Parshat Masei 5779
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in this week's parsha (Chapter 34, Pasuk 17), Eileh Shemos Ha'Anashim Asher Yinchalu Lachem es Ha'Aretz, Elazar HaKohen V'Yehoshua Bin Nun. These are the people who will inherit the land for you, Elazar the Kohen HaGadol and Yehoshua. The pasukim following list the Nesi'im, the heads of all the tribes. Rashi explains that this is because they served as the representatives and caretakers of each tribe in dividing up their portion. If these pasukim are stressing the role of the Nesi'im, why does the Torah mention first the names of Yehoshua and Elazar? What role did they play in the apportioning of Eretz Yisrael?
Rav Tzadok teaches that the role of Yehoshua was clear. He is mentioned in the pasuk of Eileh Shemos Ha'Anashim Asher Yinchalu Lachem es Ha'Aretz since he was the one who led Bnei Yisrael into Eretz Yisrael; he was the one who led them in their battles in capturing Eretz Yisrael. But what of Elazar HaKohen; what function and role did he play in dividing the land of Israel?
Rav Tzadok likens the role of Elazar in dividing Eretz Yisrael to the role he played in the preparation of the Parah Adumah and the Mei Chatas. When the Parah Adumah was being prepared, the Parah was slaughtered by a zar, a non-Kohen, but the Kohen Gadol looked on during this process. (See the Rambam who holds like Rav that the Parah Adumah itself must be prepared by a Kohen. Rav Tzadok is explaining according to Shmuel who says the Parah Adumah was done by a non-Kohen with the presence of the Kohen). If this process of slaughtering and preparing the Parah Adumah was able to be done by a non-Kohen, what is the point of Elazar standing and watching?
He answers that we see by the creation of light the pasuk says (Bereishis, Chapter 1, Pasuk 4), Vayar Elokim es Ha'Ohr Ki Tov. When Hashem looked at the light, He infused the light with good. And the same term of Vayar Elokim Ki Tov repeats itself throughout creation expressing the same notion of Hashem so to speak looking at the creation and making it good. This same midah is given over to the Tzadik, as the pasuk in Tehillim states (Chapter 34, Pasuk 16), Einei Hashem el Tzadikim. The Tzadik can bring light with his vision similar to Hashem by creation.
The Parah Adumah was used to purify someone who was impure as a result of encountering a dead person. Chazal also teach that it is meant to be an atonement for the chet ha'egel, as the Medrash Rabbah teaches (19, 8), Tavo Parah V'Techaper al Ha'egel. Therefore, it was necessary for Elazar to stand nearby and watch the process of producing a cure for impurity and sin and infuse it with the light of holiness from Hashem. Elazar watching the Parah Adumah being slaughtered was a result of Einei Hashem el Tzadikim.
The same thing was true of Eretz Yisrael. Yehoshua was the one who led Bnei Yisrael into battle and captured and divided Eretz Yisrael. But he did it with the spiritual guidance of Elazar. It was regarding Elazar that Moshe was told (Chapter 27, Pasuk 21), Al Piv Yatzu, V'Al Piv Yavo'u. Elazar will lead and direct Yehoshua in helping him conquer Eretz Yisrael. And his role was similar to his role in the preparation of the Parah Adumah. By being with Yehoshua and his unique vision, he was able to bring the special light of Vayar Elokim es Ha'Ohr Ki Tov into the capturing of Eretz Yisrael as well. Hence, when the Torah teaches us that Eretz Yisrael was divided among the tribes by the Nesi'im and they were led into battle by Yehoshua, the first person mentioned is Elazar HaKohen. For it was through his unique vision and spiritual guidance that the conquering of Eretz Yisrael was able to take place.
Good Shabbos
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