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Ramban on Numbers 16:15

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15 ‎[1] RESPECT NOT THOU ‘MINCHATHAM’ (THEIR OFFERING). “According to its plain sense [the meaning of ‘their offering’ is] ‘the incense which they will offer up before You tomorrow — do not turn to it.’ The Midrashic explanation is that Moses said: ‘I know that they have a portion in the Daily Whole-offerings of the congregation; let not [their part in it] be accepted before You favorably.’” This is Rashi’s language. But it does not seem to me to be correct that it is referring to the incense, because it was with reference to Dathan and Abiram that Moses said this, because he became angered by their words, and they were not amongst the company who gathered together to burn the incense. But the plain meaning [of the verse] is that because these people wanted the priesthood, to be able to perform the service of the offerings, Moses said: “*Respect not Thou their offering*, meaning: respect not the offering which they want to bring before You, nor the prayer which they will pray unto You,” for all offerings, including prayer, are called *minchah* (offering) in Scripture. Onkelos also rendered [*minchatham*] as *kurbanhon* (their offering), meaning “anything that they will offer before You.”

‎[2] I HAVE NOT TAKEN ONE ASS FROM THEM. The meaning thereof is that Moses said: “What lordship am I exercising over them, for I have never taken from them even one ass to do my work, as is the manner of kings and princes?” For this is *the manner of the kingdom*, as it is written, *and he will take your asses, and put them to his work*. This is the meaning of Onkelos’ rendition: [“I have not taken one ass from them] *sh’chorith* (as a levy),” for [in Aramaic] the king’s levy is called *shichvur*. Thus Moses mentioned the smallest incident amongst the laws of royalty, and then he said, *Neither have I hurt one of them* by appointing him to my chariot or to do my work, as is befitting for a king, or by perverting his judgment [in a lawsuit] or by treating him with disrespect, for [the phrase “hurting” in *neither have I ‘hurt’ one of them*] includes all kinds of injustice.

Version Info

Version: Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976

Source: https://www.nli.org.il/he/books/NNL_ALEPH002108945/NLI

License: CC-BY

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