1The first 6 lines of the Hebrew text are not found in our translation. When Miriam died the well was taken from them, as it is written, “And Miriam died, and there was no water for the congregation” (Num. 20, 1, 2). Another well which was with Israel also desired to depart, but when it saw six clouds that hovered over them it remained attached to them.
R. Isaac said: ‘Why was this honour conferred upon Aaron? Because he was linked with clouds and he linked them all together, so that they were all blessed through him.
For in addition to all the lovingkindness that God did with Israel, He linked with them seven precious clouds which He also linked with the Community of Israel, whose cloud was linked with seven others, and Israel traversed the wilderness protected by all of them. They all form a bond of faith, and therefore Israel were bidden to dwell in booths seven days, so that the Israelite may show that he is dwelling in the shadow of faith.
As long as Aaron was alive, Israel were in the shadow of faith under those clouds. When Aaron died, a cloud on the right departed and the rest departed with it, and the weakness of Israel was exposed, and straightway the king of Arad heard that the clouds had departed1Cf. T. B. Taanith, ibid. and the great explorer to whom they were all linked was dead.’
R. Isaac observed that the King of Arad dwelt in the south, and the spies also brought back word that Amalek dwelt in the south (Num. 13, 20), to awe the people, because Amalek had struck the first blow at them. R. Abba said: Why is the Canaanite mentioned here?
Because Canaan was a slave of slaves (Gen. 9, 25), and this shows that he who withdraws himself from the shadow of faith deserves to be a slave to the slave of slaves.
Hence “all that are homeborn in Israel shall dwell in booths”; everyone who is of the holy root and stock of Israel shall dwell in a booth under the shadow of faith. Shall he that is not of the holy stock withdraw himself from the shadow of faith?
We are told that Eleazar the servant of Abraham was a Canaanite, but because he served Abraham, who sat under the shadow of faith, he was delivered from the curse of Canaan and was even called “blessed”, as it is written, “Come in, thou blessed of the Lord” (Gen. 24, 31). Thus whoever abides under the shadow of faith acquires freedom for himself and his descendants in perpetuity, and is blessed with a noble blessing, but he who withdraws from the shadow of faith brings captivity upon himself and for his children, as it is written, “And he took some of them captive”.
(ויקרא כ״ג:ו׳) וּבַחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר יוֹם, רִבִּי יְהוּדָה פָּתַח, (במדבר כ״א:א׳) וַיִּשְׁמַע הַכְּנַעֲנִי מֶלֶךְ עֲרָד. תָּנֵינָן, ג' מַתְּנָן עִלָּאִין, אִזְדְּמָנוּ לְהוּ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, עַל יְדֵי תְּלָתָא אָחִין: מֹשֶׁה, אַהֲרֹן, וּמִרְיָם. מָן, בִּזְכוּת מֹשֶׁה. עֲנָנֵי כָּבוֹד, בִּזְכוּת אַהֲרֹן. בְּאֵר, בִּזְכוּת מִרְיָם. וְכֻלְּהוּ אֲחִידָן לְעֵילָּא. מָן בִּזְכוּת מֹשֶׁה, דִּכְתִּיב, (שמות ט״ז:ד׳) הִנְנִי מַמְטִיר לָכֶם לֶחֶם מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם (דייקא), דָּא מֹשֶׁה. עֲנָנֵי כָּבוֹד בִּזְכוּת אַהֲרֹן, דִּכְתִּיב, (במדבר י״ד:י״ד) אֲשֶׁר עַיִן בְּעַיִן (אהרן) נִרְאָה אַתָּה יְיָ' וְגוֹ', וּכְתִיב (ויקרא ט״ז:י״ג) וְכִסָּה עֲנַן הַקְּטֹרֶת. מַה לְהַלָּן, שִׁבְעָה. אַף כָּאן נָמֵי שִׁבְעָה. דְּהָא בַּקְּטֹרֶת שִׁבְעָה עֲנָנִין מִתְקַשְּׁרָן כַּחֲדָא (ועוד). וְאַהֲרֹן רֵישָׁא לְכָל שִׁבְעָה עֲנָנִין הוּא וְהוּא קָשִׁיר לְשִׁית אָחֳרָנִין בֵּיהּ בְּכָל יוֹמָא.
בְּאֵר בִּזְכוּת מִרְיָם, דְּהָא הִיא וַדַּאי בְּאֵר אִתְקְרֵי. וּבְסִפְרָא דְּאַגַּדְתָּא, (שמות ב׳:ד׳) וַתֵּתַצַּב אֲחוֹתוֹ מֵרָחוֹק לְדֵעָה וְגוֹ'. דָּא הוּא בְּאֵר מַיִם חַיִּים, וְכֹלָּא קִשּׁוּרָא חַד. מֵתָה מִרְיָם, אִסְתַּלָּק בְּאֵר. דִּכְתִּיב, (במדבר כ׳:ב׳) וְלֹא הָיָה מַיִם לָעֵדָה. וּבְהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא בָּעָאת בְּאֵר אָחֳרָא לְאִסְתַּלְּקָא, דְּהֲוָה שְׁכִיחַ עִמְּהוֹן דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל. כַּד חָמָאת שִׁיתָּא עֲנָנִין דַּהֲווֹ קְשִׁירִין עָלָהּ, אִתְקַשְּׁרַת הִיא בְּהוּ.
1The first 6 lines of the Hebrew text are not found in our translation. When Miriam died the well was taken from them, as it is written, “And Miriam died, and there was no water for the congregation” (Num. 20, 1, 2). Another well which was with Israel also desired to depart, but when it saw six clouds that hovered over them it remained attached to them.
מִית אַהֲרֹן, אִסְתְּלָקוּ אִינּוּן עֲנָנִין, וְאִסְתַּלָּק עֲנָנָא דְּבֵירָא עִמְּהוֹן. אָתָא מֹשֶׁה, אַהְדָּר לְהוּ. הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, (תהילים ס״ח:י״ט) עָלִיתָ לַמָּרוֹם שָׁבִיתָ שֶּׁבִי לָקַחְתָּ מַתָּנוֹת בָּאָדָם. לָקַחְתָּ מַתָּנוֹת וַדַּאי, אִינּוּן מַתָּנוֹת דַּהֲווֹ בְּקַדְמִיתָא בְּאֵר וַעֲנָנִין.
When Aaron died the clouds departed and the cloud of the well with them, until Moses came and brought them back.’
בְּאֵר, דָּא בְּאֵר דְּיִצְחָק. עֲנָנִים, אִלֵּין עֲנָנִים דְּאַהֲרֹן. אָמַר רִבִּי יִצְחָק, מִפְּנֵי מַה זָכָה אַהֲרֹן לְדָא, בְּגִין דְּאִיהוּ קָשִׁיר בַּעֲנָנִים (נ"א רישא לעננים). וְהוּא אַקְשִׁיר כָּל יוֹמָא וְיוֹמָא לְכֻלְּהוּ כַּחֲדָא, דְּמִתְבָּרְכָאן כֻּלְּהוּ עַל יְדוֹי.
R. Isaac said: ‘Why was this honour conferred upon Aaron? Because he was linked with clouds and he linked them all together, so that they were all blessed through him.
תָּא חֲזֵי, עַל כָּל חֶסֶד דְּעָבַד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל. קָשִׁיר עִמְּהוֹן ז' עֲנָנֵי יַקִירָן, וְקָשִׁיר לְהוּ בִּכְנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, דְּהָא עֲנָנָא דִּילָהּ אִתְקְשַׁר בְּשִׁיתָא אָחֳרָנִין. וּבְכֻלְּהוּ שִׁבְעָה, אַזְלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּמַדְבְּרָא. מַאי טַעֲמָא, בְּגִין דְּכֻלְּהוּ קִשְׁרָא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא נִינְהוּ וְעַל דָּא בַּסֻּכּוֹת תֵּשְׁבוּ שִׁבְעַת יָמִים. מַאי קָא מַיְירֵי. בְּגִין דִּכְתִּיב, (שיר השירים ב׳:ג׳) בְּצִלּוֹ חִמַּדְתִּי וְיָשַׁבְתִּי וּפִרְיוֹ מָתוֹק לְחִכִּי. וּבָעֵי בַּר נָשׁ לְאַחֲזָאָה גַּרְמֵיהּ, דְּיָתִיב תְּחוֹת צִלָּא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא.
For in addition to all the lovingkindness that God did with Israel, He linked with them seven precious clouds which He also linked with the Community of Israel, whose cloud was linked with seven others, and Israel traversed the wilderness protected by all of them. They all form a bond of faith, and therefore Israel were bidden to dwell in booths seven days, so that the Israelite may show that he is dwelling in the shadow of faith.
תָּא חֲזֵי, כָּל אִינּוּן שְׁנִין דְּקָאִים אַהֲרֹן, הֲווֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּצִלָּא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא, תְּחוֹת אִלֵּין עֲנָנִין. בָּתַר דְּמִית אַהֲרֹן, אִסְתַּלָּק עֲנָנָא חַד, דְּהוּא יְמִינָא דְּכֹלָּא. וְכַד הַאי אִסְתַּלָּק, אִסְתְּלָקוּ כָּל שְׁאָר עִמֵּיהּ (נ"א עננין) וְאִתְחֲזִיאוּ כֻּלְּהוּ בִּגְרִיעוּתָא. וְהָא אוּקְמוּהָ, דִּכְתִּיב, (במדבר כ׳:כ״ט) וַיִּרְאוּ כָּל הָעֵדָה כִּי גָוַע אַהֲרֹן. אַל תִּקְרֵי וַיִּרְאוּ, אֶלָּא וַיִּירְאוּ. מִיַּד וַיִּשְׁמַע הַכְּנַעֲנִי מֶלֶךְ עֲרָד יוֹשֵׁב הַנֶּגֶב כִּי בָא יִשְׂרָאֵל דֶּרֶךְ הָאֲתָרִים. שְׁמַע דְּאִסְתָּלָקוּ אִינּוּן עֲנָנִים, וּמִית תַּיָירָא רַבְרְבָא דְּכָל אִינּוּן עֲנָנִים אִתְקְשָּׁרוּ בֵּיהּ.
As long as Aaron was alive, Israel were in the shadow of faith under those clouds. When Aaron died, a cloud on the right departed and the rest departed with it, and the weakness of Israel was exposed, and straightway the king of Arad heard that the clouds had departed1Cf. T. B. Taanith, ibid. and the great explorer to whom they were all linked was dead.’
אָמַר רִבִּי יִצְחָק, הַכְּנַעֲנִי מֶלֶךְ עֲרָד יוֹשֵׁב הַנֶּגֶב וַדַּאי. וְכַד אָתוּ אִינּוּן מְאַלְּלִין דְּשָׁדַר מֹשֶׁה, אַמְרוּ (במדבר י״ג:כ״ט) עֲמָלֵק יוֹשֵׁב בְּאֶרֶץ הַנֶּגֶב, בְּגִין לְתַּבְרָא לִבַּיְיהוּ. דְּהָא בַּעֲמָלֵק אַתְּבַּר חֵילֵיהוֹן בְּקַדְמִיתָא.
R. Isaac observed that the King of Arad dwelt in the south, and the spies also brought back word that Amalek dwelt in the south (Num. 13, 20), to awe the people, because Amalek had struck the first blow at them. R. Abba said: Why is the Canaanite mentioned here?
אָמַר רִבִּי אַבָּא, וַיִּשְׁמַע הַכְּנַעֲנִי, מַאי קָא מַיְירֵי הָכָא. בָּתַר דְּאִסְתְּלָקוּ אִינּוּן עֲנָנִים. אֶלָּא כְּנַעַן כְּתִיב בֵּיהּ, (בראשית ט׳:כ״ה) וַיֹּאמֶר אָרוּר כְּנָעַן עֶבֶד עֲבָדִים יִהְיֶה לְאֶחָיו. הָכָא אוֹלִיפְנָא, מַאן דְּאַפִּיק גַּרְמֵיהּ מִצִּלָא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא, אִתְחֲזֵי לְמֶהֱוִי עֶבֶד לְעַבַדֵּי עַבַדִּין, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב, (במדבר כ״א:א׳) וַיִּלָּחֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִשְׁבְּ מִמֶּנּוּ שֶׁבִי. הוּא נָטַל עַבַדִּין מִיִשְׂרָאֵל לְגַרְמֵיהּ.
Because Canaan was a slave of slaves (Gen. 9, 25), and this shows that he who withdraws himself from the shadow of faith deserves to be a slave to the slave of slaves.
וְעַל דָּא כְּתִיב, כָּל הָאֶזְרָח בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל יֵשְׁבוּ בַּסוּכּוֹת. כָּל מַאן דְּאִיהוּ מִשָׁרְשָׁא וְגִזְעָא קַדִּישָׁא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, יֵשְׁבוּ בַּסֻּכּוֹת, תְּחוֹת צִלָּא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא. וּמַאן דְּלֵיתֵיהּ מִגִּזְעָא וְשׁוֹרְשָׁא קַדִּישָׁא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, לָא יְתִיב בְּהוּ, וְיִפּוּק גַּרְמֵיהּ מִתְּחוֹת צִלָּא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא.
Hence “all that are homeborn in Israel shall dwell in booths”; everyone who is of the holy root and stock of Israel shall dwell in a booth under the shadow of faith. Shall he that is not of the holy stock withdraw himself from the shadow of faith?
כְּתִיב (הושע י״ב:ח׳) כְּנַעַן בְּיָדוֹ מֹאזְנֵי מִרְמָה, דָּא אֱלִיעֶזֶר עֶבֶד אַבְרָהָם. וְתָּא חֲזֵי, כְּתִיב אָרוּר כְּנַעַן וּבְגִין דְּזָכָה כְּנַעַן דָּא, לְשַׁמְּשָׁא לְאַבְרָהָם, כֵּיוָן דְּשִׁמֵּשׁ לְאַבְרָהָם, יְתִיב תְּחוֹת צִלָּא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא, זָכָה לְמֵיפַּק מֵהַהוּא לָטְיָיא דְּאִתְלַטְּיָיא, וְלֹא עוֹד אֶלָּא דִּכְתִּיב בֵּיהּ בְּרָכָה. דִּכְתִּיב, (בראשית כ״ד:ל״א) וַיֹאמֶר בֹּא בְּרוּךְ יְיָ'. מַאי קָא מַיְירֵי. דְּכָל מַאן דְּיֵתִיב תְּחוֹת צִלָּא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא, אַחֲסִין חֵירוּ לֵיהּ וְלִבְנוֹי לְעָלְמִין, וְאִתְבְּרַךְ בִּרְכָתָא עִלָּאָה, וּמַאן דְּאַפִּיק גַּרְמֵיהּ מְצִלָּא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא, אַחֲסִין גָּלוּתָא לֵיהּ וְלִבְנוֹי, דִּכְתִּיב וַיִּלָּחֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּשְׁבְּ מִמֶּנּוּ שֶׁבִי.
We are told that Eleazar the servant of Abraham was a Canaanite, but because he served Abraham, who sat under the shadow of faith, he was delivered from the curse of Canaan and was even called “blessed”, as it is written, “Come in, thou blessed of the Lord” (Gen. 24, 31). Thus whoever abides under the shadow of faith acquires freedom for himself and his descendants in perpetuity, and is blessed with a noble blessing, but he who withdraws from the shadow of faith brings captivity upon himself and for his children, as it is written, “And he took some of them captive”.