Parsha Masei

(33,1) These are the journeys of Bnei Yisroel who went out of Egypt in organized groups under the leadership of Moshe and Aharon.

(33,2) Moshe recorded their departures for their journeys according to Adonoy’s command; these were the departure for their journeys.

(33,3) They journeyed from Ra’meses in the first month—on the fifteenth day of the first month—on the day after the [Korban] Pesach, Bnei Yisroel left triumphantly before the eyes of all Egyptians.

(33,4) Egypt was burying that which Adonoy had struck among them—all their firstborn—and on their idols Adonoy had inflicted punishments.

(33,5) Bnei Yisroel journeyed from Ra’meses and camped in Succos.

(33,6) They journeyed from Succos and camped in Eisom which is on the edge of the wilderness.

(33,7) They journeyed from Eisom and turned back to Pi Hachiros facing Ba’al Tzefon, and they camped by Migdol.

(33,8) They journeyed from before Hachiros and crossed amidst the sea toward the wilderness. They traveled for three days in the wilderness of Eisom, and camped in Moroh.

(33,9) They journeyed from Moroh and came to Eilim. In Eilim were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they camped there.

(33,10) They journeyed from Eilim and camped by the Sea of Reeds.

(33,11) They journeyed from the Sea of Reeds and camped in the wilderness of Sin.

(33,12) They journeyed from the wilderness of Sin and camped in Dofkoh.

(33,13) They journeyed from Dofkoh and camped in Alush.

(33,14) They journeyed from Alush and camped in Refidim, [but] there was no water there for the people to drink.

(33,15) They journeyed from Refidim and camped in the wilderness of Sinai.

(33,16) They journeyed from the wilderness of Sinai and camped in Kivros Hata’avoh.

(33,17) They journeyed from Kivros Hata’avoh and camped in Chatzeiros.

(33,18) They journeyed from Chatzeiros and camped in Rismoh.

(33,19) They journeyed from Rismoh and camped in Rimon Peretz.

(33,20) They journeyed from Rimon Peretz and camped in Livnoh.

(33,21) They journeyed from Livnoh and camped in Risoh.

(33,22) They journeyed from Risoh and camped in Keheilosoh.

(33,23) They journeyed from Keheilosoh and camped in Har Shefer.

(33,24) They journeyed from Har Shefer and camped in Charodoh.

(33,25) They journeyed from Charodoh and camped in Makheilos.

(33,26) They journeyed from Makheilos and camped in Tochas.

(33,27) They journeyed from Tochas and camped in Torach.

(33,28) They journeyed from Torach and camped in Miskoh.

(33,29) They journeyed from Miskoh and camped in Chashmonoh.

(33,30) They journeyed from Chashmonoh and camped in Moseiros.

(33,31) They journeyed from Moseiros and camped in Bnei Ya’akon.

(33,32) They journeyed from Bnei Ya’akon and camped in Chor Hagidgod.

(33,33) They journeyed from Chor Hagidgod and camped in Yotvosoh.

(33,34) They journeyed from Yotvosoh and camped in Avronoh.

(33,35) They journeyed from Avronoh and camped in Etzyon Gover.

(33,36) They journeyed from Etzyon Gover and camped in the wilderness of Sin, which is Kodeish.

(33,37) They journeyed from Kodeish and camped in Hor Hohor, at the edge of the land of Edom.

(33,38) Then Aharon the kohein ascended Hor Hohor by the word of Adonoy and died there; in the fortieth year of Bnei Yisroel’s exodus from Egypt, on the first day of the fifth month.

(33,39) Aharon was 123 years old at his death on Hor Hohor.

(33,40) The Canaanite, the king of Arod heard that Bnei Yisroel were approaching—he dwelt in the south of the land of Canaan.

(33,41) They journeyed from Hor Hohor and camped in Tzalmonoh.

(33,42) They journeyed from Tzalmonoh and camped in Punon.

(33,43) They journeyed from Punon and camped in Ovos.

(33,44) They journeyed from Ovos and camped at the ruins of Avorim on Moav’s border.

(33,45) They journeyed from the ruins and camped in Divon Gad.

(33,46) They journeyed from Divon Gad and camped in Almon Divlasayim.

(33,47) They journeyed from Almon Divlasayim and camped in the Avorim Mountains before Nevo.

(33,48) They journeyed from the Avorim Mountains and camped in the plains of Moav along the Yardein near Yereicho.

(33,49) They camped along the Yardein, from Beis Yeshimos until Aveil Hasheetim, in the plains of Moav.

(33,50) Adonoy spoke to Moshe in the plains of Moav along the Yardein [near] Yereicho, saying:

(33,51) “Speak to Bnei Yisroel and say to them: ‘When you cross the Yardein to the land of Canaan,

(33,52) you must drive out all of the inhabitants of the land before you. You must destroy all their carved stones, and demolish all their cast metal idols and tear down all their altars.

(33,53) Drive out [the inhabitants of] the land and settle in it, because I have given this land to you to possess.

(33,54) You shall give the land as an inheritance to your families by means of a lottery; to the large [family] you shall increase its portion, to the small [family] you shall decrease its portion. To whomever the lottery [system] ordains, it shall be his; according to your paternal tribes shall you inherit.

(33,55) But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land before you, those whom you will leave over will be spikes in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they will persecute you upon the land in which you settle.

(33,56) And it shall be that what I had intended to do to them I will do to you.’”

(34,1) Adonoy spoke to Moshe, saying:

(34,2) “Instruct Bnei Yisroel and say to them: ‘When you come to the land of Canaan, this is the land which will fall to you as hereditary property, the land of Canaan according to its borders.

(34,3) Your southern flank shall be from the Tzin wilderness along [the land of] Edom; the southern border shall be from the edge of the Salt Sea to the east.

(34,4) The border then turns south of Maaleh Akrabim passing toward Tzin; and its outskirts shall be south of Kadeish Barne’a, and then it shall extend to Chatzar Adar and continue toward Atzmon.

(34,5) The border turns from Atzmon toward the Egyptian Estuary and its outskirts shall reach the sea.

(34,6) As for the western border; it shall be the border of the Great Sea, this shall be your western border.

(34,7) This shall be your northern border; from the Great Sea turn yourselves to Hor Hahar.

(34,8) From Hor Hahar turn to Levo Chamas and the outskirts of the border shall be toward Tzedad.

(34,9) The border shall then extend toward Zifron, and its outskirts shall be at Chatzar Einan; this shall be your northern border.

(34,10) You shall turn yourselves toward the eastern border from Chatzar Einan to Shefam.

(34,11) The border shall then descend from Shefam to Rivlah to the east of Ayin; the border shall descend and contact the bank of the eastern shore of the Kineres Sea.

(34,12) The border shall then descend along the Yardein and its outskirts shall be the Salt (Dead) Sea. This should be your land according to its borders all around.’”

(34,13) Moshe instructed Bnei Yisroel, saying: “This is the land which you must distribute as hereditary property by means of a lottery, which Adonoy has commanded to give to the nine and one half tribes.

(34,14) Because the tribe of Reuvein’s descendants, the tribe of Gad’s descendants, and half of the tribe of Menashe have already taken their hereditary property.

(34,15) These two and one half tribes have taken their hereditary property on this side of the Yardein near Yereicho, to the east, toward the sunrise.”

(34,16) Adonoy spoke to Moshe, saying:

(34,17) “These are the names of the men who shall inherit the land for you: Elozor the kohein and Yehoshua son of Nun,

(34,18) And one leader from each tribe you shall take, to help inherit the land.

(34,19) These are the names of the men: for the tribe of Yehudah, Kaleiv son of Yefuneh.

(34,20) For the tribe of Shimon, Shmuel, son of Amihud.

(34,21) For the tribe of Binyamin, Elidad, son of Kislon.

(34,22) The leader for the tribe of Don, Buki, son of Yogli.

(34,23) For Yoseif’s children, the leader for the tribe of Menashe, Chaniel, son of Eifod.

(34,24) The leader for the tribe of Ephraim, Kemuel, son of Shiftan.

(34,25) The leader for the tribe of Zevulun, Elitzafan, son of Parnach.

(34,26) The leader for the tribe of Yissachar, Paltiel, son of Azan.

(34,27) The leader for the tribe of Asher, Achihud, son of Shlomi.

(34,28) The leader for the tribe of Naftali, Pedah’eil, son of Amihud.”

(34,29) These are the ones whom Adonoy commanded to apportion the inheritance to Bnei Yisroel, in the land of Canaan.

(35,1) Adonoy spoke to Moshe in the plains of Moav by the Yardein near Yereicho, saying:

(35,2) “Instruct Bnei Yisroel and have them give to the Levites from their hereditary possession, cities in which to settle; and open space for the cities all around you shall give to the Levites.

(35,3) These cities shall be theirs for dwelling, and their open space shall be for their animals, their property and all of their necessities to live.

(35,4) The open space for the cities that you shall give the Levites [shall extend] from the walls of the city and outward a thousand amo¯s all around.

(35,5) You shall measure from outside the city two thousand amo¯s on the eastern side, two thousand amo¯s on the southern side, two thousand amo¯s on the western side, and two thousand amo¯s on the northern side; with the city in the center. This shall be the open spaces for the cities.

(35,6) Along with the cities that you shall give the Levites shall be the six refuge cities which you shall provide [as places] for a murderer to flee; and in addition to them, you shall provide forty-two cities.

(35,7) The total number of cities that you shall give to the Levites is forty eight cities, with their open spaces.

(35,8) The cities that you shall give, [shall be] from the possession of Bnei Yisroel; take more from a larger [holding], and less from a smaller [holding], each person, according to his inheritance, shall give of his cities to the Levites.”

(35,9) Adonoy spoke to Moshe, saying:

(35,10) “Speak to Bnei Yisroel and say to them: ‘When you cross the Yardein into the land of Canaan,

(35,11) you shall provide cities for yourselves, which shall serve as refuge cities for you, so that a murderer can flee there, one who accidentally killed a person.

(35,12) These cities shall serve you as a refuge from the avenger, so that the murderer will not die until he stands in judgment before the congregation.

(35,13) The cities that you shall give, will serve you as six refuge cities.

(35,14) Three cities on this side of the Yardein, and the [other] three cities you shall give in the land of Canaan. They shall be cities of refuge.

(35,15) For Bnei Yisroel, the proselyte, and resident among them, shall these six cities be a refuge, to flee there anyone who accidentally kills a person.

(35,16) But if he struck him with an iron instrument and he died, then he is a murderer; the murderer must be executed.

(35,17) Or if with a stone that can be held in the hand and which can kill he strikes him, and he died, he is a murderer; the murderer must be executed.

(35,18) Or if with a wooden implement [that can be held] in the hand and which can cause death he strikes him, and he died, he is a murderer; the murderer must be executed.

(35,19) The blood avenger shall kill the murderer, wherever he meets him he may kill him.

(35,20) If he pushes [his victim] out of hatred or throws at him deliberately, and he died,

(35,21) or if in enmity, he struck him with his hand and he died, the assailant must be executed; he is a murderer. The blood avenger may kill the murderer wherever he meets him.

(35,22) But if suddenly, without enmity, he pushed him or threw any object at him not deliberately,

(35,23) Or (even) with a stone which can kill, without seeing [the victim], he threw it down on him and he died, but he was not his enemy and did not seek his harm.

(35,24) Then the congregation shall judge between the assailant and the blood avenger, abiding by these laws.

(35,25) The congregation shall protect the murderer from the blood avenger, and return him to his refuge city where he had fled, and he must remain there until the death of the Kohein Gadol who was anointed with the sacred oil.

(35,26) But if the murderer goes outside of the border of his refuge city where he had fled,

(35,27) and the blood avenger finds him outside the border of his refuge city, and the blood avenger kills the murderer, he has no blood.

(35,28) For he (the killer) must remain in his refuge city until the death of the Kohein Gadol. After the death of the Kohein Gadol the murderer may return to the land of his possession.

(35,29) These [rules] shall be for you the law of justice for all your descendants in all your dwelling places.

(35,30) If anyone kills a person, only upon the testimony of witnesses shall the murderer be killed. But one witness may not testify against a person, in a case of capital punishment.

(35,31) And do not accept atonement compensation for the life of a murderer who is wicked to incur the death penalty, for he must be executed.

(35,32) And do not accept atonement compensation for one who has fled to his refuge city, to allow him to return to live in the land, before the death of the Kohein (Gadol).

(35,33) Do not pollute the land in which you live, for, the blood pollutes the land, and for the land there can be no atonement for the blood that was spilled in it, except through the blood of the one who spilled it.

(35,34) You must not defile the land in which you live, wherein I reside, for, I, Adonoy, dwell among Bnei Yisroel.’”

(36,1) The paternal leaders approached—for the children of Gilad, son of Machir, son of Menashe, of the families of Yoseif’s sons—and they spoke before Moshe and the leaders who were the paternal heads of Bnei Yisroel.

(36,2) They said: “Adonoy commanded our master to give the land as an inheritance, through the casting of lots, to Bnei Yisroel, and our master was commanded by Adonoy to give the inheritance of our brother Tzelofchad to his daughters.

(36,3) But if they marry a member of another tribe of Bnei Yisroel, their inheritance will be diminished from our father’s inheritance, and it will be added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they will marry, and from the lot of our inheritance it will be subtracted.

(36,4) And even when the yoveil occurs for Bnei Yisroel, their inheritance will be added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they will marry, and from the inheritance of our fathers’ tribe, their inheritance will be subtracted.

(36,5) Moshe instructed Bnei Yisroel according to command of Adony, saying: “Correctly are the descendants of Yoseif’s tribe speaking.

(36,6) This is the word that Adonoy has commanded regarding Tzelofchad’s daughters: ‘Let them marry whom they think best, as long as they marry within their tribe of their father.

(36,7) Thereby, there will be no transfer of inheritance of Bnei Yisroel from tribe to tribe but each person to the inheritance of his father’s tribe, shall Bnei Yisroel remain attached.

(36,8) Every daughter who inherits property among the tribes of Bnei Yisroel to a member of her father’s tribe shall she marry, so that each one of Bnei Yisroel will inherit the property of his fathers.

(36,9) And no inheritance will be transferred from one tribe to another tribe; for, through every man with his own inheritance, will the tribes of Bnei Yisroel be attached.

(36,10) Exactly as Adonoy commanded Moshe, so did Tzelofchad’s daughters.

(36,11) And they were—Machlah, Sirtzah, Choglah, Milkah and No’ah, the daughters of Tzelofchad—wives to their cousins.

(36,12) From the families of Menashe, son of Yoseif, they married, and their inheritance remained with the tribe of their father’s family.

(36,13) These are the commandments and the laws that Adonoy commanded Bnei Yisroel through Moshe, in the plains of Moav at the Yardein near Yereicho. Chazak