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Parsahs Behaloscha- God vs. the Jewish Wish

Written by Shai Rose, 17/6/2019

In this week’s parsha, the Jews got mad and even blamed God for taking them out of Egypt. They said it was so much better for them there. God answered them in the following fashion:

יחוְאֶל־הָעָ֨ם תֹּאמַ֜ר הִתְקַדְּשׁ֣וּ לְמָחָר֘ וַֽאֲכַלְתֶּ֣ם בָּשָׂר֒ כִּ֡י בְּכִיתֶם֩ בְּאָזְנֵ֨י יְהֹוָ֜ה לֵאמֹ֗ר מִ֤י יַֽאֲכִלֵ֨נוּ֙ בָּשָׂ֔ר כִּי־ט֥וֹב לָ֖נוּ בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם וְנָתַ֨ן יְהֹוָ֧ה לָכֶ֛ם בָּשָׂ֖ר וַֽאֲכַלְתֶּֽם: יטלֹ֣א י֥וֹם אֶחָ֛ד תֹּֽאכְל֖וּן וְלֹ֣א יוֹמָ֑יִם וְלֹ֣א | חֲמִשָּׁ֣ה יָמִ֗ים וְלֹא֙ עֲשָׂרָ֣ה יָמִ֔ים וְלֹ֖א עֶשְׂרִ֥ים יֽוֹם: כעַ֣ד | חֹ֣דֶשׁ יָמִ֗ים עַ֤ד אֲשֶׁר־יֵצֵא֙ מֵֽאַפְּכֶ֔ם וְהָיָ֥ה לָכֶ֖ם לְזָרָ֑א יַ֗עַן כִּֽי־מְאַסְתֶּ֤ם אֶת־יְהֹוָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּקִרְבְּכֶ֔ם וַתִּבְכּ֤וּ לְפָנָיו֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לָ֥מָּה זֶּ֖ה יָצָ֥אנוּ מִמִּצְרָֽיִם: (Perek 11 Pasukim 18-20). 

To summarize the quote briefly, Hakadosh Baruch Hu tells Moshe to tell the Jews that they're going to get meat for an entire month. They're going to have so much meat it's going to be so nauseating to them and they're going to regret complaining and saying they want to be back in the land of Egypt. Additionally, Moshe Rabeinu expressed some skepticism regarding this complaint. This doubt seems very implausible and seems very sinful. How could Moshe Rebeinu, our leader, doubt the hand of God? The Ramban tries to explain God's behavior. Moshe obviously knew that God performs miracles, either to show his compassion for the Jewish people or to inflict quick punishment upon the wicked. Consequently, Moshe was sure that the month-long supply of meat would be given by natural means. That this was indeed God’s intention as indicated by Gods use of the word הֲיִקְרְךָ֥, will come to pass (Pasuk 23), which comes from the word keri,

coincidence. Therefore, Moshe questioned how so much meat could be provided in a wasteland without a miracle. God responded that it would indeed be natural, and that even a seeming "impossible" event is not beyond Gods means. Rav Bachya notes the juxtaposition of the installation of the Sanhedrin with the announcement about the meat. Just as Moshes' spirit could suffice to elevate all 70 men to greatness without impinging on himself, so to God could provide meat without straining the world’s resources.   


                        

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