Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this aliyah, we learn about the painful nisayon of Mei Merivah, the Waters of Dispute. Following the histalkus of Miriam, the well that traveled with Bnei Yisrael in the midbar ceased to flow, and the people gathered to complain to Moshe Rabbeinu and Aharon HaKohen. Hashem commands Moshe to take his staff, gather the congregation, and speak to the rock so that it will yield its water. However, in the heat of the moment, Moshe strikes the rock twice instead of speaking to it, leading to a severe decree from Hashem that neither he nor Aharon will lead the nation into Eretz Yisrael.

Following this difficult event, the Torah describes Moshe Rabbeinu's diplomatic efforts as Bnei Yisrael prepare to enter the land. He sends messengers to the king of Edom, appealing to their shared ancestry and requesting peaceful passage through their territory. Despite promising to stick strictly to the highway and pay for any water consumed, Bnei Yisrael are met with harsh hostility and a threat of war from Edom.

All introductions, summaries, and contextual notes are the editor's commentary and are not part of the original text.אַלע הַקְדָּמוֹת, סִכּוּמִים, און הערות זענען דעם רעדאַקטאָר'ס באַמערקונגען און זענען נישט קיין טייל פונעם אָריגינעלן טעקסט.

פָּסוּק א

Pasuk 1

וַיְדַבֵּרAnd spokeיְהוָהHashemאֶלtoמֹשֶׁהMosheלֵּאמֹר׃saying

פָּסוּק ב

Pasuk 2

קַחTakeאֶת—הַמַּטֶּהthe staffוְהַקְהֵלand assembleאֶת—הָעֵדָהthe congregationאַתָּהyouוְאַהֲרֹןand Aharonאָחִיךָyour brotherוְדִבַּרְתֶּםand you shall speakאֶלtoהַסֶּלַעthe rockלְעֵינֵיהֶםbefore their eyesוְנָתַןand it shall giveמֵימָיוits waterוְהוֹצֵאתָand you shall bringלָהֶםfor themמַיִםwaterמִןfromהַסֶּלַעthe rockוְהִשְׁקִיתָand you shall give drinkאֶת—הָעֵדָהthe congregationוְאֶתand —בְּעִירָם׃their animals

רַשִׁ״י

ואתand —בעירם.their beastsמִכָּאןfrom hereשֶׁחָסthat sparesהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy One blessed be Heעַלuponמָמוֹנָםthe money ofשֶׁלofיִשְׂרָאֵל:Yisrael

פָּסוּק ג

Pasuk 3

וַיִּקַּחAnd he tookמֹשֶׁהMosheאֶת—הַמַּטֶּהthe staffמִלִּפְנֵיfrom beforeיְהוָהHashemכַּאֲשֶׁרasצִוָּהוּ׃He commanded him

פָּסוּק ד

Pasuk 4

וַיַּקְהִלוּAnd they assembledמֹשֶׁהMosheוְאַהֲרֹןand Aaronאֶת—הַקָּהָלthe congregationאֶלtoפְּנֵיthe front ofהַסָּלַעthe rockוַיֹּאמֶרand he saidלָהֶםto themשִׁמְעוּlistenנָאpleaseהַמֹּרִיםyou rebelsהֲמִןshall fromהַסֶּלַעthe rockהַזֶּהthisנוֹצִיאwe bring forthלָכֶםfor youמָיִם׃water

רַשִׁ״י

ויקהלוAnd they assembledוגו'.etc.זֶהthisאֶחָדoneמִןofהַמְּקוֹמוֹתthe placesשֶׁהֶחֱזִיקwhere containedמוּעָטthe smallerאֶת—הַמְרֻבֶּהthe greaterבראשיתBereishisרבהRabbahה'5:

רַשִׁ״י

המןIs it fromהסלעthe rockהזהthisנוציא.we shall bring outלְפִיbecauseשֶׁלֹּאthat notהָיוּthey wereמַכִּירִיןrecognizingאוֹתוֹ,itלְפִיbecauseשֶׁהָלַךְthat wentהַסֶּלַעthe rockוְיָשַׁבand satלוֹitselfבֵּיןamongהַסְּלָעִיםthe rocksכְּשֶׁנִּסְתַּלֵּקwhen departedהַבְּאֵר,the wellוְהָיוּand wereיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelאוֹמְרִיםsayingלָהֶםto themמַהwhatלָּכֶםdifference to youמֵאֵיfrom whichזֶהthisסֶלַעrockתּוֹצִיאוּyou bring outלָנוּfor usמַיִם?waterלְכָךְthereforeאָמַרhe saidלָהֶםto themהמריםthe rebels—סַרְבָנִים,refractory onesלְשׁוֹןan expression ofיְוָנִיGreekשׁוֹטִים,foolsמוֹרִיםwho teachאֶת—מוֹרֵיהֶם,their teachersהֲמִןis it fromהַסֶּלַעthe rockהַזֶּהthisשֶׁלֹּאthat notנִצְטַוִּינוּwe were commandedעָלָיוupon itנוֹצִיאwe shall bring outלָכֶםfor youמַיִם?waterתנחומאTanchuma:

פָּסוּק ה

Pasuk 5

וַיָּרֶםAnd he raisedמֹשֶׁהMosheאֶת—יָדוֹhis handוַיַּךְand he struckאֶת—הַסֶּלַעthe rockבְּמַטֵּהוּwith his staffפַּעֲמָיִםtwiceוַיֵּצְאוּand there came outמַיִםwaterרַבִּיםabundantוַתֵּשְׁתְּand drankהָעֵדָהthe congregationוּבְעִירָם׃and their animals

רַשִׁ״י

פעמים.twiceלְפִיbecauseשֶׁבָּרִאשׁוֹנָהthat at firstלֹאnotהוֹצִיאdid it bring forthאֶלָּאbutטִפִּין,dropsלְפִיbecauseשֶׁלֹּאthat notצִוָּהcommandedהַמָּקוֹםthe Omnipresentלְהַכּוֹתוֹ,to smite itאֶלָּאbut"וְדִבַּרְתֶּםand you shall speakאֶלtoהַסֶּלַע",the rockוְהֵמָּהand theyדִּבְּרוּspokeאֶלtoסֶלַעa rockאַחֵרdifferentוְלֹאand notהוֹצִיא,did it bring forthאָמְרוּ,they saidשֶׁמָּאperhapsצָרִיךְit is necessaryלְהַכּוֹתוֹto smite itכְּבָרִאשׁוֹנָה,as at firstשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is said"וְהִכִּיתָand you shall smiteבַצּוּר"the rockשמותShemosי"ז17,וְנִזְדַּמֵּןand there happenedלָהֶםto themאוֹתוֹthatסֶלַעrockוְהִכָּהוּand he smote itתנחומאTanchuma:

פָּסוּק ו

Pasuk 6

וַיֹּאמֶרAnd He saidיְהוָהHashemאֶלtoמֹשֶׁהMosheוְאֶלand toאַהֲרֹןAharonיַעַןbecauseלֹאnotהֶאֱמַנְתֶּםyou believedבִּיin Meלְהַקְדִּישֵׁנִיto sanctify Meלְעֵינֵיin the eyes ofבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelלָכֵןthereforeלֹאnotתָבִיאוּyou shall bringאֶת—הַקָּהָלthe congregationהַזֶּהthisאֶלtoהָאָרֶץthe landאֲשֶׁרwhichנָתַתִּיI have givenלָהֶם׃to them

רַשִׁ״י

יעןBecauseלאnotהאמנתםyou believedבי.in Meגִּלָּהrevealedהַכָּתוּבthe Scriptureשֶׁאִלּוּלֵיthat if not forחֵטְאthe sin ofזֶהthisבִּלְבַדaloneהָיוּthey would haveנִכְנָסִיןenteredלָאָרֶץ,into the Landכְּדֵיin orderשֶׁלֹּאthat notיֹאמְרוּthey should sayעֲלֵיהֶםabout themכַּעֲוֹןlike the sin ofדּוֹרthe generation ofהַמִּדְבָּרthe Wildernessשֶׁנִּגְזַרupon whom it was decreedעֲלֵיהֶםupon themשֶׁלֹּאthat notיִכָּנְסוּ,they should enterכָּךְsoהָיָהwasעֲוֹןthe sin ofמֹשֶׁהMosheוְאַהֲרֹן;and AharonוַהֲלֹאBut is it not"הֲצֹאןShall sheepוּבָקָרand cattleיִשָּׁחֵט"be slaughteredבמדברBamidbarיא,11כב22קָשָׁהmore severeמִזּוֹ?than thisאֶלָּאbutלְפִיbecauseשֶׁבַּסֵּתֶר,that in privateחִסֵּךְsparedעָלָיוhimהַכָּתוּב,the Scriptureוְכָאןand hereשֶׁבְּמַעֲמַדthat in the presence ofכָּלall ofיִשְׂרָאֵל,Yisraelלֹאnotחִסֵּךְsparedעָלָיוhimהַכָּתוּבthe Scriptureמִפְּנֵיbecause ofקִדּוּשׁthe sanctification ofהַשֵּׁם:the Name

רַשִׁ״י

להקדישני.to sanctify Meשֶׁאִלּוּfor ifדִּבַּרְתֶּםyou had spokenאֶלtoהַסֶּלַעthe rockוְהוֹצִיא,and it brought forthהָיִיתִיI would have beenמְקֻדָּשׁsanctifiedלְעֵינֵיbefore the eyes ofהָעֵדָה,the congregationוְאוֹמְרִיםand they would sayמַהwhat is the caseסֶּלַעwith this rockזֶהthisשֶׁאֵינוֹwhich is notמְדַבֵּרspeakingוְאֵינוֹand is notשׁוֹמֵעַhearingוְאֵינוֹand is notצָרִיךְneedingלְפַרְנָסָהsustenanceמְקַיֵּםfulfillsדִּבּוּרוֹthe wordשֶׁלofמָקוֹם,the Omnipresentקַלhow muchוָחֹמֶרmore soאָנוּ:we

רַשִׁ״י

לכןThereforeלאyou shall notתביאו.bringבִּשְׁבוּעָה,with an oathכְּמוֹjust as"וְלָכֵןand thereforeנִשְׁבַּעְתִּיI have swornלְבֵיתto the house ofעֵלִי"EliשמואלShmuelאAlephג'Gimel,נִשְׁבַּעHe sworeבִּקְפִיצָהwith hasteשֶׁלֹּאso that notיַרְבּוּthey should increaseבִתְפִלָּהin prayerעַלconcerningכָּךְ:this

פָּסוּק ז

Pasuk 7

הֵמָּהTheyמֵיare the waters ofמְרִיבָהstrifeאֲשֶׁרwhereרָבוּquarreledבְנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelאֶתwithיְהוָהHashemוַיִּקָּדֵשׁand He was sanctifiedבָּם׃through them

רַשִׁ״י

המהThese areמיthe waters ofמריבה.Meribahהֵםthey areהַנִּזְכָּרִיםthose mentionedבְּמָקוֹםin a placeאַחֵר;otherאֶת—אֵלּוּtheseרָאוּsawאִצְטַגְנִינֵיthe astrologers ofפַרְעֹה,Pharaohשֶׁמּוֹשִׁיעָןthat the saviorשֶׁלofיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelלוֹקֶהwould be strickenבַמַּיִם,through waterלְכָךְthereforeגָּזְרוּthey decreedשמותShemosא'1"כָּל"Everyהַבֵּןsonהַיִּלּוֹדthat is bornהַיְאֹרָהinto the riverתַּשְׁלִיכֻהוּ"you shall cast him"סנהדריןSanhedrinק"א101:

רַשִׁ״י

ויקדשAnd He was sanctifiedבם.in themשֶׁמֵּתוּfor diedמֹשֶׁהMosheוְאַהֲרֹןand Aharonעַלonיָדָם;their accountכְּשֶׁהַקָּבָּ"הwhen the Holy Oneעוֹשֶׂהexecutesדִּיןjudgmentבִּמְקֻדָּשָׁיוupon His holy onesהוּאHeיָראוּיis fearedוּמִתְקַדֵּשׁand sanctifiedעַלbyהַבְּרִיּוֹת,the creationsוְכֵןand soהוּאitאוֹמֵרsays"נוֹרָאAwesomeאֱלֹהִיםis G-dמִמִּקְדָּשֶׁיךָ"from Your sanctuariesתהיליםTehillimס"ח68,וְכֵןand soהוּאitאוֹמֵרsays"בִּקְרֹבַיThrough those near to Meאֶקָּדֵשׁ"I will be sanctifiedויקראVayikraי'10:

פָּסוּק ח

Pasuk 8

וַיִּשְׁלַחAnd sentמֹשֶׁהMosheמַלְאָכִיםmessengersמִקָּדֵשׁfrom Kadeshאֶלtoמֶלֶךְthe king ofאֱדוֹםEdomכֹּהThusאָמַרsaysאָחִיךָyour brotherיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelאַתָּהyouיָדַעְתָּknowאֵת—כָּלallהַתְּלָאָהthe hardshipאֲשֶׁרthatמְצָאָתְנוּ׃befell us

רַשִׁ״י

אחיךyour brotherישראל.Yisraelמָהwhatרָאָהdid he seeלְהַזְכִּירto mentionכָּאןhereאַחֲוָה?brotherhoodאֶלָּאratherאָמַרhe saidלוֹto himאַחִיםbrothersאֲנַחְנוּ,we areבְּנֵיsons ofאַבְרָהָם,Avrahamשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרthat it was saidלוֹto him"כִּיthatגֵרa strangerיִהְיֶהshall beזַרְעֲךָ"your seedבראשיתBereishisט"ו15,וְעַלand uponשְׁנֵינוּboth of usהָיָהwasאוֹתוֹthatהַחוֹבdebtלְפָרְעוֹto pay itתנחומאTanchuma:

רַשִׁ״י

אתהYouידעתknowאת—כלallהתלאה.the travailלְפִיכָךְthereforeפֵּרֵשׁseparatedאֲבִיכֶםyour fatherמֵעַלfromאָבִינוּ,our fatherשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is said"וַיֵּלֶךְand he wentאֶלtoאֶרֶץa landמִפְּנֵיbecause ofיַעֲקֹבYaakovאָחִיו"his brotherבראשיתBereishisל״ו:ו׳36—מִפְּנֵי6הַשְּׁטָרbecause ofחוֹבthe billהַמֻּטָּלof debtעֲלֵיהֶם,that was castוְהִטִּילוֹupon themעַלand he cast itיַעֲקֹב:upon

פָּסוּק ט

Pasuk 9

וַיֵּרְדוּand went downאֲבֹתֵינוּour ancestorsמִצְרַיְמָהto Mitzrayimוַנֵּשֶׁבand we dweltבְּמִצְרַיִםin Mitzrayimיָמִיםdaysרַבִּיםmanyוַיָּרֵעוּand they did evilלָנוּto usמִצְרַיִםthe Egyptiansוְלַאֲבֹתֵינוּ׃and to our ancestors

רַשִׁ״י

וירעוAnd they did evilלנו.to usסָבַלְנוּwe sufferedצָרוֹתtroublesרַבּוֹת:many

רַשִׁ״י

ולאבתינו.and to our fathersמִכָּאןfrom hereשֶׁהָאָבוֹתthat the patriarchsמִצְטַעֲרִיםgrieveבַּקֶּבֶרin the graveכְּשֶׁפֻּרְעָנוּתwhen punishmentבָּאָהcomesעַלuponיִשְֹרָאֵלYisraelעי'seeתנחומאTanchuma:

פָּסוּק י

Pasuk 10

וַנִּצְעַקand we criedאֶלtoיְהוָהHashemוַיִּשְׁמַעand He heardקֹלֵנוּour voiceוַיִּשְׁלַחand He sentמַלְאָךְa messengerוַיֹּצִאֵנוּand He brought-us-outמִמִּצְרָיִםfrom Mitzrayimוְהִנֵּהand beholdאֲנַחְנוּweבְקָדֵשׁin Kadeshעִירa cityקְצֵהthe edge ofגְבוּלֶךָ׃your border

רַשִׁ״י

וישמעAnd He heardקלנו.our voiceבַּבְּרָכָהthrough the blessingשֶׁבֵּרְכָנוּthat blessed usאָבִינוּour father"הַקֹּל"the voiceקוֹלis the voice ofיַעֲקֹב",Yaakov"שֶׁאָנוּthat weצוֹעֲקִיםcry outוְנַעֲנִיםand are answeredתנחומאTanchumaבשלחBeshalach:

רַשִׁ״י

מלאך.A messengerזֶהthisמֹשֶׁה,is Mosheמִכָּאןfrom hereשֶׁהַנְּבִיאִיםthat the prophetsקְרוּאִיםare calledמַלְאָכִים,angelsוְאוֹמֵרand it says"וַיִּהְיוּand they wereמַלְעִבִיםmockingבְּמַלְאֲכֵיat the messengers ofהָאֱלֹהִים"GodדבריDivreiהימיםHaYamimב'IIל"ו36:

פָּסוּק יא

Pasuk 11

נַעְבְּרָהLet us passנָּאpleaseבְאַרְצֶךָthrough your landלֹאnotנַעֲבֹרwill we passבְּשָׂדֶהthrough fieldוּבְכֶרֶםor through vineyardוְלֹאand notנִשְׁתֶּהwill we drinkמֵיwater ofבְאֵרa wellדֶּרֶךְthe way ofהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingנֵלֵךְwe will goלֹאnotנִטֶּהwill we turnיָמִיןrightוּשְׂמֹאולor leftעַדuntilאֲשֶׁרthatנַעֲבֹרwe have passedגְּבוּלֶךָ׃your border

רַשִׁ״י

נעברהLet us passנאpleaseבארצך.through your landאֵיןThere is notלְךָto youלְעוֹרֵרto lay claimעַלuponהַיְרֻשָּׁהthe inheritanceשֶׁלofאֶרֶץthe land ofיִשְׂרָאֵל,Yisraelכְּשֵׁםjust asשֶׁלֹּאthat notפָרַעְתָּyou paidהַחוֹב,the debtעֲשֵׂהdoלָנוּfor usעֵזֶרassistanceמְעַטa littleלַעֲבֹרto passדֶּרֶךְby way ofאַרְצְךָ:your land

רַשִׁ״י

ולאAnd notנשתהwill we drinkמיwater ofבאר.a wellמֵיwater ofבוֹרוֹתcisternsהָיָהhe wasצָרִיךְneededלוֹמַר,to sayאֶלָּאbutכָּךְthusאָמַרsaidמֹשֶׁה,Mosheאַעַ"פִּeven thoughשֶׁיֵּשׁthat there isבְּיָדֵנוּin our handמָןmannaלֶאֱכֹלto eatוּבְאֵרand a wellלִשְׁתּוֹת,to drinkלֹאnotנִשְׁתֶּהwill we drinkמִמֶּנּוּ,from itאֶלָּאbutנִקְנֶהwe will buyמִכֶּםfrom youאֹכֶלfoodוּמַיִםand waterלַהֲנָאַתְכֶם,for your benefitמִכָּאןfrom hereלְאַכְסְנַאיfor a guestאַעַ"פִּeven thoughשֶׁיֵּשׁthat there isבְּיָדוֹin his handלֶאֱכֹלto eatיִקְנֶהhe should buyמִןfromהַחֶנְוָנִי,the shopkeeperכְּדֵיin orderלְהַנּוֹתto benefitאֶת—אֻשְׁפִּיזוֹhis hostתנחומאTanchuma:

רַשִׁ״י

דרךThe way ofהמלךthe kingנלךwe will goוגו'.etc.אָנוּweחוֹסְמִיםwill muzzleאֶת—בְּהֶמְתֵּנוּour cattleוְלֹאand notיִטּוּwill they turn asideלְכָאןto hereוּלְכָאןand to hereלֶאֱכֹלto eatשםthere:

פָּסוּק יב

Pasuk 12

וַיֹּאמֶרAnd he saidאֵלָיוto himאֱדוֹםEdomלֹאnotתַעֲבֹרshall you passבִּיthrough meפֶּןlestבַּחֶרֶבwith the swordאֵצֵאI will go outלִקְרָאתֶךָ׃against you

רַשִׁ״י

פןlestבחרבwith the swordאצאI will go outלקראתך.against youאַתֶּםyouמִתְגָּאִיםpride yourselvesבְּקוֹלin the voiceשֶׁהוֹרִישְׁכֶםthat bequeathed to youאֲבִיכֶםyour fatherוְאוֹמְרִיםand saying"וַנִּצְעַקand we criedאֶלtoה'Hashemוַיִּשְׁמַעand He heardקֹלֵנוּ",our voiceוַאֲנִיand Iאֵצֵאwill go outעֲלֵיכֶםagainst youבְּמַהwith thatשֶּׁהוֹרִישֵׁנִיwhich bequeathed to meאָבִיmy father"וְעַלand byחַרְבְּךָyour swordתִחְיֶה"you shall liveבראשיתBereishisכ"ז27:

פָּסוּק יג

Pasuk 13

וַיֹּאמְרוּAnd they saidאֵלָיוto himבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelבַּמְסִלָּהby the highwayנַעֲלֶהwe will go upוְאִםand ifמֵימֶיךָyour waterנִשְׁתֶּהwe drinkאֲנִיIוּמִקְנַיand my livestockוְנָתַתִּיthen I will giveמִכְרָםtheir priceרַקonlyאֵיןit is noדָּבָרmatterבְּרַגְלַיon my feetאֶעֱבֹרָה׃let me pass through

רַשִׁ״י

רקonlyאיןthere is noדבר.thingאֵיןthere is noשׁוּםanyדָּבָרthingמַזִּיקְךָ:harming you

פָּסוּק יד

Pasuk 14

וַיֹּאמֶרAnd he saidלֹאyou shall notתַעֲבֹרpass throughוַיֵּצֵאand went outאֱדוֹםEdomלִקְרָאתוֹagainst themבְּעַםwith a nationכָּבֵדheavyוּבְיָדand with a handחֲזָקָה׃strong

רַשִׁ״י

ובידand with a handחזקה.strongבְּהַבְטָחַתwith the assurance ofזְקֵנֵנוּour ancestor"וְהַיָּדַיִםand the handsיְדֵיare the hands ofעֵשָׂו"Esavשםthere:

פָּסוּק טו

Pasuk 15

וַיְמָאֵןAnd refusedאֱדוֹםEdomנְתֹןto permitאֶת—יִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelעֲבֹרto passבִּגְבֻלוֹthrough his borderוַיֵּטand turned awayיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelמֵעָלָיו׃from upon him

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

The aliyah begins with Hashem instructing Moshe and Aharon to speak to the rock to bring forth water for the thirsty congregation, but Moshe strikes the rock twice with his staff instead. Although water gushes out abundantly for the people and their livestock, Hashem decrees that because they did not sanctify His Name before Bnei Yisrael, Moshe and Aharon will not merit to bring the nation into the Promised Land. Afterward, Moshe sends messengers to the king of Edom, recounting the hardships of Mitzrayim and requesting permission to pass through their land peacefully. Edom flatly refuses, threatening military action, and despite Israel's reassurances that they will cause no damage and pay for all resources, Edom deploys a heavily armed force, prompting Bnei Yisrael to turn away and bypass their borders.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

My dear talmid, look at the heart of this painful sugya. Hashem commanded Moshe Rabbeinu to speak to the rock, but in a moment of intense pressure, he struck it instead. The water still flowed, the people drank, but the opportunity for a massive Kiddush Hashem, showing the world that even a cold, hard stone obeys the word of Hashem without needing to be forced, was lost.

This is a profound lesson for our own daily avodah. How often do we try to get results in our lives, our homes, or our work through force, anger, and hitting, rather than through soft, patient, and holy speech? We might think that raising our voice or using harshness gets the job done, but the Torah is teaching us that even if the 'water' eventually comes out, we have missed the entire point of what Hashem wants from us.

True influence and lasting holiness are built on the power of gentle speech. When we speak with warmth, patience, and emunah, we sanctify Hashem's name and reveal the soft neshama hidden inside even the hardest situations.

Today, when you feel yourself getting frustrated or tempted to force a situation with anger, pause, take a deep breath, and choose to speak with gentleness and patience instead.