Saadia · Bamidbar 16
Tafsir Reader
Tap any Judeo-Arabic word for a starter gloss. Hover any phrase to see its matching Hebrew, Judeo-Arabic, and English light up together. Toggle the Arabic-script form, the Hebrew translation, or the English off if you'd rather read without crutches.
New here? Read Saadia's own preface to this book.
- Bamidbar 16:1
וַיִּקַּח קֹרַח בֶּן-יִצְהָר בֶּן-קְהָת בֶּן-לֵוִי וְדָתָן וַאֲבִירָם בְּנֵי אֱלִיאָב וְאוֹן בֶּן-פֶּלֶת--בְּנֵי רְאוּבֵן
. . . .
And Korah — son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi — came forward; and Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, of the sons of Reuben.
- Bamidbar 16:2
וַיָּקֻמוּ לִפְנֵי מֹשֶׁה וַאֲנָשִׁים מִבְּנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל חֲמִשִּׁים וּמָאתָיִם נְשִׂיאֵי עֵדָה קְרִאֵי מוֹעֵד אַנְשֵׁי-שֵׁם
. . .
And they stood before Moses — and men of the sons of Israel, two hundred and fifty, nobles of the assembly, summoned to the council, men of known names.
- Bamidbar 16:3
וַיִּקָּהֲלוּ עַל-מֹשֶׁה וְעַל-אַהֲרֹן וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֲלֵהֶם רַב-לָכֶם--כִּי כָל-הָעֵדָה כֻּלָּם קְדֹשִׁים וּבְתוֹכָם יְהוָה וּמַדּוּעַ תִּתְנַשְּׂאוּ עַל-קְהַל יְהוָה
. . . .
And they gathered in a troop against Moses and Aaron, and said to them: 'Enough of leadership for the two of you — for the whole assembly, every one of them, is holy, and the light of God is in their midst; so why do you exalt yourselves over the congregation of God?'
- Bamidbar 16:4
וַיִּשְׁמַע מֹשֶׁה וַיִּפֹּל עַל-פָּנָיו
.
And when Moses heard this, he fell upon his face, seeking revelation.
- Bamidbar 16:5
וַיְדַבֵּר אֶל-קֹרַח וְאֶל-כָּל-עֲדָתוֹ לֵאמֹר בֹּקֶר וְיֹדַע יְהוָה אֶת-אֲשֶׁר-לוֹ וְאֶת-הַקָּדוֹשׁ וְהִקְרִיב אֵלָיו וְאֵת אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר-בּוֹ יַקְרִיב אֵלָיו
. . . . .
And he spoke to Korah and to all his gatherings, and said to them: 'Tomorrow — God shall make known the one who is His, and the holy one He shall bring near to Him; and whom He shall choose, He shall bring near to Him.'
- Bamidbar 16:6
זֹאת עֲשׂוּ קְחוּ-לָכֶם מַחְתּוֹת קֹרַח וְכָל-עֲדָתוֹ
. .
Do both these things: take for yourselves censers, O Korah and all his gatherings,
- Bamidbar 16:7
וּתְנוּ בָהֵן אֵשׁ וְשִׂימוּ עֲלֵיהֶן קְטֹרֶת לִפְנֵי יְהוָה מָחָר וְהָיָה הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר-יִבְחַר יְהוָה הוּא הַקָּדוֹשׁ רַב-לָכֶם בְּנֵי לֵוִי
. . . .
and place fire upon them, and cast incense upon them, before God — tomorrow; and whichever man God shall choose, he is the holy one. Enough of this for you, O sons of Levi!'
- Bamidbar 16:8
וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל-קֹרַח שִׁמְעוּ-נָא בְּנֵי לֵוִי
.
And Moses said to Korah: 'Hear this, O sons of Levi.
- Bamidbar 16:9
הַמְעַט מִכֶּם כִּי-הִבְדִּיל אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶתְכֶם מֵעֲדַת יִשְׂרָאֵל לְהַקְרִיב אֶתְכֶם אֵלָיו--לַעֲבֹד אֶת-עֲבֹדַת מִשְׁכַּן יְהוָה וְלַעֲמֹד לִפְנֵי הָעֵדָה לְשָׁרְתָם
. . . .
Is it too little for you that the God of Israel has separated you from their assembly, and brought you near to Him to serve His tabernacle, and to stand before the assembly to serve them?
- Bamidbar 16:10
וַיַּקְרֵב אֹתְךָ וְאֶת-כָּל-אַחֶיךָ בְנֵי-לֵוִי אִתָּךְ וּבִקַּשְׁתֶּם גַּם-כְּהֻנָּה
. .
And so He brought you near, and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you — and yet you have sought the office of imām as well?
- Bamidbar 16:11
לָכֵן אַתָּה וְכָל-עֲדָתְךָ--הַנֹּעָדִים עַל-יְהוָה וְאַהֲרֹן מַה-הוּא כִּי תלונו (תַלִּינוּ) עָלָיו
. . . .
Therefore — you and all your gatherings, who have assembled against God — and Aaron, what is he, that you bring your grievance against him?'
- Bamidbar 16:12
וַיִּשְׁלַח מֹשֶׁה לִקְרֹא לְדָתָן וְלַאֲבִירָם בְּנֵי אֱלִיאָב וַיֹּאמְרוּ לֹא נַעֲלֶה
. .
Then Moses sent to summon Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab; and they said: 'We shall not come to you.
- Bamidbar 16:13
הַמְעַט כִּי הֶעֱלִיתָנוּ מֵאֶרֶץ זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבַשׁ לַהֲמִיתֵנוּ בַּמִּדְבָּר כִּי-תִשְׂתָּרֵר עָלֵינוּ גַּם-הִשְׂתָּרֵר
. . .
Is it too little — that you brought us up from a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness — that you must lord it over us as well, lording it?
- Bamidbar 16:14
אַף לֹא אֶל-אֶרֶץ זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבַשׁ הֲבִיאֹתָנוּ וַתִּתֶּן-לָנוּ נַחֲלַת שָׂדֶה וָכָרֶם הַעֵינֵי הָאֲנָשִׁים הָהֵם תְּנַקֵּר--לֹא נַעֲלֶה
. . .
And moreover, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us an inheritance of estate or vineyard; even if you were to threaten those people with the gouging out of their eyes, we shall not come to you.'
- Bamidbar 16:15
וַיִּחַר לְמֹשֶׁה מְאֹד וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל-יְהוָה אַל-תֵּפֶן אֶל-מִנְחָתָם לֹא חֲמוֹר אֶחָד מֵהֶם נָשָׂאתִי וְלֹא הֲרֵעֹתִי אֶת-אַחַד מֵהֶם
. . . .
And Moses was greatly angered, and said: 'O God, do not accept their incense — and let this testify that I have not pressed even one donkey of theirs into my service, much less that I have done wrong to any one of them.'
- Bamidbar 16:16
וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל-קֹרַח אַתָּה וְכָל-עֲדָתְךָ הֱיוּ לִפְנֵי יְהוָה אַתָּה וָהֵם וְאַהֲרֹן מָחָר
. . .
Then Moses said to Korah: 'You and all your gatherings — present yourselves before God, with Aaron, tomorrow.
- Bamidbar 16:17
וּקְחוּ אִישׁ מַחְתָּתוֹ וּנְתַתֶּם עֲלֵיהֶם קְטֹרֶת וְהִקְרַבְתֶּם לִפְנֵי יְהוָה אִישׁ מַחְתָּתוֹ חֲמִשִּׁים וּמָאתַיִם מַחְתֹּת וְאַתָּה וְאַהֲרֹן אִישׁ מַחְתָּתוֹ
. . . .
And let each man take his censer, and cast incense upon it, and bring them before God — two hundred and fifty censers; and you and Aaron, each man his censer.'
- Bamidbar 16:18
וַיִּקְחוּ אִישׁ מַחְתָּתוֹ וַיִּתְּנוּ עֲלֵיהֶם אֵשׁ וַיָּשִׂימוּ עֲלֵיהֶם קְטֹרֶת וַיַּעַמְדוּ פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד--וּמֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן
. . . .
And each man took his censer, and placed fire in it, and cast incense upon it; and they stood at the entrance of the tent of the assembly — and Moses and Aaron.
- Bamidbar 16:19
וַיַּקְהֵל עֲלֵיהֶם קֹרַח אֶת-כָּל-הָעֵדָה אֶל-פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וַיֵּרָא כְבוֹד-יְהוָה אֶל-כָּל-הָעֵדָה
. .
And Korah gathered all the assembly against them, to the entrance of the tent of the assembly; and the light of God appeared to all of them.
- Bamidbar 16:20
וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה וְאֶל-אַהֲרֹן לֵאמֹר
Then God spoke to Moses and Aaron in direct speech,
- Bamidbar 16:21
הִבָּדְלוּ מִתּוֹךְ הָעֵדָה הַזֹּאת וַאֲכַלֶּה אֹתָם כְּרָגַע
.
saying: 'If you separate yourselves from among this assembly, I shall destroy them in an instant.'
- Bamidbar 16:22
וַיִּפְּלוּ עַל-פְּנֵיהֶם וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵל אֱלֹהֵי הָרוּחֹת לְכָל-בָּשָׂר הָאִישׁ אֶחָד יֶחֱטָא וְעַל כָּל-הָעֵדָה תִּקְצֹף
. . . .
And the two of them fell upon their faces and said: 'O Possessor of power and might! O God of the spirits of all living flesh! — shall one man err, and You be wrathful against the rest of the assembly?'
- Bamidbar 16:23
וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר
Then God spoke to Moses in direct speech,
- Bamidbar 16:24
דַּבֵּר אֶל-הָעֵדָה לֵאמֹר הֵעָלוּ מִסָּבִיב לְמִשְׁכַּן-קֹרַח דָּתָן וַאֲבִירָם
. .
saying: 'Command the assembly and say to them: Move away from around the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.'
- Bamidbar 16:25
וַיָּקָם מֹשֶׁה וַיֵּלֶךְ אֶל-דָּתָן וַאֲבִירָם וַיֵּלְכוּ אַחֲרָיו זִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל
. .
And Moses arose and went to Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of the sons of Israel went with him.
- Bamidbar 16:26
וַיְדַבֵּר אֶל-הָעֵדָה לֵאמֹר סוּרוּ נָא מֵעַל אָהֳלֵי הָאֲנָשִׁים הָרְשָׁעִים הָאֵלֶּה וְאַל-תִּגְּעוּ בְּכָל-אֲשֶׁר לָהֶם פֶּן-תִּסָּפוּ בְּכָל-חַטֹּאתָם
. . .
And he spoke to the assembly and said to them: 'Withdraw from the tents of these wrongdoing people, and do not approach anything that belongs to them — lest you be swept away with all their sins.'
- Bamidbar 16:27
וַיֵּעָלוּ מֵעַל מִשְׁכַּן-קֹרַח דָּתָן וַאֲבִירָם--מִסָּבִיב וְדָתָן וַאֲבִירָם יָצְאוּ נִצָּבִים פֶּתַח אָהֳלֵיהֶם וּנְשֵׁיהֶם וּבְנֵיהֶם וְטַפָּם
. . . .
And they moved away from around the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram; and the two of them also came out, and stood at the entrance of their tents — and their wives and their sons and their little ones — to see what would come to pass.
- Bamidbar 16:28
וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה בְּזֹאת תֵּדְעוּן כִּי-יְהוָה שְׁלָחַנִי לַעֲשׂוֹת אֵת כָּל-הַמַּעֲשִׂים הָאֵלֶּה כִּי-לֹא מִלִּבִּי
. . . . .
And Moses said: 'By this resolution you shall know that God has sent me to do all these deeds — not of my own accord.
- Bamidbar 16:29
אִם-כְּמוֹת כָּל-הָאָדָם יְמֻתוּן אֵלֶּה וּפְקֻדַּת כָּל-הָאָדָם יִפָּקֵד עֲלֵיהֶם--לֹא יְהוָה שְׁלָחָנִי
. .
If these people die as all people die, and are called to account as all people are called to account — then God has not sent me.
- Bamidbar 16:30
וְאִם-בְּרִיאָה יִבְרָא יְהוָה וּפָצְתָה הָאֲדָמָה אֶת-פִּיהָ וּבָלְעָה אֹתָם וְאֶת-כָּל-אֲשֶׁר לָהֶם וְיָרְדוּ חַיִּים שְׁאֹלָה--וִידַעְתֶּם כִּי נִאֲצוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים הָאֵלֶּה אֶת-יְהוָה
. . . .
But if God creates a creation — that the earth opens its mouth and swallows them and all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the ground — then you shall know that these people have transgressed against God.'
- Bamidbar 16:31
וַיְהִי כְּכַלֹּתוֹ לְדַבֵּר אֵת כָּל-הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה וַתִּבָּקַע הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר תַּחְתֵּיהֶם
. .
And it came to pass, upon his finishing the saying of this speech, that the earth which was beneath them split open.
- Bamidbar 16:32
וַתִּפְתַּח הָאָרֶץ אֶת-פִּיהָ וַתִּבְלַע אֹתָם וְאֶת-בָּתֵּיהֶם וְאֵת כָּל-הָאָדָם אֲשֶׁר לְקֹרַח וְאֵת כָּל-הָרְכוּשׁ
. . .
And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their houses, and every person belonging to Korah, and all the livestock.
- Bamidbar 16:33
וַיֵּרְדוּ הֵם וְכָל-אֲשֶׁר לָהֶם חַיִּים--שְׁאֹלָה וַתְּכַס עֲלֵיהֶם הָאָרֶץ וַיֹּאבְדוּ מִתּוֹךְ הַקָּהָל
. . .
And they went down — they and all that was theirs — alive into the ground; and the earth closed over them, and they perished from among the congregation.
- Bamidbar 16:34
וְכָל-יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר סְבִיבֹתֵיהֶם--נָסוּ לְקֹלָם כִּי אָמְרוּ פֶּן-תִּבְלָעֵנוּ הָאָרֶץ
. . .
And all the house of Israel who were around them fled at the sound of their voices, saying: 'Lest the earth swallow us too.'
- Bamidbar 16:35
וְאֵשׁ יָצְאָה מֵאֵת יְהוָה וַתֹּאכַל אֵת הַחֲמִשִּׁים וּמָאתַיִם אִישׁ מַקְרִיבֵי הַקְּטֹרֶת
. .
And a fire went out from God and burned the two hundred and fifty men, who had offered the incense.
English is a working draft — author revising