Saadia's Tafsir on Bamidbar 31 (Parashat Matot-Masei)

Bamidbar 31:1

וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר

Then God spoke to Moses directly.

Bamidbar 31:2

נְקֹם נִקְמַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאֵת הַמִּדְיָנִים אַחַר תֵּאָסֵף אֶל-עַמֶּיךָ

. .

'Exact the vengeance of the sons of Israel upon the Midianites; after that, you shall be gathered to your people.'

Bamidbar 31:3

וַיְדַבֵּר מֹשֶׁה אֶל-הָעָם לֵאמֹר הֵחָלְצוּ מֵאִתְּכֶם אֲנָשִׁים לַצָּבָא וְיִהְיוּ עַל-מִדְיָן לָתֵת נִקְמַת-יְהוָה בְּמִדְיָן

. . .

And Moses spoke to his people, saying: 'Detach from among you men for the army, to campaign against Midian, that the vengeance of God may fall upon them.'

Bamidbar 31:4

אֶלֶף לַמַּטֶּה אֶלֶף לַמַּטֶּה--לְכֹל מַטּוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל תִּשְׁלְחוּ לַצָּבָא

. .

'A thousand from each tribe, from the tribes of the sons of Israel, you shall send forth for the campaign.'

Bamidbar 31:5

וַיִּמָּסְרוּ מֵאַלְפֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶלֶף לַמַּטֶּה--שְׁנֵים-עָשָׂר אֶלֶף חֲלוּצֵי צָבָא

. .

And there were singled out from the thousands of the sons of Israel, a thousand from each tribe; and they became twelve thousand equipped for the campaign.

Bamidbar 31:6

וַיִּשְׁלַח אֹתָם מֹשֶׁה אֶלֶף לַמַּטֶּה לַצָּבָא אֹתָם וְאֶת-פִּינְחָס בֶּן-אֶלְעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן לַצָּבָא וּכְלֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ וַחֲצֹצְרוֹת הַתְּרוּעָה בְּיָדוֹ

. . .

And Moses sent them forth — and Phinehas son of Eleazar the imām with them for the campaign — with the sacred vessels and the rallying trumpets in his hand.

Bamidbar 31:7

וַיִּצְבְּאוּ עַל-מִדְיָן כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶת-מֹשֶׁה וַיַּהַרְגוּ כָּל-זָכָר

. .

And they campaigned against Midian, as God had commanded Moses, and they slew every male.

Bamidbar 31:8

וְאֶת-מַלְכֵי מִדְיָן הָרְגוּ עַל-חַלְלֵיהֶם אֶת-אֱוִי וְאֶת-רֶקֶם וְאֶת-צוּר וְאֶת-חוּר וְאֶת-רֶבַע--חֲמֵשֶׁת מַלְכֵי מִדְיָן וְאֵת בִּלְעָם בֶּן-בְּעוֹר הָרְגוּ בֶּחָרֶב

. . .

And they slew the five kings of Midian together with their slain — Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba — and also Balaam son of Beor they slew with the sword.

Bamidbar 31:9

וַיִּשְׁבּוּ בְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת-נְשֵׁי מִדְיָן וְאֶת-טַפָּם וְאֵת כָּל-בְּהֶמְתָּם וְאֶת-כָּל-מִקְנֵהֶם וְאֶת-כָּל-חֵילָם בָּזָזוּ

. .

And the sons of Israel took captive the women of Midian and their children; and all their beasts and their livestock, and their furnishings they plundered.

Bamidbar 31:10

וְאֵת כָּל-עָרֵיהֶם בְּמוֹשְׁבֹתָם וְאֵת כָּל-טִירֹתָם--שָׂרְפוּ בָּאֵשׁ

. .

And all their towns, together with their dwellings and their palaces, they burned with fire.

Bamidbar 31:11

וַיִּקְחוּ אֶת-כָּל-הַשָּׁלָל וְאֵת כָּל-הַמַּלְקוֹחַ--בָּאָדָם וּבַבְּהֵמָה

.

And they took all the spoil and the fay — from the people and the beasts.

Bamidbar 31:12

וַיָּבִאוּ אֶל-מֹשֶׁה וְאֶל-אֶלְעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן וְאֶל-עֲדַת בְּנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת-הַשְּׁבִי וְאֶת-הַמַּלְקוֹחַ וְאֶת-הַשָּׁלָל--אֶל-הַמַּחֲנֶה אֶל-עַרְבֹת מוֹאָב אֲשֶׁר עַל-יַרְדֵּן יְרֵחוֹ

. . . .

And they came to Moses, and to Eleazar the imām, and to the assembly of the sons of Israel, with the captives and the fay and the plunder, to the encampment — to the wilderness plain of Moab, which is by the Jordan of Jericho.

Bamidbar 31:13

וַיֵּצְאוּ מֹשֶׁה וְאֶלְעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן וְכָל-נְשִׂיאֵי הָעֵדָה--לִקְרָאתָם אֶל-מִחוּץ לַמַּחֲנֶה

. .

And Moses and Eleazar the imām, and the rest of the chiefs of the assembly, went out to meet them, outside the encampment.

Bamidbar 31:14

וַיִּקְצֹף מֹשֶׁה עַל פְּקוּדֵי הֶחָיִל שָׂרֵי הָאֲלָפִים וְשָׂרֵי הַמֵּאוֹת הַבָּאִים מִצְּבָא הַמִּלְחָמָה

. . .

And Moses was wrathful with those entrusted over the army — the commanders of the thousands and the commanders of the hundreds — who were coming from the battle.

Bamidbar 31:15

וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם מֹשֶׁה הַחִיִּיתֶם כָּל-נְקֵבָה

.

And Moses said to them: 'Have you let every female live?'

Bamidbar 31:16

הֵן הֵנָּה הָיוּ לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּדְבַר בִּלְעָם לִמְסָר-מַעַל בַּיהוָה עַל-דְּבַר-פְּעוֹר וַתְּהִי הַמַּגֵּפָה בַּעֲדַת יְהוָה

. .

'Were not these the ones who were to the sons of Israel, by the word of Balaam, until they brought about a breach of faith with God on account of Peor — and so the pestilence fell upon the assembly of God?'

Bamidbar 31:17

וְעַתָּה הִרְגוּ כָל-זָכָר בַּטָּף וְכָל-אִשָּׁה יֹדַעַת אִישׁ לְמִשְׁכַּב זָכָר--הֲרֹגוּ

. . .

'And now: kill every male among the children, and every woman who has known the lying with men — kill her.'

Bamidbar 31:18

וְכֹל הַטַּף בַּנָּשִׁים אֲשֶׁר לֹא-יָדְעוּ מִשְׁכַּב זָכָר--הַחֲיוּ לָכֶם

. .

'And the rest of the female children, who have not known the lying with men — let them live for yourselves.'

Bamidbar 31:19

וְאַתֶּם חֲנוּ מִחוּץ לַמַּחֲנֶה--שִׁבְעַת יָמִים כֹּל הֹרֵג נֶפֶשׁ וְכֹל נֹגֵעַ בֶּחָלָל תִּתְחַטְּאוּ בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי--אַתֶּם וּשְׁבִיכֶם

. . . .

'And as for you — encamp outside the encampment seven days; every one who has slain a person, and every one who has approached a slain man, shall be purified on the third day and on the seventh day — you and your captives.'

Bamidbar 31:20

וְכָל-בֶּגֶד וְכָל-כְּלִי-עוֹר וְכָל-מַעֲשֵׂה עִזִּים וְכָל-כְּלִי-עֵץ--תִּתְחַטָּאוּ

. .

'And every garment and every vessel of leather, and anything made of fine soft wool and vessels of wood — purify them.'

Bamidbar 31:21

וַיֹּאמֶר אֶלְעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן אֶל-אַנְשֵׁי הַצָּבָא הַבָּאִים לַמִּלְחָמָה זֹאת חֻקַּת הַתּוֹרָה אֲשֶׁר-צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶת-מֹשֶׁה

. . .

Then Eleazar the imām said to the men, the warriors, who were coming from the battle: 'This is the ordinance of the law which God commanded Moses.'

Bamidbar 31:22

אַךְ אֶת-הַזָּהָב וְאֶת-הַכָּסֶף אֶת-הַנְּחֹשֶׁת אֶת-הַבַּרְזֶל אֶת-הַבְּדִיל וְאֶת-הָעֹפָרֶת

. .

'As for the gold and the silver, the copper and the iron, the tin and the lead —'

Bamidbar 31:23

כָּל-דָּבָר אֲשֶׁר-יָבֹא בָאֵשׁ תַּעֲבִירוּ בָאֵשׁ וְטָהֵר--אַךְ בְּמֵי נִדָּה יִתְחַטָּא וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר לֹא-יָבֹא בָּאֵשׁ תַּעֲבִירוּ בַמָּיִם

. . . .

'every thing that can enter into fire — pass it through the fire and it shall be clean; and it shall also be purified with the water of sprinkling. And everything that cannot enter into fire — pass it through the water.'

Bamidbar 31:24

וְכִבַּסְתֶּם בִּגְדֵיכֶם בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי וּטְהַרְתֶּם וְאַחַר תָּבֹאוּ אֶל-הַמַּחֲנֶה

.

'And wash your garments on the seventh day, and be clean; and after that you shall enter the encampment.'

Bamidbar 31:25

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר

And God said to Moses, saying:

Bamidbar 31:26

שָׂא אֵת רֹאשׁ מַלְקוֹחַ הַשְּׁבִי בָּאָדָם וּבַבְּהֵמָה--אַתָּה וְאֶלְעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן וְרָאשֵׁי אֲבוֹת הָעֵדָה

. . .

'Take up the total count of what is in the captivity — of people and of beasts — you and Eleazar the imām and the heads of the fathers of the assembly.'

Bamidbar 31:27

וְחָצִיתָ אֶת-הַמַּלְקוֹחַ בֵּין תֹּפְשֵׂי הַמִּלְחָמָה הַיֹּצְאִים לַצָּבָא--וּבֵין כָּל-הָעֵדָה

. . .

'And divide it between the men of war who went out for the campaign, and the rest of the assembly.'

Bamidbar 31:28

וַהֲרֵמֹתָ מֶכֶס לַיהוָה מֵאֵת אַנְשֵׁי הַמִּלְחָמָה הַיֹּצְאִים לַצָּבָא--אֶחָד נֶפֶשׁ מֵחֲמֵשׁ הַמֵּאוֹת מִן-הָאָדָם וּמִן-הַבָּקָר וּמִן-הַחֲמֹרִים וּמִן-הַצֹּאן

. . . . .

'And levy a tax for God from the men of war who went out for the campaign: one head from every five hundred, of the people, and of the cattle, and of the donkeys, and of the flock.'

Bamidbar 31:29

מִמַּחֲצִיתָם תִּקָּחוּ וְנָתַתָּה לְאֶלְעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן תְּרוּמַת יְהוָה

.

'Take that from their portion as an elevation-gift for God, and deliver it to Eleazar the imām.'

Bamidbar 31:30

וּמִמַּחֲצִת בְּנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל תִּקַּח אֶחָד אָחֻז מִן-הַחֲמִשִּׁים מִן-הָאָדָם מִן-הַבָּקָר מִן-הַחֲמֹרִים וּמִן-הַצֹּאן--מִכָּל-הַבְּהֵמָה וְנָתַתָּה אֹתָם לַלְוִיִּם שֹׁמְרֵי מִשְׁמֶרֶת מִשְׁכַּן יְהוָה

. . . .

'And from the portion of the sons of Israel, take one from every fifty — of the people, and of the cattle, and of the donkeys, and of the flock, and the rest of the beasts — and deliver it to the Levites, the keepers of the charge of the tabernacle of God.'

Bamidbar 31:31

וַיַּעַשׂ מֹשֶׁה וְאֶלְעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶת-מֹשֶׁה

. .

And Moses and Eleazar the imām did as God had commanded Moses.

Bamidbar 31:32

וַיְהִי הַמַּלְקוֹחַ--יֶתֶר הַבָּז אֲשֶׁר בָּזְזוּ עַם הַצָּבָא צֹאן שֵׁשׁ-מֵאוֹת אֶלֶף וְשִׁבְעִים אֶלֶף--וַחֲמֵשֶׁת אֲלָפִים

. . . . .

And the fay — the total of the plunder which the raiding people had plundered — the number of the flock: six hundred thousand and seventy-five thousand.

Bamidbar 31:33

וּבָקָר שְׁנַיִם וְשִׁבְעִים אָלֶף

.

And the number of the cattle: seventy-two thousand.

Bamidbar 31:34

וַחֲמֹרִים אֶחָד וְשִׁשִּׁים אָלֶף

.

And the number of the donkeys: sixty-one thousand.

Bamidbar 31:35

וְנֶפֶשׁ אָדָם--מִן-הַנָּשִׁים אֲשֶׁר לֹא-יָדְעוּ מִשְׁכַּב זָכָר כָּל-נֶפֶשׁ שְׁנַיִם וּשְׁלֹשִׁים אָלֶף

. . .

And from the people, from the women who had not known the lying with men: thirty-two thousand.

Bamidbar 31:36

וַתְּהִי הַמֶּחֱצָה--חֵלֶק הַיֹּצְאִים בַּצָּבָא מִסְפַּר הַצֹּאן שְׁלֹשׁ-מֵאוֹת אֶלֶף וּשְׁלֹשִׁים אֶלֶף וְשִׁבְעַת אֲלָפִים וַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת

. . . .

And the half thereof — being the portion of those who went out for the campaign — the number of the flock: three hundred thousand and thirty-seven thousand and five hundred.

Bamidbar 31:37

וַיְהִי הַמֶּכֶס לַיהוָה מִן-הַצֹּאן--שֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת חָמֵשׁ וְשִׁבְעִים

.

And the number of the tax for God from the flock was six hundred and seventy-five head.

Bamidbar 31:38

וְהַבָּקָר--שִׁשָּׁה וּשְׁלֹשִׁים אָלֶף וּמִכְסָם לַיהוָה שְׁנַיִם וְשִׁבְעִים

.

And the number of the cattle: thirty-six thousand; and their tax for God: seventy-two.

Bamidbar 31:39

וַחֲמֹרִים שְׁלֹשִׁים אֶלֶף וַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת וּמִכְסָם לַיהוָה אֶחָד וְשִׁשִּׁים

. .

And the number of the donkeys: thirty thousand and five hundred; and their tax for God: sixty-one.

Bamidbar 31:40

וְנֶפֶשׁ אָדָם שִׁשָּׁה עָשָׂר אָלֶף וּמִכְסָם לַיהוָה--שְׁנַיִם וּשְׁלֹשִׁים נָפֶשׁ

. . .

And the number of persons: sixteen thousand; and their tax for God: thirty-two persons.

Bamidbar 31:41

וַיִּתֵּן מֹשֶׁה אֶת-מֶכֶס תְּרוּמַת יְהוָה לְאֶלְעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן--כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶת-מֹשֶׁה

. . .

And Moses delivered the tax levied for God to Eleazar the imām, as God had commanded him.

Bamidbar 31:42

וּמִמַּחֲצִית בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר חָצָה מֹשֶׁה מִן-הָאֲנָשִׁים הַצֹּבְאִים

.

And from the count of the portion of the sons of Israel which Moses had divided from the raiding people —

Bamidbar 31:43

וַתְּהִי מֶחֱצַת הָעֵדָה מִן-הַצֹּאן--שְׁלֹשׁ-מֵאוֹת אֶלֶף וּשְׁלֹשִׁים אֶלֶף שִׁבְעַת אֲלָפִים וַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת

. .

that was, from the flock: three hundred thousand and thirty-seven thousand and five hundred;

Bamidbar 31:44

וּבָקָר שִׁשָּׁה וּשְׁלֹשִׁים אָלֶף

.

and from the cattle: thirty-six thousand;

Bamidbar 31:45

וַחֲמֹרִים שְׁלֹשִׁים אֶלֶף וַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת

.

and from the donkeys: thirty thousand and five hundred;

Bamidbar 31:46

וְנֶפֶשׁ אָדָם שִׁשָּׁה עָשָׂר אָלֶף

.

and from the persons: sixteen thousand —

Bamidbar 31:47

וַיִּקַּח מֹשֶׁה מִמַּחֲצִת בְּנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת-הָאָחֻז אֶחָד מִן-הַחֲמִשִּׁים--מִן-הָאָדָם וּמִן-הַבְּהֵמָה וַיִּתֵּן אֹתָם לַלְוִיִּם שֹׁמְרֵי מִשְׁמֶרֶת מִשְׁכַּן יְהוָה כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶת-מֹשֶׁה

. . . . .

Moses took from that one from every fifty, of the people and the beasts, and delivered it to the Levites, the keepers of the charge of the tabernacle of God, as He had commanded him.

Bamidbar 31:48

וַיִּקְרְבוּ אֶל-מֹשֶׁה הַפְּקֻדִים אֲשֶׁר לְאַלְפֵי הַצָּבָא--שָׂרֵי הָאֲלָפִים וְשָׂרֵי הַמֵּאוֹת

.

Then those entrusted over the thousands of the army — the commanders of the thousands and the commanders of the hundreds — came forward to Moses,

Bamidbar 31:49

וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֶל-מֹשֶׁה עֲבָדֶיךָ נָשְׂאוּ אֶת-רֹאשׁ אַנְשֵׁי הַמִּלְחָמָה אֲשֶׁר בְּיָדֵנוּ וְלֹא-נִפְקַד מִמֶּנּוּ אִישׁ

. . .

and said to Moses: 'Your servants have tallied the total of the men of war who are with us, and not a man is missing from us.'

Bamidbar 31:50

וַנַּקְרֵב אֶת-קָרְבַּן יְהוָה אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר מָצָא כְלִי-זָהָב אֶצְעָדָה וְצָמִיד טַבַּעַת עָגִיל וְכוּמָז--לְכַפֵּר עַל-נַפְשֹׁתֵינוּ לִפְנֵי יְהוָה

. .

'And we have brought forward the offering of God — every man among us who found golden vessels: armlets and bracelets, rings and earrings and girdles — to seek forgiveness for our souls before God.'

Bamidbar 31:51

וַיִּקַּח מֹשֶׁה וְאֶלְעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן אֶת-הַזָּהָב--מֵאִתָּם כֹּל כְּלִי מַעֲשֶׂה

. .

And Moses and Eleazar the imām received that gold from them — every wrought vessel.

Bamidbar 31:52

וַיְהִי כָּל-זְהַב הַתְּרוּמָה אֲשֶׁר הֵרִימוּ לַיהוָה--שִׁשָּׁה עָשָׂר אֶלֶף שְׁבַע-מֵאוֹת וַחֲמִשִּׁים שָׁקֶל מֵאֵת שָׂרֵי הָאֲלָפִים וּמֵאֵת שָׂרֵי הַמֵּאוֹת

. . . . .

And all the gold of the elevation-gifts which they raised up for God was sixteen thousand seven hundred and fifty weights, from the commanders of the thousands and from the commanders of the hundreds.

Bamidbar 31:53

אַנְשֵׁי הַצָּבָא בָּזְזוּ אִישׁ לוֹ

.

As for the rest of the men of the campaign — whatever each one had plundered belonged to him.

Bamidbar 31:54

וַיִּקַּח מֹשֶׁה וְאֶלְעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן אֶת-הַזָּהָב מֵאֵת שָׂרֵי הָאֲלָפִים וְהַמֵּאוֹת וַיָּבִאוּ אֹתוֹ אֶל-אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד זִכָּרוֹן לִבְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי יְהוָה

. . . .

And when Moses and Eleazar the imām had received the gold from the commanders of the thousands and the hundreds, they brought it to the tent of the assembly, as a memorial for the sons of Israel before God.