These aren't mistakes. They're invitations to delve deeper, to wrestle with the text and uncover hidden layers of meaning.
Consider this: In (Hosea 2:1), we read about the children of Israel being like the sand of the sea, "which cannot be measured and cannot be counted." But the verse begins by talking about a number – a mispar in Hebrew. So, are they countable or uncountable? What's going on here?
Rabbi Berekhya HaKohen (a priest) the Great offers a beautiful explanation in Bamidbar Rabbah. He suggests that just as Moses, the sofer (scribe), spoke of them in the Torah, Hosea entreated on their behalf. He connected this to (Deuteronomy 7:14), "You will be blessed more than all peoples." The idea is that the verse uses both images – number and uncountability – to convey different aspects of Israel's destiny.
The text goes on to say that Israel is likened to both dust and stars. In this world, we are like dust. The Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) points out that dust is made for trampling. Sadly, throughout history, Israel has often been "made for trampling by all the nations of the world," as it says in II (Kings 13:7).
But there's another side to the dust analogy. The Midrash reminds us that without dust, there are no trees or grain. Similarly, without Israel, the world cannot exist. As (Genesis 22:18) states, "All the nations of the earth shall bless themselves by your descendants." So, even in our "dust-like" state, we are essential.
And what about the future? In messianic times, we are likened to the sand of the sea. The text notes that sand can damage one’s teeth. Similarly, in the future, Israel will "eliminate all the nations," as (Numbers 24:19) and (Ezekiel 25:14) suggest. This isn't about physical destruction, but about the triumph of kedushah (holiness), of holiness.
Why sand, specifically? The Midrash offers another powerful image: Sand can be placed in fire and emerge as something new – glass vessels. Similarly, Israel enters into trials and tribulations – metaphorical fire – and emerges alive. (Daniel 3:26), the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is a perfect example. Even in the future, when the nations of the world enter Gehenna (hell), Israel will emerge in peace, as (Isaiah 43:2) promises: "When you walk into fire, you will not be burned."
Regarding the future, Israel is also likened to the stars. Just as the stars shine in the firmament, so too will Israel shine in the future, as (Daniel 12:3) says: "The wise will shine like the radiance of the firmament, and those who lead the multitudes to righteousness, like the stars, for ever and ever."
But why not the sun or the moon? The Midrash draws a connection to the patriarchs. Abraham is likened to the sun, Isaac to the moon, and Jacob to the stars. In the future, (Isaiah 24:23) tells us, "The moon will be disgraced and the sun will be ashamed," but the stars will not be ashamed. Why? Because Abraham and Isaac will be embarrassed by the actions of some of their descendants (Ishmael, Esau, etc.), but Jacob, whose children were all righteous, will have no shame. As (Isaiah 29:22) assures us, "Not now will Jacob be ashamed, not now will his face pale."
The stars also offer other lessons. They accord honor to one another and live in peace. So, too, should the righteous love one another. The stars only dominate at night, just as Israel often finds itself in a position of strength during times of darkness. And just as a single star can seem capable of burning the entire world, so too are the righteous powerful, like Elijah, whose words brought down fire from heaven (II (Kings 1:1)0).
So, what does this all mean? It means that we, the children of Israel, are complex and multifaceted. We are both dust and stars, both countable and uncountable. We are a people destined for greatness, but also tested by fire. And through it all, we endure, we learn, and we shine.
Another matter, “the number [mispar] of the children of Israel will be [like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured and cannot be counted]”30There is an apparent contradiction. The beginning of the verse refers to a number, yet the continuation states that they cannot be counted, in which case there would be no number. – Rabbi Berekhya HaKohen the Great said: “The mispar…will be,” just as the scribe [sofer]31Moses. spoke of them in the Torah [kemesaper haTorah] he [Hosea] entreated on their behalf: “You will be blessed more than all peoples” (Deuteronomy 7:14). That is, “the number of the children of Israel will be like the sand of the sea.” It likened them to dust and it likened them to the stars. In this world they are likened to dust; just as the dust of the earth is made for trampling by all mankind, so Israel is made for trampling by all the nations of the world, as it is stated: “[The king of Aram] had destroyed them, and he rendered them like dust to be trampled” (II Kings 13:7). Alternatively, the dust of the earth; if it is not present, man cannot exist. If there is no dust there are no trees and there is no grain. So, if there is no Israel, the world cannot exist, as it is stated: “All the nations of the earth shall bless themselves by your descendants” (Genesis 22:18). In this world, they are likened to dust. In messianic times, they are likened to the sand of the sea. Just as sand typically damages one’s teeth, likewise in messianic times, Israel will eliminate all the nations, as it is stated: “One from Jacob will rule [and destroy the remnant from the city]” (Numbers 24:19), and it is written: “I will set My vengeance upon Edom by means of My people Israel” (Ezekiel 25:14). Another matter, why did it liken them to sand? Just as sand, if a person takes a handful from it and adds it to dough or to a cooked item, no person can taste it because it damages his teeth, so are Israel; anyone who plunders them or robs them in this world, he damages his teeth in the future. Why? It is because it [Israel] is sacred, as it is stated: “Israel is sacred to the Lord, the first of His crop; all its devourers will be guilty, evil will come upon them, the utterance of the Lord” (Jeremiah 2:3), and anyone who touches sacred items incurs liability to be put to death. Another matter, “like the sand of the sea,”; just as typically a person places sand into the fire and takes it out as chunks, and they craft glass vessels from it, so Israel enter into the fire and emerge alive, as it is stated: “[Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the gate of the burning fiery furnace and called:]…servants of God Most High, emerge and come” (Daniel 3:26). In the future, too, they enter Gehenna and the nations of the world enter there. They [the nations of the world] enter there and will perish, and Israel emerges from there in peace, as it is stated: “When you walk into fire, you will not be burned” (Isaiah 43:2). Why? “For I am the Lord your God, supporting your right, [who says to you: Do not fear, I will help you]” (Isaiah 41:13). That is why it is likened to sand. Regarding the future, it likened them to the stars; just as the stars shine in the entire firmament, so they will shine in the future, as it is stated: “The wise will shine like the radiance of the firmament, and those who lead the multitudes to righteousness, like the stars, for ever and ever” (Daniel 12:3). Why were they likened neither to the sun nor to the moon? It is, rather, Abraham is likened to the sun, Isaac is likened to the moon, and Jacob to the stars. In the future, the sun and the moon will be ashamed, as it is stated: “The moon will be disgraced and the sun will be ashamed, for the Lord of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem and glory shall be before His elders” (Isaiah 24:23), but the stars will not be ashamed. So, Abraham and Isaac, their faces will turn pale32They will be embarrassed. in the future due to their sons; Abraham, due to Ishmael and the sons of Ketura, Isaac, due to Esau and his chieftains. But the stars have no shame, so Jacob has no shame, as he will not be ashamed, as it is stated: “Not now will Jacob be ashamed, not now will his face pale” (Isaiah 29:22). Why? “For upon his seeing his children, My handiwork” (Isaiah 29:23) that they are all righteous; “All of you is fair, my love” (Song of Songs 4:7). Another matter, just as the stars accord honor to one another, and there is peace between them, as it is stated: “He makes peace in His heights” (Job 25:2), so the righteous love one another. Just as the stars do not quarrel with one another, so it is with the righteous. Another matter, just as the stars dominate only at night, so Israel dominates only at night33Most of their Torah study is at night. due to the yoke of the kingdom. Another matter, just as the stars, one is capable of burning the entire world, so it is with the righteous, like Elijah, that fire descended at his word, as it is stated: “If I am a man of God, let fire descend from the heavens and consume you and your fifty. Fire descended from the heavens, and consumed him and his fifty” (II Kings 1:10).
