Saadia's Tafsir on Bamidbar 21 (Parashat Chukat)

Bamidbar 21:1

וַיִּשְׁמַע הַכְּנַעֲנִי מֶלֶךְ-עֲרָד יֹשֵׁב הַנֶּגֶב כִּי בָּא יִשְׂרָאֵל דֶּרֶךְ הָאֲתָרִים וַיִּלָּחֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּשְׁבְּ מִמֶּנּוּ שֶׁבִי

. . . .

Then the Canaanite, king of Arad, dwelling in the south, heard that the sons of Israel had come by the way of the Atharim; and he fought against them, and took some of them captive.

Bamidbar 21:2

וַיִּדַּר יִשְׂרָאֵל נֶדֶר לַיהוָה וַיֹּאמַר אִם-נָתֹן תִּתֵּן אֶת-הָעָם הַזֶּה בְּיָדִי--וְהַחֲרַמְתִּי אֶת-עָרֵיהֶם

. . .

And the house of Israel vowed a vow to God, saying: 'If You deliver this people into my hand, I shall make their towns devoted property.'

Bamidbar 21:3

וַיִּשְׁמַע יְהוָה בְּקוֹל יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּתֵּן אֶת-הַכְּנַעֲנִי וַיַּחֲרֵם אֶתְהֶם וְאֶת-עָרֵיהֶם וַיִּקְרָא שֵׁם-הַמָּקוֹם חָרְמָה

. . . .

And God heard the prayer of the house of Israel, and delivered the Canaanite into their hands; and they made him and his towns devoted property, and they named that place Hormah.

Bamidbar 21:4

וַיִּסְעוּ מֵהֹר הָהָר דֶּרֶךְ יַם-סוּף לִסְבֹב אֶת-אֶרֶץ אֱדוֹם וַתִּקְצַר נֶפֶשׁ-הָעָם בַּדָּרֶךְ

. .

Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the way of the Sea of Qulzum (Red Sea), to go around the land of Edom; and the souls of the people grew weary on the way.

Bamidbar 21:5

וַיְדַבֵּר הָעָם בֵּאלֹהִים וּבְמֹשֶׁה לָמָה הֶעֱלִיתֻנוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם לָמוּת בַּמִּדְבָּר כִּי אֵין לֶחֶם וְאֵין מַיִם וְנַפְשֵׁנוּ קָצָה בַּלֶּחֶם הַקְּלֹקֵל

. . . . .

And they spoke against God and against Moses, saying: 'Why did you bring us up from Egypt to die in the wilderness, where there is no bread and no water? And our souls are weary of this light food.'

Bamidbar 21:6

וַיְשַׁלַּח יְהוָה בָּעָם אֵת הַנְּחָשִׁים הַשְּׂרָפִים וַיְנַשְּׁכוּ אֶת-הָעָם וַיָּמָת עַם-רָב מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל

. .

And God sent among the people burning serpents; they bit them, and many of them died.

Bamidbar 21:7

וַיָּבֹא הָעָם אֶל-מֹשֶׁה וַיֹּאמְרוּ חָטָאנוּ כִּי-דִבַּרְנוּ בַיהוָה וָבָךְ--הִתְפַּלֵּל אֶל-יְהוָה וְיָסֵר מֵעָלֵינוּ אֶת-הַנָּחָשׁ וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל מֹשֶׁה בְּעַד הָעָם

. . . .

And they came to Moses and said: 'We have erred, since we spoke against God and against you. Pray to God that He remove the serpents from us.' And Moses prayed for them.

Bamidbar 21:8

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה עֲשֵׂה לְךָ שָׂרָף וְשִׂים אֹתוֹ עַל-נֵס וְהָיָה כָּל-הַנָּשׁוּךְ וְרָאָה אֹתוֹ וָחָי

. . . .

And God said to him: 'Make yourself a burning image, and raise it upon a standard; then every one who has been bitten, if he turns toward it in repentance, shall survive.'

Bamidbar 21:9

וַיַּעַשׂ מֹשֶׁה נְחַשׁ נְחֹשֶׁת וַיְשִׂמֵהוּ עַל-הַנֵּס וְהָיָה אִם-נָשַׁךְ הַנָּחָשׁ אֶת-אִישׁ--וְהִבִּיט אֶל-נְחַשׁ הַנְּחֹשֶׁת וָחָי

. . .

And Moses made a serpent of bronze, and raised it upon a standard; and it was that any person who had been bitten by a serpent — if he turned toward it in repentance, he remained alive.

Bamidbar 21:10

וַיִּסְעוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּאֹבֹת

.

And the sons of Israel journeyed, and encamped at Oboth.

Bamidbar 21:11

וַיִּסְעוּ מֵאֹבֹת וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּעִיֵּי הָעֲבָרִים בַּמִּדְבָּר אֲשֶׁר עַל-פְּנֵי מוֹאָב מִמִּזְרַח הַשָּׁמֶשׁ

. . .

And they journeyed from Oboth, and encamped in the open wastes of the crossings, in the wilderness that faces the direction of Moab, from the rising of the sun.

Bamidbar 21:12

מִשָּׁם נָסָעוּ וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּנַחַל זָרֶד

.

And they journeyed from there, and encamped in the valley of Zared.

Bamidbar 21:13

מִשָּׁם נָסָעוּ וַיַּחֲנוּ מֵעֵבֶר אַרְנוֹן אֲשֶׁר בַּמִּדְבָּר הַיֹּצֵא מִגְּבֻל הָאֱמֹרִי כִּי אַרְנוֹן גְּבוּל מוֹאָב בֵּין מוֹאָב וּבֵין הָאֱמֹרִי

. . . .

And they journeyed from there, and encamped on the side of the Arnon which is in the wilderness, that goes out beyond the border of the Amorites; for the Arnon is on the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorite.

Bamidbar 21:14

עַל-כֵּן יֵאָמַר בְּסֵפֶר מִלְחֲמֹת יְהוָה אֶת-וָהֵב בְּסוּפָה וְאֶת-הַנְּחָלִים אַרְנוֹן

. . .

Therefore it is said in the Book of the Conquests of God: 'From the whirlpools of Qulzum, and from the valleys — even Arnon;

Bamidbar 21:15

וְאֶשֶׁד הַנְּחָלִים אֲשֶׁר נָטָה לְשֶׁבֶת עָר וְנִשְׁעַן לִגְבוּל מוֹאָב

. .

and the outflow of the valleys, which inclines toward the inhabited place of Ar, and leans upon the border of Moab.'

Bamidbar 21:16

וּמִשָּׁם בְּאֵרָה הִוא הַבְּאֵר אֲשֶׁר אָמַר יְהוָה לְמֹשֶׁה אֱסֹף אֶת-הָעָם וְאֶתְּנָה לָהֶם מָיִם

. . .

And they journeyed from there to the well, of which God had said to Moses: 'Gather the people, that I may give them water.'

Bamidbar 21:17

אָז יָשִׁיר יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת-הַשִּׁירָה הַזֹּאת עֲלִי בְאֵר עֱנוּ-לָהּ

. .

Then the house of Israel sang this song, and said: 'Rise up, O well!' — and they respond to it.

Bamidbar 21:18

בְּאֵר חֲפָרוּהָ שָׂרִים כָּרוּהָ נְדִיבֵי הָעָם בִּמְחֹקֵק בְּמִשְׁעֲנֹתָם וּמִמִּדְבָּר מַתָּנָה

. . .

'A well which the chiefs dug, which the nobles of the people hollowed out, marked with their staffs.' Then they journeyed from that wilderness to the place of bestowal.

Bamidbar 21:19

וּמִמַּתָּנָה נַחֲלִיאֵל וּמִנַּחֲלִיאֵל בָּמוֹת

.

And from the place of bestowal to the central valley; and from that valley to the place of the assemblies.

Bamidbar 21:20

וּמִבָּמוֹת הַגַּיְא אֲשֶׁר בִּשְׂדֵה מוֹאָב--רֹאשׁ הַפִּסְגָּה וְנִשְׁקָפָה עַל-פְּנֵי הַיְשִׁימֹן

. . .

And from there to the valley that is in the land of Moab, by the summit of the fortress that overlooks the face of the open waste.

Bamidbar 21:21

וַיִּשְׁלַח יִשְׂרָאֵל מַלְאָכִים אֶל-סִיחֹן מֶלֶךְ-הָאֱמֹרִי לֵאמֹר

.

Then the house of Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying:

Bamidbar 21:22

אֶעְבְּרָה בְאַרְצֶךָ לֹא נִטֶּה בְּשָׂדֶה וּבְכֶרֶם--לֹא נִשְׁתֶּה מֵי בְאֵר בְּדֶרֶךְ הַמֶּלֶךְ נֵלֵךְ עַד אֲשֶׁר-נַעֲבֹר גְּבֻלֶךָ

. . . .

'I wish to pass through your land; and we shall not turn aside to any farm or vineyard, nor shall we drink water from a cistern — but we shall travel by the broad road, until we pass through your border.'

Bamidbar 21:23

וְלֹא-נָתַן סִיחֹן אֶת-יִשְׂרָאֵל עֲבֹר בִּגְבֻלוֹ וַיֶּאֱסֹף סִיחֹן אֶת-כָּל-עַמּוֹ וַיֵּצֵא לִקְרַאת יִשְׂרָאֵל הַמִּדְבָּרָה וַיָּבֹא יָהְצָה וַיִּלָּחֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל

. . . .

But Sihon would not allow the sons of Israel to pass through his border; and he gathered all his people, and went out to meet them into the wilderness, until he reached Jahaz; and he fought against them.

Bamidbar 21:24

וַיַּכֵּהוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לְפִי-חָרֶב וַיִּירַשׁ אֶת-אַרְצוֹ מֵאַרְנֹן עַד-יַבֹּק עַד-בְּנֵי עַמּוֹן--כִּי עַז גְּבוּל בְּנֵי עַמּוֹן

. . .

And they slew him with the edge of the sword, and took possession of his land from Arnon to Jabbok, as far as the sons of Ammon — for the border of the sons of Ammon was strong and high.

Bamidbar 21:25

וַיִּקַּח יִשְׂרָאֵל אֵת כָּל-הֶעָרִים הָאֵלֶּה וַיֵּשֶׁב יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּכָל-עָרֵי הָאֱמֹרִי בְּחֶשְׁבּוֹן וּבְכָל-בְּנֹתֶיהָ

. .

And they took all these towns, and settled in all the towns of the Amorites — in Heshbon and its surrounding districts.

Bamidbar 21:26

כִּי חֶשְׁבּוֹן--עִיר סִיחֹן מֶלֶךְ הָאֱמֹרִי הִוא וְהוּא נִלְחַם בְּמֶלֶךְ מוֹאָב הָרִאשׁוֹן וַיִּקַּח אֶת-כָּל-אַרְצוֹ מִיָּדוֹ עַד-אַרְנֹן

. . . .

For Heshbon is the seat of Sihon king of the Amorites; and he had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken all his land from his hand as far as Arnon.

Bamidbar 21:27

עַל-כֵּן יֹאמְרוּ הַמֹּשְׁלִים בֹּאוּ חֶשְׁבּוֹן תִּבָּנֶה וְתִכּוֹנֵן עִיר סִיחוֹן

Therefore those who speak in parables say: 'Enter Heshbon, that the town of Sihon may be built and established.'

Bamidbar 21:28

כִּי-אֵשׁ יָצְאָה מֵחֶשְׁבּוֹן לֶהָבָה מִקִּרְיַת סִיחֹן אָכְלָה עָר מוֹאָב בַּעֲלֵי בָּמוֹת אַרְנֹן

. . .

'For a fire went out from Heshbon, and a flame from the town of Sihon; it consumed Ar of Moab, and the lords of the marketplaces of Arnon.'

Bamidbar 21:29

אוֹי-לְךָ מוֹאָב אָבַדְתָּ עַם-כְּמוֹשׁ נָתַן בָּנָיו פְּלֵיטִם וּבְנֹתָיו בַּשְּׁבִית לְמֶלֶךְ אֱמֹרִי סִיחוֹן

. . .

'Woe to you, O Moab! How you are undone, O worshippers of Chemosh! He has made his sons captives and his daughters taken prisoner — to the Amorite king Sihon.'

Bamidbar 21:30

וַנִּירָם אָבַד חֶשְׁבּוֹן עַד-דִּיבֹן וַנַּשִּׁים עַד-נֹפַח אֲשֶׁר עַד-מֵידְבָא

. .

And their mark has departed from Heshbon as far as Dibon, and desolation has spread to Nophah, which is near Medeba.

Bamidbar 21:31

וַיֵּשֶׁב יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּאֶרֶץ הָאֱמֹרִי

.

And when the house of Israel settled in the land of the Amorites,

Bamidbar 21:32

וַיִּשְׁלַח מֹשֶׁה לְרַגֵּל אֶת-יַעְזֵר וַיִּלְכְּדוּ בְּנֹתֶיהָ ויירש (וַיּוֹרֶשׁ) אֶת-הָאֱמֹרִי אֲשֶׁר-שָׁם

. .

Moses sent people to reconnoiter Jazer; and they captured its surrounding districts, and drove out the Amorites who were in them.

Bamidbar 21:33

וַיִּפְנוּ וַיַּעֲלוּ דֶּרֶךְ הַבָּשָׁן וַיֵּצֵא עוֹג מֶלֶךְ-הַבָּשָׁן לִקְרָאתָם הוּא וְכָל-עַמּוֹ לַמִּלְחָמָה--אֶדְרֶעִי

. . .

Then they turned and went up by the way of the Bashan; and Og king of the Bashan came out to meet them — he and all his people — to battle, at Edrei.

Bamidbar 21:34

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה אַל-תִּירָא אֹתוֹ--כִּי בְיָדְךָ נָתַתִּי אֹתוֹ וְאֶת-כָּל-עַמּוֹ וְאֶת-אַרְצוֹ וְעָשִׂיתָ לּוֹ--כַּאֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתָ לְסִיחֹן מֶלֶךְ הָאֱמֹרִי אֲשֶׁר יוֹשֵׁב בְּחֶשְׁבּוֹן

. . . . . .

And God said to Moses: 'Do not fear him, for I am delivering him into your hand — and all his people and his land. Do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites who dwelt in Heshbon.'

Bamidbar 21:35

וַיַּכּוּ אֹתוֹ וְאֶת-בָּנָיו וְאֶת-כָּל-עַמּוֹ עַד-בִּלְתִּי הִשְׁאִיר-לוֹ שָׂרִיד וַיִּירְשׁוּ אֶת-אַרְצוֹ

. .

And they slew him and his sons and all his people, until not a survivor remained to him; and they took possession of his land.