Kedumah 160 (25600) 162

וַיַּרְא רֵאשִׁית לוֹ, כִּי-שָׁם חֶלְקַת מְחֹקֵק סָפוּן; וַיֵּתֵא, רָאשֵׁי עָם--צִדְקַת יְהוָה עָשָׂה, וּמִשְׁפָּטָיו עִם-יִשְׂרָאֵל

וּלְדָן אָמַר, דָּן גּוּר אַרְיֵה; יְזַנֵּק, מִן-הַבָּשָׁן. וּלְנַפְתָּלִי אָמַר--נַפְתָּלִי שְׂבַע רָצוֹן, וּמָלֵא בִּרְכַּת יְהוָה; יָם וְדָרוֹם, יְרָשָׁה

וּלְאָשֵׁר אָמַר, בָּרוּךְ מִבָּנִים אָשֵׁר; יְהִי רְצוּי אֶחָיו, וְטֹבֵל בַּשֶּׁמֶן רַגְלוֹ. בַּרְזֶל וּנְחֹשֶׁת, מִנְעָלֶךָ; וּכְיָמֶיךָ, דָּבְאֶךָ. אֵין כָּאֵל, יְשֻׁרוּן: רֹכֵב שָׁמַיִם בְּעֶזְרֶךָ, וּבְגַאֲוָתוֹ שְׁחָקִים. מְעֹנָה אֱלֹהֵי קֶדֶם, וּמִתַּחַת זְרֹעֹת עוֹלָם; וַיְגָרֶשׁ מִפָּנֶיךָ אוֹיֵב, וַיֹּאמֶר הַשְׁמֵד. וַיִּשְׁכֹּן יִשְׂרָאֵל בֶּטַח בָּדָד עֵין יַעֲקֹב, אֶל-אֶרֶץ דָּגָן וְתִירוֹשׁ; אַף-שָׁמָיו, יַעַרְפוּ טָל. אַשְׁרֶיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִי כָמוֹךָ, עַם נוֹשַׁע בַּיהוָה, מָגֵן עֶזְרֶךָ, וַאֲשֶׁר-חֶרֶב גַּאֲוָתֶךָ; וְיִכָּחֲשׁוּ אֹיְבֶיךָ לָךְ, וְאַתָּה עַל-בָּמוֹתֵימוֹ תִדְרֹךְ

וַיַּעַל מֹשֶׁה מֵעַרְבֹת מוֹאָב, אֶל-הַר נְבוֹ, רֹאשׁ הַפִּסְגָּה, אֲשֶׁר עַל-פְּנֵי יְרֵחוֹ; וַיַּרְאֵהוּ יְהוָה אֶת-כָּל-הָאָרֶץ אֶת-הַגִּלְעָד, עַד-דָּן. וְאֵת, כָּל-נַפְתָּלִי, וְאֶת-אֶרֶץ אֶפְרַיִם, וּמְנַשֶּׁה; וְאֵת כָּל-אֶרֶץ יְהוּדָה, עַד הַיָּם הָאַחֲרוֹן. וְאֶת-הַנֶּגֶב, וְאֶת-הַכִּכָּר בִּקְעַת יְרֵחוֹ עִיר הַתְּמָרִים--עַד-צֹעַר. וַיָּמָת שָׁם מֹשֶׁה עֶבֶד-יְהוָה, בְּאֶרֶץ מוֹאָב--עַל-פִּי יְהוָה. וַיִּקְבֹּר אֹתוֹ בַגַּי בְּאֶרֶץ מוֹאָב, מוּל בֵּית פְּעוֹר; וְלֹא-יָדַע אִישׁ אֶת-קְבֻרָתוֹ, עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה. וּמֹשֶׁה, בֶּן-מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה--בְּמֹתוֹ; לֹא-כָהֲתָה עֵינוֹ, וְלֹא-נָס לֵחֹה

He chose the first portion for himself, for that is where the lawgiver's plot is hidden; he came at the head of the nation, carrying out Hashem's justice and His ordinances with Israel.
Of Dan he said - Dan is a lion cub, leaping forth from the Bashan. Of Naphtali he said - Naphtali, satiated with favor, and filled with Hashem's blessing; go possess the sea and its south shore.
Of Asher he said - The most blessed of children is Asher; he shall be pleasing to his brothers, and dip his feet in oil. May your borders be sealed like iron and copper, and like the days of your prime, so may your old age be. There is none like God, O Jeshurun; He rides across heaven to help you, and in His majesty through the upper heights. That is the abode of God immemorial, and below are the world's mighty ones; He drove the enemy away from before you, and He said, "Destroy!" Thus Israel shall dwell secure, solitary, in the likeness of Jacob, in a land of grain and wine; even his heavens shall drip with dew. Fortunate are you, O Israel - Who is like you! O people delivered by Hashem, the Shield of your help, Who is the Sword of your grandeur; your foes will try to deceive you, but you will trample their haughty ones.
Moses ascended from the plains of Moab, to Mount Nebo, to the summit of the cliff that faces Jericho, and Hashem showed him the entire Land - the Gilead as far as Dan; all of Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh; the entire land of Judah as far as the western sea; the Negev and the Plain — the valley of Jericho, city of date palms — as far as Zoar. So Moses, servant of Hashem, died there, in the land of Moab, by the mouth of Hashem. He buried him in the depression, in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor, and no one knows his burial place to this day. Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died; his eye had not dimmed, and his vigor had not diminished.

- תם הבלוג -

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Kedumah 159 (25438) 158

וְזֹאת לִיהוּדָה, וַיֹּאמַר, שְׁמַע יְהוָה קוֹל יְהוּדָה, וְאֶל-עַמּוֹ תְּבִיאֶנּוּ; יָדָיו רָב לוֹ, וְעֵזֶר מִצָּרָיו תִּהְיֶה

וּלְלֵוִי אָמַר, תֻּמֶּיךָ וְאוּרֶיךָ לְאִישׁ חֲסִידֶךָ, אֲשֶׁר נִסִּיתוֹ בְּמַסָּה, תְּרִיבֵהוּ עַל-מֵי מְרִיבָה. הָאֹמֵר לְאָבִיו וּלְאִמּוֹ, לֹא רְאִיתִיו, וְאֶת-אֶחָיו לֹא הִכִּיר, וְאֶת-בָּנָו לֹא יָדָע: כִּי שָׁמְרוּ אִמְרָתֶךָ, וּבְרִיתְךָ יִנְצֹרוּ. יוֹרוּ מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ לְיַעֲקֹב, וְתוֹרָתְךָ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל; יָשִׂימוּ קְטוֹרָה בְּאַפֶּךָ, וְכָלִיל עַל-מִזְבְּחֶךָ. בָּרֵךְ יְהוָה חֵילוֹ, וּפֹעַל יָדָיו תִּרְצֶה; מְחַץ מָתְנַיִם קָמָיו וּמְשַׂנְאָיו, מִן-יְקוּמוּן

לְבִנְיָמִן אָמַר--יְדִיד יְהוָה, יִשְׁכֹּן לָבֶטַח; עָלִי חֹפֵף עָלָיו כָּל-הַיּוֹם, וּבֵין כְּתֵפָיו שָׁכֵן

וּלְיוֹסֵף אָמַר, מְבֹרֶכֶת יְהוָה אַרְצוֹ, מִמֶּגֶד שָׁמַיִם מִטָּל, וּמִתְּהוֹם רֹבֶצֶת תָּחַת. וּמִמֶּגֶד, תְּבוּאֹת שָׁמֶשׁ; וּמִמֶּגֶד, גֶּרֶשׁ יְרָחִים. וּמֵרֹאשׁ, הַרְרֵי-קֶדֶם; וּמִמֶּגֶד, גִּבְעוֹת עוֹלָם. וּמִמֶּגֶד, אֶרֶץ וּמְלֹאָהּ, וּרְצוֹן שֹׁכְנִי, סְנֶה; תָּבוֹאתָה לְרֹאשׁ יוֹסֵף, וּלְקָדְקֹד נְזִיר אֶחָיו. בְּכוֹר שׁוֹרוֹ הָדָר לוֹ, וְקַרְנֵי רְאֵם קַרְנָיו--בָּהֶם עַמִּים יְנַגַּח יַחְדָּו, אַפְסֵי-אָרֶץ; וְהֵם רִבְבוֹת אֶפְרַיִם, וְהֵם אַלְפֵי מְנַשֶּׁה

וְלִזְבוּלֻן אָמַר, שְׂמַח זְבוּלֻן בְּצֵאתֶךָ; וְיִשָּׂשכָר, בְּאֹהָלֶיךָ. עַמִּים, הַר-יִקְרָאוּ--שָׁם, יִזְבְּחוּ זִבְחֵי-צֶדֶק: כִּי שֶׁפַע יַמִּים יִינָקוּ, וּשְׂפֻנֵי טְמוּנֵי חוֹל

וּלְגָד אָמַר, בָּרוּךְ מַרְחִיב גָּד: כְּלָבִיא שָׁכֵן, וְטָרַף זְרוֹעַ אַף-קָדְקֹד

And this to Judah, and he said - Hearken, O Hashem, to Judah's voice, and return him to his people; may his hands fight his grievance and may You be a Helper against his enemies.

Of Levi he said - Your Tumim and Your Urim befit Your devout one, whom You tested at Massah, and whom You challenged at the waters of Meribah. The one who said of his father and mother, "I have not favored him"; his brothers he did not give recognition and his children he did not know; for they [the Levites] have observed Your word and Your covenant they preserved. They shall teach Your ordinances to Jacob and Your Torah to Israel; they shall place incense before Your presence, and burnt offerings on Your Altar. Bless, O Hashem, his resources, and favor the work of his hands; smash the loins of his foes and his enemies, that they may not rise.
Of Benjamin he said - May Hashem's beloved dwell securely; The Highest hovers over him all day long; and rests between his shoulders.
Of Joseph he said - Blessed by Hashem is his land — with the heavenly bounty of dew, and with the deep waters crouching below; with the bounty of the sun's crops, and with the bounty of the moon's yield; with the quick-ripening crops of the early mountains, and with the bounty of eternal hills; with the bounty of the land and its fullness, and by the favor of Him Who rested upon the thornbush; may this blessing rest upon Joseph's head, and upon the crown of him who was separated from his brothers. A sovereignty is his ox-like one — majesty is his, and his glory will be like the horns of a re'eim; with them shall he gore nations together, to the ends of the Land; they are the myriads of Ephraim, and the thousands of Manasseh.
Of Zebulun he said - Rejoice, O Zebulun, in your excursions, and Issachar in your tents. The tribes will assemble at the mount, there they will slaughter offerings of righteousness, for by the riches of the sea they will be nourished, and by the treasures concealed in the sand.
Of Gad he said - Blessed is He Who broadens Gad; he dwells like a lion, tearing off arm and even head.

Kedumah 158 (25280) 169

רְאוּ עַתָּה, כִּי אֲנִי אֲנִי הוּא

וְאֵין אֱלֹהִים, עִמָּדִי

אֲנִי אָמִית וַאֲחַיֶּה

מָחַצְתִּי וַאֲנִי אֶרְפָּא

וְאֵין מִיָּדִי, מַצִּיל

כִּי-אֶשָּׂא אֶל-שָׁמַיִם, יָדִי

וְאָמַרְתִּי, חַי אָנֹכִי לְעֹלָם

אִם-שַׁנּוֹתִי בְּרַק חַרְבִּי

וְתֹאחֵז בְּמִשְׁפָּט יָדִי

אָשִׁיב נָקָם לְצָרָי

וְלִמְשַׂנְאַי אֲשַׁלֵּם

אַשְׁכִּיר חִצַּי מִדָּם

וְחַרְבִּי תֹּאכַל בָּשָׂר

מִדַּם חָלָל וְשִׁבְיָה

מֵרֹאשׁ פַּרְעוֹת אוֹיֵב

הַרְנִינוּ גוֹיִם עַמּוֹ

כִּי דַם-עֲבָדָיו יִקּוֹם

וְנָקָם יָשִׁיב לְצָרָיו

וְכִפֶּר אַדְמָתוֹ עַמּוֹ

וַיָּבֹא מֹשֶׁה, וַיְדַבֵּר אֶת-כָּל-דִּבְרֵי הַשִּׁירָה-הַזֹּאת--בְּאָזְנֵי הָעָם: הוּא, וְהוֹשֵׁעַ בִּן-נוּן. וַיְכַל מֹשֶׁה, לְדַבֵּר אֶת-כָּל-הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה--אֶל-כָּל-יִשְׂרָאֵל. וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם, שִׂימוּ לְבַבְכֶם, לְכָל-הַדְּבָרִים, אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מֵעִיד בָּכֶם הַיּוֹם: אֲשֶׁר תְּצַוֻּם, אֶת-בְּנֵיכֶם, לִשְׁמֹר לַעֲשׂוֹת, אֶת-כָּל-דִּבְרֵי הַתּוֹרָה הַזֹּאת. כִּי לֹא-דָבָר רֵק הוּא, מִכֶּם--כִּי-הוּא, חַיֵּיכֶם; וּבַדָּבָר הַזֶּה, תַּאֲרִיכוּ יָמִים עַל-הָאֲדָמָה, אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם עֹבְרִים אֶת-הַיַּרְדֵּן שָׁמָּה, לְרִשְׁתָּהּ

וְזֹאת הַבְּרָכָה, אֲשֶׁר בֵּרַךְ מֹשֶׁה אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים--אֶת-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל: לִפְנֵי, מוֹתוֹ. וַיֹּאמַר, יְהוָה מִסִּינַי בָּא וְזָרַח מִשֵּׂעִיר לָמוֹ--הוֹפִיעַ מֵהַר פָּארָן, וְאָתָה מֵרִבְבֹת קֹדֶשׁ; מִימִינוֹ, אֵשׁדָּת לָמוֹ. אַף חֹבֵב עַמִּים, כָּל-קְדֹשָׁיו בְּיָדֶךָ; וְהֵם תֻּכּוּ לְרַגְלֶךָ, יִשָּׂא מִדַּבְּרֹתֶיךָ. תּוֹרָה צִוָּה-לָנוּ, מֹשֶׁה: מוֹרָשָׁה, קְהִלַּת יַעֲקֹב. וַיְהִי בִישֻׁרוּן, מֶלֶךְ, בְּהִתְאַסֵּף רָאשֵׁי עָם, יַחַד שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. יְחִי רְאוּבֵן, וְאַל-יָמֹת; וִיהִי מְתָיו, מִסְפָּר

See, now, that I, I am He — and no god is with Me.
I put to death and I bring life, I struck down and I will heal,
and there is no rescuer from My hand.

For I shall raise My hand to heaven and say, 'As I live forever,

if I sharpen My flashing sword and My hand grasps judgment,
I shall return vengeance upon My enemies
and upon those that hate Me shall I bring retribution.

I shall intoxicate My arrows with blood and My sword shall devour flesh,
because of the blood of corpse and captive,
because of the earliest depredations of the enemy.' "

O nations — sing the praises of His people,
for He will avenge the blood of His servants;
He will bring retribution upon His foes,
and He will appease His Land and His people.

Moses came and spoke all the words of this Song in the ears of the people, he and Hoshea son of Nun. Moses concluded speaking all these words to all Israel. He said to them, "Apply your hearts to all the words that I testify against you today, with which you are to instruct your children, to be careful to perform all the words of this Torah. for it is not an empty thing for you, for it is your life, and through this matter shall you prolong your days on the Land to which you cross the Jordan, to possess it."

And this is the blessing that Moses, the man of God, bestowed upon the Children of Israel before his death. He said - Hashem came from Sinai — having shone forth to them from Seir, having appeared from Mount Paran, and then approached with some of the holy myriads — from His right hand He presented the fiery Torah to them. Indeed, You loved the tribes greatly, all its holy ones were in Your hands; for they planted themselves at Your feet, bearing [the yoke] of Your utterances; "The Torah that Moses commanded us is the heritage of the Congregation of Jacob.". He became King over Jeshurun when the numbers of the nation gathered — the tribes of Israel in unity. May Reuben live and not die, and may his population be included in the count.

Kedumah 157 (25111) 150

כִּי-אֵשׁ קָדְחָה בְאַפִּי

וַתִּיקַד עַד-שְׁאוֹל תַּחְתִּית

וַתֹּאכַל אֶרֶץ וִיבֻלָהּ

וַתְּלַהֵט מוֹסְדֵי הָרִים

אַסְפֶּה עָלֵימוֹ, רָעוֹת

חִצַּי, אֲכַלֶּה-בָּם

מְזֵי רָעָב וּלְחֻמֵי רֶשֶׁף

וְקֶטֶב מְרִירִי

וְשֶׁן-בְּהֵמֹת, אֲשַׁלַּח-בָּם

עִם-חֲמַת, זֹחֲלֵי עָפָר

מִחוּץ, תְּשַׁכֶּל-חֶרֶב, וּמֵחֲדָרִים, אֵימָה; גַּם-בָּחוּר

גַּם-בְּתוּלָה--יוֹנֵק, עִם-אִישׁ שֵׂיבָה

אָמַרְתִּי, אַפְאֵיהֶם

אַשְׁבִּיתָה מֵאֱנוֹשׁ, זִכְרָם

לוּלֵי, כַּעַס אוֹיֵב אָגוּר

פֶּן-יְנַכְּרוּ, צָרֵימוֹ

פֶּן-יֹאמְרוּ יָדֵנוּ רָמָה

וְלֹא יְהוָה פָּעַל כָּל-זֹאת

כִּי-גוֹי אֹבַד עֵצוֹת, הֵמָּה

וְאֵין בָּהֶם, תְּבוּנָה

לוּ חָכְמוּ, יַשְׂכִּילוּ זֹאת

יָבִינוּ, לְאַחֲרִיתָם

אֵיכָה יִרְדֹּף אֶחָד, אֶלֶף

וּשְׁנַיִם, יָנִיסוּ רְבָבָה

אִם-לֹא כִּי-צוּרָם מְכָרָם

וַיהוָה הִסְגִּירָם

כִּי לֹא כְצוּרֵנוּ, צוּרָם

וְאֹיְבֵינוּ, פְּלִילִים

כִּי-מִגֶּפֶן סְדֹם גַּפְנָם

וּמִשַּׁדְמֹת עֲמֹרָה

עֲנָבֵמוֹ, עִנְּבֵי-רוֹשׁ

אַשְׁכְּלֹת מְרֹרֹת, לָמוֹ

חֲמַת תַּנִּינִם, יֵינָם

וְרֹאשׁ פְּתָנִים, אַכְזָר

הֲלֹא-הוּא, כָּמֻס עִמָּדִי

חָתוּם, בְּאוֹצְרֹתָי

לִי נָקָם וְשִׁלֵּם

לְעֵת תָּמוּט רַגְלָם

כִּי קָרוֹב יוֹם אֵידָם

וְחָשׁ עֲתִדֹת לָמוֹ

כִּי-יָדִין יְהוָה עַמּוֹ

וְעַל-עֲבָדָיו יִתְנֶחָם

כִּי יִרְאֶה כִּי-אָזְלַת יָד

וְאֶפֶס עָצוּר וְעָזוּב

וְאָמַר, אֵי אֱלֹהֵימוֹ

צוּר, חָסָיוּ בוֹ

אֲשֶׁר חֵלֶב זְבָחֵימוֹ יֹאכֵלוּ

יִשְׁתּוּ יֵין נְסִיכָם

יָקוּמוּ, וְיַעְזְרֻכֶם

יְהִי עֲלֵיכֶם, סִתְרָה

For fire will have been kindled in My nostrils and blaze to the lowest depths. It shall consume the earth and its produce, and set ablaze what is founded on mountains.

I shall accumulate evils against them, My arrows shall I use up against them;

bloating of famine, battles of flaming demons,
cutting down by the noontime demon,
and the teeth of beasts shall I dispatch against them,
with the venom of those that creep on the earth.

On the outside, the sword will bereave, while indoors there will be dread — even a young man, even a virgin, a suckling with the gray-haired man.

I had said, 'I will scatter them,
I will cause their memory to cease from man' —

were it not that the anger of the enemy was pent up,
lest the tormenter misinterpret;
lest they say, 'Our hand was raised in triumph,
and it was not Hashem Who accomplished all this!'

For they are a nation bereft of counsel, and there is no discernment in them.

Were they wise they would comprehend this,
they would discern it from their end.

For how could one pursue a thousand, and two cause a myriad to flee,
if not that their Rock had sold them out, and Hashem had delivered them?

— for not like our Rock is their rock — yet our enemies judge us.

For their vineyard is from the vineyard of Sodom,
and from the fields of Gomorrah;
their grapes are grapes of gall, so clusters of bitterness were given them.

Serpents' venom is their wine, the poison of cruel vipers.

Is it not revealed with Me, sealed in My treasuries?

Mine is vengeance and retribution at the time when their foot will falter,
for the day of their catastrophe is near, and future events are rushing at them."

When Hashem will have judged His people,
He shall relent regarding His servants,
when He sees that enemy power progresses, and none is saved or assisted.

He will say, "Where is their god, the rock in whom they sought refuge,

the fat of whose offerings they would eat,
they would drink the wine of their libations?
Let them stand and help you! Let them be a shelter for you.

Kedumah 156 (24961) 164

הַ לְיְהוָה, תִּגְמְלוּ-זֹאת

עַם נָבָל, וְלֹא חָכָם

הֲלוֹא-הוּא אָבִיךָ קָּנֶךָ

הוּא עָשְׂךָ וַיְכֹנְנֶךָ

זְכֹר יְמוֹת עוֹלָם, בִּינוּ שְׁנוֹת דֹּר-וָדֹר

שְׁאַל אָבִיךָ וְיַגֵּדְךָ, זְקֵנֶיךָ וְיֹאמְרוּ לָךְ

בְּהַנְחֵל עֶלְיוֹן גּוֹיִם

בְּהַפְרִידוֹ בְּנֵי אָדָם

יַצֵּב גְּבֻלֹת עַמִּים

לְמִסְפַּר בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל

כִּי חֵלֶק יְהוָה, עַמּוֹ

יַעֲקֹב, חֶבֶל נַחֲלָתוֹ

יִמְצָאֵהוּ בְּאֶרֶץ מִדְבָּר

וּבְתֹהוּ יְלֵל יְשִׁמֹן

יְסֹבְבֶנְהוּ, יְבוֹנְנֵהוּ

יִצְּרֶנְהוּ, כְּאִישׁוֹן עֵינוֹ

כְּנֶשֶׁר יָעִיר קִנּוֹ, עַל-גּוֹזָלָיו יְרַחֵף

יִפְרֹשׂ כְּנָפָיו יִקָּחֵהוּ, יִשָּׂאֵהוּ עַל-אֶבְרָתוֹ

יְהוָה, בָּדָד יַנְחֶנּוּ

וְאֵין עִמּוֹ, אֵל נֵכָר

יַרְכִּבֵהוּ עַל-בָּמֳותֵי אָרֶץ

וַיֹּאכַל תְּנוּבֹת שָׂדָי

וַיֵּנִקֵהוּ דְבַשׁ מִסֶּלַע

וְשֶׁמֶן מֵחַלְמִישׁ צוּר

חֶמְאַת בָּקָר וַחֲלֵב צֹאן

עִם-חֵלֶב כָּרִים וְאֵילִים

בְּנֵי-בָשָׁן וְעַתּוּדִים

עִם-חֵלֶב, כִּלְיוֹת חִטָּה

וְדַם-עֵנָב, תִּשְׁתֶּה-חָמֶר

וַיִּשְׁמַן יְשֻׁרוּן וַיִּבְעָט

שָׁמַנְתָּ עָבִיתָ כָּשִׂיתָ

וַיִּטֹּשׁ אֱלוֹהַּ עָשָׂהוּ

וַיְנַבֵּל צוּר יְשֻׁעָתוֹ

יַקְנִאֻהוּ, בְּזָרִים

בְּתוֹעֵבֹת, יַכְעִיסֻהוּ

יִזְבְּחוּ, לַשֵּׁדִים לֹא אֱלֹהַּ

אֱלֹהִים, לֹא יְדָעוּם

חֲדָשִׁים מִקָּרֹב בָּאוּ

לֹא שְׂעָרוּם אֲבֹתֵיכֶם

צוּר יְלָדְךָ, תֶּשִׁי

וַתִּשְׁכַּח, אֵל מְחֹלְלֶךָ

וַיַּרְא יְהוָה, וַיִּנְאָץ

מִכַּעַס בָּנָיו, וּבְנֹתָיו

וַיֹּאמֶר, אַסְתִּירָה פָנַי מֵהֶם

אֶרְאֶה, מָה אַחֲרִיתָם

כִּי דוֹר תַּהְפֻּכֹת הֵמָּה

בָּנִים לֹא-אֵמֻן בָּם

הֵם קִנְאוּנִי בְלֹא-אֵל

כִּעֲסוּנִי בְּהַבְלֵיהֶם

וַאֲנִי אַקְנִיאֵם בְּלֹא-עָם

בְּגוֹי נָבָל אַכְעִיסֵם

Is it to Hashem that you do this, O vile and unwise people?
Is He not your Father, your Master? Has He not created you and firmed you?

Remember the days of yore,
understand the years of generation after generation.
Ask your father and he will relate it to you, and your elders and they will tell you.

When the Supreme One gave the nations their inheritance,
when He separated the children of man,
He set the borders of the peoples
according to the number of the Children of Israel.

For Hashem's portion is His people; Jacob is the measure of His inheritance.

He discovered him in a desert land, in desolation, a howling wilderness; He encircled him, He granted him discernment, He preserved him like the pupil of His eye.

He was like an eagle arousing its nest, hovering over its young,
spreading its wings and taking them, carrying them on its pinions.

Hashem alone guided them, and no other power was with them.

He would make him ride on the heights of the Land
and have him eat the ripe fruits of the fields;
He would suckle him with honey from a stone, and oil from a flinty rock;

Butter of cattle and milk of sheep with fat of lambs,
rams born in Bashan and he-goats, with wheat as fat as kidneys;
and you would drink blood of grapes like delicious wine.

Jeshurun became fat and kicked.
You became fat, you became thick, you became corpulent —
and it deserted God its Maker,
and was contemptuous of the Rock of its salvation.

They would provoke His jealousy with strangers;
they would anger Him with abominations.

They would slaughter to demons without power, gods whom they knew not, newcomers recently arrived, whom your ancestors did not dread.

You ignored the Rock Who gave birth to you,
and forgot God Who brought you forth.

Hashem will see and be provoked by the anger of His sons and daughters,

and He will say,
"I shall hide My face from them and see what their end will be —
for they are a generation of reversals,
children whose upbringing is not in them.

They provoked Me with a non-god, angered Me with their vanities;
so shall I provoke them with a non-people,
with a vile nation shall I anger them.

Kedumah 155 (24797) 142

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה, הֵן קָרְבוּ יָמֶיךָ לָמוּת--קְרָא אֶת-יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וְהִתְיַצְּבוּ בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, וַאֲצַוֶּנּוּ; וַיֵּלֶךְ מֹשֶׁה וִיהוֹשֻׁעַ, וַיִּתְיַצְּבוּ בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד. וַיֵּרָא יְהוָה בָּאֹהֶל, בְּעַמּוּד עָנָן; וַיַּעֲמֹד עַמּוּד הֶעָנָן, עַל-פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל. וַיְצַו אֶת-יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּן-נוּן, וַיֹּאמֶר חֲזַק וֶאֱמָץ--כִּי אַתָּה תָּבִיא אֶת-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֶל-הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר-נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי לָהֶם; וְאָנֹכִי, אֶהְיֶה עִמָּךְ

זָכוֹר, אֵת אֲשֶׁר-עָשָׂה לְךָ עֲמָלֵק, בַּדֶּרֶךְ, בְּצֵאתְכֶם מִמִּצְרָיִם. אֲשֶׁר קָרְךָ בַּדֶּרֶךְ, וַיְזַנֵּב בְּךָ כָּל-הַנֶּחֱשָׁלִים אַחֲרֶיךָ--וְאַתָּה, עָיֵף וְיָגֵעַ; וְלֹא יָרֵא, אֱלֹהִים. וְהָיָה בְּהָנִיחַ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לְךָ מִכָּל-אֹיְבֶיךָ מִסָּבִיב, בָּאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר יְהוָה-אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לְךָ נַחֲלָה לְרִשְׁתָּהּ--תִּמְחֶה אֶת-זֵכֶר עֲמָלֵק, מִתַּחַת הַשָּׁמָיִם; לֹא, תִּשְׁכָּח

וַיְדַבֵּר מֹשֶׁה, בְּאָזְנֵי כָּל-קְהַל יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֶת-דִּבְרֵי הַשִּׁירָה, הַזֹּאת--עַד, תֻּמָּם

הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם, וַאֲדַבֵּרָה

וְתִשְׁמַע הָאָרֶץ, אִמְרֵי-פִי

יַעֲרֹף כַּמָּטָר לִקְחִי

תִּזַּל כַּטַּל אִמְרָתִי

כִּשְׂעִירִם עֲלֵי-דֶשֶׁא

וְכִרְבִיבִים עֲלֵי-עֵשֶׂב

כִּי שֵׁם יְהוָה, אֶקְרָא

הָבוּ גֹדֶל, לֵאלֹהֵינוּ

הַצּוּר תָּמִים פָּעֳלוֹ

כִּי כָל-דְּרָכָיו מִשְׁפָּט

אֵל אֱמוּנָה וְאֵין עָוֶל

צַדִּיק וְיָשָׁר הוּא

שִׁחֵת לוֹ לֹא, בָּנָיו מוּמָם

דּוֹר עִקֵּשׁ, וּפְתַלְתֹּל

Hashem spoke to Moses, "Behold, your days are drawing near to die; summon Joshua, and both of you shall stand in the Tent of Meeting, and I shall instruct him." So Moses and Joshua went and stood in the Tent of Meeting. Hashem appeared in the Tent, in a pillar of cloud, and the pillar of cloud stood by the entrance of the Tent. He commanded Joshua son of Nun, and said, "Be strong and courageous, for you shall bring the Children of Israel to the Land that I have sworn to them, and I shall be with you."
Remember what Amalek did to you, on the way when you were leaving Egypt; that he happened upon you on the way, and he struck those of you who were hindmost, all the weaklings at your rear, when you were faint and exhausted, and he did not fear God. It shall be that when Hashem, your God, gives you rest from all your enemies all around, in the Land that Hashem, your God, gives you as an inheritance to possess it, you shall wipe out the memory of Amalek from under the heaven — you shall not forget!

Moses spoke the words of this song into the ears of the entire congregation of Israel, until their conclusion.

Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak;
and may the earth hear the words of my mouth.

May my teaching drop like the rain, may my utterance flow like the dew;

like storm winds upon vegetation and like raindrops upon blades of grass.

When I call out the Name of Hashem, ascribe greatness to our God.

The Rock! — perfect is His work, for all His paths are justice;

a God of faith without iniquity, righteous and fair is He.

Corruption is not His — the blemish is His children's,
a perverse and twisted generation.

Kedumah 154 (24662) 155

וַיִּסְעוּ, מִקְּהֵלָתָה; וַיַּחֲנוּ, בְּהַר-שָׁפֶר. וַיִּסְעוּ, מֵהַר-שָׁפֶר; וַיַּחֲנוּ, בַּחֲרָדָה. וַיִּסְעוּ, מֵחֲרָדָה; וַיַּחֲנוּ, בְּמַקְהֵלֹת. וַיִּסְעוּ, מִמַּקְהֵלֹת; וַיַּחֲנוּ, בְּתָחַת. וַיִּסְעוּ, מִתָּחַת; וַיַּחֲנוּ, בְּתָרַח. וַיִּסְעוּ, מִתָּרַח; וַיַּחֲנוּ, בְּמִתְקָה. וַיִּסְעוּ, מִמִּתְקָה; וַיַּחֲנוּ, בְּחַשְׁמֹנָה. וַיִּסְעוּ, מֵחַשְׁמֹנָה; וַיַּחֲנוּ, בְּמֹסֵרוֹת. וַיִּסְעוּ, מִמֹּסֵרוֹת; וַיַּחֲנוּ, בִּבְנֵי יַעֲקָן. וַיִּסְעוּ, מִבְּנֵי יַעֲקָן; וַיַּחֲנוּ, בְּחֹר הַגִּדְגָּד. וַיִּסְעוּ, מֵחֹר הַגִּדְגָּד; וַיַּחֲנוּ, בְּיָטְבָתָה. וַיִּסְעוּ, מִיָּטְבָתָה; וַיַּחֲנוּ, בְּעַבְרֹנָה. וַיִּסְעוּ, מֵעַבְרֹנָה; וַיַּחֲנוּ, בְּעֶצְיֹן גָּבֶר. וַיִּסְעוּ, מֵעֶצְיֹן גָּבֶר; וַיַּחֲנוּ *בְקָדֵשׁ. וַיִּסְעוּ, מִקָּדֵשׁ; וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּהֹר הָהָר, בִּקְצֵה אֶרֶץ אֱדוֹם. וַיַּעַל אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֵן אֶל-הֹר הָהָר, עַל-פִּי יְהוָה--וַיָּמָת שָׁם: * וְאַהֲרֹן, בֶּן-שָׁלֹשׁ וְעֶשְׂרִים וּמְאַת שָׁנָה, בְּמֹתוֹ, בְּהֹר הָהָר

וַיִּשְׁמַע, הַכְּנַעֲנִי מֶלֶךְ עֲרָד, וְהוּא-יֹשֵׁב בַּנֶּגֶב, בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן--בְּבֹא, בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. וַיִּסְעוּ, מֵהֹר הָהָר; וַיַּחֲנוּ, בְּצַלְמֹנָה. וַיִּסְעוּ, מִצַּלְמֹנָה; וַיַּחֲנוּ, בְּפוּנֹן. וַיִּסְעוּ, מִפּוּנֹן; וַיַּחֲנוּ, בְּאֹבֹת. וַיִּסְעוּ, מֵאֹבֹת; וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּעִיֵּי הָעֲבָרִים, בִּגְבוּל מוֹאָב. וַיִּסְעוּ, מֵעִיִּים; וַיַּחֲנוּ, בְּדִיבֹן גָּד. וַיִּסְעוּ, מִדִּיבֹן גָּד; וַיַּחֲנוּ, בְּעַלְמֹן דִּבְלָתָיְמָה. וַיִּסְעוּ, מֵעַלְמֹן דִּבְלָתָיְמָה; וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּהָרֵי הָעֲבָרִים, לִפְנֵי נְבוֹ. וַיִּסְעוּ, מֵהָרֵי הָעֲבָרִים; וַיַּחֲנוּ בְּעַרְבֹת מוֹאָב, עַל יַרְדֵּן יְרֵחוֹ. וַיַּחֲנוּ עַל-הַיַּרְדֵּן מִבֵּית הַיְשִׁמֹת, עַד אָבֵל הַשִּׁטִּים, בְּעַרְבֹת, מוֹאָב

They journeyed from Kehelathah and encamped in Mount Shepher. They journeyed from Mount Shepher and encamped in Haradah. They journeyed from Haradah and encamped in Makheloth. They journeyed from Makheloth and encamped in Tahath. They journeyed from Tahath and encamped in Terah. They journeyed from Terah and encamped in Mithkah. They journeyed from Mithkah and encamped in Hashmonah. They journeyed from Hashmonah and encamped in Moseroth. They journeyed from Moseroth and encamped in Benejaakan. They journeyed from Bene-jaakan and encamped in Hor-haggidgad. They journeyed from Hor-haggidgad and encamped in Jotbathah. They journeyed from Jotbathah and encamped in Abronah. They journeyed from Abronah and encamped in Ezion-geber. They journeyed from Ezion-geber and encamped in Kadesh. They journeyed from Kadesh and encamped in Mount Hor, at the edge of the land of Edom. Then Aaron the Kohen went up to Mount Hor at the word of Hashem and died there. Aaron was one hundred and twenty-three years old at his death on Mount Hor.
The Canaanite king of Arad heard — he was dwelling in the south of the land of Canaan — of the approach of the Children of Israel. They journeyed from Mount Hor and encamped in Zalmonah. They journeyed from Zalmonah and encamped in Punon. They journeyed from Punon and encamped in Oboth. They journeyed from Oboth and encamped in the ruins of the passes, at the border of Moab. They journeyed from the ruins and encamped in Dibon-gad. They journeyed from Dibon-gad and encamped in Almon-diblathaimah. They journeyed from Almon-diblathaimah and encamped in the mountains of the passes before Nebo. They journeyed from the mountains of the passes and encamped in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, at Jericho. They encamped by the Jordan, from Beth-jeshimoth until the plains of Shittim, in the plains of Moab.

Kedumah 153 (24407) 152

אֵלֶּה מַסְעֵי בְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֲשֶׁר יָצְאוּ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם--לְצִבְאֹתָם: וַיִּסְעוּ מֵרַעְמְסֵס בַּחֹדֶשׁ הָרִאשׁוֹן, בַּחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר יוֹם לַחֹדֶשׁ הָרִאשׁוֹן: מִמָּחֳרַת הַפֶּסַח, יָצְאוּ בְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּיָד רָמָה--לְעֵינֵי, כָּל-מִצְרָיִם. וּמִצְרַיִם מְקַבְּרִים, אֵת אֲשֶׁר הִכָּה יְהוָה בָּהֶם--כָּל-בְּכוֹר; וּבֵאלֹהֵיהֶם, עָשָׂה יְהוָה שְׁפָטִים. וַיִּסְעוּ בְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל, מֵרַעְמְסֵס; וַיַּחֲנוּ, בְּסֻכֹּת. וַיִּסְעוּ, מִסֻּכֹּת; וַיַּחֲנוּ בְאֵתָם, אֲשֶׁר בִּקְצֵה הַמִּדְבָּר. וַיִּסְעוּ, מֵאֵתָם, וַיָּשָׁב עַל-פִּי הַחִירֹת, אֲשֶׁר עַל-פְּנֵי בַּעַל צְפוֹן; וַיַּחֲנוּ, לִפְנֵי מִגְדֹּל. וַיִּסְעוּ מִפְּנֵי הַחִירֹת, וַיַּעַבְרוּ בְתוֹךְ-הַיָּם הַמִּדְבָּרָה; וַיֵּלְכוּ דֶּרֶךְ שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים, בְּמִדְבַּר אֵתָם, וַיַּחֲנוּ, בְּמָרָה. וַיִּסְעוּ, מִמָּרָה, וַיָּבֹאוּ, אֵילִמָה; וּבְאֵילִם שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה עֵינֹת מַיִם, וְשִׁבְעִים תְּמָרִים--וַיַּחֲנוּ-שָׁם. וַיִּסְעוּ, מֵאֵילִם; וַיַּחֲנוּ, עַל-יַם-סוּף. וַיִּסְעוּ, מִיַּם-סוּף; וַיַּחֲנוּ, בְּמִדְבַּר-סִין. וַיִּסְעוּ, מִמִּדְבַּר-סִין; וַיַּחֲנוּ, בְּדָפְקָה. וַיִּסְעוּ, מִדָּפְקָה; וַיַּחֲנוּ, בְּאָלוּשׁ. וַיִּסְעוּ, מֵאָלוּשׁ; וַיַּחֲנוּ, בְּקִבְרֹת הַתַּאֲוָה. וַיִּסְעוּ, מִקִּבְרֹת הַתַּאֲוָה; וַיַּחֲנוּ, בִּרְפִידִם, וְלֹא-הָיָה שָׁם מַיִם לָעָם, לִשְׁתּוֹת. וַיִּסְעוּ, מֵרְפִידִם; וַיַּחֲנוּ, בְּמִדְבַּר סִינָי. וַיִּסְעוּ, מִמִּדְבַּר סִינָי; וַיַּחֲנוּ, בְּמִדְבַּר פָּארָן. וַיִּסְעוּ, מֵמִדְבַּר פָּארָן; וַיַּחֲנוּ, בְּרִתְמָה. וַיִּסְעוּ, מֵרִתְמָה; וַיַּחֲנוּ, בְּרִמֹּן פָּרֶץ. וַיִּסְעוּ, מֵרִמֹּן פָּרֶץ; וַיַּחֲנוּ, בְּלִבְנָה. וַיִּסְעוּ, מִלִּבְנָה; וַיַּחֲנוּ, בְּרִסָּה. וַיִּסְעוּ, מֵרִסָּה; וַיַּחֲנוּ, בִּקְהֵלָתָה

These are the journeys of the Children of Israel, who went forth from the land of Egypt according to their legions. They journeyed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month — on the day after the pesach-offering — the Children of Israel went forth with an upraised hand, before the eyes of all Egypt. And the Egyptians were burying those whom Hashem had struck, every firstborn; and on their gods Hashem had inflicted punishments. The Children of Israel journeyed from Rameses and encamped in Succoth. They journeyed from Succoth and encamped in Etham, which is on the edge of the Wilderness. They journeyed from Etham and it turned back to Pi-Hahiroth, which is before Baal-zephon, and they encamped before Migdol. They journeyed from before Hahiroth and passed through the midst of the Sea toward the Wilderness; they went on a three-day trip in the Wilderness of Etham, and they encamped in Marah. They journeyed from Marah and arrived at Elim; in Elim were twelve springs of water and seventy date palms, and they encamped there. They journeyed from Elim and encamped by the Sea of Reeds. They journeyed from the Sea of Reeds and encamped in the Wilderness of Sin. They journeyed from the Wilderness of Sin and encamped in Dophkah. They journeyed from Dophkah and encamped in Alush. They journeyed from Alush and encamped in Kibroth Hattaavah. The journeyed from Kibroth Hattaavah and encamped in Rephidim, and there was no water there for the people to drink. They journeyed from Rephidim and they encamped in the Wilderness of Sinai. They journeyed from the Wilderness of Sinai and encamped in the Wilderness of Paran. They journeyed from the Wildermess of Paran and encamped in Rithmah. They journeyed from Rithmah and encamped in Rimmonperez. They journeyed from Rimmon-perez and encamped in Libnah. They journeyed from Libnah and encamped in Rissah. They journeyed from Rissah and encamped in Kehelathah.

Kedumah 152 (24355) 180

כֹּה עָשׂוּ, אֲבֹתֵיכֶם, בְּשָׁלְחִי אֹתָם מִקָּדֵשׁ בַּרְנֵעַ, לִרְאוֹת אֶת-הָאָרֶץ. וַיַּעֲלוּ עַד-נַחַל אֶשְׁכּוֹל, וַיִּרְאוּ אֶת-הָאָרֶץ, וַיָּנִיאוּ, אֶת-לֵב בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל--לְבִלְתִּי-בֹא, אֶל-הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר-נָתַן לָהֶם, יְהוָה. וַיִּחַר-אַף יְהוָה, בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא; וַיִּשָּׁבַע, לֵאמֹר. אִם-יִרְאוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים הָעֹלִים מִמִּצְרַיִם, מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה, אֵת הָאֲדָמָה, אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי לְאַבְרָהָם לְיִצְחָק וּלְיַעֲקֹב: כִּי לֹא-מִלְאוּ, אַחֲרָי. בִּלְתִּי כָּלֵב בֶּן-יְפֻנֶּה, הַקְּנִזִּי, וִיהוֹשֻׁעַ, בִּן-נוּן: כִּי מִלְאוּ, אַחֲרֵי יְהוָה. וַיֹּאמֶר בְּנֵי-גָד וּבְנֵי רְאוּבֵן, אֶל-מֹשֶׁה לֵאמֹר: עֲבָדֶיךָ יַעֲשׂוּ, כַּאֲשֶׁר אֲדֹנִי מְצַוֶּה. טַפֵּנוּ נָשֵׁינוּ, מִקְנֵנוּ וְכָל-בְּהֶמְתֵּנוּ--יִהְיוּ-שָׁם, בְּעָרֵי הַגִּלְעָד. וַעֲבָדֶיךָ יַעַבְרוּ כָּל-חֲלוּץ צָבָא, לִפְנֵי יְהוָה--לַמִּלְחָמָה: כַּאֲשֶׁר אֲדֹנִי, דֹּבֵר. וַיִּתֵּן לָהֶם מֹשֶׁה לִבְנֵי-גָד וְלִבְנֵי רְאוּבֵן וְלַחֲצִי שֵׁבֶט מְנַשֶּׁה בֶן-יוֹסֵף, אֶת-מַמְלֶכֶת סִיחֹן מֶלֶךְ הָאֱמֹרִי, וְאֶת-מַמְלֶכֶת, עוֹג מֶלֶךְ הַבָּשָׁן: הָאָרֶץ, לְעָרֶיהָ בִּגְבֻלֹת--עָרֵי הָאָרֶץ, סָבִיב. וַיִּבְנוּ בְנֵי-גָד, אֶת-דִּיבֹן וְאֶת-עֲטָרֹת, וְאֵת, עֲרֹעֵר. וְאֶת-עַטְרֹת שׁוֹפָן וְאֶת-יַעְזֵר, וְיָגְבְּהָה. וְאֶת-בֵּית נִמְרָה, וְאֶת-בֵּית הָרָן: עָרֵי מִבְצָר, וְגִדְרֹת צֹאן. וּבְנֵי רְאוּבֵן בָּנוּ, אֶת-חֶשְׁבּוֹן וְאֶת-אֶלְעָלֵא, וְאֵת, קִרְיָתָיִם. וְאֶת-נְבוֹ וְאֶת-בַּעַל מְעוֹן, מוּסַבֹּת שֵׁם--וְאֶת-שִׂבְמָה; וַיִּקְרְאוּ בְשֵׁמֹת, אֶת-שְׁמוֹת הֶעָרִים אֲשֶׁר בָּנוּ. וַיֵּלְכוּ בְּנֵי מָכִיר בֶּן-מְנַשֶּׁה, גִּלְעָדָה--וַיִּלְכְּדֻהָ; וַיּוֹרֶשׁ, אֶת-הָאֱמֹרִי אֲשֶׁר-בָּהּ. וַיִּתֵּן מֹשֶׁה אֶת-הַגִּלְעָד, לְמָכִיר בֶּן-מְנַשֶּׁה; וַיֵּשֶׁב, בָּהּ. וְיָאִיר בֶּן-מְנַשֶּׁה הָלַךְ, וַיִּלְכֹּד אֶת-חַוֹּתֵיהֶם; וַיִּקְרָא אֶתְהֶן, חַוֹּת יָאִיר. וְנֹבַח הָלַךְ, וַיִּלְכֹּד אֶת-קְנָת וְאֶת-בְּנֹתֶיהָ; וַיִּקְרָא לָה נֹבַח, בִּשְׁמו

This is what your fathers did, when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to see the Land. They went up to the valley of Eshcol and saw the Land and they dissuaded the heart of the Children of Israel, not to come to the Land that Hashem has given them. The wrath of Hashem burned on that day, and He swore saying: 'If these men who came up from Egypt — from the age of twenty years and above — will see the ground that I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob... for they have not followed Me fully, except for Caleb son of Jephunneh, the Kenizzite, and Joshua son of Nun, for they followed Hashem fully.' The children of Gad and the children of Reuben said to Moses, saying, "Your servants shall do as my lord commands. Our small children, our wives, our livestock, and all our animals will be there in the cities of the Gilead. And your servants shall cross over — every armed person of the legion — before Hashem, to do battle, as my lord speaks." So Moses gave to them — to the children of Gad, and the children of Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph — the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorite, and the kingdom of Og king of the Bashan; the land with its cities in the boundaries, and the cities of the surrounding land. The children of Gad built Dibon, and Ataroth, and Aroer, and Atroth-shophan, and Jazer, and Jogbehah, and Beth-nimrah, and Beth-haran — fortified cities and pens for the flock. The children of Reuben built Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Kiriathaim, and Nebo and Baal-meon with altered names, and Sibmah; and they called [them] by [other] names [instead of] the names of the cities that they built. The children of Machir son of Manasseh went to Gilead and occupied it, and drove out the Amorite who were in it. Moses gave the Gilead to Machir son of Manasseh and he settled in it. Jair son of Manasseh went and occupied their villages, and called them Havvoth-jair. Nobah went and occupied Kenath and her suburbs, and called it Nobah, after his name.

Kedumah 151 (24175) 151

וְיֵרְדְּ, מִיַּעֲקֹב; וְהֶאֱבִיד שָׂרִיד, מֵעִיר. וַיַּרְא, אֶת-עֲמָלֵק, וַיִּשָּׂא מְשָׁלוֹ, וַיֹּאמַר: רֵאשִׁית גּוֹיִם עֲמָלֵק, וְאַחֲרִיתוֹ עֲדֵי אֹבֵד. וַיַּרְא, אֶת-הַקֵּינִי, וַיִּשָּׂא מְשָׁלוֹ, וַיֹּאמַר: אֵיתָן, מוֹשָׁבֶךָ, וְשִׂים בַּסֶּלַע, קִנֶּךָ. כִּי אִם-יִהְיֶה, לְבָעֵר קָיִן--עַד-מָה, אַשּׁוּר תִּשְׁבֶּךָּ. וַיִּשָּׂא מְשָׁלוֹ, וַיֹּאמַר: אוֹי, מִי יִחְיֶה מִשֻּׂמוֹ אֵל. וְצִים מִיַּד כִּתִּים, וְעִנּוּ אַשּׁוּר וְעִנּוּ-עֵבֶר; וְגַם-הוּא, עֲדֵי אֹבֵד. וַיָּקָם בִּלְעָם, וַיֵּלֶךְ וַיָּשָׁב לִמְקֹמוֹ; וְגַם-בָּלָק, הָלַךְ לְדַרְכּוֹ

וַיֵּשֶׁב יִשְׂרָאֵל, בַּשִּׁטִּים; וַיָּחֶל הָעָם, לִזְנוֹת אֶל-בְּנוֹת מוֹאָב. וַתִּקְרֶאןָ לָעָם, לְזִבְחֵי אֱלֹהֵיהֶן; וַיֹּאכַל הָעָם, וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲווּ לֵאלֹהֵיהֶן. וַיִּצָּמֶד יִשְׂרָאֵל, לְבַעַל פְּעוֹר; וַיִּחַר-אַף יְהוָה, בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל. וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה, קַח אֶת-כָּל-רָאשֵׁי הָעָם, וְהוֹקַע אוֹתָם לַיהוָה, נֶגֶד הַשָּׁמֶשׁ; וְיָשֹׁב חֲרוֹן אַף-יְהוָה, מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל. וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה, אֶל-שֹׁפְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל: הִרְגוּ אִישׁ אֲנָשָׁיו, הַנִּצְמָדִים לְבַעַל פְּעוֹר

וּמִקְנֶה רַב, הָיָה לִבְנֵי רְאוּבֵן וְלִבְנֵי-גָד--עָצוּם מְאֹד; וַיִּרְאוּ אֶת-אֶרֶץ יַעְזֵר, וְאֶת-אֶרֶץ גִּלְעָד, וְהִנֵּה הַמָּקוֹם, מְקוֹם מִקְנֶה. עֲטָרוֹת וְדִיבֹן וְיַעְזֵר וְנִמְרָה, וְחֶשְׁבּוֹן וְאֶלְעָלֵה, וּשְׂבָם וּנְבוֹ, וּבְעֹן

וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֶל-מֹשֶׁה, אִם-מָצָאנוּ חֵן בְּעֵינֶיךָ: אַל-תַּעֲבִרֵנוּ, אֶת-הַיַּרְדֵּן. וַיֹּאמְר מֹשֶׁה לָמָּה תְנִואוּן, אֶת-לֵב בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל--מֵעֲבֹר, אֶל-הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר-נָתַן לָהֶם, יְהוָה

One from Jacob shall rule and destroy the remnant of the city." He saw Amalek and declaimed his parable and said - "Amalek is the first among nations, but its end will be eternal destruction." He saw the Kenite and declaimed his parable and said - "Strong is your dwelling, and set in a rock is your nest. For if the Kenite should be laid waste, till where can Assyria take you captive?" He declaimed his parable and said - "Who will survive when He imposes these. "Big ships from the coast of Kittim will afflict Assyria and afflict the other bank — but it, too, will be forever destroyed." Then Balaam rose up and went and returned to his place, and Balak also went on his way.

Israel settled in the Shittim and the people began to commit harlotry with the daughters of Moab. They invited the people to the feasts of their gods; the people ate and prostrated themselves to their gods. Israel became attached to Baal-peor, and the wrath of Hashem flared up against Israel. Hashem said to Moses, "Take all the leaders of the people. Hang them before Hashem against the sun — and the flaring wrath of Hashem will withdraw from Israel." Moses said to the judges of Israel, "Let each man kill his men who were attached to Baal-peor."

The children of Reuben and the children of Gad had abundant livestock — very great. They saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, and behold! — it was a place for livestock.
They said, "If we have found favor in your eyes, do not bring us across the Jordan." Why do you dissuade the heart of the Children of Israel from crossing to the Land that Hashem has given them?

Kedumah 150 (24024) 168

מַה-טֹּבוּ אֹהָלֶיךָ, יַעֲקֹב; מִשְׁכְּנֹתֶיךָ, יִשְׂרָאֵל. כִּנְחָלִים נִטָּיוּ, כְּגַנֹּת עֲלֵי נָהָר; כַּאֲהָלִים נָטַע יְהוָה, כַּאֲרָזִים עֲלֵי-מָיִם. יִזַּל-מַיִם מִדָּלְיָו, וְזַרְעוֹ בְּמַיִם רַבִּים; וְיָרֹם מֵאֲגַג מַלְכּוֹ, וְתִנַּשֵּׂא מַלְכֻתוֹ. אֵל מוֹצִיאוֹ מִמִּצְרַיִם, כְּתוֹעֲפֹת רְאֵם לוֹ; יֹאכַל גּוֹיִם צָרָיו, וְעַצְמֹתֵיהֶם יְגָרֵם--וְחִצָּיו יִמְחָץ. כָּרַע שָׁכַב כַּאֲרִי וּכְלָבִיא, מִי יְקִימֶנּוּ; מְבָרְכֶיךָ בָרוּךְ, וְאֹרְרֶיךָ אָרוּר. וַיִּחַר-אַף בָּלָק אֶל-בִּלְעָם, וַיִּסְפֹּק אֶת-כַּפָּיו; וַיֹּאמֶר בָּלָק אֶל-בִּלְעָם, לָקֹב אֹיְבַי קְרָאתִיךָ, וְהִנֵּה בֵּרַכְתָּ בָרֵךְ, זֶה שָׁלֹשׁ פְּעָמִים. וְעַתָּה, בְּרַח-לְךָ אֶל-מְקוֹמֶךָ; אָמַרְתִּי כַּבֵּד אֲכַבֶּדְךָ, וְהִנֵּה מְנָעֲךָ יְהוָה מִכָּבוֹד. וַיֹּאמֶר בִּלְעָם, אֶל-בָּלָק: הֲלֹא, גַּם אֶל-מַלְאָכֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר-שָׁלַחְתָּ אֵלַי--דִּבַּרְתִּי לֵאמֹר. אִם-יִתֶּן-לִי בָלָק מְלֹא בֵיתוֹ, כֶּסֶף וְזָהָב--לֹא אוּכַל לַעֲבֹר אֶת-פִּי יְהוָה, לַעֲשׂוֹת טוֹבָה אוֹ רָעָה מִלִּבִּי: אֲשֶׁר-יְדַבֵּר יְהוָה, אֹתוֹ אֲדַבֵּר. וְעַתָּה, הִנְנִי הוֹלֵךְ לְעַמִּי; לְכָה, אִיעָצְךָ, אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה הָעָם הַזֶּה לְעַמְּךָ, בְּאַחֲרִית הַיָּמִים. וַיִּשָּׂא מְשָׁלוֹ, וַיֹּאמַר: נְאֻם בִּלְעָם בְּנוֹ בְעֹר, וּנְאֻם הַגֶּבֶר שְׁתֻם הָעָיִן. נְאֻם, שֹׁמֵעַ אִמְרֵי-אֵל, וְיֹדֵעַ, דַּעַת עֶלְיוֹן; מַחֲזֵה שַׁדַּי יֶחֱזֶה, נֹפֵל וּגְלוּי עֵינָיִם. אֶרְאֶנּוּ וְלֹא עַתָּה, אֲשׁוּרֶנּוּ וְלֹא קָרוֹב; דָּרַךְ כּוֹכָב מִיַּעֲקֹב, וְקָם שֵׁבֶט מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל, וּמָחַץ פַּאֲתֵי מוֹאָב, וְקַרְקַר כָּל-בְּנֵי-שֵׁת. וְהָיָה אֱדוֹם יְרֵשָׁה, וְהָיָה יְרֵשָׁה שֵׂעִיר--אֹיְבָיו; וְיִשְׂרָאֵל, עֹשֶׂה חָיִל

"How goodly are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel; "stretching out like brooks, like gardens by a river, like aloes planted by Hashem, like cedars by water. "Water shall flow from his wells, and his seed shall be by abundant waters.His king shall be exalted over Agag, and his kingdom shall be upraised. "It is God Who took him out of Egypt according to the power of His loftiness. He will consume the nations that oppress him and crush their bones, and his arrows shall pierce them. "He crouched and lay down like a lion, and, like a lion cub — who can stand him up? Those who bless you are blessed and those who curse you are accursed." Balak's anger flared against Balaam and he clapped his hands. Balak said to Balaam, "To curse my enemies did I summon you, and behold! you have continually blessed them these three times. Now, flee to your place.I said I would honor you, but — behold! Hashem has withheld you from honor." Balaam said to Balak, "Did I not speak to your emissaries whom you sent to me, saying, 'If Balak were to give me his houseful of silver and gold, I cannot transgress the word of Hashem to do good or bad on my own. Whatever Hashem speaks, that shall I speak.' And now, behold! I go to my people. Come, I shall advise you what this people will do to your people in the End of Days." He declaimed his parable and said - "The words of Balaam son of Beor, the words of the man with the open eye. The words of one who hears the sayings of God, and knows the knowledge of the Supreme One, who sees the vision of Shaddai, while fallen and with uncovered eyes. I shall see him, but not now, I shall look at him, but it is not near. A star has issued from Jacob and a scepter-bearer has risen from Israel, and he shall pierce the nobles of Moab and undermine the children of Seth. Edom shall be a conquest and Seir shall be the conquest of his enemies — and Israel will attain success.

Kedumah 149 (23856) 160

הִנֵּה בָרֵךְ, לָקָחְתִּי; וּבֵרֵךְ, וְלֹא אֲשִׁיבֶנָּה. לֹא-הִבִּיט אָוֶן בְּיַעֲקֹב, וְלֹא-רָאָה עָמָל בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל; יְהוָה אֱלֹהָיו עִמּוֹ, וּתְרוּעַת מֶלֶךְ בּוֹ. אֵל, מוֹצִיאָם מִמִּצְרָיִם--כְּתוֹעֲפֹת רְאֵם, לוֹ. כִּי לֹא-נַחַשׁ בְּיַעֲקֹב, וְלֹא-קֶסֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל; כָּעֵת, יֵאָמֵר לְיַעֲקֹב וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵל, מַה-פָּעַל, אֵל. הֶן-עָם כְּלָבִיא יָקוּם, וְכַאֲרִי יִתְנַשָּׂא; לֹא יִשְׁכַּב עַד-יֹאכַל טֶרֶף, וְדַם-חֲלָלִים יִשְׁתֶּה. וַיֹּאמֶר בָּלָק אֶל-בִּלְעָם, גַּם-קֹב לֹא תִקֳּבֶנּוּ; גַּם-בָּרֵךְ, לֹא תְבָרְכֶנּוּ. וַיַּעַן בִּלְעָם, וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל-בָּלָק: הֲלֹא, דִּבַּרְתִּי אֵלֶיךָ לֵאמֹר, כֹּל אֲשֶׁר-יְדַבֵּר יְהוָה, אֹתוֹ אֶעֱשֶׂה. וַיֹּאמֶר בָּלָק, אֶל-בִּלְעָם, לְכָה-נָּא אֶקָּחֲךָ, אֶל-מָקוֹם אַחֵר; אוּלַי יִישַׁר בְּעֵינֵי הָאֱלֹהִים, וְקַבֹּתוֹ לִי מִשָּׁם. וַיִּקַּח בָּלָק, אֶת-בִּלְעָם, רֹאשׁ הַפְּעוֹר, הַנִּשְׁקָף עַל-פְּנֵי הַיְשִׁימֹן. וַיֹּאמֶר בִּלְעָם אֶל-בָּלָק, בְּנֵה-לִי בָזֶה שִׁבְעָה מִזְבְּחֹת; וְהָכֵן לִי בָּזֶה, שִׁבְעָה פָרִים וְשִׁבְעָה אֵילִם. וַיַּעַשׂ בָּלָק, כַּאֲשֶׁר אָמַר בִּלְעָם; וַיַּעַל פָּר וָאַיִל, בַּמִּזְבֵּחַ

וַיַּרְא בִּלְעָם, כִּי טוֹב בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה לְבָרֵךְ אֶת-יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְלֹא-הָלַךְ כְּפַעַם-בְּפַעַם, לִקְרַאת נְחָשִׁים; וַיָּשֶׁת אֶל-הַמִּדְבָּר, פָּנָיו. וַיִּשָּׂא בִלְעָם אֶת-עֵינָיו, וַיַּרְא אֶת-יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֹׁכֵן, לִשְׁבָטָיו; וַתְּהִי עָלָיו, רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים. וַיִּשָּׂא מְשָׁלוֹ, וַיֹּאמַר: נְאֻם בִּלְעָם בְּנוֹ בְעֹר, וּנְאֻם הַגֶּבֶר שְׁתֻם הָעָיִן. נְאֻם--שֹׁמֵעַ, אִמְרֵי-אֵל: אֲשֶׁר מַחֲזֵה שַׁדַּי יֶחֱזֶה, נֹפֵל וּגְלוּי עֵינָיִם

"Behold! to bless have I received — He has blessed, and I shall not contradict it. "He perceived no iniquity in Jacob, and saw no perversity in Israel. Hashem his God is with him, and the friendship of the King is in him. "It is God Who brought them out of Egypt according to the power of His loftiness, for there is no divination in Jacob and no sorcery in Israel. Even now it is said to Jacob and Israel what God has wrought. Behold! the people will arise like a lion cub and raise itself like a lion; it will not lie down until it consumes prey, and drinks the blood of the slain." Balak said to Balaam, "Neither shall you curse them at all, nor shall you bless them at all!" Balaam answered and said to Balak, "Have I not spoken to you, saying, 'Whatever Hashem shall speak, that I shall do'? " Balak said to Balaam, "Go, now, I shall take you to a different place, perhaps it will be proper in God's eyes that you will curse them for me from there." Balak took Balaam to the summit of the height that overlooks the face of the wasteland. Balaam said to Balak, "Build for me here seven altars and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams." Balak did as Balaam said, and he brought up a bull and a ram on each altar.

Balaam saw that it was good in God's eyes to bless Israel, so he did not go as every other time toward divinations, but he set his face toward the Wilderness. Balaam raised his eyes and saw Israel dwelling according to its tribes, and the spirit of God was upon him. He declaimed his parable and said - "The words of Balaam son of Beor, the words of the man with the open eye; "the words of the one who hears the sayings of God, who sees the vision of Shaddai, while fallen and with uncovered eyes.

Kedumah 148 (23696) 157

וַיִּשָּׂא מְשָׁלוֹ, וַיֹּאמַר: מִן-אֲרָם יַנְחֵנִי בָלָק מֶלֶךְ-מוֹאָב, מֵהַרְרֵי-קֶדֶם--לְכָה אָרָה-לִּי יַעֲקֹב, וּלְכָה זֹעֲמָה יִשְׂרָאֵל. מָה אֶקֹּב, לֹא קַבֹּה אֵל; וּמָה אֶזְעֹם, לֹא זָעַם יְהוָה. כִּי-מֵרֹאשׁ צֻרִים אֶרְאֶנּוּ, וּמִגְּבָעוֹת אֲשׁוּרֶנּוּ: הֶן-עָם לְבָדָד יִשְׁכֹּן, וּבַגּוֹיִם לֹא יִתְחַשָּׁב. מִי מָנָה עֲפַר יַעֲקֹב, וּמִסְפָּר אֶת-רֹבַע יִשְׂרָאֵל; תָּמֹת נַפְשִׁי מוֹת יְשָׁרִים, וּתְהִי אַחֲרִיתִי כָּמֹהוּ. וַיֹּאמֶר בָּלָק אֶל-בִּלְעָם, מֶה עָשִׂיתָ לִי: לָקֹב אֹיְבַי לְקַחְתִּיךָ, וְהִנֵּה בֵּרַכְתָּ בָרֵךְ. וַיַּעַן, וַיֹּאמַר: הֲלֹא, אֵת אֲשֶׁר יָשִׂים יְהוָה בְּפִי--אֹתוֹ אֶשְׁמֹר, לְדַבֵּר. וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו בָּלָק, לְךָ-נָּא אִתִּי אֶל-מָקוֹם אַחֵר אֲשֶׁר תִּרְאֶנּוּ מִשָּׁם--אֶפֶס קָצֵהוּ תִרְאֶה, וְכֻלּוֹ לֹא תִרְאֶה; וְקָבְנוֹ-לִי, מִשָּׁם. וַיִּקָּחֵהוּ שְׂדֵה צֹפִים, אֶל-רֹאשׁ הַפִּסְגָּה; וַיִּבֶן שִׁבְעָה מִזְבְּחֹת, וַיַּעַל פָּר וָאַיִל בַּמִּזְבֵּחַ. וַיֹּאמֶר, אֶל-בָּלָק, הִתְיַצֵּב כֹּה, עַל-עֹלָתֶךָ; וְאָנֹכִי, אִקָּרֶה כֹּה. וַיִּקָּר יְהוָה אֶל-בִּלְעָם, וַיָּשֶׂם דָּבָר בְּפִיו; וַיֹּאמֶר שׁוּב אֶל-בָּלָק, וְכֹה תְדַבֵּר. וַיָּבֹא אֵלָיו, וְהִנּוֹ נִצָּב עַל-עֹלָתוֹ, וְשָׂרֵי מוֹאָב, אִתּוֹ; וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ בָּלָק, מַה-דִּבֶּר יְהוָה. וַיִּשָּׂא מְשָׁלוֹ, וַיֹּאמַר: קוּם בָּלָק וּשְׁמָע, הַאֲזִינָה עָדַי בְּנוֹ צִפֹּר. לֹא אִישׁ אֵל וִיכַזֵּב, וּבֶן-אָדָם וְיִתְנֶחָם; הַהוּא אָמַר וְלֹא יַעֲשֶׂה, וְדִבֶּר וְלֹא יְקִימֶנָּה

He declaimed his parable and said - "From Aram, Balak, king of Moab, led me, from the mountains of the east, 'Come curse Jacob for me, come bring anger upon Israel.' How can I curse? — God has not cursed. How can I anger? — God is not angry. For from its origins, I see it rock-like, and from hills do I see it. Behold! it is a nation that will dwell in solitude and not be reckoned among the nations. "Who has counted the dust of Jacob or numbered a quarter of Israel? May my soul die the death of the upright, and may my end be like his!" Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me! To curse my enemy have I brought you, — but behold! you have even blessed!" He spoke up and said, "Is it not so that whatever Hashem puts in my mouth, that I must take heed to speak?" Balak said to him, "Go now with me to a different place from which you will see them; however, you will see its edge but not see all of it — and you will curse it for me from there." He took him to the field of the lookouts, to the summit of the height, and he built seven altars and brought up a bull and a ram on each altar. He said to Balak, "Stand here by your burnt-offering, and I will be happened upon here." Hashem happened upon Balaam and put an utterance in his mouth; and said, "Go back to Balak and so shall you say." He came to him and — behold! he was standing by his burnt-offering and the officers of Moab were with him. Balak said to him, "What did Hashem speak?" He declaimed his parable and said - "Stand erect, O Balak, and hear; give ear to me, O son of Zippor. "God is not a man that He should be deceitful, nor a son of man that He should relent. Would He say and not do, or speak and not confirm?

Kedumah 147 (23539) 145

וַיִּשְׁמַע בָּלָק, כִּי בָא בִלְעָם; וַיֵּצֵא לִקְרָאתוֹ אֶל-עִיר מוֹאָב, אֲשֶׁר עַל-גְּבוּל אַרְנֹן, אֲשֶׁר, בִּקְצֵה הַגְּבוּל. וַיֹּאמֶר בָּלָק אֶל-בִּלְעָם, הֲלֹא שָׁלֹחַ שָׁלַחְתִּי אֵלֶיךָ לִקְרֹא-לָךְ--לָמָּה לֹא-הָלַכְתָּ, אֵלָי; הַאֻמְנָם, לֹא אוּכַל כַּבְּדֶךָ. וַיֹּאמֶר בִּלְעָם אֶל-בָּלָק, הִנֵּה-בָאתִי אֵלֶיךָ--עַתָּה, הֲיָכֹל אוּכַל דַּבֵּר מְאוּמָה: הַדָּבָר, אֲשֶׁר יָשִׂים אֱלֹהִים בְּפִי--אֹתוֹ אֲדַבֵּר. וַיֵּלֶךְ בִּלְעָם, עִם-בָּלָק; וַיָּבֹאוּ, קִרְיַת חֻצוֹת. וַיִּזְבַּח בָּלָק, בָּקָר וָצֹאן; וַיְשַׁלַּח לְבִלְעָם, וְלַשָּׂרִים אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ. וַיְהִי בַבֹּקֶר--וַיִּקַּח בָּלָק אֶת-בִּלְעָם, וַיַּעֲלֵהוּ בָּמוֹת בָּעַל; וַיַּרְא מִשָּׁם, קְצֵה הָעָם. {פ}

וַיֹּאמֶר בִּלְעָם אֶל-בָּלָק, בְּנֵה-לִי בָזֶה שִׁבְעָה מִזְבְּחֹת; וְהָכֵן לִי בָּזֶה, שִׁבְעָה פָרִים וְשִׁבְעָה אֵילִים. וַיַּעַשׂ בָּלָק, כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר בִּלְעָם; וַיַּעַל בָּלָק וּבִלְעָם פָּר וָאַיִל, בַּמִּזְבֵּחַ. וַיֹּאמֶר בִּלְעָם לְבָלָק, הִתְיַצֵּב עַל-עֹלָתֶךָ, וְאֵלְכָה אוּלַי יִקָּרֵה יְהוָה לִקְרָאתִי, וּדְבַר מַה-יַּרְאֵנִי וְהִגַּדְתִּי לָךְ; וַיֵּלֶךְ, שֶׁפִי. וַיִּקָּר אֱלֹהִים, אֶל-בִּלְעָם; וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו, אֶת-שִׁבְעַת הַמִּזְבְּחֹת עָרַכְתִּי, וָאַעַל פָּר וָאַיִל, בַּמִּזְבֵּחַ. וַיָּשֶׂם יְהוָה דָּבָר, בְּפִי בִלְעָם; וַיֹּאמֶר שׁוּב אֶל-בָּלָק, וְכֹה תְדַבֵּר. וַיָּשָׁב אֵלָיו, וְהִנֵּה נִצָּב עַל-עֹלָתוֹ--הוּא, וְכָל-שָׂרֵי מוֹאָב

Balak heard that Balaam had come, so he went out toward him to the city of Moab, which is on the border of Arnon, which is at the edge of the border. Balak said to Balaam, "Did I not urgently send to you to summon you? Why did you not go to me? Am I not capable of honoring you?" Balaam said to Balak, "Behold! now I have come to you — am I empowered to say anything? Whatever word God puts into my mouth, that shall I speak!" Balaam went with Balak and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. Balak slaughtered cattle and sheep and sent to Balaam and to the officers who were with him. And it was in the morning - Balak took Balaam and brought him up to the heights of Baal, and from there he saw the edge of the people.

Balaam said to Balak, "Build for me here seven altars and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams." Balak did as Balaam had spoken, and Balak and Balaam brought up a bull and a ram on each altar. Balaam said to Balak, "Stand by your burnt-offering while I go; perhaps Hashem will happen toward me and show me something that I can tell you." He went alone. God happened upon Balaam and he said to Him, "I have prepared the seven altars and brought up a bull and ram on each altar." Hashem put an utterance in Balaam's mouth, and said, "Go back to Balak, and thus shall you say." He returned to him and behold! he was standing by his burnt-offering, he and all the officers of Moab.

Kedumah 146 (23394) 169

וַיַּעֲמֹד מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה, בְּמִשְׁעוֹל הַכְּרָמִים--גָּדֵר מִזֶּה, וְגָדֵר מִזֶּה. וַתֵּרֶא הָאָתוֹן אֶת-מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה, וַתִּלָּחֵץ אֶל-הַקִּיר, וַתִּלְחַץ אֶת-רֶגֶל בִּלְעָם, אֶל-הַקִּיר; וַיֹּסֶף, לְהַכֹּתָהּ. וַיּוֹסֶף מַלְאַךְ-יְהוָה, עֲבוֹר; וַיַּעֲמֹד בְּמָקוֹם צָר, אֲשֶׁר אֵין-דֶּרֶךְ לִנְטוֹת יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאול. וַתֵּרֶא הָאָתוֹן אֶת-מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה, וַתִּרְבַּץ תַּחַת בִּלְעָם; וַיִּחַר-אַף בִּלְעָם, וַיַּךְ אֶת-הָאָתוֹן בַּמַּקֵּל. וַיִּפְתַּח יְהוָה, אֶת-פִּי הָאָתוֹן; וַתֹּאמֶר לְבִלְעָם, מֶה-עָשִׂיתִי לְךָ, כִּי הִכִּיתַנִי, זֶה שָׁלֹשׁ רְגָלִים. וַיֹּאמֶר בִּלְעָם לָאָתוֹן, כִּי הִתְעַלַּלְתְּ בִּי; לוּ יֶשׁ-חֶרֶב בְּיָדִי, כִּי עַתָּה הֲרַגְתִּיךְ. וַתֹּאמֶר הָאָתוֹן אֶל-בִּלְעָם, הֲלוֹא אָנֹכִי אֲתֹנְךָ אֲשֶׁר-רָכַבְתָּ עָלַי מֵעוֹדְךָ עַד-הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה--הַהַסְכֵּן הִסְכַּנְתִּי, לַעֲשׂוֹת לְךָ כֹּה; וַיֹּאמֶר, לֹא. וַיְגַל יְהוָה, אֶת-עֵינֵי בִלְעָם, וַיַּרְא אֶת-מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה נִצָּב בַּדֶּרֶךְ, וְחַרְבּוֹ שְׁלֻפָה בְּיָדוֹ; וַיִּקֹּד וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ, לְאַפָּיו. וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו, מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה, עַל-מָה הִכִּיתָ אֶת-אֲתֹנְךָ, זֶה שָׁלוֹשׁ רְגָלִים; הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי יָצָאתִי לְשָׂטָן, כִּי-יָרַט הַדֶּרֶךְ לְנֶגְדִּי. וַתִּרְאַנִי, הָאָתוֹן, וַתֵּט לְפָנַי, זֶה שָׁלֹשׁ רְגָלִים; אוּלַי נָטְתָה מִפָּנַי, כִּי עַתָּה גַּם-אֹתְכָה הָרַגְתִּי וְאוֹתָהּ הֶחֱיֵיתִי. וַיֹּאמֶר בִּלְעָם אֶל-מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה, חָטָאתִי--כִּי לֹא יָדַעְתִּי, כִּי אַתָּה נִצָּב לִקְרָאתִי בַּדָּרֶךְ; וְעַתָּה אִם-רַע בְּעֵינֶיךָ, אָשׁוּבָה לִּי. וַיֹּאמֶר מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה אֶל-בִּלְעָם, לֵךְ עִם-הָאֲנָשִׁים, וְאֶפֶס אֶת-הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר-אֲדַבֵּר אֵלֶיךָ, אֹתוֹ תְדַבֵּר; וַיֵּלֶךְ בִּלְעָם, עִם-שָׂרֵי בָלָק

The angel of Hashem stood in the path of the vineyards, a fence on this side and a fence on that side. The she-donkey saw the angel of Hashem and pressed against the wall, and it pressed Balaam's leg against the wall — and he continued to strike it. The angel of Hashem went further and stood in a narrow place, where there was no room to turn right or left. The she-donkey saw the angel of Hashem and crouched beneath Balaam. Balaam's anger flared and he struck the she-donkey with the staff. Hashem opened the mouth of the she-donkey and it said to Balaam, "What have I done to you that you struck me these three times?" Balaam said to the she-donkey, "Because you mocked me! If only there were a sword in my hand I would now have killed you!" The she-donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your she-donkey that you have ridden all your life until this day? Have I been accustomed to do such a thing to you?" He said, "No." Then Hashem uncovered Balaam's eyes and he saw the angel of Hashem standing on the road with his sword drawn in his hand. He bowed his head and prostrated himself on his face. The angel of Hashem said to him, "For what reason did you strike your she-donkey these three times? Behold! I went out to impede, for you hastened on a road to oppose me. The she-donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. Had it not turned away from me, I would now even have killed you and let it live!" Balaam said to the angel of Hashem, " I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing opposite me on the road. And now, if it is evil in your eyes, I shall return." The angel of Hashem said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but only the word that I shall speak to you — that shall you speak." So Balaam went with the officers of Balak.

Kedumah 145 (23225) 162

וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים אֶל-בִּלְעָם, לֹא תֵלֵךְ עִמָּהֶם; לֹא תָאֹר אֶת-הָעָם, כִּי בָרוּךְ הוּא. וַיָּקָם בִּלְעָם, בַּבֹּקֶר, וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל-שָׂרֵי בָלָק, לְכוּ אֶל-אַרְצְכֶם: כִּי מֵאֵן יְהוָה, לְתִתִּי לַהֲלֹךְ עִמָּכֶם. וַיָּקוּמוּ שָׂרֵי מוֹאָב, וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל-בָּלָק; וַיֹּאמְרוּ, מֵאֵן בִּלְעָם הֲלֹךְ עִמָּנוּ. וַיֹּסֶף עוֹד, בָּלָק, שְׁלֹחַ שָׂרִים, רַבִּים וְנִכְבָּדִים מֵאֵלֶּה. וַיָּבֹאוּ, אֶל-בִּלְעָם; וַיֹּאמְרוּ לוֹ, כֹּה אָמַר בָּלָק בֶּן-צִפּוֹר, אַל-נָא תִמָּנַע, מֵהֲלֹךְ אֵלָי. כִּי-כַבֵּד אֲכַבֶּדְךָ מְאֹד, וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר-תֹּאמַר אֵלַי אֶעֱשֶׂה; וּלְכָה-נָּא, קָבָה-לִּי, אֵת, הָעָם הַזֶּה. וַיַּעַן בִּלְעָם, וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל-עַבְדֵי בָלָק, אִם-יִתֶּן-לִי בָלָק מְלֹא בֵיתוֹ, כֶּסֶף וְזָהָב--לֹא אוּכַל, לַעֲבֹר אֶת-פִּי יְהוָה אֱלֹהָי, לַעֲשׂוֹת קְטַנָּה, אוֹ גְדוֹלָה. וְעַתָּה, שְׁבוּ נָא בָזֶה גַּם-אַתֶּם--הַלָּיְלָה; וְאֵדְעָה, מַה-יֹּסֵף יְהוָה דַּבֵּר עִמִּי. וַיָּבֹא אֱלֹהִים אֶל-בִּלְעָם, לַיְלָה, וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ אִם-לִקְרֹא לְךָ בָּאוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים, קוּם לֵךְ אִתָּם; וְאַךְ, אֶת-הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר-אֲדַבֵּר אֵלֶיךָ--אֹתוֹ תַעֲשֶׂה. וַיָּקָם בִּלְעָם בַּבֹּקֶר, וַיַּחֲבֹשׁ אֶת-אֲתֹנוֹ; וַיֵּלֶךְ, עִם-שָׂרֵי מוֹאָב. וַיִּחַר-אַף אֱלֹהִים, כִּי-הוֹלֵךְ הוּא, וַיִּתְיַצֵּב מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה בַּדֶּרֶךְ, לְשָׂטָן לוֹ; וְהוּא רֹכֵב עַל-אֲתֹנוֹ, וּשְׁנֵי נְעָרָיו עִמּוֹ. וַתֵּרֶא הָאָתוֹן אֶת-מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה נִצָּב בַּדֶּרֶךְ, וְחַרְבּוֹ שְׁלוּפָה בְּיָדוֹ, וַתֵּט הָאָתוֹן מִן-הַדֶּרֶךְ, וַתֵּלֶךְ בַּשָּׂדֶה; וַיַּךְ בִּלְעָם אֶת-הָאָתוֹן, לְהַטֹּתָהּ הַדָּרֶךְ

God said to Balaam, "You shall not go with them! You shall not curse the people, for it is blessed!" Balaam arose in the morning and said to the officers of Balak, "Go to your land, for Hashem refuses to let me go with you." The officers of Moab arose and came to Balak and said, "Balaam refused to go with us." Balak kept on sending officers — more, and higher ranking than these. They came to Balaam and said to him, "So said Balak son of Zippor, 'Do not refrain from going to me, for I shall honor you greatly, and everything that you say to me I shall do; so go now and curse this people for me.' " Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, "If Balak will give me his houseful of silver and gold, I cannot transgress the word of Hashem, my God, to do anything small or great. And now, you, too, stay here for the night, and I will know what more Hashem will speak with me." Hashem came to Balaam at night and said to him, "If the men came to summon you, arise and go with them, but only the thing that I shall speak to you — that shall you do." Balaam arose in the morning and saddled his she-donkey and went with the officers of Moab. God's wrath flared because he was going, and an angel of Hashem stood on the road to impede him. He was riding on his she-donkey and his two young men were with him. The she-donkey saw the angel of Hashem standing on the road with his sword drawn in his hand, so the she-donkey turned away from the road and went into the field; then Balaam struck the she-donkey to turn it back onto the road.

Kedumah 144 (23063) 138

וַיַּרְא בָּלָק, בֶּן-צִפּוֹר, אֵת כָּל-אֲשֶׁר-עָשָׂה יִשְׂרָאֵל, לָאֱמֹרִי. וַיָּגָר מוֹאָב מִפְּנֵי הָעָם, מְאֹד--כִּי רַב-הוּא; וַיָּקָץ מוֹאָב, מִפְּנֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. וַיֹּאמֶר מוֹאָב, עַתָּה יְלַחֲכוּ הַקָּהָל אֶת-כָּל-סְבִיבֹתֵינוּ, כִּלְחֹךְ הַשּׁוֹר, אֵת יֶרֶק הַשָּׂדֶה; וּבָלָק בֶּן-צִפּוֹר מֶלֶךְ לְמוֹאָב, בָּעֵת הַהִוא. וַיִּשְׁלַח מַלְאָכִים אֶל-בִּלְעָם בֶּן-בְּעֹר, פְּתוֹרָה אֲשֶׁר עַל-הַנָּהָר אֶרֶץ בְּנֵי-עַמּוֹ--לִקְרֹא-לוֹ: לֵאמֹר, הִנֵּה עַם יָצָא מִמִּצְרַיִם הִנֵּה כִסָּה אֶת-עֵין הָאָרֶץ, וְהוּא יֹשֵׁב, מִמֻּלִי. וְעַתָּה לְכָה-נָּא אָרָה-לִּי אֶת-הָעָם הַזֶּה, כִּי-עָצוּם הוּא מִמֶּנִּי--אוּלַי אוּכַל נַכֶּה-בּוֹ, וַאֲגָרְשֶׁנּוּ מִן-הָאָרֶץ: כִּי יָדַעְתִּי, אֵת אֲשֶׁר-תְּבָרֵךְ מְבֹרָךְ, וַאֲשֶׁר תָּאֹר, יוּאָר. וַיֵּלְכוּ זִקְנֵי מוֹאָב, וּקְסָמִים, בְּיָדָם; וַיָּבֹאוּ, אֶל-בִּלְעָם, וַיְדַבְּרוּ אֵלָיו, דִּבְרֵי בָלָק. וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם, לִינוּ פֹה הַלַּיְלָה, וַהֲשִׁבֹתִי אֶתְכֶם דָּבָר, כַּאֲשֶׁר יְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֵלָי; וַיֵּשְׁבוּ שָׂרֵי-מוֹאָב, עִם-בִּלְעָם. וַיָּבֹא אֱלֹהִים, אֶל-בִּלְעָם; וַיֹּאמֶר, מִי הָאֲנָשִׁים הָאֵלֶּה עִמָּךְ. וַיֹּאמֶר בִּלְעָם, אֶל-הָאֱלֹהִים: בָּלָק בֶּן-צִפֹּר מֶלֶךְ מוֹאָב, שָׁלַח אֵלָי. הִנֵּה הָעָם הַיֹּצֵא מִמִּצְרַיִם, וַיְכַס אֶת-עֵין הָאָרֶץ; עַתָּה, לְכָה קָבָה-לִּי אֹתוֹ--אוּלַי אוּכַל לְהִלָּחֶם בּוֹ, וְגֵרַשְׁתִּיו

Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorite. Moab became very frightened of the people, because it was numerous, and Moab was disgusted in the face of the Children of Israel. Moab said, " Now the congregation will lick up our entire surroundings, as an ox licks up the greenery of the field." Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time. He sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the River of the land of the members of his people, to summon him, saying, "Behold! a people has come out of Egypt, behold! it has covered the surface of the earth and it sits opposite me. So now — please come and curse this people for me, for it is too powerful for me; perhaps I will be able to strike it and drive it away from the land. For I know that whomever you bless is blessed and whomever you curse is accursed." The elders of Moab went with charms in their hand; they came to Balaam and spoke to him the words of Balak. He said to them, "Spend the night here and I shall give you a response, as Hashem shall speak to me." So the officers of Moab stayed with Balaam. God came to Balaam and said, "Who are these men with you?" Balaam said to God, "Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent to me. 'Behold! the people coming out of Egypt has covered the surface of the earth. Now go and curse it for me; perhaps I will be able to make war against it and drive it away.' "

Kedumah 143 (22925) 175

וַיִּשְׁלַח יִשְׂרָאֵל מַלְאָכִים, אֶל-סִיחֹן מֶלֶךְ-הָאֱמֹרִי לֵאמֹר. אֶעְבְּרָה בְאַרְצֶךָ, לֹא נִטֶּה בְּשָׂדֶה וּבְכֶרֶם--לֹא נִשְׁתֶּה, מֵי בְאֵר: בְּדֶרֶךְ הַמֶּלֶךְ נֵלֵךְ, עַד אֲשֶׁר-נַעֲבֹר גְּבֻלֶךָ. וְלֹא-נָתַן סִיחֹן אֶת-יִשְׂרָאֵל, עֲבֹר בִּגְבֻלוֹ, וַיֶּאֱסֹף סִיחֹן אֶת-כָּל-עַמּוֹ וַיֵּצֵא לִקְרַאת יִשְׂרָאֵל הַמִּדְבָּרָה, וַיָּבֹא יָהְצָה; וַיִּלָּחֶם, בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל. וַיַּכֵּהוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, לְפִי-חָרֶב; וַיִּירַשׁ אֶת-אַרְצוֹ מֵאַרְנֹן, עַד-יַבֹּק עַד-בְּנֵי עַמּוֹן--כִּי עַז, גְּבוּל בְּנֵי עַמּוֹן. וַיִּקַּח, יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֵת כָּל-הֶעָרִים, הָאֵלֶּה; וַיֵּשֶׁב יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּכָל-עָרֵי הָאֱמֹרִי, בְּחֶשְׁבּוֹן וּבְכָל-בְּנֹתֶיהָ. כִּי חֶשְׁבּוֹן--עִיר סִיחֹן מֶלֶךְ הָאֱמֹרִי, הִוא; וְהוּא נִלְחַם, בְּמֶלֶךְ מוֹאָב הָרִאשׁוֹן, וַיִּקַּח אֶת-כָּל-אַרְצוֹ מִיָּדוֹ, עַד-אַרְנֹן. עַל-כֵּן יֹאמְרוּ הַמֹּשְׁלִים, בֹּאוּ חֶשְׁבּוֹן; תִּבָּנֶה וְתִכּוֹנֵן, עִיר סִיחוֹן. כִּי-אֵשׁ יָצְאָה מֵחֶשְׁבּוֹן, לֶהָבָה מִקִּרְיַת סִיחֹן: אָכְלָה עָר מוֹאָב, בַּעֲלֵי בָּמוֹת אַרְנֹן. אוֹי-לְךָ מוֹאָב, אָבַדְתָּ עַם-כְּמוֹשׁ; נָתַן בָּנָיו פְּלֵיטִם וּבְנֹתָיו בַּשְּׁבִית, לְמֶלֶךְ אֱמֹרִי סִיחוֹן. וַנִּירָם אָבַד חֶשְׁבּוֹן, עַד-דִּיבֹן; וַנַּשִּׁים עַד-נֹפַח, אֲשֶׁר עַד-מֵידְבָא. וַיֵּשֶׁב, יִשְׂרָאֵל, בְּאֶרֶץ, הָאֱמֹרִי. וַיִּשְׁלַח מֹשֶׁה לְרַגֵּל אֶת-יַעְזֵר, וַיִּלְכְּדוּ בְּנֹתֶיהָ; וַיּיֹרֶשׁ, אֶת-הָאֱמֹרִי אֲשֶׁר-שָׁם. וַיִּפְנוּ, וַיַּעֲלוּ, דֶּרֶךְ, הַבָּשָׁן; וַיֵּצֵא עוֹג מֶלֶךְ-הַבָּשָׁן לִקְרָאתָם הוּא וְכָל-עַמּוֹ, לַמִּלְחָמָה--אֶדְרֶעִי. וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה, אַל-תִּירָא אֹתוֹ--כִּי בְיָדְךָ נָתַתִּי אֹתוֹ וְאֶת-כָּל-עַמּוֹ, וְאֶת-אַרְצוֹ; וְעָשִׂיתָ לּוֹ--כַּאֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתָ לְסִיחֹן מֶלֶךְ הָאֱמֹרִי, אֲשֶׁר יוֹשֵׁב בְּחֶשְׁבּוֹן. וַיַּכּוּ אֹתוֹ וְאֶת-בָּנָיו וְאֶת-כָּל-עַמּוֹ, עַד-בִּלְתִּי הִשְׁאִיר-לוֹ שָׂרִיד; וַיִּירְשׁוּ, אֶת-אַרְצוֹ

Israel sent emissaries to Sihon, king of the Amorite, saying, "Let me pass through your land; we shall not turn off to field or vineyard; we shall not drink well water; on the king's road shall we travel, until we pass through your border." But Sihon did not permit Israel to pass through his border, and Sihon assembled his entire people and went out against Israel to the Wilderness. He arrived at Jahaz and waged war against Israel. Israel smote him with the edge of the sword and took possession of his land, from Arnon to Jabbok to the children of Ammon — for the border of the children of Ammon was powerful. Israel took all these cities, and Israel settled in all the Amorite cities, in Heshbon and all its suburbs. For Heshbon — it was the city of Sihon, king of the Amorite; and he had warred against the first king of Moab and took all his land from his control, until Arnon. Regarding this the poets would say - "Come to Heshbon — let it be built and established as the city of Sihon. For a fire has come forth from Heshbon a flame from the city of Sihon. It consumed Ar of Moab, the masters of Arnon's heights. Woe to you, O Moab, you are lost, O people of Chemosh! He made your sons fugitives and your daughters captives of the king of the Amorite, Sihon. Their sovereignty over Heshbon was lost, Dibon was removed, and we laid waste to Nophah, which reaches up to Medeba." Israel settled in the land of the Amorites. Moses sent to spy out Jazer and they conquered its suburbs; and he drove away the Amorites that were there. They turned and ascended by way of Bashan; Og, king of Bashan, went out against them, he and his entire people, to do battle at Edrei. Hashem said to Moses, "Do not fear him, for into your hand have I given him, his entire people, and his land; you shall do to him as you did to Sihon, king of the Amorites, who dwells in Heshbon." They smote him, his sons, and all his people, until there was no survivor left of him, and they took possession of his land.

Kedumah 142 (22750) 168

וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו אֱדוֹם, לֹא תַעֲבֹר בִּי--פֶּן-בַּחֶרֶב, אֵצֵא לִקְרָאתֶךָ. וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלָיו בְּנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל, בַּמְסִלָּה נַעֲלֶה, וְאִם-מֵימֶיךָ נִשְׁתֶּה אֲנִי וּמִקְנַי, וְנָתַתִּי מִכְרָם; רַק אֵין-דָּבָר, בְּרַגְלַי אֶעֱבֹרָה. וַיֹּאמֶר, לֹא תַעֲבֹר; וַיֵּצֵא אֱדוֹם לִקְרָאתוֹ, בְּעַם כָּבֵד וּבְיָד חֲזָקָה. וַיְמָאֵן אֱדוֹם, נְתֹן אֶת-יִשְׂרָאֵל, עֲבֹר, בִּגְבֻלוֹ; וַיֵּט יִשְׂרָאֵל, מֵעָלָיו

וַיִּשְׁמַע הַכְּנַעֲנִי מֶלֶךְ-עֲרָד, יֹשֵׁב הַנֶּגֶב, כִּי בָּא יִשְׂרָאֵל, דֶּרֶךְ הָאֲתָרִים; וַיִּלָּחֶם, בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, וַיִּשְׁבְּ מִמֶּנּוּ, שֶׁבִי. וַיִּדַּר יִשְׂרָאֵל נֶדֶר לַיהוָה, וַיֹּאמַר: אִם-נָתֹן תִּתֵּן אֶת-הָעָם הַזֶּה, בְּיָדִי--וְהַחֲרַמְתִּי, אֶת-עָרֵיהֶם. וַיִּשְׁמַע יְהוָה בְּקוֹל יִשְׂרָאֵל, וַיִּתֵּן אֶת-הַכְּנַעֲנִי, וַיַּחֲרֵם אֶתְהֶם, וְאֶת-עָרֵיהֶם; וַיִּקְרָא שֵׁם-הַמָּקוֹם, חָרְמָה

מִשָּׁם, נָסָעוּ; וַיַּחֲנוּ, בְּנַחַל זָרֶד. מִשָּׁם, נָסָעוּ, וַיַּחֲנוּ מֵעֵבֶר אַרְנוֹן אֲשֶׁר בַּמִּדְבָּר, הַיֹּצֵא מִגְּבֻל הָאֱמֹרִי: כִּי אַרְנוֹן גְּבוּל מוֹאָב, בֵּין מוֹאָב וּבֵין הָאֱמֹרִי. עַל-כֵּן, יֵאָמַר, בְּסֵפֶר, מִלְחֲמֹת יְהוָה: אֶת-וָהֵב בְּסוּפָה, וְאֶת-הַנְּחָלִים אַרְנוֹן. וְאֶשֶׁד, הַנְּחָלִים, אֲשֶׁר נָטָה, לְשֶׁבֶת עָר; וְנִשְׁעַן, לִגְבוּל מוֹאָב. וּמִשָּׁם, בְּאֵרָה: הִוא הַבְּאֵר, אֲשֶׁר אָמַר יְהוָה לְמֹשֶׁה, אֱסֹף אֶת-הָעָם, וְאֶתְּנָה לָהֶם מָיִם

אָז יָשִׁיר יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֶת-הַשִּׁירָה הַזֹּאת: עֲלִי בְאֵר, עֱנוּ-לָהּ. בְּאֵר חֲפָרוּהָ שָׂרִים, כָּרוּהָ נְדִיבֵי הָעָם, בִּמְחֹקֵק, בְּמִשְׁעֲנֹתָם; וּמִמִּדְבָּר, מַתָּנָה. וּמִמַּתָּנָה, נַחֲלִיאֵל; וּמִנַּחֲלִיאֵל, בָּמוֹת. וּמִבָּמוֹת, הַגַּיְא אֲשֶׁר בִּשְׂדֵה מוֹאָב--רֹאשׁ, הַפִּסְגָּה; וְנִשְׁקָפָה, עַל-פְּנֵי הַיְשִׁימֹן

The king of Edom said to him, "You shall not pass through me — lest I come against you with the sword!" The Children of Israel said to him, "We shall go up on the highway, and if we drink your water — I or my flock — I shall pay their price.Only nothing will happen; let me pass through on foot." He said, "You shall not pass through!" Then Edom went out against him with a massive throng and a strong hand. So Edom refused to permit Israel to pass through his border, and Israel turned away from near him.

The Canaanite king of Arad, who dwelled in the south, heard that Israel had come by the route of the spies, and he warred against Israel and took a captive from it. Israel made a vow to Hashem and said, "If He will deliver this people into my hand, I will consecrate their cities." Hashem heard the voice of Israel, and He delivered the Canaanite, and it consecrated them and their cities. It named the place Hormah.

From there they journeyed and encamped in the valley of Zered. From there they journeyed and encamped on the other side of Arnon, which is in the wilderness that juts out from the border of the Amorite; for Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorite. Therefore it is said in the Book of the Wars of Hashem - "The gift of [the Sea of] Reeds and the rivers of Arnon; the outpouring of the rivers when it veered to dwell at Ar, and leaned against the border of Moab. And from there to the well — of which Hashem said to Moses, 'Assemble the people and I shall give them water.' "
Then Israel sang this song - "Come up, O well, announce it. Well that the princes dug, that the nobles of the people excavated, through a lawgiver, with their staff. A gift from the Wilderness — the gift went to the valley, and from the valley to the heights, and from the heights to the valley in the field of Moab, at the top of the peak, overlooking the surface of the wilderness."

Kedumah 141 (22582) 164

וַיָּקָם מֹשֶׁה, וַיֵּלֶךְ אֶל-דָּתָן וַאֲבִירָם; וַיֵּלְכוּ אַחֲרָיו, זִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. וַיְדַבֵּר אֶל-הָעֵדָה לֵאמֹר, סוּרוּ נָא מֵעַל אָהֳלֵי הָאֲנָשִׁים הָרְשָׁעִים הָאֵלֶּה, וְאַל-תִּגְּעוּ, בְּכָל-אֲשֶׁר לָהֶם: פֶּן-תִּסָּפוּ, בְּכָל-חַטֹּאתָם. וַיֹּאמֶר, מֹשֶׁה, בְּזֹאת תֵּדְעוּן, כִּי-יְהוָה שְׁלָחַנִי לַעֲשׂוֹת אֵת כָּל-הַמַּעֲשִׂים הָאֵלֶּה: כִּי-לֹא, מִלִּבִּי. אִם-כְּמוֹת כָּל-הָאָדָם, יְמֻתוּן אֵלֶּה, וּפְקֻדַּת כָּל-הָאָדָם, יִפָּקֵד עֲלֵיהֶם--לֹא יְהוָה, שְׁלָחָנִי. וְאִם-בְּרִיאָה יִבְרָא יְהוָה, וּפָצְתָה הָאֲדָמָה אֶת-פִּיהָ וּבָלְעָה אֹתָם וְאֶת-כָּל-אֲשֶׁר לָהֶם, וְיָרְדוּ חַיִּים, שְׁאֹלָה--וִידַעְתֶּם, כִּי נִאֲצוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים הָאֵלֶּה אֶת-יְהוָה. וַיְהִי, כְּכַלֹּתוֹ, לְדַבֵּר, אֵת כָּל-הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה; וַתִּבָּקַע הָאֲדָמָה, אֲשֶׁר תַּחְתֵּיהֶם. וַתִּפְתַּח הָאָרֶץ אֶת-פִּיהָ, וַתִּבְלַע אֹתָם וְאֶת-בָּתֵּיהֶם. וַיֵּרְדוּ הֵם וְכָל-אֲשֶׁר לָהֶם, חַיִּים--שְׁאֹלָה; וַתְּכַס עֲלֵיהֶם הָאָרֶץ, וַיֹּאבְדוּ מִתּוֹךְ הַקָּהָל. וְכָל-יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֲשֶׁר סְבִיבֹתֵיהֶם--נָסוּ לְקֹלָם: כִּי אָמְרוּ, פֶּן-תִּבְלָעֵנוּ הָאָרֶץ

וַיִּשְׁלַח מֹשֶׁה מַלְאָכִים מִקָּדֵשׁ, אֶל-מֶלֶךְ אֱדוֹם: כֹּה אָמַר, אָחִיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל, אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ, אֵת כָּל-הַתְּלָאָה אֲשֶׁר מְצָאָתְנוּ. וַיֵּרְדוּ אֲבֹתֵינוּ מִצְרַיְמָה, וַנֵּשֶׁב בְּמִצְרַיִם יָמִים רַבִּים; וַיָּרֵעוּ לָנוּ מִצְרַיִם, וְלַאֲבֹתֵינוּ. וַנִּצְעַק אֶל-יְהוָה, וַיִּשְׁמַע קֹלֵנוּ, וַיִּשְׁלַח מַלְאָךְ, וַיֹּצִאֵנוּ מִמִּצְרָיִם; וְהִנֵּה אֲנַחְנוּ בְקָדֵשׁ, עִיר קְצֵה גְבוּלֶךָ. נַעְבְּרָה-נָּא בְאַרְצֶךָ, לֹא נַעֲבֹר בְּשָׂדֶה וּבְכֶרֶם, וְלֹא נִשְׁתֶּה, מֵי בְאֵר: דֶּרֶךְ הַמֶּלֶךְ נֵלֵךְ, לֹא נִטֶּה יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאול, עַד אֲשֶׁר-נַעֲבֹר, גְּבֻלֶךָ

So Moses stood up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. He spoke to the assembly, saying, "Turn away now from near the tents of these wicked men, and do not touch anything of theirs, lest you perish because of all their sins." Moses said, "Through this shall you know that Hashem sent me to perform all these acts, that it was not from my heart. If these die like the death of all men, and the destiny of all men is visited upon them, then it is not Hashem Who has sent me. But if Hashem will create a phenomenon, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them and all that is theirs, and they will descend alive to the pit — then you shall know that these men have provoked Hashem!" When he finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split open. The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households. They and all that was theirs descended alive to the pit; the earth covered them over and they were lost from among the congregation. All Israel that was around them fled at their sound, for they said, "Lest the earth swallow us!"
Moses sent emissaries from Kadesh to the king of Edom - "So said your brother Israel - You know all the hardship that has befallen us. Our forefathers descended to Egypt and we dwelled in Egypt many years, and the Egyptians did evil to us and to our forefathers. We cried out to Hashem and He heard our voice; he sent an emissary and took us out of Egypt. Now behold! we are in Kadesh, a city at the edge of your border. Let us pass through your land; we shall not pass through field or vineyard, and we shall not drink well water; on the king's road shall we travel — we shall not veer right or left — until we pass through your border."

Kedumah 140 (22418) 169

וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה, אֶל-מֹשֶׁה וְאֶל-אַהֲרֹן לֵאמֹר. עַד-מָתַי, לָעֵדָה הָרָעָה הַזֹּאת, אֲשֶׁר הֵמָּה מַלִּינִים, עָלָי; אֶת-תְּלֻנּוֹת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֲשֶׁר הֵמָּה מַלִּינִים עָלַי--שָׁמָעְתִּי. אֱמֹר אֲלֵהֶם, חַי-אָנִי נְאֻם-יְהוָה, אִם-לֹא, כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתֶּם בְּאָזְנָי: כֵּן, אֶעֱשֶׂה לָכֶם. בַּמִּדְבָּר הַזֶּה יִפְּלוּ פִגְרֵיכֶם וְכָל-פְּקֻדֵיכֶם, לְכָל-מִסְפַּרְכֶם, מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה, וָמָעְלָה: אֲשֶׁר הֲלִינֹתֶם, עָלָי. וַיְדַבֵּר מֹשֶׁה אֶת-הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה, אֶל-כָּל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל; וַיִּתְאַבְּלוּ הָעָם, מְאֹד. וַיַּשְׁכִּמוּ בַבֹּקֶר, וַיַּעֲלוּ אֶל-רֹאשׁ-הָהָר לֵאמֹר: הִנֶּנּוּ, וְעָלִינוּ אֶל-הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר-אָמַר יְהוָה--כִּי חָטָאנוּ. וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה, לָמָּה זֶּה אַתֶּם עֹבְרִים אֶת-פִּי יְהוָה; וְהִוא, לֹא תִצְלָח. אַל-תַּעֲלוּ, כִּי אֵין יְהוָה בְּקִרְבְּכֶם; וְלֹא, תִּנָּגְפוּ, לִפְנֵי, אֹיְבֵיכֶם. כִּי הָעֲמָלֵקִי וְהַכְּנַעֲנִי שָׁם לִפְנֵיכֶם, וּנְפַלְתֶּם בֶּחָרֶב: כִּי-עַל-כֵּן שַׁבְתֶּם מֵאַחֲרֵי יְהוָה, וְלֹא-יִהְיֶה יְהוָה עִמָּכֶם. וַיַּעְפִּלוּ, לַעֲלוֹת אֶל-רֹאשׁ הָהָר; וַאֲרוֹן בְּרִית-יְהוָה וּמֹשֶׁה, לֹא-מָשׁוּ מִקֶּרֶב הַמַּחֲנֶה. וַיֵּרֶד הָעֲמָלֵקִי וְהַכְּנַעֲנִי, הַיֹּשֵׁב בָּהָר הַהוּא; וַיַּכּוּם וַיַּכְּתוּם, עַד-הַחָרְמָה

וְדָתָן וַאֲבִירָם בְּנֵי אֱלִיאָב, וְאוֹן בֶּן-פֶּלֶת--בְּנֵי רְאוּבֵן. וַיָּקֻמוּ לִפְנֵי מֹשֶׁה. וַיִּשְׁלַח מֹשֶׁה, לִקְרֹא לְדָתָן וְלַאֲבִירָם בְּנֵי אֱלִיאָב; וַיֹּאמְרוּ, לֹא נַעֲלֶה. הַמְעַט, כִּי הֶעֱלִיתָנוּ מֵאֶרֶץ זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבַשׁ, לַהֲמִיתֵנוּ, בַּמִּדְבָּר: כִּי-תִשְׂתָּרֵר עָלֵינוּ, גַּם-הִשְׂתָּרֵר. אַף לֹא אֶל-אֶרֶץ זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבַשׁ, הֲבִיאֹתָנוּ, וַתִּתֶּן-לָנוּ, נַחֲלַת שָׂדֶה וָכָרֶם; הַעֵינֵי הָאֲנָשִׁים הָהֵם, תְּנַקֵּר--לֹא נַעֲלֶה

Hashem spoke to Moses and Aharon, saying, "How long for this evil assembly that provokes complaints against Me? I have heard the complaints of the Children of Israel whom they provoke against Me. Say to them: As I live - the words of Hashem - if I will not do to you as you have spoken in My ears. In this Wilderness shall your carcasses drop; all of you who were counted in any of your numberings, from twenty years of age and above, because you complained against Me." Moses spoke these words to all of the Children of Israel, and the people mourned exceedingly. They awoke early in the morning and ascended toward the mountaintop saying, "We are ready, and we shall ascend to the place of which Hashem has spoken, for we have sinned!" Moses said, "Why do you transgress the word of Hashem? It will not succeed. Do not ascend, for Hashem is not in your midst! And do not be smitten before your enemies. For the Amalekite and the Canaanite are there before you, and you will fall by the sword, because you have turned away from Hashem, and Hashem will not be with you." But they defiantly ascended to the mountaintop, while the Ark of Hashem's covenant and Moses did not move from the midst of the camp. The Amalekite and the Canaanite who dwelled on that mountain descended; they struck them and pounded them until Hormah.

And Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, the offspring of Reuben, they stood up before Moses. Moses sent forth to summon Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, but they said, "We shall not go up. Is it not enough that you have brought us up from a land flowing with milk and honey to cause us to die in the Wilderness, yet you seek to dominate us, even to dominate further? Moreover, you did not bring us to a land flowing with milk and honey nor give us a heritage of field and vineyard! Even if you would gouge out the eyes of those men, we shall not go up!"

Kedumah 139 (22249) 152

וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה, אֶל-יְהוָה: וְשָׁמְעוּ מִצְרַיִם, כִּי-הֶעֱלִיתָ בְכֹחֲךָ אֶת-הָעָם הַזֶּה מִקִּרְבּוֹ. וְאָמְרוּ, אֶל-יוֹשֵׁב הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת, שָׁמְעוּ כִּי-אַתָּה יְהוָה, בְּקֶרֶב הָעָם הַזֶּה: אֲשֶׁר-עַיִן בְּעַיִן נִרְאָה אַתָּה יְהוָה, וַעֲנָנְךָ עֹמֵד עֲלֵהֶם, וּבְעַמֻּד עָנָן אַתָּה הֹלֵךְ לִפְנֵיהֶם יוֹמָם, וּבְעַמּוּד אֵשׁ לָיְלָה. וְהֵמַתָּה אֶת-הָעָם הַזֶּה, כְּאִישׁ אֶחָד; וְאָמְרוּ, הַגּוֹיִם, אֲשֶׁר-שָׁמְעוּ אֶת-שִׁמְעֲךָ, לֵאמֹר. מִבִּלְתִּי יְכֹלֶת יְהוָה, לְהָבִיא אֶת-הָעָם הַזֶּה, אֶל-הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר-נִשְׁבַּע לָהֶם; וַיִּשְׁחָטֵם, בַּמִּדְבָּר. וְעַתָּה, יִגְדַּל-נָא כֹּחַ אֲדֹנָי, כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ, לֵאמֹר. יְהוָה, אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם וְרַב-חֶסֶד, נֹשֵׂא עָו‍ֹן, וָפָשַׁע; וְנַקֵּה, לֹא יְנַקֶּה--פֹּקֵד עֲו‍ֹן אָבוֹת עַל-בָּנִים, עַל-שִׁלֵּשִׁים וְעַל-רִבֵּעִים. סְלַח-נָא, לַעֲו‍ֹן הָעָם הַזֶּה--כְּגֹדֶל חַסְדֶּךָ; וְכַאֲשֶׁר נָשָׂאתָה לָעָם הַזֶּה, מִמִּצְרַיִם וְעַד-הֵנָּה. וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה, סָלַחְתִּי כִּדְבָרֶךָ. וְאוּלָם, חַי-אָנִי: וְיִמָּלֵא כְבוֹד-יְהוָה, אֶת-כָּל-הָאָרֶץ. כִּי כָל-הָאֲנָשִׁים, הָרֹאִים אֶת-כְּבֹדִי וְאֶת-אֹתֹתַי, אֲשֶׁר-עָשִׂיתִי בְמִצְרַיִם, וּבַמִּדְבָּר; וַיְנַסּוּ אֹתִי, זֶה עֶשֶׂר פְּעָמִים, וְלֹא שָׁמְעוּ, בְּקוֹלִי. אִם-יִרְאוּ, אֶת-הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי, לַאֲבֹתָם; וְכָל-מְנַאֲצַי, לֹא יִרְאוּהָ. וְעַבְדִּי כָלֵב, עֵקֶב הָיְתָה רוּחַ אַחֶרֶת עִמּוֹ, וַיְמַלֵּא, אַחֲרָי--וַהֲבִיאֹתִיו, אֶל-הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר-בָּא שָׁמָּה, וְזַרְעוֹ, יוֹרִשֶׁנָּה. וְהָעֲמָלֵקִי וְהַכְּנַעֲנִי, יוֹשֵׁב בָּעֵמֶק; מָחָר, פְּנוּ וּסְעוּ לָכֶם הַמִּדְבָּר--דֶּרֶךְ יַם-סוּף

Moses said to Hashem, "Then Egypt — from whose midst You brought up this nation with Your power — will hear, and they will say about the inhabitants of this Land, 'They have heard that You, Hashem, are in the midst of this people — that You, Hashem, appeared eye to eye and Your cloud stands over them, and that in a pillar of cloud You go before them by day and in a pillar of fire at night, yet You killed this people like a single man!' Then the nations that heard of Your fame will say, 'Because Hashem lacked the ability to bring this people to the Land that He had sworn to give them, He slaughtered them in the Wilderness.' And now — may the strength of my Lord be magnified as You have spoken, saying, 'Hashem, Slow to Anger, Abundant in Kindness, Forgiver of Iniquity and Willful Sin, and Who cleanses — but does not cleanse completely, recalling the iniquity of parents upon children to the third and fourth generations', forgive now the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of Your kindness and as You have forgiven this people from Egypt until now." And Hashem said, "I have forgiven because of your words. But as I live — and the glory of Hashem shall fill the entire world, that all the men who have seen My glory and My signs that I performed in Egypt and in the Wilderness, and have tested Me these ten times and have not heeded My voice, if they will see the Land that I have sworn to give their forefathers! — and all who anger Me shall not see it. But My servant Caleb, because a different spirit was with him and he followed Me wholeheartedly, I shall bring him to the Land to which he came, and his offspring shall possess it. The Amalekite and the Canaanite dwell in the valley — tomorrow, turn and journey toward the Wilderness in the direction of the Sea of Reeds."

Kedumah 138 (22097) 163

וַיַּעֲלוּ בַנֶּגֶב, וַיָּבֹא עַד-חֶבְרוֹן, וְשָׁם אֲחִימַן שֵׁשַׁי וְתַלְמַי, יְלִידֵי הָעֲנָק; וְחֶבְרוֹן, שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים נִבְנְתָה, לִפְנֵי, צֹעַן מִצְרָיִם. וַיָּבֹאוּ עַד-נַחַל אֶשְׁכֹּל, וַיִּכְרְתוּ מִשָּׁם זְמוֹרָה וְאֶשְׁכּוֹל עֲנָבִים אֶחָד, וַיִּשָּׂאֻהוּ בַמּוֹט, בִּשְׁנָיִם; וּמִן-הָרִמֹּנִים, וּמִן-הַתְּאֵנִים. לַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא, קָרָא נַחַל אֶשְׁכּוֹל, עַל אֹדוֹת הָאֶשְׁכּוֹל, אֲשֶׁר-כָּרְתוּ מִשָּׁם בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. וַיְסַפְּרוּ-לוֹ, וַיֹּאמְרוּ, בָּאנוּ, אֶל-הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר שְׁלַחְתָּנוּ; וְגַם זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבַשׁ, הִוא--וְזֶה-פִּרְיָהּ. אֶפֶס כִּי-עַז הָעָם, הַיֹּשֵׁב בָּאָרֶץ; וְהֶעָרִים, בְּצֻרוֹת גְּדֹלֹת מְאֹד, וְגַם-יְלִדֵי הָעֲנָק, רָאִינוּ שָׁם. עֲמָלֵק יוֹשֵׁב, בְּאֶרֶץ הַנֶּגֶב; וְהַחִתִּי וְהַיְבוּסִי וְהָאֱמֹרִי, יוֹשֵׁב בָּהָר, וְהַכְּנַעֲנִי יוֹשֵׁב עַל-הַיָּם, וְעַל יַד הַיַּרְדֵּן. וַיַּהַס כָּלֵב אֶת-הָעָם, אֶל-מֹשֶׁה; וַיֹּאמֶר, עָלֹה נַעֲלֶה וְיָרַשְׁנוּ אֹתָהּ--כִּי-יָכוֹל נוּכַל, לָהּ. וְהָאֲנָשִׁים אֲשֶׁר-עָלוּ עִמּוֹ, אָמְרוּ, לֹא נוּכַל, לַעֲלוֹת אֶל-הָעָם: כִּי-חָזָק הוּא, מִמֶּנּוּ. הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר עָבַרְנוּ בָהּ לָתוּר אֹתָהּ, אֶרֶץ אֹכֶלֶת יוֹשְׁבֶיהָ הִוא, וְכָל-הָעָם אֲשֶׁר-רָאִינוּ בְתוֹכָהּ, אַנְשֵׁי מִדּוֹת. וְשָׁם רָאִינוּ, אֶת-הַנְּפִילִים בְּנֵי עֲנָק--מִן-הַנְּפִלִים; וַנְּהִי בְעֵינֵינוּ כַּחֲגָבִים, וְכֵן הָיִינוּ בְּעֵינֵיהֶם

וַיֹּאמְרוּ, אִישׁ אֶל-אָחִיו: נִתְּנָה רֹאשׁ, וְנָשׁוּבָה מִצְרָיְמָה. וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה, עַד-אָנָה יְנַאֲצֻנִי הָעָם הַזֶּה; וְעַד-אָנָה, לֹא-יַאֲמִינוּ בִי, בְּכֹל הָאֹתוֹת, אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתִי בְּקִרְבּוֹ. אַכֶּנּוּ בַדֶּבֶר, וְאוֹרִשֶׁנּוּ; וְאֶעֱשֶׂה, אֹתְךָ, לְגוֹי-גָּדוֹל וְעָצוּם, מִמֶּנּוּ

They ascended in the south and he arrived at Hebron, where there were Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the offspring of the giant. Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan of Egypt. They arrived at the Valley of Eshcol and cut from there a vine with one cluster of grapes, and bore it on a double pole, and of the pomegranates and of the figs. They named that place the Valley of Eshcol because of the cluster that the Children of Israel cut from there. They reported to him and said, "We arrived at the Land to which you sent us, and indeed it flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. But — the people that dwells in the Land is powerful, the cities are very greatly fortified, and we also saw there the offspring of the giant. Amalek dwells in the area of the south; the Hittite, the Jebusite, and the Emorite dwell on the mountain; and the Canaanite dwells by the Sea and on the bank of the Jordan." Caleb silenced the people toward Moses and said, "We shall surely ascend and conquer it, for we can surely do it!" But the men who had ascended with him said, "We cannot ascend to that people for it is too strong for us! They brought forth to the Children of Israel an evil report on the Land that they had spied out, saying, "The Land through which we have passed, to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants! All the people that we saw in it were huge. There we saw the Nephilim, the sons of the giant from among the Nephilim; we were like grasshoppers in our eyes, and so we were in their eyes!"

So they said to one another, "Let us appoint a leader and let us return to Egypt!" Hashem said to Moses, "How long will this people provoke Me, and how long will they not have faith in Me, despite all the signs that I have performed in their midst? I will smite them with the plague and annihilate them, and I shall make you a greater and more powerful nation than they."

Kedumah 137 (21934) 189

לֹא-כֵן, עַבְדִּי מֹשֶׁה: בְּכָל-בֵּיתִי, נֶאֱמָן הוּא. פֶּה אֶל-פֶּה אֲדַבֶּר-בּוֹ, וּמַרְאֶה וְלֹא בְחִידֹת, וּתְמֻנַת יְהוָה, יַבִּיט; וּמַדּוּעַ לֹא יְרֵאתֶם, לְדַבֵּר בְּעַבְדִּי בְמֹשֶׁה. וַיִּחַר-אַף יְהוָה בָּם, וַיֵּלַךְ. וְהֶעָנָן, סָר מֵעַל הָאֹהֶל, וְהִנֵּה מִרְיָם, מְצֹרַעַת כַּשָּׁלֶג; וַיִּפֶן אַהֲרֹן אֶל-מִרְיָם, וְהִנֵּה מְצֹרָעַת. וַיֹּאמֶר אַהֲרֹן, אֶל-מֹשֶׁה: בִּי אֲדֹנִי--אַל-נָא תָשֵׁת עָלֵינוּ חַטָּאת, אֲשֶׁר נוֹאַלְנוּ וַאֲשֶׁר חָטָאנוּ. אַל-נָא תְהִי, כַּמֵּת, אֲשֶׁר בְּצֵאתוֹ מֵרֶחֶם אִמּוֹ, וַיֵּאָכֵל חֲצִי בְשָׂרוֹ. וַיִּצְעַק מֹשֶׁה, אֶל-יְהוָה לֵאמֹר: אֵל, נָא רְפָא נָא לָהּ

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה, וְאָבִיהָ יָרֹק יָרַק בְּפָנֶיהָ--הֲלֹא תִכָּלֵם, שִׁבְעַת יָמִים; תִּסָּגֵר שִׁבְעַת יָמִים, מִחוּץ לַמַּחֲנֶה, וְאַחַר, תֵּאָסֵף. וַתִּסָּגֵר מִרְיָם מִחוּץ לַמַּחֲנֶה, שִׁבְעַת יָמִים; וְהָעָם לֹא נָסַע, עַד-הֵאָסֵף מִרְיָם. וְאַחַר נָסְעוּ הָעָם, וַיַּחֲנוּ, בְּמִדְבַּר פָּארָן

וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב הָעָ֖ם בְּקָדֵ֑שׁ וַתָּ֤מָת שָׁם֙ מִרְיָ֔ם וַתִּקָּבֵ֖ר שָֽׁם: וַיָּ֥רֶב הָעָ֖ם עִם־מֹשֶׁ֑ה וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ לָמָ֤ה הֶעֱלִיתָנוּ, מִמִּצְרַיִם, לְהָבִיא אֹתָנוּ, אֶל-הַמָּקוֹם הָרָע הַזֶּה: לֹא מְקוֹם זֶרַע, וּתְאֵנָה וְגֶפֶן וְרִמּוֹן. וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם, עֲלוּ זֶה בַּנֶּגֶב, וַעֲלִיתֶם, אֶת-הָהָר. וּרְאִיתֶם אֶת-הָאָרֶץ, מַה-הִוא; וְאֶת-הָעָם, הַיֹּשֵׁב עָלֶיהָ--הֶחָזָק הוּא הֲרָפֶה, הַמְעַט הוּא אִם-רָב. וּמָה הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר-הוּא יֹשֵׁב בָּהּ--הֲטוֹבָה הִוא, אִם-רָעָה; וּמָה הֶעָרִים, אֲשֶׁר-הוּא יוֹשֵׁב בָּהֵנָּה--הַבְּמַחֲנִים, אִם בְּמִבְצָרִים. וּמָה הָאָרֶץ הַשְּׁמֵנָה הִוא אִם-רָזָה, הֲיֵשׁ-בָּהּ עֵץ אִם-אַיִן, וְהִתְחַזַּקְתֶּם, וּלְקַחְתֶּם מִפְּרִי הָאָרֶץ; וְהַיָּמִים--יְמֵי, בִּכּוּרֵי עֲנָבִים. וַיַּעֲלוּ, וַיָּתֻרוּ אֶת-הָאָרֶץ, מִמִּדְבַּר-צִן עַד-רְחֹב, לְבֹא חֲמָת

Not so is My servant Moses; in My entire house he is the trusted one. Mouth to mouth do I speak to him, in a clear vision and not in riddles, at the image of Hashem does he gaze. Why did you not fear to speak against My servant Moses?" The wrath of Hashem flared up against them, and He left. The cloud had departed from atop the Tent, and behold! Miriam was afflicted with tzaraas, like snow! Aaron turned to Miriam and behold! she was afflicted with tzaraas. Aaron said to Moses, "I beg you, my lord, do not cast a sin upon us, for we have been foolish and we have sinned. Let her not be like a corpse, like one who leaves his mother's womb with half his flesh having been consumed!" Moses cried out to Hashem, saying, "Please, Hashem, heal her now."

Hashem said to Moses, "Were her father to spit in her face, would she not be humiliated for seven days? Let her be quarantined outside the camp for seven days, and then she may be brought in." So Miriam was quarantined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not journey until Miriam was brought in. Then the people journeyed, and they encamped in the Wilderness of Paran.

And Miriam died there and was buried there. And the people quarreled with Moshe, and they said: "And why did you bring us up from Egypt to bring us to this bad place? It is not a place of seed, and fig and vine and pomegranates." And he said to them, "Ascend here in the south and climb the mountain. See the Land — how is it? and the people that dwells in it — is it strong or weak? is it few or numerous? And how is the Land in which it dwells — is it good or is it bad? And how are the cities in which it dwells — are they open or are they fortified? And how is the land — is it fertile or is it lean? are there trees in it or not? You shall strengthen yourselves and take from the fruit of the Land." The days were the season of the first ripe grapes. They ascended and spied out the Land, from the Wilderness of Zin to the expanse at the approach to Hamath.

Kedumah 136 (21745) 162

וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה, לְחֹבָב בֶּן-רְעוּאֵל הַמִּדְיָנִי חֹתֵן מֹשֶׁה, נֹסְעִים אֲנַחְנוּ אֶל-הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר אָמַר יְהוָה, אֹתוֹ אֶתֵּן לָכֶם; לְכָה אִתָּנוּ וְהֵטַבְנוּ לָךְ, כִּי-יְהוָה דִּבֶּר-טוֹב עַל-יִשְׂרָאֵל. וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו, לֹא אֵלֵךְ: כִּי אִם-אֶל-אַרְצִי וְאֶל-מוֹלַדְתִּי, אֵלֵךְ. וַיֹּאמֶר, אַל-נָא תַּעֲזֹב אֹתָנוּ: כִּי עַל-כֵּן יָדַעְתָּ, חֲנֹתֵנוּ בַּמִּדְבָּר, וְהָיִיתָ לָּנוּ, לְעֵינָיִם. וְהָיָה, כִּי-תֵלֵךְ עִמָּנוּ: וְהָיָה הַטּוֹב הַהוּא, אֲשֶׁר יֵיטִיב יְהוָה עִמָּנוּ--וְהֵטַבְנוּ לָךְ. וַיִּסְעוּ מֵהַר יְהוָה, דֶּרֶךְ שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים; וַאֲרוֹן בְּרִית-יְהוָה נֹסֵעַ לִפְנֵיהֶם, דֶּרֶךְ שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים, לָתוּר לָהֶם, מְנוּחָה. וַעֲנַן יְהוָה עֲלֵיהֶם, יוֹמָם, בְּנָסְעָם, מִן-הַמַּחֲנֶה

וַיְהִי בִּנְסֹעַ הָאָרֹן, וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה: קוּמָה יְהוָה, וְיָפֻצוּ אֹיְבֶיךָ, וְיָנֻסוּ מְשַׂנְאֶיךָ, מִפָּנֶיךָ. וּבְנֻחֹה, יֹאמַר: שׁוּבָה יְהוָה, רִבְבוֹת אַלְפֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל

וַתְּדַבֵּר מִרְיָם וְאַהֲרֹן בְּמֹשֶׁה, עַל-אֹדוֹת הָאִשָּׁה הַכֻּשִׁית אֲשֶׁר לָקָח: כִּי-אִשָּׁה כֻשִׁית, לָקָח. וַיֹּאמְרוּ, הֲרַק אַךְ-בְּמֹשֶׁה דִּבֶּר יְהוָה--הֲלֹא, גַּם-בָּנוּ דִבֵּר; וַיִּשְׁמַע, יְהוָה. וְהָאִישׁ מֹשֶׁה, עָנָו מְאֹד--מִכֹּל, הָאָדָם, אֲשֶׁר, עַל-פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה פִּתְאֹם, אֶל-מֹשֶׁה וְאֶל-אַהֲרֹן וְאֶל-מִרְיָם, צְאוּ שְׁלָשְׁתְּכֶם, אֶל-אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד; וַיֵּצְאוּ, שְׁלָשְׁתָּם. וַיֵּרֶד יְהוָה בְּעַמּוּד עָנָן, וַיַּעֲמֹד פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל; וַיִּקְרָא אַהֲרֹן וּמִרְיָם, וַיֵּצְאוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם. וַיֹּאמֶר, שִׁמְעוּ-נָא דְבָרָי; אִם-יִהְיֶה, נְבִיאֲכֶם--יְהוָה בַּמַּרְאָה אֵלָיו אֶתְוַדָּע, בַּחֲלוֹם אֲדַבֶּר-בּוֹ

Moses said to Hobab son of Reuel, the Midianite, the father-in-law of Moses, "We are journeying to the place of which Hashem has said, 'I shall give it to you.' Go with us and we shall treat you well, for Hashem has spoken of good for Israel." He said to him, "I shall not go; only to my land and my family shall I go." He said, "Please do not forsake us, inasmuch as you know our encampments in the Wilderness, and you have been as eyes for us. And it shall be that if you come with us, then with the goodness with which Hashem will benefit us, we will do good to you." They journeyed from the Mountain of Hashem a three-day distance, and the Ark of the covenant of Hashem journeyed before them a three-day distance to search out for them a resting place. The cloud of Hashem was over them by day when they journeyed from the camp.
When the Ark would journey, Moses said, "Arise, Hashem, and let Your foes be scattered, let those who hate You flee from before You." And when it rested, he would say, "Reside tranquilly, O, Hashem, among the myriad thousands of Israel."

Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses regarding the Cushite woman he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman. They said, "Was it only to Moses that Hashem spoke? Did He not speak to us, as well?" And Hashem heard. Now the man Moses was exceedingly humble, more than any person on the face of the earth.
Hashem said suddenly to Moses, to Aaron, and to Miriam, "You three, go out to the Tent of Meeting." And the three of them went out. Hashem descended in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance to the Tent, and He summoned Aaron and Miriam; the two of them went out. He said, "Hear now My words. If there shall be prophets among you, in a vision shall I, Hashem, make Myself known to him; in a dream shall I speak with him.

Kedumah 135 (21583) 143

שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים תַּעֲבֹד, וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי תִּשְׁבֹּת; בֶּחָרִישׁ וּבַקָּצִיר, תִּשְׁבֹּת. וְחַג שָׁבֻעֹת תַּעֲשֶׂה לְךָ, בִּכּוּרֵי קְצִיר חִטִּים; וְחַג, הָאָסִיף--תְּקוּפַת, הַשָּׁנָה. שָׁלֹשׁ פְּעָמִים, בַּשָּׁנָה--יֵרָאֶה, כָּל-זְכוּרְךָ, אֶת-פְּנֵי הָאָדֹן יְהוָה, אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. כִּי-אוֹרִישׁ גּוֹיִם מִפָּנֶיךָ, וְהִרְחַבְתִּי אֶת-גְּבֻלֶךָ; וְלֹא-יַחְמֹד אִישׁ, אֶת-אַרְצְךָ, בַּעֲלֹתְךָ לֵרָאוֹת אֶת-פְּנֵי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, שָׁלֹשׁ פְּעָמִים בַּשָּׁנָה. לֹא-תִשְׁחַט עַל-חָמֵץ, דַּם-זִבְחִי; וְלֹא-יָלִין לַבֹּקֶר, זֶבַח חַג הַפָּסַח. רֵאשִׁית, בִּכּוּרֵי אַדְמָתְךָ, תָּבִיא, בֵּית יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ; לֹא-תְבַשֵּׁל גְּדִי, בַּחֲלֵב אִמּוֹ.

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה, כְּתָב-לְךָ אֶת-הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה: כִּי עַל-פִּי הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה, כָּרַתִּי אִתְּךָ בְּרִית--וְאֶת-יִשְׂרָאֵל. וַיְהִי-שָׁם עִם-יְהוָה, אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם וְאַרְבָּעִים לַיְלָה--לֶחֶם לֹא אָכַל, וּמַיִם לֹא שָׁתָה; וַיִּכְתֹּב עַל-הַלֻּחֹת, אֵת דִּבְרֵי הַבְּרִית--עֲשֶׂרֶת, הַדְּבָרִים

וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה, אֶל-מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר. דַּבֵּר, אֶל-אַהֲרֹן, וְאָמַרְתָּ, אֵלָיו: בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ, אֶת-הַנֵּרֹת, אֶל-מוּל פְּנֵי הַמְּנוֹרָה, יָאִירוּ שִׁבְעַת הַנֵּרוֹת. וַיַּעַשׂ כֵּן, אַהֲרֹן--אֶל-מוּל פְּנֵי הַמְּנוֹרָה, הֶעֱלָה נֵרֹתֶיהָ: כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה, אֶת-מֹשֶׁה. וְזֶה מַעֲשֵׂה הַמְּנֹרָה מִקְשָׁה זָהָב, עַד-יְרֵכָהּ עַד-פִּרְחָהּ מִקְשָׁה הִוא: כַּמַּרְאֶה, אֲשֶׁר הֶרְאָה יְהוָה אֶת-מֹשֶׁה--כֵּן עָשָׂה, אֶת-הַמְּנֹרָה

Six days shall you work and on the seventh day you shall desist; you shall desist from plowing and harvesting. You shall make the Festival of Weeks with the first offering of the wheat harvest; and the Festival of the Harvest shall be at the changing of the year. Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord Hashem, the God of Israel. For I shall banish nations before you and broaden your boundary; no man will covet your land when you go up to appear before Hashem, your God, three times a year. "You shall not slaughter My blood-offering while in the possession of leavened food, nor may the feast-offering of the Pesach festival be left overnight until morning. The first of your land's early produce you shall bring to the Temple of Hashem, your God. Do not cook a kid in its mother's milk."

Hashem said to Moses, "Write these words for yourself, for according to these words have I sealed a covenant with you and Israel." He remained there with Hashem for forty days and forty nights — he did not eat bread and he did not drink water — and He wrote on the Tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.

Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to Aaron and say to him - When you kindle the lamps, toward the face of the Menorah shall the seven lamps cast light." Aaron did so; toward the face of the Menorah he kindled its lamps, as Hashem had commanded Moses. This is the workmanship of the Menorah, hammered-out gold, from its base to its flower it is hammered out; according to the vision that Hashem showed Moses, so did he make the Menorah.

Kedumah 134 (21440) 160

וַיְמַהֵר, מֹשֶׁה; וַיִּקֹּד אַרְצָה, וַיִּשְׁתָּחוּ. וַיֹּאמֶר אִם-נָא מָצָאתִי חֵן בְּעֵינֶיךָ, אֲדֹנָי, יֵלֶךְ-נָא אֲדֹנָי, בְּקִרְבֵּנוּ: כִּי עַם-קְשֵׁה-עֹרֶף הוּא, וְסָלַחְתָּ לַעֲו‍ֹנֵנוּ וּלְחַטָּאתֵנוּ וּנְחַלְתָּנוּ. וַיֹּאמֶר, הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי כֹּרֵת בְּרִית, נֶגֶד כָּל-עַמְּךָ אֶעֱשֶׂה נִפְלָאֹת, אֲשֶׁר לֹא-נִבְרְאוּ בְכָל-הָאָרֶץ וּבְכָל-הַגּוֹיִם; וְרָאָה כָל-הָעָם אֲשֶׁר-אַתָּה בְקִרְבּוֹ אֶת-מַעֲשֵׂה יְהוָה, כִּי-נוֹרָא הוּא, אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי, עֹשֶׂה עִמָּךְ. שְׁמָר-לְךָ--אֵת אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי, מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם; הִנְנִי גֹרֵשׁ מִפָּנֶיךָ, אֶת-הָאֱמֹרִי וְהַכְּנַעֲנִי, וְהַחִתִּי וְהַפְּרִזִּי, וְהַחִוִּי וְהַיְבוּסִי. הִשָּׁמֶר לְךָ, פֶּן-תִּכְרֹת בְּרִית לְיוֹשֵׁב הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה, בָּא עָלֶיהָ: פֶּן-יִהְיֶה לְמוֹקֵשׁ, בְּקִרְבֶּךָ. כִּי אֶת-מִזְבְּחֹתָם תִּתֹּצוּן, וְאֶת-מַצֵּבֹתָם תְּשַׁבֵּרוּן; וְאֶת-אֲשֵׁרָיו, תִּכְרֹתוּן. כִּי לֹא תִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה, לְאֵל אַחֵר: כִּי יְהוָה קַנָּא שְׁמוֹ, אֵל קַנָּא הוּא. פֶּן-תִּכְרֹת בְּרִית, לְיוֹשֵׁב הָאָרֶץ; וְזָנוּ אַחֲרֵי אֱלֹהֵיהֶם, וְזָבְחוּ לֵאלֹהֵיהֶם, וְקָרָא לְךָ, וְאָכַלְתָּ מִזִּבְחוֹ. וְלָקַחְתָּ מִבְּנֹתָיו, לְבָנֶיךָ; וְזָנוּ בְנֹתָיו, אַחֲרֵי אֱלֹהֵיהֶן, וְהִזְנוּ אֶת-בָּנֶיךָ, אַחֲרֵי אֱלֹהֵיהֶן. אֱלֹהֵי מַסֵּכָה, לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה-לָּךְ. אֶת-חַג הַמַּצּוֹת, תִּשְׁמֹר--שִׁבְעַת יָמִים תֹּאכַל מַצּוֹת אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִךָ, לְמוֹעֵד חֹדֶשׁ הָאָבִיב: כִּי בְּחֹדֶשׁ הָאָבִיב, יָצָאתָ מִמִּצְרָיִם. כָּל-פֶּטֶר רֶחֶם, לִי; וְכָל-מִקְנְךָ תִּזָּכָר, פֶּטֶר שׁוֹר וָשֶׂה. וּפֶטֶר חֲמוֹר תִּפְדֶּה בְשֶׂה, וְאִם-לֹא תִפְדֶּה וַעֲרַפְתּוֹ; כֹּל בְּכוֹר בָּנֶיךָ תִּפְדֶּה, וְלֹא-יֵרָאוּ פָנַי רֵיקָם

Moses hastened to bow his head toward the ground and prostrate himself. He said, "If I have now found favor in Your eyes, my Lord, let my Lord go among us — for it is a stiff-necked people, and You shall forgive our iniquity and error, and make us Your heritage." He said, "Behold! I seal a covenant - Before your entire people I shall make distinctions such as have never been created in the entire world and among all the nations; and the entire people among whom you are will see the work of Hashem — which is awesome — that I am about to do with you. "Beware of what I command you today - Behold I drive out before you the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivvite, and the Jebusite. Be vigilant lest you seal a covenant with the inhabitant of the land to which you come, lest it be a snare among you. Rather you shall break apart their altars, smash their pillars, and cut down its sacred trees. For you shall not prostrate yourselves to an alien god, for the very Name of Hashem is 'Jealous One,' He is a jealous God. Lest you seal a covenant with the inhabitant of the land and stray after their gods, slaughter to their gods, and he invite you and you eat from his slaughter. And you take their daughters for your sons, and their daughters stray after their gods and entice your sons to stray after their gods. "You shall not make yourselves molten gods. "You shall observe the Festival of Matzos - For a seven-day period you shall eat matzos, as I commanded you, at the appointed time in the month of spring, for in the month of spring you went forth from Egypt. "Every first issue of a womb is Mine; as well as any of your livestock that produces a male, the first issue of cattle or sheep. The first issue of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb or kid, and if you do not redeem it you shall axe the back of its neck. You shall redeem every firstborn of your sons. They shall not appear before Me emptyhanded.