Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this aliyah, we learn about the holy process of dividing Eretz Yisrael among the shevatim. Hashem commands Moshe Rabbeinu that the land must be apportioned according to the size of each tribe, yet guided miraculously by the lottery of the Urim VeTumim. We also learn of the counting of Shevet Levi, who did not receive a standard portion in the land, and we are reminded of the tragic petirah of Nadav and Avihu, as well as the midbar generation who passed away in the wilderness as Hashem had decreed.

We then meet the holy daughters of Zelophehad, righteous women from the tribe of Menasheh. With deep love for Eretz Yisrael and a desire to keep their late father's name alive, they approach Moshe Rabbeinu, Elazar HaKohen, and the leaders of the nation to ask for a portion in the Promised Land, prompting Moshe to bring their heartfelt request directly before Hashem.

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

לָאֵלֶּהTo theseתֵּחָלֵקshall be dividedהָאָרֶץthe landבְּנַחֲלָהas an inheritanceבְּמִסְפַּרaccording to the number ofשֵׁמוֹת׃names

רַשִׁ״י

לאלהTo theseתחלקshall be dividedהארץ.the landוְלֹאand notלַפְּחוּתִיםto those lessמִבֶּןthan the age ofעֶשְׂרִיםtwentyאַעַ"פִּeven thoughשֶׁבָּאוּthat they cameלִכְלַלinto the category ofעֶשְׂרִיםtwentyבְּטֶרֶםbeforeחִלּוּקthe division ofהָאָרֶץ;the landשֶׁהֲרֵיfor beholdשֶׁבַעsevenשָׁנִיםyearsכָּבְשׁוּthey conqueredוְשֶׁבַעand sevenחִלְּקוּ,they dividedלֹאdid notנָטְלוּtakeחֵלֶקa portionבָּאָרֶץin the landאֶלָּאexceptאֵלּוּtheseשֵׁשׁsixמֵאוֹתhundredאֶלֶףthousandוָאֶלֶף,and one thousandוְאִםand ifהָיוּthere wereלְאֶחָדto oneמֵהֶםof themשִׁשָּׁהsixבָנִיםsonsלֹאthey did notנָטְלוּtakeאֶלָּאexceptחֵלֶקthe portion ofאֲבִיהֶםtheir fatherלְבַדּוֹaloneבבאBavaבתראBatraקי"ז117:

פָּסוּק ג

Pasuk 3

לָרַבTo the numerousתַּרְבֶּהyou shall increaseנַחֲלָתוֹhis inheritanceוְלַמְעַטand to the fewתַּמְעִיטyou shall decreaseנַחֲלָתוֹhis inheritanceאִישׁeach manלְפִיaccording toפְקֻדָיוhis counted onesיֻתַּןshall be givenנַחֲלָתוֹ׃his inheritance

רַשִׁ״י

לרבTo the numerousתרבהyou shall increaseנחלתו.his inheritanceלְשֵׁבֶטto a tribeשֶׁהָיָהthat wasמְרֻבֶּהnumerousבְּאֻכְלוּסִיןin populationנָתְנוּthey gaveחֵלֶקa portionרַב,largeוְאַףand evenעַל·פִּיthoughשֶׁלֹאthat notהָיוּwereהַחֲלָקִיםthe portionsשָׁוִים,equalשֶׁהֲרֵיfor beholdהַכֹּלeverythingלְפִיaccording toרִבּוּיthe size ofהַשֵּׁבֶטthe tribeחָלְקוּthey dividedהַחֲלָקִים,the portionsלֹאnotעָשׂוּdid they doאֶלָּאexceptעַ"יְby means ofגוֹרָל,lotוְהַגּוֹרָלand the lotהָיָהwasעַלbyפִּיthe mouth ofרוּחַthe Spirit ofהַקֹּדֶשׁ,the Holinessכְּמוֹjust asשֶׁמְּפֹרָשׁit is explainedבְּבָבָאin BavaבַתְרָאBatraדףpageקכ"ב122:אֶלְעָזָרElazarהַכֹּהֵןthe Priestהָיָהwasמְלֻבָּשׁclothedבְּאוּרִיםin Urimוְתֻמִּיםand Thummimוְאוֹמֵרand sayingבְּרוּחַby the Spirit ofהַקֹּדֶשׁthe Holinessאִםifשֵׁבֶטtribe ofפְּלוֹנִיso-and-soעוֹלֶה,comes upתְּחוּםterritory ofפְּלוֹנִיso-and-soעוֹלֶהcomes upעִמּוֹ,with himוְהַשְּׁבָטִיםand the tribesהָיוּwereכְתוּבִיםwrittenבִּשְׁנֵיםon twelveעָשָׂר·פְּתָקִיןtabletsוְי"בand twelveגְּבוּלִיןboundariesבְּי"בon twelveפְּתָקִין,tabletsוּבְלָלוּםand they mixed themבַּקַּלְפִּי,in the urnוְהַנָּשִׂיאand the princeמַכְנִיסinsertsיָדוֹhis handלְתוֹכוֹinto itוְנוֹטֵלand takesשְׁנַיִםtwoפְּתָקִין,tabletsעוֹלֶהcomes upבְיָדוֹin his handפֶּתֶקthe tabletשֶׁלofשֵׁםthe name ofשִׁבְטוֹhis tribeוּפֶתֶקand the tabletשֶׁלofגְּבוּלthe boundaryהַמְפֹרָשׁdeclaredלוֹ,for himוְהַגּוֹרָלand the lotעַצְמוֹitselfהָיָהwasצוֹוֵחַcrying outוְאוֹמֵרand sayingאֲנִיIהַגּוֹרָלthe lotעָלִיתִיhave come upלִגְבוּלfor the boundary ofפְּלוֹנִיso-and-soלְשֵבֶטfor the tribe ofפְּלוֹנִי,so-and-soשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is said"עַל"byפִּיthe mouth ofהַגּוֹרָל",the lot"וְלֹאand notנִתְחַלְּקָהwas dividedהָאָרֶץthe landבְּמִדָּה,by measurementלְפִיbecauseשֶׁיֵּשׁthat there isגְּבוּלa boundaryמְשֻׁבָּחsuperiorמֵחֲבֵרוֹ,to its fellowאֶלָּאbutבְשׁוּמָא,by estimationבֵּיתan area ofכֹּרa korרַעbadכְּנֶגֶדequivalent toבֵּיתan area ofסְאָהa seahטוֹב,goodהַכֹּלeverythingלְפִיaccording toהַדָּמִים:the value

פָּסוּק ד

Pasuk 4

אַךְButבְּגוֹרָלby lotיֵחָלֵקshall be dividedאֶת—הָאָרֶץthe landלִשְׁמוֹתaccording to names ofמַטּוֹתthe tribes ofאֲבֹתָםtheir fathersיִנְחָלוּ׃they shall inherit

רַשִׁ״י

לשמותAccording to the names ofמטותthe tribes ofאבתם.their fathersאֵלּוּtheseיוֹצְאֵיthose who came out ofמִצְרַיִם;Mitzrayimשִׁנָּהchangedהַכָּתוּבthe Scriptureנַחֲלָהinheritanceזוֹthisמִכָּלfrom allהַנְּחָלוֹתthe inheritancesשֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה,that are in the Torahשֶׁכָּלfor allהַנְּחָלוֹתthe inheritancesהַחַיִּיםthe livingיוֹרְשִׁיםinheritאֶת—הַמֵּתִיםthe deadוְכָאןand hereמֵתִיםdeadיוֹרְשִׁיםinheritאֶת—הַחַיִּים,the livingכֵּיצַד?how soשְׁנֵיtwoאַחִיםbrothersמִיּוֹצְאֵיfrom those who came out ofמִצְרַיִםMitzrayimשֶׁהָיוּwho hadלָהֶםto themבָּנִיםsonsבְּבָאֵיamong those who enteredהָאָרֶץ,the Landלָזֶהto this oneאֶחָדoneוְלָזֶהand to that oneשְׁלֹשָׁה,threeהָאֶחָדthe oneנָטַלtookחֵלֶקportionאֶחָדoneוְהַשְּׁלֹשָׁהand the threeנָטְלוּtookשְׁלֹשָׁה,threeשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidלָאֵלֶּהto theseתֵּחָלֵקshall be dividedהָאָרֶץ,the landחָזְרָהreturnedנַחֲלָתָןtheir inheritanceאֵצֶלtoאֲבִיthe father ofאֲבִיהֶןtheir fatherוְחָלְקוּand they dividedהַכֹּלthe wholeבְּשָׁוֶה,equallyוְזֶהוּand this isשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרwhat is saidלשמותaccording to the names ofמטותthe tribes ofאבתםtheir fathersינחלוthey shall inherit—שֶׁאַחַרthat afterשֶׁנָּטְלוּthat they tookהַבָּנִים,the sonsחִלְּקוּהָthey divided itלְפִיaccording toהָאָבוֹתthe fathersשֶׁיָּצְאוּwho came outמִמִּצְרַיִם,from Mitzrayimוְאִלּוּwhereas ifמִתְּחִלָּהfrom the beginningחִלְּקוּהָthey had divided itלְמִנְיַןaccording to the number ofיוֹצְאֵיthose who came out ofמִצְרַיִםMitzrayimלֹאnotהָיוּwould haveנוֹטְלִיןtakenאֵלּוּtheseהָאַרְבָּעָהfourאֶלָּאexceptשְׁנֵיtwoחֲלָקִים,portionsעַכְשָׁוnowנָטְלוּthey tookאַרְבָּעָהfourחֲלָקִיםportionsספרי;SifreiבבאBavaבתראBatraקי"ז117:

רַשִׁ״י

אךOnlyבגורל.by lotיָצְאוּwere excludedיְהוֹשֻׁעַYehoshuaוְכָלֵב,and Calevוְכֵןand soהוּאitאוֹמֵרsays"וַיִּתְּנוּAnd they gaveלְכָלֵבto Calevאֶת—חֶבְרוֹןChevronכַּאֲשֶׁרasדִּבֶּרspokeמֹשֶׁה"MosheשופטיםShoftimא'1,וְאוֹמֵרand it saysיהושעYehoshuaי"ט19"עַלByפִּיthe word ofה'Hashemנָתְנוּthey gaveלוֹto himאֶת—הָעִירthe cityאֲשֶׁרwhichשָׁאָל"he requestedספריSifrei:

רַשִׁ״י

מטותthe tribes ofאבתם.their fathersיָצְאוּwere excludedגֵרִיםproselytesוַעֲבָדִים:and slaves

פָּסוּק ה

Pasuk 5

עַלByפִּיthe word ofהַגּוֹרָלthe lotתֵּחָלֵקshall be dividedנַחֲלָתוֹits inheritanceבֵּיןbetweenרַבmanyלִמְעָט׃to few

רַשִׁ״י

עלByפיthe mouth ofהגורל.the lotהַגּוֹרָלthe lotהָיָהwasמְדַבֵּר,speakingכְּמוֹasשֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִּי,that I explainedמַגִּידit tellsשֶׁנִּתְחַלְּקָהthat it was dividedבְרוּחַby the spirit ofהַקֹּדֶשׁthe Holinessלְכָךְthereforeנֶאֱמַרit is saidיהושעYehoshuaי"ט19"עַל"byפִּיthe mouth ofה'"Hashem":

פָּסוּק ו

Pasuk 6

וְאֵלֶּהAnd these areפְקוּדֵיthe count ofהַלֵּוִיthe Leviלְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָםby their familiesלְגֵרְשׁוֹןof Gershonמִשְׁפַּחַתthe family ofהַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּיthe Gershoniteלִקְהָתof Kehasמִשְׁפַּחַתthe family ofהַקְּהָתִיthe Kehasiteלִמְרָרִיof Merariמִשְׁפַּחַתthe family ofהַמְּרָרִי׃the Merarite

פָּסוּק ז

Pasuk 7

אֵלֶּהThese areמִשְׁפְּחֹתthe families ofלֵוִיLeviמִשְׁפַּחַתthe family ofהַלִּבְנִיthe Libniteמִשְׁפַּחַתthe family ofהַחֶבְרֹנִיthe Hebroniteמִשְׁפַּחַתthe family ofהַמַּחְלִיthe Mahliteמִשְׁפַּחַתthe family ofהַמּוּשִׁיthe Mushiteמִשְׁפַּחַתthe family ofהַקָּרְחִיthe Korahiteוּקְהָתand Kehasהוֹלִדbegotאֶת—עַמְרָם׃Amram

רַשִׁ״י

אלהThese areמשפחתthe families ofלוי.Leviחָסֵרmissingכָּאןhereמִשְׁפְּחוֹתthe families ofהַשִּׁמְעִיthe Shimeiteוְהָעָזִּיאֵלִיand the Uzzieliteוּקְצָתand partמִןofהַיִּצְהָרִי:the Izharite

פָּסוּק ח

Pasuk 8

וְשֵׁםAnd the name ofאֵשֶׁתthe wife ofעַמְרָםAmramיוֹכֶבֶדYochevedבַּתdaughter ofלֵוִיLeviאֲשֶׁרwhomיָלְדָהshe boreאֹתָהּherלְלֵוִיto Leviבְּמִצְרָיִםin Mitzrayimוַתֵּלֶדand she boreלְעַמְרָםto Amramאֶת—אַהֲרֹןAharonוְאֶתand —מֹשֶׁהMosheוְאֵתand —מִרְיָםMiryamאֲחֹתָם׃their sister

רַשִׁ״י

אשרwhomילדהshe boreאתה— herללויto Leviבמצרים.in Egyptלֵדָתָהּher birth wasבְּמִצְרַיִםin Egyptוְאֵיןbut notהוֹרָתָהּher conceptionבְּמִצְרַיִם,in Egyptכְּשֶׁנִּכְנְסוּwhen they enteredלְתוֹךְintoהַחוֹמָהthe wallיְלָדַתָּה,she bore herוְהִיאand sheהִשְׁלִימָהcompletedמִנְיַןthe tally ofשִׁבְעִים,seventyשֶׁהֲרֵיfor beholdבִפְרָטָןin their detailsאֵיwhereאַתָּהdo youמוֹצֵאfindאֶלָּאbutשִׁשִּׁיםsixtyוָתֵשַׁע:and nine

פָּסוּק ט

Pasuk 9

וַיִּוָּלֵדAnd there were bornלְאַהֲרֹןto Aharonאֶת—נָדָבNadavוְאֶתand —אֲבִיהוּאAvihuאֶת—אֶלְעָזָרElazarוְאֶתand —אִיתָמָר׃Isamar

פָּסוּק י

Pasuk 10

וַיָּמָתAnd diedנָדָבNadavוַאֲבִיהוּאand Avihuבְּהַקְרִיבָםwhen they offeredאֵשׁfireזָרָהalienלִפְנֵיbeforeיְהוָה׃Hashem

פָּסוּק יא

Pasuk 11

וַיִּהְיוּAnd they wereפְקֻדֵיהֶםtheir counted onesשְׁלֹשָׁהthreeוְעֶשְׂרִיםand twentyאֶלֶףthousandכָּלeveryזָכָרmaleמִבֶּןfrom the age ofחֹדֶשׁa monthוָמָעְלָהand upwardכִּיforלֹאnotהָתְפָּקְדוּwere they countedבְּתוֹךְamongבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelכִּיbecauseלֹאnotנִתַּןwas givenלָהֶםto themנַחֲלָהan inheritanceבְּתוֹךְamongבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵל׃Yisrael

רַשִׁ״י

כיforלאnotהתפקדוthey were numberedבתוךamongבניthe children ofישראל.Yisraelלִהְיוֹתto beנִמְנִיןcountedבְּנֵיthose ofעֶשְׂרִיםtwentyשָׁנָה,yearsמַהwhat isטַּעַם?the reasonכיbecauseלאnotנתןwas givenלהםto themנחלהan inheritance,וְהַנִּמְנִיןand those countedמִבֶּןfrom the age ofעֶשְׂרִיםtwentyשָׁנָהyearsהָיוּwereבְנֵיrecipients ofנַחֲלָה,an inheritanceשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is said"אִישׁto each manלְפִיaccording toפְקֻדָיוhis numbersיֻתַּןshall be givenנַחֲלָתוֹ":his inheritance

פָּסוּק יב

Pasuk 12

אֵלֶּהThese areפְּקוּדֵיthe counted ofמֹשֶׁהMosheוְאֶלְעָזָרand Elazarהַכֹּהֵןthe Kohenאֲשֶׁרwhoפָּקְדוּcountedאֶת—בְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelבְּעַרְבֹתin the plains ofמוֹאָבMoavעַלbyיַרְדֵּןthe Yarden ofיְרֵחוֹ׃Yerecho

פָּסוּק יג

Pasuk 13

וּבְאֵלֶּהAnd among theseלֹאnotהָיָהwasאִישׁa manמִפְּקוּדֵיfrom those counted ofמֹשֶׁהMosheוְאַהֲרֹןand Aharonהַכֹּהֵןthe Kohenאֲשֶׁרwhoפָּקְדוּthey countedאֶת—בְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelבְּמִדְבַּרin the wilderness ofסִינָי׃Sinai

רַשִׁ״י

ובאלהAnd among theseלאnotהיהwasאישa manוגו'.etc.אֲבָלbutעַלuponהַנָּשִׁיםthe womenלֹאnotנִגְזְרָהwas decreedגְזֵרַתthe decree ofהַמְרַגְּלִים,the spiesלְפִיbecauseשֶׁהֵןthat theyהָיוּwereמְחַבְּבוֹתholding dearאֶת—הָאָרֶץ,the Landהָאֲנָשִׁיםthe menאוֹמְרִיםwere sayingנִתְּנָהlet us appointרֹאשׁa leaderוְנָשׁוּבָהand let us returnמִצְרַיְמָה,to Mitzrayimוְהַנָּשִׁיםand the womenאוֹמְרוֹתwere saying"תְּנָהgiveלָּנוּto usאֲחֻזָּה",a possessionלְכָךְthereforeנִסְמְכָהwas juxtaposedפָרָשַׁתthe parsha ofבְּנוֹתthe daughters ofצְלָפְחָדZelophehadלְכָאןto hereתנחומאTanchuma:

פָּסוּק יד

Pasuk 14

כִּיforאָמַרhad saidיְהוָהHashemלָהֶםof themמוֹתsurelyיָמֻתוּthey shall dieבַּמִּדְבָּרin the wildernessוְלֹאand notנוֹתַרthere remainedמֵהֶםof themאִישׁa manכִּיexceptאִם·כָּלֵבCalevבֶּןson ofיְפֻנֶּהYefunehוִיהוֹשֻׁעַand Yehoshuaבִּןson ofנוּן׃Nun

פָּסוּק טו

Pasuk 15

וַתִּקְרַבְנָהAnd they approachedבְּנוֹתthe daughters ofצְלָפְחָדTzelofchadבֶּןson ofחֵפֶרCheferבֶּןson ofגִּלְעָדGiladבֶּןson ofמָכִירMachirבֶּןson ofמְנַשֶּׁהMenasheלְמִשְׁפְּחֹתof the families ofמְנַשֶּׁהMenasheבֶןson ofיוֹסֵףYosefוְאֵלֶּהand these areשְׁמוֹתthe names ofבְּנֹתָיוhis daughtersמַחְלָהMachlahנֹעָהNoachוְחָגְלָהand Choglahוּמִלְכָּהand Milkahוְתִרְצָה׃and Tirtzah

רַשִׁ״י

למשפחתOf the families ofמנשהManassehבןthe son ofיוסף.Josephלָמָּהwhyנֶאֱמַר?is it saidוַהֲלֹאand is it notכְבָרalreadyנֶאֱמַרsaidבןthe son ofמנשהManasseh,אֶלָּאratherלוֹמַרto sayלְךָ,to youיוֹסֵףJosephחִבֵּבheld dearאֶת—הָאָרֶץ,the Landשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is said"וְהַעֲלִתֶםand you shall bring upאֶת—עַצְמֹתַי"my bonesוְגוֹ'etcבראשיתBereshisנ'50וּבְנוֹתָיוand his daughtersחִבְּבוּheld dearאֶת—הָאָרֶץ,the Landשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidתְּנָהgiveלָּנוּto usאֲחֻזָּה,a possessionוּלְלַמֶּדְךָand to teach youשֶׁהָיוּthat they wereכֻלָּםall of themצַדִּיקִים,righteousשֶׁכָּלfor everyoneמִיwhoשֶׁמַּעֲשָׂיוwhose deedsוּמַעֲשֵׂהand the deeds ofאֲבוֹתָיוhis ancestorsסְתוּמִיםare unexplainedוּפֵרֵטand detailedלְךָto youהַכָּתוּבthe Scriptureבְּאֶחָדwith oneמֵהֶםof themלְיַחֲסוֹto trace his genealogyלְשֶׁבַח,for praiseהֲרֵיbeholdזֶהthisצַדִּיקa righteous manבֶּןson ofצַדִּיק,a righteous manוְאִםand ifיִחֲסוֹit traced his genealogyלִגְנַאי,for disgraceכְּגוֹןsuch as"בָּאcameיִשְׁמָעֵאלYishmaelבֶּןthe son ofנְתַנְיָהNethaniahבֶּןthe son ofאֱלִישָׁמָע"ElishamaמלכיםMelachimבIIכ"ה25,בְיָדוּעַit is knownשֶׁכָּלthat allהַנִּזְכָּרִיםthose mentionedעִמּוֹwith himרְשָׁעִיםwickedהָיוּwereספריSifrei:

רַשִׁ״י

מחלהMahlahנעהNoahוגו'.etc.וּלְהַלָּןand further onבמדברBamidbarלו36יא11הוּאitאוֹמֵרsays"וַתִּהְיֶינָה"and they wereמַחְלָהMahlahתִרְצָה",Tirzah"מַגִּידthis tellsשֶׁכֻּלָּןthat all of themשְׁקוּלוֹתwere equal—זוֹthis oneכְּזוֹ,as this oneלְפִיכָךְthereforeשִׁנָּהit changedאֶת—סִדְרָןtheir orderשםthere:

פָּסוּק טז

Pasuk 16

וַתַּעֲמֹדְנָהAnd they stoodלִפְנֵיbeforeמֹשֶׁהMosheוְלִפְנֵיand beforeאֶלְעָזָרElazarהַכֹּהֵןthe Kohenוְלִפְנֵיand beforeהַנְּשִׂיאִםthe leadersוְכָלand allהָעֵדָהthe congregationפֶּתַחat the entrance ofאֹהֶלthe Tent ofמוֹעֵדMeetingלֵאמֹר׃saying

רַשִׁ״י

לפניBeforeמשהMosheולפניand beforeאלעזר.ElazarמַגִּידIt teachesשֶׁלֹּאthat notעָמְדוּthey stoodלִפְנֵיהֶםbefore themאֶלָּאexceptבִשְׁנַתin the year ofהָאַרְבָּעִים,the fortiethאַחַרafterשֶׁמֵּתthat diedאַהֲרֹןAharonשםthere:

רַשִׁ״י

לפניBeforeמשה.Mosheוְאַחַרand afterכָּךְthatלִפְנֵיbeforeאֶלְעָזָר?ElazarאֶפְשַׁרIs it possibleאִםifמֹשֶׁהMosheלֹאdid notיָדַעknowאֶלְעָזָרElazarיוֹדֵעַ?would knowאֶלָּאRatherסָרֵסinvertהַמִּקְרָאthe verseוְדָרְשֵׁהוּ,and expound itדִּבְרֵיthese are the words ofרַבִּיRabbiיֹאשִׁיָּה.YoshiyahאַבָּאAbbaחָנָןChananמִשּׁוּםin the name ofרַבִּיRabbiאֶלְעָזָרElazarאוֹמֵר,saysבְּבֵיתin the House ofהַמִּדְרָשׁStudyהָיוּthey wereיוֹשְׁבִיםsittingוְעָמְדוּand they stoodלִפְנֵיbeforeכֻלָּםall of themשם;thereבבאBavaבתראBatraקי"ט119:

פָּסוּק יז

Pasuk 17

אָבִינוּour fatherמֵתdiedבַּמִּדְבָּרin the wildernessוְהוּאand heלֹאnotהָיָהwasבְּתוֹךְin the midst ofהָעֵדָהthe assemblyהַנּוֹעָדִיםthat gatheredעַלagainstיְהוָהHashemבַּעֲדַתin the assembly ofקֹרַחKorachכִּיbutבְחֶטְאוֹfor his own sinמֵתhe diedוּבָנִיםand sonsלֹאnotהָיוּthere wereלוֹ׃to him

רַשִׁ״י

והואAnd heלאwas notהיה·וגו'.etc.לְפִיBecauseשֶׁהָיוּthat they wereבָאוֹתcomingלוֹמַרto sayבחטאוin his sinמתhe died,נִזְקְקוּthey were neededלוֹמַרto sayלֹאnotבְחֵטְאin the sin ofמִתְלוֹנְנִיםthose who murmuredוְלֹאand notבַעֲדַתin the congregation ofקֹרַחKorachשֶׁהִצּוּwho incitedעַלagainstהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy One blessed be Heהָיָה,was heאֶלָּאbutבְּחֶטְאוֹin his sinלְבַדּוֹaloneמֵת,he diedוְלֹאand did notהֶחֱטִיאcause to sinאֶת—אֲחֵרִיםothersעִמּוֹwith himספריSifrei;רַבִּיRabbiעֲקִיבָאAkivaאוֹמֵרsaysמְקוֹשֵׁשׁthe gatherer ofעֵצִיםwoodהָיָהhe wasוְרַבִּיand RabbiשִׁמְעוֹןShimonאוֹמֵרsaysמִןfromהַמַּעְפִּילִיםthose who presumedהָיָהhe wasשבתShabbosצ"ו96:

פָּסוּק יח

Pasuk 18

לָמָּהWhyיִגָּרַעshould be diminishedשֵׁםthe name ofאָבִינוּour fatherמִתּוֹךְfrom the midst ofמִשְׁפַּחְתּוֹhis familyכִּיbecauseאֵיןthere is notלוֹto himבֵּןa sonתְּנָהgiveלָּנוּto usאֲחֻזָּהa possessionבְּתוֹךְamongאֲחֵיthe brothers ofאָבִינוּ׃our father

רַשִׁ״י

למהWhyיגרעshould be diminishedשםthe name ofאבינו.our fatherאָנוּweבִּמְקוֹםin place ofבֵּןa sonעוֹמְדוֹת,standוְאִםand ifאֵיןnotהַנְּקֵבוֹתfemalesחֲשׁוּבוֹתare consideredזֶרַע,offspringתִּתְיַבֵּםlet her marryאִמֵּנוּour motherלְיָבָםto a brother-in-lawבבאBavaבתראBatraקיט119:

רַשִׁ״י

כיBecauseאיןthere is notלוto himבן.a sonהָאbeholdאִםifהָיָהthere wasלוֹto himבֵן,a sonלֹאnotהָיוּwould they haveתוֹבְעוֹתclaimedכְּלוּם,anythingמַגִּידthis tellsשֶׁחַכְמָנִיּוֹתthat wise womenהָיוּthey wereשםthere:

פָּסוּק יט

Pasuk 19

וַיַּקְרֵבAnd brought nearמֹשֶׁהMosheאֶת—מִשְׁפָּטָןtheir caseלִפְנֵיbeforeיְהוָה׃Hashem

רַשִׁ״י

ויקרבAnd he broughtמשהMosheאת—משפטן.their causeנִתְעַלְּמָהwas hiddenהֲלָכָהthe halachaמִמֶּנּוּ,from himוְכָאןand hereנִפְרַעhe was punishedעַלforשֶׁנָּטַלthat he tookעֲטָרָהa crownלוֹמַרto sayדבריםDevarimא'1"וְהַדָּבָרand the matterאֲשֶׁרwhichיִקְשֶׁהwill be hardמִכֶּםfor youתַּקְרִבוּןyou shall bringאֵלַי";to meדָּ"אַAnother explanation—רְאוּיָהFittingהָיְתָהwasפָרָשָׁהparshaזוֹthisלְהִכָּתֵבto be writtenעַלbyיְדֵיthe hand ofמֹשֶׁה,Mosheאֶלָּאbutשֶׁזָּכוּthat meritedבְנוֹתthe daughters ofצְלָפְחָדTzelofchadוְנִכְתְּבָהand it was writtenעַלthroughיָדָןthemבבאBavaבתראBatraקי"ט;119סנהדריןSanhedrinח'8:

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

The aliyah begins with Hashem's instructions for dividing Eretz Yisrael by lot and according to the population of each tribe, followed by the census of Shevet Levi, totaling 23,000 males from a month old and up. The Torah notes that none of the men counted in this census were from the original generation counted in the Sinai wilderness, who had all passed away in the midbar as decreed, except for Calev ben Yefunneh and Yehoshua bin Nun. Finally, the daughters of Zelophehad present their claim for their father's inheritance, explaining that he died in the wilderness for his own sin and not as part of Korach's rebellion, which leads Moshe Rabbeinu to bring their case before Hashem for a ruling.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

In this week's parshah, we see a beautiful contrast. On one hand, the Torah describes the division of Eretz Yisrael by a lottery, showing us that every single Yid has a specific, designated portion in the land that is tailored exactly to their neshama. On the other hand, we meet the daughters of Zelophehad, who refused to remain passive. They saw that their father had no sons to inherit his portion, and instead of giving up, they stepped forward with a deep, burning desire for a piece of the Holy Land, asking, "Why should our father's name be lost?"

This teaches us a profound lesson in our avodah. Yes, Hashem has a designated portion of Torah, mitzvos, and spiritual growth that is meant just for you. But you cannot sit back and wait for it to fall into your lap. The daughters of Zelophehad teach us that we must have a holy passion, a real "gevaldig" desire, to claim our spiritual inheritance. When we show Hashem how much we truly want to connect to Him and to His Torah, He opens doors that seemed completely closed.

Today, do not just go through the motions of your daily learning or mitzvos. Before you begin, take thirty seconds to express a genuine, heartfelt desire to Hashem. Say a short prayer in your own words: "Ribono shel Olam, I want a real portion in Your Torah today; please open my heart to truly receive it."