B"H
Tuesday Tammuz 24, 5777 / July 18, 2017
This Shabbat we combine the last two Parshiot in the Book of Numbers (Bamidbar), Matot& Masei. With this reading we will conclude the fourth Book of the Torah. In Parshat Matot, G-d commands Moshe, “Take revenge against the Midyonites for the children of Israel, after that you will be gathered to your people [you will die].”
Moshe then commands the people, “Arm from amongst yourselves men ready for combat to avenge G-d’s revenge against Midyan. One thousand men from each tribe, from all the tribes of Israel.”
This battle was to avenge the fact that as a result of the people of Midyan, 24,000 Isrelites died in a plague, and more died because of other factors. Moshe sent twelve thousand men into battle against Midyan. Although Moshe knew that after this he will die, yet, he didn’t hesitate and mobilized the people immediately.
Q.G-d told Moshe, “Take revenge.. for the children of Israel.” It was to avenge what they did to the people. Yet, when Moshe gave over G-d’s message, he changed it. Instead of saying to avenge for what they did to the people, he told them to avenge what they did against G-d.
A.Our sages learn from this that when one commits aggression against the children of Israel they are in fact committing it against G-d. Thus, avenging what they did against Israel is avenging G-d’s honor.
G-d tells Moshe that after this battle, Moshe will pass away. Here is another story of the great Talmudic sage, Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chananiya, as told in the Talmud.
The Roman emperor, Hadrian (Hadrionus), once said to Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chananiya (who lived at the time of the destruction of the Second Temple), “I am better than your teacher, Moshe, because I am alive and he is dead, and it is written, ‘A living dog is better than a dead lion.’”
Rabbi Yehoshua said to him, “Can you decree that no one should light a fire in Rome for three days?” “Sure I can,” he replied. Immediately Hadrian ordered that no fire be lit in Rome for three days.
But on that very evening when Hadrian went up on the roof of his palace together with Rabbi Yehoshua, they saw some smoke rising from the distance. Then, looking in a another direction, they saw more smoke.
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chananiya turned to Hadrian and said, “You are alive, yet, your decree couldn’t take hold even the first day… Whereas, our great teacher, Moshe, decreed over a thousand years ago, ‘Do not kindle any fire of the day of Shabbat,’ and to this dayhis commandment is obeyed! So,who is greater? Moshe, who passed away over a thousand years ago, or you who is still alive?
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY