n which Moses describes the laws of oaths. The Israelites battle the Midianites. The tribes of Reuven and Gad request to dwell outside of the Land of Israel..
The rules of Vows to G-d:If a person takes a vow before G-d that vow
is binding, unless the person is a virgin then her father can relieve her of
her vow, or a married woman then her husband can relieve her of her vow
(do not judge).
Revenge against the Midianites: Moses tells the Israelites
to send 1000 men from each tribe to take revenge on the Midianites for trying
to seduce the Israelites into idolatry. The army of 12000 lead by Pinchas
mounts a surprise attack and kills all the Midianite males, including all the
kings and the prophet Balaam.
Women, beasts and possessions, that were not burnt, were taken
as spoils (do not judge). Moses orders every woman and male child killed and
only virgin girls kept as spoils (do not judge).
Purification after battle and division of
spoils with allotting a part for G-d: The soldiers must purify themselves and
their belongings after contact with corpses then all the spoils must be counted
and fairly divided between the soldiers, the community, and G-d. It turns out
that not a single warrior was lost in the battle and an additional gift of gold
is offered to G-d.
Fair Participation in Battle:The cattle-breeding
tribes of Reuven and Gad ask permission to settle east of the Jordan where the
pastures are good. Moses is outraged, thinking that Reuven and Gad are acting
like the skeptical spies, afraid of battle. But when Reuven and Gad persuade
Moses that they will leave their families and cattle behind and go to battle,
Moses agrees, on condition that if they go back on their promise to fight, they
forfeit the claim to the land.
Nina’s Comment:
It is hard for a modern reader to swallow the text about a woman
having no will of her own, until she is a widow. Even harder to see all-out
extermination of a people with only virgin girls spared to be used as the
winner’s loot. But this is where the people were then. G-d takes them as they
are and elevates them - see Masei.