## Sforno on Numbers Chapter 11

###### Sforno on Numbers 11:1:1
[Sforno on Numbers 11:1:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/11:1:1)

**כְּמִתְאוֹנְנִים.** עַל טֹרַח הַדֶּרֶךְ, לֹא מִתְאוֹנְנִים בְּלִבָּם בֶּאֱמֶת, כִּי לֹא הָיְתָה אֶצְלָם שׁוּם סִבָּה רְאוּיָה לָזֶה שֶׁיִּתְאוֹנְנוּ, אֲבָל הָיוּ מִתְאוֹנְנִים בְּדִבְרֵיהֶם לְנַסּוֹת.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
כמתאוננים, on account of the difficulties of the journey. They did not actually complain in their hearts as they had nothing to complain about. They only voiced complaints as a form of testing G’d.


###### Sforno on Numbers 11:2:1
[Sforno on Numbers 11:2:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/11:2:1)

**וַתִּשְׁקַע הָאֵשׁ.** נֶגֶד טֶבַע הָאֵשׁ, לְמַעַן יַכִּירוּ שֶׁהָיָה פֶּלֶא בִּלְתִּי טִבְעִי, וְלֹא הָיָה אֵשׁ טִבְעִי שֶׁקָּרָה אָז בְּאֵיזוֹ סִבָּה טִבְעִית.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
ותשקע האש. This was something supernatural, not compatible with the normal behaviour of fire. Fire rises, does not sink into the earth.


###### Sforno on Numbers 11:4:1
[Sforno on Numbers 11:4:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/11:4:1)

**וַיָּשֻׁבוּ וַיִּבְכּוּ.** חָזְרוּ לִהְיוֹת כְּמִתְאוֹנְנִים לְנַסּוֹת, וּבָכוּ עַתָּה עַל שֶׁיָּצְאוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם, כְּמוֹאֲסִים מַעֲלַת הֱיוֹת הַשְּׁכִינָה בֵּינֵיהֶם, כַּאֲשֶׁר הֵעִיד בְּאָמְרוֹ (במדבר יא:כ) ״יַעַן כִּי מְאַסְתֶּם אֶת ה׳ אֲשֶׁר בְּקִרְבְּכֶם וַתִּבְכּוּ לְפָנָיו לֵאמֹר לָמָּה זֶּה יָצָאנוּ מִמִּצְרָיִם״.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
וישובו ויבכו, they again pretended to have justified complaints, testing G’d’s patience. This time they cried that they had agreed to leave Egypt. This was equivalent to insulting the Presence of the Shechinah that had honoured them with its presence amongst them. Moses tells them this explicitly in verse 20 when he said: יען מאסתם את ה' אשר ,בקרבכם ותבכו לפניו לאמור למה זה יצאנו ממצרים?, “because you despised the Lord Who is in your midst and you cried, saying: “why is this that we left Egypt?”


###### Sforno on Numbers 11:4:2
[Sforno on Numbers 11:4:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/11:4:2)

**מִי יַאֲכִלֵנוּ בָּשָׂר.** לְנַסּוֹת אִם יָכִין שְׁאֵר לְעַמּוֹ, כַּאֲשֶׁר הֵעִיד הַמְשׁוֹרֵר בְּאָמְרוֹ (תהלים עח:יח) ״וַיְנַסּוּ אֵל בִּלְבָבָם לִשְׁאָל־אֹכֶל לְנַפְשָׁם״.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
מי יאכלנו בשר?, They said this in order to test if He would permit incestuous relations to His people (compare Psalms 78,18 where Assaph says וינסו א-ל בלבבם לשאל אוכל לנפשם, they asked openly for meat, and in their hearts for sexual gratification other than by their wives).


###### Sforno on Numbers 11:11:1
[Sforno on Numbers 11:11:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/11:11:1)

**לָמָה הֲרֵעֹתָ לְעַבְדֶּךָ.** לְשַׁלְּחֵנִי בְּעַל כׇּרְחִי לְהוֹצִיא הָעָם הַזֶּה מִמִּצְרָיִם.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
למה הרעות לעבדך? “Why did you appoint me against my will to lead this people out of Egypt?


###### Sforno on Numbers 11:11:2
[Sforno on Numbers 11:11:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/11:11:2)

**וְלָמָּה לֹא מָצָאתִי חֵן בְּעֵינֶיךָ.** כְּשֶׁאָמַרְתִּי ״שְׁלַח נָא בְּיַד תִּשְׁלָח״ (שמות ד:יג).

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
ולמה לא מצאתי חן בעיניך?, When I asked You to send whomever You are in the habit of sending, (Exodus 4,13) why did You not accept my request?


###### Sforno on Numbers 11:11:3
[Sforno on Numbers 11:11:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/11:11:3)

**לָשׂוּם אֶת מַשָּׂא כָּל הָעָם הַזֶּה עָלָי.** וְזֶה עָשִׂיתָ כְּדֵי לָשִׂים אֶת מַשָּׂא כֻּלָּם עָלָי, כְּאִלּוּ לֹא הָיָה לְךָ מְנַהִיג זוּלָתִי, לְפָחוֹת לְשַׁתְּפוֹ עִמִּי שֶׁיִּהְיֶה טוֹב לָהֶם.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
לשום את משא כל העם הזה עלי, You could only have done this in order to burden me with the load of this whole nation, as if You could not have found another more suitable leader, or at least You could have provided me with someone else who would be suitable to share this burden and who would be good for them.


###### Sforno on Numbers 11:12:1
[Sforno on Numbers 11:12:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/11:12:1)

**הֶאָנֹכִי הָרִיתִי.** הִנֵּה הָאָב יוּכַל לְהַנְהִיג אֶת בָּנָיו אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהֵם חֲלוּקֵי הַדֵּעוֹת, וְזֶה כִּי כֻלָּם חוֹשְׁבִים אוֹתוֹ לְאוֹהֵב שֶׁיִּשְׁתַּדֵּל בְּכָל כֹּחוֹ לְהֵיטִיב לָהֶם. אֲבָל אֵלֶּה אֵינָם בוֹטְחִים בִּי כְּלָל, וְחוֹשְׁדִים וּמְנַסִּים לִרְאוֹת מָה אֶעֱשֶׂה בַּעֲדָם.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
האנוכי הריתי, true, a natural father knows how to guide his children even if they have differences of opinions among them. The reason such a father can be successful is that all his children know that he loves them all and has their best interests at heart. But these people do not put their trust in me at all; they suspect me and constantly provoke me to see what I would do for them.


###### Sforno on Numbers 11:13:1
[Sforno on Numbers 11:13:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/11:13:1)

**מֵאַיִן לִי בָּשָׂר.** הִנֵּה אֵין סָפֵק אֶצְלָם שֶׁאֵין לִי בָשָׂר לָתֵת לָהֶם, וְאִם כֵּן כְּשֶׁהֵם בּוֹכִים עָלַי וְאוֹמְרִים ״תְּנָה לָּנוּ בָשָׂר״, כְּאִלּוּ יֵשׁ לְאֵל יָדִי וְשֶׁעַל יְדֵי בְּכִיָּתָם אֶעֱשֶׂה רְצוֹנָם, אֵין זֶה אֶלָּא לְנַסּוֹת אִם הַנְהָגָתִי בְּמִצְוָתְךָ וּמָה אַשִּׂיג מֵאִתְּךָ בַּעֲדָם.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
מאין לי בשר?, Clearly, they know very well that I do not have any meat to give them; if so when they cry and demand “give us meat,” they as much accuse me of being able to provide them with meat but denying them their desire! This is only a crude attempt to find out if my actions as their leader have indeed been prompted by my carrying out Your command! What can I attain from You on their behalf?


###### Sforno on Numbers 11:14:1
[Sforno on Numbers 11:14:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/11:14:1)

**לֹא אוּכַל אָנֹכִי לְבַדִּי.** וְצָרִיךְ שֶׁתְּשַׁתֵּף עִמִּי אֲחֵרִים שֶׁיִּבְטַח הָעָם הַזֶּה בָּהֶם.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
לא אוכל אנכי לבד, You will have to provide me with assistants to enable me to carry this burden.


###### Sforno on Numbers 11:15:1
[Sforno on Numbers 11:15:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/11:15:1)

**וְאִם כָּכָה אַתְּ עֹשֶׂה לִּי.** וְאִם אַתָּה הַשָּׁלֵם נִמְנַע מִשְּׁלֵמוּת הַהַנְהָגָה הָרְאוּיָה מִמְּךָ וּתְנַהֲגֵם כָּכָה בְּאֹפֶן חָסֵר כְּהַנְהָגַת הַנְּקֵבָה בִּשְׁבִילִי וְלִכְבוֹדִי, וְלֹא תְּשַׁתֵּף אֲחֵרִים עִמִּי כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא לִפְגֹּם כְּבוֹדִי.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
ואם ככה את עושה לי, If You in Your perfection decided not to provide me with assistants in order not to belittle me in the eyes of the people, and You want to continue to lead the people in the manner which You have done so far, הרגני נא הרוג אם מצאתי חן בעיניך, so that You will be free to appoint someone else, someone, or several, who are able to lead the people more perfectly. This is reminiscent of what the sages have said about the prophet Samuel who died before his time in order to enable the Kingdom of David to become reality sooner. (compare Tossaphot on Taanit 5)


###### Sforno on Numbers 11:15:2
[Sforno on Numbers 11:15:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/11:15:2)

**הָרְגֵנִי נָא הָרֹג אִם מָצָאתִי חֵן בְּעֵינֶיךָ.** כְּדֵי שֶׁתּוּכַל לְמַנּוֹת אֲחֵרִים שֶׁעַל יָדָם תִּהְיֶה הַנְהָגַת הָעָם שְׁלֵמָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (שבת נה.) עַל שְׁמוּאֵל שֶׁמֵּת קֹדֶם יָמָיו כְּדֵי שֶׁתַּעֲמֹד מַלְכוּת בֵּית דָּוִד.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
ואל אראה ברעתי, the result of my inadequacy as a leader. If I had to witness this, this would be worse for me than dying at this time.


###### Sforno on Numbers 11:15:3
[Sforno on Numbers 11:15:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/11:15:3)

**וְאַל אֶרְאֶה בְּרָעָתִי.** בְּרָעַת חֶסְרוֹן הַהַנְהָגָה הַמְסוֹבֶבֶת בִּגְלָלִי, כִּי זֶה יִהְיֶה קָשֶׁה עָלַי מִן הַמָּוֶת.


###### Sforno on Numbers 11:17:1
[Sforno on Numbers 11:17:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/11:17:1)

**וְנָשְׂאוּ אִתְּךָ.** אַחַר שֶׁיִּהְיוּ מֻחְזָקִים גַּם הֵם לִנְבִיאִים, יִבְטְחוּ הָעָם בַּהֲנָהָגָתְךָ בִּרְאוֹתָם הַזְּקֵנִים עִמְּךָ וּמַסְכִּימִים בְּמַעֲשֶׂיךָ.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
ונשאו אתך, seeing that they have now also attained the level of prophecy they are able to assist you in assuring the people get justice under your guidance because they see that the elders are with you and approve of what you are doing.


###### Sforno on Numbers 11:20:1
[Sforno on Numbers 11:20:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/11:20:1)

**וְהָיָה לָכֶם לְזָרָא.** שֶׁתֹּאכְלוּ מִמֶּנּוּ עַד שֶׁיּוֹלִיד בָּכֶם מוֹתָר מַחֲלִיא, כְּמוֹ שֶׁהֵעִיד בְּאָמְרוֹ ״וּבַחוּרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הִכְרִיעַ״ (תהלים עח:לא).

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
והיה לכם לזרא, they will eat so much of it that that it will cause an excess which in turn will produce sickness. This is what Assaph in Psalms 78,31 spoke about.


###### Sforno on Numbers 11:20:2
[Sforno on Numbers 11:20:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/11:20:2)

**לָמָּה זֶּה יָצָאנוּ מִמִּצְרָיִם.** שֶׁהָיוּ לָנוּ שָׁם מִינֵי מַאֲכָל רַבִּים, לֹא מָן בִּלְבַד.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
למה זה יצאנו ממצרים?; we had such a variety of food there, not only manna.


###### Sforno on Numbers 11:21:1
[Sforno on Numbers 11:21:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/11:21:1)

**שֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת אֶלֶף רַגְלִי.** וְיִצְטָרֵךְ רֹב בָּשָׂר לְהַשְׂבִּיעָם.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
שש מאות אלף רגלי, this will require a tremendous quantity of meat to satiate them.


###### Sforno on Numbers 11:21:2
[Sforno on Numbers 11:21:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/11:21:2)

**וְאַתָּה אָמַרְתָּ בָּשָׂר אֶתֵּן לָהֶם וְאָכְלוּ חֹדֶשׁ יָמִים.** וְאִם כֵּן יִהְיֶה הַבָּשָׂר שֶׁתִּתֵּן לָהֶם רַב מְאֹד, כְּאָמְרוֹ (תהלים עח:כז) וַיַּמְטֵר עֲלֵיהֶם כֶּעָפָר שְׁאֵר וּכְחוֹל יַמִּים עוֹף כָּנָף, מִכָּל מָקוֹם.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
ואתה אמרת בשר אתן להם ואכלו חודש ימים, if so, this will amount to a huge amount, as also described in Psalms 78,27 וימטר עליהם כעפר שאר וכחול ימים עוף כנף, “He rained meat on the like dust, winged birds like the sand of the sea.”


###### Sforno on Numbers 11:22:1
[Sforno on Numbers 11:22:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/11:22:1)

**הֲצֹאן וּבָקָר יִשָּׁחֵט לָהֶם וּמָצָא לָהֶם.** אֵיךְ יַסְפִּיק זֶה לְהָסִיר תְּלוּנוֹתָם, מֵאַחַר שֶׁאֵינָם שׁוֹאֲלִים בָּשָׂר אֶלָּא כְּדֵי לְנַסּוֹת, כְּאָמְרוֹ (תהלים עח:יח) ״וַיְנַסּוּ אֵל בִּלְבָבָם״? הֲלֹא אֵין סָפֵק שֶׁכְּמוֹ שֶׁנִּסּוּ בָּזֶה, יְנַסּוּ בְּמַאֲכָלִים זוּלַת זֶה לְאֵין תַּכְלִית, וְאַתָּה לֹא תָסִיר אֶת בְּחִירָתָם, כְּאָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (ברכות לג) ״הַכֹּל בִּידֵי שָׁמַיִם חוּץ מִיִּרְאַת שָׁמָיִם״.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
At any rate, הצאן ובקר ישחט להם ומצא להם? how will that suffice to assuage their complaints, seeing that what they are really asking for is only in order to provoke, as pointed out in Psalms 78,18 וינסו א-ל בלבבם, “they provoked G’d in their hearts.” No doubt, just as they provoked, tested Your patience with this, they will do this with other foods, for no valid reason. The problem is that You will not deprive them of their freedom of will, as we know from the axiom “all is within the power of heaven except control of who will possess reverence for G’d.” (B’rachot 33).


###### Sforno on Numbers 11:23:1
[Sforno on Numbers 11:23:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/11:23:1)

**הֲיַד ה׳ תִּקְצָר.** מִלִּמְצֹא דֶּרֶךְ שֶׁיִּמְאֲסוּ כָּל מַאֲכַל תַּאֲוָה, כְּאָמְרוֹ ״עַד אֲשֶׁר יֵצֵא מֵאַפְּכֶם״ (במדבר יא:כ).

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
היד ה' תקצר?, from finding a way which will cause them to be revolted at every food which is not for their health but for their gratification only. This is what was meant in verse 20, that “it will come out of your noses.”


###### Sforno on Numbers 11:23:2
[Sforno on Numbers 11:23:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/11:23:2)

**עַתָּה תִרְאֶה הֲיִקְרְךָ דְּבָרִי.** תִּרְאֶה שֶׁיִּקְרֶה זֶה שֶׁיֹּאכְלוּ מִן הַבָּשָׂר בְּהִמָּשְׁכָם בִּבְחִירָתָם אַחַר הַתַּעֲנוּג, עַד שֶׁיֵּצֵא מֵאַפָּם וְיִמְאֲסוּ בוֹ, מִבְּלִי שֶׁאָסִיר בְּחִירָתָם כְּלָל. כִּי אָמְנָם יוּכְלוּ לָשׁוּב בִּתְשׁוּבָה מֵאַהֲבָה וּמִיִּרְאָה אִם יִרְצוּ, כְּאָמְרוֹ ״יָדַעְתִּי כִּי כֹל תּוּכָל וְלֹא יִבָּצֵר מִמְּךָ מְזִמָּה״ (איוב מב:ב).

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
עתה תראה היקרך דברי, you will see with your own eyes that what I said will occur, that they will eat so much of this meat which they chose for reasons of gratification that it will come out of their noses so that they will despise it. I will not have to interfere with their free choice in order to achieve this result. By not interfering with their freedom of choice they will be able to repent not only because they are afraid of punishment, but because they have discovered that whatever I have done was out of love for them so that they in turn will relate to Me with love.


###### Sforno on Numbers 11:28:1
[Sforno on Numbers 11:28:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/11:28:1)

**אֲדֹנִי מֹשֶׁה כְּלָאֵם.** שֶׁחָשַׁב שֶׁלֹּא יָצְאוּ הָאֹהֱלָה לְהַרְאוֹת שֶׁיִּתְנַבְּאוּ בִּלְתִּי אֲצִילוּת מִמֹּשֶׁה רַבֵּינוּ.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
אדוני משה כלאם!, he thought that the reason why these two men had not come to the tent of Meeting was because they wanted to demonstrate that they could prophesy without being within the spiritual sphere and physical presence of Moses.


###### Sforno on Numbers 11:29:1
[Sforno on Numbers 11:29:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/11:29:1)

**כִּי יִתֵּן ה׳ אֶת רוּחוֹ עֲלֵיהֶם.** בִּלְתִּי אֲצִילוּת מֵאִתִּי.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
כי יתן ה' את רוחו עליהם, without any spiritual radiation emanating from me.


###### Sforno on Numbers 11:31:1
[Sforno on Numbers 11:31:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/11:31:1)

**מִן הַיָּם.** מִיָּם סוּף שֶׁהָיָה דְּרוֹמִי לָהֶם, וְזֶה כִּי עָבְרוּ הַשְּׂלָוִים אֶת הַיָּם מִקְצוֹת הַדָּרוֹם.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
מן הים, from the Sea of Reeds which was to the south of them, so that the quail crossed over that sea from the south.


###### Sforno on Numbers 11:32:1
[Sforno on Numbers 11:32:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/11:32:1)

**הַמַּמְעִיט אָסַף עֲשָׂרָה חֳמָרִים.** כִּי כֻלָּם הָיוּ תְּאֵבִים לֶאֱכֹל מֵהֶם הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
הממעיט אסף עשרה חמרים, all the people intended to consume large quantities of these birds.


###### Sforno on Numbers 11:33:1
[Sforno on Numbers 11:33:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/11:33:1)

**הַבָּשָׂר עוֹדֶנּוּ בֵּין שִׁנֵּיהֶם.** שֶׁלֹּא הִגִּיעַ עֲדַיִן לִגְבוּל שֶׁיִּמְאֲסוּ בוֹ.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
הבשר עודנו בין שניהם, it had not yet even come to the stage when they would despise it and be revolted by it.


###### Sforno on Numbers 11:33:2
[Sforno on Numbers 11:33:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/11:33:2)

**טֶרֶם יִכָּרֵת.** שֶׁלֹּא הִגִּיעַ עֲדַיִן זְמַן חֹדֶשׁ יָמִים שֶׁהֻגְבַּל לוֹ.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
טרם יכרת, the period of one month of which G’d had spoken had not yet elapsed;


###### Sforno on Numbers 11:33:3
[Sforno on Numbers 11:33:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/11:33:3)

**וַיַּךְ ה׳ בָּעָם.** בַּמִּתְאַוִּים מֵהֶם שֶׁשָּׁאֲלוּ הַבָּשָׂר לְנַסּוֹת, וְלָקוּ בְּנִסְיוֹנָם, כִּי לֹא אָמַר וְאָכְלוּ חֹדֶשׁ יָמִים אֶלָּא עַל הַבּוֹכִים בִּלְתִּי מִתְאַוִּים שֶׁאָמְרוּ ״לָמָּה זֶּה יָצָאנוּ מִמִּצְרָיִם״, וְהֵם בָּכוּ בְּחָלְיֵיהֶם, כְּאָמְרוֹ (במדבר יא:כ) ״וְהָיָה לָכֶם לְזָרָא״.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
ויך ה' בעם, the ones who had been in the forefront of expressing their lust in order to provoke G’d so that they were punished for their provocation. When G’d had said “they will eat from it for a month,” He had referred only to those members of the people who had cried (crocodile’s tears) without actually having experienced a craving for meat at all. The ones who had said: “why did we leave Egypt?” were the ones who were the first to be punished, even before the meat got into their gullets. The words of verse 20 והיה לכם לזרא were fulfilled by what happened to these people who had pretended by their crying that they felt an overpowering desire for meat.


###### Sforno on Numbers 11:35:1
[Sforno on Numbers 11:35:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/11:35:1)

**וַיִּהְיוּ בַּחֲצֵרוֹת.** שָׁהוּ שָׁם אֵיזֶה זְמַן, כְּמוֹ ״וַיִּהְיוּ שָׁם כְּעֶשֶׂר שָׁנִים״ (רות א:ד), ״וַיִּהְיוּ שָׁם כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוַּנִי ה׳״ (דברים י:ה). אָמַר, כִּי בְּאוֹתוֹ הַזְּמַן שֶׁהִתְעַכְּבוּ שָׁם קָרָה שֶׁדִּבְּרָה מִרְיָם בְּמֹשֶׁה, וּבִהְיוֹת אָז אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד מוּקָם, הִזְמִין הָאֵל יִתְבָּרַךְ אוֹתָם לָצֵאת מֵאָהֳלֵיהֶם אֶל אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
ויהיו בחצרות. They remained there for a period the length of which has not been revealed. We find this expression, for instance in Ruth 1,4 where the period is defined as about 10 years. In Deuteronomy 10,5 when Moses speaks about the Tablets remaining in the ark in which he deposited them, the period was considerably longer. In our situation it is reasonable to assume that the length of time meant is the period during which Miriam had to remain in isolation. Seeing that the Tabernacle had already been erected by that time, G’d invited all three of them to leave their tents and to come to the entrance of the Tabernacle.