Parsha Q&A - Parshat Pinchas
Parshat Pinchas
This publication is also available in the following formats:
![[Text]](/qa/5760/bamidbar/../../../image/ascii.gif){kind=small}
Explanation of these symbols
Parsha Questions
- Why was Pinchas not originally a kohen?
- Why was Moav spared the fate of Midian?
- What does the yud and hey added to the family names testify?
- Korach and his congregation became a "sign." What do they signify?
- Why did Korach's children survive?
- Name six families in this Parsha whose names are changed.
- Who was Yaakov's only living granddaughter at the time of the census?
- How many years did it take to conquer the Land? How long to divide the Land?
- 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?
- What do Yocheved, Ard and Na'aman all have in common?
- Why did the decree to die in the desert not apply to the women?
- What trait did Tzlofchad's daughters exhibit that their ancestor Yosef also exhibited?
- Why does the Torah change the order of Tzlofchad's daughters' names?
- Tzlofchad died for what transgression?
- Why did Moshe use the phrase "Hashem of the spirits of all flesh"?
- Moshe "put some of his glory" upon Yehoshua. What does this mean?
- Where were the daily offerings slaughtered?
- Goats are brought as musaf sin-offerings. For what sin do they atone?
- Why is Shavuot called Yom Habikkurim?
- What do the 70 bulls offered on Succot symbolize?
Kasha
(kasha means "question")
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 their names 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
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
|
|
Answers to this Week's Questions
Questions | Contents
All references are to the verses and Rashi's commentary, unless otherwise stated
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.
25:18 - For the sake of Ruth, a future descendant of Moav.
26:5 - That the families were truly children of their tribe. These two letters spell G-d's Name.
26:10 - That kehuna was given forever to Aharon and his sons, and that no one should ever dispute this.
26:11 - Because they repented.
26:13,16,24,38,39,42 - Zerach, Ozni, Yashuv, Achiram, Shfufam, Shucham.
26:46 - Serach bat Asher
26:53 - Seven years. Seven years.
26:55, 27:8 - Two portions.
26:24,56 - They came down to Mitzrayim in their mothers' wombs.
26:64 - In the incident of the meraglim only the men wished to return to Egypt. The women wanted to enter Eretz Yisrael.
27:1 - Love for Eretz Yisrael.
27:1 - To teach that they were equal in greatness.
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.
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.
27:20 - That Yehoshua's face beamed like the moon.
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.
28:15 - For unnoticed ritual impurity of the Sanctuary or its vessels.
28:26 - The Shavuot double-bread offering was the first wheat-offering made from the new crop.
29:18 - The seventy nations.
Written and Compiled by Rabbi Eliyahu Kane & Rabbi Reuven Subar
General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
Production Design: Michael Treblow
© 2000 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.
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.
Copyright © 2000 Ohr Somayach
International. Send us Feedback.Dedication opportunities are available for Parsha Q&A. Please contact us for details.
