Read Numbers 30:1-32:42 at Bible Gateway.
The teaching tools of scripture
Gen 1:1-2:3 and the teaching tools of scripture part one and part two
Gen 1:1-6:8 and finding the topic themes of scripture
Hebrew paragraph divisions
30:1-16 {p} The law concerning vows
31:1-12 {s} Defeat of Midian
31:13-20 {s} Kill the women and male children, be purified on the 3rd, 7th days
31:21-24 {s} Purification of metals + 7th day to come into the camp
31:25-54 {p} The division of the plunder
32:1-4 {s} The country on the east side of the Jordan, a land for livestock
32:5-15 {s} Reuben + Gad: do not take us over the Jordan; Moses’ rebuke
32:16-19 {p} We will cross over armed with Israel to cause them to inherit
32:20-42 {p} Reuben, Gad, half Manasseh inherit east of the Jordan
Strong themes of the parashah
30:1-16 {p} The law concerning vows
31:1-54 {sx3+p} Victory for Israel over Midian
32:1-42 {s+s+p+p} Reuben, Gad, and half Manasseh inherit the east side of the Jordan
Num 30:1-32:42 triennial Torah portions
30:1-31:54, triennial Matot, “Tribes”
32:1-42, triennial Umiqneh rav, “Much cattle”
Num 30:1-32:42 Chiastic structure
Download the fully expanded Num 30:1-32:42 Matot chiasm pdf (Coming …).
Theme of the parashah
In Matot, the theme of Num 30 is the law concerning vows: pay what you have vowed to YHVH. In Num 32, the theme is the vow of Reuben, Gad, and half Manasseh to pay their vow to cross over armed before Israel. In Num 30, Israel pays a vow in defeating Midian, for in Num 25 Midian seduced Israel into idolatry with Baal of Peor, and YHVH commanded them at that time to attack them. The theme of the parashah, then, is pay what you have vowed to YHVH.
Finding Messiah in Matot
Additional readings for this parashah
Jer 2:4-28 | Luk 13:1-9
Studies in Matot
Num 30, The law concerning vows
Num 31, Waging the LORD’s warfare
Num 30:1-32:42 Chiastic structure, and YHVH’s just judgment
Further study off site
Matot – Restoration of Torah
Matot Torah Pearls – Nehemiah Gordon and Keith Johnson
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