Translation:Mishnah/Seder Nezikin/Tractate Avot/Chapter 5/4

Introduction

This Mishnah continues lists of ten things.

Hebrew Text

עֲשָׂרָה נִסִּים נַעֲשׂוּ לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בְמִצְרַיִם
וַעֲשָׂרָה עַל הַיָּם.

(עשר מכות הביא הקדוש ברוך הוא על המצריים במצרים
ועשר על הים.)

עֲשָׂרָה נִסְיוֹנוֹת נִסּוּ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ אֶת הַמָּקוֹם בָּרוּךְ הוּא בַמִּדְבָּר,
שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר יד):
"וַיְנַסּוּ אֹתִי זֶה עֶשֶׂר פְּעָמִים
וְלֹא שָׁמְעוּ בְּקוֹלִי."

English Translation

Ten miracles were performed for our ancestors in Egypt,
And ten [miracles were performed] at the [Reed] Sea.

(Ten plagues did the Holy One, blessed be He, bring upon the Egyptians in Egypt,
And ten [plagues did God bring] at the [Reed] Sea.)

[With] ten trials did our ancestors test the Holy One, Blessed be He, in the Wilderness,
As it is said (in Numbers 14:22):
“Yet have they tested Me these ten times,
And have not hearkened to My voice.”

Explanation

For commentary on Mishnah Avot 5:4, see, for example:

• Rabbi Menachem Schneerson
• Rabbi Dovid Rosenfeld