Page 540 - BAMIDBAR

“Pinchas son of Elazar son of Aharon the
Kohen saw, and he stood up from amid the

assembly and took a spear in his hand”
(Bamidbar 25:7)

Upon Bilaam’s advice to Balak, the daughters of Moav caused Bnei
Yisrael to sin. Even the Nasi of Shevet Shimon sinned, comparing Kuzbi
to Moshe’s wife, Tzipporah. But there is no comparison at all. Tzipporah
converted to Judaism and came under the wings of the Shechinah before
marrying Moshe. In the wake of this sin, the entire nation was almost
destroyed. Pinchas came along and saved the day.

How could a Nasi sin so overtly, when talmidei chachamim are enjoined
to take upon themselves extra measures of sanctity?

The mitzvah of tzitzit is meant to remind us of all of the mitzvot. Shabbat,
too, has both aspects of remembering and observing. Without
“Pinchas son of Elazar son of Aharon the remembering Shabbat, what is the point of observing its details?
Kohen saw, and he stood up from amid the
assembly... and pierced them both…” The daughters of Moav began their charade by selling linen garments
to the Jewish men. The men fell into sin by initially looking at
(Bamidbar 25:7-8) improper sights.

How harmful sight can be! Gazing at the face of a rasha negatively
influences a person. Because improper sights have such severe
consequences, the sons of Noach walked backward in order not to
see their father’s nakedness and did not suffice with merely closing
their eyes.
David Hamelech sang songs of praise to Hashem while yet a nursing baby.
He did not want to become detrimentally affected by seeing his mother’s

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