Shelach 14:5 · unit 1 — Moshe and Aharon fell

Parashas Shelach · Aliyah 2 · Passuk 5

The Complete Passuk

וַיִּפֹּ֥ל מֹשֶׁ֛ה וְאַהֲרֹ֖ן עַל־פְּנֵיהֶ֑ם לִפְנֵ֕י כׇּל־קְהַ֥ל עֲדַ֖ת בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

Moshe and Aharon fell on their faces before the whole assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.

Chabad.org — 14:5

Source Citation

Torah Temimah on ויפל משה ואהרן: Taanis 14b — not all are answered with tearing, nor all with falling.

Sefaria — Taanis 14b

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: לֹא הַכֹּל בִּקְרִיעָה וְלֹא הַכֹּל בִּנְפִילָה. מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן — בִּנְפִילָה, יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וְכָלֵב — בִּקְרִיעָה.

English: R’ Elazar said: Not all are answered with tearing, and not all with falling. Moshe and Aharon — with falling; Yehoshua and Calev — with tearing.

Type of Learning

Graded forms of distress before Heaven.

What Is Learned

Moshe and Aharon needed only falling on their faces; Yehoshua and Calev tore their garments.