Pinchas: A Non-Kohen Kohen?

Hi,

[From an article I published for this past Shabbat, in our Toronto Torah weekly.]

The Talmud (Zevachim 102a) describes the superlative joy felt by Elisheva bat Aminadav on the day the Mishkan was dedicated, beyond her joy in our own spiritual heights: "Elisheva experienced five joys, beyond the joy felt by all Jewish women. Her brother-in-law [Moshe] was the king, her husband [Aharon] was the kohen gadol, her son [Elazar] was the sgan, her grandson [Pinchas] was anointed to lead the nation in war, and her brother [Nachshon] was head of a tribe."

This passage contains an apparent anachronism, though: As the Talmud (Zevachim 101b) explains Bamidbar 25:13, "And Pinchas and his children after him will have the covenant of eternal kehunah," Pinchas was not a kohen until the events of our parshah. This was almost forty years after the dedication of the Mishkan!

Rabbi Baruch HaLevi Epstein (Torah Temimah to Shir haShirim 3:6) contends that the two talmudic passages are simply contradictory. However, Rashbam offered a possible resolution, suggesting that one could become a kohen as far as leading the nation to war, without becoming a kohen for the rest of the roles of the kohen. [This may explain the Rambam's view, in Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Klei haMikdash 4:21, that the position of leading the nation to war is not an inherited position.]

One might suggest that the reason Rashbam feels comfortable splitting military leadership from general kehunah is his explanation of the word "kohen". To Rashbam, as seen in his commentary to Bereishit 41:45, the word "kohen" does not mean "member of the priestly family". Rather, "kohen" means "officer", one designated to perform a particular task. Therefore, Pinchas might be the "Military kohen" before he ever becomes a "Mishkan kohen".

Rashbam's point should resonate for all of us who are not part of the kohen caste, for we, too, are partial kohanim. We are charged with the role of being "mamlechet kohanim," an empire of priests. (Shemot 19:6) Like Pinchas pre-Parshat Pinchas, we are officers, with leadership roles. Rather than bemoan the fact that we are not privileged to be full kohanim, let us rejoice in our elevated mission, and go forth with it to the greatest success.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The special character of Benjamin

Hi,

“The Shechinah was manifest upon Israel in three places: Shiloh, Nov and Givon, and the Beit haMikdash. In each of these it was manifest only in the portion of Benjamin, as it is written (Devarim 33:12), ‘He covers Benjamin all day,’ all of the coverings [by HaShem] occur only in the portion of Benjamin.”

(Talmud, Zevachim 118b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Awe for the king

Hi,

"You should always feel awe for the king; [Moshe said to Pharaoh,] 'All of your servants will come down to me,' and he did not say, 'You will come down to me.'"

(Talmud, Zevachim 102a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

HaShem's anger at Moshe

Hi,

Shemot 4:14 says that when Moshe refused to lead the Jews, "HaShem displayed anger at Moshe."

"Rabbi Yehoshua ben Karcha said: All mentions of anger in the Torah involve some visible result, but regarding this event no visible result was mentioned.

"Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai said: A visible result was mentioned for this, too. HaShem then said to Moshe, 'Your brother Aharon, the Levite,' but Aharon is a Kohen! HaShem was telling Moshe, 'I said you would be the Kohen and Aharon would be the Levite, but now you will be the Levite and Aharon will be the Kohen.'"

(Talmud, Zevachim 102a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai