PInchas: Succession

 

PInchas: Succession

 

Succession was an extraordinarily popular television series, ostensibly about the inheritance of a huge media fortune. It explored the fantasies of grandeur of the children of Logan Roy, a shadow of Rupert Murdoch, owner of the News Company, hence Fox News – an entity that advanced the science of propaganda to a new level..  This week’s parsha, Pinchas, is  a root story of succession.

The legacy problem arose two weeks ago, in parshat Chukath. That parsha began with instructions for the red heifer ash water needed to purify those contaminated by exposure to death. The instructions are given to Elazar, Aaron’s son. Aaron has retired; the ashes will soon be used to cleanse those exposed to the corpse tumah ( impurity) that will be generated by Aaron’s death. Elazar is designated as his successor in a ritual of euthanasia that includes the transfer of the priestly vestments.

 

Last week’s parsha ended with Elazar’s son, born to a Midianite woman, Pinchas, killing a prominent member of the Simon tribe, and a Midianite princess for their intimacy. In this week’s parsha, Pinchas’ act of passion is represented as a service to the Israelites.  It has turned away the wrath of Gd from destroying the people.

The story is not a cautionary against intermarriage. Pinchas’ mother and  Moses’ wife are foreign, Midianites. The adoption of new traditions, and the associated gods, is identified as the capital offence.

While Israel was staying at Shittim, the menfolk profaned themselves by whoring with the Moabite women,

who invited the menfolk to the sacrifices for their god. The menfolk partook of them and worshiped that god.

 

It is all in the predicate.

 

Half-breed Pinchas receives the covenant of shalom ( calligraphed in the Torah with a broken vav). [A television western series {1956-1958} about a peace arrangement between the Apache and US Mail was called Broken Arrow]. Pinchas will be the next high priest and his sons will serve after him. He has usurped his brothers’ superior lineage.  He has made his own yichus (pedigree); that is something my mother told me to do.

A descendent of Pinchas, a son of Eli, shared his name. He appears ( with his brother Hofni)  in the story of the birth ( and ascent) of the prophet Samuel.  Father Eli appears to be both the major prophet and high priest.  His sons, including Pinchas II, are unworthy. Rather the foster son, Samuel, a descendant of another revolutionary -Korach- becomes the great prophet. The story turns with the generations; it is a soap opera.

 

The story of the Divine legitimization of Pichas’ primacy is immediately followed by a catalogue of the families that will take possession of the (soon to be conquered) Promised Land. A few (6) women are named as (potential) heirs: the five daughters of Zelophchad and Serach, daughter of Asher.  The daughters of Zelophchad  bring their case for a share in the inheritance (to be distributed to daughters) before Moses. Surprisingly, Moses brings the question to Gd and … the ruling favors the women. ( Ah, the old Supreme Court). [ Don’t worry, their rights will soon be curtailed {temporarily}]. This successful coup for equality  is a lasting encouragement to champion justice. These little surprises are so exciting.

Finally, Moses is confronted with his death.  He asks that a successor be chosen.  The logical candidate would have been  from the numerically dominant tribe of Judah, his brother in law ( Miriam’s husband), Caleb. Caleb preceded Joshua in trying to convince the Israelites to have the confidence to fight against the odds for the Promised Land.  Surprise! Joshua will be the heir.

In stories, merit wins over pedigree. Sometimes that happens in real life. Sometimes merit just gets redefined.