Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue
Parasha #42 B'Midbar (Numbers) Mattot (Tribes) 30:2-32:42
Halftarah: Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 1:1-2:3
B’rit Hadashah: Mattityahu (Matthew) 5:33-37
Parsha
In our Parsha we find that Pinchas and the rest of the Israeli warriors triumph over the Midyanites. Upon returning to camp, they are faced with the problem of how to purify the booty they have taken. Elazar, tells them, Zot hukat ha'Torah, …"This is the decree of the Torah" as to how to purify the booty they have taken. He then explains the simple process, which would enable them to use the vessels. Any vessel than can withstand heat, had to be purified by being placed in fire, and then sprinkled with the special waters of purification. Any vessel that did not come into contact with fire was to be immersed in water.
Rabbi Moshe Feinstein points out that the phrase, Zot hukat ha'Torah appears in only one other place in the Torah. The phrase is used in connection to the para aduma, the red cow. Traditional Judaism considers the para aduma the most puzzling of all YHVH's laws. It is so complex that even King Solomon was forced to admit, "I said I will be wise, but it is far from me."
Yet, we with perfect hindsight have wisdom greater than that of Solomon for we can see in this type of the Red Cow, a foreshadowing of Yahshua in that the para aduma had to be without spot or blemish and the blood of the red cow had to be sprinkled before the Tabernacle of the congregation to purify them. We too have to be covered by the blood of Yahshua to be purified and reconciled to YHVH Elohim. There is much more and for your own study you should go to Numbers 19:1-20 and keep Yahshua in mind when you are reading this portion.
Sages Wisdom:
“Take revenge for B'nai Yisrael against Midyah…"(31:2)
Moshe receives a commandment from YHVH to avenge B'nai Yisraelm 9children of Israel). However, instead of leading the battle, he sends Pinchas. Why didn't he go himself?
According to the Sages Moshe lived in Midyan. So he felt a certain gratitude towards them. It would have been difficult for him to lead the army against a nation who had been hospitable to him. However, since Pinchas had killed the Midyanite woman who had sinned with Zimri, Moshe felt he would be the right one to finish the job.
"A band of sinning people." (32:14)
Our Sages tell us that YHVH got very angry with Moshe for referring to B'nai Yisrael in such a negative manner.
As a result, Moshe was eventually punished, and one of his descendant-Yonatan ben Gershom-went on to worship idols.
We can see from here how careful we must be with our wording; even if what we say is valid.
Something to think about:
1. Why was YHVH so adamant about destroying Midyan (31:2)? What is the reason that Moshe gives (31:3)? What does this show us about the relationship between YHVH and His nation?
2. The booty from the war with Midyan was to be divided between the nation and the warriors. Why should those who didn't fight receive a portion?
3. The tribes of Reuven and Gad told Moshe that they would build pens for their cattle and cities for the children. Moshe told them to build cities for their children and then pens for their cattle. What does the order show about the difference in values?
Halftarah connection:
Yermeyahu (Jeremiah) 1:1-2:3
This is the first of the three "prophecies of destruction," read during the Three Weeks, that period of time between the Fasts days of the Seventeenth of Tammuz and the Ninth of Av.
The Halftarah is usually read on the Shabbat following the Fast of the Seventeenth of Tammuz. It reminds us why we fast on the Seventeenth of Tammuz and the Ninth of Av. Jeremiah has a vision in which he sees a pot spilling its contents. For him, this is a sign that B'nai Yisrael will soon have to succumb to their enemies, Since, in his vision, the pot spills towards the north, it is a sign that trouble will develop from there, which is where the Babylonian exile eventually takes place.
Gematria:
Vi'lo nifkad me'menoo ish, "…and not one man was missing." (31:49)
After the war with Midyan, B'nai Yisrael found that not one of their numbers had been killed. This was a sign that none of the fighters had sinned during the battle by losing his trust in YHVH Elohim.
The numeric value of the phrase Vi'lo nifkad me'menoo ish is 718. The numeric value of the word La'avairot, which means "for sins" is also 718. Thus none of the fighters had fallen because of sins.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi and Rebettzin Davis