Midterm- 2025-2026 Kesty

How come it’s talking about פקודים (counting)?

these two counting times are more important than any other events in this Sefer

how did BNY conduct themselves whilst in the desert?

they acted in a supernatural way due to being with Moshe all the time

What is the Netziv’s explanation of the theme of Bamidbar?

The two countings represent the transition BNY went from when they entered the desert vs left it. In the desert, they were constantly being surrounded by supernatural, and when they went into Israel, everything was natural

Why were BNY counted twice (entering the desert and leaving it)?

BNY went though a big change- showing how they were a different people at the end than when they started.

What does פקודים mean?

Counting

How did BNY camp in the desert accd to Malbim?

The Mishkan was like the heart and gives the life force to BNY.

How did BNY camp in the desert accd to Rabbi Sacks?

All the Jews were in an equal distance to the Mishkan. This is the only time this happens, so this time in the desert is their time to focus on becoming a nation, their relationship with Hashem, and preparing themselves for Israel.

How did BNY travel?

The Aron would be in front of BNY, three day journey ahead of them, looking for a resting spot. The cloud of Hashem was over BNY during the day when they traveled.

Accd to R’ Soloveitchik, why was it such sad time right now?

BNY were just about to go into Israel, after 40 years in the desert, and now so many bad things are happening- complaining, spies, etc!

Accd to Rashi, why is there a backwards nun after lamed daled and lamed vav?

To show that this is the wrong place for these Pesukim. They are here to break up one bad thing with another.

What are the bad things we are seperating? ramban

1. The nation was complaining

2. they traveled from har Sinai like children running from school (in happiness). They were relieved that they wouldn’t receive anymore mitzvos.

3. They were complaining about the slav (quail eggs falling from the sky)/meat

What does Shem MiShmuel say on ויהי בנסוע ארון? (backwards nuns)

When BNY got to Har Hashem(Sinai) they said “Naaseh Vanishma” They were prepared to do anything but it was flipped. They were not ready to do the “Naaseh” so they used the “Nun”.

what was BNY like?

complainers

why were BNY only ‘like’ complainers? Wouldn’t they be complainers or just not complainers? two answers

1. Kesty- over the course of 40 years they complained 10 times, not one after the next. They were just ‘like’ complainers.

2. Rabbeinu B’Chai- they didn’t actually complain out loud just in their minds. They were afraid if Moshe and didn’t want him to hear them complain.

What is BNY complaining about? Which part of the word מתאננים shows it? three answers

1. Rashi מתאננים- BNY is only looking for an excuse to separate from Hashem. Mitoninim and Tana (excuse) have the same shoresh.

2. Ibn Ezra מתאננים- they’re trying to be bad on purpose. A(va)n means evil.

3. Rambam (on Ibn Ezra) מתאננים- why is the pasuk hiding their sin if they’re being bad on purpose; normally it tells us exactly what they did wrong? If the torah isn’t saying, they can’t be doing evil. Anan- pain: feeling sorry for themselves

Why did BNY cry out to Moshe, not Hashem? Rashi

Rashi- brings a mashal about a king and his son who are fighting. The son goes to the father’s friend and says, “can you ask my father for forgiveness?” BNY aren’t comfortable to go to Hashem directly so they go to Moshe, the middle man.

who are the Asafsuf? rashi

Rashi- the eruv rav

what foods that they had in Egypt are BNY complaining about now?

fish, cucumbers, watermelons, leeks, onions, and garlic

what does Rashi say about the “free” fish BNY was complaining about?

Rashi- it’s said that BNY didn’t even get straw to build with for free, why would they have gotten fish for free? when they saw free fish, they meant they wanted to be free from mitzvot. In Egypt there were no responsibilities, they want that again.

what is the “slave mentality”?

BNY had no responsibilities to do mitzvot while they were slaves. they would rather be slaves than have a lot of responsibilities (mitzvos).

why didn’t the ma’an change it’s taste to these foods (onions and garlic)? rashi

Rashi- the midrash says that a woman shouldn’t eat garlic and onions while nursing a baby, so these were the only foods the ma’an would’t taste like.

Accd to Rashi, what does it mean that the nation was crying and the men were outside their tents?

Rashi- all fams got together and publicized their complaints, the rabbis say they’re crying because they can’t be intimate with people in their fam anymore.

Accd to Shiftei Chachomim, why are they only compaining about this now, surely they got this law a while ago?

Shiftei Chachomim- before they were separated into diff camps, they were altogether and it wasn’t so obvious who you were with. But now they split up their camps by shevet and it was more obvious who you were with. Also, when they were mixed up, there were a lot more options so they wouldn’t even think about being with someone they couldn’t.

what is Sforno’s metaphor about father+son and Moshe+BNY?

A father is able to guide his son, even if they disagree. Of course the father loves the son and that he’s doing everything he can to make the problem better. But BNY doesn’t believe in Moshe at all like a parent, they’re constantly testing him.

Accd to Sforno, what is BNY doing when they say “give us meat”?

There’s no doubt that Moshe doesn’t have meat. If so, when they cry to Moshe and ask for meat, it’s as if Moshe has it, and they’re just testing his leadership to see if he reflects Hashem.

Accd to Sforno, what does Moshe mean when he says Lo Ochel Anochi Lavadi?

Moshe can’t do this on his own, he needs to be switched out with someone else.

Accd to Sforno, what does Moshe mean when he says “If you do this, please kill me. if I find favour in your eyes, I’ll not see my bad”?

the bad is his failed leadership. He’s rather die than see his failure of a leadership job.

Accd to Rav Hirsch, what was Moshe upset about?

Hashem told him he will be a leader and Moshe thought that he was not going to be able to do it. He doesn’t mind leading and suffering if BNY benefits but they don’t. Because Moshe is messing up and being a bad leader, BNY will suffer and perish. 

What does Rav Hirsch say on Ulama Lo Mazati Vigo?

Moshe didn’t think he could do this, and the 1st thing that you need as a leader is to have confidence in yourself (so why are you making me do this?).

Why is BNY getting punished (Rashbam)?

Because they rejected the good they’re being punished. If they were just desiring but not complaining about leaving Mitzrayim, the punishment would not have been so harsh (very ungrateful).

Is Moshe doubting Hashem (Rashi)?

Accd to R’ Gamliel- it’s impossible to stand up to someone who is insincere bc they are always looking for something to complain about, they’ll never be satisfied.

What does ולא יספו mean? Rashi

They only prophesied on that day alone OR they never stopped prophesying and became Nevi’im.

Who was “the boy”? Rashi

Gershom, the son of Moshe

What was Eldad and Maydad’s Nevuah? Rashi

Davar Acher- bring them to jail bc they were prophecying that Moshe would die and Yehoshua would bring BNY into Israel.

Why does Yehoshua think that he can speak before his rav, Moshe? Or HaChaim

”one who speaks before his rav should be unable to have children.” It’s a serious offence. When Yehoshua heard the prophecy, he chose to say who bad these words were. He didn’t want the nevuah to come true, although it could benefit him, he doesn’t want Moshe think that he wants him to die.

Midrash about Moshe and Yehoshua in comparison to galaxy- kli yakar