View source for Pinechas (parashah)

{{Short description|41st weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading}}
[[File:Tissot Moses Sees the Promised Land from Afar.jpg|thumb|200px|right|''Moses Sees the Promised Land from Afar'' (watercolor circa 1896–1902 by [[James Tissot]])]]
{{very long|date=February 2025}}'''Pinechas''', '''Pinchas''', '''Pinhas''', or '''Pin'has''' ({{langx|he|{{Script/Hebrew|פִּינְחָס}}|Pinḥās}} "[[Phinehas]]": a name, the sixth word and the first distinctive word in the [[parashah]]) is the 41st [[weekly Torah portion]] ({{Script/Hebrew|פָּרָשָׁה}}, {{transliteration|he|parashah}}) in the annual [[Judaism|Jewish]] cycle of [[Torah reading]] and the eighth in the [[Book of Numbers]]. It tells of Phinehas's killing of a couple, ending a plague, and of the [[daughters of Zelophehad]]'s successful plea for land rights. It constitutes Numbers 25:10–30:1. The parashah is made up of 7,853 Hebrew letters, 1887 Hebrew words, 168 [[Chapters and verses of the Bible|verses]], and 280 lines in a [[Torah scroll]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Torah Stats for BeMidbar|access-date=November 1, 2023|url=https://akhlah.com/tanach/childrens-torah-portions/book-of-bemidbar/torah-stats-for-bemidbar/|publisher=Akhlah Inc.}}</ref>

[[Jews]] generally read it in July or rarely in late June or early August.<ref>{{cite web|title=Parashat Pinchas|access-date=July 1, 2015|url=http://www.hebcal.com/sedrot/pinchas|publisher=Hebcal}}</ref> As the parashah sets out laws for the [[Jewish holidays]], Jews also read parts of the parashah as Torah readings for many Jewish holidays. Numbers 28:1–15 is the Torah reading for the New Moon ({{Script/Hebrew|ראש חודש}}, {{transliteration|he|[[Rosh Chodesh]]}}) on a weekday (including when the sixth or seventh day of [[Hanukkah]] falls on Rosh Chodesh). Numbers 28:9–15 is the [[maftir]] Torah reading for Shabbat Rosh Chodesh. Numbers 28:16–25 is the maftir Torah reading for the first two days of [[Passover]]. Numbers 28:19–25 is the maftir Torah reading for the intermediate days ({{Script/Hebrew|חול המועד}}, {{transliteration|he|[[Chol HaMoed]]}}) and seventh and eighth days of Passover. Numbers 28:26–31 is the maftir Torah reading for each day of [[Shavuot]]. Numbers 29:1–6 is the maftir Torah reading for each day of [[Rosh Hashanah]]. Numbers 29:7–11 is the maftir Torah reading for the [[Yom Kippur]] morning ({{Script/Hebrew|שַחֲרִת}}, {{transliteration|he|[[Shacharit]]}}) service. Numbers 29:12–16 is the maftir Torah reading for the first two days of [[Sukkot]]. Numbers 29:17–25 is the Torah reading for the first intermediate day of Sukkot. Numbers 29:20–28 is the Torah reading for the second intermediate day of Sukkot. Numbers 29:23–31 is the Torah reading for the third intermediate day of Sukkot. Numbers 29:26–34 is the Torah reading for the fourth intermediate day of Sukkot as well as for [[Hoshana Rabbah]]. Numbers 29:35–30:1 is the maftir Torah reading for both [[Shemini Atzeret]] and [[Simchat Torah]].

==Readings==
[[file:ParashaPinchas.png|right|250px|thumb|The letter '''{{Script/Hebrew|וֹ}}''' in the word '''{{Script/Hebrew|שָׁלוֹם}}''' is split]]

In traditional Sabbath Torah reading, the parashah is divided into seven readings, or {{Script/Hebrew|עליות}}, ''[[Aliyah (Torah)|aliyot]]''.<ref>See, e.g., Menachem Davis, editor, ''The Schottenstein Edition Interlinear Chumash: Bamidbar/Numbers'' ([[Brooklyn]]: [[ArtScroll|Mesorah Publications]], 2007), pages 177–205.</ref>

===First reading—Numbers 25:10–26:4===
{{main|Heresy of Peor}}
In the first reading, [[God in Judaism|God]] announced that because Phinehas had displayed his passion for God, God granted him a pact of friendship and [[Kohen|priesthood]] for all time.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|25:10–13|HE}}.</ref> (In a Torah scroll, the letter {{Script/Hebrew|וֹ}} in the verse "Behold, I give him My covenant of peace," is split.) God then told [[Moses]] to attack the [[Midian]]ites to repay them for their trickery luring Israelite men to worship Baal Peor.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|25:16–18|HE}}.</ref>

===Second reading—Numbers 26:5–51===
{| class="wikitable" align=right style="text-align:center"
|+Population Change Between the Two Censuses
|-
! Tribe !! Numbers 1 !! Numbers 26 !! Change !! % Change
|-
! Manasseh
| 32,200 || 52,700 || +20,500 || +63.7
|-
! Benjamin
| 35,400 || 45,600 || +10,200 || +28.8
|-
! Asher
| 41,500 || 53,400 || +11,900 || +28.7
|-
! Issachar
| 54,400 || 64,300 || +9,900 || +18.2
|-
! Zebulun
| 57,400 || 60,500 || +3,100 || +5.4
|-
! Dan
| 62,700 || 64,400 || +1,700 || +2.7
|-
! Judah
| 74,600 || 76,500 || +1,900 || +2.5
|-
! Reuben
| 46,500 || 43,730 || −2,770 || −6.0
|-
! Gad
| 45,650 || 40,500 || −5,150 || −11.3
|-
! Naphtali
| 53,400 || 45,400 || −8,000 || −15.0
|-
! Ephraim
| 40,500 || 32,500 || −8,000 || −19.8
|-
! Simeon
| 59,300 || 22,200 || −37,100 || −62.6
|-
! Totals !! 603,550 !! 601,730 !! -1,820 !! -0.3
|}
God instructed Moses and [[Eleazar]] to take a [[census]] of Israelite men 20 years old and up.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|26:1–4|HE}}.</ref>

In the second reading, the census showed the following [[population]]s by [[tribe]]:<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|26:5–51|HE}}</ref>

*[[Tribe of Reuben|Reuben]]: 43,730
*[[Tribe of Simeon|Simeon]]: 22,200
*[[Tribe of Gad|Gad]]: 40,500
*[[Tribe of Judah|Judah]]: 76,500
*[[Tribe of Issachar|Issachar]]: 64,300
*[[Tribe of Zebulun|Zebulun]]: 60,500
*[[Tribe of Manasseh|Manasseh]]: 52,700
*[[Tribe of Ephraim|Ephraim]]: 32,500
*[[Tribe of Benjamin|Benjamin]]: 45,600
*[[Tribe of Dan|Dan]]: 64,400
*[[Tribe of Asher|Asher]]: 53,400
*[[Tribe of Naphtali|Naphtali]]: 45,400
The total (excluding the [[tribe of Levi]]) was 601,730<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|26:51|HE}}.</ref> (slightly lower than the total in the first census,<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|1:46|HE}}.</ref> but with significant differences among the tribes).

The text notes in passing that when [[Korah]]'s band agitated against God, the earth swallowed up [[Dathan]] and [[Abiram]] with Korah, but Korah's sons did not die.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|26:9–11|HE}}.</ref>

===Third reading—Numbers 26:52–27:5===
In the third reading, God told Moses to apportion shares of the land according to population among those counted, and by [[Land lottery|lot]].<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|26:52–56|HE}}.</ref> The [[Levite]] men aged a month old and up amounted to 23,000, and they were not included in the regular enrollment of Israelites, as they were not to have land assigned to them.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|26:57–62|HE}}.</ref>
Among the persons whom Moses and Eleazar enrolled was not one of those enrolled in the first census at the [[Biblical Mount Sinai|wilderness of Sinai]], except [[Caleb]] and [[Joshua]].<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|26:63–65|HE}}.</ref> The daughters of Zelophehad approached Moses, Eleazar, the chieftains, and the assembly at the entrance of the [[Tabernacle]], saying that their father left no sons, and asking that they be given a land holding.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|27:1–4|HE}}.</ref> Moses brought their case before God.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|27:5|HE}}.</ref>

[[File:Schnorr von Carolsfeld Bibel in Bildern 1860 064.png|thumb|left|290px|Moses Views the Land of Israel (woodcut by [[Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld]] from the 1860 ''Bible in Pictures'')]]
[[File:Schnorr von Carolsfeld Bibel in Bildern 1860 063.png|thumb|right|275px|Moses Names Joshua To Succeed Him (woodcut by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld from the 1860 ''Bible in Pictures'')]]

===Fourth reading—Numbers 27:6–23===
In the fourth reading, God told Moses that the daughters' plea was just and instructed Moses to transfer their father's share of land to them.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|27:6–7|HE}}.</ref> God further instructed that if a man died without leaving a son, the Israelites were to transfer his property to his daughter, or failing a daughter to his brothers, or failing a brother to his father's brothers, or failing brothers of his father, to the nearest relative.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Bibleverse||Numbers|27:8–11|HE}}.</ref> God told Moses to climb the heights of [[Abarim]] and view the [[Land of Israel]], saying that when he had seen it, he would die, because he disobeyed God's command to uphold God's sanctity in the people's sight when he brought water from the rock in the [[Zin Desert|wilderness of Zin]].<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|27:12–14|HE}}.</ref> Moses asked God to appoint someone over the community, so that the Israelites would not be like [[Domestic sheep|sheep]] without a [[shepherd]].<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|27:13–17|HE}}.</ref> God told Moses to single out Joshua, lay his hand on him, and commission him before Eleazar and the whole community.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|27:18–20|HE}}.</ref> Joshua was to present himself to Eleazar the priest, who was to seek the decision of the [[Urim and Thummim]] on whether to go out or come in.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|27:21|HE}}.</ref>

===Fifth reading—Numbers 28:1–15===
In the fifth reading, God told Moses to command the Israelites to be punctilious in presenting the [[korban|offerings]] due God at stated times.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|28:1–2|HE}}.</ref> The text then details the offerings for the Sabbath and Rosh Chodesh.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|28:3–15|HE}}.</ref>

===Sixth reading—Numbers 28:16–29:11===
The sixth reading details the offerings for Passover, Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|28:16–29:11|HE}}.</ref>

===Seventh reading—Numbers 29:12–30:1===
The seventh reading details the offerings for Sukkot and Shmini Atzeret.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|28:16–30:1|HE}}</ref> At the end of the reading, Moses concluded his teachings to the whole community about the offerings.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|29:40|HE}}; {{Bibleverse-nb||Numbers|30:1|HE}}.</ref>

===Readings according to the triennial cycle===
Jews who read the Torah according to the [[triennial cycle]] of Torah reading read the parashah according to the following schedule:<ref>See, e.g., Richard Eisenberg, [https://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/sites/default/files/public/halakhah/teshuvot/19861990/eisenberg_triennial.pdf "A Complete Triennial Cycle for Reading the Torah,"] in ''Proceedings of the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards of the Conservative Movement: 1986–1990'' (New York: The [[Rabbinical Assembly]], 2001), pages 383–418.</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="background:Ivory; text-align:center"
|-
! style="background:Navajowhite;"|
! style="background:Navajowhite;"|Year 1
! style="background:Navajowhite;"|Year 2
! style="background:Navajowhite;"|Year 3
|-
|-
! style="background:Navajowhite;"|
! style="background:Navajowhite;"|2023, 2026, 2029 . . .
! style="background:Navajowhite;"|2024, 2027, 2030 . . .
! style="background:Navajowhite;"|2025, 2028, 2031 . . .
|-
! style="background:Navajowhite;"|Reading
! style="background:Navajowhite;"|25:10–26:51
! style="background:Navajowhite;"|26:52–28:15
! style="background:Navajowhite;"|28:16–30:1
|-
|1
|25:10–12
|26:52–56
|28:16–25
|-
|2
|25:13–15
|26:57–62
|28:26–31
|-
|3
|25:16–26:4
|26:63–27:5
|29:1–6
|-
|4
|26:5–11
|27:6–14
|29:7–11
|-
|5
|26:12–22
|27:15–23
|29:12–16
|-
|6
|26:23–34
|28:1–10
|29:17–28
|-
|7
|26:35–51
|28:11–15
|29:29–30:1
|-
|Maftir
|26:48–51
|28:11–15
|29:35–30:1
|}

==In inner-Biblical interpretation==
The parashah has parallels or is discussed in these Biblical sources:<ref>For more on inner-Biblical interpretation, see, e.g., Benjamin D. Sommer, "Inner-biblical Interpretation," in [[Adele Berlin]] and [[Marc Zvi Brettler]], editors, ''The Jewish Study Bible'', 2nd edition ([[New York City|New York]]: [[Oxford University Press]], 2014), pages 1835–41.</ref>

===Numbers chapter 25===
[[Tikva Frymer-Kensky]] called the Bible's six memories of the Baal-Peor incident in Numbers 25:1–13 and 31:15–16, [[Book of Deuteronomy|Deuteronomy]] 4:3–4, [[Book of Joshua|Joshua]] 22:16–18, [[Book of Ezekiel|Ezekiel]] 20:21–26, and [[Psalms|Psalm]] 106:28–31 a testimony to its traumatic nature and to its prominence in Israel's memory.<ref name=Frymer-Kensky215>Tikva Frymer-Kensky, ''Reading the Women of the Bible'' (New York: [[Schocken Books]], 2002), page 215.</ref>

[[File:Book of Joshua Chapter 22-2 (Bible Illustrations by Sweet Media).jpg|thumb|left|225px|Phinehas confronted the Reubenites, Gadites, and Manassites (1984 illustration by Jim Padgett, courtesy of Distant Shores Media/Sweet Publishing)]]

In the retelling of Deuteronomy 4:3–4, God destroyed all the men who followed the Baal of Peor, but kept alive to the day of Moses's address everyone who cleaved to God. Frymer-Kensky concluded that Deuteronomy stresses the moral lesson: Very simply, the guilty perished, and those who were alive to hear Moses were innocent survivors who could avoid destruction by staying fast to God.<ref name=Frymer-Kensky215/>

In Joshua 22:16–18, Phinehas and ten princes of Israelite Tribes questioned the Reubenites', Gadites', and Manassites' later building an altar across the Jordan, recalling that the Israelites had not cleansed themselves to that day of the iniquity of Peor, even though a plague had come upon the congregation at the time. Frymer-Kensky noted that the book of Joshua emphasizes the collective nature of sin and punishment, that the transgression of the Israelites at Peor still hung over them, and that any sin of the Reubenites, Gadites, and Manassites would bring down punishment on all Israel.<ref name=Frymer-Kensky215/>

In Ezekiel 20:21–26, God recalled Israel's rebellion and God's resolve to pour out God's fury on them in the wilderness. God held back then for the sake of God's Name but swore that God would scatter them among the nations, because they looked with longing at idols. Frymer-Kensky called Ezekiel's memory the most catastrophic: Because the Israelites rebelled in the Baal-Peor incident, God vowed that they would ultimately lose the Land that they had not yet even entered. Even after the exile to Babylon, the incident loomed large in Israel's memory.<ref name=Frymer-Kensky216>Tikva Frymer-Kensky, ''Reading the Women of the Bible'', page 216.</ref>

Psalm 106:28–31 reports that the Israelites attached themselves to Baal Peor and ate sacrifices offered to the dead, provoking God's anger and a plague. Psalm 106:30–31 reports that Phinehas stepped forward and intervened, the plague ceased, and it was reckoned to his merit forever. Frymer-Kensky noted that the Psalm 106:28–31, like Numbers 25:1–13, includes a savior, a salvation, and an explanation of the monopoly of the priesthood by the descendants of Phineas.<ref name=Frymer-Kensky216/> [[Michael Fishbane]] wrote that in retelling the story, the Psalmist notably omitted the explicit account of Phinehas's violent lancing of the offenders and substituted an account of the deed that could be read as nonviolent.<ref>Michael Fishbane, ''Biblical Interpretation in Ancient Israel'' ([[Oxford]]: Oxford University Press, 1985), pages 397–99.</ref>

===Numbers chapter 26===
In Numbers 26:2, God directed Moses and Eleazer to "take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from 20 years old and upward, . . . all that are able to go forth to war in Israel." That census yielded 43,730 men for Reuben,<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|26:7|HE}}.</ref> 40,500 men for Gad,<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|26:18|HE}}.</ref> and 52,700 men for Manasseh<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|26:34|HE}}.</ref>—for a total of 136,930 adult men "able to go forth to war" from the three tribes. But Joshua 4:12–13 reports that "about 40,000 ready armed for war passed on in the presence of the Lord to battle" from Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh—or fewer than 3 in 10 of those counted in Numbers 26. [[Chaim Joseph David Azulai|Chida]] explained that only the strongest participated, as Joshua asked in Joshua 1:14 for only "the mighty men of valor." [[Shlomo Ephraim Luntschitz|Kli Yakar]] suggested that more than 100,000 men crossed over the Jordan to help, but when they saw the miracles at the Jordan, many concluded that God would ensure the Israelites' success and they were not needed.<ref>See Reuven Drucker, ''Yehoshua: The Book of Joshua: A New Translation with a Commentary Anthologized from Talmudic, Midrashic, and Rabbinic Sources'' (Brooklyn: Mesorah Publications, 2000), page 153.</ref>

[[File:Kohenbreastplate.jpg|thumb|120px|right|The Breastplate of the [[High Priest of Israel|High Priest]] (illustration from the 1905–1906 [[Jewish Encyclopedia]])]]

===Numbers chapter 27===
The story of the daughters of Zelophehad in Numbers 27 has a sequel in Numbers 36, and then Joshua 17:3–6 reports the awarding of lands to the daughters of Zelophehad.

Moses recalled in Deuteronomy 31:2 that God had told him that he would "not go over this Jordan," complaining that he could "no more go out and come in," perhaps remembering how in Numbers 27:12–13, God had told Moses that upon ascending the mountain of Abarim and seeing the land that God had given to the Israelites, Moses would die, for soon thereafter, in Numbers 27:17, Moses used language like that in Deuteronomy 31:2 to ask God that God might set someone over the congregation "who may go out before them, and who may come in before them, and who may lead them out, and who may bring them in." In [[Books of Kings|1 Kings]] 3:7, [[Solomon]] would similarly protest to God that Solomon was like a child who did not "know . . . how to go out or come in." Previously, in Numbers 20:12, at [[Meribah]], God had told Moses that because Moses had not believed in God, to sanctify God in the eyes of the Israelites, Moses would not bring the Israelites into the land that God had given them. And in Deuteronomy 3:27, Moses recalled that God had told him to ascend to the top of [[Mount Pisgah (Bible)|Pisgah]] and look in every direction, for, God told Moses, "You shall not go over this Jordan."

The [[Tanakh|Hebrew Bible]] refers to the [[Urim and Thummim]] in Exodus 28:30; Leviticus 8:8; Numbers 27:21; Deuteronomy 33:8; [[Books of Samuel|1 Samuel]] 14:41 ("Thammim") and 28:6; [[Book of Ezra|Ezra]] 2:63; and [[Book of Nehemiah|Nehemiah]] 7:65; and may refer to them in references to "sacred utensils" in Numbers 31:6 and the Ephod in 1 Samuel 14:3 and 19; 23:6 and 9; and 30:7–8; and [[Book of Hosea|Hosea]] 3:4.

===Numbers chapter 28===
In Numbers 28:3, God commanded the Israelite people to bring to the Sanctuary, "as a regular burnt offering every day, two yearling lambs without blemish." But in [[Book of Amos|Amos]] 4:4, the 8th century BCE [[prophet]] [[Amos (prophet)|Amos]] condemned the sins of the people of Israel, saying that they, "come to Beth-el, and transgress, to Gilgal, and multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices in the morning."

====Passover====
[[File:Picart Passover cleaning.jpg|thumb|right|276px|The Search for Leaven (illustration circa 1733–1739 by [[Bernard Picart]])]]
Numbers 28:16–25 refers to the [[Jewish holiday|festival]] of Passover. In the [[Tanakh|Hebrew Bible]], Passover is called:
*"Passover" ({{Script/Hebrew|פֶּסַח}}, ''Pesach'');<ref>{{Bibleverse-lb||Exodus|12:11|HE}}, [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0212.htm#21 21], [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0212.htm#27 27], [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0212.htm#43 43], [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0212.htm#48 48]; {{Bibleverse-nb||Exodus|34:25|HE}}; {{Bibleverse-lb||Leviticus|23:5|HE}}; {{Bibleverse||Numbers|9:2|HE}}, [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0409.htm#4 4–6], [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0409.htm#10 10], [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0409.htm#12 12–14]; {{Bibleverse-nb||Numbers|28:16|HE}}; {{Bibleverse-nb||Numbers|33:3|HE}}; {{Bibleverse||Deuteronomy|16:1–2|HE}}, [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0516.htm#5 5–6]; {{Bibleverse||Joshua|5:10–11|HE}}; [[Books of Kings|2 Kings]] {{Bibleverse-nb|2|Kings|23:21–23|HE}}; {{Bibleverse||Ezekiel|45:21|HE}}; {{Bibleverse-lb||Ezra|6:19–20|HE}}; [[Books of Chronicles|2 Chronicles]] {{Bibleverse-nb|2|Chronicles|30:1–2|HE}}, [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt25b30.htm#5 5], [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt25b30.htm#15 15], [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt25b30.htm#17 17–18]; {{Bibleverse-nb|2|Chronicles|35:1|HE}}, [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt25b35.htm#6 6–9], [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt25b35.htm#11 11], [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt25b35.htm#13 13], [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt25b35.htm#16 16–19].</ref>
*"The Feast of Unleavened Bread" ({{Script/Hebrew|חַג הַמַּצּוֹת}}, {{transliteration|he|Chag haMatzot}});<ref>{{Bibleverse||Exodus|12:17|HE}}; {{Bibleverse-nb||Exodus|23:15|HE}}; {{Bibleverse-nb||Exodus|34:18|HE}}; {{Bibleverse||Leviticus|23:6|HE}}; {{Bibleverse||Deuteronomy|16:16|HE}}; {{Bibleverse||Ezekiel|45:21|HE}}; {{Bibleverse||Ezra|6:22|HE}}; {{Bibleverse|2|Chronicles|8:13|HE}}; {{Bibleverse-nb|2|Chronicles|30:13|HE}}, {{Bibleverse-nb|2|Chronicles|35:17|HE}}.</ref> and
*"A holy convocation" or "a solemn assembly" ({{Script/Hebrew|מִקְרָא-קֹדֶשׁ}}, {{transliteration|he|mikrah kodesh}}).<ref>{{Bibleverse||Exodus|12:16|HE}}; {{Bibleverse||Leviticus|23:7–8|HE}}; {{Bibleverse||Numbers|28:18|HE}}.</ref>

Some explain the double nomenclature of "Passover" and "Feast of Unleavened Bread" as referring to two separate feasts that the Israelites combined sometime between [[the Exodus]] and when the Biblical text became settled.<ref>See, e.g., [[Gunther Plaut|W. Gunther Plaut]], ''The Torah: A Modern Commentary'' (New York: [[Union for Reform Judaism|Union of American Hebrew Congregations]], 1981), page 456.</ref> Exodus 34:18–20 and Deuteronomy 15:19–16:8 indicate that the dedication of the firstborn also became associated with the festival.

[[File:Picart Passover Portuguese Jews.jpg|thumb|left|300px|The Passover Seder of the Portuguese Jews (illustration circa 1733–1739 by Bernard Picart)]]

Some believe that the "Feast of Unleavened Bread" was an agricultural festival at which the Israelites celebrated the beginning of the grain harvest. Moses may have had this festival in mind when in Exodus 5:1 and 10:9 he petitioned Pharaoh to let the Israelites go to celebrate a feast in the wilderness.<ref name=Plaut464>W. Gunther Plaut, ''The Torah: A Modern Commentary'', page 464.</ref>

"Passover," on the other hand, was associated with a thanksgiving sacrifice of a lamb, also called "the Passover," "the Passover lamb," or "the Passover offering."<ref>{{Bibleverse||Exodus|12:11|HE}}; {{Bibleverse||Deuteronomy|16:2|HE}}; {{Bibleverse||Ezra|6:20|HE}}; {{Bibleverse|2|Chronicles|30:15|HE}}, {{Bibleverse-nb|2|Chronicles|35:1|HE}}.</ref>

Exodus 12:5–6, Leviticus 23:5, and Numbers 9:3 and 5 and 28:16 direct "Passover" to take place on the evening of the fourteenth of {{Script/Hebrew|אָבִיב}}, [[Aviv]] ({{Script/Hebrew|נִיסָן}}, [[Nisan]] in the [[Hebrew calendar]] after the [[Babylonian captivity]]). Joshua 5:10, Ezekiel 45:21, Ezra 6:19, and 2 Chronicles 35:1 confirm that practice. Exodus 12:18–19, 23:15, and 34:18, Leviticus 23:6, and Ezekiel 45:21 direct the "Feast of Unleavened Bread" to take place over seven days and Leviticus 23:6 and Ezekiel 45:21 direct that it begin on the fifteenth of the month. Some believe that the propinquity of the dates of the two [[Jewish holiday|festivals]] led to their confusion and merger.<ref name=Plaut464/>

Exodus 12:23 and 27 link the word "Passover" ({{Script/Hebrew|פֶּסַח}}, ''Pesach'') to God's act to "pass over" ({{Script/Hebrew|פָסַח}}, {{transliteration|he|pasach}}) the Israelites' houses in the [[Plagues of Egypt|plague]] of the firstborn. In the Torah, the consolidated Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread thus commemorate the Israelites' liberation from [[Ancient Egypt|Egypt]].<ref>{{Bibleverse||Exodus|12:42|HE}}; {{Bibleverse-nb||Exodus|23:15|HE}}; {{Bibleverse-nb||Exodus|34:18|HE}}; {{Bibleverse||Numbers|33:3|HE}}; {{Bibleverse||Deuteronomy|16:1|HE}}.</ref>

The Hebrew Bible frequently notes the Israelites' observance of Passover at turning points in their history. Numbers 9:1–5 reports God's direction to the Israelites to observe Passover in the wilderness of [[Biblical Mount Sinai|Sinai]] on the anniversary of their liberation from Egypt. Joshua 5:10–11 reports that upon entering the [[Promised Land]], the Israelites kept the Passover on the plains of [[Jericho]] and ate unleavened cakes and parched corn, produce of the land, the next day. 2 Kings 23:21–23 reports that King [[Josiah]] commanded the Israelites to keep the Passover in [[Jerusalem]] as part of Josiah's reforms, but also notes that the Israelites had not kept such a Passover from the days of the [[Biblical judges]] nor in all the days of the [[Kingdom of Israel (united monarchy)|kings of Israel]] or the [[kings of Judah]], calling into question the observance of even Kings [[David]] and Solomon. The more reverent 2 Chronicles 8:12–13, however, reports that Solomon offered sacrifices on the festivals, including the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And 2 Chronicles 30:1–27 reports King [[Hezekiah]]'s observance of a second Passover anew, as sufficient numbers of neither the priests nor the people were prepared to do so before then. And Ezra 6:19–22 reports that the Israelites returned from the Babylonian captivity observed Passover, ate the Passover lamb, and kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy.

[[File:Thank offering unto the Lord.jpg|thumb|right|200px|offering of first fruits (illustration from a Bible card published between 1896 and 1913 by the Providence Lithograph Company)]]

====Shavuot====
Numbers 28:26–31 refers to the festival of Shavuot. In the Hebrew Bible, Shavuot is called:
*The Feast of Weeks ({{Script/Hebrew|חַג שָׁבֻעֹת}}, {{transliteration|he|Chag Shavuot}});<ref>{{Bibleverse||Exodus|34:22|HE}}; {{Bibleverse||Deuteronomy|16:10|HE}}; see also {{Bibleverse|2|Chronicles|8:13|HE}} ({{Script/Hebrew|חַג הַשָּׁבֻעוֹת}}, {{transliteration|he|Chag haShavuot}}).</ref>
*The Day of the First-fruits; ({{Script/Hebrew|יוֹם הַבִּכּוּרִים}}, {{transliteration|he|Yom haBikurim}})<ref name="Numbers|28:26">{{Bibleverse||Numbers|28:26|HE}}.</ref>
*The Feast of Harvest ({{Script/Hebrew|חַג הַקָּצִיר}}, {{transliteration|he|Chag haKatzir}});<ref name="Exodus|23:16">{{Bibleverse||Exodus|23:16|HE}}.</ref> and
*A holy convocation ({{Script/Hebrew|מִקְרָא-קֹדֶשׁ}}, {{transliteration|he|mikrah kodesh}}).<ref name="ReferenceB">{{Bibleverse||Leviticus|23:21|HE}}; {{Bibleverse||Numbers|28:26|HE}}.</ref>

Exodus 34:22 associates Shavuot with the first-fruits ({{Script/Hebrew|בִּכּוּרֵי}}, {{transliteration|he|bikurei}}) of the wheat harvest.<ref>See also {{Bibleverse||Exodus|23:16|HE}}; {{Bibleverse||Leviticus|23:17|HE}}; {{Bibleverse||Numbers|28:26|HE}}.</ref> In turn, Deuteronomy 26:1–11 set out the ceremony for the bringing of the first fruits.

To arrive at the correct date, Leviticus 23:15 instructs counting seven weeks from the day after the day of rest of Passover, the day that they brought the sheaf of barley for waving. Similarly, Deuteronomy 16:9 directs counting seven weeks from when they first put the sickle to the standing barley.

Leviticus 23:16–19 sets out a course of offerings for the fiftieth day, including a meal-offering of two loaves made from fine flour from the firstfruits of the harvest; burnt-offerings of seven lambs, one bull, and two rams; a sin-offering of a goat; and a peace-offering of two lambs. Similarly, Numbers 28:26–30 sets out a course of offerings including a meal-offering; burnt-offerings of two bulls, one ram, and seven lambs; and one goat to make atonement. Deuteronomy 16:10 directs a freewill offering in relation to God's blessing.

Leviticus 23:21 and Numbers 28:26 ordain a holy convocation in which the Israelites were not to work.

2 Chronicles 8:13 reports that Solomon offered burnt offerings on the Feast of Weeks.

[[File:Northrop Feast of Trumpets.jpg|thumb|right|125px|Blowing the Shofar (illustration from the 1894 ''Treasures of the Bible'')]]

===Numbers chapter 29===
====Rosh Hashanah====
Numbers 29:1–6 refers to the festival of Rosh Hashanah. In the Hebrew Bible, Rosh Hashanah is called:
*a memorial proclaimed with the blast of horns ({{Script/Hebrew|זִכְרוֹן תְּרוּעָה}}, {{transliteration|he|Zichron Teruah}});<ref>{{Bibleverse||Leviticus|23:24|HE}}.</ref>
*a day of blowing the horn ({{Script/Hebrew|יוֹם תְּרוּעָה}}, {{transliteration|he|Yom Teruah}});<ref name="Numbers|29:1">{{Bibleverse||Numbers|29:1|HE}}.</ref> and
*a holy convocation ({{Script/Hebrew|מִקְרָא-קֹדֶשׁ}}, {{transliteration|he|mikrah kodesh}}).<ref>{{Bibleverse||Leviticus|23:24|HE}}; {{Bibleverse||Numbers|29:1|HE}}</ref>

[[File:Picart The Sounding of the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah.jpg|thumb|left|300px|The Sounding of the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah (illustration circa 1733–1739 by Bernard Picart)]]
Although Exodus 12:2 instructs that the spring month of {{Script/Hebrew|אָבִיב}}, Aviv (since the [[Babylonian captivity]] called {{Script/Hebrew|נִיסָן}}, Nisan) "shall be the first month of the year," Exodus 23:16 and 34:22 also reflect an "end of the year" or a "turn of the year" in the autumn harvest month of {{Script/Hebrew|תִּשְׁרֵי}}, [[Tishrei]].

Leviticus 23:23–25 and Numbers 29:1–6 both describe Rosh Hashanah as a holy convocation, a day of solemn rest in which no servile work is to be done, involving the blowing of horns and an offering to God.

Ezekiel 40:1 speaks of "in the beginning of the year" ({{Script/Hebrew|בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה}}, b'Rosh HaShanah) in {{Script/Hebrew|תִּשְׁרֵי}}, Tishrei, although the Rabbis traditional interpreted [[Ezekiel]] to refer to Yom Kippur.

Ezra 3:1–3 reports that in the Persian era, when the seventh month came, the Israelites gathered in Jerusalem, and the priests offered burnt-offerings to God, morning and evening, as written in the Law of Moses.

Nehemiah 8:1–4 reports that it was on Rosh Hashanah (the first day of the seventh month) that all the Israelites gathered before the water gate and [[Ezra]] the scribe read the Law from early morning until midday. And [[Nehemiah]], Ezra, and the Levites told the people that the day was holy to the Lord their God; they should neither mourn nor weep; but they should go their way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those who had nothing.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Nehemiah|8:9–12|HE}}.</ref>

Psalm 81:4–5 likely refers to Rosh Hashanah when it enjoins, "Blow the horn at the new moon, at the full moon of our feast day. For it is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of [[Jacob]]."

[[File:Gottlieb-Jews Praying in the Synagogue on Yom Kippur.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Jews Praying in the Synagogue on Yom Kippur]] (1878 painting by [[Maurycy Gottlieb]])]]

====Yom Kippur====
Numbers 29:7–11 refers to the festival of Yom Kippur. In the Hebrew Bible, Yom Kippur is called:

*the Day of Atonement ({{Script/Hebrew|יוֹם הַכִּפֻּרִים}}, {{transliteration|he|Yom HaKippurim}})<ref>{{Bibleverse||Leviticus|23:27|HE}} and {{Bibleverse-nb||Leviticus|25:9|HE}}.</ref> or a Day of Atonement ({{Script/Hebrew|יוֹם כִּפֻּרִים}}, {{transliteration|he|Yom Kippurim}});<ref>{{Bibleverse||Leviticus|23:28|HE}}.</ref>
*a Sabbath of solemn rest ({{Script/Hebrew|שַׁבַּת שַׁבָּתוֹן}}, {{transliteration|he|Shabbat Shabbaton}});<ref>{{Bibleverse||Leviticus|16:31|HE}} and {{Bibleverse-nb||Leviticus|23:32|HE}}.</ref> and
*a holy convocation ({{Script/Hebrew|מִקְרָא-קֹדֶשׁ}}, {{transliteration|he|mikrah kodesh}}).<ref>{{Bibleverse||Leviticus|23:27|HE}} and {{Bibleverse||Numbers|29:7|HE}}.</ref>

Much as Yom Kippur, on the 10th of the month of {{Script/Hebrew|תִּשְׁרֵי}}, Tishrei, precedes the festival of Sukkot, on the 15th of the month of {{Script/Hebrew|תִּשְׁרֵי}}, Tishrei, Exodus 12:3–6 speaks of a period starting on the 10th of the month of {{Script/Hebrew|נִיסָן}}, Nisan preparatory to the festival of Passover, on the 15th of the month of {{Script/Hebrew|נִיסָן}}, Nisan.

[[File:Kaufmann Day of Atonement.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Day of Atonement (painting circa 1900 by [[Isidor Kaufmann]])]]
Leviticus 16:29–34 and 23:26–32 and Numbers 29:7–11 present similar injunctions to observe Yom Kippur. Leviticus 16:29 and 23:27 and Numbers 29:7 set the Holy Day on the tenth day of the seventh month ({{Script/Hebrew|תִּשְׁרֵי}}, Tishrei). Leviticus 16:29 and 23:27 and Numbers 29:7 instruct that "you shall afflict your souls." Leviticus 23:32 makes clear that a full day is intended: "you shall afflict your souls; in the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening." And Leviticus 23:29 threatens that whoever "shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from his people." Leviticus 16:29 and Leviticus 23:28 and Numbers 29:7 command that you "shall do no manner of work." Similarly, Leviticus 16:31 and 23:32 call it a "Sabbath of solemn rest." And in 23:30, God threatens that whoever "does any manner of work in that same day, that soul will I destroy from among his people." Leviticus 16:30, 16:32–34, and 23:27–28, and Numbers 29:11 describe the purpose of the day to make atonement for the people.

Similarly, Leviticus 16:30 speaks of the purpose "to cleanse you from all your sins," and Leviticus 16:33 speaks of making atonement for the most holy place, the tent of meeting, the altar, and the priests. Leviticus 16:29 instructs that the commandment applies both to "the home-born" and to "the stranger who sojourns among you." Leviticus 16:3–25 and 23:27 and Numbers 29:8–11 command offerings to God. And Leviticus 16:31 and 23:31 institute the observance as "a statute forever."

Leviticus 16:3–28 sets out detailed procedures for the priest's atonement ritual during the time of the [[Temple in Jerusalem|Temple]].

Leviticus 25:8–10 instructs that after seven Sabbatical years, on the [[Jubilee (Biblical)|Jubilee year]], on the day of atonement, the Israelites were to proclaim liberty throughout the land with the blast of the horn and return every man to his possession and to his family.

In [[Book of Isaiah|Isaiah]] 57:14–58:14, the [[Haftarah]] for Yom Kippur morning, God describes "the fast that I have chosen [on] the day for a man to afflict his soul." Isaiah 58:3–5 make clear that "to afflict the soul" was understood as fasting. But Isaiah 58:6–10 goes on to impress that "to afflict the soul," God also seeks acts of social justice: "to loose the fetters of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke," "to let the oppressed go free," "to give your bread to the hungry, and . . . bring the poor that are cast out to your house," and "when you see the naked, that you cover him."

[[File:Picart Sukkos Feast of the Tabernacle Meal in Sukkah 1724.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Sukkot family meal in a sukkah, with foliage roof and chandelier (engraving by Bernard Picart, 1724)]]

====Sukkot====
And Numbers 29:12–38 refers to the festival of Sukkot. In the Hebrew Bible, Sukkot is called:
*"The Feast of Tabernacles (or Booths)";<ref>{{Bibleverse||Leviticus|23:34|HE}}; {{Bibleverse||Deuteronomy|16:13|HE}}, {{Bibleverse-nb||Deuteronomy|31:10|HE}}; {{Bibleverse-lb||Zechariah|14:16|HE}}, {{Bibleverse||Ezra|3:4|HE}}; {{Bibleverse|2|Chronicles|8:13|HE}}.</ref>
*"The Feast of Ingathering";<ref>{{Bibleverse||Exodus|23:16|HE}}, {{Bibleverse-nb||Exodus|34:22|HE}}.</ref>
*"The Feast" or "the festival";<ref>{{Bibleverse|1|Kings|8:2|HE}}, {{Bibleverse-nb|1|Kings|12:32|HE}}; {{Bibleverse|2|Chronicles|5:3|HE}}; {{Bibleverse-nb|2|Chronicles|7:8|HE}}.</ref>
*"The Feast of the Lord";<ref>{{Bibleverse||Leviticus|23:39|HE}}; {{Bibleverse-lb||Judges|21:19|HE}}.</ref>
*"The festival of the seventh month";<ref>{{Bibleverse||Ezekiel|45:25|HE}}; {{Bibleverse||Nehemiah|8:14|HE}}.</ref> and
*"A holy convocation" or "a sacred occasion."<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|29:12|HE}}.</ref>

Sukkot's agricultural origin is evident from the name "The Feast of Ingathering," from the ceremonies accompanying it, and from the season and occasion of its celebration: "At the end of the year when you gather in your labors out of the field";<ref name="Exodus|23:16"/> "after you have gathered in from your threshing-floor and from your winepress."<ref>{{Bibleverse||Deuteronomy|16:13|HE}}.</ref> It was a thanksgiving for the fruit harvest.<ref>Compare {{Bibleverse||Judges|9:27|HE}}.</ref> And in what may explain the festival's name, [[Isaiah]] reports that grape harvesters kept booths in their [[vineyards]].<ref>{{Bibleverse||Isaiah|1:8|HE}}.</ref> Coming as it did at the completion of the harvest, Sukkot was regarded as a general thanksgiving for the bounty of nature in the year that had passed.

[[File:Leopold Pilichowski Sukkot.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Celebrating Sukkot with the Four Species (painting circa 1894–1895 by Leopold Pilichowski)]]
Sukkot became one of the most important feasts in Judaism, as indicated by its designation as "the Feast of the Lord"<ref>{{Bibleverse||Leviticus|23:39|HE}}; {{Bibleverse||Judges|21:19|HE}}.</ref> or simply "the Feast."<ref>{{Bibleverse|1|Kings|8:2|HE}}.</ref> Perhaps because of its wide attendance, Sukkot became the appropriate time for important state ceremonies. Moses instructed the children of Israel to gather for a reading of the Law during Sukkot every seventh year.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Deuteronomy|31:10–11|HE}}.</ref> King Solomon dedicated the Temple in Jerusalem on Sukkot.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1|Kings|8|HE}}; {{Bibleverse|2|Chronicles|7|HE}}.</ref> And Sukkot was the first sacred occasion observed after the resumption of sacrifices in Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Ezra|3:2–4|HE}}.</ref>

[[File:Picart Sephardic Jews Observe Hoshanah Rabah.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Sephardic Jews Observe Hoshanah Rabbah (engraving circa 1723–1743 by Bernard Picart)]]
In the time of Nehemiah, after the Babylonian captivity, the Israelites celebrated Sukkot by making and dwelling in booths, a practice of which Nehemiah reports: "the Israelites had not done so from the days of Joshua."<ref>{{Bibleverse||Nehemiah|8:13–17|HE}}.</ref> In a practice related to that of the [[Four Species]], Nehemiah also reports that the Israelites found in the Law the commandment that they "go out to the mountains and bring leafy branches of [[olive]] trees, [[pine]] trees, [[Myrtaceae|myrtles]], [[Arecaceae|palms]] and [other] leafy trees to make booths."<ref>{{Bibleverse||Nehemiah|8:14–15|HE}}.</ref> In Leviticus 23:40, God told Moses to command the people: "On the first day you shall take the product of {{transliteration|he|hadar}} trees, branches of palm trees, boughs of leafy trees, and [[willow]]s of the brook," and "You shall live in booths seven days; all citizens in Israel shall live in booths, in order that future generations may know that I made the Israelite people live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt."<ref>{{Bibleverse||Leviticus|23:42–43|HE}}.</ref> The book of Numbers, however, indicates that while in the wilderness, the Israelites dwelt in tents.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|11:10|HE}}; {{Bibleverse-nb||Numbers|16:27|HE}}.</ref> Some secular scholars consider Leviticus 23:39–43 (the commandments regarding booths and the four species) to be an insertion by a late [[Documentary hypothesis#R, Redactor|redactor]].<ref>E.g., [[Richard Elliott Friedman]], ''The Bible with Sources Revealed'' (New York: [[HarperCollins|HarperSanFrancisco]], 2003), 228–29.</ref>

[[Jeroboam]] son of Nebat, King of the northern [[Kingdom of Israel (Samaria)|Kingdom of Israel]], whom 1 Kings 13:33 describes as practicing "his evil way," celebrated a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, one month after Sukkot, "in imitation of the festival in Judah."<ref>{{Bibleverse|1|Kings|12:32–33|HE}}.</ref> "While Jeroboam was standing on the [[altar]] to present the offering, the man of God, at the command of the Lord, cried out against the altar" in disapproval.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1|Kings|13:1|HE}}.</ref>

According to the prophet [[Zechariah (Hebrew prophet)|Zechariah]], in the messianic era, Sukkot will become a universal festival, and all nations will make pilgrimages annually to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast there.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Zechariah|14:16–19|HE}}.</ref>

==In early nonrabbinic interpretation==
The parashah has parallels or is discussed in these early nonrabbinic sources:<ref>For more on early nonrabbinic interpretation, see, e.g., Esther Eshel, "Early Nonrabbinic Interpretation," in Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler, editors, ''Jewish Study Bible'', 2nd edition, pages 1841–59.</ref>

===Numbers chapter 25===
[[File:Barkokhba-silver-tetradrachm.jpg|right|thumb|Bar Kokhba silver [[shekel]] or [[tetradrachm]], on which appears a lulav and etrog]]
[[Isaiah Gafni]] argued that [[1 Maccabees]] implies that like Phinehas, the [[Hasmonean dynasty]] legitimately assumed the role of priesthood by virtue of their zeal.<ref>Isaiah M. Gafni, ''Beginnings of Judaism'' ([[Chantilly, Virginia]]: [[The Great Courses]], 2008), part 1, chapter 8.</ref>

===Numbers chapter 29===
A letter from [[Simon bar Kokhba]] written during the [[Bar Kokhba revolt]] found in the [[Cave of Letters]] includes commands to a subordinate to assemble components of the lulav and etrog, apparently so as to celebrate Sukkot.<ref>[[Gary A. Rendsburg]], ''The Dead Sea Scrolls'' ([[Springfield, Virginia]]: [[The Great Courses|The Teaching Company]], 2013), chapter 22.</ref>

==In classical rabbinic interpretation==
The parashah is discussed in these [[rabbi]]nic sources from the era of the [[Mishnah]] and the [[Talmud]].{{efn|For more on classical rabbinic interpretation, see [[Yaakov Elman]], "Classical Rabbinic Interpretation," in Adele Berlin and Marc Brettler, editors, ''Jewish Study Bible'', 2nd edition, pages 1859–78.}}

[[File:Jeremias_van_Winghe_-_Phinehas_slaying_Zimri_and_Kozbi_the_Midianite.jpg|thumb|left|220px|[[Jeremias van Winghe]], ''Phinehas slaying Zimri and Kozbi the Midianite'', painted between 1570 and 1603]]

===Numbers chapter 25===
The [[amoraim|amora]] [[Johanan bar Nappaha]] (180-279) taught that Phinehas was able to accomplish his act of zealotry only because God performed six miracles: First, upon hearing Phinehas's warning, [[Zimri (prince)|Zimri]] should have withdrawn from [[Cozbi]] and ended his transgression, but he did not. Second, Zimri should have cried out for help from his fellow [[Tribe of Simeon|Simeonites]], but he did not. Third, Phinehas was able to drive his spear exactly through the sexual organs of Zimri and Cozbi as they were engaged in the act. Fourth, Zimri and Cozbi did not slip off the spear but remained fixed so others could witness their transgression. Fifth, an [[angel]] came and lifted the lintel so that Phinehas could exit holding the spear. And sixth, an angel came and sowed destruction among the people, distracting the Simeonites from killing Phinehas.<ref name="Babylonian Talmud Sanhedrin 82b">[https://www.sefaria.org/Sanhedrin.82b Babylonian Talmud Sanhedrin 82b].</ref>

The amora [[Rabbah bar bar Hana]] said in Johanan's name that had Zimri withdrawn from his mistress and Phinehas still killed him, he would have been liable to execution for murder. Had Zimri killed Phinehas in self-defense, he would not have been liable to execution for murder, as Phinehas was a pursuer seeking to take Zimri's life.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Sanhedrin.82a Babylonian Talmud Sanhedrin 82a].</ref>

Based on Numbers 25:8 and 11, [[Sanhedrin (tractate)|Mishna Sanhedrin]] listed the case of a man who had sexual relations with an [[Arameans|Aramean]] woman as one of three cases for which it was permissible for zealots to punish the offender on the spot.{{efn|{{cite web |title=Mishnah Sanhedrin 9:6 |url=http://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Sanhedrin.9.6 |website=www.sefaria.org}}; {{cite web |title=Sanhedrin 81b |url=https://www.sefaria.org/Sanhedrin.81b |website=www.sefaria.org}}}}

Reading the words of Numbers 25:7, "When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, ''saw''," the [[Jerusalem Talmud]] asked what he saw. The Jerusalem Talmud answered that he saw the incident and remembered the law that zealots may beat up one who has sexual relations with an Aramean woman. But the Jerusalem Talmud reported that it was taught that this was not with the approval of [[chazal|the sages]].
{{quote|Would Phineas act against the Sages? Rebbi Jehudah bar Pazi said they wanted to excommunicate him had not the [[Holy Spirit in Judaism|Holy Spirit]] jumped on him and declared that an eternal covenant of priesthood shall be for him and his descendants after him, etc.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jerusalem Talmud Sanhedrin 9:7:4 |url=https://www.sefaria.org/Jerusalem_Talmud_Sanhedrin.9.7.4 |website=www.sefaria.org}}</ref>}}

The [[Gemara]] told that after Phinehas killed Zimri and Cozbi, the Israelites began berating Phinehas for his presumption, as he himself was descended from a Midianite idolater, Jethro. The Israelites said: "See this son of Puti (Putiel, or Jethro) whose maternal grandfather fattened (''pittem'') cattle for idols, and who has now slain the prince of a tribe of Israel (Zimri)!" To counter this attack, the Gemara explained, God detailed Phinehas's descent from the peaceful Aaron the Priest in Numbers 25:11. And then in Numbers 25:12, God told Moses to be the first to extend a greeting of peace to Phinehas, to calm the crowd. And the Gemara explained Numbers 25:13 to indicate that the atonement that Phinehas had made was worthy to atone permanently.<ref name="Babylonian Talmud Sanhedrin 82b"/>
{{tree chart/start}}
{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | }}
{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | | AAR | | | | JET | AAR=[[Aaron]]| JET=[[Putiel]] ([[Jethro (biblical figure)|Jethro]])}}
{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | | |!| | | | | |!| | }}
{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | | ELE |~|y|~| WIF | ELE=[[Eleazar]]|WIF=daughter of Putiel}}
{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |!| | | | | }}
{{tree chart| | | | | | | | | | | | | | PHI | PHI=[[Phinehas]]}}
{{tree chart| }}
{{tree chart/end}}
Similarly, the Gemara asked whether the words in Exodus 6:25, "And Eleazar Aaron's son took him one of the daughters of ''Putiel'' to wife" did not convey that Eleazar's son Phinehas descended from Jethro, who fattened ({{transliteration|he|piteim}}) calves for idol worship. The Gemara then provided an alternative explanation: Exodus 6:25 could mean that Phinehas descended from [[Joseph (son of Jacob)|Joseph]], who conquered ({{transliteration|he|pitpeit}}) his passions (resisting [[Potiphar]]'s wife, as reported in [[Book of Genesis|Genesis]] 39). But the Gemara asked, did not the tribes sneer at Phinehas and<ref>See [https://www.sefaria.org/Sanhedrin.82b Babylonian Talmud Sanhedrin 82b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Sotah.43a Sotah 43a].</ref> question how a youth (Phinehas) whose mother's father crammed calves for idol-worship could kill the head of a tribe in Israel (Zimri, Prince of Simeon, as reported in Numbers 25). The Gemara explained that the real explanation was that Phinehas descended from both Joseph and Jethro. If Phinehas's mother's father descended from Joseph, then Phinehas's mother's mother descended from Jethro. And if Phinehas's mother's father descended from Jethro, then Phinehas's mother's mother descended from Joseph. The Gemara explained that Exodus 6:25 implies this dual explanation of "Putiel" when it says, "of the daughters of Putiel," because the plural "daughters" implies two lines of ancestry (from both Joseph and Jethro).<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Batra.109b Babylonian Talmud Bava Batra 109b–10a]; see also [[Exodus Rabbah]] 7:5.</ref>

A [[midrash]] interpreted Numbers 25:12, in which God gives Phinehas God's "covenant of peace," to teach that Phinehas, like [[Elijah]], continues to live to this day, applying to Phinehas the words of [[Book of Malachi|Malachi]] 2:5, "My covenant was with him of life and peace, and I gave them to him, and of fear, and he feared Me, and was afraid of My name."<ref>[[Numbers Rabbah]] 21:3.</ref>

A midrash deduced from God's giving Phinehas peace as a reward in Numbers 25:12 that peace is a precious thing.<ref>Numbers Rabbah 11:7.</ref> Similarly, another midrash deduced from the same verse that peace is beloved.<ref>[[Deuteronomy Rabbah]] 5:15.</ref>

Reading the words of Numbers 25:13 that Phinehas "made atonement for the children of Israel," a midrash taught that although he did not strictly offer a sacrifice to justify the expression "atonement," his shedding the blood of the wicked was as though he had offered a sacrifice.<ref>Numbers Rabbah 21:3.</ref>

The Gemara in [[Sotah]] told that the [[Hasmonean dynasty|Hasmonean]] king [[Alexander Jannaeus]] advised his wife not to fear the [[Pharisees]] or the [[Sadducees]], but to beware of pretenders who sought to appear like Pharisees, as they acted like the wicked Zimri but sought a reward like that of the righteous Phinehas.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Sotah.22b.6 Babylonian Talmud Sotah 22b].</ref>

Reading Deuteronomy 2:9, "And the Lord spoke to me, 'Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle,'" [[Ulla (Talmudist)|Ulla]] argued that it certainly could not have entered the mind of Moses to wage war without God's authorization. So we must deduce that Moses, on his own, reasoned that if in the case of the Midianites who came only to assist the Moabites in Numbers 22:4, God commanded in Numbers 25:17, "Vex the Midianites and smite them". In the case of the Moabites themselves, the same injunction should apply even more strongly. However, God told Moses that the idea that he had in his mind was not the idea that God had. God brought two doves forth from the Moabites and the Ammonites—[[Ruth (biblical figure)|Ruth]] the Moabite and [[Naamah (wife of Solomon)|Naamah]] the Ammonite.{{efn|{{cite web |title=Bava Kamma 38a |url=https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Kamma.38a |website=www.sefaria.org}}}}

[[File:Philippoteaux The Numbering of the Israelites.jpg|thumb|290px|right|The Numbering of the Israelites (19th-century engraving by [[Henri Félix Emmanuel Philippoteaux]])]]

===Numbers chapter 26===
A midrash taught that the Israelites were counted on ten occasions:<ref>Midrash [[Tanhuma|Tanḥuma]] Ki Sisa 9.</ref> (1) when they went down to Egypt,<ref>{{Bibleverse||Deuteronomy|10:22|HE}}.</ref> (2) when they went up out of Egypt,<ref>{{Bibleverse||Exodus|12:37|HE}}.</ref> (3) at the first census in Numbers,<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|1:1–46|HE}}.</ref> (4) at the second census in Numbers,<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|26:1–65|HE}}.</ref> (5) once for the banners, (6) once in the time of Joshua for the division of the land of Israel, (7) once by [[Saul]],<ref>[[Books of Samuel|1 Samuel]] {{Bibleverse-nb|1|Samuel|11:8|HE}}.</ref> (8) a second time by Saul,<ref>{{Bibleverse|1|Samuel|15:4|HE}}.</ref> (9) once by David,<ref>{{Bibleverse|2|Samuel|24:9|HE}}.</ref> and (10) once in the time of Ezra.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Ezra|2:64|HE}}.</ref>

Noting that Numbers 26:1 speaks of "after the plague" immediately before reporting that God ordered the census, a midrash concluded that whenever the Israelites were struck, they needed to be counted, as a shepherd will count the sheep after a wolf attacks. Alternatively, the midrash taught that God ordered Moses to count the Israelites as Moses neared death, much as a shepherd entrusted with a set number of sheep must count those that remain when the shepherd returns the sheep to their owner.<ref>Midrash Tanḥuma Pinchas 4.</ref>

[[File:Foster Bible Pictures 0045-1 A Shepherd.jpg|thumb|left|250px|A Shepherd (illustration from the 1897 ''Bible Pictures and What They Teach Us'' by Charles Foster)]]
A midrash explained that Moses numbered the Israelites like a shepherd to whom an owner entrusted a flock by number. When the shepherd came to the end of the shepherd's time, on returning them, the shepherd had to count them again. When Israel left Egypt, God entrusted the Israelites to Moses by number, as Numbers 1:1 reports, "And the Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai . . . 'Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel.'" And Exodus 12:37 records that "the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about 600,000 men on foot," demonstrating that Moses took responsibility for the Israelites in Egypt by number. When, therefore, Moses was about to depart from the world in the plain of Moab, he returned them to God by number after having them counted in the census reported at Numbers 26:1–51.<ref>Numbers Rabbah 21:7.</ref>

The Rabbis taught in a [[baraita]] that upon entering a barn to measure the new grain one should recite the blessing, "May it be Your will O Lord, our God, that You may send blessing upon the work of our hands." Once one has begun to measure, one should say, "Blessed be the One who sends blessing into this heap." If, however, one first measured the grain and then recited the blessing, then prayer is in vain, because blessing is not to be found in anything that has been already weighed or measured or numbered, but only in a thing hidden from sight.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Taanit.8b Babylonian Talmud Taanit 8b].</ref>

[[Rabbi Isaac the smith|Rabbi Isaac]] taught that it is forbidden to count Israel even for the purpose of fulfilling a commandment, as 1 Samuel 11:8 can be read, "And he numbered them with pebbles ({{Script/Hebrew|בְּבֶזֶק}}, ''be-bezek'')." [[Rav Ashi]] demurred, asking how Rabbi Isaac knew that the word {{Script/Hebrew|בֶזֶק}}, ''bezek'', in 1 Samuel 11:8 means being broken pieces (that is, pebbles). Rav Ashi suggested that perhaps {{Script/Hebrew|בֶזֶק}}, ''Bezek'', is the name of a place, as in Judges 1:5, which says, "And they found Adoni-Bezek in Bezek ({{Script/Hebrew|בְּבֶזֶק}}, ''be-bezek'')." Rav Ashi argued that the prohibition of counting comes from 1 Samuel 15:4, which can be read, "And Saul summoned the people and numbered them with sheep ({{Script/Hebrew|טְּלָאִים}}, ''telaim'')." [[Eleazar ben Shammua|Rabbi Eleazar]] taught that whoever counts Israel transgresses a Biblical prohibition, as Hosea 2:1 says, "Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which ''cannot be measured''." [[Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak|Rav Naḥman bar Isaac]] said that such a person would transgress two prohibitions, for Hosea 2:1 says, "Which cannot be measured nor numbered." Rabbi [[Samuel ben Nahman|Samuel bar Naḥmani]] reported that [[Rabbi Jonathan]] noted a potential contradiction, as Hosea 2:1 says, "Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea" (implying a finite number, but Hosea 2:1 also says, "Which cannot be numbered" (implying that they will not have a finite number). The Gemara answered that there is no contradiction, for the latter part of Hosea 2:1 speaks of the time when Israel fulfils God's will, while the earlier part of Hosea 2:1 speaks of the time when they do not fulfill God's will. [[Judah the Prince|Rabbi]] said on behalf of Abba Jose ben Dosthai that there is no contradiction, for the latter part of Hosea 2:1 speaks of counting done by human beings, while the earlier part of Hosea 2:1 speaks of counting by [[Heaven]].<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Yoma.22b Babylonian Talmud Yoma 22b].</ref>

[[File:Holman Destruction of Korah Dathan and Abiram.jpg|thumb|left|350px|The Destruction of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram (illustration from the 1890 Holman Bible)]]

[[Abba ben Joseph bar Ḥama|Rava]] found support in Numbers 26:8 for the proposition that sometimes texts refer to "sons" when they mean a single son.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Batra.143b Babylonian Talmud Bava Batra 143b].</ref>

A [[Tannaim|Tanna]] in the name of [[Judah haNasi|Rabbi]] deduced from the words "the sons of Korah did not die" in Numbers 26:11 that Providence set up a special place for them to stand on high in [[Gehenna|Gehinnom]].<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Megillah.14a Babylonian Talmud Megillah 14a], [https://www.sefaria.org/Sanhedrin.110a Sanhedrin 110a].</ref> There, Korah's sons sat and sang praises to God. Rabbah bar bar Hana told that once when he was travelling, an Arab showed him where the earth swallowed Korah's congregation. Rabbah bar bar Hana saw two cracks in the ground from which smoke issued. He took a piece of wool, soaked it in water, attached it to the point of his spear, and passed it over the cracks, and the wool was singed. The Arab told Rabbah bar bar Hana to listen, and he heard them saying, "Moses and his Torah are true, but Korah's company are liars." The Arab told Rabbah bar bar Hana that every 30 days Gehinnom caused them to return for judgment, as if they were being stirred like meat in a pot, and every 30 days they said those same words.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Sanhedrin.110a Babylonian Talmud Sanhedrin 110a–b]; see also [https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Batra.73b Babylonian Talmud Bava Batra 73b–74a].</ref>

A midrash explained why the sons of Korah were saved. When they were sitting with their father, and they saw Moses, they hung their heads and lamented that if they stood up for Moses, they would be showing disrespect for their father, but if they did not rise, they would be disregarding Leviticus 19:32, "You shall rise up before the hoary head." They concluded that they had better rise for their teacher Moses, even though they would thereby be showing disrespect for our father. At that moment, thoughts of repentance stirred in their hearts.<ref>[[Yalkut Shimoni]], Korah § 752 (southern Germany, 13th century), quoted in Yishai Chasidah, ''Encyclopedia of Biblical Personalities: Anthologized from the Talmud, Midrash, and Rabbinic Writings'' (Brooklyn: Shaar Press, 1994), page 472.</ref>

[[File:Tissot Jonah.jpg|thumb|right|115px|Jonah (watercolor circa 1896–1902 by James Tissot)]]
A midrash taught that at the moment when the earth opened up, Korah's sons were suspended in the air.<ref>[[Midrash Tehillim]] (Shocher Tov) 46:3 (11th century), quoted in Yishai Chasidah, ''Encyclopedia of Biblical Personalities'', page 473.</ref> When the sons of Korah saw the gaping abyss below on one side and the fire of Gehinnom on the other, they were unable to open their mouths to confess. But as soon as thoughts of repentance stirred in their hearts, God accepted them. Whatever thoughts one of the sons developed, the others developed as well, so that all three were of one heart.<ref>Midrash Tehillim (Shocher Tov) 45:4, quoted in Yishai Chasidah, ''Encyclopedia of Biblical Personalities'', page 472.</ref> The area around them split apart, but the spot on which each stood was not touched. They stood separately like three pillars.<ref>Midrash Tehillim (Shocher Tov) 1:15, quoted in Yishai Chasidah, ''Encyclopedia of Biblical Personalities'', page 472.</ref> Moses, Aaron, and all the great scholars came to hear the song of the sons of Korah, and from this they learned to sing songs before God.<ref>Midrash Tehillim (Shocher Tov) 45:2, quoted in Yishai Chasidah, ''Encyclopedia of Biblical Personalities'', page 473.</ref>

The [[Pirke De-Rabbi Eliezer]] taught that the prophet [[Jonah]] saved the fish that swallowed Jonah from being devoured by [[Leviathan]], and in exchange, the fish showed Jonah the sea and the depths. The fish showed Jonah the great river of the waters of the Ocean, the paths of the [[Yam Suph|Reed Sea]] through which Israel passed in [[the Exodus]], the place from where the waves of the sea and its billows flow, the pillars of the earth in its foundations, the lowest [[Sheol]], Gehinnom, and what was beneath the Temple in Jerusalem. Beneath the Temple, Jonah saw the [[Cornerstone|Foundation Stone]] fixed in the depths, and the sons of Korah were standing and praying over it. The sons of Korah told Jonah that he stood beneath the Temple of God, and if he prayed, he would be answered. Forthwith, Jonah prayed to God to restore Jonah to life. In response, God hinted to the fish, and the fish vomited out Jonah onto the dry land, as reported in [[Book of Jonah|Jonah]] 2:10.<ref>Pirke de Rabbi Eliezer, chapter 10.</ref>

[[File:Holman Burying the Body of Joseph.jpg|thumb|left|350px|Burying the Body of Joseph (illustration from the 1890 Holman Bible)]]
A baraita taught that the [[Serah]] the daughter of [[Asher]] mentioned in both Genesis 46:17 and Numbers 26:46 survived from the time Israel went down to Egypt to the time of the wandering in the Wilderness. The Gemara taught that Moses went to her to ask where the Egyptians had buried Joseph. She told him that the Egyptians had made a metal coffin for Joseph. The Egyptians set the coffin in the [[Nile]] so that its waters would be blessed. Moses went to the bank of the Nile and called to Joseph that the time had arrived for God to deliver the Israelites, and the oath that Joseph had imposed upon the children of Israel in Genesis 50:25 had reached its time of fulfillment. Moses called on Joseph to show himself, and Joseph's coffin immediately rose to the surface of the water.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Sotah.13a Babylonian Talmud Sotah 13a].</ref>

Similarly, a midrash taught that Serah (mentioned in Numbers 26:46) conveyed to the Israelites a secret password handed down from Jacob so that they would recognize their deliverer. The midrash told that when (as Exodus 4:30 reports) "Aaron spoke all the words" to the Israelite people, "And the people believed" (as Exodus 4:31 reports), they did not believe only because they had seen the signs. Rather, (as Exodus 4:31 reports), "They heard that the Lord had visited"—they believed because they heard, not because they saw the signs. What made them believe was the sign of God's visitation that God communicated to them through a tradition from Jacob, which Jacob handed down to Joseph, Joseph to his brothers, and Asher, the son of Jacob, handed down to his daughter Serah, who was still alive at the time of Moses and Aaron. Asher told Serah that any redeemer who would come and say the password to the Israelites would be their true deliverer. So when Moses came and said the password, the people believed him at once.<ref>Exodus Rabbah 5:13.</ref>

Interpreting Numbers 26:53 and 26:55, the Gemara noted a dispute over whether the land of Israel was apportioned according to those who came out of Egypt or according to those who went into the land of Israel. It was taught in a baraita that [[Rabbi Josiah]] said that the land of Israel was apportioned according to those who came out of Egypt, as Numbers 26:55 says, "according to the names of the tribes of ''their fathers'' they shall inherit." The Gemara asked what then to make of Numbers 26:53, which says, "Unto ''these'' the land shall be divided for an inheritance." The Gemara proposed that "unto these" meant adults, to the exclusion of minors. But Rabbi Jonathan taught that the land was apportioned according to those who entered the land, for Numbers 26:53 says, "Unto ''these'' the land shall be divided for an inheritance." The Gemara posited that according to this view, Numbers 26:55 taught that the manner of inheritance of the land of Israel differed from all other modes of inheritance in the world. For in all other modes of inheritance in the world, the living inherit from the dead, but in this case, the dead inherited from the living. Rabbi [[Simeon ben Eleazar]] taught a third view—that the land was divided both according to those who left Egypt and according to those who entered the land of Israel, so as to carry out both verses. The Gemara explained that according to this view, one among those who came out of Egypt received a share among those who came out of Egypt, and one who entered the land of Israel received a share among those who entered the land. And one who belonged to both categories received a share among both categories.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Batra.117a Babylonian Talmud Bava Batra 117a–b].</ref>

[[File:Book of Genesis Chapter 46-1 (Bible Illustrations by Sweet Media).jpg|thumb|right|250px|Jacob Took His Whole Family to Egypt (1984 illustration by Jim Padgett, courtesy of Sweet Publishing)]]

Abba Ḥalifa of Keruya asked Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba why Genesis 46:27 reported that 70 people from Jacob's household came to Egypt, while Genesis 46:8–27 enumerated only 69 individuals. Rabbi Ḥiyya reported that Rabbi Ḥama bar Ḥanina taught that the seventieth person was the mother of Moses, [[Jochebed]], who was conceived on the way from Canaan to Egypt and born as Jacob's family passed between the city walls as they entered Egypt, for Numbers 26:59 reported that Jochebed "was born to [[Levi]] in Egypt," implying that her conception was not in Egypt.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Batra.123b Babylonian Talmud Bava Batra 123b–24a].</ref>

The Gemara taught that the use of the pronoun "he" ({{Script/Hebrew|הוּא}}, ''hu'') in an introduction, as in the words "These are ({{Script/Hebrew|הוּא}}, ''hu'') that [[Dathan]] and [[Abiram]]" in Numbers 26:9, signifies that they were the same in their wickedness from the beginning to the end. Similar uses appear in Genesis 36:43 to teach [[Esau]]'s enduring wickedness, in 2 Chronicles 28:22 to teach [[Ahaz]]'s enduring wickedness, in [[Book of Esther|Esther]] 1:1 to teach [[Ahasuerus]]'s enduring wickedness, in 1 Chronicles 1:27 to teach [[Abraham]]'s enduring righteousness, in Exodus 6:26 to teach Moses and Aaron's enduring righteousness, and in 1 Samuel 17:14 to teach David's enduring humility.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Megillah.11a Babylonian Talmud Megillah 11a].</ref>

The Gemara asked why the [[Tannaim]] felt that the allocation of the Land of Israel "according to the names of the tribes of their fathers" in Numbers 26:55 meant that the allocation was with reference to those who left Egypt; perhaps, the Gemara supposed, it might have meant the 12 tribes and that the Land was to be divided into 12 equal portions? The Gemara noted that in Exodus 6:8, God told Moses to tell the Israelites who were about to leave Egypt, "And I will give it you for a heritage; I am the Lord," and that meant that the Land was the inheritance from the fathers of those who left Egypt.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Batra.117b Babylonian Talmud Bava Batra 117b].</ref>

A midrash noted that Scripture records the death of Nadab and Abihu in numerous places (Leviticus 10:2 and 16:1; Numbers 3:4 and 26:61; and 1 Chronicles 24:2). This teaches that God grieved for Nadab and Abihu, for they were dear to God. And thus Leviticus 10:3 quotes God to say: "Through them who are near to Me I will be sanctified."<ref>Numbers Rabbah 2:23.</ref>

[[File:Foster Bible Pictures 0082-1 The Daughters of Zelophehad.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The Daughters of Zelophehad (illustration from the 1897 ''Bible Pictures and What They Teach Us'' by Charles Foster)]]

===Numbers chapter 27===
A midrash explained why the report of Numbers 27:1–11 about the daughters of Zelophehad follows immediately after the report of Numbers 26:65 about the death of the wilderness generation. The midrash noted that Numbers 26:65 says, "there was not left a ''man'' of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh," because the men had been unwilling to enter the Land. But the midrash taught that Numbers 27:1 says, "then drew near the daughters of Zelophehad," to show that the women still sought an inheritance in the Land. The midrash noted that in the incident of the [[Golden calf|Golden Calf]], in Exodus 32:2, Aaron told them: "Break off the golden rings that are in the ears of ''your wives''," but the women refused to participate, as Exodus 32:3 indicates when it says, "And all the people broke off the golden rings that were in their ears." Similarly, the midrash noted that Numbers 14:36 says that in the incident of the spies, "the ''men'' . . . when they returned, made all the congregation to murmur against him." The midrash taught that in that generation, the women built up fences that the men broke down.<ref>Numbers Rabbah 21:10.</ref>

Noting that Numbers 27:1 reported the generations from Joseph to the daughters of Zelophehad, the [[Sifre]] taught that the daughters of Zelophehad loved the Land of Israel just as much as their ancestor Joseph did (when in Genesis 50:25 he extracted an oath from his brothers to return his body to the Land of Israel for burial).<ref>Sifre to Numbers 133.</ref>

Chapter 8 of tractate [[Bava Batra]] in the Mishnah, Jerusalem Talmud, and Babylonian Talmud and chapter 7 of tractate Bava Batra in the [[Tosefta]] interpreted the laws of inheritance in Numbers 27:1–11 and 36:1–9.<ref>[http://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Bava_Batra.8 Mishnah Bava Batra 8:1–8]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Tosefta_Bava_Batra.7 Tosefta Bava Batra 7:1–18]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Jerusalem_Talmud_Bava_Batra.8 Jerusalem Talmud Bava_Batra 24a–30a (8:1–9)]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Batra.108a Babylonian Talmud Bava Batra 108a–39b].</ref>

[[Joshua ben Hananiah|Rabbi Joshua]] taught that Zelophehad's daughters in Numbers 27:2–4 petitioned first the assembly, then the chieftains, then Eleazar, and finally Moses, but Abba Hanan said in the name of [[Eliezer ben Hurcanus|Rabbi Eliezer]] taught that Zelophehad's daughters stood before all of them as they sat together.<ref name=BavaBatra119b/>

[[File:The Daughters of Zelophehad.jpg|400px|thumb|right|The Daughters of Zelophehad (illustration from the 1908 ''Bible and Its Story Taught by One Thousand Picture Lessons'')]]

Noting that the words "in the wilderness" appeared both in Numbers 27:3 (where Zelophehad's daughters noted that their father Zelophehad had not taken part in [[Korah]]'s rebellion) and in Numbers 15:32 (which tells the story of the Sabbath violator), [[Rabbi Akiva]] taught in a baraita that Zelophehad was the man executed for gathering sticks on the Sabbath. Rabbi [[Judah ben Bathyra]] answered Akiva that Akiva would have to give an account for his accusation. For either Akiva was right that Zelophehad was the man executed for gathering sticks on the Sabbath, and Akiva revealed something that the Torah shielded from public view, or Akiva was wrong that Zelophehad was the man executed for gathering sticks on the Sabbath, and Akiva cast a stigma upon a righteous man. But the Gemara answered that Akiva learned a tradition from the [[Oral Torah]] (that went back to Sinai, and thus the Torah did not shield the matter from public view). The Gemara then asked, according to Rabbi Judah ben Bathyra, of what sin did Zelophehad die (as his daughters reported in Numbers 27:3 that "he died in his own sin")? The Gemara reported that according to Rabbi Judah ben Bathyra, Zelophehad was among those who "presumed to go up to the top of the mountain" in Numbers 14:44 (to try and fail to take the Land of Israel after the incident of the spies).<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Shabbat.96b Babylonian Talmud Shabbat 96b–97a].</ref>

A baraita interpreted the words of Numbers 27:3, "and he was not among the assembly," to teach that Zelophehad was not one of the spies. The baraita interpreted the words "that gathered themselves together against the Lord" to teach that Zelophehad was not one of the 250 protesters who followed Korah. And the baraita interpreted the words "in the assembly of Korah" literally, to teach that Zelophehad was not among Korah's kin.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Batra.118b.5 Babylonian Talmud Bava Batra 118b].</ref>

Rabbi Hidka recounted that Simeon of [[Tel Shikmona|Shikmona]], a fellow disciple of Rabbi Akiva, taught that Moses knew that the daughters of Zelophehad were entitled to inherit, but he did not know whether they were to take the double portion of the firstborn or not (and thus, as Numbers 27:5 reports, took the case to God). Moses would have in any case written the laws of inheritance in Numbers 27:1–11 and 36:1–9, but as the daughters of Zelophehad were meritorious, the Torah tells the laws of inheritance through their story.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Batra.119a Babylonian Talmud Bava Batra 119a].</ref>

Rabbi [[Chaninah|Ḥanina]] (or some say [[Rabbi Josiah]]) taught that Numbers 27:5, when Moses found himself unable to decide the case of the daughters of Zelophehad, reports the punishment of Moses for his arrogance when he told the judges in Deuteronomy 1:17: "the cause that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it." [[Rav Nachman|Rav Naḥman]] objected to Rabbi Ḥanina's interpretation, noting that Moses did not say that he would always have the answers, but merely that he would rule if he knew the answer or seek instruction if he did not. Rav Naḥman cited a baraita to explain the case of the daughters of Zelophehad: God had intended that Moses write the laws of inheritance, but found the daughters of Zelophehad worthy to have the section recorded on their account.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Sanhedrin.8a Babylonian Talmud Sanhedrin 8a].</ref>

The Mishnah taught that the daughters of Zelophehad took three shares in the inheritance of the Land of Israel: (1) the share of their father Zelophehad, who was among those who came out of Egypt; (2) their father's share among his brothers in the estate of [[Hepher (son of Manasseh)|Hepher]], Zelophehad's father; and (3) an extra share in Hepher's estate, as Zelophehad was a firstborn son, who takes two shares.<ref>[http://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Bava_Batra.8.3 Mishnah Bava Batra 8:3]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Batra.116b Babylonian Talmud Bava Batra 116b].</ref>

A baraita taught that Zelophehad's daughters were [[wisdom|wise]], Torah [[student]]s, and [[Righteousness|righteous]].<ref name=BavaBatra119b>[https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Batra.119b Babylonian Talmud Bava Batra 119b].</ref> And a baraita taught that Zelophehad's daughters were equal in merit, and that is why the order of their names varies between Numbers 27:1 and 36:11.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Batra.120a Babylonian Talmud Bava Batra 120a].</ref> According to the Gemara, they demonstrated their wisdom by raising their case in a timely fashion, just as Moses was expounding the [[law]] of [[levirate marriage]], or ''[[yibbum]]'', and they argued for their inheritance by analogy to that law.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Batra.119b Babylonian Talmud Bava Batra 119b]; see also [https://www.sefaria.org/Jerusalem_Talmud_Bava_Batra.8.2.2 Jerusalem Talmud Bava Batra 25a (8:2)]</ref>

Reading Numbers 27:8, the Mishnah taught these rules for the order of inheritance: the son preceded the daughter, and the son's offspring preceded the daughter. The daughter preceded the decedent's brothers, and the daughters' offspring preceded the brothers. The decedent's brothers precede the decedent's father's brothers, and the brothers' offspring precede the father's brothers. The general rule was that the offspring of one who had precedence in inheritance also had precedence. The father had precedence over all his offspring (if none were the direct offspring of the decedent).<ref>[http://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Bava_Batra.8.2 Mishnah Bava Batra 8:2]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Batra.115a.7 Babylonian Talmud Bava Batra 115a].</ref>

[[File:Mei, Bernardino - David and Bathsheba.jpg|225px|thumb|left|David and [[Bathsheba]] (mid-17th-century painting by [[Bernardino Mei]])]]

The Gemara implied that the sin of Moses in striking the rock at Meribah compared favorably to the sin of David. The Gemara reported that Moses and David were two good leaders of Israel. Moses begged God that his sin be recorded, as it is in Numbers 20:12, 20:23–24, and 27:13–14, and Deuteronomy 32:51. David, however, begged that his sin be blotted out, as Psalm 32:1 says, "Happy is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is pardoned." The Gemara compared the cases of Moses and David to the cases of two women whom the court sentenced to be lashed. One had committed an indecent act, while the other had eaten unripe figs of the seventh year in violation of Leviticus 25:6. The woman who had eaten unripe figs begged the court to make known for what offense she was being flogged, lest people say that she was being punished for the same sin as the other woman. The court thus made known her sin, and the Torah repeatedly records the sin of Moses.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Yoma.86b Babylonian Talmud Yoma 86b].</ref>

[[File:Figures Moses Names Joshua To Succeed Him.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Moses Names Joshua To Succeed Him (illustration from the 1728 ''Figures de la Bible'')]]

Noting that Moses asked God to designate someone to succeed him in Numbers 27:16, soon after the incident of Zelophehad's daughters, a midrash deduced that when the daughters of Zelophehad inherited from their father, Moses argued that it would surely be right for his sons to inherit his glory. God, however, replied (in the words of [[Book of Proverbs|Proverbs]] 27:18) that "Whoever keeps the fig-tree shall eat its fruit; and whoever waits on the master shall be honored." The sons of Moses sat idly by and did not study Torah, but Joshua served Moses and showed him great honor, rose early in the morning and remained late at night at the House of Assembly, and arranged the benches and spread the mats. As he had served Moses with all his might, he was worthy to serve Israel, and thus God in Numbers 27:18 directed Moses to "take Joshua the son of Nun" as his successor.<ref>Numbers Rabbah 21:14.</ref>

Reading [[Ecclesiastes]] 1:5, "The sun also rises, and the sun goes down," Rabbi Abba taught that since we of course know that the sun rises and sets, Ecclesiastes 1:5 means that before God causes the sun of one righteous person to set, God causes the sun of another righteous person to rise. Thus before God caused the sun of Moses to set, God caused Joshua's sun to rise, as Numbers 27:18 reports, "And the Lord said to Moses: 'Take Joshua the son of Nun . . . and lay your hand upon him.'"<ref>[[Genesis Rabbah]] 58:2.</ref>

[[File:Tissot Moses Blesses Joshua Before the High Priest.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Moses Blesses Joshua Before the High Priest (watercolor circa 1896–1902 by James Tissot)]]

In Proverbs 8:15, Wisdom (which the Rabbis equated with the Torah) says, "By me kings reign, and princes decree justice." A midrash taught that Proverbs 8:15 thus reports what actually happened to Joshua, for as Numbers 27:18 reports, it was not the sons of Moses who succeeded their father, but Joshua. And the midrash taught that Proverbs 27:18, "And he who waits on his master shall be honored," also alludes to Joshua, for Joshua ministered to Moses day and night, as reported by Exodus 33:11, which says, "Joshua departed not out of the Tent," and Numbers 11:28, which says, "Joshua . . . said: 'My lord Moses, shut them in.'" Consequently, God honored Joshua by saying of Joshua in Numbers 27:21: "He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim." And because Joshua served his master Moses, Joshua attained the privilege of receiving the Holy Spirit, as Joshua 1:1 reports, "Now it came to pass after the death of Moses . . . that the Lord spoke to Joshua, the minister of Moses." The midrash taught that there was no need for Joshua 1:1 to state, "the minister of Moses," so the purpose of the statement "the minister of Moses" was to explain that Joshua was awarded the privilege of prophecy because he was the minister of Moses.<ref>Numbers Rabbah 12:9.</ref>

The Gemara taught that God's instruction to Moses in Numbers 27:20 to put some of his honor on Joshua was not to transfer all the honor of Moses. The elders of that generation compared the countenance of Moses to that of the sun and the countenance of Joshua to that of the moon. The elders considered it a shame and a reproach that there had been such a decline in the stature of Israel's leadership in the course of just one generation.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Batra.75a Babylonian Talmud Bava Batra 75a].</ref>

The Mishnah taught that "one inquired [of the Urim and Thummim] only for a king."<ref>[http://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Yoma.7.5 Mishnah Yoma 7:5]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Yoma.71b Babylonian Talmud Yoma 71b].</ref> The Gemara asked what the Scriptural basis was for this teaching. The Gemara answered that Rabbi [[Abbahu]] read Numbers 27:21, "And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim . . . ; at his word shall they go out . . . , both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation," to teach that "he" (that is, Joshua) meant the king, "and all the children of Israel with him" (that is, Eleazar) meant the priest Anointed for Battle, and "even all the congregation" meant the [[Sanhedrin]].<ref name=Yoma73b>[https://www.sefaria.org/Yoma.73b Babylonian Talmud Yoma 73b].</ref>

Rabbi Eliezer noted that in Numbers 27:21 God directs that Joshua "shall stand before Eleazar the priest," and yet Scripture does not record that Joshua ever sought Eleazar's guidance.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Eruvin.63a Babylonian Talmud Eruvin 63a].</ref>

The Gemara taught that although the decree of a [[prophet]] could be revoked, the decree of the Urim and Thummim could not be revoked, as Numbers 27:21 says, "By the judgment of the Urim." A baraita explained why the Urim and Thummim were called by those names: The term "Urim" is like the Hebrew word for "lights," and thus it was called "Urim" because it enlightened. The term "Thummim" is like the Hebrew word ''tam'' meaning "to be complete," and thus it was called "Thummim" because its predictions were fulfilled. The Gemara discussed how they used the Urim and Thummim: [[Yochanan bar Nafcha|Rabbi Joḥanan]] said that the letters of the stones in the breastplate stood out to spell out the answer. [[Shimon ben Lakish|Resh Lakish]] said that the letters joined each other to spell words. But the Gemara noted that the Hebrew letter {{Script/Hebrew|צ}}, ''[[tsade]]'', was missing from the list of the 12 tribes of Israel. Rabbi Samuel bar Isaac said that the stones of the breastplate also contained the names of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But the Gemara noted that the Hebrew letter {{Script/Hebrew|ט}}, ''[[teth]]'', was also missing. Rav Aha bar Jacob said that they also contained the words: "The tribes of Jeshurun."<ref name=Yoma73b/>

[[File:Book of Exodus Chapter 29-6 (Bible Illustrations by Sweet Media).jpg|thumb|right|225px|The High Priest wearing his Breastplate (1984 illustration by Jim Padgett, courtesy of Sweet Publishing)]]
The Pirke De-Rabbi Eliezer taught that when Israel sinned in the matter of the devoted things, as reported in [[Book of Joshua|Joshua]] 7:11, [[Joshua]] looked at the 12 stones corresponding to the 12 tribes that were upon the High Priest's breastplate. For every tribe that had sinned, the light of its stone became dim, and Joshua saw that the light of the stone for the [[tribe of Judah]] had become dim. So Joshua knew that the tribe of Judah had transgressed in the matter of the devoted things. Similarly, the Pirke De-Rabbi Eliezer taught that [[Saul]] saw the [[Philistines]] turning against Israel, and he knew that Israel had sinned in the matter of the ban. Saul looked at the 12 stones, and for each tribe that had followed the law, its stone (on the High Priest's breastplate) shined with its light, and for each tribe that had transgressed, the light of its stone was dim. So Saul knew that the [[tribe of Benjamin]] had trespassed in the matter of the ban.<ref>Pirke De-Rabbi Eliezer, chapter 38.</ref>

The Mishnah reported that with the death of the [[Nevi'im|former prophets]], the Urim and Thummim ceased.<ref>[http://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Sotah.9.12 Mishnah Sotah 9:12]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Sotah.48a Babylonian Talmud Sotah 48a].</ref> In this connection, the Gemara reported differing views of who the former prophets were. [[Rav Huna]] said they were David, [[Samuel]], and [[Solomon]]. [[Rav Nachman|Rav Naḥman]] said that during the days of David, they were sometimes successful and sometimes not (getting an answer from the Urim and Thummim), for [[Zadok]] consulted it and succeeded, while [[Abiathar]] consulted it and was not successful, as 2 Samuel 15:24 reports, "And Abiathar went up." (He retired from the priesthood because the Urim and Thummim gave him no reply.) Rabbah bar Samuel asked whether the report of [[Books of Chronicles|2 Chronicles]] 26:5, "And he (King [[Uzziah]] of Judah) set himself to seek God all the days of [[Zechariah (Hebrew prophet)|Zechariah]], who had understanding in the vision of God," did not refer to the Urim and Thummim. But the Gemara answered that Uzziah did so through Zechariah's prophecy. A baraita told that when the first Temple was destroyed, the Urim and Thummim ceased, and explained Ezra 2:63 (reporting events after the Jews returned from the [[Babylonian captivity|Babylonian Captivity]]), "And the governor said to them that they should not eat of the most holy things till there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim," as a reference to the remote future, as when one speaks of the time of the [[Messiah]]. Rav Naḥman concluded that the term "former prophets" referred to a period before [[Haggai]], Zechariah, and [[Malachi]], who were latter prophets.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Sotah.48b Babylonian Talmud Sotah 48b].</ref> And the Jerusalem Talmud taught that the "former prophets" referred to Samuel and David, and thus the Urim and Thummim did not function in the period of the First Temple, either.<ref>Jerusalem Talmud Sotah 24b.</ref>

===Numbers chapter 28===
Tractate [[Tamid]] in the Mishnah and Babylonian Talmud interpreted the laws of the regular offerings in Numbers 28:3–10.<ref>[[s:Translation:Mishnah/Seder Kodashim/Tractate Tamid|Mishnah Tamid 1:1–7:4]]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Tamid.25b Babylonian Talmud Tamid 25b–33b].</ref>

The Gemara noted that in listing the several festivals in Exodus 23:15, Leviticus 23:5, Numbers 28:16, and Deuteronomy 16:1, the Torah always begins with Passover.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Yoma.2b Babylonian Talmud Yoma 2b].</ref>

{| class="wikitable" align=right style="text-align:center"
|+Offerings for the Festivals in Numbers 28:9–29:38
|-
! Festivals !! Verses !! Bulls !! Rams !! Lambs !! Goats !! Totals
|-
! Sabbath
| Numbers 28:9–10 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 0
! 2
|-
! New Month
| Numbers 28:11–15 || 2 || 1 || 7 || 1
! 11
|-
! Passover (Daily)
| Numbers 28:16–25 || 2 || 1 || 7 || 1
! 11
|-
! Shavuot
| Numbers 28:26–31 || 2 || 1 || 7 || 1
! 11
|-
! Rosh Hashanah
| Numbers 29:1–6 || 1 || 1 || 7 || 1
! 10
|-
! Yom Kippur
| Numbers 29:7–11 || 1 || 1 || 7 || 1
! 10
|-
! Sukkot Day 1
| Numbers 29:12–16 || 13 || 2 || 14 || 1
! 30
|-
! Sukkot Day 2
| Numbers 29:17–19 || 12 || 2 || 14 || 1
! 29
|-
! Sukkot Day 3
| Numbers 29:20–22 || 11 || 2 || 14 || 1
! 28
|-
! Sukkot Day 4
| Numbers 29:23–25 || 10 || 2 || 14 || 1
! 27
|-
! Sukkot Day 5
| Numbers 29:26–28 || 9 || 2 || 14 || 1
! 26
|-
! Sukkot Day 6
| Numbers 29:29–31 || 8 || 2 || 14 || 1
! 25
|-
! Sukkot Day 7
| Numbers 29:32–34 || 7 || 2 || 14 || 1
! 24
|-
! Shemini Atzeret
| Numbers 29:35–38 || 1 || 1 || 7 || 1
! 10
|-
! Annual Totals+ !! Numbers 28:9–29:38 !! 113 !! 37 !! 363 !! 30 !! 543
|-
| colspan=7 style="font-size:80%" | +Assuming 52 Sabbaths, 12 New Months, and 7 days of Passover per year
|}

Tractate [[Beitzah]] in the Mishnah, Tosefta, Jerusalem Talmud, and Babylonian Talmud interpreted the laws common to all of the festivals in Exodus 12:3–27, 43–49; 13:6–10; 23:16; 34:18–23; Leviticus 16; 23:4–43; Numbers 9:1–14; 28:16–30:1; and Deuteronomy 16:1–17; 31:10–13.<ref>[[s:Translation:Mishnah/Seder Moed/Tractate Beitzah|Mishnah Beitzah 1:1–5:7]]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Tosefta_Beitzah Tosefta Beitzah 1:1–4:11]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Jerusalem_Talmud_Beitzah Jerusalem Talmud Beitzah 1a–49b]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Beitzah Babylonian Talmud Beitzah 2a–40b].</ref>

A midrash found in God's words to Abraham in Genesis 15:9 a reference to the goats that Numbers 28:16–29:39 required the Israelites to sacrifice on festivals. Reading Genesis 15:9, "And He said to him: 'Take me a heifer of three years old ({{Script/Hebrew|מְשֻׁלֶּשֶׁת}}, ''meshuleshet''), a she-goat of three years old ({{Script/Hebrew|מְשֻׁלֶּשֶׁת}}, ''meshuleshet''), and a ram of three years old ({{Script/Hebrew|מְשֻׁלָּשׁ}}, ''meshulash''),'" the midrash read {{Script/Hebrew|מְשֻׁלֶּשֶׁת}}, ''meshuleshet'', to mean "three-fold" or "three kinds," indicating sacrifices for three different purposes. The midrash deduced that God thus showed Abraham three kinds of bullocks, three kinds of goats, and three kinds of rams that Abraham's descendants would need to sacrifice. The three kinds of bullocks were: (1) the bullock that Leviticus 16:3–19 would require the Israelites to sacrifice on the Day of Atonement ({{Script/Hebrew|יוֹם כִּיפּוּר}}, ''[[Yom Kippur]]''), (2) the bullock that Leviticus 4:13–21 would require the Israelites to bring on account of unwitting transgression of the law, and (3) the heifer whose neck Deuteronomy 21:1–9 would require the Israelites to break. The three kinds of goats were: (1) the goats that Numbers 28:16–29:39 would require the Israelites to sacrifice on festivals, (2) the goats that Numbers 28:11–15 would require the Israelites to sacrifice on the New Moon ({{Script/Hebrew|ראש חודש}}, ''[[Rosh Chodesh]]''), and (3) the goat that Leviticus 4:27–31 would require an individual to bring. The three kinds of rams were: (1) the guilt-offering of certain obligation that Leviticus 5:25, for example, would require one who committed a trespass to bring, (2) the guilt-offering of doubt to which one would be liable when in doubt whether one had committed a transgression, and (3) the lamb to be brought by an individual. Rabbi [[Shimon bar Yochai|Simeon bar Yohai]] said that God showed Abraham all the atoning sacrifices except for the tenth of an ephah of fine meal in Leviticus 5:11. The Rabbis said that God showed Abraham the tenth of an ephah as well, for Genesis 15:10 says "all ''these'' ({{Script/Hebrew|אֵלֶּה}}, ''eleh'')," just as Leviticus 2:8 says, "And you shall bring the meal-offering that is made of ''these'' things ({{Script/Hebrew|מֵאֵלֶּה}}, ''me-eleh'')," and the use of "these" in both verses hints that both verses refer to the same thing. And reading Genesis 15:10, "But the bird divided he not," the midrash deduced that God intimated to Abraham that the bird burnt-offering would be divided, but the bird sin-offering (which the dove and young pigeon symbolized) would not be divided.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/RabbaGenesis/midrashrabbahgen027557mbp#page/n416/mode/1up Genesis Rabbah 44:14].</ref>

Tractate [[Pesahim|Pesachim]] in the Mishnah, Tosefta, Jerusalem Talmud, and Babylonian Talmud interpreted the laws of the Passover ({{Script/Hebrew|פֶּסַח}}, ''Pesach'') in Exodus 12:3–27, 43–49; 13:6–10; 23:15; 34:25; Leviticus 23:4–8; Numbers 9:1–14; 28:16–25; and Deuteronomy 16:1–8.<ref>[[s:Translation:Mishnah/Seder Moed/Tractate Pesachim|Mishnah Pesachim 1:1–10:9]]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Tosefta_Pesachim Tosefta Pesachim 1:1–10:13]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Jerusalem_Talmud_Pesachim Jerusalem Talmud Pesachim 1a–86a]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Pesachim Babylonian Talmud Pesachim 2a–121b].</ref>

The Mishnah noted differences between the first Passover in Exodus 12:3–27, 43–49; 13:6–10; 23:15; 34:25; Leviticus 23:4–8; Numbers 9:1–14; 28:16–25; and Deuteronomy 16:1–8. and the second Passover in Numbers 9:9–13. The Mishnah taught that the prohibitions of Exodus 12:19 that "seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses" and of Exodus 13:7 that "no leaven shall be seen in all your territory" applied to the first Passover; while at the second Passover, one could have both leavened and unleavened bread in one's house. And the Mishnah taught that for the first Passover, one was required to recite the [[Hallel]] (Psalms 113–118) when the Passover lamb was eaten; while the second Passover did not require the reciting of Hallel when the Passover lamb was eaten. But both the first and second Passovers required the reciting of Hallel when the Passover lambs were offered, and both Passover lambs were eaten roasted with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. And both the first and second Passovers took precedence over the Sabbath.<ref>[[s:Translation:Mishnah/Seder Moed/Tractate Pesachim/Chapter 9/3|Mishnah Pesachim 9:3]]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Pesachim.95a Babylonian Talmud Pesachim 95a].</ref>

[[File:Akiva.png|thumb|left|100px|Akiva]]
[[File:Knesset Menorah Jochanan ben Sakkai.jpg|thumb|right|120px|Joḥanan ben Zakai (detail from The Knesset Menorah in Jerusalem)]]
[[Rabbi Akiva]] (or some say Rabban [[Johanan ben Zakai|Joḥanan ben Zakai]]) never said in the house of study that it was time to stop studying, except on the eve of Passover and the eve of the Yom Kippur. On the eve of Passover, it was because of the children, so that they might not fall asleep, and on the eve of the Day of Atonement, it was so that they should feed their children before the fast.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Pesachim.109a Babylonian Talmud Pesachim 109a]; see also [https://www.sefaria.org/Sukkah.28a Babylonian Talmud Sukkah 28a].</ref>

The Mishnah taught that the Priest's Courtyard in the Temple had 13 gates. One of the southern gates close to the west was called the Water Gate, because it was through that gate that they carried the jug of water for the libation of Sukkot. Rabbi Eliezer ben Yaakov taught that it was called the Water Gate because there the water became a stream and in the future it will come out from underneath the Temple.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Middot.2.6 Mishnah Middot 2:6].</ref>

The Babylonian Talmud reported that Rabbi Joḥanan said that one recites the blessing "Who has given us life, sustained us, and brought us to this time" (the Shehecheyanu) on Shemini Atzeret, as it is a festival distinct from Sukkot, but one does not recite the blessing of time on the seventh day of Passover, because it is not a festival distinct from Passover. Rabbi Levi bar Ḥama (or some say Rabbi Ḥama bar Ḥanina) said that Shemini Atzeret is a festival in and of itself (and therefore requires its own blessing), as it is distinct from Sukkot with regard to three matters: with regard to the sukkah, as one is not obligated to sit in the sukkah on Shemini Atzeret; with regard to the lulav, as one is not obligated to take the four species on Shemini Atzeret; and with regard to the water libation, as one did not pour the water libation on the altar on Shemini Atzeret. The Gemara noted that Rabbi Judah said that while the priest poured the water libation all eight days with a vessel measuring one log, including on Shemini Atzeret, Shemini Atzeret is nevertheless distinct from the rest of Sukkot with regard to the other two matters.<ref name=Sukkah47a>[https://www.sefaria.org/Sukkah.47a.4 Babylonian Talmud Sukkah 47a].</ref>

In the Babylonian Talmud, Rav Naḥman bar Isaac cited Numbers 29:35, "On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly; you shall do no manner of servile labor," to indicate that Shemini Atzeret is distinct from the other days of Sukkot, as with regard to the second through seventh days of Sukkot, Numbers 29:17–34 say, "And on the day," indicating that each of the days from the second through the seventh are all continuations of the first day.<ref name=Sukkah47a/>

Summing up the law concerning the blessing of time on Shemini Atzeret, the Babylonian Talmud reported that Rav Naḥman said that one recites the blessing of time on Shemini Atzeret, while Rav Sheshet said that one does not. The Gemara concluded that the law is that one should recite the blessing of time on Shemini Atzeret.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Sukkah.47b.10 Babylonian Talmud Sukkah 47b].</ref>

===Numbers chapter 29===
Tractate [[Rosh Hashanah (Talmud)|Rosh Hashanah]] in the Mishnah, Tosefta, Jerusalem Talmud, and Babylonian Talmud interpreted the laws of Rosh Hashanah in Numbers 29:1–6 and Leviticus 23:23–25.<ref>[[s:Translation:Mishnah/Seder Moed/Tractate Rosh Hashanah|Mishnah Rosh Hashanah 1:1–4:9]]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Tosefta_Rosh_Hashanah Tosefta Rosh Hashanah 1:1–2:18]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Jerusalem_Talmud_Rosh_Hashanah Jerusalem Talmud Rosh Hashanah 1a–27a]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Rosh_Hashanah.2a Babylonian Talmud Rosh Hashanah 2a–35a].</ref>

The Mishnah taught that Divine judgment is passed on the world at four seasons (based on the world's actions in the preceding year)—at Passover for produce; at Shavuot for fruit; at Rosh Hashanah all creatures pass before God like children of maron (one by one), as Psalm 33:15 says, "He Who fashions the heart of them all, Who considers all their doings." And on Sukkot, judgment is passed in regard to [[rain]].<ref>[[s:Translation:Mishnah/Seder Moed/Tractate Rosh Hashanah/Chapter 1/2|Mishnah Rosh Hashanah 1:2]]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Rosh_Hashanah.16a Babylonian Talmud Rosh Hashanah 16a].</ref>

[[Rabbi Meir]] taught that all are judged on Rosh Hashanah and the decree is sealed on Yom Kippur. [[Judah bar Ilai|Rabbi Judah]], however, taught that all are judged on Rosh Hashanah and the decree of every one of them is sealed in its own time—at Passover for grain, at Shavuot for fruits of the orchard, at Sukkot for water. And the decree of humankind is sealed on Yom Kippur. [[Jose ben Halafta|Rabbi Jose]] taught that humankind is judged every single day, as [[Book of Job|Job]] 7:17–18 says, "What is man, that You should magnify him, and that You should set Your heart upon him, and that You should remember him every morning, and try him every moment?"<ref>Tosefta Rosh Hashanah 1:13.</ref>

[[Rav Kruspedai]] said in the name of Rabbi Joḥanan that on Rosh Hashanah, three books are opened in Heaven—one for the thoroughly wicked, one for the thoroughly righteous, and one for those in between. The thoroughly righteous are immediately inscribed definitively in the book of life. The thoroughly wicked are immediately inscribed definitively in the book of death. And the fate of those in between is suspended from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur. If they deserve well, then they are inscribed in the book of life; if they do not deserve well, then they are inscribed in the book of death. [[Abin I|Rabbi Abin]] said that Psalm 69:29 tells us this when it says, "Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous."

"Let them be blotted out from the book" refers to the book of the wicked. "Of the living" refers to the book of the righteous. "And not be written with the righteous" refers to the book of those in between. Rav Naḥman bar Isaac derived this from Exodus 32:32, where Moses told God, “If not, blot me, I pray, out of Your book that You have written." "Blot me, I pray" refers to the book of the wicked. "Out of Your book" refers to the book of the righteous. "That you have written" refers to the book of those in between. It was taught in a baraita that the [[House of Shammai]] said that there will be three groups at the Day of Judgment—one of thoroughly righteous, one of thoroughly wicked, and one of those in between. The thoroughly righteous will immediately be inscribed definitively as entitled to everlasting life; the thoroughly wicked will immediately be inscribed definitively as doomed to [[Gehenna|Gehinnom]], as [[Book of Daniel|Daniel]] 12:2 says, "And many of them who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life and some to reproaches and everlasting abhorrence." Those in between will go down to Gehinnom and scream and rise again, as Zechariah 13:9 says, "And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried. They shall call on My name and I will answer them." Of them, [[Hannah (Bible)|Hannah]] said in [[Books of Samuel|1 Samuel]] 2:6, "The Lord kills and makes alive, He brings down to the grave and brings up." The [[House of Hillel]], however, taught that God inclines the scales towards grace (so that those in between do not have to descend to Gehinnom), and of them David said in Psalm 116:1–3, "I love that the Lord should hear my voice and my supplication . . . The cords of death compassed me, and the straits of the netherworld got hold upon me," and on their behalf David composed the conclusion of Psalm 116:6, "I was brought low and He saved me."<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Rosh_Hashanah.16b Babylonian Talmud Rosh Hashanah 16b–17a].</ref>

A baraita taught that on Rosh Hashanah, God remembered each of [[Sarah]], [[Rachel]], and Hannah and decreed that they would bear children. Rabbi Eliezer found support for the baraita from the parallel use of the word "remember" in Genesis 30:22, which says about Rachel, "And God ''remembered'' Rachel," and in Leviticus 23:24, which calls Rosh Hashanah "a ''remembrance'' of the blast of the trumpet."<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Rosh_Hashanah.11a Babylonian Talmud Rosh Hashanah 11a].</ref>

[[File:Shofar.JPG|right|thumb|200px|A Shofar]]
Rabbi Abbahu taught that Jews sound a blast with a [[shofar]] made from a ram's horn on Rosh Hashanah, because God instructed them to do so to bring before God the memory of the binding of Isaac, in whose stead Abraham sacrificed a ram, and thus God will ascribe it to worshipers as if they had bound themselves before God. Rabbi Isaac asked why one sounds ({{Script/Hebrew|תוקעין}}, ''tokin'') a blast on Rosh Hashanah, and the Gemara answered that God states in Psalm 81:4: "Sound ({{Script/Hebrew|תִּקְעוּ}}, ''tiku'') a shofar."<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Rosh_Hashanah.16a.16 Babylonian Talmud Rosh Hashanah 16a].</ref>

Rabbi Joshua son of Korchah taught that Moses stayed on Mount Sinai 40 days and 40 nights, reading the Written Law by day, and studying the Oral Law by night. After those 40 days, on the 17th of [[Tammuz (Hebrew month)|Tammuz]], Moses took the [[Tablets of Stone|Tablets of the Law]], descended into the camp, broke the Tablets in pieces, and killed the Israelite sinners. Moses then spent 40 days in the camp, until he had burned the Golden Calf, ground it into powder like the dust of the earth, destroyed the idol worship from among the Israelites, and put every tribe in its place. And on the New Moon ({{Script/Hebrew|ראש חודש}}, ''Rosh Chodesh'') of [[Elul]] (the month before Rosh Hashanah), God told Moses in Exodus 24:12: "Come up to Me on the mount," and let them sound the shofar throughout the camp, for, behold, Moses has ascended the mount, so that they do not go astray again after the worship of idols. God was exalted with that shofar, as Psalm 47:5 says, "God is exalted with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet." Therefore, the Sages instituted that the shofar should be sounded on the New Moon of Elul every year.<ref>Pirke De-Rabbi Eliezer, chapter 46.</ref>

The Jerusalem Talmud reported that Jews wear white on the High Holy Days. Rabbi Hama the son of Rabbi Ḥanina and Rabbi [[Hoshaiah Rabbah|Hoshaiah]] disagreed about how to interpret Deuteronomy 4:8, "And what great nation is there, that has statutes and ordinances so righteous as all this law." One said: "And what great nation is there?" Ordinarily those who know they are on trial wear black, wrap themselves in black, and let their beards grow, since they do not know how their trial will turn out. But that is not how it is with Israel. Rather, on the day of their trial, on Rosh Hashanah, they wear white, wrap themselves in white, and shave their beards and eat, drink, and rejoice, for they know that God does miracles for them. The other said: "And what great nation is there?" Ordinarily, if the ruler directs that the trial is on a certain day, and the robber says that the trial is on the next day, they listen to the ruler. But that is not how it is with God. The earthly court says that Rosh Hashanah falls on a certain day, and God directs the ministering angels to set up the platform, let the defenders rise, and let the prosecutors rise, for God's children have announced, that it is Rosh Hashanah. If the court determined that the month of Elul spanned a full 30 days, so that Rosh Hashanah would fall on the next day, then God would direct the ministering angels to remove the platform, remove the defense attorneys, remove the prosecutors, for God's children had declared Elul a full month. For Psalm 81:5 says of Rosh Hashanah, "For it is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob," and thus if it is not a statute for Israel, then it also is not an ordinance of God.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Jerusalem_Talmud_Rosh_Hashanah.9b Jerusalem Talmud Rosh Hashanah 9b (1:3)].</ref>

Tractate [[Yoma]] in the Mishnah, Tosefta, Jerusalem Talmud, and Babylonian Talmud interpreted the laws of Yom Kippur in Leviticus 16 and 23:26–32 and Numbers 29:7–11.<ref>[[s:Translation:Mishnah/Seder Moed/Tractate Yoma|Mishnah Yoma 1:1–8:9]]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Tosefta_Yoma Tosefta Yoma 1:1–4:17]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Jerusalem_Talmud_Yoma Jerusalem Talmud Yoma 1a–57a]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Yoma.2a Babylonian Talmud Yoma 2a–88a].</ref>

[[Rabbi Yannai]] taught that from the very beginning of the world's creation, God foresaw the deeds of the righteous and the wicked and provided Yom Kippur in response. Rabbi Yannai taught that Genesis 1:2, "And the earth was desolate," alludes to the deeds of the wicked; Genesis 1:3, "And God said: 'Let there be light,'" to those of the righteous; Genesis 1:4, "And God saw the light, that it was good," to the deeds of the righteous; Genesis 1:4, "And God made a division between the light and the darkness": between the deeds of the righteous and those of the wicked; Genesis 1:5, "And God called the light day," alludes to the deeds of the righteous; Genesis 1:5, "And the darkness called He night," to those of the wicked; Genesis 1:5, "and there was evening," to the deeds of the wicked; Genesis 1:5, "and there was morning," to those of the righteous. And Genesis 1:5, "one day," teaches that God gave the righteous one day—Yom Kippur.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/RabbaGenesis/midrashrabbahgen027557mbp#page/n71/mode/1up Genesis Rabbah 3:8].</ref>

Similarly, Rabbi Judah bar Simon interpreted Genesis 1:5, "And God called the light day," to symbolize Jacob/Israel; "and the darkness he called night," to symbolize Esau; "and there was evening," to symbolize Esau; "and there was morning," to symbolize Jacob. And "one day" teaches that God gave Israel one unique day over which darkness has no influence—the Day of Atonement.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/RabbaGenesis/midrashrabbahgen027557mbp#page/n63/mode/2up Genesis Rabbah 2:3].</ref>

The Mishnah taught that the High Priest said a short prayer in the outer area.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Yoma.5.1 Mishnah Yoma 5:1].</ref> The Jerusalem Talmud taught that this was the prayer of the High Priest on the Day of Atonement, when he left the Holy Place whole and in one piece: "May it be pleasing before you, Lord, our God of our fathers, that a decree of exile not be issued against us, not this day or this year, but if a decree of exile should be issued against us, then let it be exile to a place of Torah. May it be pleasing before you, Lord, our God and God of our fathers, that a decree of want not be issued against us, not this day or this year, but if a decree of want should be issued against us, then let it be a want because of the performance of religious duties. May it be pleasing before you, Lord, our God and God of our fathers, that this year be a year of cheap food, full bellies, good business; a year in which the earth forms clods, then is parched so as to form scabs, and then moistened with dew, so that your people, Israel, will not be in need of the help of one another. And do not heed the prayer of travelers that it not rain." The Rabbis of [[Caesarea Maritima|Caesarea]] added, "And concerning your people, Israel, that they not exercise dominion over one another." And for the people who live in the [[Sharon plain]] he would say this prayer, "May it be pleasing before you, Lord, our God and God of our fathers, that our houses not turn into our graves."<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Jerusalem_Talmud_Yoma.34b Jerusalem Talmud Yoma 34b (5:2)].</ref>

Reading [[Song of Songs]] 6:11, Rabbi Joshua ben Levi compared Israel to a nut-tree. Rabbi Azariah taught that just as when a nut falls into the dirt, you can wash it, restore it to its former condition, and make it fit for eating, so however much Israel may be defiled with iniquities all the rest of the year, when the Day of Atonement comes, it makes atonement for them, as Leviticus 16:30 says, "For on this day shall atonement be made for you, to cleanse you."<ref>[[Shir ha-Shirim Rabbah|Song of Songs Rabbah]] 6:26.</ref>

[[File:Tissot Ezekiel.jpg|thumb|right|100px|Ezekiel (watercolor circa 1896–1902 by [[James Tissot]])]]

Resh Lakish taught that great is repentance, for because of it, Heaven accounts premeditated sins as errors, as Hosea 14:2 says, "Return, O Israel, to the Lord, your God, for you have stumbled in your iniquity." "Iniquity" refers to premeditated sins, and yet [[Hosea]] calls them "stumbling," implying that Heaven considers those who repent of intentional sins as if they acted accidentally. But the Gemara said that that is not all, for Resh Lakish also said that repentance is so great that with it, Heaven accounts premeditated sins as though they were merits, as Ezekiel 33:19 says, "And when the wicked turns from his wickedness, and does that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby." The Gemara reconciled the two positions, clarifying that in the sight of Heaven, repentance derived from love transforms intentional sins to merits, while repentance out of fear transforms intentional sins to unwitting transgressions.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Yoma.86b.3 Babylonian Talmud Yoma 86b].</ref>

The Jerusalem Talmud taught that the evil impulse ({{Script/Hebrew|יצר הרע}}, ''yetzer hara'') craves only what is forbidden. The Jerusalem Talmud illustrated this by relating that on the Day of Atonement, [[Rabbi Mana II|Rabbi Mana]] went to visit Rabbi Haggai, who was feeling weak. Rabbi Haggai told Rabbi Mana that he was thirsty. Rabbi Mana told Rabbi Haggai to go drink something. Rabbi Mana left and after a while came back. Rabbi Mana asked Rabbi Haggai what happened to his thirst. Rabbi Haggai replied that when Rabbi Mana told him that he could drink, his thirst went away.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Jerusalem_Talmud_Yoma.6.4 Jerusalem Talmud Yoma 44a (6:4)].</ref>

Tractate [[Sukkah (Talmud)|Sukkah]] in the Mishnah, Tosefta, Jerusalem Talmud, and Babylonian Talmud interpreted the laws of Sukkot in Exodus 23:16; 34:22; Leviticus 23:33–43; Numbers 29:12–34; and Deuteronomy 16:13–17; 31:10–13.<ref>[[s:Translation:Mishnah/Seder Moed/Tractate Sukkah|Mishnah Sukkah 1:1–5:8]]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Tosefta_Sukkah Tosefta Sukkah 1:1–4:28]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Jerusalem_Talmud_Sukkah Jerusalem Talmud Sukkah 1a–33b]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Sukkah.2a Babylonian Talmud Sukkah 2a–56b].</ref>

The Mishnah taught that a sukkah can be no more than 20 [[cubit]]s high. Rabbi Judah, however, declared taller sukkot valid. The Mishnah taught that a sukkah must be at least 10 handbreadths high, have three walls, and have more shade than sun.<ref>[[s:Translation:Mishnah/Seder Moed/Tractate Sukkah/Chapter 1/1|Mishnah Sukkah 1:1]]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Sukkah.2a Babylonian Talmud Sukkah 2a].</ref> The House of Shammai declared invalid a sukkah made 30 days or more before the festival, but the House of Hillel pronounced it valid. The Mishnah taught that if one made the sukkah for the purpose of the festival, even at the beginning of the year, it is valid.<ref>[[s:Translation:Mishnah/Seder Moed/Tractate Sukkah/Chapter 1/1|Mishnah Sukkah 1:1]]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Sukkah.9a Babylonian Talmud Sukkah 9a].</ref>

[[File:Sukkah Italy 1374 Brit-Lib MS Or 5024 fol 70v from Metzger Jewish Life in the Middle Ages fig369.JPG|thumb|left|250px|A sukkah in [[Middle Ages|medieval]] [[Italy]] (1374 manuscript illustration at the [[British Library]])]]
The Mishnah taught that a sukkah under a tree is as invalid as a sukkah within a house. If one sukkah is erected above another, the upper one is valid, but the lower is invalid. Rabbi Judah said that if there are no occupants in the upper one, then the lower one is valid.<ref>[[s:Translation:Mishnah/Seder Moed/Tractate Sukkah/Chapter 1/2|Mishnah Sukkah 1:2]]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Sukkah.9b Babylonian Talmud Sukkah 9b].</ref>

It invalidates a sukkah to spread a sheet over the sukkah because of the sun, or beneath it because of falling leaves, or over the frame of a four-post bed. One may spread a sheet, however, over the frame of a two-post bed.<ref>[[s:Translation:Mishnah/Seder Moed/Tractate Sukkah/Chapter 1/3|Mishnah Sukkah 1:3]]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Sukkah.10a Babylonian Talmud Sukkah 10a].</ref>

It is not valid to train a vine, gourd, or ivy to cover a sukkah and then cover it with sukkah covering (''[[s'chach]]''). If, however, the sukkah-covering exceeds the vine, gourd, or ivy in quantity, or if the vine, gourd, or ivy is detached, it is valid. The general rule is that one may not use for sukkah-covering anything that is susceptible to ritual impurity ({{Script/Hebrew|טָמְאָה}}, ''[[tumah]]'') or that does not grow from the soil. But one may use for sukkah-covering anything not susceptible to ritual impurity that grows from the soil.<ref>[[s:Translation:Mishnah/Seder Moed/Tractate Sukkah/Chapter 1/4|Mishnah Sukkah 1:4]]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Sukkah.11a Babylonian Talmud Sukkah 11a].</ref>

Bundles of straw, wood, or brushwood may not serve as sukkah-covering. But any of them, if they are untied, are valid. All materials are valid for the walls.<ref>[[s:Translation:Mishnah/Seder Moed/Tractate Sukkah/Chapter 1/5|Mishnah Sukkah 1:5]]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Sukkah.12a Babylonian Talmud Sukkah 12a].</ref>

Rabbi Judah taught that one may use planks for the sukkah-covering, but Rabbi Meir taught that one may not. The Mishnah taught that it is valid to place a plank four handbreadths wide over the sukkah, provided that one does not sleep under it.<ref>[[s:Translation:Mishnah/Seder Moed/Tractate Sukkah/Chapter 1/6|Mishnah Sukkah 1:6]]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Sukkah.14a Babylonian Talmud Sukkah 14a].</ref>

[[File:Im Gebet beim Laubhüttenfest, Paula Gans IMG 4724 4725 4726 edit.jpg|thumb|150px|right|In Prayer at Sukkot (1920 painting by [[Paula Gans]] at the [[Hamburg Museum]])]]

The Mishnah taught that a stolen or a withered palm-branch is invalid to fulfill the commandment of Leviticus 23:40. If its top is broken off or its leaves detached from the stem, it is invalid. If its leaves are merely spread apart but still joined to the stem at their roots, it is valid. Rabbi Judah taught that in that case, one should tie the leaves at the top. A palm-branch that is three handbreadths in length, long enough to wave, is valid.<ref>[http://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Sukkah.3.1 Mishnah Sukkah 3:1]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Sukkah.29b Babylonian Talmud Sukkah 29b].</ref> The Gemara explained that a withered palm branch fails to meets the requirement of Leviticus 23:40 because it is not (in the term of Leviticus 23:40) "goodly." Rabbi Joḥanan taught in the name of Rabbi Simeon ben Yohai that a stolen palm-branch is unfit because use of it would be a precept fulfilled through a transgression, which is forbidden. Rabbi Ammi also stated that a withered palm-branch is invalid because it is not in the word of Leviticus 23:40 "goodly," and a stolen one is invalid because it constitutes a precept fulfilled through a transgression.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Sukkah.29b Babylonian Talmud Sukkah 29b–30a].</ref>

Similarly, the Mishnah taught that a stolen or withered myrtle is not valid. If its tip is broken off, or its leaves are severed, or its berries are more numerous than its leaves, it is invalid. But if one picks off berries to diminish their number, it is valid. One may not, however, pick them on the festival.<ref>[http://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Sukkah.3.2 Mishnah Sukkah 3:2]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Sukkah.32b Babylonian Talmud Sukkah 32b].</ref>

Similarly, the Mishnah taught that a stolen or withered willow-branch is invalid. One whose tip is broken off or whose leaves are severed is invalid. One that has shriveled or lost some of its leaves, or one grown in a naturally watered soil, is valid.<ref>[http://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Sukkah.3.3 Mishnah Sukkah 3:3]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Sukkah.33b Babylonian Talmud Sukkah 33b].</ref>

[[File:Lulav and etrog on coin.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Coin from the 2nd Century [[Bar Kokhba revolt]] with Lulav and Etrogs]]
Rabbi Ishmael taught that one must have three myrtle-branches, two willow-branches, one palm-branch, and one etrog. Even if two of the myrtle-branches have their tips broken off and only one is whole, the lulav set is valid. Rabbi Tarfon taught that even if all three have their tips broken off, the set is valid. Rabbi Akiva taught that just as it is necessary to have only one palm-branch and one etrog, so it is necessary to have only one myrtle-branch and one willow-branch.<ref>[http://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Sukkah.3.4 Mishnah Sukkah 3:4]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Sukkah.34b Babylonian Talmud Sukkah 34b].</ref>

The Mishnah taught that an etrog that is stolen or withered is invalid.<ref>[http://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Sukkah.3.5 Mishnah Sukkah 3:5]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Sukkah.34b Babylonian Talmud Sukkah 34b].</ref> If the larger part of it is covered with scars, or if its nipple is removed, if it is peeled, split, perforated, so that any part is missing, it is invalid. If only its lesser part is covered with scars, if its stalk was missing, or if it is perforated but nothing of it is missing, it is valid. A dark-colored etrog is invalid. If it is green as a leek, Rabbi Meir declares it valid and Rabbi Judah declares it invalid.<ref>[http://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Sukkah.3.6 Mishnah Sukkah 3:6]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Sukkah.34b Babylonian Talmud Sukkah 34b].</ref> Rabbi Meir taught that the minimum size of an etrog is that of a nut. Rabbi Judah taught that it is that of an egg. Rabbi Judah taught that the maximum size is such that two can be held in one hand. Rabbi Jose said even one that can be hold only in both hands.<ref>[http://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Sukkah.3.7 Mishnah Sukkah 3:7]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Sukkah.34b Babylonian Talmud Sukkah 34b].</ref>

[[File:Roman. Mosaic of Menorah with Lulav and Ethrog, 6th century C.E.jpg|thumb|right|250px|6th century Roman Mosaic of Menorah with Lulav and Ethrog (in the [[Brooklyn Museum]])]]
The Mishnah taught that the absence of one of the four kinds of plants used for the lulav—the palm-branch, the etrog, the myrtle, or the willow—invalidates the others.<ref>[http://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Menachot.3.6 Mishnah Menachot 3:6]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Menachot.27a Babylonian Talmud Menachot 27a].</ref> The Gemara explained that this is because Leviticus 23:40 says, "And you shall take," signifying the taking of them all together. Rav Hanan bar Abba argued that one who has all of the four species fulfills the requirement even if one does not take them in hand bound together. They raised an objection from a baraita that taught: Of the four kinds used for the lulav, two—the etrog and the palm—are fruit-bearing, and two—the myrtle and the willow—are not. Those that bear fruit must be joined with those that do not bear fruit, and those that do not bear fruit must be joined with those that bear fruit. Thus, a person does not fulfill the obligation unless they are all bound in one bundle. And so it is, the baraita taught, with Israel's conciliation with God: It is achieved only when the people of Israel are united as one group.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Menachot.27a Babylonian Talmud Menachot 27a].</ref>

Rabbi Mani taught that Psalm 35:10, "All my bones shall say: 'Lord, who is like You?'" alludes to the lulav. The rib of the lulav resembles the spine; the myrtle resembles the eye; the willow resembles the mouth; and the etrog resembles the heart. The Psalmist teaches that no parts of the body are greater than these, which outweigh in importance the rest of the body.<ref>Leviticus Rabbah 30:14.</ref>

The Gemara taught that one who prepares a lulav recites the blessing, ". . . Who has given us life, has sustained us, and has enabled us to reach this season." When one takes the lulav to fulfill the obligation under Leviticus 23:40, one recites: ". . . Who has sanctified us with Your commandments and has commanded us concerning the taking of the lulav." One who makes a sukkah recites: "Blessed are You, O Lord . . . Who has given us life, has sustained us, and has enabled us to reach this season." When one enters to sit in a sukkah, one recites: "Blessed are You . . . Who has sanctified us with Your commandments and has commanded us to sit in the sukkah."<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Pesachim.7b Babylonian Talmud Pesachim 7b].</ref>

[[File:Sukkot customs.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Sukkot Customs (1662 wood carving in the [[National Library of Israel]])]]

The Gemara imagined God telling the nations in a time to come that God's command in Leviticus 23:42 to dwell in a sukkah is an easy command, which they should go and carry out.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Avodah_Zarah.3a Babylonian Talmud Avodah Zarah 3a].</ref>

Rabbi Eliezer taught that during the seven days of Sukkot, one must eat 14 meals in a sukkah—one on each day and one on each night. The Sages of the Mishnah, however, taught that one is not required to eat a fixed number of meals a sukkah, except that one must eat a meal in a sukkah on the first night of Sukkot. Rabbi Eliezer said in addition that if one did not eat in a sukkah on the first night of Sukkot, one may make up for it on the last night of the festival. The Sages of the Mishnah, however, taught that there is no making up for this, and of this Ecclesiastes 1:15 said: "That which is crooked cannot be made straight, and that which is wanting cannot be numbered."<ref>[http://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Sukkah.2.6 Mishnah Sukkah 2:6]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Sukkah.27a Babylonian Talmud Sukkah 27a].</ref> The Gemara explained that Rabbi Eliezer said that one needs to eat 14 meals because the words of Leviticus 23:42, "You shall dwell," imply that one should dwell just as one normally dwells. And so, just as in a normal dwelling, one has one meal by day and one by night, so in the sukkah, one should have one meal by day and one by night. And the Gemara explained that the Sages taught that Leviticus 23:42, "You shall dwell," implies that just as in one's dwelling, one eats if one wishes, and does not eat if one does not wish, so also with a sukkah one eats only if one wishes. But if so, the Gemara asked, why is the meal on the first night mandatory? Rabbi Joḥanan answered in the name of Rabbi Simeon ben Jehozadak that regarding Sukkot, Leviticus 23:39 says "the fifteenth," just as Leviticus 23:6 says "the fifteenth" with regard to Passover (implying similarity in the laws for the two festivals). And for Passover, Exodus 12:18 says, "At evening you shall eat unleavened bread," indicating that only the first night is obligatory (to eat unleavened bread).<ref>See [https://www.sefaria.org/Pesachim.120a Babylonian Talmud Pesachim 120a].</ref> So also for Sukkot, the only first night is also obligatory (to eat in the sukkah). The Gemara then reported that Bira said in the name of Rabbi Ammi that Rabbi Eliezer recanted his statement that one is obliged to eat 14 meals in the sukkah and changed his position to agree with the Sages. The Gemara taught that a desert later in the holiday may be regarded as a compensating meal to fulfill one's obligation to eat the first meal.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Sukkah.27a Babylonian Talmud Sukkah 27a].</ref>
{| class="wikitable" align=right style="text-align:center"
|+Bulls Offered on Sukkot
|-
! Day !! Verse !! Bulls
|-
! Day 1
| Numbers 29:13 || 13
|-
! Day 2
| Numbers 29:17 || 12
|-
! Day 3
| Numbers 29:20 || 11
|-
! Day 4
| Numbers 29:23 || 10
|-
! Day 5
| Numbers 29:26 || 9
|-
! Day 6
| Numbers 29:29 || 8
|-
! Day 7
| Numbers 29:32 || 7
|-
! Total !! Numbers 29:12–34 !! 70
|}

Noting that Numbers 29:12–34 required the priests to offer 70 bulls over the seven days of Sukkot, Rabbi Eleazar taught that the 70 bulls correspond to the 70 nations of the world. And Rabbi Eleazar taught that the single bull that Numbers 29:36 required the priests to offer on Shemini Atzeret corresponds to the unique nation of Israel. Rabbi Eleazar compared this to a mortal king who told his servants to prepare a great banquet, but on the last day told his beloved friend to prepare a simple meal so that the king might enjoy his friend's company.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Sukkah.55b Babylonian Talmud Sukkah 55b].</ref> Similarly, a midrash taught that on Sukkot, the Israelites offered God 70 bulls as an atonement for the 70 nations. The Israelites then complained to God that they had offered 70 bulls on behalf of the nations of the world, and they ought thus to love Israel, but they still hated the Jews. As Psalm 109:4 says, "In return for my love they are my adversaries." So in Numbers 29:36, God told Israel to offer a single bull as sacrifice on its own behalf. And the midrash compared this to the case of a king who made a banquet for seven days and invited all the people in the province. And when the seven days of the feast were over, he said to his friend that he had done his duty to all the people of the province, now the two of them would eat whatever the friend could find—a pound of meat, fish, or vegetables.<ref>Numbers Rabbah 21:24.</ref>

Noting that the number of sacrifices in Numbers 29:12–34 decreases each day of Sukkot, a midrash taught that the Torah thus teaches etiquette from the sacrifices. If a person stays as a friend's house, on the first day, the host entertains generously and serves poultry, on the second day meat, on the third day fish, on the fourth day vegetables, and so the host continually reduces the fare until the host serves the guest beans.<ref>Numbers Rabbah 21:25.</ref>

Noting that Numbers 29:12–34 enumerates specific sacrifices for each day of Sukkot, while Numbers 28:16–25 does not enumerate specific sacrifices for each day of Passover, the Gemara concluded that Jews should recite the whole Hallel on each day of Sukkot, as opposed to reciting the whole Hallel only on the first day of Passover.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Arakhin.10b.1-3 Babylonian Talmud Arakhin 10b].</ref>

Rabbi Joshua maintained that rejoicing on a festival is a religious duty. For a baraita taught that Rabbi Eliezer said that a person has nothing else to do on a festival apart from either eating and drinking or studying. Rabbi Joshua said that one should divide it and devote half of the festival to eating and drinking and half to the House of Study. Rabbi Joḥanan said that both deduce this from the same verses. Deuteronomy 16:8 says, "a solemn assembly ''to the Lord'' your God," while Numbers 29:35 says, "there shall be a solemn assembly ''to you''." Rabbi Eliezer held that this means either entirely ''to God'' or entirely ''to you''. But Rabbi Joshua held that one should devote half the festival to God and half to oneself.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Pesachim.68b Babylonian Talmud Pesachim 68b].</ref>

==In medieval Jewish interpretation==
[[File:Maimonides-2.jpg|thumb|left|100px|Maimonides]]
The parashah is discussed in these [[Middle Ages|medieval]] Jewish sources:<ref>For more on medieval Jewish interpretation, see, e.g., Barry D. Walfish, "Medieval Jewish Interpretation," in Adele Berlin and Marc Brettler, editors, ''Jewish Study Bible'', 2nd edition, pages 1891–915.</ref>

===Numbers chapter 25===
Following the Mishnah<ref name=Sanhedrin9:6>[http://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Sanhedrin.9.6 Mishnah Sanhedrin 9:6]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Sanhedrin.81b Babylonian Talmud Sanhedrin 81b].</ref> (see "In classical rabbinic interpretation" above), [[Maimonides]] acknowledged that based on Phinehas's slaying of Zimri, a zealot would be considered praiseworthy to strike a man who has sexual relations with a gentile woman in public, that is, in the presence of ten or more Jews. But Maimonides taught that the zealot could strike the fornicators only when they were engaged in the act, as was the case with Zimri, and if the transgressor ceased, he should not be slain, and if the zealot then killed the transgressor, the zealot could be executed as a murderer. Further, Maimonides taught that if the zealot came to ask permission from the court to kill the transgressor, the court should not instruct the zealot to do so, even if the zealot consulted the court during the act.<ref>Maimonides, ''[[Mishneh Torah]]'': [http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/960660/jewish/Issurei-Biah-Chapter-Twelve.htm ''Hilchot Issurei Bi'ah (The Laws Governing Forbidden Sexual Relationships)'', chapter 12, halachot 4–5] (Egypt, circa 1170–1180), in, e.g., ''Mishneh Torah: Sefer Kedushim: The Book of Holiness'', translated by Eliyahu Touger (New York: Moznaim Publishing, 2002), pages 150–53.</ref>

[[File:Zohar.png|thumb|right|100px|The Zohar]]

The ''[[Zohar]]'' taught that when Phinehas was filled with zeal to punish Zimri's crime, he repaired the covenant in its place, and hence God told Phinehas in Numbers 25:12, "Behold, I give to him my covenant of peace." The Zohar explained that this does not mean that the covenant was on account of Phinehas, or that he was in conflict with the covenant, but that it was then firmly attached to its place. The Zohar deduced this from the combination of the words "covenant" and "peace," as if to say, "Behold I give to him the peaceful confirmation of the covenant in its place," from which it had been torn by the transgressors. And similarly, Numbers 25:13, "and it shall be to him and to his seed after him the covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was jealous for his God."<ref>''Zohar'', part 1, Noach, page 66b (Spain, late 13th century), in, e.g., [[Daniel C. Matt]], translator, ''The Zohar: Pritzker Edition'' (Stanford, California: [[Stanford University Press]], 2004), volume 1, page 391.</ref>

And the ''Zohar'' taught that a person who is zealous for God cannot be dominated by the [[Destroying angel (Bible)|Angel of Death]] as can other people, and to that person is given the covenant of peace, as it was to Phinehas in Numbers 25:12.<ref>''Zohar'', part 1, Va-Yiggash, page 209b, in, e.g., Daniel C. Matt, translator, ''The Zohar: Pritzker Edition'' (Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 2006), volume 3, page 285.</ref>

[[Bahya ibn Paquda|Baḥya ibn Paquda]] taught that those who trust that God will favor them without performing good deeds are like those of whom the Talmud says that they act like Zimri and expect the reward of Phinehas.<ref>Baḥya ibn Paquda, ''[[Chovot HaLevavot]] (Duties of the Heart)'', [https://www.sefaria.org/Duties_of_the_Heart%2C_Fourth_Treatise_on_Trust.4.117 section 4, chapter 4] ([[Zaragoza]], [[Al-Andalus]], circa 1080), in, e.g., Bachya ben Joseph ibn Paquda, ''Duties of the Heart'', translated by [[Judah ben Saul ibn Tibbon|Yehuda ibn Tibbon]] and [[Daniel Haberman]] ([[Jerusalem]]: [[Feldheim Publishers]], 1996), volume 1, page 447 (quoting [https://www.sefaria.org/Sotah.22b.6 Babylonian Talmud Sotah 22b]).</ref>

===Numbers chapter 27===
Baḥya ibn Paquda taught that because humans cannot understand anything about God except for God's Name and that God exists, Moses associated God's Name with the spirits when he said in Numbers 27:16, "the God of the spirit of all flesh."<ref>Baḥya ibn Paquda, ''Chovot HaLevavot (Duties of the Heart)'', [https://www.sefaria.org/Duties_of_the_Heart%2C_First_Treatise_on_Unity.10.42 section 1, chapter 10], in, e.g., Bachya ben Joseph ibn Paquda, ''Duties of the Heart'', translated by Yehuda ibn Tibbon and Daniel Haberman, volume 1, pages 134–35.</ref>

===Numbers chapter 28===
Maimonides proposed reasons for the festivals discussed in Numbers 28:1–29:39.<ref>Maimonides, ''[[The Guide for the Perplexed]]'', part 3, chapter [[s:Page:Guideforperplexed.djvu/422|43]] ([[Cairo]], Egypt, 1190), in, e.g., Moses Maimonides, ''The Guide for the Perplexed'', translated by [[Michael Friedländer]] (New York: Dover Publications, 1956), pages 352–54.</ref> Maimonides taught that the object of the Sabbath (mentioned in Numbers 28:9–10) was the rest that it affords. One-seventh of the life of every person, small or great, passes in comfort and rest from trouble and exertion. In addition, the Sabbath perpetuates remembrance of the Creation.<ref name=Guide352>Maimonides, ''Guide for the Perplexed'', part 3, chapter [[s:Page:Guideforperplexed.djvu/422|43]], in, e.g., Moses Maimonides, ''Guide for the Perplexed'', translated by Michael Friedländer, page 352.</ref>

Maimonides taught that the object of Yom Kippur (mentioned in Numbers 29:7–11) is the sense of repentance that its fast creates. Maimonides noted that it was on Yom Kippur that Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the second tablets and announced to the Israelites God's pardon of their sin with the Golden Calf. God therefore appointed Yom Kippur forever as a day devoted to repentance and the true worship of God. For this reason, the law interdicts all material enjoyment, trouble and care for the body, and work, so that people might spend the day confessing their sins and abandoning them.<ref name=Guide352/>

Maimonides taught that the other holy days were appointed for rejoicing and for the pleasant gathering that people generally need. The holy days also promote the good feeling that people should have to each other in their social and political relations.<ref name=Guide352/>

According to Maimonides, Passover (mentioned in Numbers 28:16–25) is kept seven days, because a week is the intermediate unit of time between a day and a month. Passover teaches people to remember the miracles that God performed in Egypt, encouraging people to thank God repeatedly and to lead a modest and humble life. Jews therefore eat unleavened bread and bitter herbs on Passover in memory of what happened to the Israelites. And they eat unleavened bread for a week because if the eating were only for one day, Jews might not notice it.<ref>Maimonides, ''Guide for the Perplexed'', part 3, chapter [[s:Page:Guideforperplexed.djvu/422|43]], in, e.g., Moses Maimonides, ''Guide for the Perplexed'', translated by Michael Friedländer, pages 352–53.</ref>

Maimonides taught that Shavuot (mentioned in Numbers 28:26–31) is the anniversary of the Revelation on Mount Sinai. To increase the importance of this day, Jews count the days that pass from the preceding festival of Passover, just as one who expects an intimate friend to visit on a certain day counts the days and even the hours until the friend comes. This is why Jews count the days that pass since the offering of the Omer, between the anniversary of the Israelites' departure from Egypt and the anniversary of the Lawgiving. The Revelation at Mount Sinai was the object of the Exodus from Egypt, and thus God said in Exodus 19:4, "I brought you to myself." As the Revelation at Mount Sinai took place on one day, so Jews keep its anniversary only one day.<ref name=Guide352/>

Maimonides wrote that Jews likewise keep Rosh Hashanah (mentioned in Numbers 29:1–6) for one day, for it is a day of repentance, on which Jews are stirred up from forgetfulness, and for this reason the shofar is blown on that day. According to Maimonides, Rosh Hashanah is a preparation for and an introduction to Yom Kippur, as is plain from the tradition about the days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.<ref>Maimonides, ''Guide for the Perplexed'', part 3, chapter [[s:Page:Guideforperplexed.djvu/423|43]], in, e.g., Moses Maimonides, ''Guide for the Perplexed'', translated by Michael Friedländer, page 353.</ref>

Maimonides taught that Sukkot (discussed in Numbers 29:12–34), which is a feast of rejoicing and gladness, is kept seven days, so that the festival may be more noticeable. It is kept in the autumn because, as Exodus 23:16 says, it is "When you have gathered in your labors out of the field," and thus when people can rest free from pressing labors. Maimonides cited the ninth book of [[Aristotle]]'s ''[[Nicomachean Ethics|Ethics]]'' for the proposition that harvest festivals were a general custom, quoting Aristotle to report, "In ancient times, the sacrifices and assemblies of the people took place after the ingathering of the corn and the fruit, as if the sacrifices were offered on account of the harvest." Maimonides noted the temperate nature of autumn as another reason for Sukkot falling in that season, making it possible to dwell in booths free of great heat and troublesome rain. Maimonides taught that Sukkot reminds Jews of the miracles that God performed in the wilderness, once again to induced Jews to thank God and lead a modest and humble life. Jews thus leave their houses to dwell in sukkot, as inhabitants of deserts do, to remember that this had once been their condition, as reported in Leviticus 23:43, "I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths." And Jews join to Sukkot the Feast of Shemini Atzeret to complete in the comfort of their homes their rejoicings, which cannot be perfect in booths. Maimonides taught that the lulav and etrog symbolize the rejoicing that the Israelites had when they replaced the wilderness, which was in the words of Numbers 25:5, "no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates, or of water to drink," with a country full of fruit trees and rivers. To remember this, Jews take the most pleasant fruit of the land, branches that smell best, most beautiful leaves, and also the best of herbs, that is, the willows of the brook. The four species joined in the lulav and etrog also were (1) plentiful in those days in the Land of Israel, so that everyone could easily get them, (2) of a good appearance, and in the case of the etrog and myrtle, excellent smell, and (3) keep fresh and green for seven days.<ref>Maimonides, ''Guide for the Perplexed'', part 3, chapter [[s:Page:Guideforperplexed.djvu/423|43]], in, e.g., Moses Maimonides, ''Guide for the Perplexed'', translated by Michael Friedländer, pages 353–54.</ref>

[[File:Rashi woodcut cropped.jpg|thumb|right|100px|Rashi]]

===Numbers chapter 29===
[[Rashi]] taught that the 70 bulls that Numbers 29:12–34 calls for sacrificing during Sukkot corresponded to the 70 nations, and that the number of bulls sacrificed progressively decreased over the course of Sukkot symbolized the nations' eventual destruction. The sacrifices during the time of the Temple shielded the nations from adversity.<ref>Rashi, ''Commentary'' [http://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/9957#showrashi=true to Numbers 29] ([[Troyes]], France, late 11th century), in, e.g., Rashi, ''The Torah: With Rashi's Commentary Translated, Annotated, and Elucidated'', translated and annotated by Yisrael Isser Zvi Herczeg (Brooklyn: Mesorah Publications, 1997), volume 4 (Bamidbar/Numbers), pages 362–63.</ref>

==In modern interpretation==
The parashah is discussed in these modern sources:

===Numbers chapter 25===
Dennis Olson noted parallels between the incident at Baal-Peor in Numbers 25:1–13 and the incident of the Golden Calf in Exodus 32, as each story contrasts God's working to ensure a relationship with Israel while Israel rebels.<ref>Dennis T. Olson, ''Numbers: Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching'' ([[Louisville, Kentucky]]: John Knox Press, 1996), pages 153–54.</ref> Olson noted these similarities: (1) In both stories, the people worship and make sacrifices to another god.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Exodus|32:6|HE}}; {{Bibleverse||Numbers|25:2|HE}}.</ref> (2) Both stories involve foreigners, in the Egyptians' gold for the calf<ref>{{Bibleverse||Exodus|12:35|HE}} and {{Bibleverse-nb||Exodus|32:2–4|HE}}.</ref> and the women of Moab and Midian.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|25:1–2|HE}}.</ref> (3) In the aftermath of the Golden Calf story in Exodus 34:15–16, God commands the Israelites to avoid what happens in Numbers 25: making a covenant with the inhabitants, eating their sacrifices, and taking wives from among them who would make the Israelites' sons bow to their gods. Numbers 25 displays this intermingling of sex and the worship of foreign gods, using the same Hebrew word, {{transliteration|he|zanah}}, in Numbers 25:1. (4) The Levites kill 3,000 of those guilty of worshiping the Golden Calf,<ref>{{Bibleverse||Exodus|32:28|HE}}.</ref> and the Israelite leaders are instructed to kill the people who had yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|25:5|HE}}.</ref> (5) Because of their obedience in carrying out God's punishment on the idolaters, the Levites are ordained for the service of God,<ref>{{Bibleverse||Exodus|32:25|HE}}.</ref> and in Numbers 25, the priest Phinehas executes God's punishment on the sinners, and a special covenant of perpetual priesthood is established with him.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|25:6–13|HE}}.</ref> (6) After the Golden Calf incident, Moses "makes atonement" for Israel,<ref>{{Bibleverse||Exodus|32:30|HE}}.</ref> and in the Baal Peor episode, Phinehas "makes atonement" for Israel.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|25:13|HE}}.</ref> (7) A plague is sent as punishment in both incidents.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Exodus|32:35|HE}}; {{Bibleverse||Numbers|25:9|HE}}.</ref>

George Buchanan Gray wrote that the Israelite men's participation in the sacrificial feasts followed their intimacy with the women, who then naturally invited their paramours to their feasts, which, according to custom, were sacrificial occasions. Gray considered that it would have been in accord with the sentiment of early Israelites to worship the Moabite god on his own territory.<ref>George Buchanan Gray, ''A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on Numbers'' (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1903), pages 381–82.</ref> Similarly, Frymer-Kensky wrote that the cataclysm began with a dinner invitation from the Moabite women, who perhaps wanted to be friendly with the people whom Balaam had tried, but failed, to curse.<ref>Tikva Frymer-Kensky, ''Reading the Women of the Bible'', pages 216–17.</ref>

Noting that the story of Baal Peor in Numbers 25 shifts abruptly from ''Moabite'' women to the ''Midianite'' princess Cozbi, Frymer-Kensky suggested that the story may originally have been about Midianite women, whom Moses held responsible in Numbers 31:15–16. Frymer-Kensky suggested that "Moabite women" appear in Numbers 25 as an artistic device to create a symmetrical antithesis to the positive image of Ruth.<ref>Tikva Frymer-Kensky, ''Reading the Women of the Bible'', page 257.</ref>

[[File:Naftali Tzvi Iehuda Berlin (ha-Natziv) 1a.jpg|thumb|left|100px|The Netziv]]
[[Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin]] (the Netziv) wrote that in reward for turning away God's wrath, God blessed Phinehas in Numbers 25:12 with the attribute of peace, so that he would not be quick-tempered or angry. Since the nature of Phinehas's act, killing with his own hands, left his heart filled with intense emotional unrest, God provided a means to soothe him so that he could cope with his situation and find peace and tranquility.<ref>Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin, ''Ha'emek Davar (The Depth of the Matter)''. [[Valozhyn]], late 19th century, quoted in [[Nechama Leibowitz|Neḥama Leibowitz]], ''Studies in Bamidbar (Numbers)'' (Jerusalem: Haomanim Press, 1993), page 331, reprinted as ''New Studies in the Weekly Parasha'' (Lambda Publishers, 2010).</ref>

[[Tamara Cohn Eskenazi]] found the opening scene of Numbers 25 disturbing for several reasons: (1) because the new generation of Israelites fell prey to idolatry within view of the Promised Land; (2) because God rewarded Phinehas for acting violently and without recourse to due process; and (3) because women receive disproportionate blame for the people's downfall. Eskenazi taught that God rewarded Phinehas, elevating him above other descendants of Aaron, because of Phinehas's swift and ruthless response to idolatry, unlike his grandfather Aaron, who collaborated with idolaters in the case of the Golden Calf. By demonstrating unflinching loyalty to God, Phinehas restored the stature of the priests as deserving mediators between Israel and God. Eskenazi noted that although God ordered death for all the ringleaders in Numbers 25:4, Phinehas satisfied God's demand for punishment by killing only two leaders, thereby causing less rather than more bloodshed.<ref>Tamara Cohn Eskenazi and [[Andrea Weiss (rabbi)|Andrea L. Weiss]], editors, ''The Torah: A Women's Commentary'' (New York: [[Women of Reform Judaism]]/[[Union for Reform Judaism|URJ Press]], 2008), page 963.</ref>

[[File:James Kugel cropped.jpg|thumb|right|100px|Kugel]]

===Numbers chapter 26===
Noting the absence of Levi from Numbers 26:1–51, [[James Kugel]] explained that modern scholars see a midcourse correction in Israel's list of tribes in Jacob's adoption of Ephraim and Manasseh in Genesis 48:1–6. That there were 12 tribes seems to have become unchangeable at an early stage of Israel's history, perhaps because of the number of lunar months in a year. Levi had originally been a tribe like any other with its own tribal land, but then Levi became essentially landless, a scattered people of priests and religious functionaries, with only a few cities of their own. To compensate for its absence, the Israelites counted the territory elsewhere attributed to Joseph as two territories, each with its own ancestor figure. And thus the tribal list in Numbers 26:1–51 could omit the Levites and, by replacing Joseph with Ephraim and Manasseh, still include the names of 12 tribes.<ref>James L. Kugel, ''How To Read the Bible: A Guide to Scripture, Then and Now'' (New York: Free Press, 2007), pages 185–86.</ref>

===Numbers chapter 27===
Bernard Bamberger noted that Numbers 27:1–5 is one of four episodes in the Torah (along with Leviticus 24:12 and Numbers 9:6–8 and 15:32–34) in which Moses had to make a special inquiry of God before he could give a legal decision. Bamberger reported that the inability of Moses to handle these cases on his own troubled the Rabbis.<ref>Bernard J. Bamberger, "Leviticus," in ''The Torah: A Modern Commentary: Revised Edition'', edited by W. Gunther Plaut, revised edition edited by [[David E. Stern|David E.S. Stern]] (New York: [[Union for Reform Judaism]], 2006), pages 839.</ref>

[[Pinchas Hacohen Peli|Pinchas Peli]] argued that even though God endorsed Phinehas's action and Moses no doubt approved, it frightened Moses, the experienced and trained leader, who could not see how this zealot, who in a moment of crisis decided to take the law into his own hands, could become the permanent leader of the Israelite people. Thus, Peli suggested, in Numbers 27:15–17, Moses asked God to name the new leader and specified qualifications that he would like to find in the appointee. Citing Rashi and the midrash, Peli read Moses's prayer to ask God for a leader who would be able to bear with the Israelites' differing spirits. Peli argued that a true leader is not a single-minded fanatic, but a person able to tolerate all views, able to stand up for what is right, but also capable of changing his or her mind.<ref>Pinchas H. Peli, ''Torah Today: A Renewed Encounter with Scripture'' (Washington, D.C.: B'nai B'rith Books, 1987), pages 185–87.</ref>

[[Nechama Leibowitz|Neḥama Leibowitz]] noted that children of Moses did not inherit their father's position or any other appointment. Numbers 27:15–23, the passage concerned with his successor, does not refer to his children. Nowhere in his prayer regarding his successor did Moses nominate his sons to succeed him or express any echo of his grievance that God had not allowed him into the Promised Land. Leibowitz concluded that this absence drives home the lesson that the Torah does not come to people by inheritance, but only to those who labor in it.<ref>Nehama Leibowitz, ''Studies in Bamidbar (Numbers)'' (Jerusalem: Haomanim Press, 1993), pages 340–43, reprinted as ''New Studies in the Weekly Parasha'' (Lambda Publishers, 2010).</ref>

===Numbers chapter 28===
In April 2014, the [[Committee on Jewish Law and Standards]] of [[Conservative Judaism]] ruled that women are now equally responsible for observing commandments as men have been. Women are thus responsible for observing the commandments of hearing the shofar on Rosh Hashanah (mentioned in Numbers 29:1–6) and residing in a sukkah and taking up the lulav on Sukkot (discussed in Numbers 29:12–34).<ref>Pamela Barmash, [https://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/sites/default/files/public/halakhah/teshuvot/2011-2020/womenandhiyyuvfinal.pdf "Women and Mitzvot,"] Y.D. 246:6 (New York: Rabbinical Assembly, 2014).</ref>

==Commandments==
===According to Maimonides===
Maimonides cited verses in the parashah for 12 positive and 6 negative [[Mitzvah|commandments]]:<ref>Maimonides, ''Mishneh Torah'', [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/p0001.htm#39 Positive Commandments 39], [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/p0001.htm#41 41], [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/p0001.htm#42 42], [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/p0001.htm#45 45], [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/p0001.htm#47 47], [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/p0001.htm#48 48], [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/p0001.htm#50 50], [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/p0001.htm#51 51], [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/p0001.htm#160 160], [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/p0001.htm#164 164], [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/p0001.htm#170 170], [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/p0001.htm#248 248]; [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/p0002.htm#157 Negative Commandments 157], [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/p0002.htm#325 325], [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/p0002.htm#326 326], [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/p0002.htm#327 327],[http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/p0002.htm#328 328], [http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/p0002.htm#329 329], in Maimonides, ''The Commandments: Sefer Ha-Mitzvoth of Maimonides'', translated by Charles B. Chavel (London: Soncino Press, 1967), volume 1, pages 50–53, 55–60, 170–71, 173–74, 179–80, 256–57; volume 2, pages 148–49, 298–301.</ref>
*To judge in cases of [[inheritance]]s<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
*To offer the continual sacrifices daily<ref name="Numbers|28:3">{{Bibleverse||Numbers|28:3|HE}}.</ref>
*To offer an additional sacrifice every Sabbath<ref name="Numbers|28:9">{{Bibleverse||Numbers|28:9|HE}}.</ref>
*To offer an additional sacrifice at the beginning of each new month<ref name="Numbers|28:11">{{Bibleverse||Numbers|28:11|HE}}.</ref>
*To rest on the seventh day of the festival of Passover<ref>{{Bibleverse||Exodus|12:16|HE}}; {{Bibleverse||Numbers|28:25|HE}}.</ref>
*Not to do work on the festival of Shavuot<ref name="ReferenceB"/>
*To offer an additional sacrifice on the festival of Shavuot<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|28:26–27|HE}}.</ref>
*To hear the sound of the [[shofar]] on Rosh Hashanah<ref name="Numbers|29:1"/>
*Not to do work on Rosh Hashanah<ref>{{Bibleverse||Leviticus|23:25|HE}}; {{Bibleverse||Numbers|29:1|HE}}.</ref>
*To offer an additional sacrifice on Rosh Hashanah<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|29:1–2|HE}}.</ref>
*To offer an additional sacrifice on Yom Kippur<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|29:7|HE}}.</ref>
*To fast on Yom Kippur<ref>{{Bibleverse||Leviticus|16:29|HE}}; {{Bibleverse||Numbers|29:7|HE}}.</ref>
*Not to do work on Yom Kippur<ref>{{Bibleverse||Leviticus|16:29|HE}}; {{Bibleverse-nb||Leviticus|23:28|HE}}, {{Bibleverse||Numbers|29:7|HE}}.</ref>
*Not to do work on the first day of Sukkot<ref>{{Bibleverse||Leviticus|23:35|HE}}; {{Bibleverse||Numbers|29:12|HE}}.</ref>
*To offer an additional sacrifice on the festival of Sukkot<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|29:13|HE}}.</ref>
*To offer an additional sacrifice on the day of Shemini Atzeret, for this day is a pilgrimage festival in itself<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|29:35|HE}}.</ref>
[[File:AlphonseLévy Shofar.jpg|thumb|150px|right|blowing the shofar (by Alphonse Lévy)]]
*Not to do work on the eighth day of Sukkot<ref>{{Bibleverse||Leviticus|23:36|HE}}; {{Bibleverse||Numbers|29:35|HE}}.</ref>
*Not to transgress in matters that one has forbidden himself<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|30:3|HE}}.</ref>

===According to Sefer ha-Chinuch===
According to [[Sefer ha-Chinuch]], there are six positive commandments in the parashah.<ref>Charles Wengrov, translator, ''Sefer HaHinnuch: The Book of [Mitzvah] Education'' (Jerusalem: [[Feldheim Publishers]], 1988), volume 4, pages 171–203.</ref>
*The precept of the laws of inheritance<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|27:8|HE}}.</ref>
*The precept of the regular ''olah'' offering, sacrificed every day<ref name="Numbers|28:3"/>
*The precept of the ''musaf'' offering on the Sabbath<ref name="Numbers|28:9"/>
*The precept of the ''musaf'' offering on Rosh Chodesh<ref name="Numbers|28:11"/>
*The precept of the ''musaf'' offering on the Shavuot festival<ref name="Numbers|28:26"/>
*The precept of the shofar on Rosh Hashanah<ref name="Numbers|29:1"/>

==In the liturgy==
The ''[[Jewish services|Mussaf]]'' ("additional") prayer commemorates the special communal offerings that Numbers 28–29 instruct the priests to make on days of enhanced holiness.<ref>Menachem Davis, editor, ''The Schottenstein Edition Siddur for the Sabbath and Festivals with an Interlinear Translation'' (Brooklyn: Mesorah Publications, 2002), page 402.</ref>

After the morning blessings, some Jews recite the description of the continual ({{Script/Hebrew|תָמִיד}}, ''Tamid'') offering in Numbers 28:1–8 among other descriptions of offerings.<ref>Menachem Davis, editor, ''Schottenstein Edition Siddur for the Sabbath and Festivals with an Interlinear Translation'', pages 219–21.</ref>

The laws of the daily offering in Numbers 28:2 provide an application of the second of the Thirteen Rules for interpreting the Torah in the [[Baraita of Rabbi Ishmael]] that many Jews read as part of the readings before the [[Pesukei Dezimra|Pesukei d'Zimrah]] [[Jewish services|prayer service]]. The second rule provides that similar words in different contexts invite the reader to find a connection between the two topics. The words "in its proper time" ({{Script/Hebrew|בְּמוֹעֲדוֹ}}, ''bemoado'') in Numbers 28:2 indicate that the priests needed to bring the daily offering "in its proper time," even on a Sabbath. Applying the second rule, the same words in Numbers 9:2 mean that the priests needed to bring the Passover offering "in its proper time," even on a Sabbath.<ref>Menachem Davis, editor, ''Schottenstein Edition Siddur for the Sabbath and Festivals with an Interlinear Translation'', page 243.</ref>

[[File:Kaufmann Haggadah p 014.jpg|thumb|right|80px|A page from the Kaufmann Haggadah]]
Jews read the description of the additional (''[[Mussaf]]'') Sabbath offering in Numbers 28:9–10 among the descriptions of offerings after the Sabbath morning blessings and again as part of the ''Mussaf'' [[Amidah]] prayer for the Sabbath.<ref>Menachem Davis, editor, ''Schottenstein Edition Siddur for the Sabbath and Festivals with an Interlinear Translation'', pages 233, 410.</ref>

On [[Rosh Chodesh]] (the first of the month), Jews read the description of the Rosh Chodesh offering in Numbers 28:11–15 among the descriptions of offerings after the morning blessings and again on Shabbat Rosh Chodesh as part of the ''Mussaf'' Amidah prayer for the Sabbath.<ref>Menachem Davis, editor, ''Schottenstein Edition Siddur for the Sabbath and Festivals with an Interlinear Translation'', pages 234, 411.</ref>

The Passover [[Haggadah of Pesach|Haggadah]], in the concluding ''nirtzah'' section of the [[Passover Seder|Seder]], perhaps in a reference to the listing of festivals in Numbers 29, calls Passover "the first of all festivals."<ref>Joseph Tabory. ''JPS Commentary on the Haggadah: Historical Introduction, Translation, and Commentary'', page 125. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 2008.</ref>

==The Weekly Maqam==
In [[the Weekly Maqam]], [[Sephardi Jews]] each week base the songs of the services on the content of that week's parashah. For Parashat Pinechas, Sephardi Jews apply Maqam Saba, the maqam that symbolizes a covenant ({{Script/Hebrew|בְּרִית}}, ''berit''), which is appropriate because in the very opening of this parashah, God told Phinehas that due to his heroic acts, he was granted an eternal covenant of peace with God.<ref>See Mark L. Kligman, "The Bible, Prayer, and Maqam: Extra-Musical Associations of Syrian Jews," ''[[Society for Ethnomusicology|Ethnomusicology]]'', volume 45, number 3 (Autumn 2001): pages 443–479; Mark L. Kligman, ''Maqam and Liturgy: Ritual, Music, and Aesthetics of Syrian Jews in Brooklyn'' ([[Detroit]]: [[Wayne State University Press]], 2009).</ref>

==Haftarah==
In leap years when the preceding Rosh Hashanah was a Thursday (or, in Israel, when the following Rosh Hashanah is a Monday), Parashat Pinechas comes before the [[Seventeenth of Tammuz]]; and, the haftarah for the parashah is 1 Kings 18:46–19:21. When the parashah falls after the Seventeenth of Tammuz, as it does during most years, Jews read for the haftarah the first of three readings of admonition leading up to [[Tisha B'Av]], [[Book of Jeremiah|Jeremiah]] 1:1–2:3.<ref>See, e.g., Menachem Davis, editor, ''Schottenstein Edition Interlinear Chumash: Bamidbar/Numbers'', pages 205, 268.</ref>

In leap years, when the haftarah for Pinechas is taken from 1 Kings, the haftarah from Jeremiah is not omitted. Instead, it is read on the Sabbath following Parashat Pinechas; the parashah for that Sabbath is [[Matot]], read separately rather than in combination with Parashat [[Masei]] as is done in non-leap years.

[[File:Daniele da Volterra 001.jpg|thumb|left|300px|The Prophet Elijah (painting circa 1550–1560 by [[Daniele da Volterra]])]]

===1 Kings 18:46–19:21===
====Summary====
The haftarah in 1 Kings 18:46–19:21 tells the story of the prophet Elijah's flight from King [[Ahab]], his [[theophany]], and his anointing of [[Elisha]]. God's hand was on Elijah, and he ran from King [[Ahab]] to [[Jezreel Valley|Jezreel]].<ref>{{Bibleverse|1|Kings|18:46|HE}}.</ref> Ahab told Queen [[Jezebel (Bible)|Jezebel]] how Elijah had killed all the prophets of [[Baal]], and Jezebel sent a messenger to tell Elijah that she intended to have him killed by the next day in recompense.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1|Kings|19:1–2|HE}}.</ref> So Elijah ran for his life to [[Beersheba]] in the [[Kingdom of Judah]], left his servant there, and went a [[day's journey]] into the wilderness.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1|Kings|19:3–4|HE}}.</ref> Elijah sat down under a [[Broom (shrub)|broom tree]], asked God to take his life, and lay down and slept.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1|Kings|19:4–5|HE}}.</ref> An angel touched Elijah and told him to arise and eat, and Elijah found at his head a cake and a jar of water, and so he ate, drank, and went back to sleep.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1|Kings|19:5–6|HE}}.</ref> The angel again touched him again and told him to arise and eat, and he did and on the strength of that meal journeyed 40 days and 40 nights to [[Mount Horeb]], the mount of God.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1|Kings|19:7–8|HE}}.</ref>

[[File:Elias041.jpg|thumb|right|130px|Elijah (1638 painting by [[Jusepe de Ribera]])]]
When he came to a cave and lodged there, God asked him what he was doing there.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1|Kings|19:9|HE}}.</ref> Elijah said that he had been moved by zeal for God, as the Israelites had forsaken God's covenant, thrown down God's altars, and killed God's prophets, leaving only Elijah, and they sought to kill him, too.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1|Kings|19:10|HE}}.</ref> God told Elijah to stand on the mount, and God passed by. A great wind rent the mountains, and broke the rocks in pieces, but God was not in the wind. Then an earthquake came, but God was not in the earthquake.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1|Kings|19:11|HE}}.</ref> Then a fire came, but God was not in the fire. And then came a still small voice, which asked him what he was doing there.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1|Kings|19:12–13|HE}}.</ref> Elijah repeated that he had been moved by zeal for God, as the Israelites had forsaken God's covenant, thrown down God's altars, and killed God's prophets, leaving only Elijah, and they sought to kill him, too.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1|Kings|19:14|HE}}.</ref> God told him to go to [[Damascus]] and anoint [[Hazael]] to be king over [[Aram (Biblical region)|Aram]], to anoint [[Jehu]] to be king over Israel, and to anoint Elisha to succeed Elijah as prophet.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1|Kings|19:15–16|HE}}.</ref> God foretold that any who escaped the sword of Hazael would be killed by Jehu; any who escaped the sword of Jehu would be killed by Elisha; and God would leave alive in Israel only the 7 thousand who had not bowed to Baal.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1|Kings|19:17–18|HE}}.</ref> So Elijah found Elisha, who was plowing with one of his 12 yoke of oxen, and Elijah cast his mantle on Elisha.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1|Kings|19:19|HE}}.</ref> Elisha left the oxen, asked Elijah for permission to kiss his parents goodbye, killed the oxen and distributed their meat to the people, and went to follow Elijah.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1|Kings|19:20–21|HE}}.</ref>

====Connection to the parashah====
The parashah and haftarah both address protagonists who showed zeal on behalf of God against apostasy by the Israelites. Numbers 25:11 and 13 report that God lauds Phinehas's zeal for God ({{Script/Hebrew|בְּקַנְאוֹ אֶת-קִנְאָתִי}} and {{Script/Hebrew|קִנֵּא לֵאלֹהָיו}}, {{transliteration|he|be-kan'o 'et kin'ati}} and {{transliteration|he|kinnei' le-'lohav}}), while in 1 Kings 19:10 and 13 Elijah tells God of Elijah's zeal for God ({{Script/Hebrew|קַנֹּא קִנֵּאתִי לַיהוָה}}, {{transliteration|he|kanno' kinnei'ti la-YHVH}}). Immediately before the parashah,<ref>See {{Bibleverse||Numbers|25:7–8|HE}}.</ref> Phinehas killed Zimri and Cozbi to stem the Israelites' following of Baal-Peor in the [[Heresy of Peor]], while immediately before the haftarah,<ref>See {{Bibleverse|1|Kings|18:40|HE}}.</ref> Elijah killed the prophets of Baal to stem the Israelites' following of Baal. [[Targum Jonathan]] [http://targum.info/pj/pjex6-9.htm to Exodus 6:18] thus identified Phinehas with Elijah. Additionally, the parasha and haftarah both address changes in leadership, from Moses to Joshua in the parashah, and from Elijah to Elisha in the Haftarah.

[[File:Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn - Jeremia treurend over de verwoesting van Jeruzalem - Google Art Project.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalem (1630 painting by [[Rembrandt]])]]
[[File:Michelangelo Buonarroti 027.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Jeremiah (fresco circa 1508–1512 by [[Michelangelo]])]]

===Jeremiah 1:1–2:3===

====Summary====
The haftarah in Jeremiah 1:1–2:3 begins by identifying its words as those of [[Jeremiah]] the son of [[Hilkiah]], a priest in [[Anathoth]] in the [[Tribe of Benjamin|land of Benjamin]], to whom God's word came in the thirteenth year of the reign of [[Josiah]] the son of [[Amon of Judah|Amon]] as king of [[Kingdom of Judah|Judah]], in the reign of Josiah's son [[Jehoiakim]], and through the eleventh year of the reign of Josiah's son [[Zedekiah]], when Jerusalem was carried away captive.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Jeremiah|1:1–3|HE}}.</ref>

God's word came to Jeremiah to say that before God formed him in the womb, God knew him, sanctified him, and appointed him a prophet to the nations.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Jeremiah|1:4–5|HE}}.</ref> Jeremiah protested that he could not speak, for he was a child, but God told him not to fear, for he would go wherever God would send him, say whatever God would command him to say, and God would be with him to deliver him.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Jeremiah|1:6–8|HE}}.</ref> Then God touched Jeremiah's mouth and said that God had put words in his mouth and set him over the nations to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Jeremiah|1:9–10|HE}}.</ref> God asked Jeremiah what he saw, he replied that he saw the rod of an almond tree, and God said that he had seen well, for God watches over God's word to perform it.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Jeremiah|1:11–12|HE}}.</ref>

God's word came to Jeremiah a second time to ask what he saw, he replied that he saw a seething pot tipping from the north, and God said that out of the north evil would break forth upon all Israel.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Jeremiah|1:13–14|HE}}.</ref> For God would call all the kingdoms of the north to come, and they would set their thrones at Jerusalem's gate, against its walls, and against the cities of Judah.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Jeremiah|1:15|HE}}.</ref> God would utter God's judgments against Judah, as its people had forsaken God and worshipped the work of their own hands.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Jeremiah|1:16|HE}}.</ref> God thus directed Jeremiah to gird his loins, arise, and speak to the Judean people all that God commanded, for God had made Jeremiah a fortified city, an iron pillar, and brazen walls against the land of Judah, its rulers, its priests, and its people.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Jeremiah|1:17–18|HE}}.</ref> They would fight against him, but they would not prevail, for God would be with him to deliver him.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Jeremiah|1:19|HE}}.</ref>

God's word came to Jeremiah to tell him to go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem that God remembered the affection of her youth, her love as a bride, how she followed God in the wilderness.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Jeremiah|2:1–2|HE}}.</ref> Israel was God's hallowed portion and God's firstfruits, and all that devoured Israel would be held guilty and evil would come upon them.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Jeremiah|2:3|HE}}.</ref>

====Connection to the special Sabbath====
The first of three readings of admonition leading up to Tisha B'Av, the haftarah admonishes Judah and Israel in Jeremiah 1:13–19. And then in Jeremiah 2:1–3, the haftarah concludes with consolation. The Gemara taught that Jeremiah wrote the [[book of Lamentations]],<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Batra.15a.2 Babylonian Talmud Bava Batra 15a].</ref> and as Jews read Lamentations on Tisha B'Av, this probably accounts for why a selection from Jeremiah begins the series of haftarot of admonition.<ref>Michael Fishbane, ''The JPS Bible Commentary: Haftarot'' (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 2002), page 262.</ref>

== Notes ==
<references group="lower-alpha" />

== References ==
{{reflist|20em}}

==Further reading==
The parashah has parallels or is discussed in these sources:

===Biblical===
*Genesis 48:14 (laying on hands).
*Exodus 6:24 (sons of Korah); 12:3–27, 43–49 (Passover); 13:6–10 (Passover); 23:14–19 (three pilgrim festivals); 28:30 (Urim and Thummim); 29:1–42 (program of sacrifices); 32:1–35 (sacrifices to another god; zealots kill apostates; zealots rewarded with priestly standing; plague as punishment; leader makes atonement); 34:15–16 (foreign women and apostasy); 34:22–26 (three pilgrim festivals).
*Leviticus 23:1–44 (holidays); 24:10–16 (inquiry of God on the law).
*Numbers 1:1–46 (census); 3:32 (Eleazar's family in charge of the sanctuary); 8:10–12 (laying on hands); 8:19 (Levites make atonement so that there be no plague because of children of Israel coming near to the sanctuary); 9:1–14 (Passover, inquiry of God on the law); 15:32–36 (inquiry of God on the law); 18:22 (children of Israel not coming near to the sanctuary); 20:2–12; 25:6–9; 28:16–29:34 (holidays). 31:6–18 (Phinehas, war with Midian); 36:1–12 (daughters of Zelophehad)
*Deuteronomy 3:21–22 (Joshua); 4:3 (Baal Peor); 7:3–4 (foreign women and apostasy); 16:1–17 (three pilgrim festivals); 31:10–13 (Sukkot).
*Joshua 1:6–9; 17:3–6 (daughters of Zelophehad); 22:11–34 (Tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh; Baal Peor); 24:33.
*Judges 20:28; 21:19 (Sukkot).
*1 Samuel 28:6 (Urim).
*1 Kings 2:26–27 (banishment of [[Abiathar]], competitor for the priesthood with [[Zadok]] of the line of Phinehas); 8:1–66 (Sukkot); 12:32 (northern feast like Sukkot).
*Jeremiah 33:18–22 (permanent priesthood).
*Ezekiel 45:13–46:24 (program of sacrifices); 45:25 (Sukkot).
*Hosea 9:10 (Baal Peor).
*Zechariah 14:16–19 (Sukkot).
*Psalms 35:13 (I afflicted my soul with fasting); 47:6 (God amidst the sound of the horn); 106:17, 28–32 (Dathan and Abiram; Baal Peor; Meribah); 145:20 (God will destroy the wicked).
*Ezra 3:4 (Sukkot); 7:5 (Phinehas); 8:2 (Phinehas).
*Nehemiah 8:14–18 (Sukkot).
*1 Chronicles 5:30–41 (the line of Phinehas); 6:35; 7:15; 9:20 (Phinehas as chief of the sanctuary guards).
*2 Chronicles 5:3–14 (Sukkot); 7:8 (Sukkot); 8:12–13 (three pilgrim festivals).

===Early nonrabbinic===
*[[1 Maccabees]] [http://st-takla.org/pub_Deuterocanon/Deuterocanon-Apocrypha_El-Asfar_El-Kanoneya_El-Tanya__8-First-of-Maccabees.html chs. 1–16]. (parallel to Phinehas).
*[[4 Maccabees]] [https://web.archive.org/web/20030104122535/http://www.anova.org/sev/htm/ap/16_4maccabees.htm 18:12].
*[[Josephus]], ''[[Antiquities of the Jews]]'' [https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2848/2848-h/2848-h.htm#link32HCH0010 3:10:1–4]; [https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2848/2848-h/2848-h.htm#link42HCH0006 4:6:12–13]; [https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2848/2848-h/2848-h.htm#link42HCH0007 4:7:1–2]. Circa 93–94. In, e.g., ''The Works of Josephus: Complete and Unabridged, New Updated Edition''. Translated by [[William Whiston]]. [[Peabody, Massachusetts]]: [[Hendrickson Publisher]]s, 1987.
*Instruction for Catechumens, and A Prayer of Praise of God for His Greatness, and for His Appointment of Leaders for His People, in "Hellenistic Synagogal Prayers," in [[James H. Charlesworth]]. ''The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha'', volume 2, pages 687–88. New York: Doubleday, 1985.
*[[Pseudo-Philo]] [http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/bap/bap44.htm 28:1–4].
*[[Gospel of John|John]] 7:1–53 (Sukkot).
*[[Targum Jonathan]] [http://targum.info/pj/pjex6-9.htm to Exodus 6:18] (Phinehas was Elijah).

===Classical rabbinic===
*[[Mishnah]]: [[s:Translation:Mishnah/Seder Moed/Tractate Pesachim|Pesachim 1:1–10:9]]; [[s:Translation:Mishnah/Seder Moed/Tractate Yoma|Yoma 1:1–8:9]]; [[s:Translation:Mishnah/Seder Moed/Tractate Sukkah|Sukkah 1:1–5:8]]; [[s:Translation:Mishnah/Seder Moed/Tractate Beitzah|Beitzah 1:1–5:7]]; [[s:Translation:Mishnah/Seder Moed/Tractate Rosh Hashanah|Rosh Hashanah 1:1–4:9]]; [http://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Taanit.4.2 Taanit 4:2]; [http://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Megillah.3.5 Megillah 3:5–6]; [http://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Sotah.7.7 Sotah 7:7]; [http://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Sotah.9.12 9:12]; [http://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Bava_Batra.8 Bava Batra 8:1–8]; [http://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Sanhedrin.9.6 Sanhedrin 9:6]; [[s:Translation:Mishnah/Seder Nezikin/Tractate Shevuot/Chapter 1/3|Shevuot 1:3]]; [http://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Zevachim.10 Zevachim 10:1]; [http://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Menachot.4.2 Menachot 4:2–3], [http://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Menachot.8.7 8:7–9:2]; [[s:Translation:Mishnah/Seder Kodashim/Tractate Tamid|Tamid 1:1–7:4]]. Land of Israel, circa 200 C.E. In, e.g., ''The Mishnah: A New Translation''. Translated by [[Jacob Neusner]], pages 229–51, 265–307, 313, 321, 459, 464, 574–76, 604, 620, 721, 740, 750–51, 862–73. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1988.
*[[Tosefta]]: Pisha (Pesachim) 1:1–10:13; Kippurim (Yoma) 1:1–4:17; Sukkah 1:1–4:28; Yom Tov (Beitzah) 1:1–4:11; Rosh Hashanah 1:1–2:18; Taanit 3:2; Megillah 3:7–9; [https://www.sefaria.org/Tosefta_Bava_Batra.7 Bava Batra 7:1–18]; Makkot 3:4; Menachot 7:7, 9; 10:1; Meilah 1:16. Land of Israel, circa 250 CE. In, e.g., ''The Tosefta: Translated from the Hebrew, with a New Introduction''. Translated by Jacob Neusner, volume 1, pages 471–522, 541–618, 629–30, 645–46; volume 2, pages 1126–30, 1206, 1434–36, 1449, 1541–42. Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 2002.
*[[Jerusalem Talmud]]: Berakhot 43b; Sheviit 5b; Orlah 2b; Shabbat 24a; Pesachim 1a–86a; Yoma 1a–57a; Sukkah 1a–33b; Beitzah 1a–49b; Rosh Hashanah 1a–27a; Taanit 22a; Megillah 19b, 26a, 32a; Chagigah 6b; Yevamot 68a; Nedarim 9b; Sotah 4b; Kiddushin 21b; Bava Batra 24a–25a, 27b; Sanhedrin 16a, 60b, 65b; Shevuot 5a, 6a, 7a–b, 21a. [[Tiberias]], Land of Israel, circa 400 CE. In, e.g., ''Talmud Yerushalmi''. Edited by Chaim Malinowitz, Yisroel Simcha Schorr, and Mordechai Marcus, volumes 1, 6a, 12–13, 18–19, 21–23, 25–27, 30, 33, 36, 40, 43–46. [[Brooklyn]]: [[Artscroll|Mesorah Publications]], 2005–2019.
*[[Genesis Rabbah]] [https://archive.org/stream/RabbaGenesis/midrashrabbahgen027557mbp#page/n53/mode/2up 1:4]; [https://archive.org/stream/RabbaGenesis/midrashrabbahgen027557mbp#page/n89/mode/2up 6:3]; [https://archive.org/stream/RabbaGenesis/midrashrabbahgen027557mbp#page/n177/mode/1up 16:5]; [https://archive.org/stream/RabbaGenesis/midrashrabbahgen027557mbp#page/n343/mode/2up 37:3]. Land of Israel, 5th century. In, e.g., ''Midrash Rabbah: Genesis''. Translated by [[Harry Freedman (rabbi)|Harry Freedman]] and Maurice Simon, volume 1, pages 6–7, 42–43, 130, 296; volume 2, pages 510, 600, 655, 743, 875, 899, 911, 952, 968, 976, 980, 994. London: Soncino Press, 1939.
*Babylonian [[Talmud]]: [https://www.sefaria.org/Berakhot.54b Berakhot 54b]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Shabbat.21b Shabbat 21b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Shabbat.24a 24a–b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Shabbat.36a 36a], [https://www.sefaria.org/Shabbat.64a 64a], [https://www.sefaria.org/Shabbat.80b 80b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Shabbat.96b 96b–97a], [https://www.sefaria.org/Shabbat.103b 103b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Shabbat.131b 131b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Shabbat.133a 133a]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Eruvin.40a Eruvin 40a], [https://www.sefaria.org/Eruvin.63a 63a–b]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Pesachim.2a Pesachim 2a–121b]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Yoma.2a Yoma 2a–88a]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Sukkah.2a Sukkah 2a–56b]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Beitzah.2a Beitzah 2a–40b]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Rosh_Hashanah.2a Rosh Hashanah 2a–35a]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Taanit.2b Taanit 2b–3a], [https://www.sefaria.org/Taanit.17b 17b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Taanit.26a 26a]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Megillah.11a Megillah 11a], [https://www.sefaria.org/Megillah.14a 14a], [https://www.sefaria.org/Megillah.20b 20b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Megillah.21b 21b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Megillah.28a 28a], [https://www.sefaria.org/Megillah.29b 29b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Megillah.30b 30b–31a]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Moed_Katan.9a Moed Katan 9a], [https://www.sefaria.org/Moed_Katan.19a 19a], [https://www.sefaria.org/Moed_Katan.20a 20a], [https://www.sefaria.org/Moed_Katan.27a 27a]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Chagigah.6a Chagigah 6a–b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Chagigah.7b 7b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Chagigah.9a 9a], [https://www.sefaria.org/Chagigah.16a 16a], [https://www.sefaria.org/Chagigah.17a 17a–18a]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Yevamot.78b Yevamot 78b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Yevamot.90b 90b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Yevamot.100b 100b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Yevamot.104b 104b]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Ketubot.13b Ketubot 13b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Ketubot.52b 52b]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Nedarim.78a Nedarim 78a]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Nazir.23b Nazir 23b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Nazir.30a 30a]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Sotah.12a Sotah 12a], [https://www.sefaria.org/Sotah.13a 13a], [https://www.sefaria.org/Sotah.14a 14a], [https://www.sefaria.org/Sotah.22b 22b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Sotah.40b 40b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Sotah.43a 43a], [https://www.sefaria.org/Sotah.46a 46a], [https://www.sefaria.org/Sotah.48a 48a–b]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Gittin.85a Gittin 85a]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Kiddushin.33b Kiddushin 33b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Kiddushin.66b 66b]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Kamma.38a Bava Kamma 38a], [https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Kamma.42b 42b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Kamma.82b 82b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Kamma.88b 88b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Kamma.92b 92b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Kamma.111a 111a], [https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Kamma.112a 112a]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Metzia.52b Bava Metzia 52b]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Batra.75a Bava Batra 75a], [https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Batra.106b 106b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Batra.108a 108a–39b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Batra.141a 141a], [https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Batra.143b 143b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Batra.147a 147a]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Sanhedrin.8a Sanhedrin 8a], [https://www.sefaria.org/Sanhedrin.11b 11b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Sanhedrin.13b 13b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Sanhedrin.16a 16a], [https://www.sefaria.org/Sanhedrin.34b 34b–35a], [https://www.sefaria.org/Sanhedrin.40b 40b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Sanhedrin.43b 43b–44b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Sanhedrin.64a 64a], [https://www.sefaria.org/Sanhedrin.82a 82a–b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Sanhedrin.105b 105b–06a], [https://www.sefaria.org/Sanhedrin.110a 110a]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Makkot.7b Makkot 7b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Makkot.12a 12a]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Shevuot.2a Shevuot 2a], [https://www.sefaria.org/Shevuot.9a 9a–11a]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Avodah_Zarah.8b Avodah Zarah 8b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Avodah_Zarah.19b 19b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Avodah_Zarah.44b 44b]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Horayot.6a Horayot 6a], [https://www.sefaria.org/Horayot.10b 10b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Horayot.12b 12b]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Zevachim.6b Zevachim 6b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Zevachim.12a 12a], [https://www.sefaria.org/Zevachim.84a 84a], [https://www.sefaria.org/Zevachim.89a 89a], [https://www.sefaria.org/Zevachim.101b 101b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Zevachim.110b 110b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Zevachim.118a 118a]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Menachot.44b Menachot 44b–45b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Menachot.46b 46b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Menachot.49b 49b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Menachot.52a 52a], [https://www.sefaria.org/Menachot.65a 65a], [https://www.sefaria.org/Menachot.72b 72b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Menachot.84b 84b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Menachot.87a 87a–b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Menachot.89a 89a], [https://www.sefaria.org/Menachot.91b 91b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Menachot.93b 93b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Menachot.99b 99b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Menachot.103b 103b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Menachot.104b 104b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Menachot.107a 107a]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Chullin.60b Chullin 60b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Chullin.134b 134b]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Bekhorot.5b Bekhorot 5b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Bekhorot.17a 17a]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Arakhin.3b Arakhin 3b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Arakhin.13b 13b]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Temurah.14a Temurah 14a–b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Temurah.29a 29a]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Keritot.4a Keritot 4a], [https://www.sefaria.org/Keritot.28b 28b]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Meilah.11b Meilah 11b], [https://www.sefaria.org/Meilah.13b 13b]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Tamid.25b Tamid 25b–33b]; [https://www.sefaria.org/Niddah.26a Niddah 26a]. [[Sasanian Empire]], 6th Century. In, e.g., ''Talmud Bavli''. Edited by Yisroel Simcha Schorr, Chaim Malinowitz, and Mordechai Marcus, 72 volumes. Brooklyn: Mesorah Pubs., 2006.

===Medieval===
*[[Rashi]]. ''Commentary''. [http://www.chabad.org/library/article.asp?AID=9953&showrashi=true Numbers 25–30]. [[Troyes]], France, late 11th Century. In, e.g., Rashi. ''The Torah: With Rashi's Commentary Translated, Annotated, and Elucidated''. Translated and annotated by Yisrael Isser Zvi Herczeg, volume 4, pages 319–67. Brooklyn: Mesorah Publications, 1997.
*[[Yehuda Halevi|Judah Halevi]]. ''[[Kuzari]]''. [[s:Kitab al Khazari/Part Two|part 2, ¶¶ 25–26, 80]]. [[Toledo, Spain|Toledo]], Spain, 1130–1140. In, e.g., Jehuda Halevi. ''Kuzari: An Argument for the Faith of Israel.'' Introduction by Henry Slonimsky, pages 101, 133. New York: [[Schocken Books]], 1964.
*[[Numbers Rabbah]] 21:1–25. 12th Century. In, e.g., ''Midrash Rabbah: Numbers''. Translated by Judah J. Slotki. London: Soncino Press, 1939.
*[[Abraham ibn Ezra]]. ''Commentary'' on the Torah. Mid-12th century. In, e.g., ''Ibn Ezra's Commentary on the Pentateuch: Numbers (Ba-Midbar)''. Translated and annotated by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver, pages 215–37. New York: Menorah Publishing Company, 1999.
*[[Maimonides]]. ''[[Mishneh Torah]]'': [http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/904991/jewish/Yesodei-haTorah-Chapter-Seven.htm ''Hilchot Yesodei HaTorah (The Laws that Are the Foundations of the Torah)'', chapter 7, ¶ 6]. Egypt, circa 1170–1180. In, e.g., ''Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Yesodei HaTorah: The Laws which Are the Foundations of the Torah''. Translated by Eliyahu Touger, volume 1, pages 252–59. New York: Moznaim Publishing, 1989.
*Maimonides. ''Mishneh Torah'': [http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/910975/jewish/Talmud-Torah-Chapter-Three.htm ''Hilchot Talmud Torah (The Laws of Torah Study)'', chapter 3, ¶ 1]. Egypt, circa 1170–1180. In, e.g., ''Mishneh Torah: Hilchot De'ot: The Laws of Personality Development: and Hilchot Talmud Torah: The Laws of Torah Study''. Translated by Za'ev Abramson and Eliyahu Touger, volume 2, pages 186–89. New York: Moznaim Publishing, 1989.
*Maimonides. ''Mishneh Torah'': [http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/936034/jewish/Shevitat-Yom-Tov.htm ''Hilchot Shevitat Yom Tov (The Laws of Resting on the Holidays)'']. Egypt, circa 1170–1180. In, e.g., ''Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Eruvin: The Laws of Eruvin: and Hilchot Sh'vitat Asor: The Laws of Resting on the Tenth (Day of Tishrei): and Hilchot Sh'vitat Yom Tov: The Laws of Resting on the Holidays)''. Translated by Eliyahu Touger, volume 11, pages 174–313. New York: Moznaim Publishing, 1993.
*Maimonides. ''Mishneh Torah'': [http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/937298/jewish/Chometz-UMatzah.htm ''Hilchot Chametz U'Matzah (The Laws of Chametz and Matzah)'']. Egypt, circa 1170–1180. In, e.g., ''Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Chametz U'Matzah: The Laws of Chametz and Matzah: The Rambam's Text of the Haggadah ''. Translated by Eliyahu Touger. New York: Moznaim Publishing, 1988.
*Maimonides. ''Mishneh Torah'': [http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/946093/jewish/Shofar-Sukkah-vLulav.htm ''Hilchot Shofar, Sukkah, V'Lulav (The Laws of the Shofar, Sukkah, and Lulav)'']. Egypt, circa 1170–1180. In, e.g., ''Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Shofar, Sukkah, V'Lulav: The Laws of Shofar, Sukkah, and Lulav ''. Translated by Eliyahu Touger. New York: Moznaim Publishing, 1988.
*Maimonides. ''Mishneh Torah'': [http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/960660/jewish/Issurei-Biah-Chapter-Twelve.htm ''Hilchot Issurei Bi'ah (The Laws Governing Forbidden Sexual Relationships)'', chapter 12, halachot 4–5]. In, e.g., ''Mishneh Torah: Sefer Kedushim: The Book of Holiness''. Translated by Eliyahu Touger, pages 150–53. New York: Moznaim Publishing, 2002.
*Maimonides. ''[[The Guide for the Perplexed]]'', part 3, chapters [[s:Page:Guideforperplexed.djvu/421|42]], [[s:Page:Guideforperplexed.djvu/433|46]]–[[s:Page:Guideforperplexed.djvu/439|47]]. [[Cairo]], Egypt, 1190. In, e.g., Moses Maimonides. ''The Guide for the Perplexed''. Translated by [[Michael Friedländer]], pages 351, 363, 365, 369. New York: Dover Publications, 1956.
*[[Hezekiah ben Manoah]]. ''Hizkuni''. France, circa 1240. In, e.g., Chizkiyahu ben Manoach. ''Chizkuni: Torah Commentary''. Translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk, volume 4, pages 997–1020. Jerusalem: Ktav Publishers, 2013.
*[[Nahmanides|Naḥmanides]]. ''Commentary on the Torah''. Jerusalem, circa 1270. In, e.g., ''Ramban (Nachmanides): Commentary on the Torah: Numbers.'' Translated by Charles B. Chavel, volume 4, pages 296–343. New York: Shilo Publishing House, 1975.
*Midrash ha-Ne'lam (The Midrash of the Concealed), part 1, pages 4d, 7a, 14a, 22d; part 2, page 21b. Spain, 13th century. In, e.g., ''The Zohar: Pritzker Edition''. Translation and commentary by Nathan Wolski, volume 10, pages 17–18, 35–36, 118, 255, 521, 539. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2016.
*[[Zohar]], part 3, pages 213a–241b. Spain, late 13th Century. In, e.g., ''The Zohar''. Translated by Harry Sperling and Maurice Simon. 5 volumes. London: Soncino Press, 1934.
*[[Jacob ben Asher]] (Baal Ha-Turim). ''Rimze Ba'al ha-Turim''. Early 14th century. In, e.g., ''Baal Haturim Chumash: Bamidbar/Numbers''. Translated by Eliyahu Touger, edited and annotated by Avie Gold, volume 4, pages 1667–709. Brooklyn: Mesorah Publications, 2003.
*Jacob ben Asher. ''Perush Al ha-Torah''. Early 14th century. In, e.g., Yaakov ben Asher. ''Tur on the Torah''. Translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk, volume 3, pages 1180–201. Jerusalem: Lambda Publishers, 2005.
*[[Isaac ben Moses Arama]]. ''Akedat Yizhak (The Binding of Isaac)''. Late 15th century. In, e.g., Yitzchak Arama. ''Akeydat Yitzchak: Commentary of Rabbi Yitzchak Arama on the Torah''. Translated and condensed by Eliyahu Munk, volume 2, pages 777–91. New York, Lambda Publishers, 2001.

===Modern===
*[[Isaac Abravanel]]. ''Commentary on the Torah''. Italy, between 1492 and 1509. In, e.g., ''Abarbanel: Selected Commentaries on the Torah: Volume 4: Bamidbar/Numbers''. Translated and annotated by Israel Lazar, pages 274–317. Brooklyn: CreateSpace, 2015.
*[[Obadiah ben Jacob Sforno]]. ''Commentary on the Torah''. Venice, 1567. In, e.g., ''Sforno: Commentary on the Torah''. Translation and explanatory notes by Raphael Pelcovitz, pages 784–801. Brooklyn: Mesorah Publications, 1997.
*[[Moshe Alshich]]. ''Commentary on the Torah''. [[Safed]], circa 1593. In, e.g., Moshe Alshich. ''Midrash of Rabbi Moshe Alshich on the Torah''. Translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk, volume 3, pages 911–26. New York, Lambda Publishers, 2000.
*[[Saul Levi Morteira]]. "When They Agitated Against God." Budapest, mid 1640s. In Marc Saperstein. ''Exile in Amsterdam: Saul Levi Morteira's Sermons to a Congregation of "New Jews,"'' pages 430–46. [[Cincinnati]]: [[Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion|Hebrew Union College]] Press, 2005.
*Avraham Yehoshua Heschel. ''Commentaries on the Torah''. [[Kraków|Cracow]], Poland, mid 17th century. Compiled as ''Chanukat HaTorah''. Edited by Chanoch Henoch Erzohn. [[Piotrków Trybunalski|Piotrkow]], Poland, 1900. In Avraham Yehoshua Heschel. ''Chanukas HaTorah: Mystical Insights of Rav Avraham Yehoshua Heschel on Chumash''. Translated by Avraham Peretz Friedman, pages 278–87. [[Southfield, Michigan]]: [[Targum Press]]/[[Feldheim Publishers]], 2004.
*[[Thomas Hobbes]]. ''[[Leviathan (Hobbes book)|Leviathan]]'', [[s:Leviathan/The Third Part#Chapter XL: Of the Rights of the Kingdom of God.2C in Abraham.2C Moses.2C the High Priests.2C and the Kings of Judah|3:40]], [[s:Leviathan/The Third Part#Chapter XLII: Of Power Ecclesiastical|42]]. England, 1651. Reprint edited by [[C. B. Macpherson]], pages 506, 572. Harmondsworth, England: Penguin Classics, 1982.
*[[Shabbethai Bass]]. ''Sifsei Chachamim''. Amsterdam, 1680. In, e.g., ''Sefer Bamidbar: From the Five Books of the Torah: Chumash: Targum Okelos: Rashi: Sifsei Chachamim: Yalkut: Haftaros'', translated by Avrohom Y. Davis, pages 460–533. [[Lakewood Township, New Jersey]]: Metsudah Publications, 2013.
*[[Chaim ibn Attar]]. ''Ohr ha-Chaim''. Venice, 1742. In Chayim ben Attar. ''Or Hachayim: Commentary on the Torah''. Translated by Eliyahu Munk, volume 4, pages 1637–99. Brooklyn: Lambda Publishers, 1999.
*[[Robert Burns]]. [http://www.robertburns.org/works/302.shtml ''I Murder Hate''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109094856/https://www.robertburns.org/works/302.shtml |date=2024-01-09 }}. [[Scotland]], 1790. In, e.g., ''The Complete Poetical Works of Robert Burns: Arranged in the Order of their Earliest Publication: Volume Second: Pieces Published Posthumously''. Edited by William Scott Douglas, page 428. [[Kilmarnock]], Scotland: M'kie and Drennan, 1876. Reprinted by Nabu Press, 2010. ("But let me have bold Zimri's fate, / Within the arms of Cozbi!")
*[[Samson Raphael Hirsch]]. ''Horeb: A Philosophy of Jewish Laws and Observances''. Translated by Isidore Grunfeld, pages 136–41, 225–31, 487, 492–93, 512–13. London: Soncino Press, 1962. Reprinted 2002. Originally published as ''Horeb, Versuche über Jissroel's Pflichten in der Zerstreuung''. Germany, 1837.
*[[Emily Dickinson]]. [[s: Where bells no more affright the morn —|''Poem 112 (Where bells no more affright the morn —)'']]. Circa 1859. [[s:If the foolish, call them "flowers" —|''Poem 168 (If the foolish, call them "flowers" —)'']]. Circa 1860. [[s:It always felt to me—a wrong|''Poem 597 (It always felt to me—a wrong)'']]. Circa 1862. In ''The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson''. Edited by Thomas H. Johnson, pages 53, 79–80, 293–94. New York: Little, Brown & Co., 1960.
*[[Samuel David Luzzatto]] (Shadal). ''Commentary on the Torah.'' [[Padua]], 1871. In, e.g., Samuel David Luzzatto. ''Torah Commentary''. Translated and annotated by Eliyahu Munk, volume 4, pages 1107–12. New York: Lambda Publishers, 2012.
*[[Yehudah Aryeh Leib Alter]]. ''Sefat Emet''. [[Góra Kalwaria]] (Ger), [[Poland]], before 1906. Excerpted in ''The Language of Truth: The Torah Commentary of Sefat Emet''. Translated and interpreted by [[Arthur Green]], pages 263–67. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1998. Reprinted 2012.
*Alexander Alan Steinbach. ''Sabbath Queen: Fifty-four Bible Talks to the Young Based on Each Portion of the Pentateuch'', pages 129–32. New York: Behrman's Jewish Book House, 1936.
*Julius H. Greenstone. ''Numbers: With Commentary: The Holy Scriptures'', pages 279–311. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1939. Reprinted by Literary Licensing, 2011.
*Abram Spiro. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/3622244 "The Ascension of Phinehas."] ''Proceedings of the American Academy for Jewish Research'', volume 22 (1953): pages 91–114.
*Isaac Mendelsohn. "Urim and Thummim." In ''The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible'', volume 4, pages 739–40. [[Nashville, Tennessee]]: [[Abingdon Press]], 1962.
*[[Electric Prunes]]. "Kol Nidre." In ''[[Release of an Oath]]''. [[Reprise Records]], 1968. (track based on the Yom Kippur [[Kol Nidre]] prayer).
*J. Roy Porter. "The Succession of Joshua." In ''Proclamation and Presence: Old Testament Essays in Honour of Gwynne Henton Davies''. Edited by John I. Durham and J. Roy Porter, pages 102–32. London: SCM Press, 1970.
*[[Stefan Reif|Stefan C. Reif]]. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/3263760 "What Enraged Phinehas?: A Study of Numbers 25:8."] ''[[Journal of Biblical Literature]]'', volume 90, number 2 (June 1971): pages 200–06.
*[[Moshe Greenberg]]. "Urim and Thummim." In ''[[Encyclopaedia Judaica]]'', volume 16, pages 8–9. Jerusalem: Keter Publishing House, 1972.
*[[Jacob Milgrom]]. "Magic, Monotheism, and the Sin of Moses." In ''The Quest for the Kingdom of God: Studies in Honor of George E. Mendenhall''. Edited by H. B. Huffmon, F.A. Spina, A.R.W. Green, pages 251–265. Winona Lake, Indiana: Eisenbrauns, 1983.
*Philip J. Budd. ''Word Biblical Commentary: Volume 5: Numbers'', pages 274–319. [[Waco, Texas]]: Word Books, 1984.
*[[Michael Fishbane]]. ''Biblical Interpretation in Ancient Israel'', pages 98–99, 102–05, 112, 150, 152, 169, 171, 198, 209–10, 213, 224, 236, 256, 258, 304, 397–99, 529. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1985.
*[[Pinchas Hacohen Peli|Pinchas H. Peli]]. ''Torah Today: A Renewed Encounter with Scripture'', pages 185–87. Washington, D.C.: B'nai B'rith Books, 1987.
*Marc Gellman. "The Announcing Tool." In ''Does God Have a Big Toe? Stories About Stories in the Bible'', pages 85–88. New York: HarperCollins, 1989.
*[[Mary Douglas]]. ''In the Wilderness: The Doctrine of Defilement in the Book of Numbers'', pages 55, 58, 86–87, 103, 108, 111–12, 114, 116, 121–23, 130, 135–36, 138, 141–42, 144–45, 147, 162, 170, 180, 182–83, 188, 190–92, 194, 197, 200, 203, 206, 235–36. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1993. Reprinted 2004.
*Judith S. Antonelli. "The Daughters of Zelophechad." In ''In the Image of God: A Feminist Commentary on the Torah'', pages 377–82. [[Northvale, New Jersey]]: [[Jason Aronson]], 1995.
*[[Ellen Frankel]]. ''The Five Books of Miriam: A Woman's Commentary on the Torah'', pages 234–36. New York: [[G. P. Putnam's Sons]], 1996.
*[[Gunther Plaut|W. Gunther Plaut]]. ''The Haftarah Commentary'', pages 396–406. New York: UAHC Press, 1996.
*Sorel Goldberg Loeb and Barbara Binder Kadden. ''Teaching Torah: A Treasury of Insights and Activities'', pages 272–77. [[Denver]]: A.R.E. Publishing, 1997.
*Robert Goodman. ''Teaching Jewish Holidays: History, Values, and Activities''. [[Denver]]: A.R.E. Publishing, 1997.
*[[Judith Hauptman]]. "Inheritance." In ''Rereading the Rabbis: A Woman's Voice'', pages 177–95. [[Boulder, Colorado]]: Westview Press, 1997.
*Harriet C. Lutzky. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/1535280 "The Name 'Cozbi' (Numbers XXV 15, 18)."] ''[[Vetus Testamentum]]'', volume 47, number 4 (October 1997): pages 546–49.
*[[Cornelis Van Dam]]. ''The Urim and Thummin: A Means of Revelation in Ancient Israel''. Winona Lake, Indiana: Eisenbrauns, 1997.
*Tal Ilan. "How Women Differed." ''[[Biblical Archaeology Review]]'', volume 24, number 2 (March/April 1998).
*William H.C. Propp. "Why Moses Could Not Enter The Promised Land." ''[[Bible Review]]'', volume 14, number 3 (June 1998).
*Rachel Adelman. "Serah bat Asher: Songstress, Poet, and Woman of Wisdom." In ''Torah of the Mothers: Contemporary Jewish Women Read Classical Jewish Texts''. Edited by Ora Wiskind Elper and Susan Handelman, pages 218–43. New York and Jerusalem: [[Urim Publications]], 2000. (Numbers 26:46).
*Dennis T. Olson. "Numbers." In ''The HarperCollins Bible Commentary''. Edited by [[James Luther Mays|James L. Mays]], pages 182–85. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, revised edition, 2000.
*Sarah Idit (Susan) Schneider. "The Daughters of Tzlafchad: Towards a Methodology of Attitude Around Women's Issues." In ''Torah of the Mothers: Contemporary Jewish Women Read Classical Jewish Texts''. Edited by Ora Wiskind Elper and Susan Handelman, pages 155–69. New York and Jerusalem: Urim Publications, 2000.
*Pamela Wax. "Daughters and Inheritance Law." In ''The Women's Torah Commentary: New Insights from Women Rabbis on the 54 Weekly Torah Portions''. Edited by [[Elyse Goldstein]], pages 307–14. [[Woodstock, Vermont]]: [[Jewish Lights Publishing]], 2000.
*Lainie Blum Cogan and Judy Weiss. ''Teaching Haftarah: Background, Insights, and Strategies'', pages 173–80. Denver: A.R.E. Publishing, 2002.
*[[Louis Feldman|Louis H. Feldman]]. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/1455447 "The Portrayal of Phinehas by Philo, Pseudo-Philo, and Josephus."] ''[[The Jewish Quarterly Review]]'', volume 92, number 3/4 (January–April 2002): pages 315–45.
*[[Michael Fishbane]]. ''The JPS Bible Commentary: Haftarot'', pages 250–62. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 2002.
*[[Tikva Frymer-Kensky]]. "Cozbi." In ''Reading the Women of the Bible'', pages 215–24. New York: Schocken Books, 2002.
*[[John J. Collins]]. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/3268089 "The Zeal of Phinehas: The Bible and the Legitimation of Violence."] ''Journal of Biblical Literature'', volume 122, number 1 (Spring 2003): pages 3–21.
*[[Robert Alter]]. ''The Five Books of Moses: A Translation with Commentary'', pages 819–37. New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 2004.
*Susan P. Fendrick. "Haftarat Pinchas: I Kings 18:46–19:21." In ''The Women's Haftarah Commentary: New Insights from Women Rabbis on the 54 Weekly Haftarah Portions, the 5 Megillot & Special Shabbatot''. Edited by Elyse Goldstein, pages 195–99. Woodstock, Vermont: Jewish Lights Publishing, 2004.
*Nili S. Fox. "Numbers." In ''The Jewish Study Bible''. Edited by [[Adele Berlin]] and [[Marc Zvi Brettler]], pages 335–43. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004.
*''Professors on the Parashah: Studies on the Weekly Torah Reading'' Edited by Leib Moscovitz, pages 280–83. Jerusalem: [[Urim Publications]], 2005.
*W. Gunther Plaut. ''The Torah: A Modern Commentary: Revised Edition''. Revised edition edited by [[David E. Stern|David E.S. Stern]], pages 1072–97. New York: [[Union for Reform Judaism]], 2006.
*Suzanne A. Brody. "A bonanza." In ''Dancing in the White Spaces: The Yearly Torah Cycle and More Poems'', page 100. Shelbyville, Kentucky: Wasteland Press, 2007.
*Shai Cherry. "The Daughters of Zelophehad." In ''Torah Through Time: Understanding Bible Commentary, from the Rabbinic Period to Modern Times'', pages 161–88. Philadelphia: The Jewish Publication Society, 2007.
*[[James Kugel|James L. Kugel]]. ''How To Read the Bible: A Guide to Scripture, Then and Now'', pages 64, 186, 197, 286, 318, 324, 355, 358, 404, 535. New York: Free Press, 2007.
*''The Torah: A Women's Commentary''. Edited by [[Tamara Cohn Eskenazi]] and [[Andrea Weiss (rabbi)|Andrea L. Weiss]], pages 961–88. New York: [[Union for Reform Judaism|URJ Press]], 2008.
*R. Dennis Cole. "Numbers." In ''Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary''. Edited by [[John H. Walton]], volume 1, pages 386–90. [[Grand Rapids, Michigan]]: [[Zondervan]], 2009.
*[[Steven Greenberg (rabbi)|Steven Greenberg]]. "Pinchas, Zimri, and the Channels of Divine Will: Parashat Pinchas (Numbers 25:10–30:1)." In ''Torah Queeries: Weekly Commentaries on the Hebrew Bible''. Edited by Gregg Drinkwater, Joshua Lesser, and David Shneer; foreword by [[Judith Plaskow]], pages 216–19. New York: [[New York University Press]], 2009.
*[[Reuven Hammer]]. ''Entering Torah: Prefaces to the Weekly Torah Portion'', pages 237–41. New York: Gefen Publishing House, 2009.
*Raymond Westbrook and Bruce Wells. "Property and Inheritance." In ''Everyday Law in Biblical Israel: An Introduction'', pages 91–106. [[Louisville, Kentucky]]: [[Westminster John Knox]] Press, 2009.
*Alcita Ferreira Brown. ''Milcah''. Booklocker, 2010. (novel about a daughter of Zelophehad).
*Jonathan P. Burnside. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/20700085 "A 'Missing Case' in the Biblical Laws of Homicide and Asylum?"] ''[[Vetus Testamentum]]'', volume 60, number 2 (2010): pages 288–91.
*[[Terence E. Fretheim]]. "Numbers." In ''The New Oxford Annotated Bible: New Revised Standard Version with the Apocrypha: An Ecumenical Study Bible''. Edited by [[Michael Coogan|Michael D. Coogan]], Marc Z. Brettler, [[Carol A. Newsom]], and [[Pheme Perkins]], pages 228–34. New York: Oxford University Press, Revised 4th Edition 2010.
*Adriane Leveen. [http://jot.sagepub.com/content/34/4/395.abstract "Inside Out: Jethro, the Midianites and a Biblical Construction of the Outsider."] ''[[Journal for the Study of the Old Testament]]'', volume 34, number 4 (June 2010): pages 395–417.
*''The Commentators' Bible: Numbers: The JPS Miqra'ot Gedolot.'' Edited, translated, and annotated by Michael Carasik, pages 193–218. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 2011.
*Josebert Fleurant. [http://jot.sagepub.com/content/35/3/285.abstract "Phinehas Murdered Moses' Wife: An Analysis of Numbers 25."] ''Journal for the Study of the Old Testament'', volume 35, number 3 (March 2011): pages 285–94.
*Calum Carmichael. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1npd42 "Sexual and Religious Seduction (Numbers 25–31)."] In ''The Book of Numbers: A Critique of Genesis'', pages 135–58. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2012.
*[[Shmuel Herzfeld]]. "Three Educational Lessons." In ''Fifty-Four Pick Up: Fifteen-Minute Inspirational Torah Lessons'', pages 234–37. Jerusalem: [[Gefen Publishing House]], 2012.
*[[Shlomo Riskin]]. ''Torah Lights: Bemidbar: Trials and Tribulations in Times of Transition'', pages 205–42. [[New Milford, Connecticut]]: Maggid Books, 2012.
*Juliana Claassens. [http://jot.sagepub.com/content/37/3/319.abstract "'Give us a portion among our father's brothers': The Daughters of Zelophehad, Land, and the Quest for Human Dignity."] ''Journal for the Study of the Old Testament'', volume 37, number 3 (March 2013): pages 319–37.
*[[Jonathan Sacks]]. ''Lessons in Leadership: A Weekly Reading of the Jewish Bible'', pages 221–25. New Milford, Connecticut: Maggid Books, 2015.
*[[Avivah Gottlieb Zornberg]]. ''Bewilderments: Reflections on the Book of Numbers'', pages 263–311. New York: Schocken Books, 2015.
*Jonathan Sacks. ''Essays on Ethics: A Weekly Reading of the Jewish Bible'', pages 257–62. New Milford, Connecticut: Maggid Books, 2016.
*[[Shai Held]]. ''The Heart of Torah, Volume 2: Essays on the Weekly Torah Portion: Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy'', pages 168–78. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 2017.
*Steven Levy and Sarah Levy. ''The JPS Rashi Discussion Torah Commentary'', pages 138–40. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 2017.
*Jonathan Sacks. ''Numbers: The Wilderness Years: Covenant & Conversation: A Weekly Reading of the Jewish Bible'', pages 313–60. New Milford, Connecticut: Maggid Books, 2017.
*Andrew Tobolowsky. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.15699/jbl.1391.2020.2 "The Problem of Reubenite Primacy: New Paradigms, New Answers."] ''[[Journal of Biblical Literature]]'', volume 139, number 1 (2020): pages 27–45.

==External links==
{{Wikibooks|The Torah}}

===Texts===
*[http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0425.htm#10 Masoretic text and 1917 JPS translation]
*[http://Bible.ort.org/books/torahd5.asp?action=displaypage&book=4&chapter=25&verse=10&portion=41 Hear the parashah chanted] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514215527/http://bible.ort.org/books/torahd5.asp?action=displaypage&book=4&chapter=25&verse=10&portion=41 |date=2011-05-14 }}
*[http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/ptmp3prq.htm#mp3 Hear the parashah read in Hebrew]

===Commentaries===
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*[http://ajrca.edu/parsha-of-the-week/parshat-pinchas/ Academy for Jewish Religion, California]
*[http://ajrsem.org/tag/pinhas/ Academy for Jewish Religion, New York]
*[https://aish.com/parsha/pinchas/ Aish] 
*[https://www.aju.edu/ziegler-school-rabbinic-studies/our-torah/back-issues/127 American Jewish University—Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies] 
*[http://www.chabad.org/parshah/default.asp?AID=45615 Chabad.org]
*[http://www.mechonhadar.org/c/journal/view_article_content?groupId=10488&articleId=1825277&version=1.0 Hadar Institute]
*[http://www.jtsa.edu/jts-torah-online?search=&genre=&parashah=2062&holiday=&theme=&series=&author= Jewish Theological Seminary]
*[https://www.myjewishlearning.com/torah-portions/parashat-pinchas/ MyJewishLearning.com]
*[http://www.ou.org/torah/archive4.htm Orthodox Union]
*[https://elmad.pardes.org/topics Pardes from Jerusalem]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060216223743/http://www2.jrf.org/recon-dt/#Pinhas Reconstructing Judaism]
*[http://www.reformjudaism.org/learning/torah-study/pinchas Union for Reform Judaism]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120814081344/http://uscj.org/JewishLivingandLearning/WeeklyParashah/TorahSparks/Archive/Default.aspx United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20191218191643/https://www.yutorah.org/ Yeshiva University]
{{div col end}}

{{Weekly Torah Portions}}

[[Category:Weekly Torah readings in Tammuz (Hebrew month)]]
[[Category:Weekly Torah readings from Numbers]]