שמות ז ,יב: וַיַשְלִיכוּ אִיש מַטֵהוּ וַיִהְיוּ לְתַנִינִם וַיִבְלַע מַטֵה־אַהֲרֹן אֶת־מַטֹתָם:
The Baal HaTurim comments that the word מאתם appears again in the episode of Korach (17:21) "and Aharon's staff among their staffs (besoch Matosom)". He cites a Medrash which relates that there, just like here, Aharon's staff swallowed the staffs of all the other tribes while it was in the Ohel Moed, and that this was the reason that they did not blossom. And it was when they retrieved Aharon's staff from the Ohel Moed that it spat them out. That is why, when the Torah writes "and Moshe took out all the sticks (kol hamatos), the word "haMatos" is written without a 'Vav', since it was really only Aharon's staff that he retrieved. This is why their staves were unable to blossom.
More in this printout
- The Ten PlaguesAn exploration of the Ten Plagues through various commentaries including Rashi, the Malbim, and the Alshich, plus a story of refuting a blood libel in Russia.
- Concept of FourAn exploration of the significance of the number four in the Passover Seder, including the four cups, expressions of redemption, and the four sons.
- Paroh’s ResponseAn analysis of Pharaoh's response to Hashem, exploring how his attempts to subvert Divine decrees through persecution only hastened Egypt's downfall and punishm
- GoshenAn overview of the name Goshen in Tanakh, exploring its dual identification as the Egyptian settlement of the Israelites and a distinct region in Southern Israe
- Take for YourselfA fascinating story about the succession of the Tzemach Tzedek as the third Chabad Rebbe and a deep discourse by the Ruzhiner Rebbe on the meaning of G-d's name
- The Pharaoh and the KingExplore the linguistic and historical distinctions between the titles Pharaoh and Melech Mitzrayim, including insights from Rashi, Ibn Ezra, and Sefer HaYashar.
- Issues in the Language of HaMotzi and HaGefenAn analysis of the halachic nuances in the blessings of HaMotzi and HaGefen, exploring the linguistic reasons for specific formulas and their scriptural origins
- Four Expressions of GeulahAn exploration of the four expressions of Geulah in Parshat Shemot, explaining why the Yerushalmi views them as distinct stages of redemption requiring four cup
- Hard Labor Ended on Rosh HashanaAn exploration of the Talmudic teaching that the Jewish people's hard labor in Egypt ceased on Rosh Hashana, marking the beginning of the redemption process.
- Insights on the Plagues and RedemptionAn exploration of the Ten Plagues and the Four Cups of wine, offering insights into Paroh's hardened heart, the plague of lice, and the significance of Dever.