Pinchas- Preparations of Entering Eretz Yisrael
By Rav Yehoshua Weitzman
In this week`s parasha, we find that many of Bnei Yisrael`s past downfalls are mentioned – Korach, Nadav and Avihu, the spies, and Mei Meriva (where Moshe hit the rock). Chazal also add to this the sin of Tzlophchad, who died of his own sins. Why was it necessary to mention all of these sins as part of the preparations of entering Eretz Yisrael?
It is necessary to mention these sins of Bnei Yisrael in the desert as part of the preparation of entering Eretz Yisrael, in order to ensure that Bnei Yisrael will not repeat these sins a second time. By reviewing these past events, Bnei Yisrael is reminded what not to do, and how, by avoiding these downfalls, they can build for themselves more fulfilled/wholesome lives.
This idea is true both in the days of Moshe, as he prepares Bnei Yisrael to enter the Land, and in our days, as we return to Eretz Yisrael from the four corners of the galut. By trying to forget the pains and the hardships of two thousand years of exile, and simply begin from a clean slate, can ultimately hurt us. We must take with us the lessons that we have learned, the hardships we have endured, and the downfalls that we have experienced, and by using them as a stepping stool, elevate our nation`s future and ourselves. By learning from the “mistakes” of the galut, we can try to build our new lives in Eretz Yisrael in a more complete way. The desire to renew must follow a deep introspection of our nation`s past.
The majority of the parasha deals with the preparations for entering Eretz Yisrael – counting the nation, dividing up the land, and defining new leadership. There are two other subjects which seem to have no connection to entering the Land- Pinchas and the detailed description of the animal sacrifices.
Chazal see a connection between Yehoshua becoming the next leader and the sacrifices as expanded upon in the Sifri.
`And Hashem spoke to Moshe saying, command Bnei Yisrael etc. my offering the provision of my sacrifice`. What has been stated above? `And Moshe Spoke to Hashem saying, let Hashem, the G-d of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, who may go out before them, and who may go in before them and who may lead them etc.`. The Holy One, Blessed is He, said to him “Rather than you commanding Me about My children command My children about Me”. This can be compared to a daughter of a king who was departing from the world and giving instructions to her husband regarding her children. She said to him, I beseech you, please take care of my children”. He said to her “rather than you commanding me about my children, command my children about me, that they not disobey me and treat me disrespectfully”. So did The Holy One, Blessed is He, say to Moshe, “Rather than you commanding Me about My children, command My children about Me, that they not treat Me disrespectfully, and they not replace My honor with foreign gods”.
Hashem tells to Moshe that a new type of leadership, one based in the nation and not in the individual, will arise.
Until this point it was not the actions of Bnei Yisrael that was the source of Heavenly blessings, rather the mere fact of who they were. As Bnei Yisrael cross over into Eretz Yisrael, their actions source for this blessing.
From here we are able to see how all of the different issues in this week`s parsha deal with the preparation for entering Eretz Yisrael.