Pinchas (parsha)

Pinchas, Pinhas, or Pin’has (פנחס — Hebrew for “Phinehas,” a name, the sixth word, and the first distinctive word, in the parshah) is the 41st weekly Torah portion ("parshah") in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the eighth in the book of Numbers. It constitutes )

Another census

God instructed Moses and Eleazar to take a census of Israelite men 20 years old and up, and Moses and Eleazar ordered it done. () God told Moses to apportion shares of the land according to population among those counted, and by lot. ()

The daughters of Zelophehad

The daughters of Zelophehad approached Moses, Eleazar, the chieftains, and the assembly at the entrance of the Tabernacle, saying that their father left no sons, and asking that they be given a land holding. ()

Moses’s successor

God told Moses to climb the heights of Abarim and view the Land of Israel, saying that when he had seen it, he would die, because he disobeyed God’s command to uphold God’s sanctity in the people’s sight when he brought water from the rock in the wilderness of Zin. () Joshua was to present himself to Eleazar the priest, who was to seek the decision of the Urim and Thummim on whether to go out or come in. ()

In classical rabbinic interpretation

Numbers chapter 25

Rabbi Johanan taught that Phinehas was able to accomplish his act of zealotry only because God performed six miracles: First, upon hearing Phinehas’s warning, Zimri should have withdrawn from Cozbi and ended his transgression, but he did not. Second, Zimri should have cried out for help from his fellow Simeonites, but he did not. Third, Phinheas was able to drive his spear exactly through the sexual organs of Zimri and Cozbi as they were engaged in the act. Fourth, Zimri and Cozbi did not slip off the spear, but remained fixed so that others could witness their transgression. Fifth, an angel came and lifted up the lintel so that Phinehas could exit holding the spear. And sixth, an angel came and sowed destruction among the people, distracting the Simeonites from killing Phinheas. (Babylonian Talmud Sanhedrin 82b.)

The Gemara told that after Phinehas killed Zimri and Cozbi, the Israelites began berating Phinehas for his presumption, as he himself was descended from a Midianite idolater, Jethro. The Israelites said: “See this son of Puti (Putiel, or Jethro) whose maternal grandfather fattened ("pittem") cattle for idols, and who has now slain the prince of a tribe of Israel (Zimri)!” To counter this attack, the Gemara explained, God detailed Phinehas’s descent from the peaceful Aaron the Priest in to indicate that the atonement that Phinehas had made was worthy to atone permanently. (Babylonian Talmud Sanhedrin 82b.)

A midrash interpreted that Phinehas “made atonement for the children of Israel,” a midrash taught that although he did not strictly offer a sacrifice to justify the expression “atonement,” his shedding the blood of the wicked was as though he had offered a sacrifice. (Numbers Rabbah 21:3.)

Numbers chapter 26

Rava found support in enumerated only 69 individuals. Rabbi Hiyya reported that Rabbi Hama bar Hanina taught that the seventieth person was Moses’ mother Jochebed, who was conceived on the way from Canaan to Egypt and born as Jacob’s family passed between the city walls as they entered Egypt, for to teach Esau’s enduring wickedness, in to teach Abraham’s enduring righteousness, in meant that the allocation was with reference to those who left Egypt; perhaps, the Gemara supposed, it might have meant the 12 tribes and that the Land was to be divided into 12 equal portions? The Gemara noted that in petitioned first the assembly, then the chieftans, then Eleazar, and finally Moses, but Abba Hanan said in the name of Rabbi Eliezer taught that Zelophehad’s daughters stood before all of them as they were sitting together. (Babylonian Talmud Bava Batra 119b.)

Noting that the words “in the wilderness” appeared both is and [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0428.htm#16 28:16-25;] and Deuteronomy [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0516.htm 16:1–8.] (Mishnah ; Tosefta Pisha 1:1–10:13; Jerusalem Talmud Pesachim 1a–; Babylonian Talmud Pesachim 2a–121b.)

Numbers chapter 29

Tractate Sukkah in the Mishnah, Tosefta, Jerusalem Talmud, and Babylonian Talmud interpreted the laws of Sukkot in and ).
*To offer an additional sacrifice every Sabbath ( )
*To offer an additional sacrifice on the Festival of Shavuot ( )
*To fast on Yom Kippur ( [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0323.htm#28 23:28,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0323.htm#31 31;] )
*To offer an additional sacrifice on the Festival of Sukkot ( )
*The precept of the regular "olah" offering, sacrificed every day ()
*The precept of the "musaf" offering on the Shavuot Festival () God foretold that any who escaped the sword of Hazael would be killed by Jehu; any who escaped the sword of Jehu would be killed by Elisha; and God would leave alive in Israel only the 7 thousand who had not bowed to Baal. ()

Connection to the parshah

The parshah and haftarah both address protagonists who showed zeal on behalf of God against apostasy by the Israelites. ), Phinehas killed Zimri and Cozbi to stem the Israelites’ following of Baal-Peor in the Heresy of Peor, while immediately before the haftarah (in ), Elijah killed the prophets of Baal to stem the Israelites’ following of Baal. Targum Jonathan [http://targum.info/pj/pjex6-9.htm to Exodus 6:18] thus identified Phinehas with Elijah.

The Weekly Maqam

In the Weekly Maqam, Sephardi Jews each week base the songs of the services on the content of that week's parshah. For parshah Pinchas, Sephardi Jews apply Maqam Saba, the maqam that symbolizes a covenant ("berit"). It is appropriate, because in the very opening of this parshah, God told Phinehas that due to his heroic acts, he was granted an eternal covenant of peace with God.

Further reading

The parshah has parallels or is discussed in these sources:

Biblical

*Genesis [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0148.htm#14 48:14] (laying on hands).
*Exodus [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0206.htm#24 6:24] (sons of Korah); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0212.htm#3 12:3–27,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0212.htm#43 43–49] (Passover); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0213.htm#6 13:6–10] (Passover); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0223.htm#16 23:14–19] (three pilgrim festivals); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0228.htm#30 28:30] (Urim and Thummim); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0229.htm 29:1–42] (program of sacrifices); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0232.htm 32:1–35] (sacrifices to another god; zealots kill apostates; zealots rewarded with priestly standing; plague as punishment; leader makes atonement); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0234.htm#15 34:15–16] (foreign women and apostasy); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0223.htm#22 34:22–26] (three pilgrim festivals).
*Leviticus [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0323.htm 23:1–44] (holidays); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0309.htm#10 24:10–16] (inquiry of God on the law).
* (census); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0403.htm#32 3:32] (Eleazar’s family in charge of the sanctuary); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0408.htm#6 8:10–12] (laying on hands); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0408.htm#19 8:19] (Levites make atonement so that there be no plague because of children of Israel coming near to the sanctuary); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0409.htm 9:1–14] (Passover, inquiry of God on the law); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0415.htm#32 15:32–36] (inquiry of God on the law); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0418.htm#22 18:22] (children of Israel not coming near to the sanctuary); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0420.htm#2 20:2–12;] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0425.htm#6 25:6–9;] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0428.htm#16 28:16–29:34] (holidays). [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0431.htm#6 31:6–18] (Phinehas, war with Midian); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0436.htm 36:1–12] (daughters of Zelophehad)
*Deuteronomy [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0503.htm#21 3:21–22] (Joshua); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0504.htm#3 4:3] (Baal Peor); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0507.htm#3 7:3–4] (foreign women and apostasy); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0516.htm#13 16:1–17] (three pilgrim festivals); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0531.htm#10 31:10–13] (Sukkot).
*Joshua [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0601.htm#6 1:6–9;] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0617.htm#3 17:3–6] (daughters of Zelophehad); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0622.htm#11 22:11–34] (Tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh; Baal Peor); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0624.htm#33 24:33.]
*Judges [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0720.htm#28 20:28] ; [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0721.htm#19 21:19] (Sukkot).
*1 Samuel [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt08a28.htm#6 28:6] (Urim).
*1 Kings [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt09a02.htm#26 2:26–27] (banishment of Abiathar, competitor for the priesthood with Zadok of the line of Phinehas); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt09a08.htm 8:1–66] (Sukkot); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt09a12.htm#32 12:32] (northern feast like Sukkot).
*Jeremiah [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt1133.htm#18 33:18–22] (permanent priesthood).
*Ezekiel [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt1245.htm#13 45:13–] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt1246.htm 46:24] (program of sacrifices); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt1245.htm#25 45:25] (Sukkot).
*Hosea [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt1309.htm#10 9:10] (Baal Peor).
*Zechariah [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt2314.htm#16 14:16–19] (Sukkot).
*Psalms [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt2635.htm#13 35:13] (I afflicted my soul with fasting); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt2647.htm#6 47:6] (God amidst the sound of the horn); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt26a6.htm#17 106:17,] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt26a6.htm#28 28–32] (Dathan and Abiram; Baal Peor; Meribah); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt26e5.htm#20 145:20] (God will destroy the wicked).
*Ezra [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt35a03.htm#4 3:4] (Sukkot); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt35a07.htm#5 7:5] (Phinehas); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt35a08.htm#2 8:2] (Phinehas).
*Nehemiah [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt35b08.htm 8:14–18] (Sukkot).
*1 Chronicles [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt25a05.htm#30 5:30–41] (the line of Phinehas); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt25a06.htm#35 6:35;] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt25a07.htm#15 7:15;] [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt25a09.htm#20 9:20] (Phinehas as chief of the sanctuary guards).
*2 Chronicles [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt25b05.htm 5:3–14] (Sukkot); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt25b07.htm#8 7:8] (Sukkot); [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt25b08.htm#12 8:12–13] (three Pilgrim festivals).

Early nonrabbinic

*1 Maccabees [http://st-takla.org/pub_Deuterocanon/Deuterocanon-Apocrypha_El-Asfar_El-Kanoneya_El-Tanya__8-First-of-Maccabees.html chs. 1–16.] (parallel to Phinehas).
*4 Maccabees [http://www.anova.org/sev/htm/ap/16_4maccabees.htm 18:12.]
*Josephus, "Antiquities of the Jews" [http://www.interhack.net/projects/library/antiquities-jews/b3c10.html 3:10:1–4;] [http://www.interhack.net/projects/library/antiquities-jews/b4c6.html 4:6:12–13;] [http://www.interhack.net/projects/library/antiquities-jews/b4c7.html 4:7:1–2.] Circa 93–94. Reprinted in, e.g., "The Works of Josephus: Complete and Unabridged, New Updated Edition". Translated by William Whiston. Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson Pub., 1987. ISBN 0-913573-86-8.
*Instruction for Catechumens, and A Prayer of Praise of God for His Greatness, and for His Appointment of Leaders for His People, in “Hellenistic Synagogal Prayers,” in James H. Charlesworth. "The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha", 2:687–88. New York: Doubleday, 1985. ISBN 0-385-18813-7.
*Pseudo-Philo [http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/bap/bap44.htm 28:1–4.]
*John [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=50&chapter=7&version=31 7:1-53] (Sukkot).
*Targum Jonathan [http://targum.info/pj/pjex6-9.htm to Exodus 6:18] (Phinehas was Elijah).

Classical rabbinic

*Mishnah: Pesachim 7:4; Yoma 7:1–3; Sukkah 5:6; Taanit 4:2; Megillah 3:5; Sotah 7:7; Bava Batra 8:1–8; Sanhedrin 9:6; Shevuot 1:3; Zevachim 10:1; Menachot 4:2–3, 8:7–9:2; Tamid 1:1–7:4. Land of Israel, circa 200 C.E. Reprinted in, e.g., "The Mishnah: A New Translation". Translated by Jacob Neusner. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1988. ISBN 0-300-05022-4.
*Jerusalem Talmud: Berakhot 43b; Sheviit 5b; Orlah 2b. Land of Israel, circa 400 C.E. Reprinted in, e.g., "Talmud Yerushalmi". Edited by Chaim Malinowitz, Yisroel Simcha Schorr, and Mordechai Marcus, vols. 1, 6a, 12. Brooklyn: Mesorah Pubs., 2006–2008.
*Babylonian Talmud: Berakhot 54b; Shabbat 21b, 24a–b, 36a, 64a, 80b, 97a, 103b, 131b, 133a; Eruvin 40a, 63a–b; Pesachim 47b–48a, 58a–59b, 66a, 68b, 71a, 76b–77a, 81b, 83b, 96a; Yoma 2b–3b, 7a, 15a, 25a, 34a–b, 35b, 41b, 46a, 62b, 65b, 68b, 70a–71a, 73a–b, 76a, 81a; Sukkah 47a, 48b–49b, 55a–b; Beitzah 15b; Rosh Hashanah 4b–5a, 7a, 29a–b, 32b, 33b–34a; Taanit 2b–3a, 17b, 26a; Megillah 11a, 14a, 20b, 21b, 28a, 29b, 30b–31a; Moed Katan 9a, 19a, 20a, 27a; Chagigah 6a–b, 7b, 9a, 16a, 17a–18a; Yevamot 78b, 90b, 100b, 104b; Ketubot 13b, 52b; Nedarim 78a; Nazir 23b, 30a; Sotah 12a, 14a, 22b, 40b, 43a, 46a; Gittin 85a; Kiddushin 33b, 66b; Bava Kamma 42b, 82b, 88b, 92b, 111a, 112a; Bava Metzia 52b; Bava Batra 75a, 106b, 108a–39b, 141a, 143b, 147a; Sanhedrin 8a, 11b, 13b, 16a, 34b–35a, 40b, 43b–44b, 64a, 82a–b, 105b–06a, 110a; Makkot 7b, 12a; Shevuot 2a, 9a–11a; Avodah Zarah 8b, 19b, 44b; Horayot 6a, 10b, 12b; Zevachim 6b, 12a, 84a, 89a, 101b, 110b, 118a; Menachot 44b–45b, 46b, 49b, 52a, 65a, 72b, 84b, 87a–b, 89a, 91b, 93b, 99b, 103b, 104b, 107a; Chullin 60b, 134b; Bekhorot 5b, 17a; Arakhin 3b, 13b; Temurah 14a–b, 29a; Keritot 4a, 28b; Meilah 11b, 13b; Tamid 2a–33b; Niddah 26a. Babylonia, 6th Century. Reprinted in, e.g., "Talmud Bavli". Edited by Yisroel Simcha Schorr, Chaim Malinowitz, and Mordechai Marcus, 72 vols. Brooklyn: Mesorah Pubs., 2006.

Medieval

*Rashi. "Commentary". [http://www.chabad.org/library/article.asp?AID=9953&showrashi=true Numbers 25–30.] Troyes, France, late 11th Century. Reprinted in, e.g., Rashi. "The Torah: With Rashi’s Commentary Translated, Annotated, and Elucidated". Translated and annotated by Yisrael Isser Zvi Herczeg, 4:319–67. Brooklyn: Mesorah Publications, 1997. ISBN 0-89906-029-3.
*Judah Halevi. "Kuzari". Toledo, Spain, 1130–1140. Reprinted in, e.g., Jehuda Halevi. "Kuzari: An Argument for the Faith of Israel." Intro. by Henry Slonimsky, 101, 133. New York: Schocken, 1964. ISBN 0-8052-0075-4.
*Numbers Rabbah 21:1–25. 12th Century. Reprinted in, e.g., "Midrash Rabbah: Numbers". Translated by Judah J. Slotki. London: Soncino Press, 1939. ISBN 0-900689-38-2.
*Zohar [http://www.kabbalah.com/k/index.php/p=zohar/zohar&vol=44 3:213a–241b.] pain, late 13th Century. Reprinted in, e.g, "The Zohar". Translated by Harry Sperling and Maurice Simon. 5 vols. London: Soncino Press, 1934.

Modern

*Thomas Hobbes. "Leviathan", England, 1651. Reprint edited by C. B. Macpherson, 506, 572. Harmondsworth, England: Penguin Classics, 1982. ISBN 0140431950.
*Emily Dickinson. Circa 1859. Circa 1860. Circa 1862. In "The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson". Edited by Thomas H. Johnson, 53, 79–80, 293–94. New York: Little, Brown & Co., 1960. ISBN 0-316-18414-4.
*Jacob Milgrom. “Magic, Monotheism, and the Sin of Moses.” In "The Quest for the Kingdom of God: Studies in Honor of George E. Mendenhall". Edited by H. B. Huffmon, F.A. Spina, A.R.W. Green, 251–265. Winona Lake, Indiana: Eisenbrauns, 1983. ISBN 0931464153.
*Tal Ilan. "How Women Differed." "Biblical Archaeology Review", 24:02. Mar./Apr. 1998.
*William H.C. Propp. “Why Moses Could Not Enter The Promised Land.” "Bible Review". 14 (3) (June 1998).

External links

* [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0425.htm#10 Masoretic text and 1917 JPS translation]
* [http://Bible.ort.org/books/torahd5.asp?action=displaypage&book=4&chapter=25&verse=10&portion=41 Hear the parshah chanted]