The Israelites, fresh out of Egypt and sustained by miraculous manna in the desert, certainly did. And their grumbling, as recorded in Sifrei Bamidbar, offers a fascinating glimpse into human nature and divine response.
"(Bamidbar/Numbers 11:6) "And now, our souls are dry. There is nothing": R. Shimon said: They said: It (the manna) will burst our bowels. Can a mortal ingest and not expel!" They were literally being fed from heaven, yet they complained! They claimed the manna, this divine sustenance, would cause them internal distress. Can you imagine? But R. Shimon offers a counter-argument, pointing to (Deuteronomy 23:14) about having a spade for covering excrement. He suggests that what they expelled was what they had acquired from Canaanite merchants, not the manna itself. As it says in (Psalms 78:25), they "ate the bread of abirim"—bread that was absorbed in the eivarim, the limbs.
Then comes this intriguing passage: "Only to the manna is our eyes. (7) The manna was (round) like coriander seed, and it looked like crystal." It sounds like a contradiction, doesn't it? Are they complaining about the manna or describing its beauty? The text tackles this head-on.
The passage in Sifrei Bamidbar cleverly asks if the same people who said, "Only to the manna is our eyes," also described its coriander-like appearance. The answer? No! It suggests a split narrative. The Israelites grumbled, "Only to the manna is our eyes," expressing their discontent. But then, the text says, the Lord "pacified" future generations, saying, "Come and see what they are grumbling to Me about—"The manna was like coriander seed—it looked like crystal!" connecting it to the precious materials described in (Genesis 2:12), "And the gold of that land is good. There is the crystal and the onyx stone."
This is a classic example of what's sometimes called a "split referent" in biblical interpretation – where different speakers are implied within the same passage. The text goes on to give similar examples, highlighting how we need to be careful to understand who is speaking and what their intention is.
Take the example of Judah and Tamar in (Genesis 38:25), or the story of Sisera's mother in (Judges 5:28-31), or even the Philistines' reaction to the Ark in (1 Samuel 4:8). In each case, the text highlights how different voices contribute to the overall narrative, sometimes expressing opposing viewpoints or intentions. It challenges us to listen closely and discern the nuances of each voice.
It’s a reminder that even within a single narrative, there can be multiple perspectives and hidden depths. The Sifrei Bamidbar uses these examples to illustrate a crucial point: Don't take things at face value. Dig deeper. Consider the context. Who is speaking? What is their motivation?
The text even recounts a rather graphic story about the Philistines being afflicted with hemorrhoids because of their arrogance, thinking God had run out of plagues. Their punishment was… well, let's just say it involved mice and internal organs. It’s a stark reminder that arrogance and ingratitude have consequences.
Then there’s the story of Boaz and Ruth. The yetzer hara, the evil inclination, tempts Boaz, but he resists, swearing an oath. It's another example of inner turmoil and the struggle to do what's right.
The passage circles back to the manna. Just as with the other examples, we're asked to consider the different voices at play. The Israelites complain, but God responds by highlighting the manna's beauty and value. It's a powerful reminder that even in our moments of doubt and complaint, there is still beauty and blessing to be found.
What does this all mean for us? Perhaps it's a call to cultivate gratitude, even in the face of challenges. To recognize the blessings in our lives, even when we're tempted to focus on what's lacking. And to listen carefully to the different voices within ourselves and in the world around us, striving to discern truth and meaning in the midst of complexity. Because, like the manna itself, life is often more nuanced and multifaceted than it appears at first glance.
(Bamidbar 11:6) "And now, our souls are dry. There is nothing": R. Shimon said: They said: It (the manna) will burst our bowels. Can a mortal ingest and not expel! They said to R. Shimon: And how do you explain (Devarim 23:14) "And you shall have a spade along with your other implements" (to cover your excrement)? He answered: What the Canaanite merchants sold them they expelled, but the manna, never. As it is written (Psalms 78:25) "Man ate the bread of abirim" — (bread) which was absorbed in the eivarim (the limbs). "Only to the manna is our eyes. (7) The manna was (round) like coriander seed, and it looked like crystal.": You think that he who said this ("Only to the manna, etc.") said that ("The manna was round, etc."?) This is not so. Israel said "Only to the manna is our eyes," and the L-rd "pacified" all future generations and said to them: Come and see what they are grumbling to Me about — "The manna was like coriander seed — it looked like crystal!" viz. (Bereshit 2:12) "And the gold of that land is good. There is the crystal and the onyx stone." Similarly, (i.e., another instance of "split referrent") (Ibid. 38:25) "And Judah recognized (them) and said: 'She is right. It is by me'" (that she is with child). And Scripture (and not Judah) states that "he did not live with her again." Similarly, (Devarim 25:18) "and you (Israel) were faint and weary," "and (he, Amalek) did not fear G-d." Similarly, (Judges 5:28) "Why is his (Sisra's) chariot delayed in coming?" — This was stated by Sisra's mother, (29) "The wisest of her ladies answer her, etc." — This was said by his wife and her daughters-in-law. (Ibid.) "She, too, returns her words to her" — there was revealed to her what was said to Devorah by the Holy Spirit — Don't wait any longer for Sisra. (Ibid. 31) "So will all of Your foes go lost, O L-rd." Similarly, (I Samuel 4:8) "Woe to us! Who will save us from the hand of this mighty G-d" — This was stated by the righteous (among them). But the wicked said: "This is the G-d who smote the Egyptians with every plague in the desert." Their intent was: He had only ten plagues (in His arsenal) and He brought them all on the Egyptians — He has no plagues left. The L-rd responded: You say I have no plague left? I will bring upon you a plague the like of which the world has never seen. One of you will be sitting (and defecating) and a mouse will rise from the depths and will scoop out his innards and return to the depths! And thus is it written (Ibid. 5:6) "And the hand of the L-rd was heavy against the Ashdodites … and He struck them with hemorrhoids." Similarly, (Jeremiah 26:16-25) "Then the officers and all the people said to the Cohanim: … This man (Jeremiah) does not deserve to die … And there arose men of the elders of the land and they said to the entire assemblage of the people: Michah the Monashite prophesied … Did Chizkiyahu king of Judah put him to death? …" Until here, the words of the righteous. But the wicked among them said: "There was also a man who prophesied in the name of the L-rd, Uriah the son of Shemayahu … And King Yehoyakim heard … and the king wanted to put him to death…. And King Yehoyakim sent men to Egypt … and they took Uriah out of Egypt …" They said: Just as Uriah was killed, so Jeremiah must be killed. "But Achiram son of Shafan protected Jeremiah not to hand him over to the people to be put to death." Similarly, (Ruth 2:13) "As the L-rd lives, lie (here) until the morning." Because the yetzer hara (the evil inclination) sat and aggrieved him (Boaz) the whole night, saying: You are single and need a wife, and she (Ruth) is single and needs a husband, and you know that a woman is acquired (as a wife) by intercourse — Arise and live with her and let her be your wife — he swore to his yetzer hara "As the L-rd lives," I will not touch her. And to the woman he said: "Lie (here) until the morning." Here, too, "Only to the manna is our eyes." Do you think that he who said this said that ("The manna was like coriander seed, etc.")? (No!) Israel said "Only to the manna is our eyes!" and the L-rd "pacified" and said to them: Come and see about what they are railing against Me: "The manna was like coriander seed and it looked like crystal," viz. (Bereshit 2:12) "The gold of that land is good. There is crystal and the shoham stone."
