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Numbers 11:11 - Moshe's burdened plea

Numbers 11:11 - במדבר 11:11

Hebrew Text

וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל־יְהוָה לָמָה הֲרֵעֹתָ לְעַבְדֶּךָ וְלָמָּה לֹא־מָצָתִי חֵן בְּעֵינֶיךָ לָשׂוּם אֶת־מַשָּׂא כָּל־הָעָם הַזֶּה עָלָי׃

English Translation

And Moshe said to the Lord, Why hast thou afflicted thy servant? and why have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layst the burden of all this people upon me?

Transliteration

Va'yomer Moshe el-Adonai lama hare'ota le'avdecha ve'lama lo matzati chen be'eineycha lasum et-masa kol-ha'am hazeh alai.

Hebrew Leining Text

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֜ה אֶל־יְהֹוָ֗ה לָמָ֤ה הֲרֵעֹ֙תָ֙ לְעַבְדֶּ֔ךָ וְלָ֛מָּה לֹא־מָצָ֥תִי חֵ֖ן בְּעֵינֶ֑יךָ לָשׂ֗וּם אֶת־מַשָּׂ֛א כׇּל־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה עָלָֽי׃
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֜ה אֶל־יְהֹוָ֗ה לָמָ֤ה הֲרֵעֹ֙תָ֙ לְעַבְדֶּ֔ךָ וְלָ֛מָּה לֹא־מָצָ֥תִי חֵ֖ן בְּעֵינֶ֑יךָ לָשׂ֗וּם אֶת־מַשָּׂ֛א כׇּל־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה עָלָֽי׃

🎵 Listen to leining

Parasha Commentary

Moses' Complaint to Hashem

The verse (Bamidbar 11:11) records Moses' plea to Hashem, expressing his distress over the burden of leading the Jewish people. Rashi explains that Moses felt overwhelmed by the constant complaints of the people, particularly after their demand for meat (as described in the preceding verses). Moses' words reflect his human struggle, despite his unparalleled prophetic stature.

The Nature of Moses' Question

Ramban (Nachmanides) notes that Moses' question—"Why have I not found favor in Your eyes?"—does not stem from arrogance but from genuine bewilderment. Moses could not understand why Hashem had placed such a heavy responsibility solely upon him, rather than sharing the leadership burden with others. This aligns with the Talmudic principle (Berachos 32b) that even the greatest leaders may experience moments of despair when faced with overwhelming challenges.

The Burden of Leadership

The Midrash (Tanchuma, Beha'aloscha 16) elaborates that Moses felt the weight of leadership not just physically but spiritually. He was pained by the people's lack of faith and their constant grievances, which made his role as their advocate before Hashem exceedingly difficult. The phrase "the burden of all this people" suggests that Moses saw himself as carrying the collective spiritual and material needs of the nation.

Moses' Humility

Rabbeinu Bachya emphasizes that Moses' complaint was rooted in his humility. Unlike others who might seek honor, Moses was distressed because he felt inadequate for the task. This aligns with the Torah's description of Moses as "the most humble man on earth" (Bamidbar 12:3). His plea was not a challenge to Hashem but a sincere expression of his perceived limitations.

Hashem's Response

While the verse focuses on Moses' words, the subsequent verses reveal Hashem's compassionate response (Bamidbar 11:16-17), where He instructs Moses to appoint 70 elders to share the burden. This teaches a profound lesson in leadership: even the greatest leaders need support, and Hashem acknowledges the validity of Moses' plea by lightening his load.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Sotah 13b
The verse is referenced in the context of discussing Moses' leadership and his plea to God regarding the burden of leading the Israelites.
📖 Sanhedrin 111a
The verse is cited in a discussion about the challenges faced by leaders and the responsibilities they bear, using Moses' words as an example.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why was Moshe (Moses) complaining to Hashem in Numbers 11:11?
A: Moshe felt overwhelmed by the responsibility of leading the Jewish people through the wilderness. Rashi explains that Moshe was expressing his distress over the constant complaints of the people and the heavy burden of leadership. This teaches us that even great leaders like Moshe can feel the weight of their responsibilities.
Q: What does 'why have I not found favor in Your eyes' mean in this verse?
A: Moshe wasn't questioning Hashem's love for him, but rather expressing his feeling of inadequacy in handling the people's demands alone. The Rambam teaches that this shows Moshe's humility - he recognized that leadership requires divine assistance and wasn't claiming he could do it all himself.
Q: How does this verse relate to leadership challenges today?
A: This verse teaches important lessons about leadership: 1) Even the greatest leaders need support (as seen when Hashem later instructs Moshe to appoint 70 elders), 2) It's normal for leaders to feel overwhelmed sometimes, and 3) True leaders care deeply about their people's welfare, as Moshe did. The Talmud (Sanhedrin 8a) discusses how leaders must balance compassion with strength.
Q: Why did Moshe say 'why have You afflicted Your servant'? Wasn't he chosen by Hashem?
A: The Midrash explains that Moshe wasn't rejecting his role, but was struggling with the difficulty of the task. As the greatest prophet, Moshe felt the people's pain intensely. This teaches that being chosen by Hashem for important work doesn't mean it will be easy - even righteous servants can experience hardship in fulfilling their divine missions.
Q: What can we learn from Moshe's honest prayer in this verse?
A: We learn that it's permissible and even praiseworthy to express our difficulties to Hashem with honesty, as long as we maintain proper respect. The Talmud (Berachot 5a) teaches that prayer is the proper outlet for our struggles. Moshe's example shows us that we can bring our true feelings before Hashem while maintaining faith.