PINCHAS_NUMBERS XXV:10-XXX:1
Moses did not achieve all his goals. In addition to delivering the Jewish people from the chains of slavery, he intended to lead them triumphantly to the Promised Land. He had prepared the people spiritually at Mount Sinai, where they heard the “Ten Words” of God that gave a structure to human behavior indispensable for both personal bliss and the success of society.
God had fought battles for the Hebrew people, as the biblical text says: HaShem yilachem lachem veatem tacharishun: ”God would fight for us while we remain silent”. Surely, He would do so again when the people will arrive on the borders of the Promised Land: Canaan. But it was not going to be like that. The divine design was different. The conquest of Canaan required different leadership. Moreover, from that moment on, the people would have to fight their own battles. God’s “Ten Words” at Sinai had revealed to them the secret of overcoming, by trust in their own spiritual energy because of an orderly life, respectful of the rights of others.
Our biblical text outlines the case of the daughters of Tselofchad, who wanted to inherit their father. Moses presents the question before God and receives the answer that in the absence of sons, the daughters inherit the father. However, they must marry a member of the same tribe so that the patrimony does not pass to another tribe. Moses thought that the case of the daughters of Tselofchad was conducive to clarifying the succession in their personal case. Should not then his own sons inherit the command from him? Why would Yehoshua be selected for the conquest of Canaan?
A very important lesson was being given. While material goods are passed down from generation to generation, the world of spirituality and command is not governed by this simple rule. Each person must personally acquire knowledge through study and dedication. Command demands a personality with special characteristics: empathy for the fate of others and gaining the trust of the collective.
At the time of the transmission of command, Moses “placed his hands on the head” of Yehoshua, a ritual of Semicha that will be used for the appointment of rabbis. According to the Midrash, this Semicha can be compared to the lighting of a candle by using an already lit candle. Another version compares it to the spillage of a liquid into another receptacle.
An examination of the examples cited highlights a difference: while lighting a candle does not diminish the flame of the first, spilling a liquid reduces the contents of the first receptacle. The second example perhaps refers to social, economic, or political command: the leader cedes part or all of his power to the one who succeeds him. On the other hand, in the case of spiritual leadership, the transmission of command does not diminish the inherent quality of the teacher, it is like the flame that when turning on another light does not lose its energy or effectiveness. On the contrary, the teacher advances intellectually due to the disciple he instructs.
In the case of the priesthood, the Kohen inherits the clerical status of his father. Of course, the Kohen must prepare to assume spiritual leadership, but since it is not an indispensable condition, there were cases in the history of people who were not prepared to assume the position of Kohen Gadol. Indeed, in certain cases, the appointment responded to the political needs of the day.
Although Yehoshua eventually assumed the leadership position that had been occupied by Moses, unlike Moses, Yehoshua was not a Kohen nor a Leví. Although Aharon had been selected by God for the priesthood, his brother Moses had held that role on certain occasions. Moses did not have to consult with Aharon, because he also had the characteristic of a Kohen. However, Yehoshua had lesser leadership than Moses, because he had to consult with the Urim veTumim carried by Eleazar, Aharon’s successor as Kohen Gadol.
MITSVAH: TORAH ORDINANCE IN THIS PARSHAH
CONTAINS 6 POSITIVE MITSVOT
- Numbers 27:8 – Inheritance Laws
- Numbers 28:2 The Daily Cremated Offering
- Numbers 28:9 The Additional Shabbat Offering
- Numbers 28:11-15 The Additional Offering of Rosh Chodesh
- Numbers 28:26 The Additional Offering of Shavuot
- Numbers 29:1 Sounding the Shofar on Rosh HaShanah
