The Hoarders and the Worms of Dathan and Abiram

Mekhilta DeRabbi Shimon Ben Yochai 16:19

"But they did not listen to Moses" (Exodus 16:20) - these are the ones among them lacking in faith. "And some left of it." It is not written "the men [ha-anashim]," but "men [anashim]": the men [of standing] did not leave any over; other men left over. "And it bred worms and stank." Is it possible that since it first bred worms it would then stink? Rather, it stank and afterward bred worms, in the manner of what is said below, "it did not stink, nor was there any worm in it" (verse 24). Another interpretation: "And it bred worms and stank" - and from where did Israel know that they had left some over? They saw streams upon streams of worms going out from the house of Dathan and Abiram, from these to those, as it is written, "but fools carry away shame" (Proverbs 3:35). "And Moses was angry with them" - Moses was angry with them and said to them, [why] did you do this?

Themes