Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this first aliyah of Parshas Pinchas, we learn of the great reward Hashem gives to Pinchas, the grandson of Aharon HaKohen, for his zealous act of taking action against Zimri. Hashem establishes a covenant of peace and eternal priesthood with him and his descendants because he stood up for the kavod of Heaven and brought an atonement for Bnei Yisrael, halting the devastating plague.

Following this, the Torah names the leaders who were slain in the incident—Zimri ben Salu of the tribe of Shimon, and Cozbi bas Zur, a Midianite princess. Hashem then commands Moshe Rabbeinu to show hostility toward the Midianites and smite them for their deceitful plot to cause Bnei Yisrael to sin at Baal Peor.

All introductions, summaries, and contextual notes are the editor's commentary and are not part of the original text.אַלע הַקְדָּמוֹת, סִכּוּמִים, און הערות זענען דעם רעדאַקטאָר'ס באַמערקונגען און זענען נישט קיין טייל פונעם אָריגינעלן טעקסט.

פָּסוּק א

Pasuk 1

וַיְדַבֵּרAnd spokeיְהוָהHashemאֶלtoמֹשֶׁהMosheלֵּאמֹר׃saying

פָּסוּק ב

Pasuk 2

פִּינְחָסPinchasבֶּןson ofאֶלְעָזָרElazarבֶּןson ofאַהֲרֹןAharonהַכֹּהֵןthe Kohenהֵשִׁיבturned backאֶת—חֲמָתִיMy wrathמֵעַלfrom uponבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelבְּקַנְאוֹwhen he avengedאֶת—קִנְאָתִיMy vengeanceבְּתוֹכָםamong themוְלֹאand I did notכִלִּיתִיconsumeאֶת—בְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelבְּקִנְאָתִי׃in My vengeance

רַשִׁ״י

פינחסPinchasבןson ofאלעזרElazarבןson ofאהרןAharonהכהן.the KohenלְפִיBecauseשֶׁהָיוּthat wereהַשְּׁבָטִיםthe tribesמְבַזִּיםdisparagingאוֹתוֹhim—הַרְאִיתֶםhave you seenבֶּןthe son ofפּוּטִיPutiזֶהthisשֶׁפִּטֵּםwho fattenedאֲבִיthe father ofאִמּוֹhis motherעֲגָלִיםcalvesלַעֲ"זָfor idolatryוְהָרַגand he killedנְשִׂיאa prince ofשֵׁבֶטa tribeמִיִּשְׂרָאֵל?from Yisraelלְפִיכָךְthereforeבָּאcomesהַכָּתוּבthe Scriptureוְיִחֲסוֹand traces his lineageאַחַרafterאַהֲרֹןAharonסנהדריןSanhedrinפ"בchapter two:

רַשִׁ״י

בקנאוwhen he avengedאת—קנאתי.my vengeanceבְּנָקְמוֹwhen he executedאֶת—נִקְמָתִיmy vengeance—בְּקָצְפּוֹwhen he displayedאֶת—הַקֶּצֶףthe angerשֶׁהָיָהthat wasלִיfor meלִקְצֹף;to display angerכָּלeveryלְשׁוֹןexpression ofקִנְאָהzealotryהוּאit isהַמִּתְחָרֶהone who glowsלִנְקֹםto avengeנִקְמַתthe vengeance ofדָּבָר,a matterאנפרט"מנטemportmentבְּלַעַ"ז:in foreign tongue

פָּסוּק ג

Pasuk 3

לָכֵןThereforeאֱמֹרsayהִנְנִיbehold Iנֹתֵןgiveלוֹto himאֶת—בְּרִיתִיMy covenant ofשָׁלוֹם׃peace

רַשִׁ״י

את—בריתיMy covenantשלום.peaceשֶׁתְּהֵאthat it should beלוֹto himלִבְרִיתfor a covenant ofשָׁלוֹם,peaceכְּאָדָםlike a manהַמַּחֲזִיקwho holdsטוֹבָהgratitudeוְחַנּוֹתand friendlinessלְמִיto oneשֶׁעוֹשֶׂהwho doesעִמּוֹwith himטוֹבָה,goodnessאַףsoכָּאןhereפֵּרֵשׁexpressedלוֹto himהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy One blessed be Heשְׁלוֹמוֹתָיו:His peaceful feelings

פָּסוּק ד

Pasuk 4

וְהָיְתָהand it shall beלּוֹfor himוּלְזַרְעוֹand for his descendantsאַחֲרָיוafter himבְּרִיתa covenant ofכְּהֻנַּתpriesthood ofעוֹלָםeternityתַּחַתbecauseאֲשֶׁרthatקִנֵּאhe was zealousלֵאלֹהָיוfor his Godוַיְכַפֵּרand he atonedעַלforבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵל׃Yisrael

רַשִׁ״י

והיתהand it shall beלו.unto himבְרִיתִיmy covenantזֹאת:this

רַשִׁ״י

בריתA covenant ofכהנתa priesthood ofעולם.eternityשֶׁאַףfor evenעַל·פִּיthoughשֶׁכְּבָרthat alreadyנִתְּנָהwas givenכְהֻנָּהpriesthoodלְזַרְעוֹto the offspring ofשֶׁלofאַהֲרֹן,Aharonלֹאnotנִתְּנָהwas it givenאֶלָּאexceptלְאַהֲרֹןto Aharonוּלְבָנָיוand to his sonsשֶׁנִּמְשְׁחוּwho were anointedעִמּוֹwith himוּלְתוֹלְדוֹתֵיהֶןand to their offspringשֶׁיּוֹלִידוּwhom they would fatherאַחַרafterהַמְשָׁחָתָן,their anointingאֲבָלbutפִּינְחָסPinchasשֶׁנּוֹלַדwho was bornקֹדֶםbeforeלָכֵןthisוְלֹאand notנִמְשַׁחwas anointedלֹאdid notבָאcomeלִכְלַלinto the category ofכְּהֻנָּהpriesthoodעַדuntilכָּאן;nowוְכֵןand soשָׁנִינוּwe learnedבִזְבָחִיםin Zevachimדףpageק"א101לֹאdid notנִתְכַּהֵןbecome a kohenפִּינְחָסPinchasעַדuntilשֶׁהֲרָגוֹthat he killedלְזִמְרִי:Zimri

רַשִׁ״י

לאלהיו.for his Godבִּשְׁבִילfor the sake ofאֱלֹהָיו,his Godכְּמוֹjust as"הַמְקַנֵּאAre you zealousאַתָּהyouלִי"for my sakeבמדברBamidbarי"אeleven,"וְקִנֵּאתִיAnd I am zealousלְצִיּוֹן"for ZionזכריהZechariahח'eight—בִּשְׁבִילfor the sake ofצִיּוֹן:Zion

פָּסוּק ה

Pasuk 5

וְשֵׁםAnd the name ofאִישׁthe man ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelהַמֻּכֶּהwho was smittenאֲשֶׁרwhoהֻכָּהwas smittenאֶתwithהַמִּדְיָנִיתthe Midianite womanזִמְרִיZimriבֶּןson ofסָלוּאSaluנְשִׂיאa prince ofבֵיתa house ofאָבa fatherלַשִּׁמְעֹנִי׃for the Shimonite

רַשִׁ״י

ושםAnd the name ofאישthe man ofישראלYisraelוגו'.etc.בְּמָקוֹםIn a placeשֶׁיִּחֵסthat it tracesאֶת—הַצַּדִּיקthe righteous manלְשֶׁבַח,for praiseיִחֵסit tracesאֶת—הָרָשָׁעthe wicked manלִגְנַאיfor disparagementתנחומאTanchuma:

רַשִׁ״י

נשיאa prince ofביתa house ofאבa fatherלשמעני.for the Simeoniteלְאֶחָדof oneמֵחֲמֵשֶׁתof the fiveבָּתֵּיhouses ofאָבוֹתfathersשֶׁהָיוּthat wereלְשֵׁבֶטto the tribe ofשִׁמְעוֹן;Shimonדָּ"אַanother explanation—לְהוֹדִיעַto make knownשִׁבְחוֹthe praise ofשֶׁל·פִּינְחָס,Pinchasשֶׁאַףthat evenעַל·פִּיthoughשֶׁזֶּהthat this oneהָיָהwasנָשִׂיא,a princeלֹאhe did notמָנַעwithholdאֶת—עַצְמוֹhimselfמִלְּקַנֵּאfrom being zealousלְחִלּוּלfor the desecration ofהַשֵּׁם,the Nameלְכָךְthereforeהוֹדִיעֲךָinformed youהַכָּתוּבthe Scriptureמִיwhoהוּאhe wasהַמֻּכֶּה:the one smitten

פָּסוּק ו

Pasuk 6

וְשֵׁםAnd the name ofהָאִשָּׁהthe womanהַמֻּכָּהwho was smittenהַמִּדְיָנִיתthe Midianiteכָּזְבִּיwas Cozbiבַתdaughter ofצוּרZurרֹאשׁhead ofאֻמּוֹתpeoples ofבֵּיתa house ofאָבa fatherבְּמִדְיָןin Midianהוּא׃he was

רַשִׁ״י

ושםAnd the name ofהאשהthe womanהמכהwho was smittenוגו'.etc.לְהוֹדִיעֲךָto let you knowשִׂנְאָתָןtheir hatredשֶׁלofמִדְיָנִיםMidianites—שֶׁהִפְקִירוּthat they abandonedבַּתthe daughter ofמֶלֶךְa kingלִזְנוּתto prostitutionכְּדֵיin orderלְהַחֲטִיאto cause to sinאֶת—יִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelשםthere:

רַשִׁ״י

ראשHead ofאמות.peoplesאֶחָדoneמֵחֲמֵשֶׁתof the fiveמַלְכֵיkings ofמִדְיָןMidian"אֶת—אֱוִיEviוְאֶתand —רֶקֶםRekemוְאֶתand —צוּר"Zurוְגוֹ'etc.במדברBamidbarל״א:ח׳31,וְהוּא8הָיָהand heחָשׁוּבwasמִכֻּלָּם,importantשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרof all of them"רֹאשׁas it is saidאֻמּוֹת",head ofוּלְפִיpeoplesשֶׁנָּהַגand becauseבִּזָּיוֹןthat he behaved withבְּעַצְמוֹdisgraceלְהַפְקִירto himselfבִּתּוֹ,to abandonמְנָאוֹhis daughterשְׁלִישִׁיit counted himשםthird:

רַשִׁ״י

ביתHouse ofאב.a fatherחֲמִשָּׁהfiveבָתֵּיhouses ofאָבוֹתfathersהָיוּthere wereלְמִדְיָן:to Midian"עֵיפָהEphahוָעֵפֶרand Epherוַחֲנֹךְand Hanochוַאֲבִידָעand Abidaוְאֶלְדָּעָה"and EldaahבראשיתBereishisכ"ה25,וְזֶהand thisהָיָהwasמֶלֶךְkingלְאֶחָדof oneמֵהֶם:of them

פָּסוּק ז

Pasuk 7

וַיְדַבֵּרAnd spokeיְהוָהHashemאֶלtoמֹשֶׁהMosheלֵּאמֹר׃saying

פָּסוּק ח

Pasuk 8

צָרוֹרDistressאֶת—הַמִּדְיָנִיםthe Midianitesוְהִכִּיתֶםand you shall smiteאוֹתָם׃them

רַשִׁ״י

צרור.Harassכְּמוֹlikeזָכוֹר,rememberשָׁמוֹר,guardלְשׁוֹןan expression ofהוֹוֶהcontinuous action—עֲלֵיכֶםupon youלְאַיֵּבto show enmityאוֹתָם:them

פָּסוּק ט

Pasuk 9

כִּיforצֹרְרִיםenemiesהֵםthey areלָכֶםto youבְּנִכְלֵיהֶםwith their conspiraciesאֲשֶׁרwhichנִכְּלוּthey conspiredלָכֶםagainst youעַלonדְּבַרthe matter ofפְּעוֹרPeorוְעַלand onדְּבַרthe matter ofכָּזְבִּיCozbiבַתdaughter ofנְשִׂיאthe prince ofמִדְיָןMidianאֲחֹתָםtheir sisterהַמֻּכָּהwho was smittenבְיוֹםon the day ofהַמַּגֵּפָהthe plagueעַלonדְּבַרthe matter ofפְּעוֹר׃Peor

רַשִׁ״י

כיForצורריםenemiesהםthey areלכםto youוגו'etc.עלonדברthe matter ofפעור.Peorשֶׁהִפְקִירוּthat they abandonedבְּנוֹתֵיהֶםtheir daughtersלִזְנוּת,to prostitutionכְּדֵיin orderלְהַטְעוֹתְכֶםto mislead youאַחַרafterפְּעוֹר.Peorוְאֶתand —מוֹאָבMoavלֹאnotצִוָּהHe commandedלְהַשְׁמִיד,to destroyמִפְּנֵיbecause ofרוּתRuthשֶׁהָיְתָהwho wasעֲתִידָהdestinedלָצֵאתto emergeמֵהֶם,from themכִּדְאָמְרִינַןas we sayבְּבָבָאin BavaקַמָּאKammaלח38בb:

פָּסוּק י

Pasuk 10

וַיְהִיAnd it wasאַחֲרֵיafterהַמַּגֵּפָהthe plagueוַיֹּאמֶרand He saidיְהוָהHashemאֶלtoמֹשֶׁהMosheוְאֶלand toאֶלְעָזָרElazarבֶּןson ofאַהֲרֹןAharonהַכֹּהֵןthe Kohenלֵאמֹר׃saying

רַשִׁ״י

ויהיAnd it wasאחריafterהמגפהthe plagueוגו'.etc.מָשָׁלA parableלְרוֹעֶהto a shepherdשֶׁנִּכְנְסוּthat enteredזְאֵבִיםwolvesלְתוֹךְintoעֶדְרוֹhis flockוְהָרְגוּand killedבָהֶןamong themוְהוּאand heמוֹנֶהcountsאוֹתָןthemלֵידַעto knowמִנְיַןthe number ofהַנּוֹתָרוֹת;the remaining onesדָּבָרAnotherאַחֵרexplanation—כְּשֶׁיָּצְאוּWhen they went outמִמִּצְרַיִםfrom Mitzrayimוְנִמְסְרוּand they were handedלְמֹשֶׁהto Mosheנִמְסְרוּthey were handedלוֹto himבְּמִנְיָן,by numberעַכְשָׁוnowשֶׁקָּרַבthat he approachesלָמוּתto dieוּלְהַחֲזִירand to returnצֹאנוֹhis sheepמַחֲזִירָןhe returns themבְּמִנְיָןby numberתנחומאTanchuma:

פָּסוּק יא

Pasuk 11

שְׂאוּTakeאֶת—רֹאשׁthe sum ofכָּלallעֲדַתthe congregation ofבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelמִבֶּןfrom the age ofעֶשְׂרִיםtwentyשָׁנָהyearsוָמַעְלָהand upwardלְבֵיתby the house ofאֲבֹתָםtheir fathersכָּלeveryoneיֹצֵאwho goes out toצָבָאthe armyבְּיִשְׂרָאֵל׃in Yisrael

רַשִׁ״י

לביתaccording to the house ofאבתם.their fathersעַלaccording toשֵׁבֶטthe tribe ofהָאָבthe fatherיִתְיַחֲסוּthey shall trace descentוְלֹאand notאַחַרafterהָאֵםthe motherבבאBavaבתראBatraק"ט109:

פָּסוּק יב

Pasuk 12

וַיְדַבֵּרAnd spokeמֹשֶׁהMosheוְאֶלְעָזָרand Elazarהַכֹּהֵןthe Kohenאֹתָםwith themבְּעַרְבֹתin the plains ofמוֹאָבMoavעַלbyיַרְדֵּןthe Yarden ofיְרֵחוֹYerechoלֵאמֹר׃saying

רַשִׁ״י

וידברAnd spokeמשהMosheואלעזרand Elazarהכהןthe Kohenאתם.with themדִּבְּרוּthey spokeעִמָּםwith themעַלconcerningזֹאתthisשֶׁצִּוָּהthat commandedהַמָּקוֹםthe Omnipresentלִמְנוֹתָם:to count them

רַשִׁ״י

לאמר.sayingאָמְרוּthey saidלָהֶםto themצְרִיכִיםare requiredאַתֶּםyouלִמָּנוֹתto be countedמבןfrom a son ofעשריםtwentyשנהyearsומעלהand upward:

פָּסוּק יג

Pasuk 13

מִבֶּןfrom a son ofעֶשְׂרִיםtwentyשָׁנָהyearsוָמָעְלָהand upwardכַּאֲשֶׁרasצִוָּהcommandedיְהוָהHashemאֶת—מֹשֶׁהMosheוּבְנֵיand the children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelהַיֹּצְאִיםwho came outמֵאֶרֶץfrom the land ofמִצְרָיִם׃Mitzrayim

רַשִׁ״י

כאשרasצוהcommandedוגו'.etc.שֶׁיְּהֵאthat should beמִנְיָנָםtheir countingמִבֶּןfrom a son ofעֶשְֹרִיםtwentyשָׁנָהyearsוָמַעְלָה,and upwardשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is said"כָּלeveryoneהָעֹבֵרwho passesעַלamongהַפְּקֻדִים"those who are numberedוגו'etc.שמותShemosל'30:

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

The aliyah concludes with Hashem commanding Moshe and Elazar HaKohen, immediately following the plague, to conduct a census of the entire congregation of Bnei Yisrael. They are instructed to count every male from twenty years of age and upward who is fit to go out to the army, organized according to their ancestral families, as they prepare on the plains of Moav by the Jordan near Yericho to enter the Promised Land.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

My dear talmid, look at how the Torah introduces Pinchas. The Torah goes out of its way to trace his lineage back to Aaron HaKohen, the ultimate lover and pursuer of peace. Why? Because when Pinchas stood up and took action, the people around him sneered and accused him of acting out of cruelty. But Hashem testifies otherwise: Pinchas acted purely out of a deep, burning love for Hashem and a desire to save Klal Yisrael. His zealotry was not born of anger, but of a holy, peaceful heart. This is why Hashem rewards him specifically with the "covenant of peace."

This teaches us a profound lesson about our own avodah. Sometimes in life, we have to stand up for what is right, speak out against something improper, or set a firm boundary. The yetzer hara loves to slip in during these moments, tempting us to act out of personal anger, pride, or a desire to control others. If we act from a place of ego, we only cause destruction. But if our motivation is truly l'shem Shamayim, driven by a genuine love for Hashem and a desire to bring peace and goodness to the world, then our actions will bear holy fruit.

Before you speak up or take a stand on any matter today, pause for one quiet moment and ask yourself: "Am I doing this out of personal frustration, or am I doing this out of a genuine desire to bring Hashem's peace and truth into the world?" Make sure your heart is aligned with the peace of Aaron HaKohen before you act.