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Numbers 16:13 - Egypt's bounty worth returning?

Numbers 16:13 - במדבר 16:13

Hebrew Text

הַמְעַט כִּי הֶעֱלִיתָנוּ מֵאֶרֶץ זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבַשׁ לַהֲמִיתֵנוּ בַּמִּדְבָּר כִּי־תִשְׂתָּרֵר עָלֵינוּ גַּם־הִשְׂתָּרֵר׃

English Translation

is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, and dost thou also make thyself a prince over us?

Transliteration

Ham'at ki he'elitanu me'eretz zavat chalav udvash lahmitenu bamidbar ki-tistarer aleinu gam-histarer.

Hebrew Leining Text

הַמְעַ֗ט כִּ֤י הֶֽעֱלִיתָ֙נוּ֙ מֵאֶ֨רֶץ זָבַ֤ת חָלָב֙ וּדְבַ֔שׁ לַהֲמִיתֵ֖נוּ בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר כִּֽי־תִשְׂתָּרֵ֥ר עָלֵ֖ינוּ גַּם־הִשְׂתָּרֵֽר׃
הַמְעַ֗ט כִּ֤י הֶֽעֱלִיתָ֙נוּ֙ מֵאֶ֨רֶץ זָבַ֤ת חָלָב֙ וּדְבַ֔שׁ לַהֲמִיתֵ֖נוּ בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר כִּֽי־תִשְׂתָּרֵ֥ר עָלֵ֖ינוּ גַּם־הִשְׂתָּרֵֽר׃

🎵 Listen to leining

Parasha Commentary

Context of the Verse

This verse (Bamidbar 16:13) is part of the rebellion of Korach and his followers against Moshe and Aharon. Datan and Aviram, who were among the rebels, confront Moshe with these words, expressing their discontent with his leadership and accusing him of bringing them out of Egypt only to perish in the wilderness.

Analysis of the Complaint

The rebels sarcastically refer to Egypt as "a land flowing with milk and honey," a term usually reserved for Eretz Yisrael. Rashi explains that they were mocking Moshe by using this phrase, implying that Egypt was just as good as the promised land. This reflects their distorted perspective and ingratitude toward Hashem's redemption.

  • Egypt as "flowing with milk and honey": The Midrash (Bamidbar Rabbah 18:5) notes that this was a deliberate perversion of the truth, as Egypt was a land of harsh slavery, not abundance.
  • "To kill us in the wilderness": Ramban suggests that their accusation stemmed from a lack of faith in Hashem's promise to bring them to Eretz Yisrael, despite the miracles they had already witnessed.

Rebellion Against Leadership

The phrase "כִּי־תִשְׂתָּרֵר עָלֵינוּ גַּם־הִשְׂתָּרֵר" ("dost thou also make thyself a prince over us?") reveals their core grievance: they rejected Moshe's authority. The Sforno explains that they saw Moshe's leadership as self-appointed rather than divinely ordained.

  • Korach's underlying motive: The Talmud (Sanhedrin 110a) teaches that Korach sought power for himself, using populist rhetoric to rally others against Moshe.
  • Contrast with Moshe's humility: Rashi (Bamidbar 16:15) highlights Moshe's response, demonstrating his selflessness and devotion to Hashem's will, unlike the rebels' selfish ambitions.

Spiritual Lessons

This episode serves as a warning against:

  • Ingratitude: The rebels failed to appreciate their redemption from slavery, focusing only on perceived hardships.
  • Challenging legitimate authority: The Mishnah (Avot 5:17) cites Korach's dispute as an example of an argument not for the sake of Heaven.
  • Distorting truth: Their false portrayal of Egypt underscores the danger of twisting reality to justify rebellion.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Sanhedrin 110a
The verse is referenced in the context of discussing the rebellion of Korach and his followers against Moses, illustrating their complaints and the gravity of their challenge to Moses' leadership.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who is speaking in Numbers 16:13 and what is their complaint?
A: In Numbers 16:13, Dathan and Aviram (members of Korach's rebellion) are speaking to Moshe. They complain that Moshe took them out of Egypt (which they sarcastically call 'a land flowing with milk and honey') only to let them die in the wilderness, and they resent his leadership over them. Rashi explains that their words show ingratitude and a distortion of the truth, as Egypt was actually a place of slavery.
Q: Why did Dathan and Aviram call Egypt 'a land flowing with milk and honey'?
A: Dathan and Aviram deliberately misdescribed Egypt as 'a land flowing with milk and honey' (a term actually used for Eretz Yisrael) to mock Moshe's mission. The Midrash (Bamidbar Rabbah 18:12) explains this was part of their rebellion - they were trying to justify their desire to return to Egypt by falsely portraying it as a good land, contrary to the reality of their bitter slavery there.
Q: What lesson can we learn from the rebellion in Numbers 16:13?
A: The Rambam (Hilchos De'os 6:3) learns from this episode the danger of machlokes (dispute) and challenging proper authority. The Talmud (Sanhedrin 110a) states that anyone who perpetuates a dispute violates a negative commandment. This verse teaches how complaints against righteous leadership often stem from ingratitude and distorted perspectives, leading people astray.