חדש באתר: עוזר בינה מלאכותית המבוסס על כתביו ושיעוריו של הרב מיכאל אברהם

Q&A: What Is “Certain Eating”

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Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.

What Is “Certain Eating”

Question

Hello Rabbi,
In Bamidbar Rabbah 2:25 it says:
“In the wilderness of Sinai” (Numbers 3:4) — did they die in the wilderness of Sinai? Rather, this teaches that from Mount Sinai they received their sentence of death. That is what is written: “But against the nobles of the children of Israel He did not send His hand” (Exodus 24:11). Rabbi Pinchas said: from here we learn that they were deserving of having a hand sent against them. Rabbi Hoshaya said: did some healing salve go up with them to Sinai? As it says, “And they beheld God, and they ate and drank” (Exodus 24:11). Rather, this teaches that they feasted their eyes upon the Divine Presence, like a person who looks at his fellow while eating and drinking. Rabbi Yohanan said: certain eating, as it is written: “In the light of a king’s face is life” (Proverbs 16:15).
What is meant by the expression “certain eating” according to Rabbi Yohanan?
Best regards,

Answer

Apparently this refers to spiritual eating, not physical eating. Rabbeinu Bachya explains it this way as well on Deuteronomy 8:3 (and in other places).

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