Parsha Q&A - Parshas Pinchas

Become a Supporter Library Library

Parsha Q&A

Parshas Pinchas

On the week ending 19 Tammuz 5759 / 2 - 3 July 1999>

Contents:
  • Parsha Questions
  • Kasha
  • I Did Not Know That!
  • Recommended Reading List
  • Answers to Parsha Questions
  • Back issues of Parsha Q&A
  • Subscription Information
  • Ohr Somayach Home Page
    •
    This publication is also available in the following formats: [Text] [Word] [PDF] Explanation of these symbols 

    Parsha Questions

    Answers | Contents

    1. Why was Pinchas not originally a kohen?
    2. Why was Moav spared the fate of Midian?
    3. What does the yud and hey added to the family names testify?
    4. Korach and his congregation became a "sign." What do they signify?
    5. Why did Korach's children survive?
    6. Name six families in this Parsha whose names are changed.
    7. Who was Yaakov's only living granddaughter at the time of the census?
    8. How many years did it take to conquer the Land? How long to divide the Land?
    9. Two brothers leave Egypt and die in the midbar. One brother has three sons. The other brother has only one child, a daughter. When these four cousins enter the Land, how many portions will the daughter get?
    10. What do Yocheved, Ard and Na'aman all have in common?
    11. Why did the decree to die in the desert not apply to the women?
    12. What trait did Tzlofchad's daughters exhibit that their ancestor Yosef also exhibited?
    13. Why does the Torah change the order of Tzlofchad's daughters' names?
    14. Tzlofchad died for what sin?
    15. Why did Moshe use the phrase "Hashem of the spirits of all flesh"?
    16. Moshe "put some of his glory" upon Yehoshua. What does this mean?
    17. Where were the daily offerings slaughtered?
    18. Goats are brought as musaf sin-offerings. For what sin do they atone?
    19. Why is Shavuot called Yom Habikkurim?
    20. What do the 70 bulls offered on Succot symbolize?

    Kasha

    (kasha means "question")

    How would you answer this question on the Parsha?

    Sheldon from New York asked:

    Why does the Torah wait till this week's Parsha to tell us the names of the Israelite prince and the Midianite princess who sinned together? Why doesn't it say this in last week's Parsha when it happened?

    Answer:

    G-d is concerned even for the dignity of evildoers; He does not want to publicize their names for no reason. Therefore, when the Torah describes their sin, it omits their names. However, in this Parsha, which describes Pinchas' reward, it is to Pinchas' credit that he courageously stood up against a well-known Prince and a Princess. Therefore, for the sake of Pinchas, the Torah here tells their names.

    Ohr Hachaim

    Do you have a KASHA? Write to kasha@ohr.edu with your questions on any Parsha!

    I Did Not Know That!

    Moshe's prayer for G-d to appoint a leader in his stead (Numbers 27:16-17) contains exactly 28 words, corresponding to the 28 years which that leader, Yehoshua, led the people. Thus, in connection with Yehoshua's conquering the Land, the verse states (Deuteronomy 8:18) that G-d grants koach-power (koach = 28) to prosper in the Land.

    Ba'al Haturim

    Recommended Reading List

    Ramban
    26:57
    Counting the Levi'im
    27:9
    Inheritance
    28:2
    The Daily Offerings
    Sefer Hachinuch
    400
    Inheritance
    401
    The Daily Sacrifices
    405
    Shofar

    Answers to this Week's Questions

    All references are to the verses and Rashi's commentary, unless otherwise stated

    1. Why was Pinchas not originally a kohen
      25:13 - Kehuna (priesthood) was given to Aharon and his sons (not grandsons), and to any of their descendants born after they were anointed. Pinchas, Aharon's grandson, was born prior to the anointing.
    2. Why was Moav spared the fate of Midian?
      25:18 - For the sake of Ruth, a future descendant of Moav.
    3. What does the yud and hey added to the family names testify?
      26:5 - That the families were truly children of their tribe.
    4. Korach and his congregation became a "sign." What do they signify?
      26:10 - That kehuna was given forever to Aharon and his sons, and that no one should ever dispute this.
    5. Why did Korach's children survive?
      26:11 - Because they repented.
    6. Name six families in this Parsha whose names are changed.
      26:13,16,24,38,39,42 - Zerach, Ozni, Yashuv, Achiram, Shfufam, Shucham.
    7. Who was Yaakov's only living granddaughter at the time of the census?
      26:46 - Serach bat Asher
    8. How many years did it take to conquer the Land? How long to divide the Land?
      26:53 - Seven years. Seven years.
    9. Two brothers leave Egypt and die in the midbar. One brother has three sons. The other brother has only one child, a daughter. When these four cousins enter the Land, how many portions will the daughter get?
      26:55, 27:8 - Two portions.
    10. What do Yocheved, Ard and Na'aman all have in common?
      26:24,56 - They came down to Mitzrayim in their mothers' wombs.
    11. Why did the decree to die in the desert not apply to the women?
      26:64 - In the incident of the meraglim only the men wished to return to Egypt. The women wanted to enter Eretz Yisrael.
    12. What trait did Tzlofchad's daughters exhibit that their ancestor Yosef also exhibited?
      27:1 - Love for the Land of Israel.
    13. Why does the Torah change the order of Tzlofchad's daughters' names?
      27:1 - To teach that they were equal in greatness.
    14. Tzlofchad died for what sin?
      27:3 - Rabbi Akiva says that Tzlofchad gathered sticks on Shabbat. Rabbi Shimon says that Tzlofchad was one who tried to enter Eretz Yisrael after the sin of the meraglim.
    15. Why did Moshe use the phrase "Hashem of the spirits of all flesh"?
      27:16 - He was asking Hashem, who knows the multitude of dispositions among the Jewish People, to appoint a leader who can deal with each person on that person's level.
    16. Moshe "put some of his glory" upon Yehoshua. What does this mean?
      27:20 - That Yehoshua's face beamed like the moon.
    17. Where were the daily offerings slaughtered?
      28:3 - At a spot opposite the sun. The morning offering was slaughtered on the west side of the slaughtering area and the afternoon offering on the east side.
    18. Goats are brought as musaf sin-offerings. For what sin do they atone?
      28:15 - For unnoticed ritual impurity of the Sanctuary or its vessels.
    19. Why is Shavuot called Yom Habikkurim?
      28:26 - The Shavuot double-bread offering was the first wheat-offering made from the new crop.
    20. What do the 70 bulls offered on Succot symbolize?
      29:18 - The seventy nations.
    Written and Compiled by Rabbi Eliyahu Kane & Rabbi Reuven Subar
    General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
    Production Design: Eli Ballon
    © 1999 Ohr Somayach International - All rights reserved. This publication may be distributed to another person intact without prior permission. We also encourage you to include this material in other publications, such as synagogue newsletters. However, we ask that you contact us beforehand for permission, and then send us a sample issue.
    This publication is available via E-Mail
    Ohr Somayach Institutions is an international network of Yeshivot and outreach centers, with branches in North America, Europe, South Africa and South America. The Central Campus in Jerusalem provides a full range of educational services for over 685 full-time students.

    The Jewish Learning Exchange (JLE) of Ohr Somayach offers summer and winter programs in Israel that attract hundreds of university students from around the world for 3 to 8 weeks of study and touring.

    The Ohr Somayach Home Page is hosted by TeamGenesis
    vj_bar.gif (1798 bytes)
    Copyright © 1999 Ohr Somayach International. Send us Feedback.
    Dedication opportunities are available for Parsha Q&A. Please contact us for details.
    Ohr Somayach International is a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation (letter on file) EIN 13-3503155 and your donation is tax deductable.