Editor's note: The HuffTorah is an overview of the Torah reading of the week, which is found in the Book of Numbers 25:10-30:1, and includes links to additional resources for study and discussion. Read the full text of Parshat Pinchas in interlinear Hebrew/English.
"Pinchas son of Eleazar son of Aaron the priest has calmed my anger," God tells Moses. "Through his violent and vengeful zealotry, for killing Zimri and Cozbi, he has saved the Children of Israel. For this I give him my covenant of peace. And for endless days will he be a priest."
- The descendants of Reuben number 43,730
- Simeon's descendants amount to 22,200
- 40,500 from the tribe of Gad
- From Judah, 67,500 people
- From Issachar, 64,300
- There are 60,500 Zebulunites
- Joseph's descendants, through Ephraim and Menasseh, total 85,200
- From Benjamin we have 45,600
- From Dan, 64,400
- Asher's ilk equal 53,400
- And from Naphtali come 54,400
God tells Moses to apportion the Land to the tribes by size: smaller tribes gets less land, larger tribes get more. Apportion via a miraculous talking lottery. ("You know about magic talking lotteries, right Moses?" God asks.)
The Levites, too, are counted -- there are 23,000 of them -- but they are counted separately and do not receive an inheritance of land.
Not a single person counted in the original census is included in this census.
Questions: Why is Pinchas rewarded with a covenant of peace after violently killing others on his own accord? How are there approximately the same number of Israelites now as there were soon after leaving Egypt, 40 years earlier?
Now, some fair daughters from the tribe of Menasseh approach Moses, Eleazar, the tribal leaders and all of the Children of Israel. Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah present their case: "Our father had no sons, and for his own sins he died in the desert. We are his only offspring. Give us a portion of land as you have given to our father's brothers."
- When a man dies without sons, his daughters shall inherit.
- When a man dies without daughters, his brothers shall inherit.
- When a man dies without brothers, his father's brothers shall inherit.
- When a man dies and his father has no brothers, the closest patrilineal relative shall inherit.
"Knower of thoughts!" Moses responds. "Appoint someone competent to lead the people -- someone who will charge first in war and return safely in victory."
And God takes no time to respond: "Convince your own servant Joshua to be leader. Place your hand upon him. Present him to the priest and to all the people. Instruct him then, and grant him some of the prophetic glow. When he must go to war, tell him to stand before Eleazar, the priest, who will interpret the law through the Urim."
Moses does this.
Questions: Why is Moses allowed to look upon the land? Why doesn't he argue with God about not being let in to Israel? Why can't Moses give all of his prophetic powers over to Joshua? Why must Joshua learn the law through the priest who must clarify it through the Urim? What are the Urim anyway?
Plenty are the laws concerning communal offerings. God explains it all to Moses.
The court should make sure that a fire-offering of two perfect lambs in their first year is brought daily: one in the morning and one in the afternoon. A meal-offering mixed with crushed olive oil should be brought, too. This is a daily burnt offering -- a pleasant aroma for God. It should be accompanied by some strong wine.
On the Sabbath, bring two perfect lambs in their first year, a meal-offering mixed with oil and wine. Each Sabbath must have its own offering. This is to be brought in addition to the regular daily offering.
For the New Moon, at the beginning of the month, bring two young bulls, one ram and seven lambs -- all perfect and in their first year. Bring an appropriate meal-offering and libation with each bull, ram and lamb. Each month must have its own offering. One young male goat must be brought as a sin offering. All this must be brought on top of the daily offering.
For Passover (on the 14th day of the first month), a Passover-offering must be brought. The next day is the beginning of a festival. Unleavened bread must be eaten for one week. On the first day, no manual work may be performed. A burnt-offering of two young bulls, one ram and seven lambs in their first year, all perfect, should be brought, along with appropriate meal-offerings and libations. One young male goat must be brought as a sin offering. All this must be brought on top of the daily offering. The same offerings should be made on the rest of the days of Passover. A pleasant aroma for God. The seventh day, too, is holy: No work may be performed.
The same offerings should be brought during the Festival of Weeks, which is a holy the celebration of the first fruits of the new crop.
For the New Year, on the first day of the seventh month, when you sound the ram's horn and perform no work, bring one young bull, one ram and seven lambs in their first year -- all perfect, of course -- along with appropriate meal-offerings, the single goat sin-offering and the daily offerings.
For the Day of Atonement, 10 days later, afflict yourselves, perform no work and bring the same offerings as above.
On the 15th day of the seventh month, observe the holy celebration of the Festival of Tabernacles. Do not perform manual work. On the first day, offer 13 young bulls, two rams and 14 lambs in their first year. Offer, also, the regular sin-offering and daily offerings. On each successive day, bring one less bull so that on the seventh day you bring seven bulls, two rams and 14 lambs in their first year, along with the regular offerings.
On the eighth day of the Festival of the Tabernacles, do not perform manual work. Bring one bull, one ram, and seven lambs in their first year -- perfect all. Bring the goat sin-offerings as well as the daily burnt- and meal-offerings.
Offer all of this as well as your vowed and impromptu voluntary offerings, your burnt-offerings, your meal-offerings, your wine-offerings and your peace-offerings.
Moses tells the Children of Israel all that God has told him.
Questions: If no manual work may be done on the festivals, why are the regular sacrifices still made, not to mention the special offerings? Why do the bull offerings for the Festival of the Tabernacles decrease every day?
Resources for further commentary, discussion and reflection:
- Passing the Mantle: Moses and the Challenges of Succession -- "We all know how complicated it can be for a community to deal with such transitions and the power the outgoing and incoming leaders have in shaping this experience. Here, Moses rises to the challenge." (ON Scripture - The Torah)