Torah Commentary - Pinchas
*Commentary courtesy of Menahem Me-Zahav
Our Sidrah is named after Pinchas the son of Eleazar the Kohen Gadol. He has just killed the leader of the tribe of Simeon – Zimri, who participated in the bacchanalian festivities of the Moabite idol “Ba’al Pe’or”. (Pinchas’ story starts in the final 9 Pessukim of last week’s Sidrah of Balak (Numbers 25:1-9). Pinchas’ story in today’s Sidrah, resumes with the 10th Passuk of the same chapter. It extends to the end of the chapter (Numbers 25:18).
By killing Zimri, Pinchas has saved the Israelites from annihilation. BUT - he (Pinchas) did kill a man. Should Pinchas be punished? God announces that He (God) is forgiving him (Pinchas) and He (God)
is giving him (to Pinchas), His own (God’s own) Sign of Peace.
“I (God) give unto him (to Pinchas) My Covenant of peace (Numbers 25:12). God continues with a promise that Pinchas and his descendants will inherit the title of Kohen Gadol. “And it (The Priesthood) will be his (Pinchas’)
and his descendants’ after him“ (Numbers 25:13).
Can Pinchas’ action be justified? Talmudic and Bible scholars, could not come to terms, with Pinchas’ act. After all, he did kill a human being. They expressed their dismay, by claiming that Pinchas was none but a reckless fanatic. They even accused him of hidden (sinister) intensions. In order to support their claims, they pointed at a very unusual phenomena, in the Torah script:
(a) In traditional Chumashim we find that the word “Pinchas” (Numbers 25:11) is written with a small “Yud” (“Yud” Ze’eerah). The scholars interpreted the small “Yud” to infer that Pinchas’ action diminished the Jewish character (As the word Jewish – “Yehudi” starts with the letter “Yud”).
(b) The “Vav” of the word Shalom is split (Vav Katu’a), Implying that Pinchas’ “Shalom” would never be complete (Numbers 25:12). Additional information can be found in the note at the end of the summary.
Pinchas the Kohen Gadol. Whatever our feelings towards Pinchas happen to be, it should be noted that the same Pinchas, who is blamed here, for being a hot-headed zealot, seems to have later gone through a complete transformation. Some 20 years later, having already settled the Promised Land, the Israelites find themselves on the brink of a dangerous civil war. Pinchas – now the Kohen Gadol, mature, patient, tolerant and a cool-headed new man, settles the dispute with his wisdom and saves the country, from an otherwise inevitable disaster (Joshua 22:30-34).
Other subjects in our Sidrah are as follows:
(a) God orders to fight the Midianites. It is punishment for Balaam the Midianite’s evil advice. As mentioned above, Balaam advised the Moabites to seduce the Israelites to come to their bacchanalian festivities, which took place, while worshipping their idol ‘Ba’al Pe-or. It was part of last week’s Torah reading, at the end of the Sidrah of Balak (Numbers 25:1-9). It is then mentioned at the top of today’s Torah reading (Numbers 25:10-18)
(b) Taking a new census. It is part of the preparation for the conquest of the Promised Land and its fair division among the tribes. The results of the census: 601,730 men over the age of 20.
(c) Joshua is reaffirmed as the next Leader after Moses.
(d) The Rituals to be observed, on special days (including Holidays) throughout the year.
A large section of the Sidrah, spreading over TWO full Chapters (Numbers, chapters 28 & 29), is dedicated to describe the rituals (Offerings) of almost all days of the year.
A full segment in The Torah is assigned to each special day, as follows:
(1) Segment for the rituals on Regular Weekdays (28:1-8).
(2) Segment for the rituals on Shabbat (28:9-10).
(3) Segment for the rituals on Rosh Chodesh (28:11-15).
(4) Segment for the rituals on Pessach (28:16-25).
(5) Segment for the rituals on Shavuot (28:26-31).
(6) Segment for the rituals on Rosh Hashanah (29:1-6).
(7) Segment for the rituals on Yom Kippur (29:7-11).
(8) Segment for the rituals on Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret (29:8-38).
Usually, each of the above segments is incorporated into our prayer and/or the Torah reading on the applicable day. Here are some Examples:
On a Regular Weekday: The special segment is incorporated in (some communities) in the Shacharit Prayer.
On Shabbat: The special segment is incorporated in the Mussaf Prayer.
On all Holidays (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Pessach, Shavuot and Sukkot): The special segment serves as the Maftir
Reading for that day.
(e) The Torah confirms the right of women for inheritance.
The Five Daughters of Zelophehad, are the sole survivors to their father, who had no sons. They realize that the Census that is just being taken (See paragraph b, above), is aimed at dividing the land among the Israelite men (Women are not included). And - they do speak up: “And they (The 5 Daughters of Zelophehad) stood before Moses…And they said…Let not our father’s name be lost to his tribe…give us a holding among our kinsmen” (Numbers 27:2&4). Their quest for justice is accepted. They will get their share in the Promised Land. The case of The Daughters of Zelophehad becomes a law for generations to come. “And God spoke to Moses, saying: The daughters of Zelophehad are correct. You shall give them a possession of the inheritance among their father's brethren. And you shall transfer the inheritance of their father to pass unto them… And it shall be to the Israelites a statute of judgment, as the Lord commanded Moses” (Numbers 27:6-7&11).
‘The Three Weeks’ between 17th Tamuz to 9th Av
There are exactly three weeks between 17th Tamuz to 9th Av (Shiva Assar Be-Tamuz to Tisha Be’Av).
These three weeks are known plainly as “THE THREE WEEKS”. Their full name is “The Three Weeks Bein Hametzarim” – “The Three Weeks Between the Sad Events”. There are no weddings during “The Three Weeks”.
“The Three Weeks” memorialize the Jewish Kingdom that was destroyed by the Babylonians.
The wall of Jerusalem was breached on 17th Tamuz and The First Temple was destroyed on 9th Av (586 BCE).
Per tradition, the Romans destroyed, the 2nd Temple after four years of war on Tisha Be’Av (70 CE).
The Fasts of Shiva Assar Be-Tamuz and Tisha Be’Av were enacted soon after the destruction of the First Temple (and are mentioned already, in the Biblical Book of Zachariah, mid to late 6th Century BCE).
Admonition, is the main theme in all three Haftarot during the Three Weeks. The third and last of these three Haftarot, always precedes Tisha Be’Av itself. It always falls on Shabbat Devarim, which is also named “Shabbat Chazon” (For the beginning of its Haftarah: “Chazon Yeshayahu”.
Shiva Assar Be-Tamuz (17th Tamuz) fell this year on the previous Thursday (7/6).
The 9th of Av will fall, 21 days later, on Thursday (7/27). The nine days, between Rosh Chodesh Av (7/19) and Tisha Be’Av 7/27), are known plainly as - “THE NINE DAYS”. It is a tradition, not to eat meat during The Nine Days (With an exception, for the Shabbat 7/22).
Haftarah: Jeremiah 1:1 – 2:3, Page 968
Today’s Haftara (The first of the three Haftarot of Admonition, assigned to “The Three Weeks”) is taken from the Book of Jeremiah.
The Prophet Jeremiah was a descendant to a family of Kohanim, from Annatot. He begins his 40 years of prophesy circa 625 BCE. The mighty Assyrian Empire falls into the hands of the Babylonians (In the Battle of Carchemish 605 BCE). Sometime later, The Kingdom of Judea rebels against Babylonia to which Jeremiah vehemently objects. It ends with the total destruction of the Judean Kingdom and the Holy Temple (586 BCE). Jeremiah dies soon thereafter, in exile in Egypt.
Our Haftarah tells of God’s call to Jeremiah, to prophesy to the people of Judea. Jeremiah is fully aware of the task. He pleads with God that he is too young and inexperienced. “O my Lord God, I cannot speak, as
I am still a Boy” (Jeremiah 1:6). God then assures the prophet, that He (God) will instruct and guide him on his way. “Arise and speak to them all that I (God) command you and do not fear them...I will make you (like) a fortified city, (like) an iron pillar and (like) a wall of copper” (Jeremiah 1:17-18).
Jeremiah then embarks on a mission of a lifetime, dedicated to the conveyance of God’s message, to his people. It will make him carry God’s stern warnings, as well as delivering consolations to his brethren. The main theme of today’s Haftarah is a call to the Jewish people to mend their way of life and thereby avoid the doom and gloom that a Babylonian conquest will bring. “From the north shall come the calamity
(Babylonia was located north of Israel) upon Judea…And I (God) will punish them for their wickedness” (Jeremiah 1:14 &16).
Despite all the pessimism that is expressed in our Haftarah, it ends nevertheless, with a comforting message. "I (God) will remember your (Israel’s) devotion of your youth, and your loyalty (to God) while wandering through the desert” (Jeremiah 2:2).
Note: The “Yud” Ze’eerah (Small Yud) and The “Vav” Katu’a (Split Vav) - that were mentioned in the first section.
- Torah Scrolls usually do display the Small YUD of the word “Pinchas” and the Split VAV of the word “Shalom”.
- Not every Chumash displays the phenomena. Our Chumash Etz Hayim for instance, does not show it. However, it gives a very thorough explanation, that includes a verbal description of the Small YUD and the Split VAV. (Please see Chumash Etz Hayim page 918, at the bottom of the page, and on its left side column. It Starts - 5 lines from the bottom - with the words “In the text of the Torah…” and it ends on top of the right column – 7 lines from the top - with the words “incomplete peace.”).
