Perek Yud Zayin

A New Covering For The Mizbeach- א-ה

The rebellion is over and Elazer is asked to do something with the fire pans. ועשו אתם רקעי פחים צפוי למזבחַ #2 (Pasuk) He is told to take all of the fire pans and hammer them into one big sheet for the Mizbaich. Now you might be wondering why Elazer was asked to do this and not the Kohan Gadol, Aharon. It is because it is not fitting for Aharon to do this job because he was part of the rebellion and he was so holy it wouldn’t be right for him to be cleaning up the garbage. You also might be wondering why the fire pans are being used for something holy. ואסורין בהנאה #1 (Rashi) It is prohibited to get benefit. The fire pans were used for a mitzvah. Moshe told them to bring a Korban Ketorat and they did. Following a commandment of a leader is a mitzvah. Now the fire pans can only be used for a mitzvah .

Bnei Yisrael Complain and Hashem Wants to Destroy Again-ו-י

Can you believe it?!?! Moshe and Aharon just saved Bnei Yisrael’s life and now they are complaining again.

‘אתם המתם את עם ה #3 (Pasuk) They are complaining that Moshe and Aharon killed out all of Hashem’s nation.

בא מֹשה ואהרן אל פּני אֹהל מועד #4 (Pasuk)

Moshe and Aharon go to the אֹהל מועד and Hashem tells them to separate them selves again. Hashem wants to destroy them in an instant. Moshe and Aharon immediately start davening again. We can learn from this that whenever we are in need we should daven to Hashem.

Moshe and Aharon Try to Save Bnei Yisrael

Moshe and Aharon are told to bring a Korban Ketorat in order to save Bnei Yisrael. ויּרץ אל תּוֹך הקהל #5 Aharon immediately runs to do it. A question you might have is why do we always bring the Korban Ketorat. Normally when people bring the Korban Ketorat they end up dying. הוא תראו שעוצר מגפה הוא #6 (Rashi) Hashem wanted to show that the Korban Ketorat can also be used as a plague stopper. 14,700 people ended up dying in the plague.

טז-כו – מבחן המטות

Hashem wants Bnei Yisrael to do another challenge to show that Shevet Levi and Aharon were chosen by Hashem.

וקח מאתם מטה #7 (Pasuk) He tells them to take a staff from each Shevet. They should each write the name of the head of the Shevet on the staff and place them all in the Ohel Moad. Whoever stick blossomed is the one who was chosen. Hashem also commands for Aharon stick to be in the middle. Why did he want Aharon stick to be in the middle?

שלא יאמרו מפני שהניאחו בצד שכינה #8 (Rashi) Hashem did it so Bnei Yisrael couldn’t say that Aharon’s stick blossomed because it was closer to the Scheina so he made it be in the middle.

ITS A MIRACLE!!! Not only did Aharon’s stick blossom to show that he was chosen by Hashem, but two other miraculous things happened. One of them was that this all happened to a dead stick! The other one was that there were three stages of development happening all at once. First, a flower came out. Second, a bud sprouted. Third of all, almonds grew. All at once!! Now we might have a question about the almonds. Why specially almonds out of all fruits? It is because almonds are the fastest growing fruit. It is also to show that whoever goes continues to rebel will be punished quickly.

The test is over and Moshe takes all of the sticks out of the Ohel Moad. He gave each man his stick back. Hashem wanted everyone to see this miracle so he told Moshe to put Aharon’s stick in front of the Ohel Moad.

Bnei Yisrael are nervous that they will keep sinning and will keep getting punished.-כז-כח

Bnei Yisrael finally believe in Moshe!!! They are afraid they will keep sinning and they will keep getting punished. They ask Moshe if they are doomed and lost forever. They think that whoever comes to the mishkan will die. Everyone is very nervous. Stay tuned for Perek Chet!!!