Aliya Summary: G‑d causes a wind to sweep in huge numbers of quail from the sea. The people gathered piles of quail and started enjoying meat. Those who ate gluttonously died in a plague. Miriam, Mosh's sister, spoke negatively of Moshe's decision to become celibate. G‑d was highly displeased by this talk against His servant, and Miriam was stricken with tzara'at ("leprosy") for one week.
Moshe offers a short but eloquent prayer on behalf of his sister. The People delay their travels for the week of Miriam's isolation. (81 years previously, Miriam had stood by the Nile protectively watching over her baby brother Moshe in the basket. Her "reward-in-kind" is this 7-day delay. The Mishna points out that good deeds are thusly rewarded.)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment