(Devarim 1:12) "How can I bear alone your contentiousness" — whence we are taught that they were contentious. If one of them saw his neighbor getting the better of him in judgment, he would say: I have witnesses to bring, I have proofs; tomorrow I will add accusers against you! — thus, "your contentiousness."
"and your heresy" — whence we are taught that they were "heretics" (against Moses). If Moses left his house (hurriedly to meet them), they would say: Why did the son of Amram leave (so hurriedly)? He is probably not at ease at home. If he was late to leave, they would say: Why isn't the son of Amram leaving? What do you think? He is plotting against you with his wife, as Korach did with his wife! — thus, "and your heresy."
(דברים א יב) אֵיכָה אֶשָּׂא לְבַדִּי טָרְחֲכֶם, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהָיוּ טַרְחָנִים. הָיָה אֶחָד מֵהֶם רוֹאֶה שֵׁנִי נוֹצֵחַ בַּדִּין, אוֹמֵר: יֵשׁ לִי עֵדִים לְהָבִיא, יֵשׁ לִי רְאָיוֹת לְהָבִיא, לְמָחָר אֲנִי דָן, מוֹסִיף אֲנִי עֲלֵיכֶם דַּיָּנִים. לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר טָרְחֲכֶם, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהָיוּ טַרְחָנִים.
(Devarim 1:12) "How can I bear alone your contentiousness" — whence we are taught that they were contentious. If one of them saw his neighbor getting the better of him in judgment, he would say: I have witnesses to bring, I have proofs; tomorrow I will add accusers against you! — thus, "your contentiousness."
וּמַשַּׂאֲכֶם, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהָיוּ אֶפִּיקוֹרְסִים. הִקְדִּים מֹשֶׁה לָצֵאת – אָמְרוּ: מָה רָאָה בֶּן עַמְרָם לָצֵאת? שֶׁמָּא אֵינוֹ שָׁפוּי בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ? אִחֵר לָצֵאת – אָמְרוּ: מָה רָאָה בֶּן עַמְרָם שֶׁלֹּא לָצֵאת? מָה אַתֶּם סְבוּרִים? יוֹשֵׁב וְיוֹעֵץ עֲלֵיכֶם עֵצוֹת, וּמְחַשֵּׁב עֲלֵיכֶם מַחֲשָׁבוֹת קָשׁוֹת וַחֲמוּרוֹת מִשֶּׁל בֵּית אוֹן, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר טז א): ״וְאוֹן בֶּן פֶּלֶת בְּנֵי רְאוּבֵן״, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר וּמַשַּׂאֲכֶם, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהָיוּ אֶפִּיקוֹרְסִים.
"and your heresy" — whence we are taught that they were "heretics" (against Moses). If Moses left his house (hurriedly to meet them), they would say: Why did the son of Amram leave (so hurriedly)? He is probably not at ease at home. If he was late to leave, they would say: Why isn't the son of Amram leaving? What do you think? He is plotting against you with his wife, as Korach did with his wife! — thus, "and your heresy."
וְרִיבְכֶם, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהָיוּ רוֹנְנִים. הָיָה אֶחָד מֵהֶם מוֹצִיא מָנֶה בִּשְׁבִיל לִטּוֹל שְׁנַיִם, שְׁנַיִם בִּשְׁבִיל לִטּוֹל שְׁלֹשָׁה. לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר וְרִיבְכֶם, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהָיוּ רוֹנְנִים.
"and your caviling": They were grumblers.
דָּבָר אַחֵר: טָרְחֲכֶם וּמַשַּׂאֲכֶם וְרִיבְכֶם, אִם הִקְדִּים מֹשֶׁה לָצֵאת, אוֹמְרִים: מָה רָאָה בֶּן עַמְרָם שֶׁמִּהֵר לָצֵאת? וּבָנָיו וּבְנֵי בֵיתוֹ מְלַקְּטִים הַגַּס שֶׁבַּמָּן! אִחֵר לָצֵאת – אוֹמְרִים: אָכַל וְשָׁתָה וְיָשַׁן. הָלַךְ מֹשֶׁה בָּאֶמְצַע – אוֹמְרִים: מְבַקֵּשׁ לַעֲמוֹד מִפָּנָיו. הָלַךְ לַצְּדָדִים – אוֹמְרִים: מִצְוָה הָיָה לָנוּ מֵעֲמִידַת זָקֵן, וְהוּא מְבַקֵּשׁ לְעָקְרָהּ מִמֶּנּוּ. אָמַר לָהֶם מֹשֶׁה: הָלַכְתִּי בָּאֶמְצַע – לֹא יָצָאתִי יְדֵיכֶם, הָלַכְתִּי לַצְּדָדִים – לֹא יָצָאתִי יְדֵיכֶם!
One would expend a sela (only) to gain two; two, to gain three — thus, "your caviling."