Parsha Q&A - Pinchas « Ohr Somayach

Parsha Q&A - Pinchas

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Parsha Q&A

Parshas Pinchas

For the week ending 19 Tamuz 5756; 5 & 6 July 1996

Contents:
  • Parsha Questions
  • Bonus Question
  • I Did Not Know That!
  • Recommended Reading List
  • Answers to Parsha Questions
  • Answer to Bonus Question
  • Back issues of Parsha Q&A
  • Subscription Information
  • Ohr Somayach Home Page

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  • Parsha Questions

    1. Why was Pinchas not originally a Kohen?
    2. Why was Moav spared the fate of Midian?
    3. Why did Hashem attach two letters of His name to the name of each family?
    4. The Torah states that Korach and his congregation became a sign. What do they signify?
    5. Why did Korach's children survive?
    6. When the Torah enumerated the families of Asher, why was Serach bas Asher mentioned?
    7. How long did it take to conquer and divide the Land?
    8. How was the Land divided?
    9. Where was Yocheved, the mother of Moshe, born?
    10. Why did the decree to die in the midbar not apply to the women?
    11. Why does the Torah change the order of the names of the daughters of Tzlofchad in different places?
    12. Tzlofchad died because of his own sin. What was it?
    13. Why didn't Moshe know what to answer the daughters of Tzlofchad?
    14. Moshe "put some of his glory" upon Yehoshua. What does this mean?
    15. Where were the daily offerings slaughtered?
    16. When the Jewish People offer the daily tamid offering, what 'satisfaction' does Hashem receive?
    17. Goats are brought as musaf sin-offerings. For what sin do they atone?
    18. Why is Shavuos called Yom HaBikkurim (the day of the first fruits)?
    19. What is the symbolic meaning of the 70 bullocks offered on Succos?
    20. To whom did the lambs offered on Succos allude?

    Bonus Question
    Answer
    Contents
    The daughters of Tzlofchad told Moshe, "Our father... was not among the congregation that murmured against Hashem [the meraglim, or] the congregation of Korach (27:3)." Why did they point out that their father was not part of these groups before requesting his inheritance?

    I Did Not Know That!

    In verse 28:11, the Torah refers to "Your New Moons." Rosh Chodesh is the only holiday that has the appellation "Your" because the Jewish People took it upon themselves to celebrate Rosh Chodesh as a festive time.
    Sforno


    Recommended Reading List

    Ramban
    26:57
    Counting the Levi'im
    27:9
    Inheritance
    28:2
    The Daily Offerings
    7:13
    Gifts of the Nesi'im

    Sefer Hachinuch
    400
    Inheritance
    401
    The Daily Sacrifices
    405
    Shofar

    Answers to this Week's Questions

    Questions | Contents

    All references are to the verses and Rashi's commentary, unless otherwise stated

    1. 25:13 - The Kehuna was given to Aaron and his sons, and to their descendants who were born after they were anointed. Pinchas was born prior to the anointing.
    2. 25:18 - For the sake of Ruth, a future descendent of Moav.
    3. 26:5 - To testify that they were of pure descent.
    4. 26:10 - They are a reminder that the Kehuna was given forever to Aaron and his descendants and that no non-Kohen should ever dispute this right.
    5. 26:11 - Although they originally participated in the plot against Moshe, they repented and were spared.
    6. 26:46 - Because she was still living.
    7. 26:53 - Seven years to conquer and seven years to divide.
    8. 26:54 - By lot and by the Urim and Tummim.
    9. 26:59 - Between the walls at the entrance into Egypt.
    10. 26:64 - In the incident of the meraglim only the men wished to return to Egypt. The women wanted to enter Eretz Yisrael.
    11. 27:1 - To teach that they were equal in greatness.
    12. 27:3 - Rabbi Akiva said that he was the one who gathered sticks on Shabbos. Rabbi Shimon said that he was among those who attempted to enter Eretz Yisrael after the sin of the meraglim.
    13. 27:5 - Moshe was being punished for speaking haughtily and saying to the judges, "A case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me" (Devarim 1:17). Also, because the daughters of Tzlofchad merited that a portion of the Torah should be written because of them.
    14. 27:20 - That Yehoshua's skin also shone. Moshe's face beamed like the sun, Yehoshua's face beamed like the moon.
    15. 28:3 - At a spot opposite the sun. The morning offering was slaughtered on the western side of the slaughtering area, and the evening offering on the eastern side.
    16. 28:8 - The satisfaction that the Jewish People obey His command.
    17. 28:15 - For ritual defilement of the Sanctuary or its vessels, of which no one is cognizant.
    18. 28:26 - Two loaves of bread were brought as an offering on Shavuos. They were the first of the wheat-offerings brought from the new grain.
    19. 29:18 - They allude to the 70 nations of the world.
    20. 29:18 - To the Jewish People.

    Bonus Question
    Question
    Contents
    They knew that neither the meraglim nor the congregation of Korach had a portion in the Land. The share of the meraglim was divided between Yehoshua and Kalev. The portion of the congregation of Korach was divided among all the tribes. Therefore, they told Moshe that their father wasn't part of either of these groups, and thus was deserving to inherit the Land.
    Rashbam - Bava Basra 117b

    Written and Compiled by Rabbi Eliyahu Kane
    General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
    Production Design: Lev Seltzer
    HTML Design: Michael Treblow
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