## Sforno on Numbers Chapter 15

###### Sforno on Numbers 15:3:1
[Sforno on Numbers 15:3:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/15:3:1)

**לַעֲשׂוֹת רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ. וְהִקְרִיב הַמַּקְרִיב.** הִנֵּה עַד הָעֵגֶל הָיָה הַקָּרְבָּן רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ בְּזוּלַת מִנְחָה וּנְסָכִים, כְּעִנְיַן בְּהֶבֶל (בראשית ד:ד) וּבְנֹחַ (בראשית ח:כא) וּבְאַבְרָהָם (בראשית יב:ז), וּכְעִנְיַן ״וַיִּשְׁלַח אֶת נַעֲרֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיַּעֲלוּ עֹלֹת וַיִּזְבְּחוּ זְבָחִים שְׁלָמִים לַה׳ פָּרִים״ (שמות כד:ה), לֹא זוּלַת זֶה. וּבְחֶטְאָם בָּעֵגֶל הִצְרִיךְ מִנְחָה וּנְסָכִים לְעוֹלַת הַתָּמִיד שֶׁהִיא קָרְבַּן צִבּוּר, וּמֵאָז שֶׁחָטְאוּ בַּמְרַגְּלִים הִצְרִיךְ מִנְחָה וּנְסָכִים לְהַכְשִׁיר גַּם קָרְבַּן יָחִיד.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
לעשות ריח ניחוח.....והקריב המקריב, until the advent of the sin of the golden calf, the expression ריח ניחוח had not surfaced as no libations plus gift offerings had been needed in order to make the offerings truly pleasing in the eyes of the Lord. This is why we do not find such an expression in connection with the offering of Hevel (Genesis 4,4, of Noach Genesis 8,21, and of Avraham in Genesis 12,7) Neither do we find it in Exodus 24,5 where the burnt offerings and meat offerings offered by the firstborns (before they had been exchanged for the tribe of Levi) were described. As of the sin of the golden calf gift offerings and libations were required to make public offerings pleasing to the Lord, i.e. לריח ניחוח. After the sin of the spies even offerings by private individuals had to be accompanied by such libations and gift offerings, מנחה ונסכים, in order to qualify for the expression ריח ניחוח as proving that the offering had pleased the Lord.


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

**חַלָּה תָּרִימוּ תְרוּמָה.** אַחַר חֵטְא הַמְרַגְּלִים הִצְרִיךְ גַּם הַחַלָּה, לְמַעַן יִהְיוּ רְאוּיִים שֶׁתָּחוּל בְּרָכָה בְּבָתֵּיהֶם, כְּאָמְרוֹ ״וְרֵאשִׁית עֲרִיסוֹתֵיכֶם תִּתְּנוּ לַכֹּהֵן לְהָנִיחַ בְּרָכָה אֶל בֵּיתֶךָ״ (יחזקאל מד:ל). וְכֵן אֵלִיָּהוּ ״עֲשִׂי לִי מִשָּׁם עֻגָה קְטַנָּה בָרִאשׁוֹנָה וְהוֹצֵאת לִי, (וְלָךְ וְלִבְנֵךְ תַּעֲשִׂי בָאַחֲרוֹנָה,) כִּי כֹה אָמַר ה׳ כַּד הַקֶּמַח לֹא תִכְלָה״ (מלכים א יז:יג-יד).

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
חלה תרימו תרומה; after the sin of the spies also the tithe (heaving) known as challah became a necessity in order for the individual homes of the Israelites to enjoy G’d’s blessing. The prophet Ezekiel spells this out (Ezekiel 44,30) when speaking about the temple etc. in the future, when he writes: עריסותיכם תתנו לכהן להניח ברכה אל ביתך, “you are to give from your kneading bowl to the priest so that a blessing will rest on your house.” This practice had already been displayed when Elijah, assisting the impoverished widow, commanded her to first give to him a small cake of the little flour she had left, as G’d had said that in such a case the jar of flour in her house would not become empty during the remainder of the famine. (Kings I 17,13-14)


###### Sforno on Numbers 15:22:1
[Sforno on Numbers 15:22:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/15:22:1)

**וְכִי תִשְׁגּוּ.** כְּבָר הִתְבָּאֵר בַּקַּבָּלָה שֶׁבְּשִׁגְגַת עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר, וְזֶה כִּי מֵאַחַר שֶׁנִּגְזַר עֲלֵיהֶם לְהַפִּיל זַרְעָם בַּגּוֹיִם (תהלים קו:כו), לֹא הָיָה נִמְנָע שֶׁיִּשְׁגּוּ בַּעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה בְּשׁוּבָם לְאַרְצָם.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
וכי תשגו, this verse has already been explained by Sifri as speaking of inadvertent commission of the sin of idolatry. Seeing that eventual exile had already been decreed for the descendants of this generation, it would be practically impossible for the exiled Jews not to become guilty of such acts in their host countries from time to time even if they did not intend thereby to violate Torah laws. They would become guilty of such acts even after their return to their homeland, having acquired idolatrous habits while under duress in exile.


###### Sforno on Numbers 15:22:2
[Sforno on Numbers 15:22:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/15:22:2)

**וְלֹא תַעֲשׂוּ אֵת כָּל הַמִּצְוֺת הָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר ה׳ אֶל מֹשֶׁה.** מִכֵּיוָן שֶׁתִּשְׁגּוּ בַּעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, הִנֵּה אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁתַּעֲשׂוּ כָּל פְּעֻלּוֹת הַמִּצְוֹת, לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ אוֹתָן הַמִּצְוֹת אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר ה׳ אֶל מֹשֶׁה, כִּי הוּא יִתְבָּרֵךְ הִקְדִּים לְכֻלָּן יְדִיעַת אֱלֹהוּתוֹ, בְּאָמְרוֹ ״אָנֹכִי ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ״ (שמות כ:ב). וְכֵן אָמְרוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה: ״הַמּוֹדֶה בַּעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה כְּכוֹפֵר בְּכָל הַתּוֹרָה כֻּלָּהּ״ (ספרי קיא).

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
ולא תעשו את כל המצות האלה אשר דבר ה' אל משה. Seeing that you had inadvertently become guilty of idolatrous acts even if you would meticulously observe all the other commandments in the Torah this would not count for much as the commandments not to become guilty of any kind of idolatry had preceded all the other commandments, and by being guilty of that sin you had broken the covenant. Our sages (in Sifri 111) have stated flatly that anyone acknowledging that any idolatrous cult is of substance, is useful, is considered as having denied the validity of the entire Torah.


###### Sforno on Numbers 15:30:1
[Sforno on Numbers 15:30:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/15:30:1)

**אֶת ה׳ הוּא מְגַדֵּף.** וְאֵין לוֹ כַּפָּרָה בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה אֲפִלּוּ בִּתְשׁוּבָה הַנַּעֲשֵׂית מִיִּרְאַת עֹנֶשׁ, עַד שֶׁיָּמוּת, וּלְפִיכָךְ לֹא הוֹעִילָה תְּשׁוּבַת יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּעִנְיַן הַמְרַגְּלִים, כְּאָמְרוֹ ״וַתָּשֻׁבוּ וַתִּבְכּוּ לִפְנֵי ה׳ וְלֹא שָׁמַע ה׳ בְּקֹלְכֶם״ (דברים א:מה).

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
את ה' הוא מגדף, there is never any atonement for this even if there is complete remorse which is due to the fear of the punishment in store. Only the death of the guilty person can lead to his atonement. This was also the reason why the repentance of the Israelites for the sin of the spies could not be atoned for during their lifetime, although the repentance itself has been documented by the Torah in Deuteronomy 1,45.


###### Sforno on Numbers 15:39:1
[Sforno on Numbers 15:39:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/15:39:1)

**וּרְאִיתֶם אוֹתוֹ וּזְכַרְתֶּם אֶת כָּל מִצְוֺת ה׳.** תִּזְכְּרוּ שֶׁאַתֶּם עֲבָדִים לָאֵל יִתְבָּרַךְ וְשֶׁקִּבַּלְתֶּם מִצְוֹתָיו בְּאָלָה וּבִשְׁבוּעָה, וְזֶה בִּרְאוֹתָם הַצִּיצִית שֶׁהוּא כְּחוֹתַם הַמֶּלֶךְ בַּעֲבָדָיו. וּבָזֶה תַּחְדְּלוּ מִתּוּר אַחֲרֵי לְבַבְכֶם לְהַשִּׂיג שְׁרִירוּת לִבְּכֶם בְּעֹשֶׁר וְכָבוֹד, אֲפִלּוּ בְּגֶזֶל.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
'וראיתם אותו וזכרתם את כל מצות ה, you will be reminded that you are G’d’s servants whose commandments you have accepted reinforced by oaths known as אלה and שבועה. This reminder will be due to your looking at the “fringes” that may be viewed as if their king had placed a stamp on your bodies confirming that the wearer is one of his subjects.


###### Sforno on Numbers 15:39:2
[Sforno on Numbers 15:39:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/15:39:2)

**וְאַחֲרֵי עֵינֵיכֶם.** לְהַשִּׂיג תַּאֲווֹת שֶׁנְּתַתֶּם עֵינֵיכֶם בָּהֶן.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
This in turn will lead to your ceasing to follow the inclination of your hearts and eyes to indulge your diverse urges, originating in your bodies. Without these fringes as a constant reminder of your purpose on earth, you would be likely to fall prey to these urges inspired by the evil urge.


###### Sforno on Numbers 15:39:3
[Sforno on Numbers 15:39:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/15:39:3)

**אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם זֹנִים אַחֲרֵיהֶם.** מַטִּים נַפְשְׁכֶם הַשִּׂכְלִית בָּהֶן מִדַּרְכֵי חַיֵּי עוֹלָם לְדַרְכֵי אֲבַדּוֹן וָמָוֶת.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
This would eventually diminish the influence of your mind over your body to such an extent that it would lead to your premature death both in this world and in the hereafter.


###### Sforno on Numbers 15:40:1
[Sforno on Numbers 15:40:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/15:40:1)

**לְמַעַן תִּזְכְּרוּ.** לְמַעַן תִּהְיוּ פְּנוּיִים מִמַּחְשְׁבוֹת הַבְלֵיכֶם, וּבָזֶה תִּזְכְּרוּ מוֹפְתֵי הַתּוֹרָה אֲשֶׁר בָּם תַּכִּירוּ גֹּדֶל הָאֵל וְחַסְדּוֹ.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
למען תזכרו, so that you would be free from thoughts of vain matters; once you are no longer concerned with the pursuit of the transient material allusions n this life, you will be receptive to the marvelous ways of the Torah, through the study of which you will come to recognise the greatness of the Creator and His amazing love for His creatures.


###### Sforno on Numbers 15:40:2
[Sforno on Numbers 15:40:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/15:40:2)

**וַעֲשִׂיתֶם אֶת כָּל מִצְוֺתָי.** וּבָזֶה תַּעֲשׂוּ כָל מִצְוֹתַי מֵאַהֲבָה וּמִיִּרְאָה.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
ועשיתם את כל מצותיו, as a result you will perform all His commandments from both love and reverence for Him.


###### Sforno on Numbers 15:40:3
[Sforno on Numbers 15:40:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/15:40:3)

**וִהְיִיתֶם קְדוֹשִׁים לֵאלֹהֵיכֶם.** וּבָזֶה תִּהְיוּ קְדוֹשִׁים לְפָנָיו לְחַיֵּי עוֹלָם, כַּאֲשֶׁר כִּוֵּן הוּא בְּאָמְרוֹ (שמות יט:ו) ״וְאַתֶּם תִּהְיוּ לִי מַמְלֶכֶת כֹּהֲנִים וְגוֹי קָדוֹשׁ״.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
והייתם קדושים לאלוקיכם, as a corollary you will be holy unto your G’d, deserving eternal life as He had meant for you to qualify for when He had said in Exodus 19,6 that “you should become for Him a nation of priests and a holy people.”


###### Sforno on Numbers 15:41:1
[Sforno on Numbers 15:41:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/15:41:1)

**אֲנִי ה׳ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם וְכוּ׳.** אֲנִי ה׳ שֶׁמִּצַּד שֶׁאֲנִי אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, שֶׁאַתֶּם מַכִּירִים שֶׁאֲנִי הוּא אוֹתוֹ הַקַּדְמוֹן הָרָאוּי שֶׁתַּעַבְדוּהוּ וְאֵלָיו תִּתְפַּלְּלוּ.

**Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash:**
'אני ה' אלוקיכם אשר הוצאתי אתכם וגו...אני ה, the reason why I orchestrated your redemption from slavery in Egypt was so that I would be your exclusive G’d, that your existence and well being on earth should be based on a reciprocal relationship not requiring an intermediary. The parameters of this existence should be enduring, not subject to change throughout history. You will be like other parts of the universe which endure eternally


###### Sforno on Numbers 15:41:2
[Sforno on Numbers 15:41:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/15:41:2)

**הוֹצֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם.** כְּדֵי שֶׁתִּזְכּוּ שֶׁאֶהְיֶה לָכֶם לֵאלֹהִים, שֶׁתִּהְיֶה הַתְמָדַת מְצִיאוּתְכֶם מִמֶּנִּי בִּלְתִּי אֶמְצָעִי, שֶׁמְּצִיאוּת כָּזֶה לֹא יִשְׁתַּנֶּה וְלֹא יִפָּסֵד בְּשׁוּם אֹפֶן, כְּמוֹ שֶׁהוּא הָעִנְיָן בִּמְצִיאוּת שְׁאָר הַנִּצְחִיִּים.


###### Sforno on Numbers 15:41:3
[Sforno on Numbers 15:41:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Numbers/r/15:41:3)

**אֲנִי ה׳ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם.** אֲנִי עַתָּה לָזֶה הַתַּכְלִית בְּעַצְמוֹ צִוִּיתִי לָכֶם זֹאת הַמִּצְוָה, כְּדֵי שֶׁתִּזְכּוּ לָזֶה הַמְכֻוָּן, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר ״וִהְיִיתֶם קְדֹשִׁים לֵאלֹהֵיכֶם״ (במדבר טו:מ).