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PARSHAT BEHA'ALOTCHA SETTING MOSHE RABBEINU STRAIGHT The end of this week's parsha recounts how Miriam tried to correct her younger brother, Moshe, and help set his relationship with his wife straight. "And Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moshe…(Bamidbar 12:1). Although she had the best of intentions: to alleviate the injustice inflicted upon Moshe's wife, nevertheless, her words of sisterly advice were considered lashon hara (evil speech) and she was punished with the plague of leprosy. (Bamidbar 12:10) The fate of Miriam is included in the six remembrances, which we are supposed to recall every day. Why is only Miriam punished when also Aaron spoke together with her? Rashi explains, that Miriam opened the conversation, this is why her name is mentioned first. As the initiator, she had more responsibility for the act. THE CUSHITE WOMAN: BLACK AND BEAUTIFUL? "…because of the Cushite woman, whom he had married,
for he had married a Cushite woman" (Ibid.) Why is Moshe's
wife called the Cushite woman? According to Rashbam, the Cushite
woman is a black woman descended from Cham. When Moshe reigned over
the land of Cush for forty years, he married the queen without consummating
the marriage. Consequently, Miriam and Aaron criticized him for
marrying this Canaanite woman. Eben Ezra agrees that the Cushite
woman is black, but explains that it refers to Zippora. Although
she was from Midian rather than Cush, her skin was black from the
abundant sunlight there. Miriam and Aaron suspected that Moshe refrained
from living with Zippora because she was homely. Rashi associates
the Cushite woman with Zippora on opposite grounds. Scripture calls
her black to imply that all agreed as to her beauty, just as all
agree as to the blackness of an Ethiopian. Moreover, the numerical
value of "Cushite" is the same as that of "yafat
mareh" (beautiful of appearance). Another reason Rashi gives
is that on account of her beauty, she was called "The Ethiopian,"
just as a man calls his handsome son "black" in order
that the evil eye should have no power over him. However, if the
Cushite woman refers to Zippora, it is not clear why the verse has
to inform us, "for he had married a Cushite woman," since
we already know that he has married Zippora. Furthermore, regardless
of why Zippora was given the title, "The Cushite Woman",
the question still remains as to what fault Miriam and Aaron find
in the relationship between Moshe and his wife? For the complete dvar Torah, please send email to berot@netvision.net.il. *******~~~~~*******~~~~~*******~~~~~*******~~~~~*******~~~~~******* |
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