Dvar Torah - Pinchas 5784

In this week’s parsha, we learn how the five daughters of Zelophehad “stood before Moshe, before Elazar the Kohen, and before the leaders and the entire assembly.” (Bamidbar 27:2). Their father Zelophehad had five daughters but no sons. The daughters told Moshe and the other leaders (27:4): “Why should the name of our father be omitted from among his family because he had no son? Give us a possession among our father’s brothers.” They claimed that even though their father had no sons, they should still have the right to inherit their father’s right to land in Israel. The Talmud (Baba Basra 119b) greatly praises these women: “The Sages taught: The daughters of Zelophehad are wise, they are interpreters of verses, and they are righteous.” How are they wise? The Talmud states “They spoke in accordance with the moment.” Rashi explains that their wisdom was evidenced by their derech eretz (proper conduct). They waited until the appropriate time, when Moshe was teaching about inheritance, before making their claim. This is puzzling. First, why does waiting until Moshe taught the laws of inheritance before making their claim, indicate wisdom? Second, what did they do that generated such effusive praise that even Hashem himself said (Bamidbar 27:7) “The daughters of Zelophehad speak properly?” (See Rashi).

Rav Henoch Leibowitz, ZT”L explains that the daughters showed great patience before bringing their claim. Their father, Zelophehad, died in the second year in the desert, following the incident with the spies. Rabbi Akiva says that Zelophehad was the mikoshesh, the one who died for gathering wood on Shabbos (Bamidbar 15:32-36). Rabbi Yehudah ben Beseira said he died as one of the ma’apilim (See Bamidbar 15:44-45, Shabbos 96b-97a). Either way, the daughters of Zelophehad waited 38 years after the death of their father to bring their claim.

Rav Henoch points out that these women would have been expected to bring their claim immediately after the death of their father. They greatly desired to fulfill the mitzvah to inherit land in Israel, and it is considered meritorious to do a mitzvah with זריזות, as quickly and with as much enthusiasm as possible. Yet these women overcame the natural impulse to quickly make this claim and waited 38 years until it came time for Moshe to prepare for the dividing up of the land of Israel. Their wisdom enabled them to act with derech eretz, overcome their emotions and remain patient for so many years. The greatness of these women was their ability to control themselves and be patient for so long, waiting for the appropriate time so they could conduct themselves with dignity and respect.

Unfortunately, today we see so many people act with forcefulness, aggression and even rudeness when they believe in their cause and assert their claims in public. However, we can learn from the daughters of Zelophehad that we need to be patient and always act as a mensch. One who is able to control oneself and act with patience and calmness is not just behaving in a nice manner. That person is demonstrating greatness. We should merit to always act with derech eretz, and in that way, like the daughters of Zelophehad, also be deserving of Hashem’s praise.