[Avodah] How many died in the midbar

[Jonathan Baker]

On Wed, February 7, 2007 9:57 am, Galsaba at aol.com wrote:
: Reading Ta'anit Daf 30, I do not understand how many died each year.
: I read Mefarshim that calculated simple.  60 Ribbo / 40 years = 1.5 Ribbo a
: year = 1,500.
: Then I read Tossafot that says 21,000.  Where can I find one?

First off, 1 ribo = 10,000.  So 60 ribo/40 years = 15,000 per year.
Which is at least the same order of magnitude.

Second, the marginal note in whatever version e-daf.com used has the
same numerical issue you do, and corrects C"A ALF to MT"R ALF: from 
600 thousands, rather than 21,000 - undoes the numerical solution.

Third, Tosfos in Bava Basra 121a says it's 16,000 - which fits, since 
people didn't die the first year, or was it two years?  If two years,
it's closer to 16,000 - 15,882.

Fourth, from same Tosfos, Midrash Eicha says 15,000/year.

Fifth, Maharsha Chidushei Halachot seems to be the source of the
marginal note's correction, noting that in all versions of the
Rashbam that he's seen, Rashbam talks about 15,000, not 21,000,
so it has to be a mistake here.

So I think it's safe to assume that the marginal note is correct, and
it's really not 21,000.

--
        name: jon baker              web: http://www.panix.com/~jjbaker
     address: jjbaker at panix.com     blog: http://thanbook.blogspot.com