Phineas was the Zealot, the one character in the Torah who was what we would call an extremist, a jihadi. Yet we mention Phineas’ name at every Brit, every circumcision and we say that the only blood we are commanded to shed is in the rite of circumcision (outside of the Temple killing animals for food, is an option). And…
Author: Jeremy Rosen
Families
After dealing with Phineas and his dramatic action to stop the moral collapse of the Israelite princes and a serious plague, the Torah switches to a census of the remaining Israelites. It seems a totally unconnected transition. The clue to the link lies in the fact that this time, the census focuses on families. Each tribe is broken down into…
Succession
When Moses is told that it is time for him to dies, his only response is that someone has to be appointed to lead the people. It is remarkable in that he chose not to recommend anyone to God but accepted the Divine choice. It is true that Moses had two sons. We don’t know what happened to them. Perhaps…
Daughters of Zelophehad
After dealing with tribal structures, Moses is faced with an unusual petition. From the five daughters of Zelophehad, a man who has died leaving no sons. Mahla, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah. The Land of Israel will be allocated according to tribes and the males within them. These five unmarried women come to Moses and complain that their father’s name…
Balak Employs Balaam
When the Moabite king Balak sees how the Israelites are defeating their enemies, he allies himself to his traditional enemy Midian (a reverse takeover bid) and calls on Balaam the magician to come and curse them. After some negotiation in which Balaam protests that he can only say what God tells him to say (and when God says no, he…
On Whose Side?
In the poetry that Balaam the Magician declaims about the Children of Israel, he makes the remarkable statement “Am Levadad Yishkon“, A people that dwells alone, “U’Bagoyim Lo Yitchashav” and is not numbered amongst the nations. The word yitchashav can mean numbered, counted, regarded, reckoned or valued. What does he mean and intend by this? A nation unlike the others…