוּ לָאֶחָד כְּמִסְפָּרָם

.

According to the count of what you offer of them, so shall you do with each one of those counted.

Bamidbar 15:13

כָּל-הָאֶזְרָח יַעֲשֶׂה-כָּכָה אֶת-אֵלֶּה לְהַקְרִיב אִשֵּׁה רֵיחַ-נִיחֹחַ לַיהוָה

.

So shall every native-born do, when he brings an offering accepted and pleasing to God.

Bamidbar 15:14

וְכִי-יָגוּר אִתְּכֶם גֵּר אוֹ אֲשֶׁר-בְּתוֹכְכֶם לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם וְעָשָׂה אִשֵּׁה רֵיחַ-נִיחֹחַ לַיהוָה--כַּאֲשֶׁר תַּעֲשׂוּ כֵּן יַעֲשֶׂה

. . . .

And any sojourner who has come among you, or who has dwelt in your midst throughout the passing of your generations, and has made an offering and intended it to be accepted and pleasing to God — just as you do, so shall he do.

Bamidbar 15:15

הַקָּהָל חֻקָּה אַחַת לָכֶם וְלַגֵּר הַגָּר חֻקַּת עוֹלָם לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם כָּכֶם כַּגֵּר יִהְיֶה לִפְנֵי יְהוָה

. . .

O assembly! One ordinance for you and for the stranger who has come in — an eternal ordinance throughout the passing of your generations, for the stranger is as you are before God.

Bamidbar 15:16

תּוֹרָה אַחַת וּמִשְׁפָּט אֶחָד יִהְיֶה לָכֶם וְלַגֵּר הַגָּר אִתְּכֶם

. .

So likewise: one law and one ruling shall be for you and for the stranger who has come in among you.

Bamidbar 15:17

וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר

Then God spoke to Moses directly.

Bamidbar 15:18

דַּבֵּר אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם בְּבֹאֲכֶם אֶל-הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי מֵבִיא אֶתְכֶם שָׁמָּה

. . .

Command the sons of Israel, and say to them: When you enter the land to which I am bringing you there,

Bamidbar 15:19

וְהָיָה בַּאֲכָלְכֶם מִלֶּחֶם הָאָרֶץ--תָּרִימוּ תְרוּמָה לַיהוָה

.

then whenever you eat of the food of the land, raise up a heave-offering to God.

Bamidbar 15:20

רֵאשִׁית עֲרִסֹתֵכֶם--חַלָּה תָּרִימוּ תְרוּמָה כִּתְרוּמַת גֹּרֶן כֵּן תָּרִימוּ אֹתָהּ

. . .

The first of your dough — a loaf-cake you shall raise up as a heave-offering, like the heave-offering of the threshing-floor; so shall you raise it up.

Bamidbar 15:21

מֵרֵאשִׁית עֲרִסֹתֵיכֶם תִּתְּנוּ לַיהוָה תְּרוּמָה--לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם

. .

And likewise, the first of your dough you shall make for God a heave-offering, throughout the passing of your generations.

Bamidbar 15:22

וְכִי תִשְׁגּוּ--וְלֹא תַעֲשׂוּ אֵת כָּל-הַמִּצְו‍ֹת הָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר-דִּבֶּר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה

. .

And if you have erred, and have not carried out all these commandments which God commanded Moses —

Bamidbar 15:23

אֵת כָּל-אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֲלֵיכֶם בְּיַד-מֹשֶׁה מִן-הַיּוֹם אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה וָהָלְאָה--לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם

. .

like all that God commanded you by the hand of Moses, from the day He began the command, and onward throughout the passing of your generations —

Bamidbar 15:24

וְהָיָה אִם מֵעֵינֵי הָעֵדָה נֶעֶשְׂתָה לִשְׁגָגָה וְעָשׂוּ כָל-הָעֵדָה פַּר בֶּן-בָּקָר אֶחָד לְעֹלָה לְרֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ לַיהוָה וּמִנְחָתוֹ וְנִסְכּוֹ כַּמִּשְׁפָּט וּשְׂעִיר-עִזִּים אֶחָד לְחַטָּת

. . . .

then if the error was away from the eyes of the assembly, they shall make a bull from the cattle — a burnt offering, accepted and pleasing to God — and with it grain and libation as required, and a he-goat from the goats for the purification-offering.

Bamidbar 15:25

וְכִפֶּר הַכֹּהֵן עַל-כָּל-עֲדַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל--וְנִסְלַח לָהֶם כִּי-שְׁגָגָה הִוא--וְהֵם הֵבִיאוּ אֶת-קָרְבָּנָם אִשֶּׁה לַיהוָה וְחַטָּאתָם לִפְנֵי יְהוָה עַל-שִׁגְגָתָם

. . .

And he shall seek forgiveness for them, since that was an error, and they have brought their burnt offering as an offering to God, and their purification-offering for their lapse.

Bamidbar 15:26

וְנִסְלַח לְכָל-עֲדַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְלַגֵּר הַגָּר בְּתוֹכָם כִּי לְכָל-הָעָם בִּשְׁגָגָה

. .

And it shall be forgiven to the assembly of the sons of Israel and to the stranger who has come in among them, since all the people acted in error.

Bamidbar 15:27

וְאִם-נֶפֶשׁ אַחַת תֶּחֱטָא בִשְׁגָגָה--וְהִקְרִיבָה עֵז בַּת-שְׁנָתָהּ לְחַטָּאת

.

And if a single person errs likewise, in error, he shall offer a ewe-lamb in its first year for the purification-offering.

Bamidbar 15:28

וְכִפֶּר הַכֹּהֵן עַל-הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַשֹּׁגֶגֶת בְּחֶטְאָה בִשְׁגָגָה--לִפְנֵי יְהוָה לְכַפֵּר עָלָיו וְנִסְלַח לוֹ

. . .

And the imām shall seek forgiveness on behalf of that erring person, for what he erred in error before God; and it shall be forgiven him and pardoned from him.

Bamidbar 15:29

הָאֶזְרָח בִּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְלַגֵּר הַגָּר בְּתוֹכָם--תּוֹרָה אַחַת יִהְיֶה לָכֶם לָעֹשֶׂה בִּשְׁגָגָה

. . .

For the native-born among the sons of Israel, and the stranger who has come in among them — one law shall be for you, for whoever errs in error.

Bamidbar 15:30

וְהַנֶּפֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר-תַּעֲשֶׂה בְּיָד רָמָה מִן-הָאֶזְרָח וּמִן-הַגֵּר--אֶת-יְהוָה הוּא מְגַדֵּף וְנִכְרְתָה הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַהִוא מִקֶּרֶב עַמָּהּ

. . .

But any person who does that with a high hand, whether native-born or sojourner — he is a blasphemer against his Lord; that person shall be cut off from among his people.

Bamidbar 15:31

כִּי דְבַר-יְהוָה בָּזָה וְאֶת-מִצְוָתוֹ הֵפַר הִכָּרֵת תִּכָּרֵת הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַהִוא עֲו‍ֹנָה בָהּ

. . .

Because he has despised the word of God and broken His covenant — that person shall surely be cut off; his iniquity is upon him.

Bamidbar 15:32

וַיִּהְיוּ בְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּמִּדְבָּר וַיִּמְצְאוּ אִישׁ מְקֹשֵׁשׁ עֵצִים--בְּיוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת

. .

And when the sons of Israel were dwelling in the wilderness, they found a man gathering wood for himself on the Sabbath day.

Bamidbar 15:33

וַיַּקְרִיבוּ אֹתוֹ הַמֹּצְאִים אֹתוֹ מְקֹשֵׁשׁ עֵצִים--אֶל-מֹשֶׁה וְאֶל-אַהֲרֹן וְאֶל כָּל-הָעֵדָה

. .

And those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron, and the rest of the assembly.

Bamidbar 15:34

וַיַּנִּיחוּ אֹתוֹ בַּמִּשְׁמָר כִּי לֹא פֹרַשׁ מַה-יֵּעָשֶׂה לוֹ

.

And they placed him in custody, because it had not been made clear to them what should be done with him.

Bamidbar 15:35

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה מוֹת יוּמַת הָאִישׁ רָגוֹם אֹתוֹ בָאֲבָנִים כָּל-הָעֵדָה מִחוּץ לַמַּחֲנֶה

. . .

And God said to Moses: The man shall surely be put to death — and that by the whole assembly stoning him with stones, outside the camp.

Bamidbar 15:36

וַיֹּצִיאוּ אֹתוֹ כָּל-הָעֵדָה אֶל-מִחוּץ לַמַּחֲנֶה וַיִּרְגְּמוּ אֹתוֹ בָּאֲבָנִים וַיָּמֹת כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶת-מֹשֶׁה

. .

And they brought him out outside the camp, and stoned him with stones until he died — as God had commanded Moses.

Bamidbar 15:37

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר

And God said to Moses, saying:

Bamidbar 15:38

דַּבֵּר אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם וְעָשׂוּ לָהֶם צִיצִת עַל-כַּנְפֵי בִגְדֵיהֶם לְדֹרֹתָם וְנָתְנוּ עַל-צִיצִת הַכָּנָף פְּתִיל תְּכֵלֶת

. . .

Command the sons of Israel and say to them that they shall make for themselves a fringe upon the edges of their outer garments, throughout the passing of their generations; and they shall place upon the fringe of the edge a thread of blue-violet wool.

Bamidbar 15:39

וְהָיָה לָכֶם לְצִיצִת וּרְאִיתֶם אֹתוֹ וּזְכַרְתֶּם אֶת-כָּל-מִצְו‍ֹת יְהוָה וַעֲשִׂיתֶם אֹתָם וְלֹא-תָתוּרוּ אַחֲרֵי לְבַבְכֶם וְאַחֲרֵי עֵינֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר-אַתֶּם זֹנִים אַחֲרֵיהֶם

. . . .

And that shall be for you a visible fringe — you shall see it and remember all the commandments of God and do them; and you shall not seek to follow your hearts and your eyes, after which you go astray.

Bamidbar 15:40

לְמַעַן תִּזְכְּרוּ וַעֲשִׂיתֶם אֶת-כָּל-מִצְו‍ֹתָי וִהְיִיתֶם קְדֹשִׁים לֵאלֹהֵיכֶם

. .

So that you may remember that always, and do all My commandments — and you shall be consecrated to your Lord.

Bamidbar 15:41

אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם לִהְיוֹת לָכֶם לֵאלֹהִים אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

. . .

I am God your Lord, who brought you out from the land of Egypt, to be your God. I am God your Lord, everlasting in existence.