The Rebellion, The Sequel….

My Mimi Mizbeach covering: pesukim א-ה

Hashem tells Moshe to speak to Elazar by saying “He must lift the firepans from the ashes, because they are holy!”                            1) “וירם את המחתות מבין השריפה ואת האש זרה הלאה כי קדשו”. He continued to say “Flatten the firepans to use as a covering for the Mizbeach since they are holy. This will also be a sign for Bnei Yisrael”. So Moshe went to tell Elazar and he listened.

Sounds pretty simple but Rashi had some questions! He asked “Why Elazar”?, “Why are the firepans holy”? and “What reminder for Hashem”? There are 2 reasons why it’s Elazar. A) Because it wasn’t fitting for the Kohen Gadol, Aharon, to pick up after the rebels

B)Since Aharon was part of the rebellion it would be rude for him to get rid of the firepans and C), oh um nevermind, there is no C)…. Anyway, moving on, the firepans were holy because they were used to serve Hashem.

2) “המחתות ואסורין בהנאה שהרי עשאום לכלי שרת”

Lastly it’s a reminder for Bnei Yisrael that a non-Cohen cannot bring a Kitoret and that there will never be an argument like Korach and his rebels meaning both people in an argument will be partially right.

The Complainers: Pesukim ו-י

The next day something tragic happened! Bnei Yisrael complained to Moshe and Aharon saying that they made Hashem’s nation die!

3) “אתם המתם את העם” Then they went to the Ohel hamoed and saw Hashem and feared him. Later Moshe and Aharon went to the Ohel Hamoed and Hashem told them to step aside because he is about to kill Bnei Yisrael.

4) “הרימו מתוך העדה הזאת ואכלה אתם כרגע”

Moshe and Aharon immediately fall on their faces and daven to Hashem even though they were being blamed by them!  Check the next page to see what happens next!

Aharon stops the plague: Pesukim יא-טו

Moshe quickly tells Aharon to run and go take a מחתה and put spices on it as a Korban to Hashem to ask for forgiveness for Bnei Yisrael because Hashem was angry and started a plague! Aharon listened and goes to Bnei and see’s the plague begin! Then Aharon gives the Korban and gets forgiveness for Bnei Yisrael. Aharon stood between the dead and the living and the plague stopped.

5) “בין המתים ובין החיים ותעצר המגפה” Unfortunately there was an additional 14,700 people who passed away.

“What does this mean?” Rashi asks. It means that Aharon was telling the angel of death that he was sent by Moshe to do this and he went to prove it at the Ohel Hamoed. But Rashi is still wondering “Why Kitoret?” This is because Bnei Yisrael were saying negative things about Kitoret and they were saying that it was a killer Korban when it was actually because of their sins

6) “מליצים ומרננים אחר הקטורת”

מבחן המטות: Pesukim טז-כו

Hashem is telling Moshe to tell Bnei Yisrael that each person from each Shevet should write their name on a stick and bring it to the Ohel Moed. The stick that Hashem chooses will bloom flowers. Hashem says this is necessary to stop Bnei Yisrael from complaining. Moshe listened and he told Bnei Yisrael what Hashem told him to tell them. Aharon’s stick was inside.

7) “ומטה אהרון בתוך מתאם” What does this mean? Of course Rashi asks this. This means all the other sticks were surrounding his and his was in the middle. But why would we have such a strange setup Rashi asks again? This is because nobody can make an excuse that it was closer to Hashem’s Shechna or any other excuses if his stick was to blossom. Let’s continue. Moshe places the sticks before Hashem in the Ohel Moed and the next day Aharon’s stick blossomed! There were 3 stages. First a flower bloomed then a bud sprouted and after it grew almonds! That’s Amazing because this stick was dead and all three stages happened at the same time! But Rashi stills has a question! Why almonds? 8) “ולמה שקדים” This is because it is the fastest growing fruit and that for whoever rebels against the Kohen Gadol, their punishment will come fast! After each person takes their stick back and Hashem tells Moshe to return the stick to the Ohel Moed and use it as a reminder for Bnei Yisrael and for whoever wants to rebel! Moshe listens and he does what he was told!

Bnei Yisrael are concerned: Pesukim כז-כח

Bnei Yisrael are speaking to Moshe by saying is Hashem going to tell us or is everything going to go bad for us! if we go near the Mishcan will we die! Bnei Yisrael feels nervous and concerned because they don’t want to make more mistakes!

9)  “הֵ֥ן גָּוַ֛עְנוּ אָבַ֖דְנוּ כֻּלָּ֥נוּ אָבָֽדְנוּ”

10) “יָמ֑וּת הַאִ֥ם תַּ֖מְנוּ לִגְוֹֽעַ”