וְֽאוּלָ֗ם שְׁאַל־נָ֣א בְהֵמ֣וֹת וְתֹרֶ֑ךָּ וְע֥וֹף הַ֝שָּׁמַ֗יִם וְיַגֶּד־לָֽךְ׃
Ngunit tanungin mo ngayon ang mga hayop, at tuturuan ka nila; at ang mga ibon sa himpapawid, at sasabihin nila sa iyo.
Midrash Tanchuma
(Numb. 28:1–2:) “Then the Lord spoke unto Moses, saying, ‘Command the Children of Israel, [and say unto them], “My offering, My bread for My fire offering….”’” Let our master instruct us: Regarding the meal offerings that were offered upon the altar, how were they offered? Thus have our masters taught (in Men. 5:1–2):33See above, Lev. 1:7. All meal offerings were offered unleavened except the leavened [cakes] in the thank offering and the two loaves (of Pentecost) which were offered leavened. R. Meir says, “The leaven is separated from its own [dough], and [it is from this that] they are leavened.” R. Judah says, “Even that is not the best [method]; one should bring the leaven, put it into the [measure], and fill the measure [with flour].” [The sages] said to him, “Even that [method] resulted in too little or too much.” All meal offerings were kneaded in lukewarm water and one watched them lest they become leavened; and if the remnants of it became leavened, one transgressed a negative commandment, as stated (in Lev. 2:11), “No meal offering which you offer to the Lord shall be made with leaven.” Thus one may become culpable in the kneading of [leaven], in rolling it, and in baking it. There is nothing more pleasing for you than the offerings. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses, “Say to those Israelites, ‘I did not tell you to offer me sacrifices because I have a need for them, since the whole world is Mine, and I created the animal from which you offer a sacrifice in front of Me.’”34Numb. R. 21:16; see Men. 110a; PRK 6:1; PR 16:1; 48:3; Tanh., Exod. 8:14. Thus it is stated (in Ps. 50:12), “If I am hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and everything in it belong to Me.” R. Judah bar Simon said, “It is not that I require to eat anything which I commanded you to offer as My offering, My bread; as there is not eating or drinking in front of Me.” R. Simon said, “There are thirteen attributes of mercy that are written about the Holy One, blessed be He, as stated (in Exod. 34:6), ‘And the Lord passed over his face….’ Is there a merciful one that delivers his victuals to a cruel one?” Ergo (in Ps. 50:12), “If I am hungry, I would not tell you.” R. Judah bar Simon said, “The Holy One, blessed be He, said, ‘I have delivered ten [kinds of] clean animals to you (for food).35See also PR 16:1; Numb. R. 20:5; 21:16. Three are in your possession, and seven are not in your possession. Now these are those which are in your possession (according to Deut. 14:4), “the bull, the sheep, and the goat.” And these are those which are not in your possession (according to Deut. 14:5), “The deer, the gazelle, the roebuck, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the mountain sheep.” I did not burden you to have you seek them in the mountains and the hills, in order to bring Me a sacrifice from those [which are not in your possession]. Rather [your sacrifices come] from those which are in your possession, which grew up at your feeding trough.’” Ergo (in Ps. 50:12), “If I am hungry, I would not tell you.” R. Isaac said, “It is written (in Numb 28:2), ‘My offering, My Bread, for My burnt offering.’ Is there eating and drinking in front of Me? And if you say there is eating and drinking in front of Me, [you should] learn from the ministering angels, as stated (in Ps. 104:4), ‘His servants flaming fire.’” From what are they [then] sustained? R. Judan said in the name of R. Isaac, “They are nourished from the radiance of the Divine Presence, as stated (in Prov. 16:15), ‘The light of the king’s face is light.‘” R. Simeon ben Laqish said, [Regarding (Numb. 28:6),] “The regular burnt offering done at Mount Sinai,” “And did they do it at Mount Sinai? It is simply that if you will say that that there is eating and drinking in front of Him, learn from Moshe, our teacher. Observe what is written about him (in Exod. 34:28), ‘And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water.’ If there was eating and drinking in front of Me, he would have eaten and drank from what I eat and drink. And if Moses who [only] fulfilled the errand of God, ‘neither ate bread nor drank water,’ all the more so is it true of the Holy One, blessed be He.” Ergo (in Ps. 50:12), “If I am hungry, I would not tell you.” R. Hiyya bar Abba said, “So did the Holy One blessed be He say: ‘My [other] creatures do not need My creatures (people). In your days have you heard one saying, “Let this vine produce wine,” and it produces much wine, [or] “Let this olive tree produce oil,” and it produces much wine. My creatures do not need My creatures and I should need My creatures?’” R. Jannai said, “It is customary that when a man is walking by a river, it is impossible for him not to drink two or three log. Now all the water that is in the world would fill the hollow of My hand, as stated (in Is. 40:12), ‘Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand?’ But [yet] I have written about your log (in Numb. 28:7), ‘to be poured in the sacred precinct as an offering of fermented drink to the Lord,’ which is an expression of drinking, an expression of satiation, an expression of inebriation.” I have created one animal in My world, and you are not able to support its victuals. And which is it? That is (in Psalms 50:10), “the behemoths on a thousand mountains.” R. Johanan, R. Joshua ben Levi and the Sages [disagreed about this]. R. Johanan said, ‘It was one animal crouching on a thousand mountains and it would pasture on a thousand [different] mountains each day, as stated, (in Job 40:20), ‘The mountains yield him produce.’” R. Joshua ben Levi says, “It was one animal crouching on a thousand mountains and a thousand mountains would produce many types of food, for the righteous to eat in the future to come, as stated (in Is. 65:10), ‘Sharon shall become a pasture for flocks, And the Valley of Achor a place for cattle to lie down.’” And the Sages say, “It crouches upon the thousand mountains, and the thousand mountains produce animals every day and it eats [them].” What is the explanation? As it states (in Job 40:20, cont.), “and all the beasts of the field play there.” Is it possible for a grazing animal to eat a grazing animal? R. Tanchuma says, “Great is the work of our God and how great are His acts.” And from where does it drink? R. Joshua ben Levi and the Sages [disagreed about this]. R. Joshua ben Levi says, “It drinks up with one swallow all that the Jordan produces in six months, as stated (in Job 40:23), ‘He can restrain the river from its rushing; [he is confident the Jordan will gush at his command].’ [And the sages say, “Twelve months….”]36See Numb. R. 21:18. But it only has a moistening of the mouth [from it].” And [so] from where does it drink? R. Shimon ben Gamliel taught (form Gen. 2:10), “’A river issues from Eden to water the garden’ and its name is Yuval, as stated (in Jer. 17:8), ‘sending forth its roots by a stream (yuval),’ and it drinks from it.” R. Chiya taught in the name of R. Meir (from Job 12:7), “’But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the sky, they will tell you’: ’But ask the beasts,’ this is the behemoth; ‘the birds of the sky,’ this is the ziz of the Omnipresent (a giant bird). (Job 12:8:) ‘Or speak to the earth, it will teach you; the fish of the sea, they will inform you’: ‘Or speak to the earth,’ this is the Garden of Eden; ‘The fish of the sea,’ that is the leviathan. (Job 12:9:) ‘Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?’” You have one king and his name was Solomon, as stated (about the lavishness of his meals in I Kings 5:2-3), “Solomon’s daily provisions consisted of thirty kor of semolina, and sixty kor of [ordinary] flour, ten fattened oxen….” R. Yehuda bar Zvidah said, “Solomon had a thousand wives and each and every one would make him like this every day, as she thought he would eat with her. [And] Nehemiah the governor did not [even] have the ability to reckon his meal, as stated (in Neh. 5:18), ‘And although what was prepared for each day came to one ox….’ The Holy One, blessed be He, said, ‘My children, it is not because there is eating and drinking in front of Me. Rather it is because of the smell, that you shall be pleased and give the pleasant smell in front of Me.’”
Bamidbar Rabbah
I created an animal in My world, but no man can bear providing its sustenance. Which is this? It is “the animals [behemot] of one thousand hills” (Psalms 50:10). Rabbi Yoḥanan, Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish, and the Rabbis:25In Vayikra Rabba 20:10, Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish is quoted as saying what the Rabbis say here. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: It is one animal that lies on one thousand mountains, and one thousand mountains grow all kinds of food for it, as it is food for the righteous in the future, as it is stated: “The Sharon will be a pasture for flocks, and the Akhor Valley for the lying of cattle, [for My people, who sought Me]” (Isaiah 65:10). The Rabbis say: It is one animal that lies on one thousand mountains, and one thousand mountains grow animals each day and it eats. What is the source? “All the beasts of the field will frolic there” (Job 40:20). Is it possible that there is an animal that eats an animal?26The Hebrew term behema, translated as animal, refers to animals that graze, not to animals that eat meat. Rabbi Tanḥuma said: Great are the works of our God; how numerous are His works.
From where does it drink? Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: Everything that passes through the Jordan in six months,27Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi emphasizes the word “exploits” as an indication that the animal does not swallow the entire river but only enough for six months. it swallows in one gulp, as it is stated: “Behold, it can exploit a river, it need not rush; it is secure, even if the Jordan rushes into its mouth” (Job 40:23). The Rabbis say: Everything that passes through the Jordan in a year,28The Rabbis emphasize the word “rushes” as an indication that it swallows the entire river, which is sufficient for one year. it swallows in one gulp, as it is stated: “It is secure, even if the Jordan rushes into its mouth,” and that is sufficient to wet its mouth. Rav Huna said in the name of Rav Yosef: It is not even sufficient to wet its mouth. From where does it drink? Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai taught: “And a river emerges from Eden” (Genesis 2:10), and its name is Yuval, as it is stated: “And by a stream [yuval] it will spread its roots” (Jeremiah 17:8), and it drinks from there.
It is taught in the name of Rabbi Meir: “But ask animals now, and they will teach you, and birds of the heavens, and they will tell you” (Job 12:7). “Ask animals now” – this is the animal; “and the birds of the heavens” – this is “the large fowl of the field” (Psalms 50:11); “or converse with the earth, and it will teach you” (Job 12:8) – this is the Garden of Eden; “and the fish of the sea will relate to you” (Job 12:8) – this is the leviathan. “Who does not know, among all these, that the hand of the Lord has done this?” (Job 12:9).
From where does it drink? Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: Everything that passes through the Jordan in six months,27Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi emphasizes the word “exploits” as an indication that the animal does not swallow the entire river but only enough for six months. it swallows in one gulp, as it is stated: “Behold, it can exploit a river, it need not rush; it is secure, even if the Jordan rushes into its mouth” (Job 40:23). The Rabbis say: Everything that passes through the Jordan in a year,28The Rabbis emphasize the word “rushes” as an indication that it swallows the entire river, which is sufficient for one year. it swallows in one gulp, as it is stated: “It is secure, even if the Jordan rushes into its mouth,” and that is sufficient to wet its mouth. Rav Huna said in the name of Rav Yosef: It is not even sufficient to wet its mouth. From where does it drink? Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai taught: “And a river emerges from Eden” (Genesis 2:10), and its name is Yuval, as it is stated: “And by a stream [yuval] it will spread its roots” (Jeremiah 17:8), and it drinks from there.
It is taught in the name of Rabbi Meir: “But ask animals now, and they will teach you, and birds of the heavens, and they will tell you” (Job 12:7). “Ask animals now” – this is the animal; “and the birds of the heavens” – this is “the large fowl of the field” (Psalms 50:11); “or converse with the earth, and it will teach you” (Job 12:8) – this is the Garden of Eden; “and the fish of the sea will relate to you” (Job 12:8) – this is the leviathan. “Who does not know, among all these, that the hand of the Lord has done this?” (Job 12:9).
Vayikra Rabbah
Another matter, “any man from the house of Israel” – that is what is written: “He performs justice for the exploited” (Psalms 146:7); this is Israel, in whose regard it is written: “So said the Lord of hosts: The children of Israel and the children of Judah are exploited” (Jeremiah 50:33). “He gives bread to the hungry” (Psalms 146:7), this is Israel, as it is written: He afflicted you and He starved you” (Deuteronomy 8:3). “The Lord releases [matir] the imprisoned [asurim]” (Psalms 146:7); what I prohibited [she’asarti] for you, I permitted [hitarti] for you. I prohibited the fat of a domesticated animal for you, but I permitted it for you in an undomesticated animal. I prohibited the sciatic nerve for you in an undomesticated animal, but I permitted it for you in birds. I prohibited for you birds without slaughter, but I permitted fish for you.
Rabbi Abba and Rabbi Yonatan in the name of Rabbi Levi said: More than I prohibited for you, I permitted for you. I prohibited for you menstrual blood; I permitted for you hymenal blood.40By Torah law, a woman who experiences menstrual bleeding is forbidden to her husband, but a woman who experiences hymenal bleeding is not. I prohibited for you a married woman; I permitted for you a captive woman.41A woman whom you took captive in war, regardless of her marital status (see Deuteronomy 21:10–14). The brother’s wife, I permitted for you a levirate wife.42A man’s brother’s wife is forbidden to him even after his brother has died. However, if a man dies without children, his wife is permitted to his brothers through levirate marriage. A woman and her sister, [which is forbidden] during their lifetimes, I permitted for you after death.43One is not permitted to marry the sister of one’s wife, even if one has already divorced his wife. However, if one’s wife dies, one is permitted to marry her sister. Wearing diverse kinds, I permitted for you a linen garment with ritual fringes.44It is forbidden to wear a garment made of wool and linen. However, if one wears a four-cornered linen garment, one would still, by Torah law, affix to it ritual fringes made of wool. The flesh of a pig, I permitted for you a fish called shibuta.45The flesh of this fish tastes similar to the meat of a pig. Animal fat [ḥelev], I permitted for you animal fat [shuman].46The fat found in certain locations in the animal is forbidden, whereas fat in other places in the animal is permitted. Forbidden fat is called ḥelev, permitted fat is called shuman. Blood, I permitted for you the spleen. Meat and milk, I permitted for you the udder.
Rabbi Menaḥama, Rabbi Bevai, Rabbi Aḥa, and Rabbi Yoḥanan in the name of Rabbi Yonatan said: In exchange for what I prohibited for you, I permitted for you. In exchange for the prohibition of [forbidden] fish, the leviathan is a kosher fish. In exchange for the prohibition of [forbidden] birds, the ziz is a kosher bird. That is what is written: “I know every bird of the mountains; and the ziz of the field is with Me” (Psalms 50:11). Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: When it spreads its wings it dims the disc of the sun.47It is so large that it blocks the light of the sun. That is what is written: “Is it through your understanding that the hawk flies, stretches its wings to the south?” (Job 39:26). Why is it called ziz? It is because it has several varieties of taste, from this and from that [mizeh umizeh].
In exchange for the prohibition of animals, “animals on thousands of hills” (Psalms 50:10); Rabbi Yoḥanan, Reish Lakish, and the Rabbis, Rabbi Yoḥanan says: It is one animal that is lying on one thousand mountains, and one thousand mountains grow many varieties of grasses for it, and it eats, as it is stated: “For produce of mountains will be carried to it” (Job 40:20). Reish Lakish said: It is one animal lying on one thousand mountains, and one thousand mountains grow food for it, so it will be food for the righteous, and it eats. What is the source? “The Sharon will be a pasture for flocks” (Isaiah 65:10). The Rabbis say: It is one animal and it is lying on one thousand mountains, and one thousand mountains grow various types of animals for it, and it eats. What is the source? “All the beasts of the field will frolic there” (Job 40:20). Is that possible, that an animal [behema] eats an animal?48The term behema, sometimes translated as domesticated animal, refers to a class of animals that are all herbivores. Rabbi Tanḥuma said: God’s deeds are great, how extraordinary are the deeds of the Holy One blessed be He.
From where does it drink? Rabbi Yoḥanan and Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish, Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Everything that the Jordan takes in over the course of six months, it swallows in one gulp. What is the source? As it is stated: “Behold, it can swallow a river, it need not rush” (Job 40:23). Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: Everything that the Jordan takes in over the course of twelve months, it swallows in one gulp. What is the source? “It is secure, even if it draws the Jordan into its mouth” (Job 40:23). It has enough just to wet the mouth. Rav Huna said in the name of Rabbi Yosei: It is not even enough just to wet the mouth. From where, then, does it drink? Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai taught: A river emerges from Eden and its name is Yuval, and it drinks from there, as it is stated: “And it shall spread its roots alongside a stream [yuval]” (Jeremiah 17:8).
Rabbi Meir said: “But ask now animals, and they will teach you” (Job 12:7), this is the animals. “And the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you” (Job 12:7), this is the ziz of the field. “Or converse with the earth, and it will teach you” (Job 12:8), this is the Garden of Eden. “And the fish of the sea will relate to you” (Job 12:8), this is the leviathan. “Who does not know, among all these, that the hand of the Lord has done this?” (Job 12:9).
Rabbi Abba and Rabbi Yonatan in the name of Rabbi Levi said: More than I prohibited for you, I permitted for you. I prohibited for you menstrual blood; I permitted for you hymenal blood.40By Torah law, a woman who experiences menstrual bleeding is forbidden to her husband, but a woman who experiences hymenal bleeding is not. I prohibited for you a married woman; I permitted for you a captive woman.41A woman whom you took captive in war, regardless of her marital status (see Deuteronomy 21:10–14). The brother’s wife, I permitted for you a levirate wife.42A man’s brother’s wife is forbidden to him even after his brother has died. However, if a man dies without children, his wife is permitted to his brothers through levirate marriage. A woman and her sister, [which is forbidden] during their lifetimes, I permitted for you after death.43One is not permitted to marry the sister of one’s wife, even if one has already divorced his wife. However, if one’s wife dies, one is permitted to marry her sister. Wearing diverse kinds, I permitted for you a linen garment with ritual fringes.44It is forbidden to wear a garment made of wool and linen. However, if one wears a four-cornered linen garment, one would still, by Torah law, affix to it ritual fringes made of wool. The flesh of a pig, I permitted for you a fish called shibuta.45The flesh of this fish tastes similar to the meat of a pig. Animal fat [ḥelev], I permitted for you animal fat [shuman].46The fat found in certain locations in the animal is forbidden, whereas fat in other places in the animal is permitted. Forbidden fat is called ḥelev, permitted fat is called shuman. Blood, I permitted for you the spleen. Meat and milk, I permitted for you the udder.
Rabbi Menaḥama, Rabbi Bevai, Rabbi Aḥa, and Rabbi Yoḥanan in the name of Rabbi Yonatan said: In exchange for what I prohibited for you, I permitted for you. In exchange for the prohibition of [forbidden] fish, the leviathan is a kosher fish. In exchange for the prohibition of [forbidden] birds, the ziz is a kosher bird. That is what is written: “I know every bird of the mountains; and the ziz of the field is with Me” (Psalms 50:11). Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: When it spreads its wings it dims the disc of the sun.47It is so large that it blocks the light of the sun. That is what is written: “Is it through your understanding that the hawk flies, stretches its wings to the south?” (Job 39:26). Why is it called ziz? It is because it has several varieties of taste, from this and from that [mizeh umizeh].
In exchange for the prohibition of animals, “animals on thousands of hills” (Psalms 50:10); Rabbi Yoḥanan, Reish Lakish, and the Rabbis, Rabbi Yoḥanan says: It is one animal that is lying on one thousand mountains, and one thousand mountains grow many varieties of grasses for it, and it eats, as it is stated: “For produce of mountains will be carried to it” (Job 40:20). Reish Lakish said: It is one animal lying on one thousand mountains, and one thousand mountains grow food for it, so it will be food for the righteous, and it eats. What is the source? “The Sharon will be a pasture for flocks” (Isaiah 65:10). The Rabbis say: It is one animal and it is lying on one thousand mountains, and one thousand mountains grow various types of animals for it, and it eats. What is the source? “All the beasts of the field will frolic there” (Job 40:20). Is that possible, that an animal [behema] eats an animal?48The term behema, sometimes translated as domesticated animal, refers to a class of animals that are all herbivores. Rabbi Tanḥuma said: God’s deeds are great, how extraordinary are the deeds of the Holy One blessed be He.
From where does it drink? Rabbi Yoḥanan and Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish, Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Everything that the Jordan takes in over the course of six months, it swallows in one gulp. What is the source? As it is stated: “Behold, it can swallow a river, it need not rush” (Job 40:23). Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: Everything that the Jordan takes in over the course of twelve months, it swallows in one gulp. What is the source? “It is secure, even if it draws the Jordan into its mouth” (Job 40:23). It has enough just to wet the mouth. Rav Huna said in the name of Rabbi Yosei: It is not even enough just to wet the mouth. From where, then, does it drink? Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai taught: A river emerges from Eden and its name is Yuval, and it drinks from there, as it is stated: “And it shall spread its roots alongside a stream [yuval]” (Jeremiah 17:8).
Rabbi Meir said: “But ask now animals, and they will teach you” (Job 12:7), this is the animals. “And the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you” (Job 12:7), this is the ziz of the field. “Or converse with the earth, and it will teach you” (Job 12:8), this is the Garden of Eden. “And the fish of the sea will relate to you” (Job 12:8), this is the leviathan. “Who does not know, among all these, that the hand of the Lord has done this?” (Job 12:9).