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Chamishi
- Aaron passes away:
- The instructions: Bnei Yisrael traveled from Kadeish and arrived to Har Hahar. Hashem told Moshe and Aaron on Har Hahar of Aaronโs forthcoming death. โAaron will pass away as he will not enter the promised land due to having defied Me by Mei Meriva.โ Hashem told Moshe to take Aaron and Elazar up to the mountain and remove the clothing of Aaron and dress Elazar his son, and Aaron will die there.
- The passing: Moshe did as Hashem instructed and brought them up the mountain in front of the entire nation. Moshe removed Aaronโs priestly clothing and he dressed Elazar in them. Aaron passed away on the summit of the mountain and Moshe and Elazar descended from the mountain. The entire congregation saw that Aaron passed away and they cried [and mourned] his passing for thirty days.
- Amaleik attacks Klal Yisrael:
- The Canaanite king of Arad who dwells in the south [and is otherwise known as Amelik] heard that the Jewish people are in the vicinity, and they fought against the Jewish people and captured a captive.
- The vow: Bnei Yisrael made a vow to Hashem that if He gives this nation into their hands, and they win the battle, they will consecrate all of the city spoils to the Temple. Hashem heard their pleas and handed the Canaanites to their hands.
- The victory: Bnei Yisrael captured the nation and their cities and consecrated it for Hashem. That area was called Charmah.
- Complaint against water and food and the subsequent plague of snakes:
- The complaint: The Jewish people traveled past Har Hahar and circumvented the land of Edom. The nation became tired of the travel and complained against Hashem and Moshe asking why he took them out of Egypt to die in the desert. โThere is no food or water and we have reached our limit with the insubstantial bread.โ
- The plague of snakes: Hashem smote the nation with burning snakes, and they bit the Jewish people, and many people died. The Jewish people remorsefully came to Moshe confessing to their sin of speaking against him and Hashem. They asked Moshe to Daven for them to Hashem and remove the snakes. Moshe Davened on their behalf.
- The cure: Hashem instructed Moshe to make a snake and place it around a pole and whoever was bitten is to look at it and live. Moshe did as he was instructed and made a copper snake, placing it by the pole. Whoever was bitten by the snake would look at the copper snake and live.
๐ Rashi Q&A โ Bamidbar 20:22โ29 & 21:1โ20
20:22 โ Arrival at Mount Hor
Q1. What does โืื ืืขืืโ mean here?
A. The entire nation was complete, meaning all those who were destined to die in the desert had already passed away, and this generation was ready to enter the land.
Q2. What is โืืจ ืืืจโ?
A. It is a mountain upon a mountain, like a smaller peak on top of a larger one, and it was preserved along with Sinai and Mount Nevo.
20:23 โ Border of Edom
Q3. Why is Aaronโs death mentioned specifically at the border of Edom?
A. Rashi explains that associating with wicked people such as Edom weakens a person spiritually, and this contributed to the loss of Aaron.
20:24โ26 โ Aaronโs Passing
Q4. Why was Aaron told he would not enter the land?
A. Because of the sin at the waters of contention.
Q5. How was Moshe told to take Aaron?
A. With comforting words, telling him that he is fortunate to see his son inherit his role.
Q6. How did Aaron die?
A. He died peacefully, lying down in a prepared place, following instructions calmly, which is why Moshe later desired a similar death.
20:27โ28 โ Transfer of Leadership
Q7. What did Moshe do despite the difficulty?
A. He obeyed Hashem immediately and did not delay.
Q8. What happened to Aharonโs garments?
A. They were transferred to Elazar, symbolizing the continuation of leadership.
20:29 โ Mourning Aharon
Q9. How did the people know Aharon had died?
A. When Moshe and Elazar returned without him, Moshe informed them, and an image of Aaronโs passing was shown to them so they would believe.
Q10. Why did all Israel mourn him?
A. Because Aaron made peace between people and between spouses, so both men and women mourned him.
21:1 โ Attack of Arad
Q11. Why did the Canaanite king attack now?
A. He heard that Aaron died and the Clouds of Glory disappeared, leaving Israel vulnerable.
Q12. Who was this enemy really?
A. Rashi says it was Amalek, who disguised himself as a Canaanite.
Q13. Why disguise their language?
A. So Israel would pray incorrectly and target the wrong nation, but Israel instead prayed generally.
Q14. What does โืืจื ืืืชืจืืโ mean?
A. It refers to the route used by the spies or the path prepared in advance by the Ark.
Q15. What does โืฉืืโ in singular mean?
A. Only one captive was taken, and she was actually a servant captured earlier.
21:2โ3 โ Israelโs Vow
Q16. What did Israel vow?
A. That they would dedicate the spoils of the cities to Hashem.
Q17. What does โืืืืจืืชืโ mean?
A. To dedicate everything completely to Hashem.
21:4 โ Difficult Journey
Q18. Why did the people become discouraged?
A. Because they had to turn back and travel again after expecting to enter the land, and the journey became very difficult.
21:5 โ Complaints
Q19. What was wrong with their complaint?
A. They spoke against Hashem and Moshe as if they were equal.
Q20. Why did they call the manna โlight breadโ?
A. Because it was fully absorbed without waste, and they feared it would harm them.
21:6 โ Punishment
Q21. Why were snakes sent?
A. Because just like the snake represents slander and has limited taste, it punished their complaining and ingratitude.
21:7 โ Repentance
Q22. What did the people do?
A. They admitted their sin and asked Moshe to pray.
Q23. What do we learn from Mosheโs response?
A. One should not be cruel and should forgive when asked.
21:8โ9 โ Copper Snake
Q24. What was the purpose of the copper snake?
A. Not to heal by itself, but to cause people to look upward and turn their hearts to Hashem.
Q25. Why was it made of copper?
A. Moshe chose it because the word ื ืืฉ (snake) resembles ื ืืืฉืช (copper