Eldad & Meidad Prove That Greatness And Stature Are Not Related
Moshe Rabbeinu tells Hashem that he cannot lead Bnei Yisroel alone. Hashem tells Moshe to gather 70 zekeinim in front of the Mishkan. Hashem then gives these zekeinim the Ruach of Moshe Rabbeinu. Eldad and Meidad are not included in this group, but they also get this Ruach and start saying Nevuah in the Machaneh. Rav Shamshon Refoel Hirsh says that we learn from here that being appointed to an important position is not connected in any way to advancing in Kedusha. If a person is worthy of Ruach HaKodesh he will receive it whether he is officially a Rov, Rosh Yeshiva, or a simple Jew lacking any formal position. Eldad and Meidad were great men who were worthy of being one of the zekeinim. Their exclusion from this elite group did not in any way diminish their ability to reach great level of Dveykus B’ashem.
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A Family Tradition of Excellence
Hashem tells Moshe Rabbeinu to designate Shevet Levi for Avodah in the Bais HaMikdash. The pasuk (Bahaloscha 8:19) then says, “ולא יהיה בבני ישראל נגף
בגשת בני ישראל אל הקודש “, so that a death will not spread when the Bnei Yisroel approaches the Mishkan. Rabbeinu Bachaye and other Meforshim explain that the Levi’im will act as guards not allowing Bnei Yisroel to come too close, because a Zar who comes close will die.
The Chizkuni takes a unique approach in explaining this pasuk. He says that before Levi was designated as the overseers of the Avodas HaMishkan, the natural choice was the Bechorim. However, says the Chizkuni, that presents a problem. Since a bechor can be the son of a non-bechor and the grandson of a non-bechor, he would have no family tradition regarding the avodah. This can cause him to do the avodah in an improper way that would make him liable to death.
Because of this, Hashem in His mercy, designated a Shevet to be in charge of the avodah so that they would have a long and rich tradition of avodah, ingraining it in their family genes for generations, thus saving many casualties in this highly sensitive and dangerous workplace!
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One Word Could Have Silenced Eldad And Meidad
The Gemara in Megila 18b says, “Mila B’Sela Shtikusa B’Trein,” if each word a person uttered would cost one coin then silence would cost two coins. The Vilna Gaon plays on these words to explain the story of Eldad and Meidad who Chazal say were prophesizing that Moshe would die, and Yehoshua would take Bnei Yisrael into Eretz Yisrael. Moshe was barred from entering Eretz Yisrael because he hit the rock at Mei Meriva rather than talk to it. The Vilna Gaon explains that the word Sela also means rock in addition to coin. “Mila B’Sela,” had Moshe said one word to the Sela as opposed to hitting it, “Shtikusa B’Trein,” he would have silenced two, both Eldad and Meidad who said he would not enter Eretz Yisroel.
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Rioting Over Food?
After travelling a few days in the midbar, certain elements of Bnei Yisrael got a craving for meat and complained to Moshe. Moshe spoke to Hashem and Hashem sends them an abundance of meat with which they stuff themselves with and die. However, right in middle of this narrative, Hashem tells Moshe to gather seventy men whom Hashem will grace with the spirit of Moshe. Why do these pasukim interrupt right in middle of this seemingly non related story? Rav Shamshom Rephael Hirsch answers that Bnei Yisrael were complaining about their physical conditions and their hunger for materialism. To this Hashem told Moshe that it is not meat that they lack that is causing them to revolt, it is their lack of spirituality. They feel empty but don’t understand the true cause. Gather seventy representatives and feed their starving souls with Torah and Mitzvos. Then their appetites will be satiated with the true pleasure of dveykus in Hashem and they will no longer riot over food.

Two Explanations For Moshe’s Shocking Question
After Bnei Yiroel complain about the Man, Hashem tells Moshe that he will send them meat. Moshe Rabbeinu asks Hashem from where can he find enough meat for 600,000 men? Moshe Rabbeinu of all people, was doubting that Hashem can bring enough meat?
The Daas Zekeinin answers that we see in the gemara that it was forbidden to eat meat in the Midbar. If someone wanted to eat meat he needed to bring a Koraban Shlamim. and eat the meat that is apportioned to the owner. Moshe’s question was, “How can only three Kohanim (Aharon and his sons) manage to be makriv shelamim for so many people?” As an answer to this, Hashem sent the quail which was permitted to be eaten, since it cannot anyway be brought for a Korban.
The Ramban takes a different approach. He explains that
Hashem only performs a Nes if it is pure Chesed or pure
Din. He brought Man from the sky and water from a rock
out of Chesed. He wiped out Mizrayim with Krias Yam
Suf out of Din. Here Hashem, on one hand will bring
meat, but on the other hand, it will kill those who
complained. This Moshe Rabbeinu knew cannot come through a miracle, only through natural means. His question was,
“How can Hashem bring meat for so many
people in the desert without a miracle?” This is why
Hashem answers, “You will see if My words will happen.”
(Hayikricha from the lashom of “Keri”; happenstance.)
Indeed Hashem brought birds that tasted like meat, and
which flew in without any obvious intervention.

Created By Rov Avrohom Sherman
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