Dathan and Abiram Confront Moses and Aaron at the Brick Pits

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Vaera 4:3

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

"And they met Moses and Aaron standing to meet them" (ibid. ibid. 20). These are Dathan and Abiram, of whom it is written, "They came out standing" (Numbers 16:27). "And they said to them, 'May the LORD look upon you and judge'" (Exodus 5:21). Rabbi Judah the Levite, son of Rabbi Shalom, said: Israel said to him, To what are we like? To a single lamb that the wolf came and took from the flock, and the shepherd came after it. What did the wolf do? He sought to tear the lamb apart from between the shepherd. The lamb came into danger. So too Moses said before the Holy One, blessed be He: Between Pharaoh and You we are dying, as it is said, "in that you have made our odor abhorrent" etc. (ibid.).

Themes

RedemptionMosesAnimalsPriesthoodEgypt

Biblical References

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