The kidnapping of a word.
Rabbi Immanuel Shochet, Professor emeritus of Philosophy at Humber College in Toronto, finds the term: “Zeh HaDavar asher Zivah HaShem...” - This is the thing that the Lord our God has commended, of the greatest importance. Because it is testament to the fact that Moshe Rabbenu is indeed the only and greatest Prophet of the Jewish People. Because no other Prophet uses the word “zeh”. You see, “zeh” means “this is” and thus comes directly from HaShem as spoken or given to Moshe.
Why is this important?
Well, Moshe goes on to explain that vows - ‘neder’ in hebrew, are directly connected to the soul. And therefore are not to be broken. By using the word “zeh” at the beginning of the explanation, we now know that these words came directly from HaShem.
Parashat Mattot continues to explain in the minutest details what vows are and how they work. And now that Israel has learned what the value of a vow is, Moshe, in the name of HaShem, recruits an army. He commands them to commit vengeance successfully against the Medianites and Bilaam – again, in the name of HaShem.
Soon, Am Israel is getting ready to cross the Jordan. But the land they’re on isn’t bad. In fact it’s good enough land for cattle, so the Children of Reuven and Gad think. And they, along with half the tribe of Menashe, make it known that they would like to stay where they are.
Chutzpah of the greatest kind. We just learned what a vow is. We’ve been in the desert, sponsored by HaShem, for 40 years. We’ve have become supposedly a new people: Bnei Israel. And now, shortly before getting ready to take the Promised Land, two-and a half tribes decide not to come.
We also just read the word 'zeh' placed in front of the paragraph that teaches us what vows really mean. And Rabbi Shochet teaches us that only Moshe Rabbenu can speak the word 'zeh' at the beginning of a sentence given to him directly by HaShem. Meaning, that if you say 'no' to Moshe like the children of Reuven, Gad and Menashe dared, you also say directly 'no' to HaShem.
The idea to stay behind, comes from thinking about the well-being of their live stock first. They’re not even thinking about their children, wives or anything else human. No cows, sheep, chickens, whatever, come first.
“Eretz, mikneh hu...” - it’s a land for cattle.
The Children of Reuven and Gad approach Moshe. They were sounding Moshe Rabbenu. They were feeling him out, warming him up. But Moshe did not respond. Didn’t take the bait. So they carefully continued: “...El-ta-avirenu et HaYarden” – ...bring us not over the Jordan. What an insult. So naturally Moshe Rabbenu flips out. Goes berserk and hangs them out to dry. Telling them that they have learned nothing from the past. Klum!
Here’s comes the most perplexing part. Strange for two reasons.
One: They offer their heads of their tribes: the Mattot, to enter Eretz Israel as Chalutzim: Armed Warriors. Only to return to their stock, children and wives on the Trans-Jordan site when the other tribes have safely inhibited and received their shares of the Promised Land.
And Two: Moshe takes the deal. Moshe does correct them, since they placed their live stock ahead of their children.
In the words of Rashi: They enviced more concern for their own money than their sons and daughters, as they placed their cattle before their little ones. Said Moshe to them; do not do so!...Build your first cities for your little ones and afterwards, folds for your sheep.”
Eliezer Yitchak Perlman, better known as Eliezer Ben-Yehuda was born in Luzhki (Belarus) in 1858. He started studying hebrew at the ripe age of 3-years. He is of course considered the father of the modern hebrew language.
He made one mistake. He allowed the word Chalutzim to become a symbol of freedom. We envision black and white documentaries of men and women dancing in very short shorts and singing yiddishe songs. The word 'Chalutz' stands for an early pioneer. Someone we look up to today. Yet, the word was kidnapped thousands of years before by selfish families who didn’t even want to settle in Eretz Israel.
And Mister Ben Yehuda, that’s a serious grammatical mistake.
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