Pinchas and the Next Generation Rabbi Jonathan Ziring: [email protected]

Our own worst enemies – what was seen by Bilaam vs. what is seen by Moshe 1. Numbers 24:3, 5 )ג(וַיִּשָָּׁׂ֥אמְשָׁ ל֖וֹ וַיֹאמַ ַ֑ר נְאֻ֤ם בִּ לְעָׁ ם֙בְ נ֣וֹבְ עֹֹ֔ר ּונְאָּׂ֥ם הַ גֶ֖בֶ רשְ ת ָּׂ֥ם הָׁעָָֽׁ יִּן׃… )ה(מַ ה־טָֹּׂ֥בּו אֹהָׁ לֶ֖יָך יַעֲקַֹ֑ב מִּשְ כְנֹתֶ ֖יָך איִּשְרָׁ ָֽ ל׃ (3) Taking up his theme, he said: Word of son of , Word of the man whose eye is true,… (5) How fair are your tents, O Jacob, Your dwellings, O Israel!

2. Numbers 25 )א(וַיָּׂ֥שֶביִּשְרָׁא ֖ל בַשִּטִּ ַ֑ים וַיָׁ֣חֶ ל הָׁעָֹׁ֔ם לִּזְנ֖וֹתאֶ ל־בְ נָּׂ֥וֹת מוֹאָָֽׁ ב׃)ב( וַתִּקְרֶ ֣אןָׁ לָׁעָׁ ֹ֔ם לְזִּבְח֖י אֱֹלהיהֶַ֑ןוַיֹ֣אכַל הָׁעָׁ ֹ֔ם חֲוַיִָּֽשְתַ ל ּוּ֖ו ָֽ אֹלה יהֶָֽ ן׃ )ג(וַיִּצָָּׁׂ֥מֶ דיִּשְרָׁ א֖ל לְבַ֣עַלפְעַ֑וֹר וַיִָּֽחַ ר־אַ ָּׂ֥ף ה' בְ יִּשְרָׁ אָֽ ל׃ )ד( וַיֹֹּ֨אמֶ ר ה' אֶ ל־מֹשֶ ֶׁ֗ה קַ ַ֚ח אֶ ת־כָׁל־רָׁ אש ֣יהָׁעָׁ ֹ֔םוְ הוֹקַ ָּׂ֥ע אוֹתָָׁ֛ם לַה' נֶ֣גֶד הַשָׁ ַ֑מֶ שוְ יָׁשָֹ֛בחֲ רָּׂ֥וֹן ַאף־ה' מִּ איִּשְרָׁ ָֽ ל׃ )ה( וַיֹ֣אמֶרמֹשֶֹ֔האֶ ל־שֹפְט֖י א יִּשְרָׁ ַ֑להִּרְ גּו֙ אִּ ֣ישאֲ נָׁשָׁ ֹ֔יוהַ נִּצְמָׁדִּ ֖ים לְבַָּׂ֥עַ לפְעָֽ וֹר׃ )ו( וְהִּ נֵּ֡ה אִּ ישׁ֩מִּבְנֹּ֨י יִּשְרָׁ אֵ֜ל בָׁ ֶׁ֗א וַיַקְר ֻ֤באֶל־אֶחָׁ יו֙אֶ ת־הַמִּדְ יָׁנִֹּ֔ית לְע ינ ֣י מֹשֶ ֹ֔ה ּולְע ֖יניכָׁל־עֲדַ֣תבְני־יִּשְרָׁ אַ֑ל וְה ה֣מָׁ בֹכִֹּ֔יםפֶ ֖תַ ח לאָֹּׂ֥הֶ מוֹע ָֽ ד׃ )ז(וַיֶַׁ֗רְ א פִָּֽ ינְחָׁ ס֙בֶן־אֶלְעָׁ זָֹׁ֔ר בֶָֽ ן־ַאהֲרֹ֖ןהַכֹהַ֑ן וַיָׁ֙קָׁ ם֙ מִּ ת֣וְֹך עהָָֽׁ דָׁ ֹ֔הוַיִּקַ ָּׂ֥ח חרֹ֖מַ בְ יָׁדָֽ וֹ׃)ח( וַַ֠יָׁבֹא ַאחַֹּ֨ר אִָּֽ יש־יִּשְרָׁ א ֵ֜לאֶ ל־הַק בָׁ ֶׁ֗הוַיִּדְקֹר֙אֶת־שְ נ יהֶ ֹ֔ם אַ֚ת אִּ ֣ישיִּשְרָׁ א ֹ֔ל וְאֶ ת־הָׁאִּשָׁ ֖האֶ ל־קֳבָׁתָׁ ַּ֑ה וַתָֽ עָׁצַ ר֙הַמַ ג פָׁ מֹ֔ה עַ ֖לבְ נ ָּׂ֥י יִּשְרָׁ אָֽ ל׃)ט( וַיִּהְ יּ֕ו הַמ תִּ ֖ים בַמַגפַָׁ֑הַארְ בָׁעָׁ ָּׂ֥ה וְעֶשְרִּ ֖ים אָָֽׁ לֶף׃ )פ()י( וַיְדַב ָּׂ֥ר ה'אֶ ל־מֹשֶ ָּׂ֥ה ל אמָֹֽ ר׃ )יא(פִָּֽינְחָֹּׁ֨ס בֶן־אֶלְעָׁ זֵָׁ֜ר בֶ ן־ַאהֲ רֹ֣ןהַ כֹה הֶׁ֗ן שִּ ֻ֤יב אֶת־חֲמָׁתִּ י֙ מעַ ֣ל בְ נָֽי־יִּשְרָׁ א ֹ֔לבְקַ נְאָּׂ֥וֹ אֶת־קִּנְָאתִּ֖יבְתוֹכַָׁ֑םוְ יֹלא־כִּלִָּּׂ֥יתִּ אֶ ת־בְ נ ָֽי־יִּשְרָׁ א ֖לבְקִּ נְָאתִָּֽ י׃ )יב( לָׁכ ֖ן אֱמַֹ֑ר הִּ נְנִֹּּ֨י נֹת ָּׂ֥ן לָ֛וֹ אֶ ת־בְרִּ יתִּ ֖י שָׁ לָֽוֹם׃ )יג(וְהָׁ ֻ֤יְתָׁ ה לוֹ֙ ּולְזַרְ ע֣וֹ ַאחֲרָׁ ֹ֔יו בְרִּ ֖ית כְהנַ֣ת עוֹלַָׁ֑םתֶַׁ֗חַתאֲשֶ ֻ֤ר נקִּ א֙ ל ָֽ אֹלקָׁ ֹ֔יו וַיְכַפ֖ר עַ נל־בְ ָּׂ֥י יִּשְרָׁ אָֽ ל׃)יד( וְש םׁ֩ אִּ ֹּ֨יש איִּשְרָׁ ֵ֜ל הַמכֶֶׁ֗ה אֲ שֶֻ֤רה כָׁה֙אֶ ת־הַמִּדְ יָׁנִֹּ֔יתזִּמְרִּ ֖י בֶן־סָׁ לַּ֑וא נְשִּ ָּׂ֥יא ב ָֽ ית־אָׁ ֖ב לַשִּמְעֹנִָּֽי׃)טו(וְשֹּ֨ם הָָֽׁאִּשָׁ ָּׁ֧ה הַמ כָָׁ֛ההַמִּדְ יָׁנִּ֖ית כָׁזְבִּ ֣י בַ ת־צַּ֑ור רֹ֣אש א מָּׂ֥וֹתב ָֽ ית־אָׁ ָ֛ב בְמִּדְ יָׁ֖ןהָּֽוא׃ )פ( )טז( וַיְדַב ָּׂ֥ר ה'אֶ ל־מֹשֶ ָּׂ֥ה ל אמָֹֽ ר׃ )יז( צָׁ ר֖וֹר אֶ ת־ הַמִּדְ יָׁנִַּ֑יםוְהִּ כִּיתֶ ֖ם אוֹתָָֽׁ ם׃ )יח(כִּ֣יצֹרְרִָּּׂ֥ים ה ם֙ לָׁכֶֹ֔ם בְ נִּכְל יהֶ ָ֛ם אֲשֶ ר־נִּכְ לָּּׂ֥ולָׁכֶ֖ם עַ ל־דְ בַ ר־פְ עַ֑וֹר וְעַ ל־דְ בַ ַ֞ר כָׁזְבִּ ֹּ֨י בַ ֻ֤ת־נְשִּ יאמִּדְיָׁן֙ אֲחֹתָׁ ֹ֔ם הַמ כָָּׁׂ֥ה בְ יוֹם־ הַמַ ג ֖הפָׁ עַ ל־דְ בַ ר־פְעָֽ וֹר׃ (1) While Israel was staying at Shittim, the people profaned themselves by whoring with the Moabite women, (2) who invited the people to the sacrifices for their god. The people partook of them and worshiped that god. (3) Thus Israel attached itself to -, and the LORD was incensed with Israel. (4) The LORD said to , “Take all the ringleaders and have them publicly impaled before the LORD, so that the LORD’s wrath may turn away from Israel.” (5) So Moses said to Israel’s officials, “Each of you slay those of his men who attached themselves to Baal-peor.” (6) Just then one of the came and brought a Midianite woman over to his companions, in the sight of Moses and of the whole Israelite community who were weeping at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. (7) When , son of son of Aaron the priest, saw this, he left the assembly and, taking a spear in his hand, (8) he followed the Israelite into the chamber and stabbed both of them, the Israelite and the woman, through the belly. Then the plague against the Israelites was checked. (9) Those who died of the plague numbered twenty-four thousand. (10) The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, (11) “Phinehas, son of Eleazar son of Aaron the priest, has turned back My wrath from the Israelites by displaying among them his passion for Me, so that I did not wipe out the Israelite people in My passion. (12) Say, therefore, ‘I grant him My pact of friendship. (13) It shall be for him and his descendants after him a pact of priesthood for all time, because he took impassioned action for his G-d, thus making expiation for the Israelites.’” (14) The name of the Israelite who was killed, the one who was killed with the Midianite woman, was son of Salu, chieftain of a Simeonite ancestral house. (15) The name of the Midianite woman who was killed was daughter of Zur; he was the tribal head of an ancestral house in . (16) The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, (17) “Assail the Midianites and defeat them— (18) for they assailed you by the trickery they practiced against you—because of the affair of Peor and because of the affair of their kinswoman Cozbi, daughter of the Midianite chieftain, who was killed at the time of the plague on account of Peor.”

The flashback 3. Numbers 31 נְקֶֹׁ֗ם נִּקְ מַ ת֙בְ נ ֣י יִּשְרָׁ אֹ֔ל מ א ֖ת הַמִּ דְ יָׁנִַּ֑יםַאחַ ֖ר ת ָאס ָּׂ֥ףאֶ ל־עַמֶָֽ יָך׃ … )ז(וַָֽיִּצְבְאּו֙ עַל־מִּדְ יָֹׁ֔ן כַאֲשֶ ָ֛ר צִּ ּוָָּׁׂ֥ה ה'אֶ ת־מֹשֶ ַ֑ה וַיַָֽהַרְ גּ֖ו כָׁל־זָׁכָָֽׁ ר׃ )ח( וְאֶ ת־מַ לְכ ֹּ֨ימִּדְ יֵָׁ֜ן הָׁרְגּ֣ועַ ל־חַ לְל יהֶ ֶׁ֗ם אֶת־אֱוִּ ֻ֤יוְאֶ ת־רֶ ֙קֶ ם֙ וְאֶ ת־צֻּ֤ור וְאֶ ת־חּור֙ וְאֶ ת־רֶ ֹ֔בַ ע חֲמ֖שֶת מַ לְכ ֣י מִּדְ יַָׁ֑ן וְאת֙ בִּ לְעָׁ ֣םבֶ ן־בְ עֹ֔וֹר הָׁרְ גּ֖ו בֶחָָֽׁרֶ ב׃ … )יד( וַיִּקְ צֹ֣ף מֹשֶ ֹ֔ה עַ ֖ל ֣פְקּודיהֶחַָׁ֑יִּלשָׁרֻ֤י הָׁאֲלָׁפִּ ים֙ וְשָׁר ֣י הַמאֹ֔וֹת הַבָׁאִּ ֖יםמִּצְבָׁ ָּׂ֥א הַמִּ לְחָׁמָָֽׁ ה׃ )טו( וַיָֹּׂ֥אמֶ ר אֲ ליהֶ ֖ם מֹשֶ ַ֑ה הַָֽ חִּיִּיתֶ֖ם כָׁל־נְק בָָֽׁ ה׃ )טז( ה֣ן ה ֵ֜נָׁה הָׁ יֹּּ֨ו נלִּבְ ֻ֤י יִּשְרָׁ אל֙ בִּדְבַ֣ר בִּ לְעָֹׁ֔ם לִּמְסָׁ ר־מַ לָּׂ֥עַ בַ ה' עַ ל־דְ בַ ר־פְ עַ֑וֹר וַתְהִּ ָּׂ֥י הַמַ גפָׁ ֖הבַעֲדַ ָּׂ֥ת ה' (2) “Avenge the Israelite people on the Midianites; then you shall be gathered to your kin… (7) They took the field against Midian, as the LORD had commanded Moses, and slew every male. (8) Along with their other victims, they slew the kings of Midian: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. They also put Balaam son of Beor to the sword... (14) Moses became angry with the commanders of the army, the officers of thousands and the officers of hundreds, who had come back from the military campaign. (15) Moses said to them, “You have spared every female! (16) Yet they are the very ones who, at the bidding of Balaam, induced the Israelites to trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, so that the LORD’s community was struck by the plague.

4. Nechama Leibowitz "Why does the not reveal to us in parashat the evil schemes of Bil'am, prior to the description of Israel's sin, when they became entangled in his corruption? And why does the Torah not mention Bil'am's role and his incitement when it talks about the scheming of Midian?" "It seems that the Torah wanted to teach us a great and important lesson here. Although the initiative was Bilam's, and it was he who advised that the daughters of Moav be sent to the Israelite camp in order to destroy their most precious asset - the purity of the sexual aspect of their lives - nevertheless, the guilty ones are Israel…But the inciter is not exempt from punishment, and therefore in the parasha where we learn of Bilam's punishment…

5. Rabbi Elchanan Samet We have already noted the special literary characteristic of our story, where the first part describes the events that took place around Ba'al Pe'or AS THEY APPEARED AT THE TIME, while the hidden facts are supplied AS NEEDED, in the second half - and hence the flashback in this half. The 'need' here is to give new significance to the facts recounted previously, in order to indicate their future influence. We learn the significance of Pinchas's act: his fearlessly slaying a prince of Israel and the daughter of a Midianite king, thereby stopping the plague, brings his reward and that of his descendants for all eternity. We also learn the significance of Israel's shameful sin and the plague that struck them: these were caused by the Midianites' scheming and engendered the command that the Midianites be "vexed" and struck.

Pinchas Emerging as New Leader 6. Exodus 32:4-6 – The Egel – Idolatry and Immorality )ד( וַיִּקַ ֣ח מִּ יָׁדָׁ ֶׁ֗ם רוַיָֻׁ֤צַ אֹתוֹ֙ ֹ֔בַחֶ רֶטוַָֽיַעֲש֖הּוע֣גֶל מַס כַָׁ֑ה וַיֹ֣אמְ רֹּ֔ו אֻ֤לֶה אֱֹלקֶ ֙יָך֙ יִּשְרָׁ א ֹ֔ל אֲשֶ ָּׂ֥רהֶ עֱלּ֖וָך מ ץאֶָּׂ֥רֶ מִּצְרָָֽׁ יִּם׃ )ה(וַיַ֣רְ א ַאהֲ רֹֹ֔ן ןוַיִָּּׂ֥בֶ מִּ זְב ֖חַ לְפָׁ נַָׁ֑יו וַיִּקְרָֻׁ֤אאַָֽ הֲ רֹן֙ וַיֹאמַ ֹ֔רחַ ָּׂ֥ג לַה' מָׁחָָֽׁ ר׃ )ו( וַיַשְ כִּ֙ימּו֙ מִָּֽמָׁ חֳרָֹׁ֔תוַיַעֲלּ֣ו עֹֹלֹ֔ת וַיַגִּ֖שּו שְ לָׁמִּ ַ֑ים וַיֻ֤שֶ ב הָׁעָׁ ם֙ לֶָֽאֱכֹ֣ל וְשָׁ תֹ֔וֹ וַיָׁק֖מּו לְצַח ָֽ ק׃ )פ( (4) This he took from them and cast in a mold, and made it into a molten calf. And they exclaimed, “This is your god, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt!” (5) When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron announced: “Tomorrow shall be a festival of the LORD!” (6) Early next day, the people offered up burnt offerings and brought sacrifices of well-being; they sat down to eat and drink, and then rose to dance.

7. Exodus 32:25-35 – The Zealotry )כה(וַיַֻ֤רְאמֹשֶה֙ אֶ ת־הָׁעָׁ ֹ֔ם כִָּּׂ֥יפָׁר ֖עַ הַּ֑וא כִָּֽ י־פְרָׁ עֹ֣הַאהֲ רֹֹ֔ן לְשִּמְצָׁ ֖ה בְ קָׁמיהֶָֽם׃)כו( וַיַעֲמֹֻ֤ד מֹשֶ ה֙ בְשַ ֣עַ ר הַָֽמַחֲ נֶֹ֔ה וַיֹ֕אמֶ רמִּ ָּׂ֥ילַה' א לַָׁ֑י וַיָאסְ פָּּׂ֥ו א לָׁ֖יו כָׁל־ בְנָּׂ֥ילוִָּֽי׃)כז( רוַיֹ֣אמֶ לָׁהֶ ֶׁ֗ם כָֹֽה־ָאמַ ֻ֤ר ה' אֱֹלק֣י יִּשְרָׁ אֹ֔ל שִּ ָּׂ֥ימּו אִּ יש־חַרְ ב֖וֹעַ ל־יְר כַ֑וֹ עִּבְ רֹּּ֨ו וָׁ שֵּ֜ובּו ֻ֤מִּשַ עַרלָׁשַ֙עַר֙בַָֽמַחֲ נֶֹ֔ה וְהִּרְ גָּּׁ֧ו אִָּֽ יש־אֶ ת־ָאחִּ ָ֛יווְאִּ ָּׂ֥יש אֶ ת־ רע֖הּווְאִָּּׂ֥ישאֶ ת־קְ רֹבָֽ וֹ׃ )כח(וַיַָֽעֲשָּּׂ֥ו נבְ ָֽי־ל וִּ ֖יכִּדְ בַ ֣ר מֹשֶ ַ֑ה וַיִּפֹ ֻ֤ל מִּ ן־הָׁעָׁ ם֙בַ י֣וֹם הַהֹּ֔וא כִּ שְֹלָּׂ֥שֶת ַאלְפ ֖י אִָּֽ יש׃ )כט( וַיֹ֣אמֶ רמֹשֶ ֶׁ֗ה מִּ לְאֹּּ֨ו יֶדְ כֶֻ֤םהַ יוֹם֙לַָֽה' כִָּ֛י אִָּּׂ֥ישבִּבְנ֖וֹּובְָאחִּ ַ֑יו וְ לָׁת ָּׁ֧ת עֲליכֶָ֛ם הַ י֖וֹםבְרָׁ כָָֽׁ ה׃ )ל(וַיְהִּ י֙ מִָּֽמָׁחֳרָׁ ֹ֔תוַיֹֻ֤אמֶ ר מֹשֶ ה֙אֶ ל־הָׁעָׁ ֹ֔ם אַ תֶָּׂ֥םחֲטָׁ אתֶ ֖ם חֲטָׁאָׁ ֣ה גְדֹלַָׁ֑ה וְעַתָׁ ה֙אֶָֽ עֱלֶ֣ה אֶ ל־ה' אּולַָּׂ֥י אֲכַפְרָׁ ֖הבְעַ ָּׂ֥ד חַטַ אתְ כֶָֽ ם׃ (25) Moses saw that the people were out of control—since Aaron had let them get out of control—so that they were a menace to any who might oppose them. (26) Moses stood up in the gate of the camp and said, “Whoever is for the LORD, come here!” And all the Levites rallied to him. (27) He said to them, “Thus says the LORD, the G-d of Israel: Each of you put sword on thigh, go back and forth from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay brother, neighbor, and kin.” (28) The Levites did as Moses had bidden; and some three thousand of the people fell that day. (29) And Moses said, “Dedicate yourselves to the LORD this day—for each of you has been against son and brother—that He may bestow a blessing upon you today.” (30) The next day Moses said to the people, “You have been guilty of a great sin. Yet I will now go up to the LORD; perhaps I may win forgiveness for your sin.”

8. Sanhedrin 82a:11-13 )במדבר כה, ה( ויאמר משה אל שופטי ישראל וגו' הלך שבטו של שמעון אצל זמרי בן סלוא אמרו לו הן דנין דיני נפשות ואתה יושב ושותק מה עשה עמד וקיבץ כ"ד אלף מישראל והלך אצל כזבי אמר לה השמיעי לי אמרה לו בת מלך אני וכן צוה לי אבי לא תשמעי אלא לגדול שבהם אמר לה אף הוא נשיא שבט הוא ולא עוד אלא שהוא גדול ממנו שהוא שני לבטן והוא שלישי לבטן תפשה בבלוריתה והביאה אצל משה אמר לו בן עמרם זו אסורה או מותרת ואם תאמר אסורה בת יתרו מי התירה לך נתעלמה ממנו הלכה געו כולם בבכיה והיינו דכתיב )במדבר כה, ו( והמה בוכים פתח אהל מועד וכתיב )במדבר כה, ז( וירא פנחס בן אלעזר מה ראה אמר רב ראה מעשה ונזכר הלכה אמר לו אחי אבי אבא לא כך לימדתני ברדתך מהר סיני הבועל את כותית קנאין פוגעין בו אמר לו קריינא דאיגרתא איהו ליהוי פרוונקא It is stated: “And Moses said to the judges of Israel: Each of you shall slay his men who have adhered unto Ba’al-Peor” (Numbers 25:5). The tribe of Simeon went to Zimri, son of Salu, their leader, and said to him: They are judging cases of capital law and executing us and you are sitting and are silent? What did Zimri do? He arose and gathered twenty-four thousand people from the children of Israel, and went to Cozbi, daughter of Zur, princess of Midian, and said to her: Submit to me and engage in intercourse with me. She said to him: I am the daughter of a king, and this is what my father commanded me: Submit only to the greatest of them. Zimri said to her: He, too, referring to himself, is the head of a tribe; moreover, he is greater than Moses, as he is the second of the womb, as he descends from Simeon, the second son of Jacob, and Moses is the third of the womb, as he descends from Levi, the third son of Jacob. He seized her by her forelock and brought her before Moses. Zimri said to Moses: Son of Amram, is this woman forbidden or permitted? And if you say that she is forbidden, as for the daughter of Yitro to whom you are married, who permitted her to you? The halakha with regard to the proper course of action when encountering a Jewish man engaging in intercourse with a gentile woman eluded Moses. All of the members of the Sanhedrin bawled in their weeping, and that is the meaning of that which is written: “And they are crying at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting” (Numbers 25:6). And it is written thereafter: “And Pinehas, son of Elazar, son of Aaron the priest, saw and arose from the midst of the congregation and took a spear in his hand” (Numbers 25:7). The Gemara asks: What did Pinehas see that led him to arise and take action? Rav says: He saw the incident taking place before him and he remembered the halakha. He said to Moses: Brother of the father of my father, as Moses was the brother of his grandfather Aaron, did you not teach me this during your descent from Mount Sinai: One who engages in intercourse with a gentile woman, zealots strike him? Moses said to him: Let the one who reads the letter be the agent [parvanka] to fulfill its contents.

9. Yerushalmi Sanhedrin 9:7 כתיב וירא פינחס בן אלעזר בן אהרן הכהן מה ראה? ראה את המעשה ונזכר להלכה הבועל ארמית הקנאים פוגעין בהן. תני שלא ברצון חכמים. ופינחס שלא ברצון חכמים א"ר יודה בר פזי ביקשו לנדותו אילולי שקפצה עליו רוח הקודש ואמרה והיתה לו ולזרעו אחריו ברית כהונת עולם וגומר Pinchas acted against the will of the wise men. Rabbi Yuda…said: They desired to excommunicate him. If not for the divine spirit that sprung upon him and said: And he shall have it, and his descendants after him, the covenant of priesthood everlasting…English

10. Numbers 11:26-29 – Moshe allows other leaders. Kinah is not for him… )כו( וַיִּשָׁ אֲ רּ֣ו שְ נ ָֽי־אֲ נָׁשִּ ֣ים׀בַָֽמַחֲנֵֶּ֡הש֣ם הָׁאֶחָׁ ֣ד ׀אֶלְדָׁ ֵּ֡ד וְשםׁ֩ הַש נִֹּּ֨י מידָׁ ֵ֜ד וַתָׁ ָּׁ֧נַח עֲל יהֶ ֣ם הָׁרֶּׁ֗וחַ וְה ֙מָׁ ה֙ בַכְתבִּ ֹ֔יםוְֹלָּׂ֥א יָׁצְ אּ֖ו הָׁ אַֹ֑הֱלָׁה וַיִָּֽתְ נַבְ אּ֖ו בַָֽמַחֲ נֶָֽה׃ )כז( וַיָׁ֣רָׁ ץהַ רנַֹ֔עַ וַיַג ָּׂ֥דלְמֹשֶ ֖הוַיֹאמַ ַ֑ר אֶלְדָׁ ֣ד ּומידָֹׁ֔דמִָּֽתְ נַבְאִּ ֖ים בַָֽמַחֲ נֶָֽה׃ )כח( וַיֵַ֜עַ ן יְהוֹש ֣עַ בִּ ן־נֶּׁ֗ון מְשָׁר ָּׂ֥תמֹשֶ ָ֛המִּבְ חרָׁ ֖יו וַיֹאמַ ַ֑ר אדושם מֹשֶ ֖ה כְלָׁא ָֽ ם׃ )כט(וַיֹֻ֤אמֶרלוֹ֙מֹשֶ ֹ֔ה נהַָֽמְקַ ָּׂ֥א אַתָׁ ֖ה לִַּ֑י ּומִּ ֹּ֨י יִּת ֵ֜ןכָׁל־עַ ֻ֤ם ה' נְבִּיאִּ ֹ֔ים כִּי־יִּת ָּׁ֧ן ה' אֶ ת־רּוח֖וֹעֲל יהֶָֽ ם׃ (26) Two men, one named Eldad and the other Medad, had remained in camp; yet the spirit rested upon them—they were among those recorded, but they had not gone out to the Tent—and they spoke in ecstasy in the camp. (27) A youth ran out and told Moses, saying, “Eldad and Medad are acting the prophet in the camp!” (28) And Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ attendant from his youth, spoke up and said, “My lord Moses, restrain them!” (29) But Moses said to him, “Are you wrought up on my account? Would that all the LORD’s people were prophets, that the LORD put His spirit upon them!”

11. Leviticus 10:1-2 – Pinchas acts for G-d, but not Nadav and Avihu )א(וַיִּקְחּ֣ובְנָֽי־אַַ֠הֲ רֹן נָׁדָׁ ֹּ֨ב וַאֲבִּ יהֵּ֜וא אִּ ֣יש מַחְתָׁ תֶׁ֗וֹ וַיִּתְ נֻּ֤ו בָׁהן֙ א ֹ֔שוַיָׁשִּ ָּׂ֥ימּו עָׁ לֶ֖יהָׁ קְ טַֹ֑רֶתוַיַקְרִֵּ֜בּו לִּפְ נ ֻ֤י אה' ֣ש זָׁרָׁ ֹ֔ה אֲשֶ ָּׁ֧רֹלֹ֦א צִּ ּוָׁ֖האֹתָָֽׁ ם׃)ב( וַת ָּׂ֥צ א א ָ֛ש מִּלִּפְנ ָּׂ֥י ה' וַתֹ֣אכַלאוֹתָׁ ַ֑ם וַיָׁמ ֖תּו נלִּפְ ָּׂ֥י ה' (1) Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu each took his fire pan, put fire in it, and laid incense on it; and they offered before the LORD alien fire, which He had not enjoined upon them. (2) And fire came forth from the LORD and consumed them; thus they died at the instance of the LORD.

12. Rashi on Leviticus 10:2:1 רַ'אֱלִּיעֶ זֶר אוֹמ רֹלא מ תּו בְ ני ַאהֲ רֹן אֶ לָׁא לעַ יְד י שֶ הוֹרּו הֲלָׁכָׁה נבִּפְ י מֹשֶה רַ בָׁ ן R. Eleizer said: the sons of Aaron died only because they ruled on religious matters in the presence of their teacher

13. Rabbi Yoni Grossman This background story arises from the Zohar on parashat Aharei Mot, concerning the death of Nadav and Avihu: "(Nadav and Avihu) did not die like other mortals, even though they were not married, for they died only in body, but not in soul. From where do we know this? It is written, 'He took one of the daughters of Putiel as a wife, and she bore him Pinchas. These are the heads of the households of the Leviim by their families…' – Pinchas alone is enumerated, although it is written 'THE HEADS of the households of the Leviim.' From this we learn that Nadav and Avihu died a physical death but not a spiritual death… And therefore it is written, 'Pinchas THE SON of Elazar THE SON of Aharon.'" According to the Zohar, the souls of Nadav and Avihu were reincarnated in Pinchas, and he was a tikkun (mending) for them. What is the meaning of this surprising connection between the sin of Nadav and Avihu and the zeal of Pinchas? The Zohar itself explains: "These [Nadav and Avihu] brought a strange FIRE, here there was a strange WOMAN" (part III, 57b). In other words, there is some similarity (linguistic and perhaps even more) between the sins described in these two stories. Does this connection arise from the verses themselves, and does it contribute to the significance of the story of Ba'al Pe'or and the zeal of Pinchas? [..] • Both stories have all standing at Ohel Moed • Both have a bringing - the fire/Kozbi • Kohanim • Taking of spear vs. taking of ketoret. As the Zohar describes it, Pinchas is a "tikkun" for the sin of Nadav and Avihu. …the fundamental difference between the zeal of Nadav and Avihu and that of Pinchas. Nadav and Avihu sought to preserve, through an act of zeal, their special status and honor. In other words, they had a personal interest at stake. It is difficult to maintain that their zeal was truly for G-d's sake; we suspect that their act was done for their own sake – even if cloaked in an apparent desire to preserve the honor of G- d. Zealots of this type have existed in every generation: people who preach morals and honor for G-d to others, while revealing in their actions a profound concern for their own personal honor.

14. I Kings 19:7-17 – Moshe vs. Eliyahu )ז(וַיָׁשָׁבׁ֩מַלְאַ ְֹּ֨ך ה' ׀ש נִּית֙וַיִּגַע־בֹ֔וֹ וַיֹ֖אמֶ ר קּ֣וםאֱכַֹ֑ל כִָּ֛ירַ ָּׂ֥ב מִּמְ ָך֖הַדָָֽׁרֶ ְך׃ )ח( וַיָׁ֖קָׁ ם וַיֹ֣אכַלוַיִּשְתֶ ַ֑הוַי ֵ֜לְֶך בְ כֹ֣חַ ׀ הָׁאֲכִּילָׁ֣ה הַהִּ ֶׁ֗יא ַארְ בָׁעִּ ָּׂ֥יםיוֹם֙ וְַארְ בָׁעִּ ֣ים לַֹ֔יְלָׁה עַ ָ֛ד הַָּׂ֥רהָׁאֱֹלקִּ֖יםחֹר ָֽ ב׃ )ט( וַיָׁבֹא־שָׁ ָּׂ֥ם אֶ ל־הַמְעָׁרָׁ ֖הוַיָׁ֣לֶן שָׁ ַ֑ם וְהִּ נ ֻ֤ה דְ בַ ר־ה' א לָֹׁ֔יו רוַיֹ֣אמֶ לֹ֔וֹ מַ ה־לְ ָךָּׂ֥פֹ֖הא לִּיָָֽׁהּו׃)י( וַיֹאמֶ רׁ֩קַ נֹֹּ֨א קִּ נ יֵ֜אתִּ לַה' ׀ אֱֹלק֣י צְבָׁאֶׁ֗וֹת כִָּֽ י־עָׁזְבֻּ֤ובְרִָּֽ יתְ ָך֙בְ נ ֣י איִּשְרָׁ ֹ֔ל אֶ ת־מִּזְבְחֹתֶ֣יָךהָׁרָׁ ֹ֔סּו וְאֶ ת־נְבִּיאֶ ֖יָך הָׁרְ גּ֣ובֶחַָׁ֑רֶ בוָָֽׁאִּ ּוָׁת ֻ֤ר אֲנִּי֙ לְבַדִּ ֹ֔יוַיְבַקְ שָּּׂ֥ו אֶ ת־נַפְשִּ ֖י לְקַ חְתָָֽׁ ּה׃ )יא( וַיֶֹׁ֗אמֶ ר צ֣א וְעָׁמַדְתָׁ֣בָׁהָׁר֮לִּפְ נ֣י ה' נוְהִּ ָּׁ֧הה' עֹב ֶׁ֗ר וְרּ֣וחַ גְדוֹלֵָּׁ֡הוְחָׁ זַָׁ֞ק מְפָׁר קׁ֩הָׁרִּ ֹּ֨ים ּומְשַבֻ֤רסְלָׁעִּים֙ לִּפְ נ֣י ה' ֹלָּׂ֥א בָׁרּ֖וחַ ה' וְַאחַ ֻ֤רהָׁרֹּּ֨וחַ רַ שֹ֔עַ ֹלָּׂ֥א בָׁרַ ֖עַ שה' )יב( וְַאחַ ֻ֤ר הָׁרַ֙עַש֙אֹ֔שֹלָּׂ֥א בָׁא ֖ש ה' וְַאחַ ֣ר הָׁאֹ֔ש ק֖וֹל דְמָׁמָׁ ָּׂ֥ה דַקָָֽׁ ה׃ )יג( וַיְהִּ ֣י ׀כִּשְ מֹ֣עַ א לִּיֶָׁׁ֗הּו וַיָֻׁ֤לֶט פָׁ נָׁיו֙ בְאַדַרְ תֹ֔וֹוַיצ ֕אוַָֽ יַעֲמֹ֖דפֶ ח֣תַ הַמְעָׁרָׁ ַ֑ה וְהִּ נ אֻ֤ה לָׁיו֙ קֹ֔וֹל וַיֹ֕אמֶרמַה־לְָךָּׂ֥פֹ ֖ה א לִּיָָֽׁהּו׃ )יד(וַיֹאמֶ רׁ֩ קַ נֹֹּ֨א קִּ נ י ֵ֜אתִּ לַה' ׀ אֱֹלק ֣י צְבָׁ אֶׁ֗וֹתכִָּֽ י־עָׁזְבֻּ֤ו בְרִָּֽ יתְ ָך֙בְנ֣י יִּשְרָׁ א ֹ֔ל אֶת־מִּ זְבְ חֹתֶ ֣יָך הָׁרָׁ ֹ֔סּו וְאֶ ת־נְבִּ יאֶ ֖יָךהָׁרְ גּ֣ו בֶחַָׁ֑רֶ ב וָׁאִּּוָׁתֻ֤ראֲנִּי֙ לְבַדִּ ֹ֔י וַיְבַקְ שָּּׂ֥ו אֶ ת־נַפְשִּ ֖י לְקַחְתָָֽׁ ּה׃ )ס( )טו(וַיֹֻ֤אמֶ ר ה' א לָֹׁ֔יו ל ְָ֛ך שָּּׂ֥וב לְדַרְ כְָך֖מִּדְבַ֣רָׁהדַמַָׁ֑שֶ ק ּובָׁ ֶׁ֗אתָׁ ּומָׁשַחְתָׁ ָּׁ֧אֶת־חֲזָׁא ָ֛ללְמֶ ֖לְֶך עַ ל־אֲרָָֽׁ ם׃ )טז( וְא ת֙ י הּ֣וא בֶן־נִּמְשִֹּ֔יתִּמְשַ ָּׂ֥ח לְמֶ ֖לְֶך עַ ל־יִּשְרָׁ א ַ֑ל וְאֶת־אֱלִּישָׁ ֻ֤ע בֶ ן־שָׁ פָׁ ט֙מ ָאב֣ל מְ חוֹלָֹׁ֔ה תִּמְשַ ָּׂ֥ח לְנָׁבִּ ֖יא תַחְ תֶָֽיָך׃)יז( וְהָׁ יֶָׁׁ֗ה הַ נִּמְ לָָׁ֛ט מ חֶָּׂ֥רֶ ב חֲזָׁא֖ל יָׁמִּ ֣ית יהַּ֑ואוְהַנִּמְ לָָׁ֛ט מחֶָּׂ֥רֶ ב י הּ֖ואיָׁמִּ ָּׂ֥ית אֱלִּישָָֽׁ ע׃ (7) The angel of the LORD came a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.” (8) He arose and ate and drank; and with the strength from that meal he walked forty days and forty nights as far as the mountain of G-d at Horeb. (9) There he went into a cave, and there he spent the night. Then the word of the LORD came to him. He said to him, “Why are you here, Elijah?” (10) He replied, “I am moved by zeal for the LORD, the G-d of Hosts, for the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and put Your prophets to the sword. I alone am left, and they are out to take my life.” (11) “Come out,” He called, “and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And lo, the LORD passed by. There was a great and mighty wind, splitting mountains and shattering rocks by the power of the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind—an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake. (12) After the earthquake—fire; but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire—a soft murmuring sound. (13) When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his mantle about his face and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then a voice addressed him: “Why are you here, Elijah?” (14) He answered, “I am moved by zeal for the LORD, the G-d of Hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and have put Your prophets to the sword. I alone am left, and they are out to take my life.” (15) The LORD said to him, “Go back by the way you came, [and] on to the wilderness of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael as king of Aram. (16) Also anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah to succeed you as prophet. (17) Whoever escapes the sword of Hazael shall be slain by Jehu, and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu shall be slain by Elisha.

15. Yalkut Shimoni 771 and others suggest Pinchas=Eliyahu

16. Eliyahu is opposite of Moshe

17. Rabbi Chanoch Waxman a. Perhaps the Parsha justifies limited kina b. More radically, sometimes we need the breaking of norms, to shake up the political structures c. Kanaaim Pogin Bo says this is part of the law. The story in Sanhedrin shows how they work together. d. Highlight necessary kina e. [R. Yaakov Medan – but not to much – hence Eliyahu parallel] f. The Kina language comes from Sotah, and from G-d with Avodah Zara. Some Kinah protects the relationship. g. What’s important is that now Pinchas, not Moshe, plays this role defending the relationship with G-d.