Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this aliyah, we learn of Hashem's response to the righteous daughters of Tzelofchad, confirming that their claim is entirely correct and establishing the eternal Torah laws of inheritance. We see how a daughter inherits when there is no son, followed by the order of succession through brothers, uncles, and the closest relatives, ensuring a family's portion in Eretz Yisrael is preserved.

Following this, Hashem commands Moshe Rabbeinu to ascend Har HaAbarim to view the Promised Land before he is gathered to his people, just as his brother Aharon was. Rather than focusing on himself, Moshe immediately begs Hashem to appoint a dedicated leader to guide the holy nation, so they will never be left like sheep without a shepherd.

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

וַיֹּאמֶרAnd He saidיְהוָהHashemאֶלtoמֹשֶׁהMosheלֵּאמֹר׃saying

פָּסוּק ב

Pasuk 2

כֵּןcorrectlyבְּנוֹתthe daughters ofצְלָפְחָדTzelofchadדֹּבְרֹתspeakנָתֹןsurelyתִּתֵּןyou shall giveלָהֶםto themאֲחֻזַּתa possession ofנַחֲלָהinheritanceבְּתוֹךְamongאֲחֵיthe brothers ofאֲבִיהֶםtheir fatherוְהַעֲבַרְתָּand you shall transferאֶת—נַחֲלַתthe inheritance ofאֲבִיהֶןtheir fatherלָהֶן׃to them

רַשִׁ״י

כןRightlyבנותthe daughters ofצלפחדTzelofchadדברת.speakכְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ,like its Targum"יָאוּת"properly—כָּךְsoכְּתוּבָהis writtenפָרָשָׁהthe parshaזוֹthisלְפָנַיbefore Meבַּמָּרוֹם,on Highמַגִּידthis tellsשֶׁרָאֲתָהthat sawעֵינָןtheir eyeמַהwhatשֶּׁלֹּאthat notרָאֲתָהsawעֵינוֹthe eyeשֶׁלofמֹשֶׁהMosheתנחומאTanchuma:

רַשִׁ״י

כןRightlyבנותthe daughters ofצלפחדTzelofchadדברת.speakיָפֶהwellתָּבְעוּ,they claimedאַשְׁרֵיpraiseworthy isאָדָםa personשֶׁהַקָּבָּ"הthat the Holy One Blessed be Heמוֹדֶהagreesלִדְבָרָיוto his wordsספריSifrei:

רַשִׁ״י

נתןGivingתתן.you shall giveשְׁנֵיtwoחֲלָקִים,portionsחֵלֶקthe portion ofאֲבִיהֶןtheir fatherשֶׁהָיָהwho wasמִיּוֹצְאֵיof those who leftמִצְרַיִם,Mitzrayimוְחֶלְקוֹand his portionעִםwithאֶחָיוhis brothersבְּנִכְסֵיin the property ofחֵפֶרCheferבבאBavaבתראBatraקי"ח118:

רַשִׁ״י

והעברת.and you shall transferלְשׁוֹןan expression ofעֶבְרָהwrathהוּאit isבְּמִיagainst oneשֶׁאֵינוֹwho does notמַנִּיחַleaveבֵּןa sonלְיָרְשׁוֹ.to inherit himדָּ"אַanother explanation—עַלonשֵׁםaccount ofשֶׁהַבַּתthat the daughterמַעֲבֶרֶתcauses to passנַחֲלָהan inheritanceמִשֵּׁבֶטfrom a tribeלְשֵׁבֶט,to a tribeשֶׁבְּנָהּfor her sonוּבַעְלָהּand her husbandיוֹרְשִׁיןinheritאוֹתָהּher—שֶׁ"לֹאfor do notתִסֹּבturn aboutנַחֲלָה"an inheritanceבמדברNumbersל"ו36לֹאwas notנִצְטַוָּהcommandedאֶלָּאexceptלְאוֹתוֹto thatהַדּוֹרgenerationבִּלְבַדaloneבבאBavaבתראBatraק"כ120—וְכֵןand soוְהַעֲבַרְתֶּםand you shall transferאֶת—נַחֲלָתוֹhis inheritanceלְבִתּוֹ,to his daughterבְּכֻלָּןin all of themהוּאHeאוֹמֵרsays"וּנְתַתֶּם"and you shall giveוּבַבַּתbut by the daughterהוּאHeאוֹמֵרsays"וְהַעֲבַרְתֶּם":and you shall transfer

פָּסוּק ג

Pasuk 3

וְאֶלAnd toבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelתְּדַבֵּרyou shall speakלֵאמֹרsayingאִישׁA manכִּיwhenיָמוּתhe diesוּבֵןand a sonאֵיןthere is notלוֹto himוְהַעֲבַרְתֶּםthen you shall transferאֶת—נַחֲלָתוֹhis inheritanceלְבִתּוֹ׃to his daughter

פָּסוּק ד

Pasuk 4

וְאִםAnd ifאֵיןthere is notלוֹto himבַּתa daughterוּנְתַתֶּםthen you shall giveאֶת—נַחֲלָתוֹhis inheritanceלְאֶחָיו׃to his brothers

פָּסוּק ה

Pasuk 5

וְאִםAnd ifאֵיןthere are notלוֹto himאַחִיםbrothersוּנְתַתֶּםthen you shall giveאֶת—נַחֲלָתוֹhis inheritanceלַאֲחֵיto the brothers ofאָבִיו׃his father

פָּסוּק ו

Pasuk 6

וְאִםAnd ifאֵיןthere are noאַחִיםbrothersלְאָבִיוto his fatherוּנְתַתֶּםthen you shall giveאֶת—נַחֲלָתוֹhis inheritanceלִשְׁאֵרוֹto his relativeהַקָּרֹבwho is closestאֵלָיוto himמִמִּשְׁפַּחְתּוֹfrom his familyוְיָרַשׁand he shall inheritאֹתָהּitוְהָיְתָהand it shall beלִבְנֵיfor the children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelלְחֻקַּתas a decree ofמִשְׁפָּטjusticeכַּאֲשֶׁרasצִוָּהcommandedיְהוָהHashemאֶת—מֹשֶׁה׃Moshe

רַשִׁ״י

לשארוTo his kinהקרבthat is nextאליוto himממשפחתו.of his familyוְאֵיןand there is noמִשְׁפָּחָהfamilyקְרוּיָהcalledאֶלָּאexceptמִצַּדfrom the side ofהָאָבthe fatherשםthereק"ט109:

פָּסוּק ז

Pasuk 7

וַיֹּאמֶרAnd He saidיְהוָהHashemאֶלtoמֹשֶׁהMosheעֲלֵהascendאֶלtoהַרthe mountain ofהָעֲבָרִיםAbarimהַזֶּהthisוּרְאֵהand seeאֶת—הָאָרֶץthe landאֲשֶׁרthatנָתַתִּיI have givenלִבְנֵיto the children ofיִשְׂרָאֵל׃Yisrael

רַשִׁ״י

עלהGo upאלtoהרthe mountain ofהעברים.Abarimלָמָּהwhyנִסְמְכָהis it juxtaposedלְכָאן?to hereכֵּיוָןsinceשֶׁאָמַרthat saidהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy One blessed be Heנָתֹןyou shall surelyתִּתֵּןgiveלָהֶם,to themאָמַרhe saidאוֹתִיmeצִוָּהcommandedהַמָּקוֹםthe Omnipresentלְהַנְחִיל,to apportion the inheritanceשֶׁמָּאperhapsהֻתְּרָהis annulledהַגְּזֵרָהthe decreeוְאֶכָּנֵסand I shall enterלָאָרֶץ?into the Landאָמַרsaidלוֹto himהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy One blessed be HeגְּזֵרָתִיMy decreeבִּמְקוֹמָהּin its placeעוֹמֶדֶת.standsדָּ"אַAnother explanation—כֵּיוָןsinceשֶׁנִּכְנַסthat enteredמֹשֶׁהMosheלְנַחֲלַתinto the inheritance ofבְּנֵיthe children ofגָדGadוּבְנֵיand the children ofרְאוּבֵןReuvenשָׂמַחhe rejoicedוְאָמַר,and saidכִּמְדֻמֶּהit seemsשֶׁהֻתַּרthat is annulledלִיfor meנִדְרִי;my vowמָשָׁלA parableלְמֶלֶךְto a kingשֶׁגָּזַרwho decreedעַלuponבְּנוֹhis sonשֶׁלֹּאthat notיִכָּנֵסhe should enterלְפֶתַחto the entrance ofפָּלָטִיןthe palaceשֶׁלּוֹ,hisנִכְנַסHe enteredלַשַּׁעַרto the gateוְהוּאand heאַחֲרָיו,after himלֶחָצֵרto the courtyardוְהוּאand heאַחֲרָיו,after himלַטְּרַקְלִיןto the reception hallוְהוּאand heאַחֲרָיו,after himכֵּיוָןonceשֶׁבָּאthat he cameלִכָּנֵסto enterלַקִּיטוֹן,to the bedchamberאָמַרhe saidלוֹto himבְּנִיmy sonמִכָּאןfrom hereוָאֵילָךְand furtherאַתָּהyouאָסוּרare forbiddenלִכָּנֵסto enterספריSifrei:

פָּסוּק ח

Pasuk 8

וְרָאִיתָהAnd you shall seeאֹתָהּitוְנֶאֱסַפְתָּand you shall be gatheredאֶלtoעַמֶּיךָyour peopleגַּםalsoאָתָּהyouכַּאֲשֶׁרjust asנֶאֱסַףwas gatheredאַהֲרֹןAharonאָחִיךָ׃your brother

רַשִׁ״י

כאשרasנאסףwas gatheredאהרןAaronאחיך.your brotherמִכָּאןfrom hereשֶׁנִּתְאַוָּהthat desiredמֹשֶׁהMosheלְמִיתָתוֹfor the deathשֶׁלofאַהֲרֹןAaronשםthere;דָּ"אַanother explanation—אֵיןnotאַתָּהyouטוֹבbetterמִמֶּנּוּ,than him"עַלbecauseאֲשֶׁרthatלֹאnotקִדַּשְׁתֶּם"you sanctifiedדבריםDevarimלב,32נא51,הָאbeholdאִםifקִדַּשְׁתֶּםyou had sanctifiedאוֹתִיMeעֲדַיִןstillלֹאnotהִגִּיעַhad arrivedזְמַנְכֶםyour timeלְהִפָּטֵרto departשםthere;בְּכָלin everyמָקוֹםplaceשֶׁכָּתַבthat it wroteמִיתָתָםtheir deathכָּתַבit wroteסֻרְחָנָם,their offenseלְפִיbecauseשֶׁנִּגְזְרָהthat was decreedגְזֵרָהa decreeעַלuponדּוֹרthe generation ofהַמִּדְבָּרthe wildernessלָמוּתto dieבַּמִּדְבָּרin the wildernessבְּעָוֹןfor the sinשֶׁלֹּאthat notהֶאֱמִינוּ,they believedלְכָךְthereforeבִּקֵּשׁrequestedמֹשֶׁהMosheשֶׁיִּכָּתֵבthat should be writtenסֻרְחָנוֹ,his offenseשֶׁלֹּאso that notיֹאמְרוּthey will sayאַףevenהוּאheמִןfromהַמַּמְרִיםthe rebelsהָיָה,wasמָשָׁלa parableלִשְׁתֵּיto twoנָשִׁיםwomenשֶׁלּוֹקוֹתwho are lashedבְּבֵיתin a house ofדִּין,lawאַחַתoneקִלְקְלָהacted immorallyוְאַחַתand oneאָכְלָהateפַגֵּיunripe figs ofשְׁבִיעִיתthe seventh yearוְכוּ',etceteraאַףevenכָּאןhereבְּכָלin everyמָקוֹםplaceשֶׁהִזְכִּירthat it mentionedמִיתָתָןtheir deathהִזְכִּירit mentionedסֻרְחָנָן,their offenseלְהוֹדִיעַto make knownשֶׁלֹּאthat notהָיְתָהthere wasבָהֶםin themאֶלָּאexceptזוֹthisבִּלְבַדaloneיומאYomaפ"ו86:

פָּסוּק ט

Pasuk 9

כַּאֲשֶׁרbecauseמְרִיתֶםyou rebelled againstפִּיMy wordבְּמִדְבַּרin the wilderness ofצִןZinבִּמְרִיבַתduring the strife ofהָעֵדָהthe congregationלְהַקְדִּישֵׁנִיto sanctify Meבַמַּיִםwith the waterלְעֵינֵיהֶםbefore their eyesהֵםtheyמֵיare the waters ofמְרִיבַתstrife ofקָדֵשׁKadeshמִדְבַּרin the wilderness ofצִן׃Zin

רַשִׁ״י

הםTheyמיthe waters ofמריבתstrife ofקדש.Kadeshהֵםtheyלְבַדָּםalone—אֵיןthere is noבָּהֶםin themעָוֹןsinאַחֵר;otherדָּ"אַanother explanation—הֵםtheyשֶׁהִמְרוּthat rebelledבְמָרָה,at Marahהֵםtheyהָיוּwereשֶׁהִמְרוּthat rebelledבְיַםat the Sea ofסוּף,Reedsהֵםtheyעַצְמָםthemselvesשֶׁהִמְרוּthat rebelledבְמִדְבַּרin the wilderness ofצִן:Zin

פָּסוּק י

Pasuk 10

וַיְדַבֵּרAnd spokeמֹשֶׁהMosheאֶלtoיְהוָהHashemלֵאמֹר׃saying

רַשִׁ״י

וידברAnd Moses spokeמשהMosesאלtoה'Hashemוגו'.etc.לְהוֹדִיעַto make knownשִׁבְחָןthe praise ofשֶׁלofצַדִּיקִים,righteous onesכְּשֶׁנִּפְטָרִיםwhen they departמִןfromהָעוֹלָםthe worldמַנִּיחִיםthey leave asideצָרְכָּן,their own needsוְעוֹסְקִיןand occupy themselvesבְּצָרְכֵיwith the needs ofצִבּוּרthe communityספריSifrei:

רַשִׁ״י

לאמר.to sayאָמַרhe saidלוֹ,to Himהֲשִׁיבֵנִיanswer meאִםwhetherאַתָּהYouמְמַנֶּהare appointingלָהֶםfor themפַּרְנָסa leaderאִםorלָאוnotשםthere:

פָּסוּק יא

Pasuk 11

יִפְקֹדLet appointיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֵיGod ofהָרוּחֹתthe spirits ofלְכָלallבָּשָׂרfleshאִישׁa manעַלoverהָעֵדָה׃the congregation

רַשִׁ״י

יפקדLet appointה'.HashemכֵּיוָןSinceשֶׁשָּׁמַעthat heardמֹשֶׁהMosheשֶׁאָמַרthat saidלוֹto himהַמָּקוֹםthe Omnipresentתֵּןgiveנַחֲלַתthe inheritance ofצְלָפְחָדTzelofchadלִבְנוֹתָיו,to his daughtersאָמַרhe saidהִגִּיעַhas arrivedשָׁעָהthe timeשֶׁאֶתְבַּעthat I should claimצָרְכִּיmy own need—שֶׁיִּירְשׁוּthat shall inheritבָּנַיmy sonsאֶת—גְּדֻלָּתִי,my high positionאָמַרsaidלוֹto himהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy Oneלֹאnotכָךְsoעָלְתָהhas it arisenבְמַחֲשָׁבָהin thoughtלְפָנַי,before MeכְּדַאיworthyהוּאisיְהוֹשֻׁעַYehoshuaלִטֹּלto receiveשְׂכַרthe reward ofשִׁמּוּשׁוֹhis serviceשֶׁלֹּאfor he did notמָשׁdepartמִתּוֹךְfrom withinהָאֹהֶלthe tentשמותShemosל״ג:י״א33,וְזֶהוּ11שֶׁאָמַרand this isשְׁלֹמֹהwhat saidמשליShlomoכ"זMishlei"נוֹצֵר27תְּאֵנָהHe who guardsיֹאכַלa fig treeפִּרְיָהּ"shall eatתנחומאits fruit:

רַשִׁ״י

אלהיGod ofהרוחת.the spiritsלָמָּהwhyנֶאֱמַר?is it saidאָמַרHe saidלְפָנָיו,before HimרִבּוֹנוֹMasterשֶׁלofעוֹלָם,the universeגָּלוּיit is revealedלְפָנֶיךָbefore Youדַּעְתּוֹthe mindשֶׁלofכָּלeveryאֶחָדsingleוְאֶחָד,oneוְאֵינָןand they are notדּוֹמִיןsimilarזֶהthis oneלָזֶה,to that oneמַנֵּהappointעֲלֵיהֶםover themמַנְהִיגa leaderשֶׁיְּהֵאwho willסוֹבֵלtolerateכָּלeveryאֶחָדsingleוְאֶחָדoneלְפִיaccording toדַעְתּוֹhis mindילקוטYalkutשמעוניShimoni:

פָּסוּק יב

Pasuk 12

אֲשֶׁרwhoיֵצֵאshall go outלִפְנֵיהֶםbefore themוַאֲשֶׁרand whoיָבֹאshall come inלִפְנֵיהֶםbefore themוַאֲשֶׁרand whoיוֹצִיאֵםshall lead them outוַאֲשֶׁרand whoיְבִיאֵםshall bring them inוְלֹאand notתִהְיֶהshall beעֲדַתthe congregation ofיְהוָהHashemכַּצֹּאןlike sheepאֲשֶׁרwhichאֵיןhave noלָהֶםto themרֹעֶה׃shepherd

רַשִׁ״י

אשרWhoיצאwill go outלפניהם.before themלֹאnotכְדֶרֶךְlike the way ofמַלְכֵיkings ofהָאֻמּוֹתthe nationsשֶׁיּוֹשְׁבִיםwho sitבְּבָתֵּיהֶםin their housesוּמְשַׁלְּחִיןand sendאֶת—חַיָּלוֹתֵיהֶםtheir armiesלַמִּלְחָמָה,to the warאֶלָּאbutכְּמוֹlikeשֶׁעָשִׂיתִיthat I didאֲנִי,Iשֶׁנִּלְחַמְתִּיwho foughtבְסִיחוֹןagainst Sihonוּבְעוֹג,and against Ogשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidבמדברBamidbarכ"א21"אַלdo notתִּירָאfearאֹתוֹ",himוּכְדֶרֶךְand like the wayשֶׁעָשָׂהthat didיְהוֹשֻׁעַ,Yehoshuaשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is said"וַיֵּלֶךְand wentיְהוֹשֻׁעַYehoshuaאֵלָיוto himוַיֹּאמֶרand saidלוֹto himהֲלָנוּare you for usאַתָּה"youוְגוֹ'etc.יהושעYehoshuaה'5,וְכֵןand soבְּדָוִדregarding DovidהוּאitאוֹמֵרsaysשמואלShmuelאIי"ח18"כִּיforהוּאheיוֹצֵאgoes outוָבָאand comes inלִפְנֵיהֶם"before them—יוֹצֵאgoing outבָּרֹאשׁat the headוְנִכְנָסand coming inבָּרֹאשׁat the headספריSifrei:

רַשִׁ״י

ואשרand whoיוציאם.will lead them outבִּזְכֻיּוֹתָיו:through his merits

רַשִׁ״י

ואשרand whoיביאם.will bring themבִּזְכֻיּוֹתָיו.through his meritsדָּ"אַanother explanation—ואשרand whoיביאםwill bring them,שֶׁלֹּאthat notתַעֲשֶׂהYou should doלוֹto himכְּדֶרֶךְlike the wayשֶׁאַתָּהthat Youעוֹשֶׂהare doingלִּי,to meשֶׁאֵינִיfor I am notמַכְנִיסָןbringing them inלָאָרֶץto the LandילקוטYalkutשמעוניShimoni:

פָּסוּק יג

Pasuk 13

וַיֹּאמֶרAnd He saidיְהוָהHashemאֶלtoמֹשֶׁהMosheקַחTakeלְךָfor yourselfאֶת—יְהוֹשֻׁעַYehoshuaבִּןson ofנוּןNunאִישׁa manאֲשֶׁרwhomרוּחַspiritבּוֹis in himוְסָמַכְתָּand you shall leanאֶת—יָדְךָyour handעָלָיו׃upon him

רַשִׁ״י

קחTakeלך.to theeקָחֶנּוּtake himבִּדְבָרִיםwith words—אַשְׁרֶךָfortunate are youשֶׁזָּכִיתָthat you meritedלְהַנְהִיגto leadבָּנָיוthe childrenשֶׁלofמָקוֹם:the Omnipresent

רַשִׁ״י

לך.take to yourselfאֶת—שֶׁבָּדוּקone who is examinedלְךָ,by youאֶת—שֶׁאַתָּהone whom youמַכִּיר:are familiar with

רַשִׁ״י

אשרwhoרוחspiritבו.is in himכַּאֲשֶׁרjust asשָׁאַלְתָּ,you requestedשֶׁיּוּכַלwho is ableלַהֲלֹךְto goכְּנֶגֶדcorresponding toרוּחוֹthe spiritשֶׁלofכָּלeveryאֶחָדoneוְאֶחָדand oneספריSifrei:

רַשִׁ״י

וסמכתAnd you shall leanאת—ידךyour handעליו.upon himתֵּןgiveלוֹto himמְתֻרְגְּמָןan interpreterשֶׁיִּדְרֹשׁthat he may lectureבְּחַיֶּיךָ,in your lifetimeשֶׁלֹּאso that notיֹאמְרוּthey will sayעָלָיו,about himלֹאnotהָיָהwas itלוֹfor himלְהָרִיםto raiseרֹאשׁheadבִּימֵיin the days ofמֹשֶׁה:Moshe

פָּסוּק יד

Pasuk 14

וְהַעֲמַדְתָּand you shall standאֹתוֹhimלִפְנֵיbeforeאֶלְעָזָרElazarהַכֹּהֵןthe Kohenוְלִפְנֵיand beforeכָּלall ofהָעֵדָהthe congregationוְצִוִּיתָהand you shall commandאֹתוֹhimלְעֵינֵיהֶם׃before their eyes

רַשִׁ״י

וצויתהAnd you shall chargeאתו.himעַלconcerningיִשְׂרָאֵל,Yisraelדַּעknowשֶׁטַּרְחָנִיןthat troublesomeהֵם,they areסַרְבָנִיםrefractoryהֵם,they areעַלonמְנָתconditionשֶׁתְּקַבֵּלthat you acceptעָלֶיךָupon yourselfספריSifreiבמדברBamidbarי"א11:

פָּסוּק טו

Pasuk 15

וְנָתַתָּהand you shall placeמֵהוֹדְךָfrom your majestyעָלָיוupon himלְמַעַןso thatיִשְׁמְעוּthey will obeyכָּלall ofעֲדַתthe congregation ofבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵל׃Yisrael

רַשִׁ״י

ונתתהAnd you shall putמהודךsome of your gloryעליו.upon himזֶהthisקֵרוּןthe shining ofעוֹרthe skin ofפָּנִים:the face

רַשִׁ״י

מהודך.From your gloryוְלֹאand notכָּלall ofהוֹדְךָ,your gloryוּמָצִינוּand we findלְמֵדִיןlearningפְּנֵיthe face ofמֹשֶׁהMosheכַּחַמָּהlike the sunפְּנֵיthe face ofיְהוֹשֻׁעַYehoshuaכַּלְּבָנָהlike the moonספרי;SifreiבבאBavaבתראBatraע"ה75a:

רַשִׁ״י

למעןso thatישמעוthey will hearכלallעדתthe congregation ofבניthe children ofישראל.Yisraelשֶׁיִּהְיוּthat they shouldנוֹהֲגִיןbehaveבּוֹtowards him withכָּבוֹדrespectוְיִרְאָה,and reverenceכְּדֶרֶךְin the mannerשֶׁנּוֹהֲגִיןthat they behaveבְּךָ:towards you

פָּסוּק טז

Pasuk 16

וְלִפְנֵיAnd beforeאֶלְעָזָרElazarהַכֹּהֵןthe Kohenיַעֲמֹדhe shall standוְשָׁאַלand he shall inquireלוֹfor himבְּמִשְׁפַּטby the judgment ofהָאוּרִיםthe UrimלִפְנֵיbeforeיְהוָהHashemעַלbyפִּיוhis wordיֵצְאוּthey shall go outוְעַלand byפִּיוhis wordיָבֹאוּthey shall come inהוּאheוְכָלand all ofבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelאִתּוֹwith himוְכָלand allהָעֵדָה׃the congregation

רַשִׁ״י

ולפניAnd beforeאלעזרElazarהכהןthe Kohenיעמד.he shall standהֲרֵיBeholdשְׁאֵלָתְךָyour requestשֶׁשָּׁאַלְתָּ,that you askedשֶׁאֵיןthat notהַכָּבוֹדthis honorהַזֶּה·זָזdepartsמִבֵּיתfrom the house ofאָבִיךָ,your fatherשֶׁאַףfor evenיְהוֹשֻׁעַYehoshuaיְהֵאwill beצָרִיךְneedingלְאֶלְעָזָרElazarתנחומאTanchuma:

רַשִׁ״י

ושאלAnd he shall askלו.for himכְּשֶׁיִּצְטָרֵךְwhen he needsלָצֵאתto go outלַמִּלְחָמָה:to war

רַשִׁ״י

עלAtפיו.his wordשֶׁלofאֶלְעָזָר:Elazar

רַשִׁ״י

וכלand allהעדה.the congregationסַנְהֶדְרִין:the Sanhedrin

פָּסוּק יז

Pasuk 17

וַיַּעַשׂAnd didמֹשֶׁהMosheכַּאֲשֶׁרasצִוָּהcommandedיְהוָהHashemאֹתוֹhimוַיִּקַּחand he tookאֶת—יְהוֹשֻׁעַYehoshuaוַיַּעֲמִדֵהוּand he stood himלִפְנֵיbeforeאֶלְעָזָרElazarהַכֹּהֵןthe Kohenוְלִפְנֵיand beforeכָּלall ofהָעֵדָה׃the congregation

רַשִׁ״י

ויקחAnd he tookאת—יהושע.Yehoshuaלְקָחוֹhe took himבִדְבָרִיםwith wordsוְהוֹדִיעוֹand informed himמַתַּןthe giving ofשְׂכַרthe reward ofפַּרְנְסֵיthe leaders ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelלָעוֹלָםfor the worldהַבָּאto comeספריSifrei:

פָּסוּק יח

Pasuk 18

וַיִּסְמֹךְAnd he laidאֶת—יָדָיוhis handsעָלָיוupon himוַיְצַוֵּהוּand he commanded himכַּאֲשֶׁרjust asדִּבֶּרspokeיְהוָהHashemבְּיַדby the hand ofמֹשֶׁה׃Moshe

רַשִׁ״י

ויסמךAnd he laidאת—ידיו.his handsבְּעַיִןwith an eyeיָפָה,generousיוֹתֵרmoreוְיוֹתֵרand moreמִמַּהthan thatשֶּׁנִּצְטַוָּה,which he was commandedשֶׁהַקָּבָּ"הfor the Holy Oneאָמַרsaidלוֹto him"וְסָמַכְתָּ"and you shall layאֶת—יָדְךָ",your hand"וְהוּאand heעָשָׂהdidבִּשְׁתֵּיwith two ofיָדָיו,his handsוַעֲשָׂאוֹand made himכִכְלִיlike a vesselמָלֵאfullוְגָדוּשׁ,and overflowingוּמִלְּאוֹand filled himחָכְמָתוֹwith his wisdomבְּעַיִןwith an eyeיָפָהgenerousשםthere:

רַשִׁ״י

כאשרAsדברspokeה'.Hashemאַףalsoלְעִנְיַןregarding the matter ofהַהוֹדthe majesty—נָתַןHe placedמֵהוֹדוֹfrom His majestyעָלָיו:upon him

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

The aliyah details the laws of inheritance, establishing that a daughter inherits her father's estate if there are no sons, followed by brothers, paternal uncles, and then the closest next of kin. After Hashem instructs Moshe to view Eretz Yisrael from the mountain before his passing due to the waters of Merivah, Moshe asks Hashem to appoint a successor. Hashem designates Yehoshua bin Nun, a man of spirit, and instructs Moshe to lay his hands on him, invest him with authority, and commission him before Elazar the Kohen and the entire congregation, which Moshe carries out with complete devotion.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

Look at the incredible gadlus of Moshe Rabbeinu in this parsha. Hashem tells him that his time in this world is coming to an end, and that he will soon be gathered to his people. In that very moment of receiving his own decree of death, what is Moshe thinking about? He does not cry out about his own pain, nor does he focus on his unfulfilled dream of entering Eretz Yisrael. Instead, his immediate response is to plead with Hashem: "Let Hashem appoint someone over the community... so that Hashem's community may not be like sheep that have no shepherd."

This is the true definition of a Jewish leader, and it is the avodah of every single one of us. When we face our own personal challenges, transitions, or moments of pain, our natural instinct is to turn inward and focus entirely on ourselves. But the Torah is teaching us that a Yid must always look outward. Even when your own world is shaking, you must ask: "What do the people around me need right now? How can I make sure those who depend on me are cared for?"

Whether it is your children, your spouse, your students, or a friend who looks up to you, you have people in your life who need your guidance and strength. True greatness means rising above your own personal worries to ensure that those around you are not left like sheep without a shepherd.

Today, when you feel overwhelmed by your own personal tasks or worries, consciously pause, step outside of your own needs, and do one concrete act of care or guidance for someone who relies on you.