“מי מנה עפר יעקב ומספר את רבע ישראל ”
“Who has counted the dust of Yaakov or numbered a quarter of Yisrael.” (BaMidbar 23,10)
Rashi
Understood the way Onkelos translates it – Who can count Klal Yisrael, of whom it has been said that they shall be as numerous as the dust of the earth (Bereishis 13:16).
Rashi (2)
“עפר יעקב” implies that there can be no calculation of the commandment which Klal Yisrael fulfills with dust. Some examples of Mitzvos which they fulfill with dust are: not plowing a field with an ox and a donkey together, not planting Kilayim (mixed seeds), ashes of a cow, and the dust of the Sotah.
ילקוט שמעוני
Come and see how many Mitzvos Klal Yisrael perform with dirt. Shir Hashirim 4:3 “כפלח הרמון רקתך מבעד לצמתך” – “As many as a pomegranate’s seeds are the merits of your unworthiest within your modest veil.” The lowest of Klal Yisrael are replete with Mitzvos like a pomegranate – meaning that they are many just as a pomegranate has many seeds. Shir Hashirim 7:6 “ראשך עליך ככרמל” – “The G-dly name on your head is as mighty as Carmel.” Hakodosh Boruch Hu praises the lowest in Klal Yisrael as equal with Eliyahu Hanavi who went up on Har HaCarmel.
קרן לדוד
There are five parts of every Nefesh of Yisrael: נפש, רוח, נשמה, חיה, יחידה. The נפש is the lowest part of the five, and is from the Olam Ha’asiyah, which is represented by “עפר ”. “מי מנה עפר יעקב ” – Who can count the Nefashos of Klal Yisrael; “ומספר רבע ישראל” – and the count of the other four parts of the Neshama, the higher levels.
מלבים
What is the difference between “ספר ”, and “מנה” – both seem to mean counting? “ספר ” means counting that which can be counted, such as the stars. “מנה ” means counting that which cannot really be counted, such as the dust of the ground. If one were to count the stars, he may know how many there are, and would know by another counting if there were any missing. The dust of the earth cannot be counted, for it is too numerous. While the stars in theory can be counted, practically speaking they cannot be counted, for each star is its own world. Klal Yisrael, as well, are like the dirt, in that they cannot be counted. Moreover, they are like the stars, where each and every Yid is a complete world and cannot be counted among others.
בעל שם טוב
Why are the Jews likened to the dust of the earth? Within the earth there are great hidden treasures, most of which have not been discovered. In addition, simple earth is so great for all the creatures of land depend on it for their sustenance. However, in order to uncover these great treasures, one must labor and toil. One must dig deep, plow, plant seeds, etc. Every Jew has within wonderful and numerous treasures (faith, love and awe, etc.) but one must work hard to uncover them.
מדרש הגדו ל
The “עפר” is a Remez to the Bris Milah which Klal Yisrael performed with dirt. When they perform a Bris Milah, they take the cut off foreskin and blood, and cover it with dirt. Bilam saw that the entire Midbar was filed with blood from Bris Milah which were performed by Klal Yisrael. Bilam said that no one can stand against the Zechus of the blood of the Milah that Klal Yisrael covered in dirt.
ביאור יונתן
When Bilam saw that even the sinners of Klal Yisrael would take the foreskins from the Bris Milah and bury it in the ground, he said, “Who will be able to go up against the great Zechuyos of Klal Yisrael.” It is from here that the Chachomim were Mesaken to cover the foreskin and the blood of the Bris Milah in the ground.
חתן סופר
Bilam saw the greatness of Klal Yisrael. Even if they fall all the way to the “עפר”, they never need to despair from Rachamim from the Ribbono Shel Olam. “מי מנה ” – Who can count the Gematria of “עפר” which is the same as “קרן” –representing the greatness of Klal Yisrael. Klal Yisrael need to make themselves like the “עפר ” and this will raise them to the greatest heights.
זהר All Tzaddikim see themselves as “עפר ”.
באר משה
“מנה” is an unimportant counting, while “מספר ” is an important counting. “Yaakov” is the name representing a lower level of Klal Yisrael, while “Yisrael” is the name representing a higher level of Klal Yisrael. There are four types of people amongst Klal Yisrael. There are those who have Torah and Ma’asim Tovim, those with Torah without Ma’asim Tovim, those without Torah but with Ma’asim Tovim, and those that do not have Torah or Ma’asim Tovim (Vayikra Rabbah 30). When Klal Yisrael are counted individually, it is a counting on a lower level – one of Yaakov, a “מנה” counting. However, when all four groups are as one, “ומספר רבע ישראל” – as Targum explains that it means four, all four groups of Klal Yisrael together with Achdus, then they are on the Madreiga of Yisrael, a “מספר” counting.
זרע ברך
There are times that we say that Klal Yisrael can be counted and are the smallest of the nations (Devarim 7:7). Then there are times we say that Klal Yisrael cannot be counted for they are so numerous (Hoshea 2:1). Can they be counted or not? Brochos 18a – Tzaddikim are called among the living even when they are dead. When looking at what is actually living – Klal Yisrael is indeed a small nation. When it says that Klal Yisrael is so great in number, like the stars, that includes the Tzaddikim of all the generations all the way back to Avrohom Avinu, all of whom are still “living”, which makes Klal Yisrael truly great in number.
פני דוד
This Posuk is saying that who knows the calculation of Golus for Yisrael, when they are “עפר”. They are perceived to all of the nations of the world as “יעקב”, as the dust of the earth. However, there will come a time when they will be raised above all, and will be known by the name “ישראל”.
מדרש הבאו ר
Klal Yisrael are like “עפר”. Just as the ground sprouts food, which provides sustenance and life to the entire world, so too Klal Yisrael, in the Zechus of their heeding the Mitzvos of the Torah, they infuse life into the world.
בן איש חי
Klal Yisrael bring seventy Korbonos during the Yom Tov of Sukkos for each of the seventy nations of the world. “מי מנה” – Who can count; “עפר” the effect of the “ע' פר” – “seventy bulls” which Klal Yisrael bring as Korbonos for the seventy nations of the world.
ילקוט שמעוני
Who can count the reward of Klal Yisrael? They wear Shabbos and Yom Tov clothing and get themselves dirty with “עפר” going to hear Divrei Torah from the elders.
Every people display their uniqueness in their special appearance (their clothing, their demeanor, their philosophy, etc.). However, when their special means of appearance become splatter with dust and squashed in the dirt, their clothes are not usable and as a nation they are unable to resume their place in society (nations fall and their uniqueness is lost to history). However, the Jews are different. If they have dust in their stiemel or it falls to the ground or their do somersaults for joy on Simchas Torah, they pick up their hats and dust it off and continue to wear it. The Jews have been subjected to the dirt of the earth throughout history and continue to exist. Our wisdom is dusted off by each generation and continued to be revered by all.
בן איש חי
What is to be learned from this Medrash is that we must go above and beyond for the Ribbono Shel Olam, and for the Torah Hakdosha. If one performs his obligation, he is not demonstrating love. However, if one goes above and beyond the call of duty that shows love and dedication. The Medrash is teaching us that Klal Yisrael are ready to get themselves dirty with “עפר”, dirt – to go above and beyond their obligations to demonstrate their true love for Hakodesh Boruch Hu and the Torah Hakdosha.
From Bilam’s blessings we can tell what he intended to curse (סנהדרין קה)
BILAM SOUGHT ACTUAL BLESSINGS
- Should not be synagogues and study halls מה טבו אהליך יעקב
- Shechina should not rest on the Jews משכנותך ישראל
- Kingship should not be endured (unlike a stream) כנחלים נטיו
- Should not have olive and grape fields כגנות עלי נהר
- Their fragrance (Mitzvos) should not last כאהלים נטע ה'
- The Jewish Kings should not have stature כארזים עלי מים
- Should not have family succession to the Kingship יזל מים מדליו
- The Kingdom should not conquer other nations וזרעו במים רבים
- The Kingdom should not be strong וירם מאגג מלכו
- The Kingdom should not inspire fear ותנשא מלכותו
