Maghen Abraham - Thoughts From Mayer Sasson

And the people were like complainers…” (11, 1)

Were they really complainers?

Considering that Bnei Yisrael numbered about two and a half million souls and lived forty years in a manner that constantly required the highest levels of faith, trust and righteousness, we may not condemn them.

The generation of the wilderness was more righteous than all later generations. The Torah’s harsh criticism of it is based upon the Almighty’s high expectations of the Jews of that time.  Even when Bnei Yisrael complained, they still had faith.

Why does the verse say that the people were “like complainers”, shouldn’t it have said, “And the people were complainers”?

However, the Torah indicates that the Bnei Yisrael never complain from the depths of their hearts. They are only momentarily overcome by the enticements of the evil impulse. In truth, they wish to serve Hashem.

Consequently, Hashem does not punish them “from the depth of His heart.”  He does not annihilate them, but rather sends suffering to cause them to return to Him.  (Aicha Rabba)

Shabbat Shalom!!