Mattoth Massaei:the conclusion of the Torah

Mattoth Massaei: the conclusion of the Torah

 

 

Where does the Bamidbar, hence the story of the Torah, end?  [Devarim is a recapitulation]  The last issue taken up by the Torah is the re-establishment of  patriarchy.  A correction is made to the original solution to the inheritance problems of the daughter of Zelofchad for the expressed purpose of making inheritance, in general, patriarchal ( 36:9). 

 

What are the implications of patriarchy?  The immediate consequence is that paternity - who is the father- becomes extremely important.  As a consequence, the man becomes the protector of the mother of HIS child. ( the mother almost always knows which child is hers [ note the exception - the child that Shlomo threatened to divide between the claimant mothers- the women were zonoth {inn keepers?})

 

This is merely an apology for the social system that the Torah seems to support, not a justification for the persecution or disenfranchisement of women ( that may devolve from the system) [see Maureen Dowd in the NY Times July 15, 2009].

 

The end of the Torah story echoes to the earlier stories.  The daughters of Zelafchad are the descendants of Gilad.  Gilad is the symbol of the treaty between Lavan ( the father of our matriarchs) and Yaakov (our ultimate patriarch).  And what is the essence of their treaty?  That the man ( YAakov) will not abuse his wives ( daughters of Lavan) nor compromise the inheritance of the women by taking additional wives (Breshith 31:50).   Note that Yaakov swear by the Pachad of Yitzchok ( his monogamous father).

 

The name Zelofchad also echoes back to an ever earlier story.  Chava is made from the tzelah of Adam. This is the tzel ( shadow) ayin ( that one looks into) .  Sometimes it is appropriate to be afraid of one's own shadow.