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Numbers 14:2 - Complaining against Divine guidance?

Numbers 14:2 - במדבר 14:2

Hebrew Text

וַיִּלֹּנוּ עַל־מֹשֶׁה וְעַל־אַהֲרֹן כֹּל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֲלֵהֶם כָּל־הָעֵדָה לוּ־מַתְנוּ בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם אוֹ בַּמִּדְבָּר הַזֶּה לוּ־מָתְנוּ׃

English Translation

And all the children of Yisra᾽el murmured against Moshe and against Aharon: and the whole congregation said to them, Would that we had died in the land of Miżrayim! or would we had died in this wilderness!

Transliteration

Vayilonu al-Moshe ve'al-Aharon kol bnei Yisrael vayomru alehem kol-ha'eda lu-matnu be'eretz Mitzrayim o bamidbar haze lu-matnu.

Hebrew Leining Text

וַיִּלֹּ֙נוּ֙ עַל־מֹשֶׁ֣ה וְעַֽל־אַהֲרֹ֔ן כֹּ֖ל בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַֽיֹּאמְר֨וּ אֲלֵהֶ֜ם כׇּל־הָעֵדָ֗ה לוּ־מַ֙תְנוּ֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם א֛וֹ בַּמִּדְבָּ֥ר הַזֶּ֖ה לוּ־מָֽתְנוּ׃
וַיִּלֹּ֙נוּ֙ עַל־מֹשֶׁ֣ה וְעַֽל־אַהֲרֹ֔ן כֹּ֖ל בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַֽיֹּאמְר֨וּ אֲלֵהֶ֜ם כׇּל־הָעֵדָ֗ה לוּ־מַ֙תְנוּ֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם א֛וֹ בַּמִּדְבָּ֥ר הַזֶּ֖ה לוּ־מָֽתְנוּ׃

🎵 Listen to leining

Parasha Commentary

Context of the Verse

This verse (Bamidbar 14:2) appears during the episode of the Meraglim (the Spies), when the Israelites, upon hearing the negative report from ten of the spies, express despair and rebellion against Moshe and Aharon. Their complaint reflects a crisis of faith in Hashem's promise to bring them into Eretz Yisrael.

Rashi's Explanation

Rashi (Bamidbar 14:2) highlights the severity of their complaint, noting that they not only rejected Eretz Yisrael but also expressed a desire to have died in Mitzrayim or the wilderness. He explains that their words demonstrated a complete lack of trust in Hashem, as they preferred death over fulfilling His will.

Rambam on Bitachon (Trust in Hashem)

Rambam (Hilchot De'ot 2:3) teaches that one must cultivate bitachon (trust in Hashem) and avoid despair. The Israelites' statement, "Would that we had died in Mitzrayim," reflects a failure in this principle, as they allowed fear to override their faith in Hashem's redemption.

Midrashic Insights

  • The Midrash Tanchuma (Shelach 7) compares their complaint to a child who, after being rescued from danger, curses his savior. Similarly, after experiencing Yetziat Mitzrayim and the miracles in the wilderness, their ingratitude was particularly grievous.
  • Midrash Bamidbar Rabbah (16:20) states that their words were a rejection of the entire Exodus, implying they would have preferred remaining enslaved rather than facing challenges in the wilderness.

Chassidic Perspective

The Sefat Emet (Shelach) explains that their complaint stemmed from a misunderstanding of their spiritual mission. They saw the wilderness as a place of death rather than a transitional stage toward holiness. True faith requires embracing challenges as part of Divine Providence.

Halachic Implications

The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 1:1) emphasizes beginning each day with gratitude, in contrast to the Israelites' complaint. Their failure to recognize Hashem's kindness serves as a cautionary lesson against kefirat hatov (denial of goodness).

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

The verse is referenced in the context of discussing the complaints of the Israelites in the wilderness and their lack of faith.
📖 Sanhedrin 110b
The murmuring of the Israelites against Moses and Aaron is mentioned as part of a discussion on the consequences of speaking against leaders.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why were the Israelites complaining in Numbers 14:2?
A: The Israelites complained because they were afraid after hearing the negative report from the spies about the Land of Israel. Rashi explains that their lack of faith in Hashem led them to prefer dying in Egypt or the wilderness rather than facing the challenges of entering the Promised Land.
Q: What lesson can we learn from the Israelites' complaints in this verse?
A: The Midrash teaches that this episode shows the danger of ingratitude and lack of faith. Despite witnessing Hashem's miracles in Egypt and the wilderness, the Israelites doubted His ability to bring them into the Land. This teaches us to maintain trust in Hashem even during difficult times.
Q: How does this verse relate to Jewish belief about challenges?
A: The Rambam teaches that challenges are opportunities for spiritual growth. The Israelites failed this test by complaining instead of seeing the conquest of Israel as a divine mission. Jewish tradition emphasizes facing difficulties with faith and viewing them as part of Hashem's plan for our development.