Pinchas פִּינְחָס - Phinehas
Torah Portion: Numbers 25:10-30:1
Haftarah: Jeremiah 1:1-2:3
Shabbat: Numbers 29:12–30:1
29:12 “‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no regular work. You shall keep a feast to Hashem seven days. 13 You shall offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Hashem: thirteen young bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect; 14 and their meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil: three tenths for every bull of the thirteen bulls, two tenths for each ram of the two rams, 15 and one tenth for every lamb of the fourteen lambs; 16 and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its meal offering, and its drink offering.
17 “‘On the second day you shall offer twelve young bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old without defect; 18 and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance; 19 and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, with its meal offering and their drink offerings.
20 “‘On the third day: eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect; 21 and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance; 22 and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, and its meal offering, and its drink offering.
23 “‘On the fourth day, ten bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect; 24 their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance, 25 and one male goat for a sin offering; in addition to the continual burnt offering, its meal offering, and its drink offering.
26 “‘On the fifth day: nine bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect; 27 and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance, 28 and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, and its meal offering, and its drink offering.
29 “‘On the sixth day: eight bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect; 30 and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance, 31 and one male goat for a sin offering; in addition to the continual burnt offering, its meal offering, and the drink offerings of it.
32 “‘On the seventh day: seven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect; 33 and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance, 34 and one male goat for a sin offering; in addition to the continual burnt offering, its meal offering, and its drink offering.
35 “‘On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly. You shall do no regular work; 36 but you shall offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a pleasant aroma to Hashem: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without defect; 37 their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bull, for the ram, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the ordinance, 38 and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, with its meal offering, and its drink offering.
39 “‘You shall offer these to Hashem in your set feasts—in addition to your vows and your free will offerings—for your burnt offerings, your meal offerings, your drink offerings, and your peace offerings.’”
40 Moses told the children of Israel according to all that Hashem commanded Moses.
30:1 Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the children of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which Hashem has commanded.
Today’s Meditation:
Today, we are reading about the Feast of Tabernacles. In this Scripture, we are taught about the sacrifices. But in other parts of the Torah, we are told to live in booths for seven days, remembering the journey through the desert. It is also celebrating the end of the harvest year. As they traveled through the wilderness for forty years, the Israelites lived in fragile dwellings. We are to remember this. Also, think about the dependence the Israelites must have had on Hashem for food, water, and life. And with the many hundreds of people, they needed rules, organization, and strong leadership. All of this Hashem provided, in unique ways. Sometimes people would forget about Hashem’s faithfulness and challenge Him in difficult times. There were great consequences for doing this. Let’s remember this as we go through life’s ups and downs. Hashem will always be there for us. We must believe He has the perfect plan, no matter what.
Today’s Challenge:
This is another Feast for you to prepare and plan for. Now is a good time to think about the materials you will need to build your Sukkah this fall. You can find some building plans and ideas online. You can even order Sukkah kits. Or maybe you want to build your Sukkah from a tent. However you want to do it, start your planning now. That is today’s challenge for you.
This Week’s Haftarah: Jeremiah 1:1-2:3
1:1 The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin. 2 Hashem’s word came to him in the days of Josiah, the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. 3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, to the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, to the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month. 4 Now Hashem’s word came to me, saying,
5 “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.
Before you were born, I sanctified you.
I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
6 Then I said, “Ah, Adonai Hashem! Behold, I don’t know how to speak; for I am a child.”
7 But Hashem said to me, “Don’t say, ‘I am a child;’ for you must go to whomever I send you, and you must say whatever I command you. 8 Don’t be afraid because of them, for I am with you to rescue you,” says Hashem.
9 Then Hashem stretched out his hand and touched my mouth. Then Hashem said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. 10 Behold, I have today set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”
11 Moreover, Hashem’s word came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?”
I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.”
12 Then Hashem said to me, “You have seen well; for I watch over My word to perform it.”
13 Hashem's word came to me the second time, saying, “What do you see?”
I said, “I see a boiling cauldron, and it is tipping away from the north.”
14 Then Hashem said to me, “Out of the north, evil will break out on all the inhabitants of the land. 15 For, behold, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north,” says Hashem.
“They will come, and they will each set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all its walls all around, and against all the cities of Judah.
16 I will utter my judgments against them concerning all their wickedness,
in that they have forsaken Me,
and have burned incense to other gods,
and worshiped the works of their own hands.
17 “You therefore put your belt on your waist, arise, and say to them all that I command you. Don’t be dismayed at them, lest I dismay you before them. 18 For, behold, I have made you today a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against its princes, against its priests, and against the people of the land. 19 They will fight against you, but they will not prevail against you; for I am with you”, says Hashem, “to rescue you.”
2:1 Hashem’s word came to me, saying, 2 “Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Hashem says,
“I remember for you the kindness of your youth,
the love of your weddings;
how you went after Me in the wilderness,
in a land that was not sown.
3 Israel was holiness to Hashem,
the first fruits of his increase.
All who devour him will be held guilty.
Evil will come on them,” says Hashem.
Today’s Haftarah Meditation:
Hashem is giving directions to Jeremiah during a very turbulent time. He wants him to go out as His messenger to the people. In verse 7, we read, “But Hashem said to me, 'Don’t say, ‘I am a child;’ for you must go to whomever I send you, and you must say whatever I command you. 8 Don’t be afraid because of them, for I am with you to rescue you,” says Hashem. Can you imagine the faith Jeremiah would need as Hashem tells him this? He has to go where He says and speak what He says. But this is given with a strong promise that Hashem will be with him and rescue him. Has Hashem ever told you to go and speak to someone about something? But maybe it was too scary or risky for you to do so? Repent right now if you did not do what He said, and you know what this is. And remember to obey Him next time. It is the only right thing to do.
Today’s Haftarah Challenge:
In Chapter 2:3, we read, “Israel was holiness to Hashem, the first fruits of his increase. All who devour him will be held guilty. Evil will come on them,” says Hashem. This is something to pay strong attention to. Hashem has special favor over the land of Israel. In troubled times, in good times, in obedience and disobedience, Hashem is faithful and loves His people and His land. If anyone, or any government, does evil to His people or His land, there will be strong repercussions. Remember this today, and we see terrorists and countries attacking Israel at different times. Remember to pray and give financially to help protect the land. This must be a number one priority. And if you are not doing this, start today. Search online for the many organizations that support Israel and its people.
