Pinchas

פִּינְחָס

Numbers 25:10 – 30:1

Pinchas’ Reward

HaShem spoke to Moses, “Pinchas, a son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron the priest, was the one who zealously took up My cause among the Israelites and turned My anger away from them, so that I did not destroy them in My demand for exclusive worship.

Therefore, tell him that I have given him My covenant of peace. This shall imply a covenant of eternal priesthood to him and his descendants after him. It is given to him because he zealously took up God’s cause and made atonement for the Israelites.”

The name of the man who was killed along with the Midianite woman was Zimri son of Salu, a prince of the Simeonite paternal line. The name of the Midianite woman who was killed was Kazbi, the daughter of Tzur, governor of a paternal line in Midian.

Attack on Midian

HaShem spoke to Moses, “Attack the Midianites and kill them since they attacked you through their plot with Peor, as well as through their sister, Kazbi, daughter of a Midianite prince, who was killed on the day of plague that resulted from Peor.”

A New Census

It was now after the plague. God spoke to Moses and Eleazar “Take a census of the entire Israelite community by paternal lines, counting every male over 20 years old who is fit for duty.”

Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke to the Israelites in the Western Plains of Moab near the Jordan opposite Jericho, saying, “Count those over 20 years old, just as God commanded Moses and the Israelites who had left Egypt.”

Reuben

Reuben was Israel’s first-born. The descendants of Reuben were the Enochite family from Enoch, the Paluite family from Palu, the Chetzronite family from Chetzron, and the Karmite family from Karmi.

These were the Reubenite families, and their tally was 43,730.

The sons of Palu: Eliav. The sons of Eliav: Nemuel, Dathan and Aviram. Dathan and Aviram were the communal leaders who led a revolution against Moses and Aaron as part of Korach’s rebellion against God. The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and Korach when the [rebellious] group died and fire annihilated 250 men. This involved a divine miracle. The sons of Korach, however, did not die.

Simeon

The descendants of Simeon were the Nemuelite family from Nemuel, the Yaminite family from Yamini, the Yakhinite family from Yakhin, the Zarchite family from Zerach, and the Saulite family from Saul.

These are the families of Simeon, numbered 22,200.

Gad

The descendants of Gad were the Tzefonite family from Tzefon, the Chaggite family from Chaggi, the Shunite family from Shuni, the Aznite family from Azni, the Erite family from Eri, the Arodite family from Arod, and the Arelite family from Areli.

Gad’s descendants, their tally being 40,500.

Judah

The first sons of Judah were Er and Onan, but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. The descendants of Judah were the Shelanite family from Shelah, the Partzite family from Peretz, and the Zarchite family from Zerach. The descendants of Peretz were the Chetzronite family from Chetzron, and the Chamulite family from Chamul.

These are the families of Judah, their tally being 76,500.

Issachar

The descendants of Issachar were the Tolaite family from Tola, the Punite family from Puva. The Yashuvite family from Yashuv, and the Shimronite family from Shimron.

These are the families of Issachar, their tally being 64,300.

Zebulun

The descendants of Zebulun were the Sardite family from Sered, the Elonite family from Elon, and the Yachlielite family from Yachliel.

These are the families of Zebulun, their tally being 60,500.

Manasseh

The descendants of Joseph were Manasseh and Ephraim. The descendants of Manasseh consisted of the Makhirite family from Makhir. Makhir’s son was Gilead, and from Gilead came the family of the Gileadites. These were the descendants of Gilead: The Iyezerite family from Iyezer, the Chelekite family from Chelek, the Asrielite family from Asriel, the Shikhmite family from Shekhem, the Shemidaite family from Shemida, and the Chefrite family from Chefer. Chefer’s son, Tzelafchad, did not have any sons, only daughters. The names of Tzelafchad’s daughters were Machla, No’ah, Chaglah, Milkah and Tirtzah.

These are the families of Manasseh, and their tally was 52,700.

Ephraim

The descendants of Ephraim were the Shuthalchite family from Shuthelach, the Bakhrite family from Bekher, and the Tachanite family from Tachan. The descendants of Shuthelach consisted of the Eranite family from Eran.

These are the families of Ephraim’s descendants, their tally being 32,500.

Benjamin

The descendants of Benjamin were the Bal’ite family from Bela, the Ashbelite family from Ashbel, the Achiramite family from Achiram, the Shefufamite family from Shefufam, and the Chufamite family from Chufam. The sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman. These gave rise to the Ardite family, and the Naamite family from Naaman.

These are Benjamin’s descendants by their families, and their tally was 45,600.

Dan

By their families the descendants of Dan consisted of the Shuchamite family from Shucham. This was the only family of Dan.

The tally of all the families of the Shuchamites was 64,400.

Asher

The descendants of Asher were the Yimnah family from Yimnah, the Yishvite family from Yishvi, and the Beri’ite family from Beriah. The descendants of Beriah consisted of the Chevrite family from Chever, and the Malkielite family from Malkiel. The name of Asher’s daughter was Serach.

These are the families of Asher’s descendants, their tally being 53,400.

Naphtali

The descendants of Naphtali consisted of the Yachtzielite family from Yachtziel, the Gunite family from Guni, the Yitzrite family from Yetzer, and the Shilemite family from Shilem.

These are the families of Naphtali, their tally being 45,400.

The total tally of the Israelites was 601,730.

Dividing the Land

HaShem spoke to Moses, “Among these people you shall divide the land as an inheritance, following a number of names recorded. To a larger group you shall give a larger inheritance, while to a smaller group, you shall give a smaller inheritance. Each one shall thus be given his hereditary property according to its tally. However, hereditary property shall be granted to paternal families through a lottery system. This is how the land shall be divided. Whether a group is large or small, its hereditary property shall be divided by a lottery system. ”

Tally of the Levites

These are the tallies of the Levites by their families: the Gershonite family from Gershon, the Kehothite family from Kehoth, and the Merarite family from Merari. These are the sub-families of Levi: The Libnite family, the Chevronite family, the Machlite family, the Mushite family, and the Korchite family.

Kehoth had a son Amram. The name of Amram’s wife was Yokheved, a daughter of Levi, who had been born to Levi in Egypt. She bore Amram’s children, Aaron and Moses, as well as their sister Miriam. Born to Aaron were Nadav, Avihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. Nadav and Avihu, however died when they offered unauthorized fire before HaShem.

Counting every male over one month old, the tally of [the Levites] was 23,000. They were not tallied among the other Israelites because they were not to be given hereditary property among the [other] Israelites. This was the census that Moses and Eleazar the priest took of the Israelites in the Western Plains of Moab, on the Jericho section of the Jordan.

Among those counted now there was no one previously counted by Moses and Aaron the priest, who had taken a census of the Israelites in the Sinai Desert. This was because HaShem had decreed to them that they would all die in the desert, and that not a single man would survive, with the exception of Caleb son of Yefuneh, and Joshua son of Nun.

Tzelafchad’s Daughters

A petition was presented by the daughters of Tzelafchad, son of Chefer, son of Gilead, son of Makhir, son of Manasseh, of the family of Joseph’s son Manasseh. The names of these daughters were Machlah, No’ah, Chaglah, Milkah and Tirtzah. They now stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the princes, and the entire community at the Communion Tent entrance with the following petition:“Our father died in the desert. He was not among the members of Korach’s party who protested against God, but he died because of his own sin without leaving any sons. Why should our father’s name be disadvantaged in his family merely because he did not have a son? Give us a portion of land along with our father’s brothers.” Moses brought their case before HaShem.

Inheritance for Daughters

HaShem spoke to Moses, saying: “The daughters of Tzelafchad have a just claim. Give them a hereditary portion of land alongside their father’s brothers. Let their father’s hereditary property thus pass over to them. Speak to the Israelites and tell them that if a man dies and has no son, his hereditary property shall pass over to his daughter. If he has no daughter, then his hereditary property shall be given to his brothers. If he has no brothers, you shall give his property to his father’s brothers. If his father had no brothers, then you shall give his property to the closest relative in his family, who shall then be his heir. ”

This was the decreed law for the Israelites, as HaShem had commanded Moses.

Moses Told to Prepare for Death

HaShem said to Moses, “Climb up to the Avarim Mountain where you will be able to see the land that I am giving to the Israelites. After you see it, you will be gathered up to your people, just as your brother Aaron was. When the community disputed God in the Tzin Desert, you disobeyed My commandment when you were to sanctify Me before their eyes with the water.” [HaShem was speaking] of the Waters of Dispute (Mey Meribhah) at Kadesh in the Tzin Desert.]

Joshua Chosen to Replace Moses

Moses spoke to HaShem, saying, “Let the Omnipotent G-d of all living souls appoint a man over the community. Let him come and go before them, and let him bring them forth and lead them. Let G-d’s community not be like sheep that have no shepherd.” HaShem said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man of spirit, and lay your hands on him. Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and before the entire community, and let them see you commission him. Invest him with some of your splendor so that the entire Israelite community will obey him. Let him stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall seek the decision of the Urim before God on his behalf. By this word [Joshua], along with all the Israelites and the entire community shall come and go.”

Moses did as HaShem had ordered him. He took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and before the entire community. He then laid his hands on him and commissioned him. It was all done as commanded.

The Daily Sacrifice

HaShem spoke to Moses, telling him to give the Israelites instructions and tell them: Be careful to offer My fire-offering food sacrifice to Me in its proper time as My appeasing fragrance. Tell them that the fire offering that they must offer to G-d shall consist of two yearling sheep without blemish each day as a regular daily burnt offering.

Prepare one sheep in the morning, and the second sheep in the afternoon. There shall also be 1/10 ephah of wheat meal for the grain offering, mixed with 1/4 hin hand pressed olive oil. This is the regular daily burnt offering, the same as that presented at Mount Sinai as an appeasing fragrance, a fire offering to HaShem.

Its libation, shall be 1/4 hin wine for each sheep, poured in the sanctuary as a libation, a drink offering to G-d. Present the second sheep in the afternoon. You shall present it with the same meal offering and libation as the morning sacrifice; it is a fire offering, an appeasing fragrance to G-d.

The Additional Sabbath Offering

On the Sabbath day, you shall present two additional yearling sheep without blemish, 2/10 ephah wheat meal mixed with oil as a grain offering, and its libation. This is the burnt offering presented each Sabbath in addition to the regular daily burnt offering and its libation.

The New Moon Offering

On your new moon festivals you shall present as a burnt offering to God, two young bulls, one ram, and seven yearling sheep, all without blemish. There shall be a grain offering of 3/10 ephah wheat meal mixed with oil for each bull, a grain offering of 2/10 ephah wheat meal mixed with oil for the ram, and a grain offering of 1/10 ephah mixed with oil for each sheep. This shall be burnt offering [presented] as an appeasing fragrance to G-d.

Their wine libations shall consist of 1/2 hin for each bull, 1/3 hin for the ram, and 1/4 hin for each sheep. This is the new moon burnt offering, for the year’s lunar months. There shall also be one goat presented as a sin offering to G-d. All this shall be presented in addition to the regular daily burnt offering and its libation.

The Passover Offering

The 14th day of the first month is God’s Passover. Then, on the 15th day, a festival shall begin, when matzahs shall be eaten for seven days. The first day shall be a sacred holiday when you shall do no mundane work. As a burnt fire offering to G-d, you shall offer two young bulls, one ram, and seven yearling sheep, making sure that [all] are without blemish. The grain offering that you must present shall consist of wheat meal mixed with oil, 3/10 ephah for each bull, 2/10 for the ram, and 1/10 for each of the seven sheep. There shall also be a sin offering goat to make atonement for you. All these shall be presented in addition to the morning burnt offering that is offered as the regular daily sacrifice.On each of the seven days, you shall prepare a similar sacrifice as a consumed fire offering, a pleasing fragrance to G-d. This shall be in addition to the regular daily burnt offering and its libation. The seventh day shall be a sacred holiday to you, when you shall not do any mundane work.

The Shavuot Offering

The day of first fruits is when you bring a new grain offering to G-d as part of your Shavuot festival. It shall be a sacred holiday to you when you may not do any mundane work.As a pleasing fragrance to G-d, you shall then present a burnt offering consisting of two young bulls, one ram and seven yearling sheep. Their grain offering consisting of wheat meal mixed with oil shall be 3/10 ephah for each bull, 2/10 for the ram, and 1/10 for each of the seven sheep. There shall also be one male goat to atone for you. You must present all this in addition to the regular daily burnt offering and its meal offering. These sacrifices and their libations must be without blemish for you to present them.

Yom Kippur Offering

he 10th of this month shall be a sacred holiday to you when you must fast and not do any work. As a burnt offering for an appeasing fragrance to G-d, you shall present one young bull, one ram, and seven yearling sheep, making sure that all are without blemish. Their grain offering of wheat meal mixed with oil shall be 3/10 ephah for the bull, 2/10 for the ram, and 1/10 for each of the seven sheep. There shall also be one goat as a sin offering, in addition to the special Atonement sin offering. All these sacrifices and their libations are in addition to the regular daily burnt offering and its meal offering.

The First Day of Sukkot

The 15th day of the seventh month shall be a sacred holiday to you when no mundane work may be done. You shall celebrate a festival to G-d for seven days. As an appeasing fragrance to G-d, you shall present a burnt offering consisting of 13 young bulls, 2 rams, and 14 yearling sheep, all without blemish.Their grain offering of wheat meal mixed with oil shall be 3/10 ephah for each of the 13 bulls, 2/10 for each of the 2 rams, and 1/10 for each of the 14 sheep. There shall also be one goat as a sin offering. This is in addition to the regular daily burnt offering, its grain offering and its libation.

The Second Day of Sukkot

On the second day there shall be 12 young bulls, 2 rams and 14 yearling sheep, all without blemish, along with the grain offerings and libations appropriate for the number of bulls, rams and sheep. There shall also be one goat as a sin offering. These offerings and their libations shall be in addition to the regular daily burnt offering and its grain offering

The Third Day of Sukkot

On the third day there shall be 11 young bulls, 2 rams, and 14 yearling sheep, [all] without blemish, along with the grain offerings and libations appropriate for the number of bulls, rams and sheep. There shall also be one goat as a sin offering. All this is in addition to the regular daily burnt offering, its grain offering and its libation.

The Fourth Day of Sukkot

On the fourth day there shall be 10 young bulls, 2 rams, and 14 yearling sheep, all without blemish, along with the grain offerings and libations appropriate for the number of bulls, rams and sheep. There shall also be one goat as a sin offering. All this is in addition to the regular daily burnt offering, its grain offering and its libation.

The Fifth Day of Sukkot

On the fifth day, there shall be 9 young bulls, 2 rams, and 14 yearling sheep, all without blemish, along with the grain offerings and libations appropriate for the number of bulls, rams and sheep. There shall also be one goat as a sin offering. All this is in addition to the regular daily burnt offering, its grain offering and its libation.

The Sixth Day of Sukkot

On the sixth day, there shall be 8 young bulls, 2 rams, and 14 yearling sheep, all without blemish, along with the grain offerings and libations appropriate for the number of bulls, rams and sheep. There shall also be one goat as a sin offering. All this is in addition to the regular daily burnt offering, its grain offering, and its libations.

The Seventh Day of Sukkot

On the seventh day, there shall be 7 young bulls, 2 rams, and 14 yearling sheep, all without blemish, along with their appropriate grain offerings and libations for the number of bulls, rams and sheep. There shall also be one goat as a sin offering. All this is in addition to the regular daily burnt offering, its grain offering and its libation.

Shemini Atzereth Offering

The eighth day shall be a time of retreat for you when you shall do no mundane work. As a burnt fire offering for an appeasing fragrance to G-d, you shall present one bull, one ram, and seven yearling sheep, all without blemish, along with their appropriate number of meal offerings and libations. There shall also be one goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular daily burnt offering, its grain offering and its libation. All these are what you must present to HaShem on your festivals, in addition to your burnt offerings, grain offerings, libations, and peace offerings presented as a general or specific pledge.

Moses spoke to the Israelites telling them all that HaShem had commanded him.

 

I Kings 18.46-19.21

In this week’s Parsha Pinchas is rewarded for being the first zealot of the nation of Israel. It is the quality that helped him take quick action to kill the two sinners and stop the plague.

In the Haftara Elijah says “I have been exceedingly zealous for HaShem.”

 

• Forty-First of 54 Sedras in the Torah
• Written on 280 lines in the Sefer Torah
• 168 P’sukim (verses)
• 1,887 words
• 7,853 letters