Sunday, January 28, 2018

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?

Sunday, January 21, 2018

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.

Sunday, January 14, 2018

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.

Sunday, January 7, 2018

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?

Sunday, December 31, 2017

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.

Sunday, December 24, 2017

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.

Sunday, December 17, 2017

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.

Sunday, December 10, 2017

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.' "

Sunday, December 3, 2017

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.

Sunday, November 26, 2017

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."

Sunday, November 19, 2017

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."

Sunday, November 12, 2017

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!"

Sunday, November 5, 2017

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."

Sunday, October 29, 2017

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."

Sunday, October 22, 2017

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.

Sunday, October 15, 2017

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.

Sunday, October 8, 2017

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.

Sunday, October 1, 2017

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.

Sunday, September 24, 2017

Kedumah 133 (21280) 165

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה, גַּם אֶת-הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ אֶעֱשֶׂה: כִּי-מָצָאתָ חֵן בְּעֵינַי, וָאֵדָעֲךָ בְּשֵׁם. וַיֹּאמַר: הַרְאֵנִי נָא, אֶת-כְּבֹדֶךָ. וַיֹּאמֶר, אֲנִי אַעֲבִיר כָּל-טוּבִי עַל-פָּנֶיךָ, וְקָרָאתִי בְשֵׁם יְהוָה, לְפָנֶיךָ; וְחַנֹּתִי אֶת-אֲשֶׁר אָחֹן, וְרִחַמְתִּי אֶת-אֲשֶׁר אֲרַחֵם. וַיֹּאמֶר, לֹא תוּכַל לִרְאֹת אֶת-פָּנָי: כִּי לֹא-יִרְאַנִי הָאָדָם, וָחָי. וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה, הִנֵּה מָקוֹם אִתִּי; וְנִצַּבְתָּ, עַל-הַצּוּר. וְהָיָה בַּעֲבֹר כְּבֹדִי, וְשַׂמְתִּיךָ בְּנִקְרַת הַצּוּר; וְשַׂכֹּתִי כַפִּי עָלֶיךָ, עַד-עָבְרִי. וַהֲסִרֹתִי, אֶת-כַּפִּי, וְרָאִיתָ, אֶת-אֲחֹרָי; וּפָנַי, לֹא יֵרָאוּ

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה, פְּסָל-לְךָ שְׁנֵי-לֻחֹת אֲבָנִים כָּרִאשֹׁנִים; וְכָתַבְתִּי, עַל-הַלֻּחֹת, אֶת-הַדְּבָרִים, אֲשֶׁר הָיוּ עַל-הַלֻּחֹת הָרִאשֹׁנִים אֲשֶׁר שִׁבַּרְתָּ. וֶהְיֵה נָכוֹן, לַבֹּקֶר; וְעָלִיתָ בַבֹּקֶר אֶל-הַר סִינַי, וְנִצַּבְתָּ לִי שָׁם עַל-רֹאשׁ הָהָר. וְאִישׁ לֹא-יַעֲלֶה עִמָּךְ, וְגַם-אִישׁ אַל-יֵרָא בְּכָל-הָהָר; גַּם-הַצֹּאן וְהַבָּקָר אַל-יִרְעוּ, אֶל-מוּל הָהָר הַהוּא. וַיִּפְסֹל שְׁנֵי-לֻחֹת אֲבָנִים כָּרִאשֹׁנִים, וַיַּשְׁכֵּם מֹשֶׁה בַבֹּקֶר וַיַּעַל אֶל-הַר סִינַי, כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה, אֹתוֹ; וַיִּקַּח בְּיָדוֹ, שְׁנֵי לֻחֹת אֲבָנִים. וַיֵּרֶד יְהוָה בֶּעָנָן, וַיִּתְיַצֵּב עִמּוֹ שָׁם; וַיִּקְרָא בְשֵׁם, יְהוָה. וַיַּעֲבֹר יְהוָה עַל-פָּנָיו, וַיִּקְרָא, יְהוָה יְהוָה, אֵל רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן--אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם, וְרַב-חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת. נֹצֵר חֶסֶד לָאֲלָפִים, נֹשֵׂא עָו‍ֹן וָפֶשַׁע וְחַטָּאָה; וְנַקֵּה, לֹא יְנַקֶּה--פֹּקֵד עֲו‍ֹן אָבוֹת עַל-בָּנִים וְעַל-בְּנֵי בָנִים, עַל-שִׁלֵּשִׁים וְעַל-רִבֵּעִים


Hashem said to Moses, "Even this thing of which you spoke I shall do, for you have found favor in My eyes, and I have known you by name." He said, "Show me now Your glory." He said, "I shall make all My goodness pass before you, and I shall call out with the Name Hashem before you; I shall show favor when I choose to show favor, and I shall show mercy when I choose to show mercy." He said, "You will not be able to see My face, for no human can see My face and live." Hashem said, "Behold! there is a place near Me; you may stand on the rock. When My glory passes by, I shall place you in a cleft of the rock; I shall shield you with My hand until I have passed. Then I shall remove My hand and you will see My back, but My face may not be seen."

Hashem said to Moses, "Carve for yourself two stone Tablets like the first ones, and I shall inscribe on the Tablets the words that were on the first Tablets, which you shattered. Be prepared in the morning; ascend Mount Sinai in the morning and stand by Me there on the mountaintop. No man may ascend with you nor may anyone be seen on the entire mountain. Even the flock and the cattle may not graze facing that mountain." So he carved out two stone Tablets like the first ones. Moses arose early in the morning and ascended to Mount Sinai, as Hashem had commanded him, and he took two stone Tablets in his hand. Hashem descended in a cloud and stood with him there, and He called out with the Name Hashem. Hashem passed before him and proclaimed - Hashem, Hashem, God, Compassionate and Gracious, Slow to Anger, and Abundant in Kindness and Truth. Preserver of Kindness for thousands of generations, Forgiver of Iniquity, Willful Sin, and Error, and Who Cleanses — but does not cleanse completely, recalling the iniquity of parents upon children and grandchildren, to the third and fourth generations.

Sunday, September 17, 2017

Kedumah 132 (21115) 150

וּמֹשֶׁה יִקַּח אֶת-הָאֹהֶל וְנָטָה-לוֹ מִחוּץ לַמַּחֲנֶה, הַרְחֵק מִן-הַמַּחֲנֶה, וְקָרָא לוֹ, אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד; וְהָיָה, כָּל-מְבַקֵּשׁ יְהוָה, יֵצֵא אֶל-אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, אֲשֶׁר מִחוּץ לַמַּחֲנֶה. וְהָיָה, כְּצֵאת מֹשֶׁה אֶל-הָאֹהֶל, יָקוּמוּ כָּל-הָעָם, וְנִצְּבוּ אִישׁ פֶּתַח אָהֳלוֹ; וְהִבִּיטוּ אַחֲרֵי מֹשֶׁה, עַד-בֹּאוֹ הָאֹהֱלָה. וְהָיָה, כְּבֹא מֹשֶׁה הָאֹהֱלָה, יֵרֵד עַמּוּד הֶעָנָן, וְעָמַד פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל; וְדִבֶּר, עִם-מֹשֶׁה. וְרָאָה כָל-הָעָם אֶת-עַמּוּד הֶעָנָן, עֹמֵד פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל; וְקָם כָּל-הָעָם וְהִשְׁתַּחֲווּ, אִישׁ פֶּתַח אָהֳלוֹ. וְדִבֶּר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה פָּנִים אֶל-פָּנִים, כַּאֲשֶׁר יְדַבֵּר אִישׁ אֶל-רֵעֵהוּ; וְשָׁב, אֶל-הַמַּחֲנֶה, וּמְשָׁרְתוֹ יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּן-נוּן נַעַר, לֹא יָמִישׁ מִתּוֹךְ הָאֹהֶל

וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל-יְהוָה, רְאֵה אַתָּה אֹמֵר אֵלַי הַעַל אֶת-הָעָם הַזֶּה, וְאַתָּה לֹא הוֹדַעְתַּנִי, אֵת אֲשֶׁר-תִּשְׁלַח עִמִּי; וְאַתָּה אָמַרְתָּ יְדַעְתִּיךָ בְשֵׁם, וְגַם-מָצָאתָ חֵן בְּעֵינָי. וְעַתָּה אִם-נָא מָצָאתִי חֵן בְּעֵינֶיךָ, הוֹדִעֵנִי נָא אֶת-דְּרָכֶךָ, וְאֵדָעֲךָ, לְמַעַן אֶמְצָא-חֵן בְּעֵינֶיךָ; וּרְאֵה, כִּי עַמְּךָ הַגּוֹי הַזֶּה. וַיֹּאמַר: פָּנַי יֵלֵכוּ, וַהֲנִחֹתִי לָךְ. וַיֹּאמֶר, אֵלָיו: אִם-אֵין פָּנֶיךָ הֹלְכִים, אַל-תַּעֲלֵנוּ מִזֶּה. וּבַמֶּה יִוָּדַע אֵפוֹא, כִּי-מָצָאתִי חֵן בְּעֵינֶיךָ אֲנִי וְעַמֶּךָ--הֲלוֹא, בְּלֶכְתְּךָ עִמָּנוּ; וְנִפְלִינוּ, אֲנִי וְעַמְּךָ, מִכָּל-הָעָם, אֲשֶׁר עַל-פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה


Moses would take the Tent and pitch it outside the camp, far from the camp, and call it Tent of Meeting. So it was that whoever sought Hashem would go out to the Tent of Meeting, which was outside the camp. Whenever Moses would go out to the Tent, the entire people would stand up and remain standing, everyone at the entrance of his tent, and they would gaze after Moses until he arrived at the Tent. When Moses would arrive at the Tent, a pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the Tent, and He would speak with Moses. The entire people would see the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the Tent, and the entire people would rise and prostrate themselves, everyone at the entrance of his tent. Hashem would speak to Moses face to face, as a man would speak with his fellow; then he would return to the camp. His servant, Joshua son of Nun, a lad, would not depart from within the tent.

Moses said to Hashem, "See, You say to me, 'Take this people onward,' but You did not inform me whom You will send with me; and You had said, 'I shall know you by name, and you have also found favor in My eyes.' And now, if I have indeed found favor in Your eyes, make Your way known to me, so that I may comprehend Your 'I shall find favor in Your eyes.' But see that this nation is Your people." He said, "My Presence will go and provide you rest." He said to him, "If Your Presence does not go along, do not bring us forward from here. How, then, will it be known that I have found favor in Your eyes — I and Your people — unless You accompany us, and I and Your people are made distinct from every people on the face of the earth!"

Sunday, September 10, 2017

Kedumah 131 (20965) 151

וַיְהִי, מִמָּחֳרָת, וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל-הָעָם, אַתֶּם חֲטָאתֶם חֲטָאָה גְדֹלָה; וְעַתָּה אֶעֱלֶה אֶל-יְהוָה, אוּלַי אֲכַפְּרָה בְּעַד חַטַּאתְכֶם. וַיָּשָׁב מֹשֶׁה אֶל-יְהוָה, וַיֹּאמַר: אָנָּא, חָטָא הָעָם הַזֶּה חֲטָאָה גְדֹלָה, וַיַּעֲשׂוּ לָהֶם, אֱלֹהֵי זָהָב. וְעַתָּה, אִם-תִּשָּׂא חַטָּאתָם; וְאִם-אַיִן--מְחֵנִי נָא, מִסִּפְרְךָ אֲשֶׁר כָּתָבְתָּ. וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה, אֶל-מֹשֶׁה: מִי אֲשֶׁר חָטָא-לִי, אֶמְחֶנּוּ מִסִּפְרִי. וְעַתָּה לֵךְ נְחֵה אֶת-הָעָם, אֶל אֲשֶׁר-דִּבַּרְתִּי לָךְ--הִנֵּה מַלְאָכִי, יֵלֵךְ לְפָנֶיךָ; וּבְיוֹם פָּקְדִי, וּפָקַדְתִּי עֲלֵהֶם חַטָּאתָם. וַיִּגֹּף יְהוָה, אֶת-הָעָם, עַל אֲשֶׁר עָשׂוּ אֶת-הָעֵגֶל, אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה אַהֲרֹן
וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה, לֵךְ עֲלֵה מִזֶּה--אַתָּה וְהָעָם, אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱלִיתָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם: אֶל-הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי לְאַבְרָהָם לְיִצְחָק וּלְיַעֲקֹב לֵאמֹר, לְזַרְעֲךָ, אֶתְּנֶנָּה. וְשָׁלַחְתִּי לְפָנֶיךָ, מַלְאָךְ; וְגֵרַשְׁתִּי, אֶת-הַכְּנַעֲנִי הָאֱמֹרִי, וְהַחִתִּי וְהַפְּרִזִּי, הַחִוִּי וְהַיְבוּסִי. אֶל-אֶרֶץ זָבַת חָלָב, וּדְבָשׁ: כִּי לֹא אֶעֱלֶה בְּקִרְבְּךָ, כִּי עַם-קְשֵׁה-עֹרֶף אַתָּה--פֶּן-אֲכֶלְךָ, בַּדָּרֶךְ. וַיִּשְׁמַע הָעָם, אֶת-הַדָּבָר הָרָע הַזֶּה--וַיִּתְאַבָּלוּ; וְלֹא-שָׁתוּ אִישׁ עֶדְיוֹ, עָלָיו. וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה, אֱמֹר אֶל-בְּנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל אַתֶּם עַם-קְשֵׁה-עֹרֶף--רֶגַע אֶחָד אֶעֱלֶה בְקִרְבְּךָ, וְכִלִּיתִיךָ; וְעַתָּה, הוֹרֵד עֶדְיְךָ מֵעָלֶיךָ, וְאֵדְעָה, מָה אֶעֱשֶׂה-לָּךְ. וַיִּתְנַצְּלוּ בְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת-עֶדְיָם, מֵהַר חוֹרֵב


On the next day, Moses said to the people, "You have committed a grievous sin! And now I shall ascend to Hashem — perhaps I can win atonement in the face of your sin." Moses returned to Hashem and said, "I implore! This people has committed a grievous sin and made themselves a god of gold. And now if You would but forgive their sin! — but if not, erase me now from Your book that You have written." Hashem said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against Me, I shall erase from My book. Now, go and lead the people to where I have told you. Behold! My angel shall go before you, and on the day that I make My account, I shall bring their sin to account against them." Then Hashem struck the people with a plague, because they had made the calf that Aaron had made.
Hashem spoke to Moses, "Go, ascend from here, you and the people whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, to the land about which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, 'I shall give it to your offspring.' I shall send an angel ahead of you, and I shall drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivvite, and the Jebusite; to a land that flows with milk and honey, because I shall not ascend among you, for you are a stiff-necked people, lest I annihilate you on the way." The people heard this bad tiding and they became grief-stricken, and no one donned his jewelry. Hashem said to Moses, "Say to the Children of Israel, 'You are a stiff-necked people. If I ascend among you, I may annihilate you in an instant. And now remove your jewelry from yourself, and I shall know what I shall do to you.' " So the Children of Israel were stripped of their jewelry from Mount Horeb.

Sunday, September 3, 2017

Kedumah 130 (20814) 141

וַיִּפֶן וַיֵּרֶד מֹשֶׁה, מִן-הָהָר, וּשְׁנֵי לֻחֹת הָעֵדֻת, בְּיָדוֹ: לֻחֹת, כְּתֻבִים מִשְּׁנֵי עֶבְרֵיהֶם--מִזֶּה וּמִזֶּה, הֵם כְּתֻבִים. וְהַלֻּחֹת--מַעֲשֵׂה אֱלֹהִים, הֵמָּה; וְהַמִּכְתָּב, מִכְתַּב אֱלֹהִים הוּא--חָרוּת, עַל-הַלֻּחֹת. וַיִּשְׁמַע יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אֶת-קוֹל הָעָם, בְּרֵעֹה; וַיֹּאמֶר, אֶל-מֹשֶׁה, קוֹל מִלְחָמָה, בַּמַּחֲנֶה. וַיֹּאמֶר, אֵין קוֹל עֲנוֹת גְּבוּרָה, וְאֵין קוֹל, עֲנוֹת חֲלוּשָׁה; קוֹל עַנּוֹת, אָנֹכִי שֹׁמֵעַ. וַיְהִי, כַּאֲשֶׁר קָרַב אֶל-הַמַּחֲנֶה, וַיַּרְא אֶת-הָעֵגֶל, וּמְחֹלֹת; וַיִּחַר-אַף מֹשֶׁה, וַיַּשְׁלֵךְ מִיָּדָו אֶת-הַלֻּחֹת, וַיְשַׁבֵּר אֹתָם, תַּחַת הָהָר. וַיִּקַּח אֶת-הָעֵגֶל אֲשֶׁר עָשׂוּ, וַיִּשְׂרֹף בָּאֵשׁ, וַיִּטְחַן, עַד אֲשֶׁר-דָּק; וַיִּזֶר עַל-פְּנֵי הַמַּיִם, וַיַּשְׁקְ אֶת-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל-אַהֲרֹן, מֶה-עָשָׂה לְךָ הָעָם הַזֶּה: כִּי-הֵבֵאתָ עָלָיו, חֲטָאָה גְדֹלָה. וַיֹּאמֶר אַהֲרֹן, אַל-יִחַר אַף אֲדֹנִי; אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ אֶת-הָעָם, כִּי בְרָע הוּא. וַיֹּאמְרוּ לִי--עֲשֵׂה-לָנוּ אֱלֹהִים, אֲשֶׁר יֵלְכוּ לְפָנֵינוּ: כִּי-זֶה מֹשֶׁה הָאִישׁ, אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱלָנוּ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם--לֹא יָדַעְנוּ, מֶה-הָיָה לוֹ. וָאֹמַר לָהֶם לְמִי זָהָב, הִתְפָּרָקוּ וַיִּתְּנוּ-לִי; וָאַשְׁלִכֵהוּ בָאֵשׁ, וַיֵּצֵא הָעֵגֶל הַזֶּה. וַיַּרְא מֹשֶׁה אֶת-הָעָם, כִּי פָרֻעַ הוּא: כִּי-פְרָעֹה אַהֲרֹן, לְשִׁמְצָה בְּקָמֵיהֶם


Moses turned and descended from the mountain, with the two Tablets of the Testimony in his hand, Tablets inscribed on both their sides; they were inscribed on one side and the other. The Tablets were God's handiwork, and the script was the script of God, engraved on the Tablets. Joshua heard the sound of the people in its shouting, and he said to Moses, "The sound of battle is in the camp!" He said, "Not a sound shouting strength nor a sound shouting weakness; a sound of distress do I hear!" It happened as he drew near the camp and saw the calf and the dances, that Moses' anger flared up. He threw down the Tablets from his hands and shattered them at the foot of the mountain. He took the calf that they had made and burned it in fire. He ground it to a fine powder and sprinkled it over the water. He made the Children of Israel drink. Moses said to Aaron, "What did this people do to you that you brought a grievous sin upon it?" Aaron said, "Let not my master's anger flare up. You know that the people is disposed toward evil. They said to me, 'Make us a god that will go before us, for this man Moses who brought us up from the land of Egypt — we do not know what became of him.' So I said to them, 'Who has gold?' They removed it and gave it to me. I threw it into the fire, and this calf emerged." Moses saw the people, that it was exposed, for Aaron had exposed them to disgrace among those who rise up against them.

Sunday, August 27, 2017

Kedumah 129 (20673) 205

וַיַּרְא הָעָם, כִּי-בֹשֵׁשׁ מֹשֶׁה לָרֶדֶת מִן-הָהָר; וַיִּקָּהֵל הָעָם עַל-אַהֲרֹן, וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלָיו קוּם עֲשֵׂה-לָנוּ אֱלֹהִים אֲשֶׁר יֵלְכוּ לְפָנֵינוּ--כִּי-זֶה מֹשֶׁה הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱלָנוּ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם, לֹא יָדַעְנוּ מֶה-הָיָה לוֹ. וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם, אַהֲרֹן, פָּרְקוּ נִזְמֵי הַזָּהָב, אֲשֶׁר בְּאָזְנֵי נְשֵׁיכֶם בְּנֵיכֶם וּבְנֹתֵיכֶם; וְהָבִיאוּ, אֵלָי. וַיִּתְפָּרְקוּ, כָּל-הָעָם, אֶת-נִזְמֵי הַזָּהָב, אֲשֶׁר בְּאָזְנֵיהֶם; וַיָּבִיאוּ, אֶל-אַהֲרֹן. וַיִּקַּח מִיָּדָם, וַיָּצַר אֹתוֹ בַּחֶרֶט, וַיַּעֲשֵׂהוּ, עֵגֶל מַסֵּכָה; וַיֹּאמְרוּ--אֵלֶּה אֱלֹהֶיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱלוּךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם. וַיַּרְא אַהֲרֹן, וַיִּבֶן מִזְבֵּחַ לְפָנָיו; וַיִּקְרָא אַהֲרֹן וַיֹּאמַר, חַג לַיהוָה מָחָר. וַיַּשְׁכִּימוּ, מִמָּחֳרָת, וַיַּעֲלוּ עֹלֹת, וַיַּגִּשׁוּ שְׁלָמִים; וַיֵּשֶׁב הָעָם לֶאֱכֹל וְשָׁתוֹ, וַיָּקֻמוּ לְצַחֵק

וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה, אֶל-מֹשֶׁה: לֶךְ-רֵד--כִּי שִׁחֵת עַמְּךָ, אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱלֵיתָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם. סָרוּ מַהֵר, מִן-הַדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִם--עָשׂוּ לָהֶם, עֵגֶל מַסֵּכָה; וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲווּ-לוֹ, וַיִּזְבְּחוּ-לוֹ, וַיֹּאמְרוּ, אֵלֶּה אֱלֹהֶיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱלוּךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם. וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה, אֶל-מֹשֶׁה: רָאִיתִי אֶת-הָעָם הַזֶּה, וְהִנֵּה עַם-קְשֵׁה-עֹרֶף הוּא. וְעַתָּה הַנִּיחָה לִּי, וְיִחַר-אַפִּי בָהֶם וַאֲכַלֵּם; וְאֶעֱשֶׂה אוֹתְךָ, לְגוֹי גָּדוֹל. וַיְחַל מֹשֶׁה, אֶת-פְּנֵי יְהוָה אֱלֹהָיו; וַיֹּאמֶר, לָמָה יְהוָה יֶחֱרֶה אַפְּךָ בְּעַמֶּךָ, אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם, בְּכֹחַ גָּדוֹל וּבְיָד חֲזָקָה. לָמָּה יֹאמְרוּ מִצְרַיִם לֵאמֹר, בְּרָעָה הוֹצִיאָם לַהֲרֹג אֹתָם בֶּהָרִים, וּלְכַלֹּתָם, מֵעַל פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה; שׁוּב מֵחֲרוֹן אַפֶּךָ, וְהִנָּחֵם עַל-הָרָעָה לְעַמֶּךָ. זְכֹר לְאַבְרָהָם לְיִצְחָק וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵל עֲבָדֶיךָ, אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתָּ לָהֶם בָּךְ, וַתְּדַבֵּר אֲלֵהֶם, אַרְבֶּה אֶת-זַרְעֲכֶם כְּכוֹכְבֵי הַשָּׁמָיִם; וְכָל-הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת אֲשֶׁר אָמַרְתִּי, אֶתֵּן לְזַרְעֲכֶם, וְנָחֲלוּ, לְעֹלָם. וַיִּנָּחֶם, יְהוָה, עַל-הָרָעָה, אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר לַעֲשׂוֹת לְעַמּוֹ


The people saw that Moses had delayed in descending the mountain, and the people gathered around Aaron and said to him, "Rise up, make for us gods that will go before us, for this man Moses who brought us up from the land of Egypt — we do not know what became of him!" Aaron said to them, "Remove the rings of gold that are in the ears of your wives, sons, and daughters, and bring them to me." The entire people removed the gold rings that were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. He took it from their hands and bound it up in a cloth, and fashioned it into a molten calf. They said, "This is your god, O Israel, which brought you up from the land of Egypt." Aaron saw and built an altar before him. Aaron called out and said, "A festival for Hashem tomorrow!" They arose early the next day and offered up elevation-offerings and brought peaceofferings. The people sat to eat and drink, and they got up to revel.

Hashem spoke to Moses - "Go, descend — for your people that you brought up from Egypt has become corrupt. They have strayed quickly from the way that I have commanded them. They have made themselves a molten calf, prostrated themselves to it and sacrificed to it, and they said, 'This is your god, O Israel, which brought you up from the land of Egypt.' " Hashem said to Moses, "I have seen this people, and behold! it is a stiff-necked people. And now, desist from Me. Let My anger flare up against them and I shall annihilate them; and I shall make you a great nation." Moses pleaded before Hashem, his God, and said, "Why, Hashem, should Your anger flare up against Your people, whom You have taken out of the land of Egypt, with great power and a strong hand? Why should Egypt say the following - 'With evil intent did He take them out, to kill them in the mountains and to annihilate them from the face of the earth'? Relent from Your flaring anger and reconsider regarding the evil against Your people. Remember for the sake of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants, to whom You swore by Yourself, and You told them, 'I shall increase your offspring like the stars of heaven, and this entire land of which I spoke, I shall give to your offspring and it shall be their heritage forever.' " Hashem reconsidered regarding the evil that He declared He would do to His people.

Sunday, August 20, 2017

Kedumah 128 (20468) 150

הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי שֹׁלֵחַ מַלְאָךְ, לְפָנֶיךָ, לִשְׁמָרְךָ, בַּדָּרֶךְ; וְלַהֲבִיאֲךָ, אֶל-הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר הֲכִנֹתִי. הִשָּׁמֶר מִפָּנָיו וּשְׁמַע בְּקֹלוֹ, אַל-תַּמֵּר בּוֹ: כִּי לֹא יִשָּׂא לְפִשְׁעֲכֶם, כִּי שְׁמִי בְּקִרְבּוֹ. כִּי אִם-שָׁמוֹעַ תִּשְׁמַע, בְּקֹלוֹ, וְעָשִׂיתָ, כֹּל אֲשֶׁר אֲדַבֵּר--וְאָיַבְתִּי, אֶת-אֹיְבֶיךָ, וְצַרְתִּי, אֶת-צֹרְרֶיךָ. כִּי-יֵלֵךְ מַלְאָכִי, לְפָנֶיךָ, וֶהֱבִיאֲךָ אֶל-הָאֱמֹרִי וְהַחִתִּי, וְהַפְּרִזִּי וְהַכְּנַעֲנִי הַחִוִּי וְהַיְבוּסִי; וְהִכְחַדְתִּיו. לֹא-תִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה לֵאלֹהֵיהֶם וְלֹא תָעָבְדֵם, וְלֹא תַעֲשֶׂה כְּמַעֲשֵׂיהֶם: כִּי הָרֵס תְּהָרְסֵם, וְשַׁבֵּר תְּשַׁבֵּר מַצֵּבֹתֵיהֶם. וַעֲבַדְתֶּם, אֵת יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, וּבֵרַךְ אֶת-לַחְמְךָ, וְאֶת-מֵימֶיךָ; וַהֲסִרֹתִי מַחֲלָה, מִקִּרְבֶּךָ
לֹא תִהְיֶה מְשַׁכֵּלָה וַעֲקָרָה, בְּאַרְצֶךָ; אֶת-מִסְפַּר יָמֶיךָ, אֲמַלֵּא. אֶת-אֵימָתִי, אֲשַׁלַּח לְפָנֶיךָ, וְהַמֹּתִי אֶת-כָּל-הָעָם, אֲשֶׁר תָּבֹא בָּהֶם; וְנָתַתִּי אֶת-כָּל-אֹיְבֶיךָ אֵלֶיךָ, עֹרֶף. וְשָׁלַחְתִּי אֶת-הַצִּרְעָה, לְפָנֶיךָ; וְגֵרְשָׁה, אֶת-הַחִוִּי אֶת-הַכְּנַעֲנִי וְאֶת-הַחִתִּי--מִלְּפָנֶיךָ. לֹא אֲגָרְשֶׁנּוּ מִפָּנֶיךָ, בְּשָׁנָה אֶחָת: פֶּן-תִּהְיֶה הָאָרֶץ שְׁמָמָה, וְרַבָּה עָלֶיךָ חַיַּת הַשָּׂדֶה. מְעַט מְעַט אֲגָרְשֶׁנּוּ, מִפָּנֶיךָ, עַד אֲשֶׁר תִּפְרֶה, וְנָחַלְתָּ אֶת-הָאָרֶץ. וְשַׁתִּי אֶת-גְּבֻלְךָ, מִיַּם-סוּף וְעַד-יָם פְּלִשְׁתִּים, וּמִמִּדְבָּר, עַד-הַנָּהָר: כִּי אֶתֵּן בְּיֶדְכֶם, אֵת יֹשְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ, וְגֵרַשְׁתָּמוֹ, מִפָּנֶיךָ. לֹא-תִכְרֹת לָהֶם וְלֵאלֹהֵיהֶם, בְּרִית. לֹא יֵשְׁבוּ בְּאַרְצְךָ, פֶּן-יַחֲטִיאוּ אֹתְךָ לִי: כִּי תַעֲבֹד אֶת-אֱלֹהֵיהֶם, כִּי-יִהְיֶה לְךָ לְמוֹקֵשׁ


Behold! I send an angel before you to protect you on the way, and to bring you to the place that I have made ready. Beware of him — hearken to his voice, do not rebel against him, for he will not forgive your willful sin — for My Name is within him. For if you hearken to his voice and carry out all that I shall speak, then I shall be the enemy of your enemies and persecute your persecutors. For My angel shall go before you and bring you to the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Canaanite, the Hivvite, and the Jebusite, and I will annihilate them. Do not prostrate yourself to their gods, do not worship them, and do not act according to their practices; rather, you shall tear them apart, and you shall smash their pillars. You shall worship Hashem, your God, and He shall bless your bread and your water, and I shall remove illness from your midst.
There shall be no woman who loses her young or is infertile in your land; I shall fill the number of your days. I shall send My fear before you and I shall confound the entire people among whom you shall come; and I shall make all your enemies turn their back to you. I shall send the hornet-swarm before you and it will drive away the Hivvite, the Canaanite and the Hittite before you. I shall not drive them away from you in a single year, lest the Land become desolate and the wildlife of the field multiply against you. Little by little shall I drive them away from you, until you become fruitful and make the Land your heritage. I shall set your border from the Sea of Reeds to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the Wilderness until the River, for I shall deliver the inhabitants of the Land into your hands and you shall drive them away from before you. You shall not seal a covenant with them or their gods. They shall not dwell in your Land lest they cause you to sin against Me, that you will worship their gods, for it will be a trap for you.

Sunday, August 13, 2017

Kedumah 127 (20318) 163

כִּי תִפְגַּע שׁוֹר אֹיִבְךָ, אוֹ חֲמֹרוֹ--תֹּעֶה: הָשֵׁב תְּשִׁיבֶנּוּ, לוֹ
כִּי-תִרְאֶה חֲמוֹר שֹׂנַאֲךָ, רֹבֵץ תַּחַת מַשָּׂאוֹ, וְחָדַלְתָּ, מֵעֲזֹב לוֹ--עָזֹב תַּעֲזֹב, עִמּוֹ
לֹא תַטֶּה מִשְׁפַּט אֶבְיֹנְךָ, בְּרִיבוֹ. מִדְּבַר-שֶׁקֶר, תִּרְחָק; וְנָקִי וְצַדִּיק אַל-תַּהֲרֹג, כִּי לֹא-אַצְדִּיק רָשָׁע. וְשֹׁחַד, לֹא תִקָּח: כִּי הַשֹּׁחַד יְעַוֵּר פִּקְחִים, וִיסַלֵּף דִּבְרֵי צַדִּיקִים. וְגֵר, לֹא תִלְחָץ; וְאַתֶּם, יְדַעְתֶּם אֶת-נֶפֶשׁ הַגֵּר--כִּי-גֵרִים הֱיִיתֶם, בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם. וְשֵׁשׁ שָׁנִים, תִּזְרַע אֶת-אַרְצֶךָ; וְאָסַפְתָּ, אֶת-תְּבוּאָתָהּ. וְהַשְּׁבִיעִת תִּשְׁמְטֶנָּה וּנְטַשְׁתָּהּ, וְאָכְלוּ אֶבְיֹנֵי עַמֶּךָ, וְיִתְרָם, תֹּאכַל חַיַּת הַשָּׂדֶה; כֵּן-תַּעֲשֶׂה לְכַרְמְךָ, לְזֵיתֶךָ. שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים תַּעֲשֶׂה מַעֲשֶׂיךָ, וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי תִּשְׁבֹּת--לְמַעַן יָנוּחַ, שׁוֹרְךָ וַחֲמֹרֶךָ, וְיִנָּפֵשׁ בֶּן-אֲמָתְךָ, וְהַגֵּר. וּבְכֹל אֲשֶׁר-אָמַרְתִּי אֲלֵיכֶם, תִּשָּׁמֵרוּ; וְשֵׁם אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים לֹא תַזְכִּירוּ, לֹא יִשָּׁמַע עַל-פִּיךָ. שָׁלֹשׁ רְגָלִים, תָּחֹג לִי בַּשָּׁנָה. אֶת-חַג הַמַּצּוֹת, תִּשְׁמֹר--שִׁבְעַת יָמִים תֹּאכַל מַצּוֹת כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִךָ לְמוֹעֵד חֹדֶשׁ הָאָבִיב, כִּי-בוֹ יָצָאתָ מִמִּצְרָיִם; וְלֹא-יֵרָאוּ פָנַי, רֵיקָם. וְחַג הַקָּצִיר בִּכּוּרֵי מַעֲשֶׂיךָ, אֲשֶׁר תִּזְרַע בַּשָּׂדֶה; וְחַג הָאָסִף בְּצֵאת הַשָּׁנָה, בְּאָסְפְּךָ אֶת-מַעֲשֶׂיךָ מִן-הַשָּׂדֶה. שָׁלֹשׁ פְּעָמִים, בַּשָּׁנָה--יֵרָאֶה, כָּל-זְכוּרְךָ, אֶל-פְּנֵי, הָאָדֹן יְהוָה. לֹא-תִזְבַּח עַל-חָמֵץ, דַּם-זִבְחִי; וְלֹא-יָלִין חֵלֶב-חַגִּי, עַד-בֹּקֶר. רֵאשִׁית, בִּכּוּרֵי אַדְמָתְךָ, תָּבִיא, בֵּית יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ; לֹא-תְבַשֵּׁל גְּדִי, בַּחֲלֵב אִמּוֹ


If you encounter an ox of your enemy or his donkey wandering, you shall return it to him repeatedly.
If you see the donkey of someone you hate crouching under its burden, would you refrain from helping him? — you shall help repeatedly with him.
Do not pervert the judgment of your destitute person in his grievance. Distant yourself from a false word; do not execute the innocent or the righteous, for I shall not exonerate the wicked. Do not accept a bribe, for the bribe will blind those who see and corrupt words that are just. Do not oppress a stranger; you know the feelings of a stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. Six years shall you sow your land and gather in its produce. And in the seventh, you shall leave it untended and unharvested, and the destitute of your people shall eat, and the wildlife of the field shall eat what is left; so shall you do to your vineyard and your olive grove. Six days shall you accomplish your activities, and on the seventh day you shall desist, so that your ox and donkey may be content and your maidservant's son and the sojourner may be refreshed. Be careful regarding everything I have said to you. The name of strange gods you shall not mention, nor shall your mouth cause it to be heard. Three pilgrimage festivals shall you celebrate for Me during the year. You shall observe the Festival of Matzos; seven days shall you eat matzos, as I have commanded you, at the appointed time of the month of springtime, for in it you left Egypt; you shall not be seen before Me empty-handed. And the Festival of the Harvest of the first fruits of your labor that you sow in the field; and the Festival of the Ingathering at the close of the year, when you gather in your work from the field. Three times during the year shall all your menfolk appear before the Lord, Hashem. 18 You shall not offer the blood of My feast-offering upon leavened bread; nor may the fat of My festive-offering remain overnight until morning. The choicest first fruit of your land shall you bring to the House of Hashem, your God; you shall not cook a kid in the milk of its mother.

Sunday, August 6, 2017

Kedumah 126 (20155) 157

וְכִי-יְפַתֶּה אִישׁ, בְּתוּלָה אֲשֶׁר לֹא-אֹרָשָׂה--וְשָׁכַב עִמָּהּ: מָהֹר יִמְהָרֶנָּה לּוֹ, לְאִשָּׁה. אִם-מָאֵן יְמָאֵן אָבִיהָ, לְתִתָּה לוֹ--כֶּסֶף יִשְׁקֹל, כְּמֹהַר הַבְּתוּלֹת
מְכַשֵּׁפָה, לֹא תְחַיֶּה. כָּל-שֹׁכֵב עִם-בְּהֵמָה, מוֹת יוּמָת
זֹבֵחַ לָאֱלֹהִים, יָחֳרָם--בִּלְתִּי לַיהוָה, לְבַדּוֹ. וְגֵר לֹא-תוֹנֶה, וְלֹא תִלְחָצֶנּוּ: כִּי-גֵרִים הֱיִיתֶם, בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם. כָּל-אַלְמָנָה וְיָתוֹם, לֹא תְעַנּוּן. אִם-עַנֵּה תְעַנֶּה, אֹתוֹ--כִּי אִם-צָעֹק יִצְעַק אֵלַי, שָׁמֹעַ אֶשְׁמַע צַעֲקָתוֹ. וְחָרָה אַפִּי, וְהָרַגְתִּי אֶתְכֶם בֶּחָרֶב; וְהָיוּ נְשֵׁיכֶם אַלְמָנוֹת, וּבְנֵיכֶם יְתֹמִים

אִם-כֶּסֶף תַּלְוֶה אֶת-עַמִּי, אֶת-הֶעָנִי עִמָּךְ--לֹא-תִהְיֶה לוֹ, כְּנֹשֶׁה; לֹא-תְשִׂימוּן עָלָיו, נֶשֶׁךְ. אִם-חָבֹל תַּחְבֹּל, שַׂלְמַת רֵעֶךָ--עַד-בֹּא הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ, תְּשִׁיבֶנּוּ לוֹ. כִּי הִוא כְסוּתֹה לְבַדָּהּ, הִוא שִׂמְלָתוֹ לְעֹרוֹ; בַּמֶּה יִשְׁכָּב--וְהָיָה כִּי-יִצְעַק אֵלַי, וְשָׁמַעְתִּי כִּי-חַנּוּן אָנִי
אֱלֹהִים, לֹא תְקַלֵּל; וְנָשִׂיא בְעַמְּךָ, לֹא תָאֹר. מְלֵאָתְךָ וְדִמְעֲךָ, לֹא תְאַחֵר; בְּכוֹר בָּנֶיךָ, תִּתֶּן-לִי. כֵּן-תַּעֲשֶׂה לְשֹׁרְךָ, לְצֹאנֶךָ: שִׁבְעַת יָמִים יִהְיֶה עִם-אִמּוֹ, בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי תִּתְּנוֹ-לִי. וְאַנְשֵׁי-קֹדֶשׁ, תִּהְיוּן לִי; וּבָשָׂר בַּשָּׂדֶה טְרֵפָה לֹא תֹאכֵלוּ, לַכֶּלֶב תַּשְׁלִכוּן אֹתוֹ
לֹא תִשָּׂא, שֵׁמַע שָׁוְא; אַל-תָּשֶׁת יָדְךָ עִם-רָשָׁע, לִהְיֹת עֵד חָמָס. לֹא-תִהְיֶה אַחֲרֵי-רַבִּים, לְרָעֹת; וְלֹא-תַעֲנֶה עַל-רִב, לִנְטֹת אַחֲרֵי רַבִּים--לְהַטֹּת. וְדָל, לֹא תֶהְדַּר בְּרִיבוֹ


If a man shall seduce a virgin who was not betrothed and lie with her, he shall provide her with a marriage contract as his wife. If her father refuses to give her to him, he shall weigh out silver according to the marriage contract of the virgins.
You shall not permit a sorceress to live. Anyone who lies with an animal shall surely be put to death.
One who brings offerings to the gods shall be destroyed — only to Hashem alone. You shall not taunt or oppress a stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. You shall not cause pain to any widow or orphan. If you [dare to] cause him pain ... ! — for if he shall cry out to Me, I shall surely hear his outcry. My wrath shall blaze and I shall kill you by the sword, and your wives will be widows and your children orphans.

When you lend money to My people, to the poor person who is with you, do not act toward him as a creditor; do not lay interest upon him. If you take your fellow's garment as security, until sunset shall you return it to him. For it alone is his clothing, it is his garment for his skin — in what should he lie down? — so it will be that if he cries out to Me, I shall listen, for I am compassionate.
You shall not revile God, and you shall not curse a leader among your people. Do not delay your fullness-offering or your priestly heave-offering; the firstborn of your sons shall you present to Me. So shall you do to your ox, to your flock; for a seven-day period shall it be with its mother, on the eighth day you may present it to Me. People of holiness shall you be to Me; you shall not eat flesh of an animal that was torn in the field; to the dog shall you throw it.
Do not accept a false report, do not extend your hand with the wicked to be a venal witness. Do not be a follower of the majority for evil; and do not respond to a grievance by yielding to the majority to pervert [the law]. 3 Do not glorify a destitute person in his grievance.

Sunday, July 30, 2017

Kedumah 125 (19998) 173

כִּי יִגְנֹב-אִישׁ שׁוֹר אוֹ-שֶׂה, וּטְבָחוֹ אוֹ מְכָרוֹ--חֲמִשָּׁה בָקָר, יְשַׁלֵּם תַּחַת הַשּׁוֹר, וְאַרְבַּע-צֹאן, תַּחַת הַשֶּׂה. אִם-בַּמַּחְתֶּרֶת יִמָּצֵא הַגַּנָּב, וְהֻכָּה וָמֵת--כִּי יִגְנֹב-אִישׁ שׁוֹר אוֹ-שֶׂה, וּטְבָחוֹ אוֹ מְכָרוֹ--חֲמִשָּׁה בָקָר, יְשַׁלֵּם תַּחַת הַשּׁוֹר, וְאַרְבַּע-צֹאן, תַּחַת הַשֶּׂה. אִם-בַּמַּחְתֶּרֶת יִמָּצֵא הַגַּנָּב, וְהֻכָּה וָמֵת--אֵין לוֹ, דָּמִים. אִם-זָרְחָה הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ עָלָיו, דָּמִים לוֹ: שַׁלֵּם יְשַׁלֵּם--אִם-אֵין לוֹ, וְנִמְכַּר בִּגְנֵבָתוֹ. אִם-הִמָּצֵא תִמָּצֵא בְיָדוֹ הַגְּנֵבָה, מִשּׁוֹר עַד-חֲמוֹר עַד-שֶׂה--חַיִּים: שְׁנַיִם, יְשַׁלֵּם
כִּי יַבְעֶר-אִישׁ, שָׂדֶה אוֹ-כֶרֶם, וְשִׁלַּח אֶת-בְּעִירֹה, וּבִעֵר בִּשְׂדֵה אַחֵר--מֵיטַב שָׂדֵהוּ וּמֵיטַב כַּרְמוֹ, יְשַׁלֵּם
כִּי-תֵצֵא אֵשׁ וּמָצְאָה קֹצִים, וְנֶאֱכַל גָּדִישׁ, אוֹ הַקָּמָה, אוֹ הַשָּׂדֶה--שַׁלֵּם יְשַׁלֵּם, הַמַּבְעִר אֶת-הַבְּעֵרָה
כִּי-יִתֵּן אִישׁ אֶל-רֵעֵהוּ כֶּסֶף אוֹ-כֵלִים, לִשְׁמֹר, וְגֻנַּב, מִבֵּית הָאִישׁ--אִם-יִמָּצֵא הַגַּנָּב, יְשַׁלֵּם שְׁנָיִם. אִם-לֹא יִמָּצֵא הַגַּנָּב, וְנִקְרַב בַּעַל-הַבַּיִת אֶל-הָאֱלֹהִים: אִם-לֹא שָׁלַח יָדוֹ, בִּמְלֶאכֶת רֵעֵהוּ. עַל-כָּל-דְּבַר-פֶּשַׁע עַל-שׁוֹר עַל-חֲמוֹר עַל-שֶׂה עַל-שַׂלְמָה עַל-כָּל-אֲבֵדָה, אֲשֶׁר יֹאמַר כִּי-הוּא זֶה--עַד הָאֱלֹהִים, יָבֹא דְּבַר-שְׁנֵיהֶם: אֲשֶׁר יַרְשִׁיעֻן אֱלֹהִים, יְשַׁלֵּם שְׁנַיִם לְרֵעֵהוּ
כִּי-יִתֵּן אִישׁ אֶל-רֵעֵהוּ חֲמוֹר אוֹ-שׁוֹר אוֹ-שֶׂה, וְכָל-בְּהֵמָה--לִשְׁמֹר; וּמֵת אוֹ-נִשְׁבַּר אוֹ-נִשְׁבָּה, אֵין רֹאֶה. שְׁבֻעַת יְהוָה, תִּהְיֶה בֵּין שְׁנֵיהֶם--אִם-לֹא שָׁלַח יָדוֹ, בִּמְלֶאכֶת רֵעֵהוּ; וְלָקַח בְּעָלָיו, וְלֹא יְשַׁלֵּם. וְאִם-גָּנֹב יִגָּנֵב, מֵעִמּוֹ--יְשַׁלֵּם, לִבְעָלָיו. אִם-טָרֹף יִטָּרֵף, יְבִאֵהוּ עֵד: הַטְּרֵפָה, לֹא יְשַׁלֵּם

וְכִי-יִשְׁאַל אִישׁ מֵעִם רֵעֵהוּ, וְנִשְׁבַּר אוֹ-מֵת; בְּעָלָיו אֵין-עִמּוֹ, שַׁלֵּם יְשַׁלֵּם. אִם-בְּעָלָיו עִמּוֹ, לֹא יְשַׁלֵּם: אִם-שָׂכִיר הוּא, בָּא בִּשְׂכָרוֹ


If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep or goat, and slaughter it or sell it, he shall pay five cattle in place of the ox, and four sheep in place of the sheep.
If the thief is discovered while tunneling in, and he is struck and dies, there is no blood-guilt on his account. If the sun shone upon him, there is blood-guilt on his account. He shall make restitution; if he has nothing, he shall be sold for his theft. If the theft shall be found in his possession — whether a live ox or donkey or sheep or goat — he shall pay double. If a man permits livestock to devour a field or vineyard — whether he set loose his livestock or he grazed it in another's field — from the best of his field and the best of his vineyard shall he pay.
If a fire shall go forth and find thorns, and a stack of grain or a standing crop or a field is consumed, the one who kindled the fire shall make restitution.
If a man shall give money or vessels to his fellow to safeguard, and it is stolen from the house of the man, if the thief is found he shall pay double. If the thief is not found, then the house holder shall approach the court that he had not laid his hand upon his fellow's property. For every item of liability — whether an ox, a donkey, a sheep, or a garment — regarding any lost item about which he says, "This is it!" to the court shall come both their claims. Whomever the court finds guilty shall pay double to his fellow.
If a man shall give his fellow a donkey or an ox or a sheep or any animal to safeguard, and it died or was broken or was looted, without an eyewitness; an oath of Hashem shall be between them both that he did not lay his hand upon the property of his fellow; the owner shall accept it and he shall not pay. If it shall be stolen from him, he shall pay to its owners. If it shall be torn to death, he shall produce a witness; for a torn animal he does not pay.

If a man shall borrow from his fellow and it shall become broken or shall die — provided its owner is not with him — he shall surely make restitution. If its owner is with him, he shall not make restitution. If he was a renter, it came in return for his rental.

Sunday, July 23, 2017

Kedumah 124 (19825) 134

וְכִי-יַכֶּה אִישׁ אֶת-עֵין עַבְדּוֹ, אוֹ-אֶת-עֵין אֲמָתוֹ--וְשִׁחֲתָהּ: לַחָפְשִׁי יְשַׁלְּחֶנּוּ, תַּחַת עֵינוֹ. וְאִם-שֵׁן עַבְדּוֹ אוֹ-שֵׁן אֲמָתוֹ, יַפִּיל--לַחָפְשִׁי יְשַׁלְּחֶנּוּ, תַּחַת שִׁנּוֹ
וְכִי-יִגַּח שׁוֹר אֶת-אִישׁ אוֹ אֶת-אִשָּׁה, וָמֵת--סָקוֹל יִסָּקֵל הַשּׁוֹר, וְלֹא יֵאָכֵל אֶת-בְּשָׂרוֹ, וּבַעַל הַשּׁוֹר, נָקִי. וְאִם שׁוֹר נַגָּח הוּא מִתְּמֹל שִׁלְשֹׁם, וְהוּעַד בִּבְעָלָיו וְלֹא יִשְׁמְרֶנּוּ, וְהֵמִית אִישׁ, אוֹ אִשָּׁה--הַשּׁוֹר, יִסָּקֵל, וְגַם-בְּעָלָיו, יוּמָת. אִם-כֹּפֶר, יוּשַׁת עָלָיו--וְנָתַן פִּדְיֹן נַפְשׁוֹ, כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר-יוּשַׁת עָלָיו. אוֹ-בֵן יִגָּח, אוֹ-בַת יִגָּח--כַּמִּשְׁפָּט הַזֶּה, יֵעָשֶׂה לּוֹ. אִם-עֶבֶד יִגַּח הַשּׁוֹר, אוֹ אָמָה--כֶּסֶף שְׁלֹשִׁים שְׁקָלִים, יִתֵּן לַאדֹנָיו, וְהַשּׁוֹר, יִסָּקֵל
וְכִי-יִפְתַּח אִישׁ בּוֹר, אוֹ כִּי-יִכְרֶה אִישׁ בֹּר--וְלֹא יְכַסֶּנּוּ; וְנָפַל-שָׁמָּה שּׁוֹר, אוֹ חֲמוֹר. בַּעַל הַבּוֹר יְשַׁלֵּם, כֶּסֶף יָשִׁיב לִבְעָלָיו; וְהַמֵּת, יִהְיֶה-לּוֹ
וְכִי-יִגֹּף שׁוֹר-אִישׁ אֶת-שׁוֹר רֵעֵהוּ, וָמֵת--וּמָכְרוּ אֶת-הַשּׁוֹר הַחַי, וְחָצוּ אֶת-כַּסְפּוֹ, וְגַם אֶת-הַמֵּת, יֶחֱצוּן. אוֹ נוֹדַע, כִּי שׁוֹר נַגָּח הוּא מִתְּמוֹל שִׁלְשֹׁם, וְלֹא יִשְׁמְרֶנּוּ, בְּעָלָיו--שַׁלֵּם יְשַׁלֵּם שׁוֹר תַּחַת הַשּׁוֹר, וְהַמֵּת יִהְיֶה-לּוֹ


If a man shall strike the eye of his slave or the eye of his maidservant and destroy it, he shall set him free in return for his eye. And if he knocks out the tooth of his slave or the tooth of his maidservant, he shall set him free in return for his tooth. If an ox shall gore a man or woman and he shall die, the ox shall surely be stoned; its flesh may not be eaten and the owner of the ox shall be innocent. But if it was an ox that gores habitually from yesterday and the day before yesterday, and its owners had been warned but did not guard it, and it killed a man or woman, the ox shall be stoned and even its owners shall die. When an atonement-payment shall be assessed against him, he shall pay as a redemption for his life whatever shall be assessed against him. Whether it gores a boy or it gores a girl, in accordance with this judgment shall be done to him. If the ox shall gore a slave or a maidservant, thirty silver shekels shall he give to his master, and the ox shall be stoned. If a man shall uncover a pit, or if a man shall dig a pit and not cover it, and an ox or a donkey fall into it; the owner of the pit shall make restitution. He shall return money to its owner, and the carcass shall be his. If one man's ox shall strike his fellow's ox which dies, they shall sell the living ox and divide its money, and the carcass, too, shall they divide. But if it becomes known that it was an ox that had gored habitually, from yesterday and before yesterday, but its owner did not guard it, he shall surely pay an ox in place of the ox, and the carcass shall be his.