This Shabbat, we conclude the fourth book of the Torah, the Book of Numbers, with the reading of the double selection of Mattot-Mase. The first selection, Mattot, begins with a discussion of vows. In the Torah, a vow is viewed as a solemn, religious promise that must be fulfilled. The Torah specifies the cases in which a woman's vow is upheld. A single woman's vow is valid unless her father nullifies it. A married woman's vow is valid unless her husband abrogates it. These laws reflect the patriarchal nature of ancient Israelite society. An independent woman, such as a divorcee or a widow, was fully responsible for her oaths.

Contemporary Judaism still stresses the importance of one's word. Most of us are familiar with the sacred nature of a vow from the Kol Nidrei prayer of Yom Kippur.

The narrative of the Book of Numbers continues with the episode of the war against Midian. The Midianites had enticed Israel to worship the pagan god Baal at Peor. The Israelites are commanded to slaughter the Midianites. Pinchas, the High Priest, leads the Israelites in battle with vessels and trumpets in his possession. However, the women, children, animals, and material wealth of the Midianites are spared from annihilation. The Israelites are further commanded to kill the remaining Midianites with the exception of their young daughters. A purification ritual is applied to all garments made of skins and all wooden materials. The Torah meticulously records the booty of war. The annihilation of Midian deeply disturbed the ethical sensitivities of the rabbinic tradition.

The tribes of Reuben and Gad request land on the eastern side of the Jordan River. Moses is concerned that these tribes will not join with their brothers in the conquest of the land of Canaan. G-d expresses His divine wrath against the wish of these tribes. The tribes offer a compromise that they will join with their fellow tribes in the conquest of the Promised Land. Their wives, children, and cattle will settle on the eastern side of the Jordan. However, their males will participate in battle with the Israelites. This plan is accepted. The Torah lists the cities of the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and Menasseh on the eastern side of the Jordan River.

Mase, the second selection, provides the itinerary of Israel's wandering in the wilderness. The emphasis on each point of the journey is noteworthy. Mt. Hor is associated with the death of Aaron, the brother of Moses. The final locale outside the Promised Land is Mount Nebo, the peak that affords Moses a glimpse of Israel.

The narrative shares the idealized borders of the territory of Israel. The southern boundary extended into the Negev Desert. The western boundary was the Mediterranean Sea. The northern boundary was the Hittite lands in Syria. The three bodies of water - Lake Kinneret, the Jordan River, and the Dead Sea, formed the eastern boundary. The two and one half tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Menasseh were granted land on the eastern side of the Jordan. 48 cities were sent aside for the Levites, as they had no tribal territory. Additionally, six cities of refuge were established for individuals guilty of accidental homicide. In order to protect these individuals from the revenge of the aggrieved clan, these cities were established on both sides of the Jordan River. The persons guilty of accidental homicide were to remain in these cities until the death of the High Priest.

The Book of Numbers concludes with the solution to the dilemma of Zelophehad's daughters. The five daughters are permitted to inherit their father's property. They are then commanded to marry within their own tribe of Menasseh so the inheritance will remain part of the tribal territory. Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah marry their parallel cousins. This allows their father's inheritance to remain within their tribe.

We conclude the fourth book of the Torah with the traditional phrase, "Hazak, hazak, v'nithazek!" "May G-d strengthen us through the teachings of Torah."