"It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end."http://www.ou.org/torah/parsha/parsha-from-ou/masei-journey-lives/
~ Ernest Hemingway
Kol Tuv,
RRW
Saturday 11 July 2020
Parshah Mas'ei
Train Ride: R Eliyahu Safran
Kol Tuv,
RRW
Kol Tuv,
RRW
P. Matot: Umikneh Rav liv'nai R'uvein, Gad - So How did M'nasheh get Included?
R'uvein and Gad approached Moshe Rabbeinu requesting TransJordan. When Moshe acquiesced, he added Hatzi Shevet M'nasheh. Why?
Below is a an answer based upon the structure of the Tribes throughout Sefer Bamidbar - here is that dynamic at work
When Levi drops out of the "tribes" a shuffle occurs in Parshas Bamidbar, Nasso, B'haalot'cha. *
1. Gad is promoted to Honorary Ben Leah, camping with R'uvein and Shim'on
2. Yosef is divided into Two, Ephraim and M'nasheh to restore the number to 12
The 4 camps now are structured as follows
East - 3 from Leah
South - 2 from Leah plus Gad
West - 3 from Rachel
North - 3 from the "sh'fachot" - 1 from Zilpah, 2 from Bilhah
Levi was now in a circle inside
-------------------
When R'uvein and Gad chose TransJordan, then we have
20% of Leah
25% of the Sh'fachot
0% of Rachel
To Remedy this Moshe takes 1/2 of M'nasheh which comprises about 25% of Rachel - thereby restoring a balance of Imahot. [Counting Bilhah/Zilpah as a unit]
Why M'nasheh and not Ephraim? I'm not sure - but perhaps it is since he is the b'chor and so are R'uvein and Gad.
-------------------
* Note whenever Levi IS counted in the 12, Joseph is reunited.
Shalom,
RRW
Below is a an answer based upon the structure of the Tribes throughout Sefer Bamidbar - here is that dynamic at work
When Levi drops out of the "tribes" a shuffle occurs in Parshas Bamidbar, Nasso, B'haalot'cha. *
1. Gad is promoted to Honorary Ben Leah, camping with R'uvein and Shim'on
2. Yosef is divided into Two, Ephraim and M'nasheh to restore the number to 12
The 4 camps now are structured as follows
East - 3 from Leah
South - 2 from Leah plus Gad
West - 3 from Rachel
North - 3 from the "sh'fachot" - 1 from Zilpah, 2 from Bilhah
Levi was now in a circle inside
-------------------
When R'uvein and Gad chose TransJordan, then we have
20% of Leah
25% of the Sh'fachot
0% of Rachel
To Remedy this Moshe takes 1/2 of M'nasheh which comprises about 25% of Rachel - thereby restoring a balance of Imahot. [Counting Bilhah/Zilpah as a unit]
Why M'nasheh and not Ephraim? I'm not sure - but perhaps it is since he is the b'chor and so are R'uvein and Gad.
-------------------
* Note whenever Levi IS counted in the 12, Joseph is reunited.
Shalom,
RRW
Parsha: Matot/Maasei, "How did Hatzi Shevet Menashe Get There?"
The tribes of Gad and Reuven approach Moshe about staying in East Jordan...
- Bamidbar: 32
Question: how did the "half-tribe of Menashe" get in the picture? Why Menashe and not another tribe?
I have a surprise answer....
...OK...
clear your minds.
I taught a parsha class for many years at Congregation Mt Sinai in Washington Heights. I found that many of the tribal dynamics had to do with the Matriarchs, Jacob's four wives. I don't have the time or space to explain it all now, but use that as a prism for viewing these inter-tribal dynamics. Now apply that here.
Rachel
Now take a loot at the proportions:
Leah gave birth to six sons. However, Levi didn't receive any land, leaving five to inherit the land of Israel. So Reuven is about 20% of of the inheriting sons of Leah. Gad is about 25% of the maidservants' children.
What's needed? 20-25% of Rachel's children. Half the tribe of Menasseh is about 12.5 to 20% depending on how you compute the population. Shevet Menasseh is much larger than either Shevet Ephraim or Shevet Benjamin.
So Moses' agenda was to assert a matriarchal balance over East-Jordan. Half (or part of) Menasseh did the trick
Proof?
None
Hint?
Look at the configuration of the tribes in pasrshiot Bamidbar and Beha'alotecha. The tribes march along according to matriarch - except one. Gad, who is promoted to replace Levi along with Reuven and Shim'on.
This model "suggests" the Torah had a matriarchal proportion re: tribe vs tribe. Since half-Menasseh seems to jump out of nowhere, I simply plugged them in. Voila! It conformed to a an existing model.
Shalom,
RRW
- Bamidbar: 32
Question: how did the "half-tribe of Menashe" get in the picture? Why Menashe and not another tribe?
I have a surprise answer....
...OK...
clear your minds.
I taught a parsha class for many years at Congregation Mt Sinai in Washington Heights. I found that many of the tribal dynamics had to do with the Matriarchs, Jacob's four wives. I don't have the time or space to explain it all now, but use that as a prism for viewing these inter-tribal dynamics. Now apply that here.
- Reuven, one of Leah's sons.
- Gad, one of the two maidservants' sons. (Zilpah)
Rachel
Now take a loot at the proportions:
Leah gave birth to six sons. However, Levi didn't receive any land, leaving five to inherit the land of Israel. So Reuven is about 20% of of the inheriting sons of Leah. Gad is about 25% of the maidservants' children.
What's needed? 20-25% of Rachel's children. Half the tribe of Menasseh is about 12.5 to 20% depending on how you compute the population. Shevet Menasseh is much larger than either Shevet Ephraim or Shevet Benjamin.
So Moses' agenda was to assert a matriarchal balance over East-Jordan. Half (or part of) Menasseh did the trick
Proof?
None
Hint?
Look at the configuration of the tribes in pasrshiot Bamidbar and Beha'alotecha. The tribes march along according to matriarch - except one. Gad, who is promoted to replace Levi along with Reuven and Shim'on.
This model "suggests" the Torah had a matriarchal proportion re: tribe vs tribe. Since half-Menasseh seems to jump out of nowhere, I simply plugged them in. Voila! It conformed to a an existing model.
Shalom,
RRW
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)