Daily Chumash & Rashi – Parshas Beshalach Chamishi: The Mun (Thursday, 11th Shevat)

Q&A on Rashi for Exodus 15:27–16:10

1. Why does the Torah mention “twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees” at Elim?

Rashi: The numbers correspond symbolically — twelve springs for the twelve tribes, and seventy palm trees for the seventy elders of Israel.

2. Why does the Torah specify that Israel arrived in the Desert of Sin on the 15th of the second month?

Rashi: Because on that exact day, the supply of dough/matzot from Egypt ran out. From this he calculates that they ate 61 meals from what they brought out of Egypt. The manna then began falling on the 16th of Iyar, which was Sunday.

3. Why did the people complain in Exodus 16:2–3?

Rashi: Their food supply was depleted. They feared starvation and lamented that in Egypt they had meat pots and enough bread.

4. What does “I will rain down bread from heaven” teach according to Rashi?

Rashi: God was testing whether they would obey the commandments tied to the manna —
• not leaving leftovers, and
• not going out to collect on Shabbat.

5. What does “davar yom b’yomo — what is needed for the day” mean?

Rashi: They were to collect only that day’s portion — not extra for the next day (except on Friday).

6. Why was the Friday portion double?

Rashi: When they gathered the manna and measured it, it miraculously amounted to twice the daily amount — one portion for Friday and one for Shabbat.

7. What does “In the evening you will know that Hashem took you out of Egypt” mean?

Rashi: Since the Israelites said, “You (Moses and Aaron) took us out,” God would show them via the arrival of quail that it was He, not Moses, who redeemed them.

8. Why does Rashi distinguish between the giving of meat in the evening and bread in the morning?

Rashi:
• Bread was a true necessity, so it was given lovingly in the morning with dew above and below.
• Meat was requested improperly and out of desire rather than need — therefore it was given at an inconvenient time and without a “smiling countenance.”

9. What does Rashi explain about the word “talinu — you make [others] complain” (16:7)?

Rashi: Due to its grammatical form, it means “you cause others to complain,” not merely “you complain.” Their complaints influenced their families and the mixed multitude.

10. Why does Moses say, “Not against us are your complaints, but against Hashem” (16:8)?

Rashi: Because ultimately their demands — especially for meat — were directed against God’s providence, not merely Moses’ leadership.

11. What does “Draw near before Hashem” mean (16:9)?

Rashi: Come to the place where the cloud of glory descended, showing that God was responding directly.

12. What does it mean that “the glory of Hashem appeared in the cloud” (16:10)?

Rashi: The people turned toward the desert and saw a manifestation of God’s presence in the cloud as a response to their complaints.