Matot-Masei

"Concerning Vows and Oaths"

Note: This week we read a double portion, Matot-Masei, concluding the book of Bamidbar, Numbers. In most years, Matot and Masei are read together.

Parashah Matot starts by emphasizing the solemnity and biding character of vows and oaths.

Vaydaber Moshe el rashei ha’matot livnei Yisrael, leamor... “Then Moshe spoke to the heads of the tribes of the sons of Israel, saying... ‘This is the word which Yehovah has commanded: "If a man makes a vow [neder] to Yehovah, or takes an oath [sh'vuah] to bind himself with a binding obligation, he shall not desecrate his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth."’” Bamidbar 30:2-3

These are very powerful words. First and foremost, this passage says that all our words are sacred, if we violate them, if we use them lightly and then negate them – words without any meaning, empty, or demeaning words - it is considered a desecration.

This is not just an “Old Testament” teaching, but it is God’s Torah for all times and for all people, the teaching of a Holy God who, when He took the form of a man, confirmed the validity of the written Torah by reiterating its teachings: “For the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man” Matthew 15:18 i.e. words reflect what is inside one's heart, clean or unclean, and the actions that follow. How clean is one's heart? Listen to the words they speak then look at their deeds and you will know.

How careful should we then consider what we say, how we say it, and when we say it. Our sages told us to say little and do much because, as Ya’akov writes, “... the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. For every species both of wild animals and birds, reptiles and marine creatures is tamed and has been tamed by humankind. But no one is able to tame the tongue, a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless Yehovah and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been created according to the likeness of God. Out of the same mouth comes forth blessing and also cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be.” Ya’akov (James) 3:5-10

With our words we can build, or we can destroy. Once our mouths release the words they cannot be brought back. How many times have you said something and then regretted it but no matter how much you have apologized the damage has been done. The words from our mouths cannot be "struck out," "disregarded" or "erased;" once released they make an impression. Would you rather then not use words lightly, but speak meaningful words to each other and build each other up? For God says that He hears the words of the righteous, every one of our words, and He will cause them to be written down in a book of remembrance: “Then those who feared Yehovah spoke to one another, and Yehovah gave attention and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear Yehovah and who esteem His Name.” Malachi 3:16

What kind of words would you like to be remembered by? To quote an ancient rabbi, recorded in the Pirkei Avot, the Wisdom of the Fathers: “Shammai used to say: Make your [study of the] Torah a fixed practice; speak little, but do much; and receive all men with a pleasant countenance.” Therefore, let's heed rabbi Shammai’s advice and get into the habit of speaking words from the Torah, words that can only give honor to God.

Secondly, Parashah Matot ’s above beginning passage makes a distinction between a vow (neder) and an oath (sh'vuah). The Hebrew word “neder” denotes a solemn promise to consecrate something to God, or to do something in His service or His honor, such as the Nazarite vow. "Speak to the sons of Yisrael, and tell them: ‘When either man or woman shall make a special vow [neder], the vow of a Nazir, to separate himself to Yehovah.’“ Bamidbar (Numbers) 6:2

There is no English equivalent for the word “neder” for by pronouncing this sort of vow the person is placing upon himself, upon others, or upon an object, a status equivalent to that of a commandment of the Torah. For example, by invoking a “neder” one can prohibit himself something that Torah permits, such as vowing not to eat a produce - even if that produce is kosher - i.e. becoming a vegetarian, it makes that produce forbidden thus changing its halachic status. By contrast, one can make an oath (sh'vuah) to eat a produce thus placing an obligation upon himself without changing its halachic status. Oversimplified, a "neder" is a resolve not to do something even if it is permitted, and a "sh'vuah" is to do something specific from what is permitted.

In the second Parashah, Masei, Moshe recounts the journeys, a total of 42 encampments, through the desert, bamidbar: Eleh Masei bnei Yisrael... “These are the journeys of the sons of Israel... by which they came out of the land of Egypt by their armies, under the leadership of Moses and Aaron.” Bamidbar (Numbers) 33:1

After 40 years, their wilderness wanderings is coming to an end. This journey had shaped the character and soul of the nation at the guiding and protecting hand of God: “For Yehovah’s portion is His people; Yaakov is the allotment of His inheritance. He found him in a desert land, and in the howling wasteland of a wilderness; He encircled him, He cared for him, He guarded him as the apple of His eye.” Devarim (Deuteronomy) 32:9

The Israelites are at the plain of Moab, at the Jordan, by Jericho, and receive parting instructions from Moshe on how to divide the land inheritance by their tribal affiliation, how to establish the cities for Levites which do not have a land inheritance and how to establish the cities of refuge.

And God, as not to leave what was the Promised Land to the imagination of Israelites, gave specific border designations: “And Yehovah spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Command the people of Israel, and say to them, “When you come into the land of Canaan; this is the land that shall fall to you for an inheritance, the land of Canaan with its borders. Then the Negev quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the border of Edom, and your south border shall be the end of the Sea of Salt on the east. And your border shall turn from the Negev to Maale-Akrabbim, and pass on to Zin; and its limits shall be from the south to Kadesh-Barnea, and shall go on to Hazar-Addar, and pass on to Azmon. And the border shall turn from Azmon to the brook of Egypt and the limits shall be at the sea. And as for the western border, you shall have the Great Sea for a border; this shall be your west border. And this shall be your north border; from the Great Sea you mark your line to Mount Hor. From Mount Hor you shall mark your line to the entrance of Hamath; and the limits of the border shall be to Zedad. And the border shall go on to Ziphron, and its limits shall be at Hazar-Enan; this shall be your north border. And you shall point out your east border from Hazar-Enan to Shepham. And the border shall go down from Shepham to Riblah, on the east side of Ain; and the border shall descend, and shall reach the side of the sea of Kinnereth eastward. And the border shall go down to the Jordan, and its limits shall be at the Sea of Salt; this shall be your land with its borders around.” Bamidbar (Numbers) 34:1-12

This is the land given to them by God of which, unfortunately, many nations coveted to possess and as a result Jews were dispersed into the four corners of the earth. Generations later, many Israelis lost their lives to try to re-possess the Promised Land. In 1948 we have seen the miracle of the rebirth of the State of Israel, not on all of it yet, but the Bible promises a future restoration of the land, may it happen in our lifetime.

This Parashah concludes the book of Bamidbar and it is a tradition for the congregation to stand and recite:

Chazak! Chazak! Venitchazeik! Be Strong! Be Strong! And may we be strengthened!

Shabbat Shalom!