Parashat Matot — Tribes (staffs)

מַטּוֹת

Torah portion 42 of 54 · Book of Numbers · pronounced mah-TOTE

Matot (מַטּוֹת) means "tribes (staffs)" — taken, as every parashah name is, from the portion's opening words in the Hebrew.

Next read: July 31, 2027 (combined as Matot-Masei) · then July 22, 2028 (combined as Matot-Masei)

The Readings

What Happens in Matot

Moshe speaks to the heads of the tribes — matot — with a word about words: if a man vows a vow to YHVH, or swears an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. In a covenant built on speech — God's and Israel's — a person's word is a sanctuary, and breaking it is a profanation. The Torah then walks through the household cases: the vow of a young woman in her father's house, which her father may annul in the day that he hears it; the vow of a married woman, which her husband may confirm by silence or annul at once; the binding vows of the widow and the divorced woman, which stand on their own. Words weighed, covered, and kept — and if a husband annuls a vow long after hearing it, he shall bear her iniquity.

Then the last campaign of Moshe's life: avenge the children of Yisrael on the Midianites; afterward you shall be gathered to your people. A thousand from each tribe, with Pinchas carrying the holy vessels and the trumpets, execute YHVH's vengeance for Peor: the five kings of Midian fall — and Bilam son of Beor they slay with the sword, the prophet who could not curse Israel dying for the counsel that seduced them. The returning warriors purify outside the camp seven days; everything that can endure fire passes through fire, and the rest through water — purification even for victors, because bloodshed defiles even when commanded. The spoil is divided between the warriors and the congregation, with a tribute levied for YHVH from each half; and the officers, having mustered the men and found not one man of us lacking, bring a freewill offering of gold as an atonement for their souls before YHVH.

Then a request that nearly reopens an old wound. The tribes of Reuven and Gad, rich in livestock, see that Gilad east of the Yarden is a place for cattle, and ask: let this land be given to your servants; do not bring us over the Yarden. Moshe hears Kadesh-Barnea in it and answers with fire: shall your brothers go to war while you sit here? Why do you discourage the heart of the children of Yisrael? — and behold, you have risen up in your fathers' place, a brood of sinful men. The tribes answer with a binding pledge: we will build sheepfolds for our livestock and cities for our little ones, but we ourselves will go armed before the children of Yisrael... we will not return to our houses until every one of the children of Yisrael has received his inheritance. Moshe accepts on those exact terms — with the warning that became a proverb: but if you will not do so, be sure your sin will find you out — and Gilad is granted to Gad, Reuven, and the half-tribe of Menashe.

Main Themes

The weight of a spoken vow Vengeance on Midian for Baal-Peor Purification of warriors and spoil Discouraging the heart of your brothers Armed before your brothers — shared burden before rest

Key Events

· The laws of vows and their annulment

· The war against Midian; the death of Bilam

· The purification of the army and the spoil

· The officers' gold offering — not one man missing

· Reuven and Gad request the east bank

· The pledge to cross armed before Israel

Key People

Moshe Pinchas Elazar The tribes of Reuven and Gad The five kings of Midian Bilam

Key Verses

← Parashat Pinchas  ·  Parashat Masei →

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