Pinchas
QUESTIONS
1)Why does the Torah wait until this Parsha to reveal the names of the sinner who Pinchas killed at the end of last week’s Parsha? (25:14-15)
2)Why does G-D refer to the daughters of Tzlafchad as LAHEM, in the masculine, instead of LAHEN, in the feminine? (27:7)
3)Why does the Torah refer to Rosh Chodesh as YOUR ROSH CHODESH (ROSHEI CHADSHEICHEM), a term not used for the other holidays? (28:11)
ANSWERS
1)The Ohr HaChayim explains that God does not reveal the name of a sinner unless there is a specific reason to do so. The Torah is now relating the great reward coming to Pinchas for his action. One cannot appreciate why he deserves such a great reward without knowing that Pinchas did what he had to do despite the fact that the sinners were leaders and well respected people in their communities. Thus, the Torah reveals their identities in our Parsha when is reward is revealed.
2)The Kli Yakar answers that G-D used the masculine to emphasize that their inheritance included all laws and rights as if they were males.
3)The Seforno teaches that, unlike the other holidays, the Jews always observed Rosh Chodesh as a special day. They had this tradition to remind themselves that just like the moon which only shines because of the external light from the sun, so, too, the light of the Jewish people is dependent on G-D shining His grace upon us.