## Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Matot

###### Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Matot 5:1
[Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Matot 5:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Midrash%20Tanchuma%20Buber/s/Matot/r/5:1)

וישלח אותם משה (במדבר לא ו). הקב"ה אמר למשה נקום בעצמך, והוא שלח לאחרים, אלא על ידי שנתגדל במדין, אמר אינו כדין שאני מיצר למי שעשו לי טובה, המשל אומר באר ששתת ממנו מים אל תזרוק בו אבן. ולמה שלח לפניהם פינחס, אמר מי שהתחיל במצוה הוא גומרה, הוא השיב את חמתי, הוא יגמור את מצותי.

**Midrash Tanhuma, S. Buber Recension; trans. by John T. Townsend, 1989.:**
(Numb. 31:6:) THEN MOSES SENT THEM, A THOUSAND PER TRIBE ANONG WITH PHINEHAS BEN ELEAZAR THE PRIEST FOR THE TROOPS. The Holy One said to Moses (in vs. 2): Take vengeance by yourself, but he sent others.¹⁵., Numb. 9:3, cont.; Numb. R. 22:4. It was simply because he had been raised in Midian. He said: It is not right for me to oppress those who have done well by me. The proverb says: Do not cast a stone into a cistern from which you have drunk water. But why did he send Phinehas before them (instead having someone else in command)? He said: Whoever has begun a religious act should finish it. Phinehas has (according to Numb. 25:11) TURNED AROUND MY WRATH (by executing an Israelite man copulating with the Midianite woman). Let him finish the act.

footnotes:
¹⁵ Tanh


###### Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Matot 5:2
[Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Matot 5:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Midrash%20Tanchuma%20Buber/s/Matot/r/5:2)

וכלי הקדש (שם). זה הארון, שנאמר כי עבודת הקדש עליהם בכתף ישאו (שם ז ט), ר' יוחנן אמר אלו בגדי כהונה שבהן אורים ותומים, שנאמר ובגדי הקדש אשר לאהרן וגו' (שמות כט כט). ואת בלעם בן בעור הרגו בחרב (במדבר שם ח). ומה ביקש שם, אלא שהלך ליטול שכר של כ"ד אלף שנפלו בעצתו.

**Midrash Tanhuma, S. Buber Recension; trans. by John T. Townsend, 1989.:**
(Numb. 31:6, cont.:) AND THE VESSELS OF THE SANCTUARY (*haqodesh*). This refers to the Ark (and its contents), since it is stated (in Numb. 7:9): BECAUSE THEY (i.e., the children of Korah) HAD THE SERVICE OF THE HOLY (*haqodesh*) OBJECTS, WHICH THEY CARRIED ON THE SHOULDER.¹⁶ R. Johanan said: These were the priestly garments, for in them were the Urim and Thummim, as stated (in Exod. 29:29): AND THE SACRED (*haqodesh*) GARMENTS OF AARON. (Numb. 31:8:) THEY ALSO KILLED BALAAM BEN PEOR WITH THE SWORD. Now what was he doing there? He had simply gone to receive a reward for twenty-four thousand that had fallen through his counsel.

footnotes:
¹⁶ The interpretation assumes an analogy with I Sam. 4:4.


###### Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Matot 5:3
[Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Matot 5:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Midrash%20Tanchuma%20Buber/s/Matot/r/5:3)

ויקחו את כל השלל [וגו'] ויביאו אל משה (שם שם יא יב). להודיע שבחן שלא רצו ליטול הביזה עד שהביאו לפניו ואחר כך [נטלו] ברשותו.

**Midrash Tanhuma, S. Buber Recension; trans. by John T. Townsend, 1989.:**
(Numb. 31:11–12:) THEN THEY TOOK ALL THE PLUNDER …, AND THEY BROUGHT THE PRISONERS, THE BOOTY … UNTO MOSES…. This text serves to show their excellence, for they did not want to take the spoils, until they had brought them before him; and after that [they only took them] with his permission.


###### Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Matot 5:4
[Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Matot 5:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Midrash%20Tanchuma%20Buber/s/Matot/r/5:4)

ויצא משה ואלעזר הכהן (שם שם יג). להודיע ענותנותו של משה, שהיו כולם תלמידי תלמידיו.

**Midrash Tanhuma, S. Buber Recension; trans. by John T. Townsend, 1989.:**
(Numb. 31:13:) THEN MOSES, ELEAZAR THE PRIEST, AND PRINCES OF THE CONGREGATION WENT OUT TO MEET THEM. This text serves to show Moses' humility, for they all were disciples of his disciples.