📜 Daily Chumash & Rashi – Parshas Pinchas: Sheiyni – The Jewish people are counted for the census

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Sheiyni

• Reuvein:
  • Family descendants: Chanoch; Pallu; Chetzron; Carmi
  • Population: 43,730
  • Dasan and Aviram-sin of Korach: Palu had a son named Eliav who had three sons named Nemuel, Dasan and Aviram. This is the same Dasan and Aviram who were part of the rebel group led by Korach and were killed by being miraculously swallowed in the ground together with Korach. The other 250 men were consumed by fire. The children of Korach did not die.

• Shimon:
  • Family descendants: Nemuel; Yamin; Yachin; Zerach; Shaul
  • Population: 22,200

• Gad:
  • Family descendants: Tzefon; Chagi; Shuni; Ozni; Eri; Arod; Areili
  • Population: 40,500

• Yehuda:
  • Family descendants-Died: Er; Onen who died
  • Family descendants: Sheila; Peretz; Zerach; Chetzron; Chamul
  • Population: 76,500

• Yissachar:
  • Family descendants: Tola; Puvah; Yashuv; Shimron
  • Population: 64,300

• Zevulun:
  • Family descendants: Sered; Eilon; Yachliel
  • Population: 60,500

• Yosef-Menasheh:
  • Family descendants: Machir; Gilad; Iezer; Chelek; Asriel; Shechem; Shemida; Chefer; Tzelafchad
  • Tzelafchad did not have sons. His daughters were named Machla; Noah; Choglah; Milkah; Tirtzah
  • Population: 52,700

• Yosef-Ephraim:
  • Family descendants: Shuselach; Becher; Tachan; Eran
  • Population: 32,500

• Binyamin:
  • Family descendants: Bela; Ashbel; Achiram; Shefufam; Chufam; Ard; Naaman
  • Population: 45,600
• Dan:
  • Family descendants: Shucham
  • Population: 64,400

• Asher:
  • Family descendants: Yimna; Yishvi; Beriah; Chever; Malkiel. The daughter of Asher was Serach.
  • Population: 53,400

• Naftali:
  • Family descendants: Yachtziel; Guni; Yeitzer; Shillem
  • Population: 45,400
• Total population: 601,730 [and 57 families]

Q&A on Rashi

 

📘 Rashi Q&A — Bamidbar 26:5–51

26:5 — Tribal Lineage Confirmed

Q1. Why are the family names written with extra letters (ה and י)?
A. Hashem added His Name to testify that the lineage of Israel is pure and truly from their fathers.

Q2. What accusation were the nations making?
A. They claimed the Egyptians had control over Israelite families, casting doubt on their lineage.

Q3. What is the response to this claim?
A. Hashem Himself testifies to their purity by attaching His Name to them.

 

26:7 — Reuven’s Count

Q4. How many were counted from Reuven?
A. 43,730.

 

26:8–10 — Datan and Aviram

Q5. Who were Datan and Aviram?
A. Leaders who rebelled against Moshe and Hashem.

Q6. What happened to them?
A. The earth swallowed them during Korach’s rebellion.

Q7. Why are they mentioned here?
A. To remind future generations of the consequences of rebellion.

Q8. What does “they became a sign” mean?
A. Their punishment serves as a lasting warning.

 

26:11 — Sons of Korach

Q9. Did Korach’s sons die?
A. No, they repented and were saved.

Q10. How were they saved?
A. They were preserved in a special place underground and survived.

 

26:12–14 — Tribe of Shimon

Q11. Why are some families missing?
A. Certain families were wiped out.

Q12. What is one explanation for their loss?
A. Many from Shimon died in the plague related to Balaam’s plan.

Q13. How many remained?
A. 22,200.

 

26:15–18 — Tribe of Gad

Q14. What is unclear about “Ozni”?
A. It may correspond to Etzbon, but the naming is unclear.

Q15. How many from Gad?
A. 40,500.

 

26:19–22 — Tribe of Yehudah

Q16. What happened to Er and Onan?
A. They died earlier in Canaan.

Q17. How many were counted?
A. 76,500.

 

26:23–25 — Tribe of Yissachar

Q18. Who is “Yashuv”?
A. He is the same as Yov from the earlier generation.

Q19. How many from Yissachar?
A. 64,300.

 

26:26–27 — Tribe of Zevulun

Q20. How many were counted?
A. 60,500.

 

26:28–34 — Tribe of Menashe

Q21. Why are some grandchildren counted as families?
A. Because they became large independent clans.

Q22. Who are Tzelofchad’s daughters?
A. Machlah, No’ah, Choglah, Milkah, and Tirtzah.

Q23. Why are they mentioned?
A. They will later play an important role regarding inheritance.

Q24. Total count of Menashe?
A. 52,700.

 

26:35–37 — Tribe of Ephraim

Q25. Why is Eran counted separately?
A. His descendants became a major family of their own.

Q26. What is noted about the number of families in Israel?
A. There are 65 families total, fewer than the 70 nations of the world.

Q27. What does this show?
A. Israel is “the smallest among nations.”

Q28. Total of Ephraim?
A. 32,500.

 

26:38–41 — Tribe of Binyamin

Q29. Who is Achiram?
A. The same as Echi, named in honor of Yosef.

Q30. Who is Shufam?
A. The same as Muppim, renamed based on circumstances.

Q31. Total of Binyamin?
A. 45,600.

 

26:42–43 — Tribe of Dan

Q32. Who is Shucham?
A. The same as Chushim.

Q33. Total count?
A. 64,400.

 

26:44–47 — Tribe of Asher

Q34. Why is Serach listed?
A. She was still alive at this time.

Q35. Total count?
A. 53,400.

 

26:48–50 — Tribe of Naftali

Q36. Total count?
A. 45,400.

 

26:51 — Total Census

Q37. What is the total number of Israelites counted?
A. 601,730.