RR Torah Portion Mattot-Massei By Jeffery Freeman
Shabbat Shalom,
This week is a double portion. Mattot, “tribes,” from Numbers 30:1 Moses spoke to the princes of the tribes (hammattot) of Bnei-Yisrael…Massei, “journeys,” from Numbers 33:1 These are the journeys (massei) of Bnei-Yisrael when they came out of Egypt…
In Mattot, vows must be kept, Israel eliminates the Midianites, spoils are divided, commanders provide additional tribute recognizing that no Israelite men were lost in the battles, two and a half tribes opt to settle on the east side of the Jordan. In Massei, Moses recounts the Israelite’s wilderness travels, commands a complete driving out the current inhabitants of the Land, cities of refuge are commanded, 48 cities are set aside for the Levites, and the final report on the daughters of Zelophehad is given.
There are more than a few lessons in these two portions. But let’s build on vows.
Numbers 30:2 Whenever a man makes a vow to ADONAI or swears an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he is not to violate his word but do everything coming out of his mouth.
Yeshua warns about taking vows.
Matthew 5:37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.
Yet women can be given annulments from vows they have taken if their husband or father objects.
Concerning a young woman - Verse 5 If her father should forbid it on the day of his hearing it none of her vows or pledges by which she has obligated herself will stand. ADONAI will forgive her because her father has forbidden her.
Concerning a wife – Verse 12 If her husband should nullify them in the day that he hears of them, nothing from her lips, whether vow or pledge will stand. Her husband has nullified them and ADONAI will forgive her.
Why would the LORD include instructions that allow women’s vows to be voided? Why would the LORD limit women’s responsibility when taking vows? Love and protection. The LORD intended men to love their families just as the LORD loves us.
Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely, I will help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
God loves us, so he keeps us from fear by giving us strength and help. We are not to be dismayed, because he will protect us.
2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the LORD is trustworthy - and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
1st Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has taken hold of you except what is common to mankind. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can handle. But with the temptation, he will also provide a way of escape, so you will be able endure it.
The LORD demonstrates his love for us through protecting us.
Numbers 30 also helps define human roles. The man is the leader in his home. He is responsible for the safety and wellbeing of his family. Some may scoff at this section because it seems to put women subservient to men. Not so. Rather, this is a reminder that God assigned roles to men and women, married people and unmarried people, fathers, mothers, and children. In Numbers 30 we get a clear role assignment for men and for certain independent women when it comes to taking vows.
This is not meant to demean or reduce the value of women. It does not make men superior to women. Rather this reminds men that they are responsible for their wife and for her safety and welfare. It sets up a chain of command - God, Yeshua, men, women.
With over three decades of military service, I can assure everyone that a chain of command is not a bad thing. It allows for a clear understanding of responsibility, leadership, and authority. Note authority is last. I assure you it was with intent. Authority may be part of leadership, but it is not the most important part. If one is a truly responsible leader, authority is seldom necessary and rarely used.
1st Peter 3:7 …husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way. Though they are the weaker partners, honor them as equal heirs of the grace of life.
Men are reminded that they are responsible for taking care of their wives in an understanding and honorable way. Our wives are equal heirs to the grace of life given through Messiah Yeshua.
Genesis 2:24 This is why a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife; and they become one flesh.
God’s plan is that men and women become complete when they are joined together! To grow up and fully develop his manhood, a man must leave his dependence upon his parents and bond with his wife. Together complete each other and are then able to develop into fully functioning adults.
The restrictions for women’s vows in Numbers 30 remind us of the God ordained relationship between husbands and wives.
Shabbat Shalom
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat11-July 202626th of Tamuz, 5786 Parashat Matot-Masei
Nu 35:9-36:13Jer 2:4-28; 3:4Jas 4:1-12
This week is a double portion. Mattot, “tribes,” from Numbers 30:1 Moses spoke to the princes of the tribes (hammattot) of Bnei-Yisrael…Massei, “journeys,” from Numbers 33:1 These are the journeys (massei) of Bnei-Yisrael when they came out of Egypt…
In Mattot, vows must be kept, Israel eliminates the Midianites, spoils are divided, commanders provide additional tribute recognizing that no Israelite men were lost in the battles, two and a half tribes opt to settle on the east side of the Jordan. In Massei, Moses recounts the Israelite’s wilderness travels, commands a complete driving out the current inhabitants of the Land, cities of refuge are commanded, 48 cities are set aside for the Levites, and the final report on the daughters of Zelophehad is given.
There are more than a few lessons in these two portions. But let’s build on vows.
Numbers 30:2 Whenever a man makes a vow to ADONAI or swears an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he is not to violate his word but do everything coming out of his mouth.
Yeshua warns about taking vows.
Matthew 5:37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.
Yet women can be given annulments from vows they have taken if their husband or father objects.
Concerning a young woman - Verse 5 If her father should forbid it on the day of his hearing it none of her vows or pledges by which she has obligated herself will stand. ADONAI will forgive her because her father has forbidden her.
Concerning a wife – Verse 12 If her husband should nullify them in the day that he hears of them, nothing from her lips, whether vow or pledge will stand. Her husband has nullified them and ADONAI will forgive her.
Why would the LORD include instructions that allow women’s vows to be voided? Why would the LORD limit women’s responsibility when taking vows? Love and protection. The LORD intended men to love their families just as the LORD loves us.
Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely, I will help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
God loves us, so he keeps us from fear by giving us strength and help. We are not to be dismayed, because he will protect us.
2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the LORD is trustworthy - and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
1st Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has taken hold of you except what is common to mankind. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can handle. But with the temptation, he will also provide a way of escape, so you will be able endure it.
The LORD demonstrates his love for us through protecting us.
Numbers 30 also helps define human roles. The man is the leader in his home. He is responsible for the safety and wellbeing of his family. Some may scoff at this section because it seems to put women subservient to men. Not so. Rather, this is a reminder that God assigned roles to men and women, married people and unmarried people, fathers, mothers, and children. In Numbers 30 we get a clear role assignment for men and for certain independent women when it comes to taking vows.
This is not meant to demean or reduce the value of women. It does not make men superior to women. Rather this reminds men that they are responsible for their wife and for her safety and welfare. It sets up a chain of command - God, Yeshua, men, women.
With over three decades of military service, I can assure everyone that a chain of command is not a bad thing. It allows for a clear understanding of responsibility, leadership, and authority. Note authority is last. I assure you it was with intent. Authority may be part of leadership, but it is not the most important part. If one is a truly responsible leader, authority is seldom necessary and rarely used.
1st Peter 3:7 …husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way. Though they are the weaker partners, honor them as equal heirs of the grace of life.
Men are reminded that they are responsible for taking care of their wives in an understanding and honorable way. Our wives are equal heirs to the grace of life given through Messiah Yeshua.
Genesis 2:24 This is why a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife; and they become one flesh.
God’s plan is that men and women become complete when they are joined together! To grow up and fully develop his manhood, a man must leave his dependence upon his parents and bond with his wife. Together complete each other and are then able to develop into fully functioning adults.
The restrictions for women’s vows in Numbers 30 remind us of the God ordained relationship between husbands and wives.
Shabbat Shalom
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat11-July 202626th of Tamuz, 5786 Parashat Matot-Masei
Nu 35:9-36:13Jer 2:4-28; 3:4Jas 4:1-12
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