Dvar Torah – Parashat Pinchas | Rabbis For Human Rights

Dvar Torah – Parashat Pinchas

By Rabbis for Human Rights on July 8, 2007 - כ"ב תמוז תשס"ז

The Book of Bamidbar (Numbers), or in Latin, Numeri, begins with a description of the census of the Children of Israel in the desert. It continues with the stories of the wanderings and tribulations that our forefathers underwent during their 39 years in the desert (from the second year onward). Mixed in we find various ritual laws, such as the commandment regarding the fringes of one’s garment and the law of the red heifer, but most of the book contains that which is most interesting to the popular demands. Where did they wander to, and where and when did they stop to rest? Who gossiped about whom and how was he/she punished? What were the weaknesses and struggles of the leadership and of the rank and file? How was the curse of an enemy transformed into a blessing, and the like… This is a book for the masses of the people of Israel! By contrast, the book of Leviticus is primarily a book of laws. Aside from the reports about the deaths of Aaron’s two sons, and the stoning of the blasphemer (both of which have implications for Jewish law), there are no descriptions of historical events. The collections of laws in the book of Leviticus include sacrifices, the laws of purity and of plagues (nega’im) – these are all areas under jurisdiction of the priests. For this reason the book is named the “Torah of the Priests” or Leviticus. But when we compare the list of holidays in the two books, it seems they have switched roles. Chapter 23 in the book of Leviticus (the portion of Emor) contains a list of holidays, from the Sabbath to the cycle of pilgrimage festivals and the holidays of the seventh month (Tishrei, in the calendar of the Second Temple period). The portion contains only minor references to the sacrifices and the role of the priests. Most of the verses deal with what is binding on all the people: the prohibition of work on the Sabbath, the requirement to eat unleavened bread on Passover, and to sit in the succah on the festival of Succoth, etc. By contrast, when we read chapters 28-29 in the portion of Pinchas in the Book of Numbers, we get the sense that we have skipped back to the “Torah of the Priests.” Every holiday is described by the sheep, rams and bullocks that are sacrificed on the altar, a long and carnivorous menu that begins with the additional sacrifice on the Sabbaths and continues with the offerings of the new month and onwards to the festivals that take place once a year, in similar order to the list in the book of Leviticus: Passover, the festival of the first fruits and the holidays of the seventh month in the bible – two holidays that are today known as the “days of awe,” followed by the festival of Succoth.

Biblical scholars may explain this easily by arguing that there was an exchange of text here or an editorial error. But it seems to me that this “mixture of portions” is not a mistake, but rather a deliberate effort not be locked into a particular scheme or dichotomy. The Torah of the priests need not reflect the priestly approach from the beginning to the end, and the “popular” book of Numbers must leave room for explicitly priestly issues. Why is the subject of sacrifices on Sabbath and holidays found in the book of Numbers? Perhaps to emphasize that this is not just a priestly matter. The holiday sacrifices are funded and carried out in the name of the entire people of Israel. Even if it is the priests who slaughter them and sprinkle their blood on the altar – they do it as messengers of the entire people of Israel!

Note on two hidden numbers in the Torah and the connection between them:

The sacrifices of the bullocks on during the seven days of the Succoth festival are arranged in descending arithmetical order: 13 on the first day, 12 on the second day and so on until we reach 7 bullocks on the seventh day. The sum total of bullocks sacrificed on Succoth is 70. Our sages discovered the number 70 hidden elsewhere in the scriptures: The sons, grandsons and great grandsons of Noah that are mentioned by name in the portion of Noach are 70 in number, prompting our sages to conclude that the number of nations on earth is 70. The Succoth sacrifices are intended, therefore, to atone not only for the sins of Israel but for those of all humanity!

Shabat Shalom

Rabbis for Human Rights recommends that you read these articles in Pinehas

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