Moshe was instructed with his final duties before he would die and the nation could enter the Promised Land. The people were instructed to fight the Midianites in retaliation for having seduced the people to sin, which resulted in the death of many Jews. Pinchas, who had zealously countered the immorality, was instructed to complete the job by leading the army to war. Although Moshe was informed that he would die shortly after this war, he did not delay in carrying out G-d's command. His concern for the fulfillment of G-d's will preceded his own desire to live.
The battle was successful, and the enemies were all put to death, including Bal'am, who had instigated the trouble. The people took the spoils, but they had to first kosher the utensils they had taken before they could use them. This is the source for the laws of koshering vessels through burning or boiling, and also the laws of immersing new vessels in a mikveh before using them. The livestock from the spoils was divided among the fighters, the rest of the nation, and a portion for the Tabernacle treasury and the Levites. Although they had not been involved in the fighting itself, the spiritual service of the Levites was an important factor in the miraculous victory, and thus they too deserved a part.
The tribes of Reuben and Gad approached Moshe with a request to receive their portion of the Promised Land in the trans-Jordanian side of the country. They had much livestock, and they figured the lush and plentiful land would suit them better. Moshe, however, objected sharply to their request, accusing them of a similar sin to that of their grandparents who had spurned the Land by sending spies. The two tribes clarified their request that they had not meant to desert their brothers. To the contrary, after they would house their families and animals, they would join their brothers to conquer the Land with them. Moshe agreed to this condition.
Although initially only Reuben and Gad had asked for their portion, Moshe divided the tribe of Menashe and sent them with these two tribes. His rationale was that the people of Menashe, descendants of Joseph, were renowned for their love of the land. This was seen from the request of the daughters of Tzelafchad, whose love of the Land motivated them to ask for their own portion. Coupled with the fact that half their family remained on the other side of the Jordan River, Moshe figured that this would prevent the other two tribes from losing their feelings for the Promised Land.
"Moshe spoke to the heads of the tribes…When a man takes a vow...." (Numbers 30:2,3)The Chasam Sofer suggests that the laws of vows were told specifically to the leaders because political figures often make promises without any intent of fulfilling them. It is reminiscent of a certain Israeli politician who made several campaign promises, but never followed through after he was elected. When confronted with this discrepancy he countered, "I may have promised, but I never promised to keep my promise!" The Torah says that the leaders must especially keep their word, since they are the role models for the rest of the nation. When people see that a word doesn't mean much to their leader, they will not value its meaning much either.
Did You Know...Metal and glass food utensils when purchased by a Jew must first be immersed in a mikveh, and a blessing recited, before they may be used.. Although one may not cook or serve food in such a utensil before immersing it, food that was prepared is still permitted, as long as it is transferred to another vessel.
Earthenware vessels do not require immersion, but if they are glazed with glass they should be immersed without a blessing. Most glazed china in our times is glazed with an earthenware glaze and thus does not require immersion. Plastic and wooden utensils also do not require immersion.
