ASBI Lunch and Learn Chukat Miriam's Well, Moshe Hits the Rock

Had no water: From here [we learn that] all forty years they had the well in Miriam’s merit.

(2) ....On the tenth of (Nisan) Miriam died and her well disappeared....

So the well, which was with Israel in the wilderness, was like a rock of the size of a k'bara, and was oozing out and rising as from the mouth of this flask, travelling with them up the mountains and going down with them to the valleys. Wherever Israel encamped it encamped opposite them before the door of the Tabernacle.

(3) and the mouth of the well: The well of Miriam that went with Israel in the wilderness on all of the journeys. And some say, that the well opened its mouth and uttered song, as it stated (Numbers 21:17), "rise up, O well; answer it."

At that time also ‎the waters they drank in the desert due to the merit of Miriam, ‎will assume the taste of any liquid they will fancy.‎ ‎

R. Yossi son of R. Judah says: Three good leaders had arisen for Israel, namely Moses, Aaron and Miriam, and for their sakes three good things were conferred [upon Israel], namely, the Well, the Pillar of Cloud, and the Manna.

The Well -- for the merit of Miriam;

The Pillar of Cloud --for the merit of Aaron;

The Manna -- for the merit of Moses.

When Miriam died the well disappeared, as it is said, "And Miriam died there," and immediately follows [the verse], "And there was no water for the congregation...."

translation by Soncino

"And there was not water for the congregation"

The people lacked water as a punishment because they did not mourn for her appropriately. The text tells us about Moses's and Aaron's deaths "the Children of Israel wept for them," and here, (in the story of Miriam's death), it doesn't say "they wept for her," and it does say, "She died there and they buried her there." In the place that she died, that will be her burial place forever, and she was forgotten as dead from the heart, and they did not feel her absence at all. Therefore, they lacked the water so that they should know retroactively that the well existed because of the merit of Miriam.

(13) Those are the Waters of Meribah—meaning that the Israelites quarrelled with the LORD—through which He affirmed His sanctity.

(1) ...and there was no water for the people to drink. (2) The people quarreled with Moses...

(2) The community was without water, and they joined against Moses and Aaron. (3) The people quarreled with Moses...

TAKE THE ROD. Many interpretations are offered for this incident. There is an individual opinion that Moses sinned because he said to Israel, who are the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: Hear now, ye rebels (v. 10). However, if this were the case why did he again say, ye have been rebellious against the Lord (Deut. 9:7). Others say that the word ve-dibbartem (and speak ye) has the meaning, and ye shall strike. It is similar to the word va-tedabber (and destroyed) in and destroyed all the seed royal (II Chron. 22:10).

-However, this is incorrect, for va-tedabber is related to the word dever (destruction) or to the word yadber (he subdueth) in He subdueth peoples under us (Ps. 47:4). Va-tedabber thus means, and destroyed. Indeed, it so reads in the other book. The meaning of ve-dibbartem el ha-sela (and speak ye unto the rock) thus is, and ye shall destroy the rock. Furthermore, if this is the meaning of the word, why was Moses punished? The above commentaries answer, because he hit the rock twice.

-However, if this is the case why was Aaron punished?

Rabbi Moses Ha-Kohen the Spaniard, of blessed memory, says that some signs are performed by word of mouth, others by action and speech, as in the case of the salt which Elisha cast into the water. God commanded Moses to take the staff and strike the rock as he did in the case of the rock [at Horeb]. He added the word ve-dibbartem (and speak ye) so that the water would flow via the speech and the blow. Because Israel angered him, Moses said, are we to bring you forth water from the rock? What Moses meant was, we do not have the power to bring water out of the rock. We can only do so by the power of God. Now Moses did not make himself clear. People thought what he said was that God cannot bring water out of the rock. This is the meaning of because ye sanctified Me not in the midst of the children of Israel (Deut. 32:51). Rabbi Moses offered proof from the words of the poet who said, For they embittered his spirit, And he spoke rashly with his lip (Ps. 106:33). The sin was thus in his expressing, not by striking [the rock].

-However, this too is incorrect, for Moses said, are we to bring you forth water out of this rock (v. 10). Why was Aaron punished? Furthermore, no speech is mentioned in the Torah’s description of the act of striking the rock. The proof offered by Rabbi Moses is no proof because the meaning of For they embittered his spirit is that they embittered God’s spirit. Scripture similarly writes, But they rebelled, and grieved His holy spirit (Is. 63:10). This is the meaning of They angered Him also at the waters of Meribah (Ps. 106:32). It means they angered God. Scripture similarly states, These are the waters of Meribah, where the children of Israel strove with the Lord (Num. 20:13). Scripture says, And it went ill with Moses because of them (Ps. 106:32) because they embittered God’s spirit, and He decreed that Moses not enter the land. Others say that the meaning of speak to the rock can only mean strike the rock, for a rock cannot hear. Now if this is so, why was Moses punished? Some say that Moses and Aaron were punished because they did not sing a song of praise as in Spring up, O well-sing ye unto it (Num. 21:17). They say that this is the meaning of because ye sanctified Me not (Deut. 32:51).

-Others say that God commanded Moses and Aaron to speak to the rock, but they did not speak to it. On the contrary, Moses struck the rock. Therefore they were both punished and they were told, ye trespassed (Deut. 32:51); ye rebelled (v. 24); ye believed not in Me (v. 12), and ye sanctified Me not (Deut. 32:52). Those who are guided by reason say that it is impossible that a messenger of God would alter God’s word. If Moses transformed God’s word, how can we believe his Torah? However, the aforementioned also spoke incorrectly, for if Moses had altered a commandment he would have been punished immediately. Look, Moses was punished with regard to something which was not an eternal commandment and not a law given to Israel. Nor did he knowingly violate God’s command. He only did so inadvertently because Israel angered him. Moses clearly said, Also the Lord was angry with me for your sakes (Deut. 1:37). Others say that Israel told Moses to bring water out of a different rock. They offer this rock as proof (v. 10). However, Moses was afraid to alter God’s word. Moses was punished because he did not believe that he would be able to bring forth water from the rock that Israel chose. He was therefore punished. This is the meaning of ye believed not in Me (v. 12). This interpretation is also incorrect, for Scripture states, ye rebelled against My word (v. 24). However, they did not rebel.I will reveal in hints the explanation which appears correct to me. Know, when the part knows the All, he cleaves to the All and creates signs and wonders with the help of the All. Now it is true that God told Moses and Aaron, speak ye unto the rock. They did not speak to the rock because the people were quarreling with Moses. The “part” thus remained a “part.” He struck the rock, and water did not come out of it until he struck it a second time. Moses and Aaron thus did not sanctify God’s name. They inadvertently rebelled and trespassed. It is also possible to explain that And he spoke rashly with his lips (Ps. 106:33) refers to Moses. It was unseemly for Moses to say anything before fulfilling God’s command. Moses was therefore punished. The midrashic interpretation of our ancients, of blessed memory, who said that Moses sinned because he said, Hear now, ye rebels (v. 10) is also in keeping with this interpretation. The rabbis hint at this secret.