Pinchas 5770

The Set Table – Pinchas 5770

Numbers 25:10–30:1
Jeremiah 1:1–2:3
John 18:1–27

What can we learn in Parashat Pinchas about being a leader and standing up for the LORD?

In this week’s parasha, we learn about Pinchas, Moses’ great-nephew, who witnessed immorality in the form of going against God’s law. Such immorality had begun to run rampant throughout the Israelite camp in the form of sexual misconduct:

While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate and bowed down before these gods. So Israel joined in worshiping the Baal of Peor. And the Lord’s anger burned against them.

Numbers 25:1–3

Then . . .

. . . an Israelite man brought to his family a Midianite woman right before the eyes of Moses and the whole assembly of Israel while they were weeping at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

Numbers 25:6

Pinchas had witnessed this unlawful relationship occurring between Zimri, the prince of the tribe of Shimon, and Kozbi, a Midianite princess before the entire assembly, and he burned with zealous anger and actually killed the two of them in response!

Now, this may seem quite extreme in contemporary times, but then Pinchas knew that they had been commanded not to mate with Midianite women or to fall into idolatry by worshiping their pagan gods.

According to the Talmud, at the moment that Zimri presented his challenge (whether or not Moses would permit the union of himself and a Midianite), Moses forgot the law he had received from God at Sinai: namely, that a zealot must take action to eliminate the Jewish perpetrator of such an immoral act. Moses’ momentary forgetfulness caused an outbreak of weeping among the entire nation.

(Wagensberg 2007) (italics added)

Because Pinchas did what he did, he actually ended up saving Israelite lives, and the Lord, who was furious at their misdeeds, lifted the plague with which he had punished all of Israel. In this one action, Pinchas, a faithful follower of God, removed the hand of castigation from all of Israel.

So what does Pinchas teach us about being a leader and standing up for the Lord? In the modern world, it is rare to find one who will stand up for the laws of God given to his people, against pop-culture. Instead of trying to make the cultural milieu the standard for behavior, one must make the Torah and God’s commands primary – taking precedence over the “so called” norm.  Moses, being the great leader that he was, eventually realized his wrong in forgetting what God had called to be proper behavior and almost accepted this sin. It was Pinchas who actually did something about it, albeit quite drastic and certainly not what one should do today – but there is a sense of zealous righteousness here. Because Pinchas stood up for God, God responded in love and grace, as is his character, and removed the plague that had been placed on Israel as punishment for their immorality.

The world is filled with constant battles of morality these days, and it is the leaders who are responsible to set the example of standing up for righteousness and having accountability in their lives. It is their followers who will become strong leaders themselves as they emulate the example set before them. Moses was a great leader, absolutely, but in this parasha we see that even leaders can forget, and it takes someone to remind them sometimes of what they have been called to do – to lead and carry the torch of righteousness as an example for all of their followers.

The daughters of Zelophehad – Mahla, Noa, Hogla, Milca, and Tirza – approach Moses and the elders of the community after their father dies (Numbers 27:1–11). There is no male heir to inherit his property, and no legislation concerning daughters. These five women recognize that the Law of Moses has made no provision for their inheritance and decide they should be next in line to carry on their father’s name (property). Their actions result in changes in the Torah. There are three other places in the Torah where actions of people result in changes in the Law as well, can you recount them?

The daughters of Zelophehad’s case is the last of four cases in the Torah in which changes are made to the Law; the other two are in Numbers and one is in Leviticus:

1. The first one is a story about a blasphemer found in Leviticus 24:10. A man whose mother was Israelite and father Egyptian got into a fight with an Israelite—the Israelite pronounced the name of God in blasphemy and was taken into custody until it was decided by God (through Moses) what to do: a new law resulted—no pronouncing the name of God. He was then stoned.

2. The second case is found in Numbers 9:6: some men wanted to know whether they could present the Passover sacrifice because they were unclean due to contact with a corpse. They stood by as Moses inquired of God on this matter. God allowed it and makes a law confirming it. At the same time God adds that those who are clean and do not offer a sacrifice will be cut off from their kin.

3. The third case involves a Sabbath violator and can be found in Numbers 15:32. A man was gathering wood on the Sabbath while the children of Israel were in the wilderness. It says that those who found him brought him to Moses and Aaron, and to the whole congregation; “They put him under guard, because it had not been explained what should be done to him.” God commanded that he be put to death and the entire congregation stoned him.

Only one of these cases had a positive outcome: the one where the unclean men consider their situation and wisely approach the leadership to see what God would say on something not yet legislated. Those involved in the two other cases did not contemplate their situation or bother to approach the lawmakers for advice—this resulted in their death. The daughters of Zelophehad followed the model of the wise men who asked first before assuming to take the law into their own hands. As a result God blessed them with an inheritance (with some conditions—that they marry within their clan (see Numbers 36).

Chayyei Yeshua: John 18:1–27 – Yeshua is Arrested

John’s overarching descriptive portrayal of Yeshua’s life demonstrates to the reader that Yeshua is unlike any other man who has ever lived – he is the Son of God (20:31). Yet, in addition to Yeshua’s divine nature, John also allows the reader to encounter Yeshua as the Redeemer, the Light of the World, the Divine Name Incarnate, and the Prince of Peace. This week’s passage detailing the arrest of Yeshua highlights all of these aspects.

Yeshua is the Redeemer: Yeshua’s arrest takes place in a garden (Gethsemane, according to Matthew and Mark).  But John refers to it simply as a garden, perhaps pointing to the fact that humanity was separated from God in a garden, and now Yeshua is being arrested in a garden.  Thus, what started in a garden ended in a garden.

Yeshua is the Light of the World: The group that came to arrest Yeshua consisted of Roman soldiers, Jewish servants, and an apostate apostle (v. 3). Additionally, they were carrying with them torches, lanterns, and weapons. Both Jews and Gentiles came searching for the Light of the World (ironically) with torches and lanterns and are guilty the death of the Son of God.

Yeshua is the Divine Name Incarnate: When the group arrives, Yeshua asks them who they are looking for.  When they respond, “Yeshua of Nazaret,” he responds, “I am he.” Immediately they drew back and fell to the ground (v. 6). Yeshua asks this question twice, and his response echoes the Divine Name of Exodus 3:14: “I AM.” In this moment, Yeshua identifies himself as both the man who comes from the small, insignificant town of Natzaret, and the One who bears the Divine Name.

Yeshua is the Prince of Peace: The arrest scene demonstrates how much control Yeshua has over the entire situation.  Although completely capable of defending himself and his disciples, he requests that the soldiers not harm his disciples, reprimands Kefa after he draws his sword and cuts off a servants’ ear, and willingly submits to the soldiers, rendering their weapons useless.

This week’s arrest scene encapsulates the story and nature of Yeshua in just a few verses. What initially comes across as a low point in Yeshua’s ministry actually provides followers of Yeshua with much encouragement! In moments of darkness, Yeshua is our Redeemer, our Light, the Divine Name Incarnate, and our Sovereign Prince of Peace!

Next week: Parashat Mattot-Masei

Numbers 30:2–36:13
Jeremiah 2:4­–28; 3:4 (Ashkenazim)
Jeremiah 2:4–28; 4:1–4:2 (Sephardim)
John 18:28–19:16