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PINCHAS

10 July 2009

Numbers 25:10-30:1

I Kings 18:46-19:21

John 2:13-22

 

Pinchas was given a “Covenant of Peace” for his jealous action against Omri and Cozbi.  There was to be a new attitude toward the Midianites.  They were to be treated as an enemy, from now on.

The second census is taken and lists the names of the families in all of the tribes.  This was done as a preparation for the allotment of land to the tribes of Israel.  A total of six hundred one thousand, seven hundred and thirty were counted.  The Levites were also counted, twenty three thousand, every male.  They were counted separately because they were to spread within all the tribes to be the spiritual leaders.

The daughters of Zelophehad, who had no brothers to inherit from their father, requested a ruling on their rights to inherit.  A ruling was made in their favor regarding the Laws of Inheritance.

G-d showed Moshe the Promised Land.  He was not allowed to go in.  Joshua was selected as the new leader.

Also discussed in this Parasha are the feasts, their appropriate offerings, and the Jewish year.

This portion gives us a great pathway, a synopsis of what we are to do.  First, we have to know that we are a Am HaKodesh (Holy people) who have been set apart to be G-d's people.  We are to keep vigilant at all times (2 Cor 11:3).  We must be aware of compromises with the enemy (2 Cor: 14-18).  Pinchas stood his ground.  He did not compromise regarding the promises of G-d and His commandments to be a Holy Nation.

We must remain a Holy, devoted and consecrated people.  We must focus on pleasing our G-d and not our flesh, as Omni and Cozbi did.

Shavua Tov

Rabbi Z.

 

 

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