Literary Devices – Bemidbar 17

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Allusions

Bemidbar 17:10 is almost linguistically identical to 16:21-22, perhaps intentionally alluding to the previous verse: 

  • הִבָּדְלוּ מִתּוֹךְ הָעֵדָה הַזֹּאת וַאֲכַלֶּה אֹתָם כְּרָגַע וַיִּפְּלוּ עַל פְּנֵיהֶם (Bemidbar 16)
  • הֵרֹמּוּ מִתּוֹךְ הָעֵדָה הַזֹּאת וַאֲכַלֶּה אֹתָם כְּרָגַע וַיִּפְּלוּ עַל פְּנֵיהֶם (Bemidbar 17)

This parallel equates the rebellion of the nation in Bemidbar 17 with the rebellion of Korach’s congregation in the previous chapter.  The major difference between the two episodes is that in Bemidbar 16 Moshe's "falling on his face" leads to prayer, whereas in Bemidbar 17 it leads to immediate action as he instructs Aharon to stop the plague through bringing incense.1

Repetition

Coming Close

  • The chapter ends with the nation crying: "כֹּל הַקָּרֵב הַקָּרֵב אֶל מִשְׁכַּן י״י יָמוּת", doubling of the word "קרב".
  • Commentators explain the doubling in various ways, with some seeing in it an aesthetic device similar to other cases of poetic repetition,2 others viewing it as a normal feature of biblical grammar,3 and others suggesting that each verb relates to a different action.4
  • Articles – See Two Complaints of the Nation, and the Re-Appointment of Aharon, by Prof. Yonatan Grossman, which suggests that the people’s fear and confusion leads them to stutter and repeat their words in this verse.
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