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Numbers 25:6 - Bold sin amid national mourning?

Numbers 25:6 - במדבר 25:6

Hebrew Text

וְהִנֵּה אִישׁ מִבְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בָּא וַיַּקְרֵב אֶל־אֶחָיו אֶת־הַמִּדְיָנִית לְעֵינֵי מֹשֶׁה וּלְעֵינֵי כָּל־עֲדַת בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל וְהֵמָּה בֹכִים פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד׃

English Translation

And, behold, one of the children of Yisra᾽el came and brought to his brethren a Midyanite woman in the sight of Moshe, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Yisra᾽el, who were weeping before the door of the Tent of Meeting.

Transliteration

Ve'hineh ish mibnei yisrael va'yakrev el-echav et-hamidyanit le'einei moshe ule'einei kol-adat bnei-yisrael ve'hemah bochim petach ohel mo'ed.

Hebrew Leining Text

וְהִנֵּ֡ה אִישׁ֩ מִבְּנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל בָּ֗א וַיַּקְרֵ֤ב אֶל־אֶחָיו֙ אֶת־הַמִּדְיָנִ֔ית לְעֵינֵ֣י מֹשֶׁ֔ה וּלְעֵינֵ֖י כׇּל־עֲדַ֣ת בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְהֵ֣מָּה בֹכִ֔ים פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃
וְהִנֵּ֡ה אִישׁ֩ מִבְּנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל בָּ֗א וַיַּקְרֵ֤ב אֶל־אֶחָיו֙ אֶת־הַמִּדְיָנִ֔ית לְעֵינֵ֣י מֹשֶׁ֔ה וּלְעֵינֵ֖י כׇּל־עֲדַ֣ת בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְהֵ֣מָּה בֹכִ֔ים פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃

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Parasha Commentary

Context of the Verse

This verse (Bamidbar 25:6) describes a brazen act of public defiance during the incident of Ba'al Peor, where a Jewish man, later identified as Zimri ben Salu (Sanhedrin 82a), brought a Midianite woman into the camp in full view of Moshe and the entire congregation. This occurred while Bnei Yisrael were mourning the plague resulting from their earlier sins of idolatry and immorality with the daughters of Moav and Midyan.

The Brazenness of the Act

Rashi emphasizes the shocking nature of this act, noting that the man brought the Midianite woman "before the eyes of Moshe"—a direct challenge to Moshe's authority and the Torah's laws. The Midrash (Bamidbar Rabbah 20:23) explains that Zimri deliberately sought to provoke Moshe, asking whether the Midianite woman was permitted to him, mocking the prohibition against intermarriage.

The Weeping of Bnei Yisrael

The verse states that the people were weeping at the entrance of the Ohel Moed. The Talmud (Sanhedrin 82a) explains that they were mourning both the plague and the desecration of Hashem's name through this public sin. Ramban adds that their weeping demonstrated their remorse and desire for repentance, contrasting with Zimri's brazenness.

Zimri's Identity and Role

  • According to Sanhedrin 82a, Zimri was a prince of the tribe of Shimon, which underscores the severity of the sin—a leader leading others astray.
  • The Midianite woman, Kozbi bat Tzur (Bamidbar 25:15), was a princess as well, indicating this was a calculated act of political and spiritual rebellion.
  • The Sifri notes that Zimri's sin was particularly egregious because he committed it publicly, forcing a response to uphold the sanctity of the camp.

The Response of Pinchas

This incident directly precedes Pinchas' zealous act (Bamidbar 25:7-8), where he executed Zimri and Kozbi, stopping the plague. The Talmud (Sanhedrin 82a) explains that Pinchas acted to restore Divine justice when the leadership hesitated. Rambam (Hilchos Issurei Biah 12:4) cites this episode as the source for the halachic principle of "kana'im pog'in bo"—that zealots may act against public violators of certain severe sins.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Sanhedrin 82a
The verse is cited in the context of discussing the incident of Zimri and the Midianite woman, which is used to illustrate the severity of the sin and the zeal of Pinchas in responding to it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the significance of the Israelites weeping at the Tent of Meeting in Numbers 25:6?
A: The Israelites were weeping at the Tent of Meeting because they were deeply distressed by the sin of one of their own who publicly brought a Midianite woman into the camp, violating the Torah's laws against intermarriage and idolatry (Rashi on Numbers 25:6). Their weeping showed their collective remorse and desire to uphold holiness.
Q: Why was bringing a Midianite woman into the camp considered a serious sin in Numbers 25:6?
A: Bringing a Midianite woman into the camp was a serious sin because the Midianites were known for leading Israelites astray into idolatry and immorality (Talmud, Sanhedrin 106a). The Torah forbids intermarriage with nations that could turn the Jewish people away from serving Hashem (Deuteronomy 7:3-4).
Q: What lesson can we learn from the public nature of the sin in Numbers 25:6?
A: The public nature of this sin teaches that transgressing Torah laws openly can have a harmful influence on the entire community (Rambam, Hilchot De'ot 6:1). The Israelites' collective weeping demonstrates the importance of maintaining spiritual standards and the impact of individual actions on the whole nation.
Q: How does the story in Numbers 25:6 relate to Jewish values today?
A: This story reminds us of the importance of maintaining Jewish identity and avoiding influences that could lead us away from Torah values (Midrash Tanchuma, Balak 18). It also highlights the responsibility each Jew has to uphold holiness, both privately and publicly.
Q: Who was the Israelite man mentioned in Numbers 25:6?
A: According to the Midrash (Sanhedrin 82a), the Israelite man was Zimri ben Salu, a prince of the tribe of Simeon. His high status made his public transgression even more severe, as leaders are held to a higher standard in Jewish tradition (Rashi on Numbers 25:14).