Parasha Matot

par le Rav Raphaël Benizri

Parasha Matot (מטות) — Bamidbar 30:2 – 32:42. Read on Shabbat, July 31, 2027 (together with Masei).

Summary of Parasha Matot

Moshe addresses the heads of the tribes concerning vows: one who makes a vow or takes an obligation upon himself by oath must not break his word, but must fulfill all that has come out of his mouth. The Torah specifies in which cases a young girl’s father or a woman’s husband may annul her vow, on the very day he hears of it. G-d then commands Moshe to take vengeance on Midian before he is gathered to his people. A thousand men from each tribe, twelve thousand in all, go out to battle, accompanied by Pinchas. The kings of Midian and Bilaam are killed. Moshe rebukes the officers for having spared the women who had led Israel into sin. The warriors must purify themselves, and the Torah prescribes how the metal vessels taken as spoils are to be made fit for use, by fire or by water. The spoils are divided between the warriors and the whole congregation, with a portion set aside for G-d. The officers bring the gold they found as an offering, for not a single man was missing. The tribes of Reuven and Gad, who own large herds of livestock, ask to settle on the other side of the Jordan. Moshe rebukes them for discouraging the people, as the spies had done; they then commit to going into battle at the head of their brothers. Part of the tribe of Menashe also receives territory.