## Chizkuni, Numbers

###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:1:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:1:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:1:1)

**כמתאננים** לשון און ועמל כמו מחשבות אונך.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
כמתאוננים, “as murmurers;” the word is related to און and עמל, “as in Jeremiah 4,14: מחשבות אונך, “your evil designs.”


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:1:2
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:1:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:1:2)

**וישמע ה'** שדברו דברי און.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
וישמע ה, “the Lord heard;” He heard that they uttered complaints and dissatisfaction., “your evil designs.”


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:1:3
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:1:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:1:3)

**ותבער בם אש** מדה כנגד מדה לפי שפשעו והציצו במראה כבוד שכינה שהוא כאש אוכלת והוזהרו בסיני בה נענשו כאן ראשי העם כשפרש״‎י בפ׳‎ משפטים גבי ויראו את אלקי ישראל.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ותבער בהם אש, “and the Lord’s fire raged among them;” this was a punishment fitting the crime, as they had dared to look at the glory of the Lord which is also known as fire, i.e. אש אוכלת, Exodus 24,17. They had already been warned not to do this in Exodus chapter 24. Rashi explained this in connection with Exodus 24,10.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:1:4
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:1:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:1:4)

**ותאכל בקצה המחנה** לפיכך ויצעק העם אל משה יראים היו פן תתפשט בכל המחנה.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ותאכל בקצה המחנה, “and it devoured at the outer edges of the camp.” Therefore the people complained against Moses (verse 2) since they were afraid that the fire would spread throughout the camp.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:3:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:3:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:3:1)

**תבערה** היא קברות התאוה.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
תבערה, “punitive fire by the Lord.”


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:4:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:4:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:4:1)

**והאספסף אשר בקרבו התאוו תאוה** וגו׳‎ עד ויאסוף משה כל זה היה בשלשה ימים בעשרים באייר וכ״‎א בו וכ״‎ב בו.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
והאספסוף אשר בקרבו התאוו תאוה וגו, “and the mixed multitude that were amongst the people, etc.” everything written here until the beginning of verse 30 when Moses selects the elders who are to assist him, occurred during the first three days after the people had moved away from Mount Sinai.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:4:2
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:4:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:4:2)

**והאספסף** כתיב אל״‎ף ולא קרי.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
The letter א (though silent anyways) is not read.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:4:3
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:4:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:4:3)

**[אשר בקרבו** והם לא היו באמצע המחנה]. וישבו ויבכו גם בני ישראל אחר שהתלוננו כבר לבדם חזרו ונתרעמו עם האספסוף ובכו על תאות הבשר.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
וישובו ויבכו גם בני ישראל, “and in due course even the elite of the people, the בני ישראל, who had already complained previously, now also joined the weeping of discontent that had been started by the mixed multitude. This is when they expressed their urge to be given meat to eat.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:4:4
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:4:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:4:4)

**מי יאכילנו בשר** כי השלו פסק משנה ראשונה, פסוק זה מלמדנו שנתאוננו על אכילת הבשר.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
מי יאכילנו בשר, “if only someone would feed us meat!” The quails which had materialized on the evening before the manna started its daily appearance (Exodus 16,13) had come to an end some time ago. From this verse we understand the substance of the people’s complaint.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:5:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:5:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:5:1)

**זכרנו את הדגה** כשנילוס מתפשט כמנהגו ואחר כך חוזר למקומו הדגים נשארים בגומות בשיחין ונשותיהם שואבות מאותן השיחים והדגים נכנסים בכדיהם וכן ארז״‎ל.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
זכרנו את הדגה, “we remember now the fish, etc.” when the Nile overflows its banks and irrigates the fields of the Egyptians who had dug narrow canals to absorb these waters, and the water eventually retreats again, it leaves behind little fish in the indentations in the soil, and the wives of the Israelites would scoop these up and use as food. This could be done without effort, and the women who had come equipped with bowls or flasks could keep these fish alive for quite some time. Our sages have explained this to us. (No source quoted)


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:5:2
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:5:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:5:2)

**אשר נאכל במצרים חנם** בלא טורח ובלא דמים.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
אשר נאכל במצרים חנם, “which we used to eat in Egypt without having to pay for it.” (Ibn Ezra)


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:5:3
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:5:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:5:3)

**את הקשאים ואת האבטחים** לאכול בקנוח סעודה.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
את הקשואים ואת האבטיחים, “the cucumbers and the melons;” these would be eaten as dessert.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:5:4
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:5:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:5:4)

**ואת החציר ואת הבצלים** לטעום הקדרה עם הבשר.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ואת החציר ואת הבצלים, “as well as the leeks and the onions;” these would be used in the cooking pots to provide seasoning for the food to be boiled.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:5:5
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:5:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:5:5)

**ואת השומים** לטבל הבשר והדגים.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ואת השומים, “and the garlic,” for making the meat and fish tasty.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:6:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:6:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:6:1)

**ועתה נפשנו יבשה** אמרו עתיד המן ליתפח בתוך כרסנו להרגנו כלומר יש לך ילוד אשה שאינו מוציא מה שהוא אוכל אמרו לו לרבי שמעון ובמה אתה מקיים ויתד תהיה לך על אזנך אמר להם מה שתגרי אומות העולם מביאים להם יוצא מהן אבל המן אינו יוצא מהם לעולם כדכתיב לחם אבירים אכל איש. ד״‎א לאחר שסרחו היו מוציאים.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ועתה נפשנו יבשה, “and now our soul is dried up;” they were afraid that seeing that the manna was absorbed by their bodies entirely, none of it being waste to be excreted, that this would so interfere with their intestinal organs that it would kill them internally. They did not understand how a human being born from the womb of a woman can survive on food such as the manna alone. They challenged Rabbi Shimon by asking: “what is it that keeps you alive?” Is it not the excrement which is described in the Torah inDeuteronomy 23,14: ויתד תהיה לך על אזנך, “and have a paddle with you to cover your excrement!” (Torah addressing the Jewish soldier) The Rabbi answered the questioners that what is excreted are only the contributions to food provided by the gentiles. None of the manna needs to be excreted as it originated in the heavenly spheres where there is no useless or harmful substance. Scriptural proof for this is to be found in when David said in Psalms 78,25: לחם אבירים אכל איש, “each man ate a hero’s meal.” The type of man who can thrive on manna is the one who deserves the title אבירים. A different interpretation: if the people had become spiritually flawed, they would find that some of the manna turned into excrement within them.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:7:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:7:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:7:1)

**והמן כזרע גד** הכ״‎ף בחיר״‎ק והזיי״‎ן בשו״‎א דוגמא ואיש יהודה נטע שעשועיו.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
והמן כזרע גד, “and the manna was like coriander seed;” the letter כ has the vowel chirik, and the letter ז has the semi vowel sh”va.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:7:2
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:7:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:7:2)

**[ועינו כעין הבדלח** מבריק].


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:8:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:8:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:8:1)

**שטו** כמו חקרו כמו משוט הארץ, נמצא באגדה **שטו העם ולקטו** אלו הצדיקין שהיו אוכלים אותו כמו שהיה יורד.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
שטו העם ולקטו, “the people would leave the camp and collect;” the word שטו is familiar to us from Job 1,7 שוט, “roaming.” According to a midrash found in the Talmud, tractate Yuma folio 75, the line: שטו העם ולקטו, refers to the righteous Israelites who were eating the manna while it was descending through the atmosphere. They did not even have to bother to leave their homes and to collect it.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:8:2
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:8:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:8:2)

**וטחנו ברחים או דכו במדכה** אלו הבינוניים.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
וטחנו בריחים או דכו במדוכה, “they ground it in a mill, or pounded it in mortars;” this refers to the average Israelite.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:8:3
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:8:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:8:3)

**ובשלו בפרור** אלו הרשעים שהיו מבשלים אותו וזהו שנאמר וימצאו אותו מקושש עצים למה היה לו לקושש אלא מפני שהיה רשע היה רוצה לבשל את המן.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ובשלו בפרוד, “or they boiled in pots.” According to that midrash, this refers to the relatively wicked Israelites, who had to spend more time and effort to make the manna palatable for themselves. This is also why the Torah reports in Numbers 15,32, that the Israelites found a man gathering kindling on the Sabbath. He was a sinner and wanted to boil the manna on the Sabbath.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:11:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:11:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:11:1)

**ולמה לא מצתי חן** מן התיבות חסרות אלף באחרית יסוד שלהם.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ולמה לא מצתי חן, “and why have I not found favour, etc.?” The word מצתי is one which on occasion is spelled without the letter א when that letter is the last root letter.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:12:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:12:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:12:1)

**האנכי הריתי** אם אני אמם שהריתי אותם.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
האנכי הריתי, “was it I who has conceived these people?” Am I their mother who had conceived them?


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:12:2
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:12:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:12:2)

**אם אנכי ילדתיהו** אם אני אביהם לשון ילד את שלח.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
אם אנכי ילידתיהו, “did I sire them?” Was I their father? The root ילד has been used in this sense in Genesis 10,24. (Ibn Ezra)


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:12:3
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:12:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:12:3)

**על האדמה** אל האדמה כמו על גוזזי צאנו נטה ידך על השמים.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
על האדמה, not “on the earth,” but as in אל האדמה “on to the earth.” Compare Genesis 38,12, על גוזזי צאן, “to the shearing of the sheep.” Compare also Exodus 10,21: נטה ידך על השמים, not “incline your hand over the heaven,” but “incline your hand in the direction of the heaven.”


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:14:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:14:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:14:1)

**לא אוכל אנכי לבדי** לאחר שבערה האש בקצינים שבמחנה אמר משה כך בהיותם חיים היו נושאים עמי במשא העם.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
לא אוכל אנכי לבדי, “I cannot all by myself, etc.” Moses had said all this after the fire of G-d had burned against all the officers in the camp, seeing that as long as these had still been alive, they had shared the burden of leading the people with him.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:15:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:15:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:15:1)

**ואם ככה את עשה לי** פירש״‎י תשש כחו של משה כנקבה. פירוש שרוי בצער ובכעס היה ולא היה יכול לגמור הדבר ולומר אתה ואמר את כאדם המתאנח שבתחלת אנחתו אינו יכול לגמור נשימתו. וי״‎א תיבת את, לך, בך, אתך, לשון זכר ולשון נקבה.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ואם ככה את עושה לי, “and if You will deal with me in this fashion;” according to Rashi, Moses had felt that he had become weak like a woman, so that he was not even able to complete the last word, (which should have been: אתה in the masculine mode). He was full of psychological pain and anger, so that he addressed G-d as if he were addressing a human being and runs out of breath before being able to complete a sentence. Other commentators understand the word: את here as if vocalised with a segol, similar to בך, or לך, which can be used both in the masculine and in the feminine mode.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:15:2
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:15:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:15:2)

**ואל אראה ברעתי** אל אראה עוד ברעה שאני בה.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ואל אראה ברעתי, “so that I will no longer have to deal with the evil that has befallen me.”


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:16:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:16:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:16:1)

**אספה לי שבעים איש** כנגד שבעים נפש ירדו אבותינו מצרימה ושבעים זקנים במתן תורה ושבעים משפחות המנויות בפרשת פנחס ומשם ואילך היתה סנהדרין גדולה שבעים.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
אספה לי שבעים איש, “gather for me seventy men;” the number 70 is symbolic of the original seventy Israelites that left the land of Canaan to go to Egypt, as well as the seventy elders that were the leaders of the people at the time of the revelation at Mount Sinai. (Exodus 24,1) It also symbolises the seventy families mentioned in the census reported in Numbers chapter 26, as well as the members of the Supreme Court, Sanhedrin, excluding its president, in later Jewish history.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:17:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:17:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:17:1)

**ואצלתי מן הרוח אשר עליך** וכי לא היה לו להקב״‎ה רוח אחרת לשבעים זקנים אם לא לקחה ממשה אלא כך אמר לו הקב״‎ה אני אומר לך אתה תדון את עמי ונתתי לך חכמה לדונם ואת רוחי נתתי עליך ואתה אמרת לא אוכל לבדי חייך ינתן להם מרוחך.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ואצלתי מן הרוח אשר עליך, “and I will enhance some of the spirit that is part of you;” did G-d not have holy spirit that He could have taken from somewhere else other than Moses? We therefore must understand G-d’s words as follows: He told Moses that that he should judge the Jewish people and that He had given him sufficient wisdom to know how to this. How could Moses therefore complain that he could not do it by himself? (verse 14) If so, it was proof that he, Moses, had to share some of his holy spirit with the elders he would now appoint.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:18:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:18:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:18:1)

**התקדשו למחר** כ״‎ג באייר.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
התקדשו למחר, “sanctify yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, (the 23rd of lyar) (see our author’s commentary on verse 4 in this chapter)


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:20:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:20:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:20:1)

**עד חדש ימים** עד ולא עד בכלל כלומר כ״‎ט ימים והוו להו עשרים ותרין בסיון כדאיתא במסכת תענית.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
עד חדש ימים, “as long as a whole month.” The last day of that month was not included in the period that G-d is speaking of. According to the Talmud in tractate Taanit folio 29, the last day of that period would be the 23rd of Sivan.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:20:2
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:20:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:20:2)

**והיה לכם לזרא** אלף במקום ה״‎א דוגמא קראן לי מרא, ופי׳‎ **לזרא** להסיג כמו נזורו אחור זרה הלאה כלומר תאכלו מאיתו בשר וסופו יהיה לכם רע ונתעב עד שתסיגוהו ותרחיקוהו מכם.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
והיה לכם לזרא, “it will become loathsome for you.” The Torah substituted the letter א at the end of this word, where we would have expected the letter ה. There are other examples of this in the Bible, such as Ruth 1,20 קראן לי מרא, “call me the embittered one,” where we also would have expected the author to have written: מרה. The meaning of the word לזרא, is: להסיג, to remove, to vomit. Isaiah uses that expression in Isaiah 1,4 נזורו אחור, when describing the Jewish people’s moral turpitude by having turned their back on G-d and His commandments. We find it also in Numbers 17,2: as an imperative: זרה הלאה, “scatter it! (the destructive glowing coals on his pan containing incense). G-d commands the people to gorge themselves on the meat so much so that in the end it will become repugnant to them, no longer an object of their desire. Eventually, they will vomit it in disgust.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:20:3
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:20:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:20:3)

**לאמר.** למה זה יצאנו ממצרים ושאמרתם זכרנו את הדגה וגו'.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
לאמור למה זה יצאנו ממצרים, because you had the nerve to say: “why did we ever agree to leave Egypt?” G-d refers to the people having yearned for the fish they ate in Egypt without having to work or pay for. (verse 5)


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:21:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:21:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:21:1)

**ויאמר משה שש מאות אלף רגלי** וגו׳‎ רבונו של עולם אמרת לי אספה לי שבעים איש ונשאו אתך ואל העם תאמר ונתן ה׳‎ לכם בשר ע״‎י שבעים איש אלו וכי יש יכולת ביד שבעים איש לתת בשר לשש מאות אלף רגלי הגברים לבד מטף.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ויאמר משה: שש מאות אלף רגלי וגו, “Moses said: there are six hundred adult infantry soldiers, etc.” Moses is overwhelmed by the intended undertaking of G-d to supply such a vast number of human beings suddenly with meat to which they had absolutely no claim, by his appointing seventy elders to help him govern such a nation. He cannot understand why, on the one hand, G-d had told him to appoint for himself 70 people to help him govern such a stiffnecked people, and on the other hand, reward them by performing such a miracle for them at the same time. He is under the mistaken impression that these seventy men should act as the slaughterers for such a large number of people. How could even seventy slaughterers supply meat for about three million people?


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:22:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:22:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:22:1)

**הצאן ובקר** שאמרו מי יאכילנו בשר.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
הצאן ובקר shall sheep and cattle be slaughtered? (seeing that they had asked for meat)


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:22:2
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:22:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:22:2)

**ואם את כל דגי הים** שאמרו זכרנו את הדגה.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ואם כל דגי הים, “or shall all the fish in the ocean (be caught)? (seeing they had recalled the fish they had eaten in Egypt with such nostalgia)


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:22:3
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:22:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:22:3)

**ישחט להם יאסף להם** על ידי אנשים מעט כשבעים נפש.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ישחט להם...יאסף להם, “be either slaughtered for them, or caught for them?” Shall all of this be done by a mere seventy people?


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:22:4
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:22:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:22:4)

**ומצא להם.** לשש מאות אלף רגלי הגברים לבד מטף עד חדש ימים.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ומצא להם, “where could all this even be found, never mind slaughtered, in order to feed them for a whole month?!


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:23:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:23:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:23:1)

**ויאמר ה׳‎ אל משה היד ה׳‎ תקצר** אין דעתי ליתן להם ע״‎י השבעים איש אלא על ידי וידי לא תקצר.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ויאמר ה' אל משה: היד ה' תקצר, The Lord said to Moses: “is the Lord’s power inadequate?” G-d implied that it had not been His intention for one moment to use the seventy helpers Moses would appoint as slaughterers or fishermen. Neither would He have to resort to overt miracles. All He had to do was to direct the flight of a swarm of birds in their direction. He was fully capable to do this within the boundaries of existing laws of nature.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:23:2
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:23:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:23:2)

**עתה תראה היקרך דברי** שאתן להם אבל לא ע״‎י השבעים איש.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
עתה תראה היקרך דברי אם לא, “now you will see if My word will come true or not.” “I will provide, but not as you had thought by employing these seventy men.”


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:25:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:25:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:25:1)

**ויאצל** אל״‎ף כתיב ולא קרי.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ויאצל מן הרוח, “He diverted from the holy spirit” (of Moses) the letter א in the word ויאצל, though written in the Torah, is not heard when read.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:25:2
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:25:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:25:2)

**ויתנבאו ולא יספו** ולא הוסיפו על משה דוגמא ויסף חמישיתו עליו.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ויתנבאו ולא יספו, “they prophesied;” but they did not continue to do so with the help of Moses. The word: יספו is to be understand as if the Torah had written “they added,” the word is used in this sense also Leviticus 5,16 ויסף חמישתו עליו “ “he will have to add a fifth of it in addition


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:26:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:26:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:26:1)

**וישארו שני אנשים** היתרים על השבעים.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
.וישארו שני אנשים, there were two men in addition to the seventy men. (Moses had put 72 pieces of parchment in an urn, 6 for each tribe, of which two bore no inscription so that the men drawing those would know they were not part of the seventy elders). In other words: “they were redundant.”


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:26:2
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:26:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:26:2)

**שם האחד אלדד ושם השני מידד.** הזקנים לא נתפרשו שמותם ואלו נתפרשו שמותם לפי שהזקנים נפסקה נבואתם שהיתה משל משה שכך אמר הקב״‎ה ואצלתי מן הרוח אשר עליך אבל אלו נבואתם היתה מאת הקב״‎ה כדכתיב **ותנח עליהם הרוח** וגו'.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
שם האחד אלדד ושם השני מידד, “one of these two men was called Eldod, and the other was called Meydod.” The seventy elders were never mentioned by name whereas these two men who at first glance appeared as rejects, were named. The reason is that the prophetic spirit bestowed on the seventy elders ceased when Moses died, whereas the prophetic powers granted to these men survived Moses, as their prophetic powers was not a branch of Moses’ holy spirit. G-d Himself had said that He would give some of Moses’ spirit to these 70 elders (verse 17) The two named men received their prophetic spirit from G-d directly, as stated in our verse with the words: ותנח עליהם הרוח, “and the spirit rested upon them.”


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:26:3
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:26:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:26:3)

**ותנח עליהם הרוח.** אע״‎פ שלא נבחרו בכלל השבעים הואיל והיו ראויים לכך לא הוכלמו ושרתה עליהם הרוח ונתנבאו.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ותנח עליהם הרוח, although these men had not been chosen to become part of the seventy elders, seeing that they were fit to have been elders and they did not feel humbled or rejected by not being chosen, they were rewarded by being given greater and longer lasting prophetic insights that the seventy whose parchment had read: “elder.”


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:26:4
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:26:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:26:4)

**והמה בכתבים** פרש״‎י נטל ע״‎ב פתקין וכתב על שבעים זקן ועל שנים חלק. וא״‎ת הרי קנאה גדולה מוטלת בדבר שיוכלו האחרונים לומר שמי שיטלו תחלה מסברא יעלה ביד כל אחד פתק זקן ולפי שהפתקין של זקן יתרים על הפתקין של חלק, אלא י״‎ל כמו כן מסברא זו השבעים ראשונים יכולים לומר שמא השנים פתקין של חלק יגיעו לידינו מתוך שאנחנו הרוב קודם שיגיעו ליד השנים האחרונים ע״‎י שהם המיעוט ונמצא שאין יתרון לזה מזה.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
והמה בכתובים, “they were amongst the seventy who had not drawn blanks.” According to Rashi this means that they had been included in the seventy two parchments on 70 of which Moses had written the word: “elder” and two of which he had left blank. If you were to ask that this method would have resulted in a great deal of jealousy by the ones who had not drawn a parchment with the word “elder,” it is therefore more reasonable to suppose that those who took parchments out of the urn early on would argue that they had a better chance not to draw a blank as 70 out of 72 were not blanks. Each one pushed in order not to be one of the last two whose chance of drawing a blank was so much greater. This was faulty reasoning, as the chance that the blanks would be drawn by the “early birds” was just as great as the reverse, and in fact, as soon as the blanks had been drawn the remaining candidates already knew for certain that they could not draw a blank. [It is therefore more likely that the Torah wishes us to know that in order to avoid jealousy, these two men decided to withdraw out of humility, so that the other 70 could all become elders. Ed.] They accomplished this by not showing up at the entrance to the Tabernacle as the men who drew parchments with the word: “elder” had been told to do.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:26:5
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:26:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:26:5)

**ולא יצאו האהלה** לא יצאו ממחנה ישראל אל אהל מועד עם האחרים.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ולא יצאו האהלה, “but they had not gone out to the Tabernacle’s entrance;” they had not left the general camp to follow the other elders to the Tabernacle with their colleagues.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:26:6
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:26:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:26:6)

**ויתנבאו במחנה** ועל מי היו מתנבאים על גוג ויחזקאל רמז נבואתם כדכתיב כה אמר ה׳‎ האתה הוא אשר דברתי בימים קדמונים ביד הנבאים שנים אל תקרי שנים אלא שנים.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ויתנבאו במחנה, ‘they prophesied inside the camp of the Israelites. Concerning what subject did these two men make prophetic announcements? They prophesied concerning the eventual war against Gog, and concerning the prophet Ezekiel. We find a hint of the subject of their prophecies in Ezekiel 38,17: כה אמר ה' האתה הוא אשר דברתי בימים קדמונים ביד הנביאים שנים, “you are the one I spoke of in ancient times through My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those years about you and about Gog;” instead of reading the word שנים to mean: ”years,” understand it to mean: “שניים, two.”


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:28:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:28:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:28:1)

**מבחריו** מנעוריו לשון בימי בחורותיך. ד״‎א מן המובחרים לשרת את משה כי אחרים היו עמו.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
מבחוריו, “from his early youth.” We find this word having this meaning also in Kohelet 12,1: בימי בחורתיך, “in the days of your youth.”An alternate interpretation of this word: “from amongst the choicest to serve Moses,” for there were others with him. (Ibn Ezra)


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:28:2
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:28:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:28:2)

**אדני משה כלאם** בבית ולא יתנבאו במחנה שהרי האחרים שנתן להם רשות מתנבאים בהצנע כדכתיב ולקחת אותם אל אוהל מועד והתיצבו שם עמך והללו לא נטלו רשות ממך ומתנבאים חוץ לאוהל מועד.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
אדוני משה כלאם, “my lord Moses lock them up!” Joshua wanted these two men put under house arrest so that their prophecies would not become public. The other seventy men who had also displayed prophetic insights had done so only in the relative privacy of the sacred precincts of the Tabernacle which was out of bounds to the people at large. They had done so only in the presence of Moses. (verse 16) Eldod and Meydod had not asked for permission to prophesy publicly, and had prophesied outside the sacred precincts.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:29:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:29:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:29:1)

**ומי יתן כל עם ה׳‎ נביאים** הן במחנה הן באוהל מועד להקל מעלי.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
וכי יתן כל עם ה׳ נביאים, “would that all the Lord’s people were prophets!” Moses did not care if they would prophesy in the camp or only in the sacred precincts around the Tabernacle, as long as they would make his task easier to accomplish.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:29:2
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:29:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:29:2)

**כי יתן ה׳‎ את רוחו עליהם.** ולא מרוחי שמה שאמר הקב״‎ה לתת מרוחי היינו על שבעים זקנים אבל יותר אינן מתנבאים מרוחי אלא מרוחו של הקב״‎ה הלואי שיהיו כולם מתנבאים בענין זה.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
כי יתן ה׳ את רוחו עליהם, “as long as G-d directly would bestow His holy spirit upon them!” He wanted them to receive holy spirit from G-d directly, not only as a part of the holy spirit that had been bestowed upon him. He realised that the seventy men had received only part of the Holy spirit that he had been endowed with, and that this Holy spirit would vanish as soon as he would die. He therefore prayed that they would receive permanent Holy spirit.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:30:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:30:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:30:1)

**ויאסף משה אל המחנה** נתלוה עם הזקנים לחלוק להם כבוד.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ויאסף משה אל המחנה, Moses withdrew to the camp;” he accompanied the seventy elders now as he wished to show them honour in public.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:31:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:31:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:31:1)

**ורוח נסע** בכ״‎ג באייר.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ורוח נסע, “a wind went forth, etc.;” this occurred on the twenty third of lyar.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:31:2
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:31:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:31:2)

**ויגז שלוים מן הים** כנגד מה שאמרו מי יאכילנו בשר זכרנו את הדגה הגיז להם עופות מן הים לטעום טעם בשר ודגים.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ויגז שלוים מן הים, “it brought across quails from the sea;” this was how G-d fulfilled His promise to provide meat for all the people, enough for them to gorge themselves on for a whole month, in response to their longing for the fish they had eaten in Egypt without having had to pay for them.(verse 5)


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:31:3
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:31:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:31:3)

**על המחנה אצל המחנה** כמו ושכות על הארון ונתת על המערכת.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
על המחנה, next to the camp; the word על here is used as in Exodus 40,3;וסכות על הארון ,”you will spread it next to the Holy Ark, or as in Leviticus 24,7: ונתת על המערכת, “you shall place it next to the row.”


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:31:4
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:31:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:31:4)

**וכאמתים על פני הארץ** ר״‎ל שהיו מעופפים חבורה על גבי חבורה עד שהיה עבין אמתים.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
וכאמתים על פני הארץ, “and to a height of approximately two cubits above the ground.” The quails had been flying in formations over each other above the earth.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:32:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:32:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:32:1)

**ויאספו את השלו** חסר יו״‎ד.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ויאספו את השלו, “they gathered up the quails.” The letter י is missing in the word השלו.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:32:2
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:32:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:32:2)

**עשרה חמרים** יש בחמר שלשים סאין הרי עשרה חמרים מחזיקים שלש מאות סאה הרי בכל יום עשר סאין לממעיט.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
עשרה חמרים, “ten heaps;” a “heap” is equivalent to thirty saah, the latter being approximately 13000 ccm., so that the ones who collected the least amount would have collected ten saah per day during the thirty day period involved in this episode.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:33:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:33:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:33:1)

**הבשר עודנו בין שניהם** לאחר שהספיק בשר לכולם כדי שלא יאמרו לא נגפם אלא מפני שלא היה בידיו יכולת להספיק בשר לכולם.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
הבשר עודנו בין שניהם, “while the meat was still between their teeth etc.;” the negative effect was delayed until the whole people had been provided with sufficient meat, so none would be able to say that they were only stricken because G-d was not able to provide sufficient meat for all of them.


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:34:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:34:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:34:1)

**ויקרא את שם המקום** חסר שם הקורא כמו ויאמר ליוסף.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ויקרא את שם המקום קברות התאוה, “he called the name of this place: graves of lust.” The Torah did not identify who it was who bestowed this name on these graves, just as we find that in Genesis 48,1 we do not know who told Joseph that his father had been taken sick, i.e. ויאמר ליוסף, “someone called Joseph.”


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:35:1
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:35:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:35:1)

**מקברות התאוה נסעו** בכ״‎ב בסיון.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
מקברות התאוה נסעו, “from that place they continued journeying, etc.” this was on the twenty second day of the month of Sivan


###### Chizkuni, Numbers 11:35:2
[Chizkuni, Numbers 11:35:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Chizkuni/s/Numbers/r/11:35:2)

**ויהיו בחצרות** היל״‎ל ויחנו בחצרות כמו בשאר חניות אלא כיון שנסעו מחצרות לא הספיקו להלוך עד ששמעו שדברה מרים במשה ונצטרעה וחזרו וחנו לאחוריהם בחצרות עד האסף מרים ואין מוקדם ומאוחר.

**Chizkuni, translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk:**
ויהיו החצרות, “they remained at Chatzerot for some time.” We would have expected the Torah to have written: ויחנו בחצרות, “they made camp at Chatzerot,” as it did when reporting on all the other places where the people made camp. The reason why there was a change here was that the Torah wished us to know that their departure from Chatzerot had been delayed because Miriam had spoken critically of her brother Moses, and when having been punished with skin eczema, the people waited until she had been healed. This is another example of the Torah not having reported events in their chronological order. Part of the people had already moved on during that episode, but they turned back after finding out what had occurred.