Midrash su Numeri 11:31

R. Tanchum b. R. Chanilai said: "A man should never conduct himself differently from the custom of that place where he abides, for Moses, when he ascended to heaven, did not eat; and the angels of heaven, when they descended to earth, ate and drank." Ate and drank! How can you think so? Say: They appeared as if they were eating and drinking. R. Juda said in the name of Rab: "All that Abraham did for the angels by himself, the Holy One, praised be He! did for his children by Himself, and what Abraham did through a messenger, the Holy One, praised be He! did the same for his children through a messenger; i.e., and Abraham ran unto the herd, hence (Num. 11, 31) and a wind went forth from the Lord. He took cream and milk, hence (Ex. 16, 4) I will let rain for you bread from heaven. And he stood by them, hence (Ex. 17, 6) I will stand before thee. And Abraham went with them, hence (Ex. 13, 21) And the Lord went before them. Let a little water be fetched, hence (Ex. 17, 6) and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come out water from it, and the people shall drink. And Rab differs from R. Chama b. Chanina; for R. Chama b. Chanina said (according to some it was taught in the school of R. Ishmael): "In reward for three things [which Abraham had done] his children merited three things: as reward for the cream and milk they merited the mannah; as reward for that he stood by them under the tree, his children merited the pillar of cloud; and as reward for let a little water, etc., they merited the well of Miriam. Let a little water, I pray you, be brought, and wash you feet. R. Janai b. Ishmael said: "The angels said to Abraham: 'Do you suspect us to be Arabs who bow themselves to the dust of their feet? Thou hast already a son, Ishmael, who is doing so.'"

(16:13) "And it was in the evening that the quail arose" — whence you learn that the quail was given to them with a "darkened countenance." "and it (the quail) covered the camp": I would not know to what extent. It is, therefore, written elsewhere (Numbers 11:31) "and about two cubits deep on the ground." And it was two cubits high above the ground so that a man standing (on the ground) could take it with ease. For (the distance) from his heart down is two cubits, and from his heart up, one cubit. R. Yossi Haglili says: (Ibid.) "And it was spread around the camp about a day's journey on one side and a day's journey on the other side" for a distance of three parasangs on every side, "and about two cubits deep on the ground", and (Psalms 78:28) "and He made them (the quail) fall in the midst of their camp around their dwellings." R. Yoshiyah says (Numbers 11:31) "And He spread them over the camp": three parasangs on each side. And what is the intent of (Ibid.) "about a day's journey on this side and a day's journey on that side"? In height. Three by three, making nine (parasangs on each side). Nine and nine, eighteen (all together.) (And thus on all the sides roundabout the camp, as it is written ) (Ibid.) "and about two cubits deep on the ground" (roundabout the camp.) And it is written "And He made them fall in the midst of the camp around their dwellings." Others say: "And it was spread around the camp about a day's journey, etc.": the average (walking distance per day), ten parasangs. "and a day's journey on that side," making it twenty parasangs (all together). And it is written (Psalms 23:5) "You set a table before me in full view of my foes." I might think (that some of the quail fell) on uneven ground, (hard to come by). It is, therefore, written (Numbers 11:31, lit.,) "on the face of all the ground" — on level ground. One verse (Numbers 11:31) states "around the camp," and another (Psalms 78:28) "around their dwellings." (How are these verses to be reconciled?) It circled each dwelling. R. Eliezer says: "and about two cubits above the earth": the quail were two cubits above the ground, and Israel took them from the top (layer). Come and see how the manna descended for Israel: A north wind would come and "sweep" the desert. Then rain would come and clean the ground, and the dew would rise and the wind would blow on it and make it like golden tables, on which the manna descended. And Israel would eat it, saying: If this is what the L rd provides for those who angered Him (by their caviling), what must be the reward for the tzaddikim in the world to come! (Numbers 11:33) "the flesh was still between their teeth": They said: The "kosher" one among them ate it and became immediately diarrhetic. The wicked one among them ate it and suffered up to thirty days, viz. (Ibid.) "and the wrath of the L rd burned against them … an extremely sore plague." (Ibid. 35) "And the people journeyed from Chatzeiroth and they abode in Chatzeiroth": Now did they journey from Chatzeiroth and abide there? We are hereby apprised that they journeyed back for the sake of Miriam. (See Ibid. Chapter 12)

Of Abraham it is written (Genesis, Ibid. 7) "And to the herd Abraham ran," and the Holy One Blessed be He flew in quail for his children, as it is written (Numbers 11:31) "And a wind went forth from the land and flew in quail from the sea." Of Abraham it is written (Genesis, Ibid. 4) "And recline under the tree," and the Holy One Blessed be He spread out for his children seven clouds of glory," as it is written (Psalms 105:39) "He spread out a cloud for shelter and a fire to illumine the night." Of Abraham it is written (Genesis, Ibid. 8) "and he stood over them," and the Holy One Blessed be He defended his children in Egypt, that they not be smitten, viz. (Exodus 12:23) "and the L rd will skip over the door, etc."

What is more, I preceded them into the desert as a quartermaster would: And the Lord went before them by day (ibid. 13:21). I lowered the high places for them and raised the valleys, I caused bread to rain down from the heavens and the sea to send up quail, as it is said: And brought across quails from the sea (Num. 11:31). Though they lacked nothing at all, they built the golden calf. I cannot restore the tablets to those idolaters. When he continued to plead, He said: Write thou, that is, I shall give the law to you, as it is said: Let them be thine own, and not a stranger’s with thee (Prov. 5:17); that is, not to the idolaters with you. Because He held Moses in the highest esteem, it is said: Remember ye the law of Moses My servant (Mal. 3:22).

"And he said, "My lords, if only I have found favor in your eyes..." (Bereshit 18:3) R' Chiyah taught: he said this to the greatest of them, Michael. "Please let a little water be taken..." (Bereshit 18:4) R' Eliezer said in the name of R' Simai: the Holy One said to Avraham "you said 'let a little water be taken.' By your life! I will recompense your children in the wilderness, in the settled lands and in the time to come. This is what is written "Then Israel sang this song: "'Ascend, O well,' sing to it!" (Bamidbar 21:17) This is in the wilderness. Where do we learn in the land of Canaan? "... a land with brooks of water, fountains and depths, that emerge in valleys and mountains," (Devarim 8:7) From where do we learn in the time to come? "And it shall come to pass on that day that spring water shall come forth from Jerusalem..." (Zechariah 14:8)

(Bamidbar 11:31) "And a wind went forth from the L-rd and blew in (vayagaz) quail from the sea": We are hereby taught that it (the quail flock) "blossomed" like "puffs" of wool (gazim). "and it spread over the camp": Some say that it killed in its descent as it did in being eaten. "about a day's journey on one side": towards the north. "and a day's journey on the other side": towards the south. R. Shimon says: "about a day's journey here": from above; "and a day's journey there": from below. "and about two cubits above the face of the earth": It hovered above two cubits over the face of the earth, so that they could be easily gathered in.