1)

"Kach es Kol Roshei ha'Am". Who were the "Roshei ha'Am"? What was Moshe expected to do with them?

1.

Rashi, R Bachye, Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan: It refers to the Dayanim - who did not sin and whom Moshe was to (divide into Batei-Dinim and - Sanhedrin, 35a) 1 delegate to judge all those who had worshipped Ba'al Pe'or (and hang them). 2

1

See Torah Temimah, note 5. See also R. Bachye and R. Chavel?s footnotes.

2

Rashi: Refer to 25:5:1:1.

2)

Why did Hashem order specifically the Dayanim to carry out the death-sentence?

1.

Oznayim la'Torah (in Bamidbar 25:11): Perhaps it is because there were no witnesses - on whom the Torah places the onus of carrying out the death-sentence. 1

1

See Oznaim la'Torah Ibid. - DH 'Heishiv es Chamasi'.

3)

What are the connotations of "Ve'hoka osam"?

1.

Rashi #1 and Rashbam: It means 'Hang them'. 1

2.

Rashi #2 (in Vayikra, 19:28): It means 'Join them' - inasmuch as by hanging someone on a piece of wood that is stuck into the ground, one joins him to the ground.

3.

Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan: It means 'Kill them'.

1

Rashi and Rashbam: As in Shmuel 2, 21:6 & 10. See Torah Temimah, citing Sanhedrin, 34b.

4)

Whom were they told to hang, and why?

1.

Rashi and Rashbam: The judges were told to hang those who had worshipped Ba'al-Pe'or, because whoever worships idols is subject to hanging (momentarily) 1 after he has been stoned. 2

1

Refer to 25:4:4:1

2

As the Gemara states in Sanhedrin, 45b. In this case however, it was a Hora'as Sha'ah to actually kill them by hanging (Oznayim la'Torah).

5)

Vehoka osam la?Hashem!? Why does the Torah insert the word ?la?Hashem??

1.

R. Bachye: ?In order to create a Kidush Hashem? ?Neged ha?Shemesh?- publicly. 1

1

R. Bachye: To atone for the sin that was peeerformed publicly.

6)

What are the connotations of "Neged ha'Shemesh"?

1.

Rashi #1: It means that they should hang them publicly, for all to see.

2.

Rashi #2 and R. Bachye #1 (citing the Tanchuma): The judges discovered 1 who the sinners were by means of the sun which shone its rays on them. 2 3

3.

R. Bachye #2: Refer to 25:4:3.1:1 and note.

4.

R. Bachye #3: Because the sin of Pe?or negated the Midah of Ya?akov 4 - who was called ?Shemesh?. 5

5.

R. Bachye #4 and Targum Yonasan: It means that they were to (hang them when the sun rose in the morning and - Targum Yonasan) to take them down the moment it set and bury them. 6

6.

Seforno: It means that the people should see them being hanged and not object - a Kaparah for their failure to object when they saw the people sinning.

7.

Sanhedrin, 34b: It means 'in the day' - and We learn from here that Dinei Nefashos must be judged and concluded by day. 7

1

This was a Hora'as Sha'ah since there were no witnesses - seeing as it took place outside the camp and all the men were involved in the sinning,

2

Rashi: The Cloud folded to enable the sun to shine on them. Riva: Even though the Cloud went away after Aharon died, it returned on the merit of Moshe.

3

See R. Bachye citing the Tanchuma.

4

Kadosh - Refer to 25:1:3: 1 note 2.

5

See R. Bachye, citing Bereishis Rabah.

6

R. Bachye: As the Torah writes in Devarim 21:23 ?Lo Salin Nivlaso al ha?Eitz?.

7

See Torah Te imah, note 7.

7)

Why would hanging the sinners cause Hashem's anger to abate?

1.

Rashi (on Sanhedrin, 35a: Because that is how Hashem would react to when He would see that the people are acting zealously in His honor.

2.

Seforno: With reference to 25:4:4:33 - Because the people had now rectified their sin.

3.

Oznayim la'Torah (based on Avos de'R. Nasan: Because when Yisrael perform Din down here, Hashem withdraws Midas Din from them in Heaven. 1

1

See Oznayim la'Torah.

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