Derasha 1 on Behaalosecha 11:4
Parashas Behaalosecha · Aliyah 5 · Passuk 4
The Complete Passuk
וְהָֽאסַפְסֻף֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּקִרְבּ֔וֹ הִתְאַוּ֖וּ תַּאֲוָ֑ה וַיָּשֻׁ֣בוּ וַיִּבְכּ֗וּ גַּ֚ם בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ מִ֥י יַאֲכִלֵ֖נוּ בָּשָֽׂר׃
Chabad.org — English translation + Rashi
Source Citation
Torah Temimah (Arachin 15b, R. Yehudah): the asafsuf episode is one of the ten trials with which the fathers tested Hashem in the wilderness.
Core Text of Chazal
Core Text
תַּנְיָא: אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה, עֶשֶׂר נִסְיוֹנוֹת נִיסּוּ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: שְׁנַיִם בַּיָּם, וּשְׁנַיִם בַּמַּיִם, שְׁנַיִם בַּמָּן, שְׁנַיִם בַּשְּׂלָיו, אַחַת בָּעֵגֶל, וְאַחַת בְּמִדְבַּר פָּארָן.
English: It was taught: R. Yehudah said, this is one of the ten trials with which our fathers tested the Holy One in the wilderness.
Type of Learning
Catalog of trials — the craving for meat is counted among the ten tests of the midbar.
What Is Learned
The asafsuf’s desire is not a private whim; it is registered as a national trial of faith.