ARM YE MEN. The meaning of hechaletzu (arm ye men) is, gird your men of war.¹. 38 reads gird your loins. See Job 38:3 and Is. 5:27. The word hechaletzu can also be rendered as strip. Hence I.E.’s comment (Meijler).

footnotes: ¹ Gird a sword upon your men of war (Krinsky). Or, gird the loins of your men of war. Vat. Ebr

TO EXECUTE THE LORD’S VENGEANCE. The reference is to Israel’s vengeance². However, verse 3 states, to execute the Lord’s vengeance on Midian. Hence I.E.’s comment. because they were enticed³ into worshipping idols.

footnotes: ² Verse 2 says, Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites ³ By the Midianites. See Num. 25:6 and Num. 31:15,16.

SO WERE DELIVERED. Va-yimasseru means and they were delivered. The word li-mesor⁴ (to revolt so as to break faith). (to deliver) (v. 16) is close in meaning to it.

footnotes: ⁴ Translated literally. Verse 16 reads, li-mesor ma’al

WITH THE HOLY VESSELS. The ark.

AND THEY SLEW EVERY MALE. Adult males.⁵

footnotes: ⁵ The little ones were taken captive (v. 17). Hence I.E.’s comment.

AND ZUR. The father of Cozbi.⁶

footnotes: ⁶ See Num. 25:15.

BALAAM ALSO THE SON OF BEOR. Some say that after Balaam returned to his place,⁷ he went back to Midian as soon as he learned of the plague that struck Israel because of his advice. He came back to receive money from the elders of Midian.⁸. 106a.

footnotes: ⁷ Num. 24:25. ⁸ See San

AND ALL THEIR GOODS. The word chelam (their goods) is a general term. It refers to gold, silver, copper, iron, and garments.

AND ALL THEIR CITIES IN THE PLACES WHEREIN THEY DWELT. An all-inclusive term⁹ followed by a limiting term.¹⁰ (the places wherein they dwelt).

footnotes: ⁹ Their cities. ¹⁰ Their moshvotam

AND ALL THEIR ENCAMPMENTS. Tirotam (their encampments) means the palaces of the kings.¹¹ means their palaces.

footnotes: ¹¹ In other words, tirotam

AND THEY TOOK ALL THE SPOIL, AND ALL THE PREY. Malko’ach (prey) is a general term for men and cattle.

THE CAPTIVES. Shevi (captive) is a specific term. It refers to humans.

THE SPOIL. Shalal (spoil) refers to garments.

WITH THE OFFICERS OF THE HOST. The word pekudai (officers of) is related to the word yifkod (set) in Let the Lord…set (Num. 27 :16).¹² (the officers of the host) are those who are set over the host. It¹³. is similar to pekide he-chayil.¹⁴ Similarly, the word keru’e (the elect of) (Num. 1:16) means the same as keri’e (the elect of) (Num. 16:2).

footnotes: ¹² The pekudai he-chayil ¹³ Pekudai he-chayil ¹⁴ So Vat. Ebr. 38.

THE CAPTAINS OF THOUSANDS AND THE CAPTAINS OF HUNDREDS. They totaled one hundred and thirty-two.¹⁵

footnotes: ¹⁵ There were 12 captains of thousands and 120 captains of hundreds over the 12,000 Israelites who went to war.

HAVE YE SAVED ALL THE WOMEN ALIVE. The meaning of kol nekevah (all the women) is, even one woman.¹⁶ (all) sometimes means a part of. En kol (had nothing)¹⁷ does not always mean all things. (II Sam. 12:3)¹⁸ is similar. It is also possible that have ye saved all the women alive is to be taken literally, for they kept all the females alive. There are many such instances.¹⁹

footnotes: ¹⁶ In other words, the word kol ¹⁷ It does not mean did not have anything, for he had a lamb. We thus see that the word kol ¹⁸ The reference is to a poor person who had only a lamb. ¹⁹ Where a rhetorical question is raised.

THE LITTLE ONES. Taf (little ones) is a general term for male and female minors.

YE AND YOUR CAPTIVES.²⁰ Because of the glory which dwells among you.

footnotes: ²⁰ Shall encamp outside of the camp until you are purified.

AND ALL WORK OF GOATS’ HAIR.²¹. Literally, goats’ work. Hence I.E.’s comments. This is to be interpreted in accordance with my earlier explanation.²² (goats) is to be rendered as goats’ hair.” In other words, “goats’ work” means a garment made out of goats’ hair. Observe, the garment²³ is unclean because it touched a corpse. The meaning of our verse is, the garments shall be with you²⁴ (and as to every garment) is, and with you all garments. I.E. reads our verse as follows: And all garments taken in spoil…[shall be with you outside of the camp] until you are purified. I.E. interprets thus because titchate’u is in the hitpa’el. Words in the hitpa’el are reflexive. until you are purified.²⁵ (ye shall purify) as if written ad she-titchatu’e (until you are purified). On the other hand, titchate’u (ye shall purify) might be transitive.²⁶ means ye shall purify, i.e., the garments. Ve-hitavvitem²⁷. lakhem (and ye shall mark out) (Num. 34:10) is similar,²⁸. for gevul (line)²⁹ is the object.³⁰ (and ye shall mark out) is transitive.

footnotes: ²¹ Hebrew, ma’aseh izzim ²² See I.E. on Ex. 25:4 (Vol. 2, p. 534) “Izzim ²³ Mentioned in our verse. ²⁴ In other words, the meaning of ve-khol beged ²⁵ I.E. interprets titchate’u ²⁶ In other words, titchate’u ²⁷ It too is in the hitpa’el ²⁸ For it too is transitive even though it is in the hitpa’el ²⁹ Which follows “and ye shall mark out.” ³⁰ Hence ve-hitavvitem

AND ELEAZAR THE PRIEST SAID. For the law regarding the cow³¹ was given to Eleazar.³² Moses told the people in a general manner, ye shall purify (v. 20). However, Eleazar explained it to them.³³

footnotes: ³¹ The red heifer. ³² See Num. 19:3. ³³ In detail.

THE TIN. The meaning of the bedil (tin) is known.³⁴

footnotes: ³⁴ I.E. could not find a synonym for this word. Hence his comment.

NEVERTHELESS IT SHALL BE PURIFIED WITH THE WATER OF SPRINKLING.³⁵. It would have appeared to us that the reference is to the mixture of the water and tahe ashes of the cow,³⁶ as in because the water of sprinkling³⁷. was not dashed against him (Num. 19:13). However, our wise men of blessed memory say that its meaning is, in the amount of water in which a menstruant bathes.³⁸ 75b. Their mind is much greater than our minds.

footnotes: ³⁵ Hebrew, me niddah ³⁶ The red heifer. ³⁷ Hebrew, me-niddah ³⁸ The utensils are to be immersed in a pool of water which is fit for a menstruant to purify herself. See Avodah Zara

TAKE THE SUM. I have already explained the meaning of sa et rosh (take the sum).³⁹

footnotes: ³⁹ See I.E. on Ex. 30:12 (Vol. 2, p. 631). Also see I.E. on Gen. 40:13 (Vol. 1, p. 369).

OF THE PREY. Malko’ach (the prey) refers to the cattle.

THAT WAS TAKEN. Ha-shevi (that was taken) refers to humans. A vav is missing,⁴⁰ (the prey that was taken). I.E. says that this should be read as if written malko’ach ve-ha-shevi (the cattle and human captives). as in shemesh yare’ach (sun moon)⁴¹ (the sun and the moon). (Hab. 3:11).

footnotes: ⁴⁰ Our verse reads, malko’ach shevi ⁴¹ Translated literally. This is to be read as if written, shemesh ve-yare’ach

AND THE HEADS OF THE FATHERS’ HOUSES OF THE CONGREGATION. The reference is to the princes.⁴²

footnotes: ⁴² Of the tribes.

AND DIVIDE THE PREY. Malko’ach (prey) is a general term.⁴³

footnotes: ⁴³ For humans and cattle. See I.E.’s comment on verse 11.

ONE SOUL. Echad nefesh means the same as nefesh echad (one soul).⁴⁴ is the usual form. Hence I.E.’s comment.

footnotes: ⁴⁴ Nefesh echad

ONE DRAWN. Achuz (drawn) is similar to ve-ha’achuz achuz (and proportionally) (I Chron. 24:6).⁴⁵, slightly different from what I.E. quotes. As I have explained,⁴⁶ they are connected.⁴⁷ is to be interpreted as one word (Filwarg). Some interpret: verse 28 and 30 are connected to each other. See Weiser.

footnotes: ⁴⁵ The reading in I Chron. 24:6 is ve-achuz achuz ⁴⁶ It isn’t clear where. ⁴⁷ Ve-achuz achuz

EVEN OF ALL THE CATTLE. Camels.⁴⁸ seems to add something new. Since cattle, flock, asses are clearly mentioned in our verse, I.E. reasons that even of all the cattle refers to camels. Look, Eleazar did not take a portion from them.⁴⁹ Perhaps they were few. Hence neither the number which they brought nor the amount which the Levites took is mentioned.⁵⁰

footnotes: ⁴⁸ Even all the cattle ⁴⁹ The camels. ⁵⁰ In our verse.

OVER AND ABOVE THE BOOTY.⁵¹ Aside from what they consumed. Scripture therefore reads yeter (above).⁵² The Torah mentions the amount of spoil because it consisted of a vast number. We never heard of a similar amount of spoil.⁵³ Scripture also mentions the tribute,⁵⁴ for it too was very great. The word mekhes (tribute) (v. 37) comes from a double root.⁵⁵. It is vocalized like the word memer (bitterness)⁵⁶. in and bitterness to her that bore him (Prov. 17:25). Mekhes is related to the word takhossu (ye shall make your count) in ye shall make your count for the lamb (Ex. 12:4). The meaning of mekhes (tribute) is a portion.

footnotes: ⁵¹ Literally, the remnant of the booty. ⁵² Literally, the remnant of. See previous note. ⁵³ In Scripture. ⁵⁴ Given unto the Lord. See verses 37-41. ⁵⁵ Its root is kaf, samekh, samekh ⁵⁶ It is vocalized with two segols

[BOTH OF MAN AND OF BEAST.] Scripture states both of man and of beast. Man⁵⁷. It takes in males and females, adults and children. and beast⁵⁸. It takes in cattle, asses, and camels. are general terms.

footnotes: ⁵⁷ Hebrew, adam ⁵⁸ Hebrew, behemah

THE OFFICERS⁵⁹.. I have already explained this term.⁶⁰

footnotes: ⁵⁹ Hebrew, ha-pekudim ⁶⁰ See I.E.’s comment on verse 14.

THAT ARE UNDER OUR CHARGE. Asher be-yadenu⁶¹ means that they were in their⁶² charge. Compare, yadekh (in your hands) in And take with thee ten loaves⁶³ in your hands⁶⁴ (I Kings 14:3).⁶⁵

footnotes: ⁶¹ Literally, that are under our hand. ⁶² I.E. used the word their. However, it means our, as in the text. ⁶³ So the Bible. Our text reads ten men. ⁶⁴ Translated literally. ⁶⁵ Its meaning is, take ten loaves in your charge, for it is unlikely for someone to carry ten loaves of bread in his hands.

AND WE HAVE BROUGHT. In thought or by mouth.⁶⁶ (and we brought) is a perfect. Hence its meaning must be, we dedicated.

footnotes: ⁶⁶ The verb va-nakrev

ARMLETS. Etzadah (armlet) is an ornament placed on the arm. This is explicitly stated in Scripture.⁶⁷

footnotes: ⁶⁷ See II Sam. 1:10.

AND BRACELETS. A tzamid (bracelet) is an ornament placed on the wrist.⁶⁸

footnotes: ⁶⁸ See Gen. 24:22.

SIGNET-RINGS. Taba’at (signet ring) refers to an ornament placed on the finger.⁶⁹

footnotes: ⁶⁹ This is the accepted meaning of the word.

EAR-RINGS. Agil is an earring. This is clearly stated in Scripture.⁷⁰ This ornament is possibly so called because it is round (agul).

footnotes: ⁷⁰ See Ezek. 16:12.

GIRDLES. Kumaz (girdles) is similar to its neighboring objects.⁷¹ is a type of ornament.

footnotes: ⁷¹ According to I.E., kumaz

EVEN ALL THE WROUGHT JEWELS.⁷². I.E. renders this as articles fit for use. Scripture tells us that there was no broken object among them.

footnotes: ⁷² Hebrew, keli ma’aseh

FOR THE MEN OF WAR HAD TAKEN BOOTY, EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF. Scripture mentions this to inform us that each one of the men of war took a vast amount of gold and wrought articles.