IN A NUTSHELL
Despite escaping Bilam’s curses in the last parasha, the Israelites bring disaster on themselves when Moabite women convince some Israelite men to have forbidden relations with them and to worship idols. Twenty-four thousand people suffer a deadly plague as punishment, until Pinḥas, in an act of passion, rises up against the wrongdoers to slay an Israelite man and Midianite woman who are sinning together publicly. Immediately, the plague ends. God gives Pinḥas a “covenant of peace” and “lasting priesthood” as a reward for this act of leadership.
The parasha then tells two stories. The first is about the daughters of Tzelofḥad who ask Moshe for their own share in the land of Israel because their father had no sons to inherit his portion (which would mean it would leave their family after his death). God tells Moshe that they are indeed able to inherit their father’s portion of the land. The second story is about Moshe’s request that God appoint someone to be the new leader of the people after he dies. The parasha ends with two chapters about the different sacrifices that should be brought daily, weekly, monthly, and on festivals.
QUESTION TO PONDER
Was Pinḥas right to kill the man and woman who were sinning?