Rabbi's Parsha Shiur

SHABBAT  MATOS - MASSEI

From all the tribes of Israel (31:3-4)

Midrash Rabbah explains (22:2),  “Each tribe contributed three thousand men, so in the end, twelve thousand fought, twelve thousand took care of the supplies and weapons, and twelve thousand came with them to pray.”

R. Yechezkel Levinstein writes: “What a wonder this is! The war against Midian was a mitzvah, commanded by HaShem, so that victory was certain! Why, then, did so many men have to be enlisted to pray, and the number praying had to equal the number fighting?”

He continues: “Those enlisted to pray did not pray in the camp. Rather, they went out with the fighting men and prayed by the battlefield. Why could they not have stayed in the camp and prayed?”

From here we learn about human nature – that when a person succeeds in an important venture, a powerful thought takes root, “My powers and the strength of my hand accomplished this!” Special efforts are required to negate this thought and remove it from our hearts. The entire notion must be countered, for it smacks of heresy.

The men sent to fight this battle were the nation’s gedolim (spiritual giants), but the concern still remained that after the victory, they would attribute their success to their own powers, instead of to HaShem – the true “Man of War.” Even though HaShem had commanded them to fight this war, they still might have let such a heretical thought enter their minds, and not give credit to the Holy One for the victory.

Therefore, the number of fighting men had to be matched by an equal-size force of men praying, and those praying would have to do so directly in the sight of those fighting—- to remind the fighters of the truth! It would not be enough that the fighters would know that there was an equal number praying back in the camp. No! the forces supporting the war effort through prayer had to be seen by the fighting forces, because a man is influenced by what he sees much more than by what he knows.       

If the fighters had not seen a like force praying alongside them, they would have naturally concluded that Jewish physical might and military prowess had defeated the Midianites. The fighters had to actually see the force of prayer to acknowledge it, because “My powers and the strength of my hand accomplished this” is such a strong misconception it must be countered by something undeniable that impacts upon the senses. How dangerous this mindset is and how easily one can succumb to it! Therefore, what great precautions are necessary to protect oneself from it!

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Jonathan Horowitz