This week's portion, the last one in the book of Bamidbar (Numbers), is called Masei.
Masei begins with a list of the Jews' trips and encampments in the desert.
We customarily try to read all of the encampments in one reading, as a unit, which is problematic when Masei is a single portion (and not combined with the preceding portion of Matot). Some chumashim do break up this section into multiple readings.
We customarily try to read all of the encampments in one reading, as a unit, which is problematic when Masei is a single portion (and not combined with the preceding portion of Matot). Some chumashim do break up this section into multiple readings.
The Jews are then instructed to eliminate idols when they enter the land, lest the idolatry lead them astray.
The portion then delineates the borders of Israel, and instructs the Jews to create Cities of Refuge for people who kill accidentally and need to flee.
Finally, the portion provides details of land-transfer and marriage for women who inherit land; these laws were meant to ensure that a tribe would not lose land if the women who owned land were to marry out of the tribe.
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