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Numbers 11:5 - Craving Egypt's fleeting pleasures?

Numbers 11:5 - במדבר 11:5

Hebrew Text

זָכַרְנוּ אֶת־הַדָּגָה אֲשֶׁר־נֹאכַל בְּמִצְרַיִם חִנָּם אֵת הַקִּשֻּׁאִים וְאֵת הָאֲבַטִּחִים וְאֶת־הֶחָצִיר וְאֶת־הַבְּצָלִים וְאֶת־הַשּׁוּמִים׃

English Translation

We remember the fish, which we did eat in Miżrayim for nothing; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic:

Transliteration

Zacharnu et-hadaga asher-nochal bemitzrayim chinam et hakishuim ve'et ha'avatichim ve'et hechatzir ve'et habtzalim ve'et hashumim.

Hebrew Leining Text

זָכַ֙רְנוּ֙ אֶת־הַדָּגָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־נֹאכַ֥ל בְּמִצְרַ֖יִם חִנָּ֑ם אֵ֣ת הַקִּשֻּׁאִ֗ים וְאֵת֙ הָֽאֲבַטִּחִ֔ים וְאֶת־הֶחָצִ֥יר וְאֶת־הַבְּצָלִ֖ים וְאֶת־הַשּׁוּמִֽים׃
זָכַ֙רְנוּ֙ אֶת־הַדָּגָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־נֹאכַ֥ל בְּמִצְרַ֖יִם חִנָּ֑ם אֵ֣ת הַקִּשֻּׁאִ֗ים וְאֵת֙ הָֽאֲבַטִּחִ֔ים וְאֶת־הֶחָצִ֥יר וְאֶת־הַבְּצָלִ֖ים וְאֶת־הַשּׁוּמִֽים׃

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Parasha Commentary

Context of the Verse

This verse (Bamidbar 11:5) appears in the narrative of the Israelites' complaints in the wilderness. After leaving Egypt, the people express longing for the foods they ate there, despite their former enslavement. The verse reflects a distorted nostalgia, where they recall their time in Egypt as a period of abundance, ignoring the harsh realities of slavery.

Rashi's Commentary

Rashi explains that the phrase "חִנָּם" (for nothing) does not mean the food was free, but rather that it was without mitzvot—without the obligations of Torah. In Egypt, they were not bound by the dietary laws and other commandments, which they now found burdensome. This reflects a spiritual regression, valuing physical comfort over divine service.

Rambam's Perspective

Rambam (Hilchot De'ot 4:1) teaches that excessive craving for physical pleasures, as demonstrated here, distracts a person from spiritual growth. The Israelites' focus on food—especially the luxuries of Egypt—shows a lack of appreciation for their newfound freedom and closeness to Hashem.

Midrashic Insights

  • Shir HaShirim Rabbah (4:12): The fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic symbolize the fleeting pleasures of materialism. The Midrash contrasts this with the manna, which sustained them spiritually and physically in the wilderness.
  • Bamidbar Rabbah (15:5): The complaints were not truly about food but reflected a deeper resistance to the discipline of Torah life. The mention of specific foods highlights how easily physical desires can cloud spiritual priorities.

Spiritual Lesson

The verse serves as a caution against romanticizing the past, especially when it involves a life devoid of Torah. True freedom is not the absence of responsibility but the opportunity to serve Hashem. The Israelites' longing for Egypt's food reveals their struggle to embrace their divine mission.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Yoma 75a
The verse is referenced in a discussion about the manna and the complaints of the Israelites in the wilderness, contrasting their current situation with their memories of Egypt.
📖 Bava Batra 73b
Mentioned in a broader discussion about the miracles and experiences of the Israelites during their time in Egypt and the wilderness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does Numbers 11:5 mean when Bnei Yisrael say they ate fish 'for nothing' in Egypt?
A: Rashi explains that 'for nothing' (חִנָּם) means the fish was abundant and easily accessible in Egypt, without much effort to obtain it. However, the people were ungrateful and focused on physical comforts rather than appreciating their newfound freedom from slavery.
Q: Why did Bnei Yisrael complain about missing the foods of Egypt?
A: According to the Midrash (Bamidbar Rabbah), this complaint reflected their lack of faith and attachment to physical pleasures. Despite experiencing miracles like the Exodus and receiving manna from Heaven, they nostalgically remembered Egypt's food—showing how slavery had conditioned their desires.
Q: What lesson can we learn from Numbers 11:5 about gratitude?
A: The Rambam teaches that this verse warns against ingratitude. Bnei Yisrael focused on minor comforts while ignoring Hashem's miracles. Today, we must recognize blessings in our lives—like freedom and spiritual sustenance—rather than longing for fleeting material pleasures.
Q: Why does the verse list specific foods like cucumbers, onions, and garlic?
A: The Talmud (Yoma 75b) notes these were common slave foods in Egypt, showing how the people's memories were distorted. They romanticized their past despite its hardships. Rashi adds that these foods were also associated with physical indulgence, contrasting with the manna's spiritual purity.
Q: How does this verse relate to challenges in spiritual growth?
A: The Seforno explains that Bnei Yisrael's craving for Egyptian food symbolized resistance to change. Growth often requires leaving behind familiar comforts (even unhealthy ones) for higher purposes. This teaches us to prioritize spiritual values over temporary physical desires.