Chapter 14

1The entire community raised their voices and shouted, and the people wept on that night.   אוַתִּשָּׂא֙ כָּל־הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה וַיִּתְּנ֖וּ אֶת־קוֹלָ֑ם וַיִּבְכּ֥וּ הָעָ֖ם בַּלַּ֥יְלָה הַהֽוּא:
The entire community The members of the Sanhedrin. - [Mid. Tanchuma Shelach 12]   כָּל־הָעֵדָה  סַנְהֶדְרָאוֹת (תנחומא יב):
2All the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the entire congregation said, "If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this desert.   בוַיִּלֹּ֨נוּ֙ עַל־משֶׁ֣ה וְעַל־אַֽהֲרֹ֔ן כֹּ֖ל בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיֹּֽאמְר֨וּ אֲלֵהֶ֜ם כָּל־הָֽעֵדָ֗ה לוּ־מַ֨תְנוּ֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם א֛וֹ בַּמִּדְבָּ֥ר הַזֶּ֖ה לוּ־מָֽתְנוּ:
If only we had died Heb. לוּ מַתְנוּ. We wish that we would have died. - [Targum Onkelos]   לוּ־מַתְנוּ  הַלְוַאי וָמַתְנוּ:
3Why does the Lord bring us to this land to fall by the sword; our wives and children will be as spoils. Is it not better for us to return to Egypt?"   גוְלָמָ֣ה יְ֠הֹוָ֠ה מֵבִ֨יא אֹתָ֜נוּ אֶל־הָאָ֤רֶץ הַזֹּאת֙ לִנְפֹּ֣ל בַּחֶ֔רֶב נָשֵׁ֥ינוּ וְטַפֵּ֖נוּ יִֽהְי֣וּ לָבַ֑ז הֲל֧וֹא ט֥֥וֹב לָ֖נוּ שׁ֥וּב מִצְרָֽיְמָה:
4They said to each other, "Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt!"   דוַיֹּֽאמְר֖וּ אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־אָחִ֑יו נִתְּנָ֥ה רֹ֖אשׁ וְנָשׁ֥וּבָה מִצְרָֽיְמָה:
Let us appoint a leader Heb. נִתְּנָה רֹאשׁ. As the Targum renders, “Let us appoint a head.” Let us appoint a king over us. Our Sages, however, explained this as a term referring to idolatry. - [Mechilta Beshallach (Vayassa 1:22), Othioth d’Rabbi Akiva p. 398, Midrash Tannaim p. 2, Midrash Lekach Tov]   נִתְּנָה רֹאשׁ  כְּתַרְגוּמוֹ "נְמַנֵּי רֵישָׁא" — נָשִׂים עָלֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ; וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ פֵרְשׁוּ, לְשׁוֹן עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה (סנהדרין ק"ז):
5Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before the entire congregation of the children of Israel.   הוַיִּפֹּ֥ל משֶׁ֛ה וְאַֽהֲרֹ֖ן עַל־פְּנֵיהֶ֑ם לִפְנֵ֕י כָּל־קְהַ֥ל עֲדַ֖ת בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
6Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had scouted the land, tore their clothes.   ווִֽיהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ בִּן־נ֗וּן וְכָלֵב֙ בֶּן־יְפֻנֶּ֔ה מִן־הַתָּרִ֖ים אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ קָֽרְע֖וּ בִּגְדֵיהֶֽם:
7They spoke to the entire congregation of the children of Israel, saying, "The land we passed through to scout is an exceedingly good land.   זוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ אֶל־כָּל־עֲדַ֥ת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָבַ֤רְנוּ בָהּ֙ לָת֣וּר אֹתָ֔הּ טוֹבָ֥ה הָאָ֖רֶץ מְאֹ֥ד מְאֹֽד:
8If the Lord desires us, He will bring us to this land and give it to us, a land flowing with milk and honey.   חאִם־חָפֵ֥ץ בָּ֨נוּ֙ יְהֹוָ֔ה וְהֵבִ֤יא אֹתָ֨נוּ֙ אֶל־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֔את וּנְתָנָ֖הּ לָ֑נוּ אֶ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־הִ֛וא זָבַ֥ת חָלָ֖ב וּדְבָֽשׁ:
9But you shall not rebel against the Lord, and you will not fear the people of that land for they are [as] our bread. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them."   טאַ֣ךְ בַּֽיהֹוָה֘ אַל־תִּמְרֹ֒דוּ֒ וְאַתֶּ֗ם אַל־תִּֽירְאוּ֙ אֶת־עַ֣ם הָאָ֔רֶץ כִּ֥י לַחְמֵ֖נוּ הֵ֑ם סָ֣ר צִלָּ֧ם מֵֽעֲלֵיהֶ֛ם וַֽיהֹוָ֥ה אִתָּ֖נוּ אַל־תִּֽירָאֻֽם:
you shall not rebel And consequently, “You will not fear….”   אַל־תִּמְרֹדוּ  וְשׁוּב ואתם אל תראו:
for they are [as] our bread We will consume them like bread.   כִּי לַחְמֵנוּ הֵם  נֹאכְלֵם כַּלֶּחֶם:
Their protection is removed from them Their shield and strength, their virtuous ones have died- [namely,] Job, who protected them [See Rashi on Sotah 35a, B.B. 15a]. (Another interpretation: The shade [protection] of the Omnipresent has departed from them.)   סָר צִלָּם  מְגִנָּם וְחָזְקָם, כְּשֵׁרִים שֶׁבָּהֶם מֵתוּ — אִיּוֹב שֶׁהָיָה מֵגֵן עֲלֵיהֶם (סוטה ל"ה); (דָּבָר אַחֵר, צִלּוֹ שֶׁל הַמָּקוֹם סָר עֲלֵיהֶם):
10The entire congregation threatened to pelt them with stones, but the glory of the Lord appeared in the Tent of Meeting to all the children of Israel.   יוַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ כָּל־הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה לִרְגּ֥וֹם אֹתָ֖ם בָּֽאֲבָנִ֑ים וּכְב֣וֹד יְהֹוָ֗ה נִרְאָה֙ בְּאֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד אֶל־כָּל־בְּנֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
to pelt them [I.e.,] Joshua and Caleb.   לִרְגּוֹם אֹתָם  אֶת יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וְכָלֵב:
the glory of the Lord The cloud descended there. — [Mid. Tanchuma Shelach 12]   וּכְבוֹד ה'  הֶעָנָן יָרַד שָׁם:
11The Lord said to Moses, "How long will this people provoke Me? How much longer will they not believe in Me after all the signs I have performed in their midst?   יאוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־משֶׁ֔ה עַד־אָ֥נָה יְנַֽאֲצֻ֖נִי הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֑ה וְעַד־אָ֨נָה֙ לֹא־יַֽאֲמִ֣ינוּ בִ֔י בְּכֹל֙ הָֽאֹת֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשִׂ֖יתִי בְּקִרְבּֽוֹ:
How long Until when. — [Onkelos]   עַד־אָנָה  עַד הֵיכָן:
provoke Me Heb. יְנַאֲצֻנִי, anger me. - [Onkelos]   יְנַֽאֲצֻנִי  יַרְגִּיזוּנִי:
after all the signs After all the miracles I performed for them, they should have believed that I am capable of fulfilling My promises.   בְּכֹל הָֽאֹתוֹת  בִּשְׁבִיל כָּל הַנִּסִּים שֶׁעָשִׂיתִי לָהֶם, הָיָה לָהֶם לְהַאֲמִין שֶׁהַיְכֹלֶת בְּיָדִי לְקַיֵּם הַבְטָחָתִי:
12I will strike them with a plague and annihilate them; then I will make you into a nation, greater and stronger than they."   יבאַכֶּ֥נּוּ בַדֶּ֖בֶר וְאֽוֹרִשֶׁ֑נּוּ וְאֶֽעֱשֶׂה֙ אֹֽתְךָ֔ לְגֽוֹי־גָּד֥וֹל וְעָצ֖וּם מִמֶּֽנּוּ:
and annihilate them Heb. וְאוֹרִשֶׁנּוּ. As the Targum [Onkelos] renders, a term denoting destruction [rather than inheritance]. You might ask, What will become of the oath I made to the patriarchs? [Mid. Tanchuma Shelach 13]   ואורישנו  לְשׁוֹן תֵּרוּכִין, וְאִם תֹּאמַר מָה אֶעֱשֶׂה לִשְׁבוּעַת אָבוֹת?
I will make you into a great nation for you are descended from them.   וְאֶֽעֱשֶׂה אֹֽתְךָ לְגֽוֹי־גָּדוֹל  שֶׁאַתָּה מִזַּרְעָם:
13Moses said to the Lord, "But the Egyptians will hear that You have brought this nation out from its midst with great power.   יגוַיֹּ֥אמֶר משֶׁ֖ה אֶל־יְהֹוָ֑ה וְשָֽׁמְע֣וּ מִצְרַ֔יִם כִּי־הֶֽעֱלִ֧יתָ בְכֹֽחֲךָ֛ אֶת־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה מִקִּרְבּֽוֹ:
But the Egyptians will hear They will hear that You killed them.   וְשָֽׁמְעוּ מִצְרַיִם  וְשָׁמְעוּ אֶת אֲשֶׁר תַּהַרְגֵם:
that You have brought up Heb. כִּי. This כִּי is used in the sense of אִשֵׁר, “that.” And they saw that You brought them up from among them with Your great might, and when they hear that You killed them, they will not assume that they sinned against You, but they will say that against them You were able to fight, but against the inhabitants of the Land You were unable to fight; this is [the meaning of the following verse]:   כִּי־הֶֽעֱלִיתָ  כִּי מְשַׁמֵּשׁ בִּלְשׁוֹן אֲשֶׁר, וְהֵם רָאוּ אֶת אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱלִיתָ בְּכֹחֲךָ הַגָּדוֹל אוֹתָם מִקִּרְבָּם, וּכְשֶׁיִּשְׁמְעוּ שֶׁאַתָּה הוֹרְגָם לֹא יֹאמְרוּ שֶׁחָטְאוּ לְךָ, אֶלָּא יֹאמְרוּ שֶׁכְּנֶגְדָּם יָכֹלְתָּ לְהִלָּחֵם אֲבָל כְּנֶגֶד יוֹשְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ לֹא יָכֹלְתָּ לְהִלָּחֵם, וְזוֹ הִיא:
14They will say about the inhabitants of this land, who have heard that You, O Lord, are in the midst of this people; that You, the Lord, appear to them eye to eye and that Your cloud rests over them. And You go before them with a pillar of cloud by day and with a pillar of fire by night,   ידוְאָֽמְר֗וּ אֶל־יוֹשֵׁב֘ הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּאת֒ שָֽׁמְעוּ֙ כִּֽי־אַתָּ֣ה יְהֹוָ֔ה בְּקֶ֖רֶב הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֑ה אֲשֶׁר־עַ֨יִן בְּעַ֜יִן נִרְאָ֣ה | אַתָּ֣ה יְהֹוָ֗ה וַֽעֲנָֽנְךָ֙ עֹמֵ֣ד עֲלֵהֶ֔ם וּבְעַמֻּ֣ד עָנָ֗ן אַתָּ֨ה הֹלֵ֤ךְ לִפְנֵיהֶם֙ יוֹמָ֔ם וּבְעַמּ֥וּד אֵ֖שׁ לָֽיְלָה:
They will say about the inhabitants of this Land Heb. אֶל, like עַל, concerning the inhabitants of this Land. What will they say about them? What is stated at the end of the passage (verse 16), "Since the Lord lacked the ability…" - because they heard that You, O Lord, dwell among them, and You reveal Yourself to them eye to eye in an affectionate manner, and until now they had not realized that Your love for them had been withdrawn.   וְאָֽמְרוּ אֶל־יוֹשֵׁב הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת  כְּמוֹ עַל יוֹשֵׁב הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת — וּמַה יֹּאמְרוּ עֲלֵיהֶם? מַה שֶּׁאָמוּר בְּסוֹף הָעִנְיָן "מִבִּלְתִּי יְכֹלֶת ה'" - בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁשָּׁמְעוּ כִּי אַתָּה ה' שׁוֹכֵן בְּקִרְבָּם וְעַיִן בְּעַיִן אַתָּה נִרְאֶה לָהֶם, וְהַכֹּל בְּדֶרֶךְ חִבָּה וְלֹא הִכִּירוּ בְךָ שֶׁנִּתְּקָה אַהֲבָתְךָ מֵהֶם עַד הֵנָּה:
15and if You kill this nation like one man, the nations who have heard of Your reputation will say as follows:   טווְהֵֽמַתָּ֛ה אֶת־הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה כְּאִ֣ישׁ אֶחָ֑ד וְאָֽמְרוּ֙ הַגּוֹיִ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־שָֽׁמְע֥וּ אֶת־שִׁמְעֲךָ֖ לֵאמֹֽר:
and if You kill this nation like one man suddenly, consequently, the nations who have heard….   המתה אֶת־הָעָם הַזֶּה כְּאִישׁ אֶחָד  פִּתְאֹם, וּמִתּוֹךְ כָּךְ יֹאמְרוּ הַגּוֹיִם אֲשֶׁר שָׁמְעוּ וְגוֹ':
16'Since the Lord lacked the ability to bring this nation to the Land which He swore to them, He slaughtered them in the desert.'   טזמִבִּלְתִּ֞י יְכֹ֣לֶת יְהֹוָ֗ה לְהָבִיא֙ אֶת־הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה אֶל־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁבַּ֣ע לָהֶ֑ם וַיִּשְׁחָטֵ֖ם בַּמִּדְבָּֽר:
Since the Lord lacked the ability Because the inhabitants of the Land are strong and powerful. Pharaoh cannot be compared to thirty-one kings. They will say this about the inhabitants of this land, “Since [the Lord] is incapable”, because He did not have the ability to bring them, He slaughtered them.   מִבִּלְתִּי יְכֹלֶת וגו'  לְפִי שֶׁיּוֹשְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ חֲזָקִים וְגִבּוֹרִים, וְאֵינוֹ דוֹמֶה פַרְעֹה לִשְׁלֹשִׁים וְאֶחָד מְלָכִים, זֹאת יֹאמְרוּ עַל יוֹשְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת, מִבִּלְתִּי יְכֹלֶת — מִתּוֹךְ שֶׁלֹא הָיָה יְכֹלֶת בְּיָדוֹ לַהֲבִיאָם — שְׁחָטָם:
ability Heb. יְכֹלֶת. This is a noun form.   יְכֹלֶת  שֵׁם דָּבָר הוּא:
17Now, please, let the strength of the Lord be increased, as You spoke, saying.   יזוְעַתָּ֕ה יִגְדַּל־נָ֖א כֹּ֣חַ אֲדֹנָ֑י כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּ֖רְתָּ לֵאמֹֽר:
Now, please, let the strength of the Lord be increased By implementing Your word.   יִגְדַּל־נָא כֹּחַ ה'  לַעֲשׂוֹת דִּבּוּרְךָ:)
as You spoke, saying What was the statement?   כַּֽאֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ לֵאמֹֽר  וּמַהוּ הַדִּבּוּר?
18'The Lord is slow to anger and abundantly kind, forgiving iniquity and transgression, Who cleanses [some] and does not cleanse [others], Who visits the iniquities of parents on children, even to the third and fourth generations.'   יחיְהֹוָ֗ה אֶ֤רֶךְ אַפַּ֨יִם֙ וְרַב־חֶ֔סֶד נֹשֵׂ֥א עָוֹ֖ן וָפָ֑שַׁע וְנַקֵּה֙ לֹ֣א יְנַקֶּ֔ה פֹּקֵ֞ד עֲוֹ֤ן אָבוֹת֙ עַל־בָּנִ֔ים עַל־שִׁלֵּשִׁ֖ים וְעַל־רִבֵּעִֽים:
The Lord is slow to anger [both] towards the righteous and towards the wicked. When Moses ascended on high, he found the Holy One, blessed is He, sitting and writing, “The Lord is slow to anger.” He said to Him, “Towards the righteous?” The Holy One, blessed is He, answered him, “Even toward the wicked” He [Moses] said to Him, “Let the wicked perish!” He said to him, “By your life, you will have need for this [patience for the wicked]. When Israel sinned at [the incident of] the [golden] calf and at the [time of the] spies, Moses prayed before Him [making mention of] ”slow to anger.“ The Holy One, blessed is He, replied to Him, Did you not tell me ”Toward the righteous“? He [Moses] responded, But did You not reply to me, ”Even toward the wicked"? - [Sanh. 111a]   ה' אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם  לַצַּדִּיקִים וְלָרְשָׁעִים; כְּשֶׁעָלָה מֹשֶׁה לַמָּרוֹם מְצָאוֹ לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁהָיָה יוֹשֵׁב וְכוֹתֵב ה' אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם, אָמַר לוֹ, לַצַּדִּיקִים? אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אַף לָרְשָׁעִים, אָמַר לוֹ רְשָׁעִים יֹאבֵדוּ, אָמַר לוֹ חַיֶּיךָ שֶׁתִּצְטָרֵךְ לַדָּבָר; כְּשֶׁחָטְאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בָּעֵגֶל וּבַמְּרַגְּלִים הִתְפַּלֵּל מֹשֶׁה לְפָנָיו בְּאֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם, אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וַהֲלֹא אָמַרְתָּ לִי לַצַּדִּיקִים? אָמַר לוֹ וַהֲלֹא אָמַרְתָּ לִי אַף לָרְשָׁעִים, יגדל נא כח ה' לַעֲשׂוֹת דִּבּוּרְךָ (סנהדרין קי"א):
cleanses those who repent. - [Yoma 86a]   וְנַקֵּה  לַשָּׁבִים:
does not cleanse those who do not repent. - [Yoma 86a]   לֹא יְנַקֶּה  לְשֶׁאֵינָן שָׁבִים (יומא פ"ו):
19Please forgive the iniquity of this nation in accordance with your abounding kindness, as You have borne this people from Egypt until now."   יטסְלַח־נָ֗א לַֽעֲוֹ֛ן הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה כְּגֹ֣דֶל חַסְדֶּ֑ךָ וְכַֽאֲשֶׁ֤ר נָשָׂ֨אתָה֙ לָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה מִמִּצְרַ֖יִם וְעַד־הֵֽנָּה:
20And the Lord said, "I have forgiven them in accordance with your word.   כוַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹוָ֔ה סָלַ֖חְתִּי כִּדְבָרֶֽךָ:
in accordance with your word Because of what you said, namely,“They might say that God lacks the ability…”   כִּדְבָרֶֽךָ  בִּשְׁבִיל מַה שֶּׁאָמַרְתָּ "פֶּן יֹאמְרוּ מִבִּלְתִּי יְכֹלֶת ה'":
21However, as surely as I live, and as the glory of the Lord fills the earth...   כאוְאוּלָ֖ם חַי־אָ֑נִי וְיִמָּלֵ֥א כְבוֹד־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־כָּל־הָאָֽרֶץ:
However Heb. אוּלָם like אִבָל, but this will I to do them.   וְאוּלָם  כְּמוֹ אֲבָל זֹאת אֶעֱשֶׂה לָהֶם:
as surely as I live A term expressing an oath. Just as I live and My glory fills the entire earth, so will I fulfill regarding them, “that all the people who perceived…If they will see the Land.” This verse is transposed. [It should be understood as follows:] As surely as I live, that all these men, if they see the Land…[i.e., they will not see the land] yet My glory shall fill the entire earth, so that My Name shall not be desecrated through this plague by [people] saying “Since God lacked the ability to bring them.” For I shall not kill them suddenly, as one man, but gradually, over a period of forty years.   חַי־אָנִי  לְשׁוֹן שְׁבוּעָה, כְּשֵׁם שֶׁאֲנִי חַי וּכְבוֹדִי יִמָּלֵא אֶת כָּל הָאָרֶץ, כָּךְ אֲקַיֵּם לָהֶם כִּי כָל הָאֲנָשִׁים הָרֹאִים וְגוֹ', (אם יראו את הארץ. הֲרֵי זֶה מִקְרָא מְסֹרָס — חַי אָנִי כִּי כָל הָאֲנָשִׁים אִם יִרְאוּ אֶת הָאָרֶץ וּכְבוֹדִי יִמָּלֵא אֶת כָּל הָאָרֶץ, שֶׁלֹּא יִתְחַלֵּל שְׁמִי בַמַּגֵפָה הַזֹּאת לֵאמֹר מִבִּלְתִּי יְכֹלֶת ה' לַהֲבִיאָם, שֶׁלֹּא אֲמִיתֵם פִּתְאֹם כְּאִיש אֶ' אֶלָּא בְּאִחוּר מ' שָׁנָה מְעַט מְעַט):
22that all the people who perceived My glory, and the signs that I performed in Egypt and in the desert, yet they have tested me these ten times and not listened to My voice,   כבכִּ֣י כָל־הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֗ים הָֽרֹאִ֤ים אֶת־כְּבֹדִי֙ וְאֶת־אֹ֣תֹתַ֔י אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂ֥יתִי בְמִצְרַ֖יִם וּבַמִּדְבָּ֑ר וַיְנַסּ֣וּ אֹתִ֗י זֶ֚ה עֶ֣שֶׂר פְּעָמִ֔ים וְלֹ֥א שָֽׁמְע֖וּ בְּקוֹלִֽי:
have tested Me This is to be understood literally.   וַיְנַסּוּ  כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ:
these ten times Twice at the [Red] sea, twice with the manna, twice with the quails…, as is stated in Tractate Arachin (15a).   זֶה עֶשֶׂר פְּעָמִים  שְׁנַיִם בַּיָּם וּשְׁנַיִם בַּמָּן וּשְׁנַיִם בַּשְּׂלָו וכוּ', כִּדְאִיתָא בְמַסֶּכֶת עֲרָכִין (דף ט"ו):
23if they will see the Land that I swore to their fathers, and all who provoked Me will not see it.   כגאִם־יִרְאוּ֙ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִשְׁבַּ֖עְתִּי לַֽאֲבֹתָ֑ם וְכָל־מְנַֽאֲצַ֖י לֹ֥א יִרְאֽוּהָ:
if they will see They will not see it.   אִם־יִרְאוּ  לֹא יִרְאוּ:
will not see it They will not see the Land.   לֹא יראהו  לֹא יִרְאוּ אֶת הָאָרֶץ:
24But as for My servant Caleb, since he was possessed by another spirit, and he followed Me, I will bring him to the land to which he came, and his descendants will drive it[s inhabitants] out.   כדוְעַבְדִּ֣י כָלֵ֗ב עֵ֣קֶב הָֽיְתָ֞ה ר֤וּחַ אַחֶ֨רֶת֙ עִמּ֔וֹ וַיְמַלֵּ֖א אַֽחֲרָ֑י וַֽהֲבִֽיאֹתִ֗יו אֶל־הָאָ֨רֶץ֙ אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֣א שָׁ֔מָּה וְזַרְע֖וֹ יֽוֹרִשֶֽׁנָּה:
another spirit Two spirits, one [which he spoke] with the mouth, and one [he concealed] in his heart. He told the spies, “I am with you in your plot,” but in his heart he intended to say the truth. Because of this, he was able to silence them, as it says, “Caleb silenced…” (13:30), for they thought that he would concur with them. This is what is stated in the Book of Joshua (14:7),“I [Caleb] brought back word to him [Moses] as it was in my heart”-but not according to what I had said. - [Mid. Tanchuma Shelach 10]   רוּחַ אַחֶרֶת  שְׁתֵּי רוּחוֹת, אַ' בַּפֶה וְאַ' בְּלֵב, לַמְּרַגְּלִים אָמַר אֲנִי עִמָּכֶם בָּעֵצָה, וּבְלִבּוֹ הָיָה לוֹמַר הָאֱמֶת, וְעַל יְדֵי כֵן הָיָה בוֹ כֹּחַ לְהַשְׁתִּיקָם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר י"ג), "וַיַּהַס כָּלֵב", שֶׁהָיוּ סְבוּרִים שֶׁיֹּאמַר כְּמוֹתָם, זֶהוּ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בְּסֵ' יְהוֹשֻׁעַ "וָאָשֵׁב אֹתוֹ דָּבָר כַּאֲשֶׁר עִם לְבָבִי" (יהושע י"ד) — וְלֹא כַּאֲשֶׁר עִם פִּי (תנחומא):
and followed Me Heb. וַיְמַּלֵא אַחֲרָי, lit., he filled after Me. He followed Me wholeheartedly [lit., he filled his heart after Me]; this is an elliptical verse [since the word לִבּוֹ,“his heart,” is missing but implied].   וַיְמַלֵּא אַֽחֲרָי  וַיְמַלֵּא אֶת לִבּוֹ אַחֲרַי, וְזֶה מִקְרָא קָצָר:
to which he came Hebron shall be given to him.   אֲשֶׁר־בָּא שָׁמָּה  חֶבְרוֹן תִּנָּתֵן לוֹ:
will drive it[s inhabitants] out Heb. יוֹרִשֶׁנָּה, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders, “They will drive out.” They will expel the giants and the people who dwell in it. But it [the word יוֹרִשֶׁנָּה] is not to be rendered as “will inherit it” unless the text has יִירָשֶׁנָּה.   יֽוֹרִשֶֽׁנָּה  כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ "יְתַרְכֻנַּהּ", יוֹרִישׁוּ אֶת הָעֲנָקִים וְאֶת הָעָם אֲשֶׁר בָּהּ, וְאֵין לְתַרְגְּמוֹ "יַרְתִּינַהּ" אֶלָּא בִּמְקוֹם יִירָשֶׁנָּה:
25The Amalekites and the Canaanites dwell in the valley. Tomorrow, turn back and journey into the desert toward the Red Sea."   כהוְהָֽעֲמָֽלֵקִ֥י וְהַכְּנַֽעֲנִ֖י יוֹשֵׁ֣ב בָּעֵ֑מֶק מָחָ֗ר פְּנ֨וּ וּסְע֥וּ לָכֶ֛ם הַמִּדְבָּ֖ר דֶּ֥רֶךְ יַם־סֽוּף:
The Amalekites If you go there [to the valley] they will kill you, since I am not with you.   וְהָֽעֲמָֽלֵקִי וגו'  אִם תֵּלְכוּ שָׁם יַהַרְגוּ אֶתְכֶם, מֵאַחַר שֶׁאֵינִי עִמָּכֶם:
Tomorrow, turn back Turn around and travel [back to the desert].   מָחָר פְּנוּ  לַאֲחוֹרֵיכֶם, וסעו לכם וגו':
26The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,   כווַיְדַבֵּ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה וְאֶל־אַֽהֲרֹ֖ן לֵאמֹֽר:
27"How much longer will this evil congregation who are causing to complain against Me [exist]? The complaints of the children of Israel which they caused them to complain against Me, I have heard.   כזעַד־מָתַ֗י לָֽעֵדָ֤ה הָֽרָעָה֙ הַזֹּ֔את אֲשֶׁ֛ר הֵ֥מָּה מַלִּינִ֖ים עָלָ֑י אֶת־תְּלֻנּ֞וֹת בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר הֵ֧מָּה מַלִּינִ֛ים עָלַ֖י שָׁמָֽעְתִּי:
this evil congregation This refers to the spies; [we derive] from here that a congregation numbers [a minimum of] ten. — [Meg. 23b]   לָֽעֵדָה הָֽרָעָה וגו'  אֵלּוּ הַמְרַגְּלִים, מִכָּאן לָעֵדָה שֶׁהִיא עֲשָׂרָה (מגילה כ"ג):
who are causing the Israelites…   אֲשֶׁר הֵמָּה מַלִּינִים  אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל עָלַי:
to complain against Me. The complaints of the children of Israel which they  the spies, caused them to complain against Me, I have heard.   אֶת־תְּלֻנּוֹת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר הֵמָּה  הַמְרַגְּלִים מלינים אוֹתָם עלי, שמעתי:
28Say to them, 'As I live,' says the Lord, 'if not as you have spoken in My ears, so will I do to you.   כחאֱמֹ֣ר אֲלֵהֶ֗ם חַי־אָ֨נִי֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה אִם־לֹ֕א כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּרְתֶּ֖ם בְּאָזְנָ֑י כֵּ֖ן אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֥ה לָכֶֽם:
As I live A term denoting an oath. “If not…so will I do”[i.e., if I do not do as you have spoken into My ears] it is as if I do not live, as it were.   חַי־אָנִי  לְשׁוֹן שְׁבוּעָה, אִם לֹא כֵן אֶעֱשֶׂה — כִּבְיָכוֹל אֵינִי חַי:
as you have spoken that you requested from Me, “or if only we had died in this desert” (verse 2).   כַּֽאֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתֶּם  שֶׁבִּקַּשְׁתֶּם מִמֶּנִּי "אוֹ בַּמִּדְבָּר הַזֶּה לוּ מָתְנוּ" (פסוק ב'):
29In this desert, your corpses shall fall; your entire number, all those from the age of twenty and up, who were counted, because you complained against Me.   כטבַּמִּדְבָּ֣ר הַ֠זֶּ֠ה יִפְּל֨וּ פִגְרֵיכֶ֜ם וְכָל־פְּקֻֽדֵיכֶם֙ לְכָל־מִסְפַּרְכֶ֔ם מִבֶּ֛ן עֶשְׂרִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה וָמָ֑עְלָה אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֲלִֽינֹתֶ֖ם עָלָֽי:
your entire number, all those…who were counted All those counted in any census which was numbered, for example going to or returning from war, contributing shekels; all those listed in those tallies will die. They are: All those from the age of twenty and up, excluding the tribe of Levi, who were not counted from the age of twenty [but from the age of one month].   וְכָל־פְּקֻֽדֵיכֶם לְכָל־מִסְפַּרְכֶם  כָּל הַנִּמְנֶה לְכָל מִסְפָּר שֶׁאַתֶּם נִמְנִים בּוֹ, כְּגוֹן לָצֵאת וְלָבֹא לַצָּבָא וְלָתֵת שְׁקָלִים, כָּל הַמְּנוּיִים לְכָל אוֹתָן מִסְפָּרוֹת יָמוּתוּ, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן מבן עשרים שנה וגו'; לְהוֹצִיא שִׁבְטוֹ שֶׁל לֵוִי שֶׁאֵין פְּקוּדֵיהֶם מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים:
30You shall [not] come into the Land concerning which I raised My hand that you would settle in it, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.   לאִם־אַתֶּם֙ תָּבֹ֣אוּ אֶל־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֤ר נָשָׂ֨אתִי֙ אֶת־יָדִ֔י לְשַׁכֵּ֥ן אֶתְכֶ֖ם בָּ֑הּ כִּ֚י אִם־כָּלֵ֣ב בֶּן־יְפֻנֶּ֔ה וִֽיהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ בִּן־נֽוּן:
31As for your infants, of whom you said that they will be as spoils, I will bring them [there], and they will come to know the Land which You despised.   לאוְטַ֨פְּכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲמַרְתֶּ֖ם לָבַ֣ז יִֽהְיֶ֑ה וְהֵֽבֵיאתִ֣י אֹתָ֔ם וְיָֽדְעוּ֙ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר מְאַסְתֶּ֖ם בָּֽהּ:
32But as for you, your corpses shall fall in this desert.   לבוּפִגְרֵיכֶ֖ם אַתֶּ֑ם יִפְּל֖וּ בַּמִּדְבָּ֥ר הַזֶּֽה:
But as for you, your corpses As the Targum renders: וּפִגְרֵיכוֹן דִילְכוֹן, and your corpses of yours. Since [in the previous verse] He spoke about bringing the children into the Land, and now He wants to say, But as for you, you shall die, it is appropriate to use the term אַתֶּם [literally “you”].   וּפִגְרֵיכֶם אַתֶּם  כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ, לְפִי שֶׁדִּבֵּר עַל הַבָּנִים לְהַכְנִיסָם לָאָרֶץ וּבִקֵּשׁ לוֹמַר וְאַתֶּם תָּמוּתוּ, נוֹפֵל לָשׁוֹן זֶה כָּאן לוֹמַר "אתם":
33Your children shall wander in the desert for forty years and bear your defection until the last of your corpses has fallen in the desert.   לגוּבְנֵיכֶ֠ם יִֽהְי֨וּ רֹעִ֤ים בַּמִּדְבָּר֙ אַרְבָּעִ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה וְנָֽשְׂא֖וּ אֶת־זְנֽוּתֵיכֶ֑ם עַד־תֹּ֥ם פִּגְרֵיכֶ֖ם בַּמִּדְבָּֽר:
forty years Not one of them died before the age of sixty. This is why forty [years] was decreed, so that those who were twenty years old would reach the age of sixty. The first year was included although it preceded the dispatching of the spies. For from the time they made the [golden] calf, this decree had been in [God’s] mind, but He waited until their measure [of wickedness] was filled. This is what is stated, “But on the day I make an accounting”-at the time of the spies-“I shall reckon their sin” (Exod. 32:34). Here too, it says, “you will bear your iniquities” [in the plural, indicating] two iniquities: the [one of the] calf and the [one of] the complaint. In calculating their ages, Scripture considers part of a year like a whole year, and when they entered their sixtieth year, those who had been twenty years old [now] died. - [Midrash Tanchuma Shelach 13]   אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה  לֹא מֵת אֶחָד מֵהֶם פָּחוּת מִבֶּן שִׁשִּׁים, לְכָךְ נִגְזַר אַרְבָּעִים, כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיוּ אוֹתָם שֶׁל בְּנֵי עֶשְׂרִים מַגִּיעִין לִכְלַל שִׁשִּׁים; שָׁנָה רִאשׁוֹנָה הָיְתָה בִכְלָל, וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁקָּדְמָה לְשִׁלּוּחַ הַמְרַגְּלִים, לְפִי שֶׁמִּשֶּׁעָשׂוּ אֶת הָעֶגֶל עָלְתָה גְזֵרָה זוֹ בְמַחֲשָׁבָה, אֶלָּא שֶׁהִמְתִּין לָהֶם עַד שֶׁתִּתְמַלֵּא סְאָתָם, וְזֶהוּ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וּבְיוֹם פָּקְדִי" — בַּמְרַגְּלִים — "וּפָקַדְתִּי עֲלֵיהֶם חַטָּאתָם" (שמות ל"ב); וְאַף כָּאן נֶאֱמַר "תִּשְׂאוּ אֶת עֲוֹנֹתֵיכֶם" — שְׁתֵּי עֲוֹנוֹת, שֶׁל עֵגֶל וְשֶׁל תְּלוּנָה, וְחָשַׁב לָהֶם בְּמִנְיַן חַיֵּיהֶם מִקְצָת שָׁנָה כְּכֻלָּהּ, וּכְשֶׁנִּכְנְסוּ לִשְׁנַת שִׁשִּׁים מֵתוּ אוֹתָם שֶׁל בְּנֵי עֶשְׂרִים:
and bear your defection As the Targum renders,“They will endure your guilt.”   וְנָֽשְׂאוּ אֶת־זְנֽוּתֵיכֶם  כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ "וִיקַבְּלוּן יָת חוֹבֵיכוֹן":
34According to the number of days which you toured the Land forty days, a day for each year, you will [thus] bear your iniquities for forty years; thus you will come to know My alienation.   לדבְּמִסְפַּ֨ר הַיָּמִ֜ים אֲשֶׁר־תַּרְתֶּ֣ם אֶת־הָאָ֘רֶץ֘ אַרְבָּעִ֣ים יוֹם֒ י֣וֹם לַשָּׁנָ֞ה י֣וֹם לַשָּׁנָ֗ה תִּשְׂאוּ֙ אֶת־עֲו‍ֹנֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם אַרְבָּעִ֖ים שָׁנָ֑ה וִֽידַעְתֶּ֖ם אֶת־תְּנֽוּאָתִֽי:
My alienation Heb. תְּנוּאָתִי, that you alienated your hearts from following Me. [The word] תְּנוּאָה denotes ‘removal,’ as in, “for her father obstructed [in the sense of removed] (הֵנִיא) her” [from her vow] (30:6).   אֶת־תְּנֽוּאָתִֽי  שֶׁהֲנִיאוֹתֶם אֶת לְבַבְכֶם מֵאַחֲרַי, תנואה לְשׁוֹן הֲסָרָה, כְּמוֹ "כִּי הֵנִיא אָבִיהָ אֹתָהּ" (במדבר ל):
35I, the Lord, have spoken if I will not do this to the entire evil congregation who have assembled against me; in this desert they will end, and there they will die.   להאֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָה֘ דִּבַּ֒רְתִּי֒ אִם־לֹ֣א | זֹ֣את אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֗ה לְכָל־הָֽעֵדָ֤ה הָֽרָעָה֙ הַזֹּ֔את הַנּֽוֹעָדִ֖ים עָלָ֑י בַּמִּדְבָּ֥ר הַזֶּ֛ה יִתַּ֖מּוּ וְשָׁ֥ם יָמֻֽתוּ:
36As for the men whom Moses had sent to scout the Land, who returned and caused the entire congregation to complain against him by spreading [a slanderous] report about the Land"   לווְהָ֣אֲנָשִׁ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַ֥ח משֶׁ֖ה לָת֣וּר אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיָּשֻׁ֗בוּ וַיַּלִּ֤ינוּ (כתיב וילונו) עָלָיו֙ אֶת־כָּל־הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה לְהוֹצִ֥יא דִבָּ֖ה עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ:
who returned and caused… to complain against him When they returned from scouting the Land, they caused the entire congregation to complain against him by spreading slander-those men died. The expression הוֹצָאַת דִבָּה implies instructing to speak, for they ply the tongue of a man to speak about something, as in, “making the lips of the sleeping speak (דּוֹבֵב)” (Song 7:10). It may be for either good or bad, and that is why it says here (verse 37), “who spread an evil report about the Land” because a ‘report’ (דִבָּה) can [also] be good.   וַיָּשֻׁבוּ וילינו עָלָיו  וּכְשֶׁשָּׁבוּ מִתּוּר הָאָרֶץ הִרְעִימוּ עָלָיו אֶת כָּל הָעֵדָה בְּהוֹצָאַת דִּבָּה, אוֹתָם אֲנָשִׁים וימתו; כָּל הוֹצָאַת דִּבָּה לְשׁוֹן חִנּוּךְ דְּבָרִים, שֶׁמַּלְקִיחִים לְשׁוֹנָם לְאָדָם לְדַבֵּר בּוֹ, כְּמוֹ "דּוֹבֵב שִׂפְתֵי יְשֵׁנִים" (שיר השירים ז'), וְיֶשְׁנָהּ לְטוֹבָה וְיֶשְׁנָהּ לְרָעָה, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר כָּאן מוצאי דבת הארץ רעה, שֶׁיֵּשׁ דִּבָּה שֶׁהִיא טוֹבָה:
report Heb. דִבָּה, parleriz or parlediz in Old French, talk, gossip.   דִבָּה  פרליר"ש בְּלַעַז:
37the men who spread an evil report about the Land died in the plague, before the Lord.   לזוַיָּמֻ֨תוּ֙ הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים מֽוֹצִאֵ֥י דִבַּת־הָאָ֖רֶץ רָעָ֑ה בַּמַּגֵּפָ֖ה לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה:
in the plague before the Lord Through that death which was fitting for them-measure for measure; they had sinned with the tongue and now [in retribution] their tongues extended to their navels. Worms came out from their tongues and entered their navels. This is why Scripture says, “in the plague,” rather than “in a plague,” and this is also the meaning of “before the Lord”-in that plague which was fitting for them according to the methods of the Holy One, blessed is He, [namely] that He metes out measure for measure. - [Sotah 35a]   בַּמַּגֵּפָה לִפְנֵי ה'  בְּאוֹתָהּ מִיתָה הַהֲגוּנָה לָהֶם, מִדָּה כְּנֶגֶד מִדָּה, הֵם חָטְאוּ בַּלָּשׁוֹן, וְנִשְׁתַּרְבֵּב לְשׁוֹנָם עַד טַבּוּרָם וְתוֹלָעִים יוֹצְאִים מִלְּשׁוֹנָם וּבָאִין לְתוֹךְ טַבּוּרָם, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר "בַּמַּגֵּפָה" וְלֹא "בְמַגֵּפָה", וְזֶהוּ לפני ה' — בְּאוֹתָהּ הָרְאוּיָה לָהֶם עַל פִּי מִדּוֹתָיו שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁהוּא מוֹדֵד מִדָּה כְּנֶגֶד מִדָּה (סוטה ל"ה):
38But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive of the men who went to tour the Land.   לחוִֽיהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ בִּן־נ֔וּן וְכָלֵ֖ב בֶּן־יְפֻנֶּ֑ה חָיוּ֙ מִן־הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֣ים הָהֵ֔ם הַהֹֽלְכִ֖ים לָת֥וּר אֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ:
But Joshua…and Caleb…remained alive… What does Scripture mean by saying, “remained alive of the men”? It teaches that they took the spies’ portion in the Land, and replaced them in life, as it were. [B.B. 118b]   וִֽיהוֹשֻׁעַ וְכָלֵב … חָיוּ וגו'  מַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר חיו מן האנשים ההם? אֶלָּא מְלַמֵּד שֶׁנָּטְלוּ חֶלְקָם שֶׁל מְרַגְּלִים בָּאָרֶץ וְקָמוּ תַחְתֵּיהֶם לַחַיִּים (בבא בתרא קי"ח):
39Moses related all these words to the children of Israel, and the people mourned greatly.   לטוַיְדַבֵּ֤ר משֶׁה֙ אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה אֶל־כָּל־בְּנֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּתְאַבְּל֥וּ הָעָ֖ם מְאֹֽד:
40They arose early in the morning and ascended to the mountain top, saying, "We are ready to go up to the place of which the Lord spoke, for we have sinned. "   מוַיַּשְׁכִּ֣מוּ בַבֹּ֔קֶר וַיַּֽעֲל֥וּ אֶל־רֹֽאשׁ־הָהָ֖ר לֵאמֹ֑ר הִנֶּ֗נּוּ וְעָלִ֛ינוּ אֶל־הַמָּק֛וֹם אֲשֶׁר־אָמַ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה כִּ֥י חָטָֽאנוּ:
to the mountain top That is the route leading up to the Land of Israel.   אֶל־רֹֽאשׁ־הָהָר  הוּא הַדֶּרֶךְ הָעוֹלֶה לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל:
We are ready to go up to the place To the Land of Israel.   הִנֶּנּוּ וְעָלִינוּ אֶל־הַמָּקוֹם  לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל:
of which the Lord spoke to give to us; let us go up there.   אֲשֶׁר־אָמַר ה'  לְתִתָּהּ לָנוּ, שָׁם נַעֲלֶה:
for we have sinned By saying, “Is it not better for us to return to Egypt?” (verse 3).   כִּי חָטָֽאנוּ  עַל אֲשֶׁר אָמַרְנוּ הֲלוֹא טוֹב לָנוּ שׁוּב מִצְרָיְמָה:
41Moses said, "Why do you transgress the word of the Lord? It will not succeed.   מאוַיֹּ֣אמֶר משֶׁ֔ה לָ֥מָּה זֶּ֛ה אַתֶּ֥ם עֹֽבְרִ֖ים אֶת־פִּ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וְהִ֖וא לֹ֥א תִצְלָֽח:
It will not succeed What you are doing will not succeed.   וְהִוא לֹא תִצְלָֽח  זוֹ שֶׁאַתֶּם עוֹשִׂים לֹא תִצְלָח:
42Do not go up, for the Lord is not among you, [so that] you will not be beaten by your enemies.   מבאַל־תַּֽעֲל֔וּ כִּ֛י אֵ֥ין יְהֹוָ֖ה בְּקִרְבְּכֶ֑ם וְלֹא֙ תִּנָּ֣גְפ֔וּ לִפְנֵ֖י אֹֽיְבֵיכֶֽם:
43For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and you will fall by the sword. For you have turned away from the Lord, and the Lord will not be with you.   מגכִּי֩ הָֽעֲמָֽלֵקִ֨י וְהַכְּנַֽעֲנִ֥י שָׁם֙ לִפְנֵיכֶ֔ם וּנְפַלְתֶּ֖ם בֶּחָ֑רֶב כִּֽי־עַל־כֵּ֤ן שַׁבְתֶּם֙ מֵאַֽחֲרֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה וְלֹא־יִֽהְיֶ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה עִמָּכֶֽם:
For you have turned away That is to say: This will happen to you because you have turned away etc…   כִּי עַל־כֵּן שַׁבְתֶּם  כְּלוֹמַר, כִּי זֹאת תָּבֹא לָכֶם עַל אֲשֶׁר שַׁבְתֶּם וְגוֹ':
44They defiantly ascended to the mountain top, but the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord and Moses did not move from the camp.   מדוַיַּעְפִּ֕לוּ לַֽעֲל֖וֹת אֶל־רֹ֣אשׁ הָהָ֑ר וַֽאֲר֤וֹן בְּרִית־יְהֹוָה֙ וּמשֶׁ֔ה לֹא־מָ֖שׁוּ מִקֶּ֥רֶב הַמַּֽחֲנֶֽה:
They defiantly ascended Heb. וַיַעְפִּלוּ, a term connoting insolence; similarly (Hab. 2:4), “behold, it is insolent (עֻפְּלָה),” in old French, engres, a term denoting arrogant boldness. Similarly, “the tower (עֹפֶל) of the daughter of Zion” (Mic. 4:8); “rampart (עֹפֶל) and tower” (Isa. 32:14). The Midrash Tanchuma (Buber Shelach addendum 19) interprets it as a term denoting darkness (אֹפֶל); they [the Israelites] went in darkness, without permission.   וַיַּעְפִּלוּ  לְשׁוֹן חֹזֶק, וְכֵן "הִנֵּה עֻפְּלָה" (חבקוק ב'), אינג"ריש בְּלַעַז, לְשׁוֹן עַזּוּת, וְכֵן "עֹפֶל בַּת צִיּוֹן" (מיכה ד'), "עֹפֶל וָבַחַן" (ישעיהו ל"ב), וּמִדְרַשׁ תַּנְחוּמָא מְפָרְשׁוֹ לְשׁוֹן אֹפֶל — הָלְכוּ חֲשֵׁכִים, שֶׁלֹא בִרְשׁוּת:
45The Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived on the mountain came down and smote them and crushed them [pursuing them] until Hormah.   מהוַיֵּ֤רֶד הָֽעֲמָֽלֵקִי֙ וְהַכְּנַֽעֲנִ֔י הַיּשֵׁ֖ב בָּהָ֣ר הַה֑וּא וַיַּכּ֥וּם וַיַּכְּת֖וּם עַד־הַֽחָרְמָֽה:
and crushed them Heb. וַיַּכְּתוּם, as in, “and I crushed (וָאֶכּוֹת) it, grinding it” (Deut. 9:21), [implying] blow after blow.   וַיַּכְּתוּם  כְּמוֹ "וָאֶכֹּת אֹתוֹ טָחוֹן" (דברים ט') — מַכָּה אַחַר מַכָּה:
until Hormah The name of the place [which means destruction] commemorates the event which took place there.   עַד־הַֽחָרְמָֽה  שֵׁם הַמָּקוֹם נִקְרָא עַל שֵׁם הַמְּאֹרָע: