Texts in Conversation
Numbers 11 describes Moses asking not to see “my wretchedness,” which is traditionally listed among the “tiqqun soferim,” or scribal corrections. The original Hebrew may have said “their wretchedness,” changed to avoid a negative description of Israel, or “your wretchedness,” changed to prevent attributing evil to God.
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Numbers 11:15
Hebrew Bible
14 I am not able to bear this entire people alone, because it is too heavy for me! 15 But if you are going to deal with me like this, then kill me immediately. If I have found favor in your sight then do not let me see my trouble.” 16 The Lord said to Moses, “Gather to me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know are elders of the people and officials over them, and bring them to the tent of meeting; let them take their position there with you.
Date: 5th Century B.C.E. (Final composition) (based on scholarly estimates)
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Onkelos Numbers 11:15
Targum
14 I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. 15 And if Thou do thus with me, kill me, I pray, if I have found mercy before Thee, that I may not see my wretchedness. 16 And the Lord said to Mosheh, Gather unto Me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be elders of the people, and the overseers thereof, and bring them to the tabernacle of ordinance, and let them stand there with thee;
Date: 100-200 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... Why did the Torah write “my wretchedness” when what Moses did not want to see was the wretchedness of the complaining Israelites? This is one of the times that the sages changed the original Torah reading – which read “their wretchedness” – to avoid referring to the people in a harsh manner. This concept is called in Hebrew tikkunei soferim, “emendations of the sages,” and is discussed in Mekhilta Beshalach 10 and Tanchuma Beshalach 16 (Rashi). Ibn Ezra insists that no such emendation is necessary since Moses is referring to his own feelings of wretchedness. Although Ibn Ezra does not state this outright, he obviously understood “see” as a commonly used figure of speech for “feel,” and it is obvious that the Torah is not trying to hide the people’s improper behavior ..."
Drazin, Israel, and Stanley M. Wagner
Onkelos on the Torah, Numbers: Understanding the Bible Text
(pp. 100-101) Gefen, 2006
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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