A Promise is a Promise

Matot - Masei

Numbers 30:2-36:13

Precis: Matot is the first of this double parasha reading, It begins with a speech to the heads (matot) of the tribes concerning the importance and sacredness of vows. The parasha then returns to the war with the Midianites, including the purification of the warriors and division of the booty. The tribes of Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh express their desire to dwell east of the Jordon, and are permitted to do so, after promising to enter the Land to help the rest of the People defeat the Canaanites.

Masei is the concluding parasha of the Book of Numbers. “These are the stages (massei) of the journey” which the Israelites made through the desert. In what amounts to a recapitulation, all of the stops along the way are identified. The Israelites are reminded to drive the Canaanites from the Land. Most of the parasha outlines the Israelites' entry to the Promised Land and sets out first steps to be taken as they establish their national home, including the distribution of land among the tribes. The Levitical cities are described, as well as the cities of refuge. Just prior to their invasion of the land, the laws differentiating between murder and killing are repeated. The parasha ends with a summary of the commandments and ordinances. 

Numbers 30:2 -3 “And Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of Israel, saying: ‘This is a thing that Adonai has commanded: When a man vows a vow to Adonai, or swears an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word, but will do according to what comes from his mouth.’”

This week’s parasha tells us much about the Jewish concepts of obligation and commitment.  First, we see the current verse regarding vows made to God, and the importance (if not inviolability) of such oaths.  Next, the parasha reviews the shared obligations of the various tribes in their wars with Midian. Following this discussion (Numbers 31:14-21) we read about the requests of the tribes of Reuben and Gad to makes their homes on the east bank of the Jordan because it seemed a good place to raise their herds. This at first appears to be an instance of their shirking of communal responsibility to help conquer the Promised Land, but this problem is soon resolved by their promise to place warriors from their tribes in the vanguard of invading Jewish troops.

What is the connection between vows (obligations) made to God and commitments to our community? I would suggest that the confluence of these two concepts in this week’s reading is not coincidental. Judaism is a religion of commitment and obligation. It is also a religion which defines our relationship to God and our relationship to our community. The parallels we find in this parasha remind us that our obligations to community are in fact also obligations to the "higher authority."