This weeks reading is a double portion called Matot (translated “Tribes”) Mas’ey (translated “Journey”) is from Numbers 30:1 – 36:13.
This week’s Torah reading, Matot, begins with the laws of oaths. The Israelites wage battle against Midian and the spoils are divided and tithed. The tribes of Reuben and Gad request and receive territory outside the mainland of Israel.
In this week’s reading, Massei, Moses reviews the forty years of Israelite journeys through the desert. The Torah discusses the boundaries of Israel, its division amongst the tribes, the cities which the Levites would receive, and the cities of refuge. Zelophehad’s daughters are restricted to marrying within their own tribe.
Let’s read from the Parsha:
Num 32:1 Now the people of Reuben and the people of Gad had a very great number of livestock. And they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, and behold, the place was a place for livestock.
Num 32:2 So the people of Gad and the people of Reuben came and said to Moses and to Eleazar the priest and to the chiefs of the congregation,
Num 32:3 “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon,
Num 32:4 the land that the LORD struck down before the congregation of Israel, is a land for livestock, and your servants have livestock.”
Num 32:5 And they said, “If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants for a possession. Do not take us across the Jordan.”
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A long discussion with Moses ensues. The Rubenites and Gaddites agree to help the rest of the Israelites conquer the land. Going to verse 16:
Num 32:16 Then they came near to him and said, “We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our little ones,
Num 32:17 but we will take up arms, ready to go before the people of Israel, until we have brought them to their place. And our little ones shall live in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land.
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The following commentary is based on an article by Yossy Goldman
Is it the money or the man, the cash or the kids? Of course, no one would ever admit to putting money ahead of their children; but isn’t it an all too common thing? Aren’t most parents, even good parents, guilty of making that mistake now and then?
In this week’s Parshah the Israelites are preparing for the conquest of Canaan and the allotment of the Promised Land amongst the twelve tribes of Israel, when the tribes of Reuben and Gad make a special request of Moses.
They had abundant herds of livestock and the land east of the Jordan River was especially suitable for grazing. They asked Moses if they could receive this land rather than land west of the Jordan. In making this request they expressed themselves this way: “Pens for the flock we shall build here for our livestock, and cities for our small children.“
Immediately, Moses chastises them and corrects their mistake. “Build for yourselves cities for your small children and pens for your flock.” Moses turns around their sequence, putting the children ahead of the animals.
Rashi observes that these tribes were more concerned about their money, i.e. livestock, than they were about their sons and daughters. Moses needed to give them a lesson in values and priorities. Put family first. Possessions come later.
The question is, are our own price tags correctly marked? Do we value the things in our own lives correctly? Are our priorities in order? Or do we too put the cattle and the sheep — the car and the office — ahead of our families?
How many workaholic husbands have told their wives, “Honey, I’m doing it all for you and the kids.” But the businesses we are busy building for them actually take us away from them in the most important and formative years of their lives. Rightly has it been said, “the best thing you can spend on your kids is not money but time.“
We’ve all seen people become “successes” over the years. They achieve professional success, career success, business success, growing their fame and fortunes. Too many in the process have become family failures. At the end of the day, our deepest satisfaction in life comes not from our professional achievements but from our family — the growth, stability and togetherness that we have nurtured over the years.
To paraphrase the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, “Wealth is not measured in property portfolios or stocks and bonds; true wealth is being blessed with children who walk in the ways of God.” For that, we need to be there for them and with them.
Rabbi Goldman relates that one of his congregants once walked up to him and proclaimed, “Rabbi, I am a millionaire!” The Rabbi knew the man to be of modest financial means but he immediately explained, “I’m a millionaire in the togetherness and unity of my family!”
May it be so for all of us.
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