Num. 30:2 – 36:13
Précis: The parasha 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 Jordan, and are permitted to do so, after promising to enter the Land to help the rest of the People defeat the Canaanites.
The Book of Numbers ends with Masei. “These are the stages (masei) 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 the 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.
Num. 35:9-10 “The Lord spoke further to Moses: ‘Speak to the Israelite people and say to them, ‘When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, you shall provide yourselves with places to serve as cities of refuge to which a manslayer who has killed a person unintentionally may flee. The cities shall serve you as a refuge from the avenger so that the manslayer may be brought before a tribunal…”
The Book of B’midbar ends with a description of the cities of refuge. These six cities, three on either side of the Jordan, where an individual guilty of manslaughter but not guilty of murder, could seek safe exile.
In early societies, there was great concern that people would take the law into their own hands, especially when a family member was killed. This would initiate a cycle of violence. As Rabbi Sacks has noted (Rabbi Sacks Legacy 8/1/24), “This is a phenomenon familiar to us from literature, from the Montagues and Capulets of Romeo and Juliet, to the Sharks and Jets of West Side Story, to the Corleones and Tattaglias of The Godfather.” To which Americans can add the Hatfields and McCoys.
Just imagine: a close relative lies dead and no one has been punished. Vengeance is demanded. In order to avert “blood vengeance,” cities of refuge were established. Those who had committed manslaughter were sent there, and so long as they were within the city limits, they were protected by law.
As was the case then, the case is now: the only viable solution to violence is the effective and impartial rule of law.
