12 Surprising Insights From Parshat Matot-Masei

Parshat Matot-Masei is filled with powerful lessons about vows, faith, unity, and the Jewish people's journey through the wilderness. Here are 12 lesser known Torah insights from our sages and commentators.

1. Which Vows Can a Husband Annul?

The Torah teaches:

"Every vow and every binding oath of self denial, her husband may uphold it and her husband may annul it" (Numbers 30:14).

What is considered a vow of self denial?

One example is a woman who vows not to sing or not to listen to music (Tashbetz Katan 414, cited in Beit Yosef, Yoreh De'ah 234).

2. Why Was Midian Punished but Not Moab?

After the sin at Baal Peor, Hashem commanded the Jewish people to wage war against Midian.

Why was Midian singled out when the daughters of Moab also caused Israel to sin?

The Ralbag explains that Moab acted מתוך fear of Israel's growing strength. While their actions were wrong, they were motivated by self preservation.

Midian, however, acted without fear. Their goal was simply to lead the Jewish people into sin, making their guilt far greater.

3. Why Does This Verse Begin and End With the Letter Aleph?

The Torah commands:

"A thousand from each tribe... from all the tribes of Israel you shall send to the army" (Numbers 31:4).

The Baal HaTurim notes that the verse begins and ends with the Hebrew letter aleph.

This hints that the Jewish people went to battle united, with one heart directed toward their Father in Heaven.

4. Why Was Balaam Put to Death?

The Torah records that Balaam was killed together with the kings of Midian.

According to the Jerusalem Talmud, Pinchas initially hesitated because Balaam had shown signs of teshuvah, and nothing stands in the way of sincere repentance.

However, Moshe and his court ultimately ruled that Balaam was still liable for judgment because he had caused the deaths of 24,000 Jews (Megaleh Amukot, cited in Yalkut Reuveni).

5. Why Is Gad Mentioned Before Reuven?

When the tribes request to settle east of the Jordan, the Torah says:

"The children of Gad and the children of Reuven came..." (Numbers 32:2).

Why is Gad listed before Reuven, the firstborn?

The Siftei Kohen explains that Reuven's descendants remembered their forefather's impulsiveness, for which Yaakov rebuked him as "impetuous as water."

Wanting to avoid appearing rash, they allowed the tribe of Gad to take the lead.

6. What Do Cities and Speech Have in Common?

Moshe tells the tribes:

"Build cities for your children and enclosures for your flocks, and what has come from your mouths you shall do" (Numbers 32:24).

Why are these ideas connected?

The Ktav Sofer explains that someone who values wealth above everything else cannot always be relied upon to keep his word. The Torah reminds us that integrity is more valuable than possessions.

7. Why Is Aharon Mentioned Exactly 300 Times?

Aharon the Kohen's name appears exactly 300 times throughout Shemot, Vayikra, and Bamidbar.

The Rokeach writes that this alludes to a tradition that if 300 kohanim were to stand on the Mount of Olives and recite Birkat Kohanim, Mashiach would come.

8. Why Does the Torah Mention the Exodus Again?

Parshat Masei begins:

"These are the journeys of the children of Israel who left the land of Egypt..." (Numbers 33:1).

Why emphasize the Exodus once more?

The Yalkut Shimoni explains that Hashem originally intended to give the Torah immediately after the Exodus, but because the people lacked unity, they first had to journey through the wilderness and grow together as a nation.

9. Was Ramses Really in Egypt?

The Torah states:

"The children of Israel traveled from Ramses and camped at Sukkot" (Numbers 33:5).

Wasn't Ramses located in Egypt?

Rabbi Yeshaya of Trani, cited by the Chida, explains that this verse refers to another city that also bore the name Ramses.

10. What Happened at Alush?

The Torah says:

"They traveled from Dofkah and camped at Alush" (Numbers 33:13).

What happened there?

According to the Chida, Alush was the place where the manna first descended.

He connects this to Sarah our matriarch, who is also called Yiskah. The numerical value (gematria) of "Yiskah" equals that of the Hebrew word man (manna), hinting to her merit.

11. Who Was Elitzafan?

The Torah identifies the leader of the tribe of Zebulun as Elitzafan son of Parnach (Numbers 34:25).

According to Targum Yonatan ben Uziel, this Elitzafan married Yocheved after Amram temporarily divorced her. During that period, Yocheved gave birth to Eldad and Medad before later remarrying Amram and giving birth to Moshe.

12. Does the Shechinah Remain With Israel in Times of Impurity?

The Torah concludes:

"Do not defile the land in which you live, in which I dwell, for I am Hashem dwelling among the children of Israel" (Numbers 35:34).

Rabbeinu Yitzchak Karo explains that this verse teaches a remarkable lesson: even when the Jewish people become spiritually impure, Hashem's Shechinah remains among them.

Adapted from MeEver LaMefursam on Chumash Bamidbar, a collection of lesser known Torah insights and practical halachic teachings from our sages, published with the endorsement of leading Torah authorities.