Moshe’s Response to HaShem

במדבר פרק יא, כא וַיֹאמֶׁר משֶׁה שֵש-מֵאוֹת אֶׁלֶׁף רַגְלִּי הָעָם אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִּי בְקִּרְ בוֹ וְאַתָה אָמַרְ תָ בָשָר אֶׁתֵן לָהֶׁם וְאָכְלוּ חֹדֶׁש יָמִּים:

“Moshe said, ‘It is a people of six hundred thousand on foot whom I am among and You are saying that I should give them meat to eat for a whole month?’”

What is the nature of Moshe’s response to HaShem?

Rabbi Akiva*Everything in its literal meaning; Moshe inquires how he is going to find the means to feed everyone for a month.Rabbi Shimeon*The Tzadik could not be questioning the abilities of HaShem; rather he is inquiring if they are going to continue to rebel, why are we feeding them if the eventual outcome is for them to be punished with death.OnkelusAll were able to walk; they were not weak or sick or in need of an animal to carry them. However, since they traveled by foot, then needed a large amount of provisions.RambanMoshe knew that the meat would be through a miracle (like the Mahn) but in a natural format; thus, he inquired as to the method of feeding the Jews by natural format.Rabenu BachayeThe Jews at this point are not worthy of a miracle; so how would he feed the Jews by natural means?Paneach RazaImplication was to prepare enough meat in one day to last thirty days; how would Moshe physically gather and Schecht such a large amount in one day (especially since only three Cohanim)?SefarnoHow does the supplying of meat address the complaint, since they are only testing HaShem and are not going to be convinced by any response?Ohr HaChaimMoshe inquired that everyone wants a different type of meat and cooked differently (How can Moshe run a restaurant for 600,000 fulfilling everyone’s individual request?)Sotah 12bרגלי – בשבילי (Moshe says) for my sake were the 600,000 Jews saved (once Moshe was saved from the water, the Jews were released from all the decrees of Paroh).Lubavitcher RebbeAs if to say “I am also among the Jews, and anyway how praiseworthy is it that You will give them meat if, in the end, this causes them harm?” The Jews are like the “feet of Moshe.” The feet in the physical body leads the head to where it cannot go by itself. So the Jews have the ability to take Moshe to levels where he could not achieve by himself (in spite of his own exalted level).

* Sifrei (cited by Rashi in the Chumash) – see Four Drashos on the next page